Until We're Grey and Old

One: The War is Over

It would take a long time for them to get over the war. For now, the Weasleys did what they always did best: took care of each other.

"Love?"

Isabelle jumped a little in the rocking chair, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she looked up to see Bill watching her from the doorway of the nursery.

"I wasn't sleeping, I was just resting my eyes," Isabelle said.

Bill chuckled. "Of course you were," he said, walking over to her and offering a hand. "Come back to bed."

Isabelle nodded and stood from the chair, but hesitated to follow him out. "What if she needs me again? I should probably just stay in here."

"She's fine, darling," Bill said softly, taking her hands in his. "I know you're worried but you can't stay in here all night like this."

Isabelle sighed. "You're right."

After a little more hesitation, Bill and Isabelle were finally back in bed, Bill making sure to wrap his arms tightly around his wife.

"Was it another nightmare?" he asked once they were settled.

Isabelle nodded against his chest. "You don't have to act like you don't have them, too."

"I'm not. They are just mostly about losing you," he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Once I wake up to you in my arms, I know that everything is okay."

"I suppose that's a good way of thinking about it."

"It's how I stay sane," Bill said. "It's only been a month. We have to give it time."

"I know. I wish I could leave it all behind me, but I can't. Not with all of those people lost and the school in ruin."

"I understand how you feel," Bill said, holding her a little tighter. "We are doing everything we can for now, and we will help rebuild Hogwarts however possible when the time comes."

"What about Eleanor?"

Bill sighed. "No word yet. She has the grandparents in France, but they aren't sure if they can take her at their age."

"I wish we could just let her stay here," Isabelle said. "She hardly comes out of her bedroom as it is, I can't imagine trying to force her to move to a new country."

After the death of her parents in the battle, Eleanor refused to leave Bill and Isabelle's side. She spent every moment at the hospital, whether it be outside of Isabelle's room or in, and begged to go home with them when it was time to leave the Burrow. With the Ministry also being rebuilt, there was little fuss about them taking in the girl rather than sticking her in an orphanage, but they were warned that, as they were not her family, they would have no legal guardianship if they found family to take her in.

"I'm sure that's all she wants, too," Bill said. "I know that it will work out in the end. I promise."

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A month went by without much change. Families were still grieving and the Ministry was still working on rebuilding. Azkaban grew fuller each day as more on-the-run Death Eaters were caught by Aurors, the missing muggle-borns were returned to their homes, and the dead were given proper memorials.

Bill and Isabelle were doing what they typically did on days where there was no news and no plans to travel to the Burrow or her parents' house. They sat together on a bench outside of the cottage, looking out to the calm of the ocean, enjoying the warmer weather now that summer had fully arrived, and listened to the babbling of their baby in Bill's arms.