Endless Sacrifice

Chapter 15

"Damn it. Ouch." Oliver muttered as he held his burned finger between his lips.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes as I stared at Oliver's dyed hands.

"Funny am I? I don't see the bloody point in this Mel. Our daughter doesn't even know it's Easter."

"Sure she does. And she may just be seven months old but I'm trying to give her some semblance of normalcy. There's been so many strangers coming and going from this house. Eliza will love this."

"Well my burned fingers don't." Oliver spat.

"Oh hush love. That's what the spoons are for, I can't help that you don't have any patience."

"And after all this work we're just going to roll these ruddy eggs down a hill?"

"We're going to race them, yes. You really never did this as a child? Iris and I always had so much fun with this as children."

"No Mel. I'm an only child. But Mum does make the best lamb for Easter dinner." Oliver said as he beamed towards his mother who was crocheting on the couch, she grinned back. I smiled and nodded as I smelled the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.

"I think you're so cynical because you're afraid your pathetic eggs are going to lose." I teased.

Oliver narrowed his eyes towards me as Iris snorted from her spot at the table. Eliza giggled in her highchair as she held a completely destroyed egg in her hands.

"Great, even my own daughter is laughing at me." Oliver whined jokingly.

The four of us laughed loudly together, it was in small moments like this where all felt right with the world. My family had been with Bill and Fleur for nearly five months now, their home had graciously become ours. I sometimes found myself forgetting about the war itself. We had all tried so hard to give Eliza a stable home and I finally felt like we had. Our laughter was abruptly cut short when Bill came sprinting down the stairs and out the front door.

"They're here!" Bill hollered from outside.

Oliver and I both stood up from the table while Iris held Eliza close to her. We were prepared to defend against any intruder. I dropped my balled fists when I finally saw who Bill had been speaking of. I raced from the house in the same direction as Bill, I could hear Oliver's footsteps in pace with mine. Tears were flowing from my eyes as I got closer to them.

Hermione. Ron. Harry.

Hermione gasped once she saw me and held her arms wide open just in time for me to leap into them, we nearly toppled onto the sand. I hugged her tighter than I had ever hugged anyone, it had been months since we had last seen each other and aside from the small cut on her neck and some bruising on her face, she seemed to be alright. I was so thankful.

Hermione's hands were rigid around my back, I could feel her pulse racing against my own neck, I realized then that they had been through a great ordeal. Hermione's arms shook as she finally released me, tears had welled in her eyes. I had never seen her look so shaken before. I squeezed her hands tightly before I hugged Ron, he breathed easier in my embrace.

As we pulled away I could see Harry kneeling on the sand, clutching something small in his arms. I hadn't even noticed Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Mr. Ollivander and Griphook the goblin until now. They all looked weak and disheveled, Ollivander most of all. I slowly walked towards Harry, his shoulders were shaking.

"Harry?" I whispered to him as I touched his shoulder.

Harry jumped and looked up at me, tears were rolling down his cheeks. I gasped when I realized who he was holding, Dobby. I dropped to my knees beside Harry.