Chapter 150

Love Reunited

Molly sighed as she sat down in what should have been the transfiguration classroom as she finished casting a number of spells, trying to find the entrance to the tomb of Slytherin.

"Mum, you know we'll find it," Bill said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I hope so; I don't want us to be here for too long, in case You-Know-Who does have someone nearby, keeping an eye on places like this," Molly said.

"He's too arrogant to do so, though I can understand the concern," Charlie said, with a small smile. "Besides, he can't win, not here, not now."

"Why not?" Percy asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Because we have Lily with us. He can't beat her, and Merlin knows he's tried, time and time again," Charlie pointed out.

"From when I was with him, he was always angry and frustrated how Lily could always overcome him. I find it amusing to think that a child beat him when he was supposed to be the most powerful wizard of all time," Nagini said, chuckling.

"Yeah, Lily has a way of pissing him off," Bill agreed. "It's kinda inspiring."

"My only concern is he might know what I do," Nagini said. "I know that this amulet is protecting me, but how long before he finds a way to break through it?"

"Let's not think about that, my dear, and we'll make sure he doesn't get to hurt you again," Molly said, smiling softly at Nagini. "You've been a victim for so long; now you'll have a chance to stop his cruelty."

"If I hadn't let myself lose my humanity, maybe he'd have failed in recruiting me. All I remember is… well, it still feels like a blur at times, but he was so… charming… and it felt like… like he was right about so much," Nagini's voice began to trail off.

"There's a muggle saying; the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," Bill told her. "Riddle was good at charming people because he always knew the right things to say. The problem was that he never felt or understood them. He just knew them as words to say."

"Unfortunately, they were the right words, especially since I'd been alone for so long. I always thought Newt might find me, or someone who I fought with, maybe even Dumbledore, but I was alone," Nagini felt a tear rolling down her face. "And because of that, I've done terrible things."

"Nagini, you can't blame yourself. Maybe Dumbledore should have looked for you, and it makes sense that when you were alone, you welcomed any company. A drowning person will look for any lifeline," Charlie told her. "What happened has happened. You can't change the past, but you can look to the future."

"I can't stop the nightmares though," Nagini admitted.

"That's called PTSD. Lily suffered from it," Percy said. "We'll look at getting some help dealing with it; counselling is usually the best remedy."

"I'm just so thankful that you've all accepted me," Nagini told them, smiling at the group. "It feels like… I belong again, like I have a home again."

"You do. You're always welcome to stay with us," Molly insisted. "We'll take care of you, don't worry."

"It's what mum does, Nagini. When someone's in need, she rolls out the welcome mat, and brings them into the family," Bill chuckled. "What do Fred and George call everyone?"

"Quasi Weasley's," Percy answered, laughing softly. "Enough to start to take over the world ourselves."

"As long as Fred and George are not in charge," Charlie said, prompting everyone to break out laughing. It took almost two minutes for the laughter to die down. "Oh, I needed this laugh."

"I think we all did, bro," Bill said. "We're a family; no matter what Riddle does, we're always going to be united, and we'll win. Like Lily said, Love is the most powerful weapon we have."

"That makes me happy, hearing that," a familiar voice said from behind them. The group turned around, their mouths open, as they found themselves facing the spirit of Arthur Weasley!

"A… Arthur?" Molly's voice was close to breaking as she stood up, looking at him.

"Molly," Arthur said warmly, smiling as he walked forward, and embraced her in a hug. Molly began to break down weeping, as Bill, Charlie, and Percy were all looking at Arthur, shocked.

"Dad? But… how?" Bill asked. "Is it… is it really you?"

"It is," Arthur said, smiling, before explaining about the Conduit.

"I… I never knew such things existed," Bill said softly.

"They haven't, not for a long time. There was a time when there were more of them, but they faded into oblivion long ago, or they were supposed to," Nagini said. "It's… it explains a lot, about this place, if it's a conduit."

"I'm just thankful for it, though I'm here not because of a joyous reason, but because of the regret you feel, Molly," Arthur said. "I know you're angry with me, for what I did. Not for saving Lily, but for leaving you. I am… so sorry, Molly. I never wanted to leave you."

"But… you… you did…" Molly sobbed. "I… if I had been there… I might have been able to save you… or stop Lestrange from killing you."

"Molly, you need to stop thinking like that," Arthur chided. "I mean it. We were in battle, and Lily was going to be killed. I just… I reacted, much like Cornelius did, in the graveyard. Lily still blames herself, doesn't she?"

"She's never going to stop that, Dad. Lily… takes on the weight of the world, because she feels like she has to," Bill said, fighting back tears. "Can you… leave this place?"

"I'm afraid not, and once the Spirit of Slytherin is gone, the Conduit will be gone, as will I," Arthur said. "But I want you to know how proud I am, of all of you. Each of you have stepped up, kept your mother safe, and kept your families safe. I couldn't be prouder, and I get to watch you all every day, knowing that you're saving the world, and your own future."

"Watch us every day?" Charlie asked. "You mean… there's more after death?"

"Of course there is. This world is beautiful, but the universe is infinite. There is so much more that we do beyond this life. Some simply rest in peace, others are with their loved ones, and some keep watch of their families. When people perform the magic required to become ghosts, they tether themselves to the world, but that's because they fear the unknown," Arthur explained.

"What… what is it like?" Percy asked softly. Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's like coming home to rest after a long day's work," Arthur said, smiling. "Where you know you've done everything you need to, and everything you can, and you can live on, knowing that the next generation will keep your work going."

"Sounds pretty peaceful," Bill said, with a small chuckle.

"It really is. Don't get me wrong, I don't want you to be here with me for a long time yet; you've all got a lot to do. Remember, it's our actions that define us, our deeds. That's how we determine who we are," Arthur said.

"We've missed you so much, Dad. We've got a lot to tell you," Charlie said. "I'm going to be a dad; So's Percy."

"That's wonderful news, Charlie, and you too Percy. You'll be amazing fathers," Arthur complimented. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy. We've decided… well, Tonks and I were gonna tell you all later, but… we're naming him Arthur," Charlie said. Even as a spirit, Arthur looked ready to burst into floods of tears.

"That's the sweetest gift I could ever ask for," Arthur smiled proudly at Charlie. "That means so much to me son. What about you, Percy?"

"We're having a daughter; we decided to name her Molly," Percy admitted. "We hadn't told anyone yet either, but we knew it'd be the perfect name."

The admission broke Molly again, who burst into floods of tears, pulling Charlie and Percy into a big hug, with Arthur standing behind them, his arms around them, even though he couldn't touch them.

"I think this was why I knew I could do what I did; because I knew all of you would keep the family safe and make me proud. I will always have faith in all of you, because you are the strongest people I know, and I'm so thankful that you're my family. And Nagini, is it?" Arthur asked. Nagini simply nodded. "You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened before. You've let that monster, You-Know-Who, control you for too long. Don't let him remain in your head through fear; destroy that fear and be the witch you know you were always destined to be," Arthur told her. Nagini felt tears rolling down her own face now.

"I… I know I hurt you…" Nagini began, but Arthur held up his hand.

"What did I just say? If it helps, though, I forgive you, Nagini," Arthur said. "The world is being covered in darkness; even as a spirit, I can see that, so I won't let the darkness take you. It tried, but you broke free, with Lily's help. Now, keep that darkness away by being free of You-Know-Who. Promise me you'll do that. I know it's a lot I'm asking, but I know you can do it, so promise me," Arthur said. Nagini smiled and nodded.

"I promise," she agreed.

"Now, we'll soon have to go and face Slytherin. We'll have help though; Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are helping Draco, Lily, Ginny, and Pansy. Regulus Black is helping Sirius, Remus, Crouch, and Rufus, and Ron, Lavender, Hermione, and Fleur are being aided by another old friend," Arthur said.

"How… how long do we have?" Molly asked. "There's so much I want to say to you Arthur, so much… I didn't get to say."

"Molly, if there is one thing I've learnt from this new path, it's that life is too short to have regrets. I don't regret a single day, a single hour, or a single minute spent with you. I'm only sorry that we didn't get to be together forever," Arthur said. "And for the record, Rufus is a good man, and I want you to be happy. I wouldn't expect you to be alone forever, Molly. You have a lot of love in your heart, and a lot of love to give."

"Arthur… I love you so much," Molly said, softly, as Bill led Charlie, Percy, and Nagini out of the room, to give the two of them some alone time.

"As I do you. I know that your relationship with Rufus is budding, and if you find some happiness, then please go for it," Arthur said.

"It's not… well, it's not a physical relationship. Rufus and I… well, we're not… we're not quite ready that kind of relationship, it's more…" Molly began, trying to explain.

"Molly, I understand, I really do. You shouldn't be alone, even if it's just having someone to cuddle or talk to. Look at Muriel, she isn't exactly the most pleasant of people, and I suspect it's because she refused to let anyone help her after Billius passed away," Arthur said. "Don't let yourself become closed to love, or to the world. The world needs your style of love, and you need to have someone to keep you company."

"I… I never deserved you, Arthur. I complained so much about your muggle technology you kept fiddling with, or even when you tried a muggle healing thing with your wound… but for all of that, I miss just… just getting to sit down and listen to music, or dance, or even just talk about whatever Fred and George were getting up to," Molly told him.

"I've been watching them, and they've become fine young men, as we knew they would," Arthur said. "I guess you were right; they needed to be able to focus their minds onto something they enjoyed."

"Which they managed to do. Rufus has promised to ensure they get their joke shop back when we've ended this war," Molly said.

"Good. For all the grief they caused, they were always intelligent and creative, and I love that about them. I wish I could tell them how proud I am of them, but you'll have to pass that message on for me," Arthur smiled at her, his hand hovering gently over her cheek.

"I will, I promise," Molly assured him, her hand hovering over his, her eyes closed, and for a moment, she remembered how his touch felt. "I'm so sorry, Arthur, for every time I complained or mocked your love of muggle items."

"Molly, I told you, life is too short to have regrets. I don't regret anything because I got to be with you, and that was worth everything to me. I wouldn't trade any of our time together for anything. It wasn't long enough, but it was always worth it," Arthur told her. "Just promise me one thing?"

"Anything," Molly agreed, nodding.

"Live. Live, for me, and for you, and the kids. Live your life well, and happy, and we'll see each other again, hopefully many years from now," Arthur said. Tears rolling down her cheek, Molly nodded, sniffing softly.

"I promise," she said weakly. "For you, I promise."

"Now, let's get ready to go and deal with Slytherin, shall we?" Arthur said. In that moment, Molly knew that whatever happened, she'd be ready to deal with anything Slytherin threw at her, because not only did she have Arthur's spirit on her side, but in that moment, she felt lighter, as though a great burden had been lifted, and that gave her more strength than she had felt since before Arthur had died.

Now, it was time to make Slytherin regret ever helping Voldemort, and to destroy whatever dark magic Voldemort had left in this place, freeing any trapped souls and giving them the same peace Arthur had just managed to give to her.