Rekindled

The New Normal

The days following the funeral were slow and heavy. The world outside the Burrow seemed to buzz with life—Ministry workers rebuilding, newspapers full of stories about the battle, and people adjusting to Voldemort's defeat—but inside, the Weasleys were still finding their footing. 

Fred's absence was a shadow over every room, every meal, and every conversation. Yet, little by little, life began to inch forward. 

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Rebuilding Hogwarts 

In early June, Harry received an owl from Professor McGonagall, inviting him back to Hogwarts. She needed help restoring the castle, and he wasn't surprised to learn that Bill, Charlie, Percy, and George had also volunteered to lend their hands. To Harry's surprise, even Ron had agreed to go, dragging Hermione along with him. 

"Rebuilding's important," Ron said, shrugging when Harry asked why he wanted to return. "Besides, Hermione says it's good to feel useful or whatever." 

The castle, once so familiar, was a mixture of ruins and restoration when they arrived. Sections of the Great Hall were cordoned off, large portions of the roof had collapsed, and debris littered the once-polished corridors. 

"It's... strange, seeing it like this," Harry said as they passed what remained of the Gryffindor common room. 

"It'll look better soon," Hermione said, her voice full of determination. "We'll make sure of it." 

The weeks were long, filled with physical labor and the steady hum of magical repairs. Bill and Percy coordinated efforts with McGonagall and the Ministry, while Charlie's dragon-handling strength came in handy clearing larger rubble. George rarely spoke, but his presence alone seemed to lift the family's spirits. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione worked together, repairing classrooms and hallways, often pausing to share a laugh or exchange memories. Hermione and Ron, in particular, grew closer during those weeks. Their bickering softened into teasing, and more often than not, Harry would catch them holding hands or sharing a quiet moment when they thought no one was looking. 

"They're hopeless," Ginny joked one afternoon when she came to visit. She stood beside Harry as they watched Ron and Hermione argue over the placement of a bookshelf in the library. "But at least they've finally figured it out." 

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Harry and Ginny 

As the castle began to resemble its old self, so too did Harry's relationship with Ginny. 

At first, it was subtle: a conversation shared over lunch, a smile exchanged during a break in the work. But as the weeks went on, those moments grew more frequent, more natural. 

One evening, after a particularly grueling day of repairs, Harry found Ginny sitting on the steps of the repaired Astronomy Tower, gazing at the horizon as the sun dipped below the hills. 

He hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her. "Hey." 

Ginny turned to him, her face softening into a small smile. "Hey. Long day?" 

"Long month," Harry admitted, brushing the dirt off his hands. 

They sat in silence for a while, watching as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. Finally, Ginny spoke. 

"Sometimes it feels... wrong, doesn't it?" she said quietly. "Laughing. Smiling. When everything's changed so much." 

Harry nodded, his throat tight. "It does. But... I think Fred would have wanted us to laugh." 

Ginny looked at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You're probably right," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Without thinking, Harry reached out, placing a tentative hand on hers. She didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. 

"Thanks, Harry," she murmured. 

"For what?" 

"For being you," she said simply. 

Harry didn't know how to respond to that, so he stayed quiet, letting the closeness of the moment speak for itself. 

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George's Healing 

George remained quieter than usual, his jokes sparse and his laughter rare, but he began to open up in small ways. One afternoon, as he and Harry were clearing rubble near the old Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, he paused and looked at Harry. 

"You know," he said, his voice uneven, "Fred would've loved this. Rebuilding Hogwarts, working together... he'd have found a way to turn it into some ridiculous prank." 

Harry smiled, glancing over at him. "He'd probably charm the rubble to sing or something." 

George's laugh was short but genuine. "Yeah. He would've." 

Moments like that, though few and far between, were signs that George was beginning to heal. 

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Returning to a New Normal 

By the end of summer, the castle was nearly restored. The Great Hall's enchanted ceiling once again reflected the sky above, and the corridors bustled with professors preparing for the return of students. 

As the Weasleys and their friends returned to the Burrow, life began to settle into a rhythm. Meals were lively again, though Fred's absence was always felt, a quiet space at the table no one dared to fill. 

Harry spent much of his time helping George at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which reopened in late August. Customers flooded in, eager for laughter and lightheartedness after the dark times. George's jokes became more frequent, though his smile never quite reached his eyes the way it had before. 

Ron and Hermione grew inseparable, and their bickering became almost endearing to everyone else. One evening, Harry caught them sneaking out to the orchard, holding hands and laughing like children. Ginny teased Ron relentlessly when she found out, much to Hermione's embarrassment. 

Harry and Ginny's relationship blossomed in its own time. They didn't rush, but their connection grew stronger with each shared moment—a walk through the garden, a quiet evening by the fire, a stolen kiss under the stars. 

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A Quiet Celebration 

On the last evening of summer, the family gathered in the sitting room for a quiet celebration of Fred's memory. Percy shared one of Fred's old jokes, his voice trembling with emotion, and George, for the first time in months, laughed loudly. 

Mrs. Weasley wiped her eyes as she raised her glass. "To Fred," she said, her voice steady. "And to everyone we've lost. May we never forget them, and may we honor them by living." 

"To Fred," the family echoed, their voices a mixture of sorrow and strength. 

As Harry sat with Ginny beside him, her hand resting lightly on his, he felt a sense of peace he hadn't known in years. The scars of war were still there, but so was the love that bound them all together. 

The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time, Harry felt certain they would face it together. 

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