invisible string! → ron weasley ✓

xxi. the aftermath (epilogue)

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KATES WAS GRATEFUL to watch Voldemort die as any other mortal human. After everything he had done, everything he tried to stay alive forever...in the end, he was just a man. The Death Eaters had all either fled or been taken care of at that point, so once the Dark Lord's body fell onto the floor of the Great Hall, the battle was over.

There was no cheering or clapping. Celebrations would come later, surely, but now was the time to mourn, to repair what had been damaged, and to simply just breathe. Kates quickly found Aunt Jackie and the pair embraced. Wesley found them before they let go of each other, but he didn't interrupt. Instead, he stood at a respectful distance...until, of course, the two witches noticed him and gestured for him to join. Kates distinctly felt tears fall from her brother's cheeks into her hair.

"You two," said the eldest of the three when they finally let go, a hand on each's shoulder, "are everything I could have hoped for you to become and more. Never had I dreamed I'd wind up with not one but two brave, strong, and courageous kids under my wing." A few fresh tears fell down her cheeks, but no one was trying to hide their emotions at this point.

"You taught us well," said Kates, the ghost of a smile gracing her features. Even with all the devastation and death that surrounded them, they had gained so much. Ever the optimist, she decided to focus on the latter more than the former.

"Give yourself some more credit," said Jackie with a laugh. Kates opened her mouth to protest, but her brother spoke before she had the chance.

"She's right," said Wes as he looked to her. "I don't reckon I would've changed sides were it not for you. She helped, but you...you showed me it was possible." Kates sniffed and pulled her brother into her tightest hug yet, and he didn't even hesitate to wrap his arms around her. She didn't even see the old Wesley in him now; all she saw was the older brother she had always wanted and finally, finally had right in front of her. They would be just fine.

Shortly afterward, Kates found herself being crushed in hugs from all of the Weasleys which nearly brought her to tears because, as Ginny murmured during their shared embrace, she was family. They sat around for a bit telling fun stories about Fred, Remus, and Tonks until Ron returned from wherever he had gone with Harry and Hermione. He silently inserted himself into the circle, putting his arm around Kates' shoulders, but at this point people had begun the cleanup and they soon all split off to do their part.

Fortunately, the damage to the castle wasn't irreparable, especially when so many wizards and witches were about. There was a break around lunchtime, and by then the bodies had already been moved from the Great Hall and brought to one of the larger classrooms. The house elves had prepared every type of comfort food they could conjure up for the heroes of Hogwarts, and most people ate in silence, the occasional joke or remark thrown in here and there. They were all still mourning, after all, and there was still so much more to be done.

As the sun began to set over the grounds, the last pieces of the castle went back into place and everyone present could now perform Reparo without speaking a word if they hadn't been able to do so already. Minerva McGonagall had been busy, but as everything wrapped itself up she found Kates leaning against a wall at the foot of the grand staircase, looking out at it.

They stood together in silence for a few minutes, watching the portraits, the moving staircases, the few people who milled about. When the Headmistress finally spoke, Kates was surprised to hear the unsuppressed emotion in her voice.