Fred Weasley x Reader (slow and Steady)

Epilogue

The repairing of the school had taken some time. Granted, compared to how long it would take for muggles to rebuild, it had been a swift job. With the convenience of magic and sheer number of those capable of helping, in a few months the school was back to working order once more. It would have finished much sooner, though the level of damage that had been dealt to the school had lengthened the time.

Hogwarts wasn't the only place that needed time to be rebuilt. Though it had received more extensive damage comparably, Hogsmeade had been in shambles.

With people fleeing just months after Dumbledore's death, there weren't many to supervise the crime within the city. Several shops had needed to rebuild and restock. Regrettably, the twins' shop had been a victim of such. Thankfully before we had left they had ensured their stocks would be stashed away someplace safe, so there was no need to re order. All that had been needed was a few repairos and the shop was as good as new. The students excitedly awaited its reopening. The twins had hoped to reopen just before the school year opened, they hadn't wanted to let the students down. Plus, the two of them had been eager to get back to work.

During the few months it took to rebuild the school, Hagrid and I had gotten together to send the creatures I had rescued to a not too far off reserve off in Ireland where they would be happily cared for until completely healed; once they were ready they would then be placed back out into the wild where the caretakers knew wouldn't have nearby Snatchers, a protected home for them.

Though there was one that I didn't have the heart to give away. The Matagot I had rescued along with them had seemed to have made quite the friendship bond with p/n, the two had been inseparable. It felt wrong to separate them at all. The nifflers had happily stayed within the knot in the tree as well, I had no desire to give them away, especially Bandit.

Once the school year had begun once more, Hermione had happily gone back to repeat the final year she had been unable to take back when the group of them had to flee. It was expected, she always had a love for school and learning, coming from a life without magic to be brought into a world brimming with it, she had such a hunger to learn that never seemed to cease.

Slowly things were finally going back to where it belonged, the peace had been a welcome feeling.

During the months of the schools rebuilding, much like we had talked about Fred and I had taken a portkey over to my aunt's home where my parents had been staying in hiding over the past year. I had felt bad pressing so hard on them to leave a place they had spent years making their own, the memories they had created; and not go with them like my father had wanted, nearly demanded of me.

The fear they must have felt during that year, not knowing what might have happened to their daughter. Was she alive? Was she dead? I felt horrible. Not being able to give them a single word of assurance that I was indeed alright, that I was alive.

I had just hoped I'd be able to make it up to them. Hoping they'd understand.

Thankfully, they had been. Incredibly so. The moment we had arrived in their front yard, the screams from my mother had echoed loudly from inside as she bolted through the front door enveloping me into a tight hug, her sobs muffled into my shoulder. My father had left the home soon after, he had looked surprised, hoping it hadn't been some sort of mirage standing before him.

"You're safe, thank god you're safe!" My mother wept into my shoulder, behind her my father slowly walked down the porch steps, the front door still hanging open.

"I'm alright," I nodded, holding my mother tightly. "I'm safe, it's over."

"What's this?" She asked, her voice breaking as the crying slowed, her hand lightly grazed over the scar that curled around my collar bone that just peaked past the collar of my shirt. "You got hurt?" she looked back at me, her eyebrows creasing with worry.