𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 85

The funerals for the Fallen Fifty were celebrations of the heroism each person had shown, and the survivors of the battle solemnly bowed their heads respectfully, vowing to always remember the sacrifice.

Not long after the funerals, life began to return to normal, though everyone agreed that life would never truly be normal again, with the scars of the battle forever etched into the minds of those who fought.

Severus had decided to live a secluded life in a muggle town near Scotland, having had felt immense guilt for what had happened at Hogwarts for the year he was headmaster. Aurelia and Natasha had forgiven him, even bringing Regulus over to show Severus, who had adored the baby as soon as their eyes met.

Lily and James had also decided to live a more secluded life, not wishing to be in the public eye, but they had moved into the old Potter mansion where James had grown up, helping to redecorate it for Harry who had decided to not go back to Hogwarts to redo his seventh year.

What he had decided though was that he was going to pursue a relationship with Ginny, so Natasha was now subject to the constant remarks from Fred over dinner whenever the new couple visited, earning him quite a few hits every now and then.

Natasha and Fred, as well as the rest of the Order had pitched in to help rebuild Hogwarts, and Adrian, who was quietly helping move stone, was approached by Minerva, who offered him the role of Transfiguration professor, now that she was stepping into the Headmistress role.

Adrian, being Adrian, had been uneasy about it at first, but a firm talking to from Aurelia had made him accept, and had begun packing his trunks, even though school didn't start back until September.

For now, though, everyone was over at the Burrow, enjoying countless birthday celebrations for Natasha, Aurelia and Harry. All of the babies were being passed around like parcels amongst the adults, and Natasha had been forced to wrestle Regulus from Adrian, George and Charlie at one stage when quidditch gloves had yet again found their way onto her son's hands.

"Wait until he's one at least!" she cried, bouncing Regulus on her hip. Fred smirked from where he stood by Harry, knowing full well that Natasha would give in to Regulus and quidditch soon.

"So, Harry, what're your plans now that you're a free lad?" Fred asked, sipping his lemonade with a pinkie raised. Harry shrugged, picking at a stain on his shirt.

"Well because my parents are back, I want to spend time with them, maybe travelling? But then I also want to take the path Natasha and Adrian took and start training to become an auror, which, now that Kingsley is the Minister for Magic, I'll most likely get Natasha as my mentor, which will be nice," he said simply, taking off his glasses to clean them.

"It'll be just like DA, when you taught her how to produce a patronus charm, though now it'll be reversed roles," Fred said with a laugh, as Natasha approached them both, Regulus somehow now asleep on her hip.

"I think he and Rowan spent some time rolling around today, so I might head home now to put him to sleep for a while, and get Millie to watch him," she said gently, referring to the house elf they had just employed. Millie was a free elf, as Natasha had gifted her with a sock the second, she had met her, and she worked with a fair wage, as well as residing in the home.

"Okay, be safe darling. I'll be home soon," Fred promised, sliding a hand around Natasha's waist to place a kiss on her lips. By now, everyone had become accustomed to their public displays of affection, as most people did it now.

So much had been lost in the war that everyone had promised themselves to never hurt their loved ones, so Diagon Alley was full of plenty of young lovers, including Ron and Hermione, whose kiss in the Chamber of Secrets had passed around the Weasley family pretty quickly.

Natasha apparated back home, smiling at the photo that greeted her by the fireplace. It was of Emerson, Reggie, Rowan and Teddy, all dressed up in fun playsuits at a Weasley gathering just after the war, their faces somewhat smiling, even though Emerson and Teddy weren't at the age to exactly smile yet.

"You're all going to have so much fun when you get to Hogwarts my darling," Natasha cooed to her sleeping son, walking upstairs carefully to lay him down in his crib. "I don't doubt we'll receive weekly letters of your mishaps and mayhem, and I encourage you to have fun. Life is so short, we've all learnt that, and there isn't time to not enjoy life."

Regulus, still asleep, stayed silent, and Natasha laughed to herself. She lay him down before gently styling his growing black hair, pressing a kiss to his button nose before turning on the night light.

"Sleep tight munchkin," she whispered, and she shut the door gently, walking back down the hallway past the now empty bedrooms where Tonks and Remus and her parents had been staying in for the past few months.

Everyone had returned to their respective homes once the war had ended, which left Fred and Natasha feeling quite lonely. Regulus was still only seven months old, so more children were out of the question for at least another year, therefore Natasha had tasked herself with designing the perfect bedroom for him, so that when he was finally old enough, he would have the perfect bedroom, leaving the nursery perhaps for another child.

"Nat? You up there?" came Fred's voice, and she popped her head over the railings of the second floor, smiling down at her husband.

"I just put Reggie to bed. Why'd you come home so quick love?" she asked, sliding down the stair railing to fall right into Fred's awaiting arms.

He grimaced, recalling why he had left. "Ginny and Harry were giving each other the 'eyes', even though I warned him she still has another year left of school. Bill and Fleur were also heavily snogging in the corner, so I thought it best to just leave and have a night in with my gorgeous wife."

Natasha blushed and kissed Fred's cheek as he jumped onto their couch, safely cocooning her in his arms. Memories of their entire lives sat plastered upon the walls surrounding them, forever captured in time, now settled into frames.

There was the first day of school for the twins and Natasha, the first time Fred had ridden a broom, and a photo which Natasha prized the most, nestled above the fireplace surrounded by her and Fred's old ties, and Adrian's scarf.

The picture of her and Fred's wedding.

"I can't wait for Reggie and his friends to create their own memories like this," she sighed happily, and Fred looked down at her lovingly, stroking her hair before bopping her nose.

"They'll have the time of their lives, darling. Just like we once did."