Work Text:
1998
The Battle halted as a hissed magnified voice rang out over the land around Hogwarts.”You have fought valiantly, but in vain... I do not wish this.” Everyone paused, the death eaters taking steps backwards.“ Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity.“ The voice hissed out as death eaters vanished into the forbidden forest, but no one pursued, instead running towards fallen friends, and family. Mediwitches flooded out of the castle with Madame Pomfrey at their helm.
Harry's gaze traveled over those in the great hall. Thankfully, the Injured greatly outnumbered the dead. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of Remus and Tonks laid side by side. Ears rang as he approached and stared down at the pair, whose hands were entwined, both out cold. Harry let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he noticed their chests faintly moving up and down, but neither woke at him calling their names ever so softly under his breath. Harry took in another breath. At least they were breathing. He would ask one of the healers when he could catch the attention of one. But that thought completely blanked as he glanced over at the gaggle of redheads. His breath caught in his lungs as he rushed over to check who lay beneath the blanket adorned with the Hogwarts crest.
He didn't get far before one of the Weasleys stepped around his mother (despite the shock he was in himself) and wrapped his arms around Harry. Harry could tell by the scent and feel that this was George. Emerald eyes teared up as he glanced at Arthur, eyes sliding amongst the faces wearing signs of grief. Harry's knees buckled as he collapsed against George, who lowered them to the ground whispering in Harry's ear as Harry struggled to breath.
Fred....His Fred was gone. The pair had been sneaking around since his fourth year. Fred had been more than just a comfort during the tasks, and again as he lost Sirius. As his friendship with Ron rocked on an edge, Fred was a stable lifeline. A reason that Harry stopped people watching was that he fell in love without caution with Fred.
Again the hall's sounds of grief and anguish were silenced as the voice rang out again, a harsh hissed tone as it spoke.”Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you.“ Harry froze in George's arms. Ginny had joined their hug while Hermione joined up with Ron. He noticed rather late. His eyes were full of tears that crept down his cheeks.
“On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest, and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me.” George's whispered and his hands failed to grab Harry in time as he slid from George's arms to talk to Ron and Hermione as they ducked back out of the great hall. George was unable to follow as his mother latched onto him.
Hermione and Ron knew it was going to be hard. Hermione's arms wrapped around Harry quickly while Ron looked over them ever so vigilantly. Ron knew that if he hugged Harry now, he would not let go. Would not lose another brother… But Harry was right and it hurt knowing Ron was letting his friend send himself to his death. Hermione barely managed to let go without grabbing Harry again, the pair watching as he marched out of the castle, heading towards the forest.
What happened in the forest went like this: Harry turned the stone over in his hands, wondering if it would even work and was surprised as four voices greeted him. Sirius. His father. His mother. And… Fred. Harry swallowed thickly as a minor conversation took place, those who appeared giving him the strength to continue on as they walked with him to his death. Hagrid carried his body from the forest. Narcissa and her son nervously edged away from the group and grabbed Lucius, the trio vanishing into the castle. Voldemort smirked as he proclaimed himself the winner, yet that all crumbled as Neville stepped forward and the battle began again when he sliced Naginis head off. Voldemort's shriek of rage and a raised wand, gave way to confusion as a loud scream of happiness came from those before him when Voldemort heard Harry speak.
Then in the blink of an eye, the war was over.
2002
4 Years have passed since the end of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Harry put the Hallows into his vault after giving the goblins the blade soaked in basilisk venom for which they requested the return.
Ron and Hermione were finally engaged.
Ginevra announced her intention to wed Astoria Greengrass.
Percy and Audrey welcomed their first born child.
Bill and Fleur welcomed their second child.
Even Charlie announced his return to stay on the Burrows Property.
Molly and Arthur had the Burrow mildly rebuilt after the death eaters’ attack.
It meant that on the large property, instead of a lovely but overly large and dangerously-precarious looking house, there were three houses: a main house that Molly and Arthur would mostly use themselves and for family gatherings, Percy and Audrey’s house by the lake, and the studio-style apartment Charlie took above his fathers new and improved storage shed.
Harry and George were now celebrating three years together. The pair sought solace in each other's arms after the loss of Fred.
At this moment, George was waiting for Harry to return to their shared apartment above WWW. They had fixed up the store in Diagon Alley but left Lee and Angelina in charge and living in the apartment there. And they had opened up a location in Hogsmeade.
George glanced at his own family clock on the mantel with just three clock-hands on the main face: his photo, Harry, and Teddy Tonks, with the rest of the family on smaller clock faces. He watched Harry's clock-hand move from Hospital to Travel.
Teddy’s hand followed behind until he stopped on Home. George looked at the oven as a timer went off. Things were going as he planned, and if it was right he would be finishing dinner’s set up as the floo turned green.
Harry paused in the living room as he stepped out of the fireplace, taking in a deep breath as he took in the scent. George had cooked, and he could tell by the smell it was Molly's Shepard Pie recipe, his favorite. Harry's nimble fingers brushed over an item he picked up as he dropped Teddy off at his grandmother’s house after their normal Saturday visit to his mother at St. Mungos. Nymphadora and Remus had both survived, however Nymphadora ended up much like Alice and Frank Longbottom, next to whom she now roomed. Remus was alive and living with Andy, but he wasn't always awake. He spent the first three years after the war in a coma, and had honestly surprised the healers at St. mungos when he awoke. It was also a great shock that he never shifted in the coma, either. Apparently whatever curse Dolohov had hit him with had destroyed the wolf within him and severely reduced his magic levels. Now he was grateful to be alive.
Harry let out a soft breath as he heard George finishing something up and took a moment to steel himself as he clenched the item in his pocket, looking up at the small painted portrait of Fred. Thankfully Great Aunt Muriel had had the Weasley family all make one after Bill and Fleurs Wedding. 'It was a precaution,' she had claimed as she gifted the portraits to them on Christmas following the war. He gave a weak chuckle as the Fred in the painting gave him a thumbs up. Fred the portrait needed to give him no words. Harry already had a discussion with Fred when he visited his vaults earlier that week.
Harry stepped into the kitchen as George finished putting silverware on the table. Emerald eyes met freshly melted milk chocolate eyes. George's eyes were so much darker than Fred’s, and Harry was thankful that despite being twins, they had minor differences that were extremely hard to notice unless you really got to know them.
Fred had had a scent of damp woodsmoke, ink, and chocolate, with his firewhiskey-in-sunlight eyes that were about two shades lighter than George’s dark honey gaze. His George who smelled of ink, anise, and brushfire woodsmoke. Their scents were alike but so different when it came to it. Harry gave a wide smile as George pulled out his seat and Harry flicked his wand to do the same for George when he went to sit.
The pair ate dinner with soft conversation flowing between them as nerves increased for them both.
Both men had gone to the respective people over the past week, not that either of them realized it, much to the amusement of those around them. Harry had gone to Arthur and Great Aunt Muriel, who after his conversation with her, gave Harry the option to use one of the Prewitt bonding sets.
George had gone to speak with Remus. Remus gave him the option to use a bonding band that he had in his own vault. Sirius had teamed up with Lily to make it for James, not that it was ever needed or used when James surprised her that night with one from the Potter vaults.
George had set up a smoke bomb to go off as they finished dessert, not realizing Harry had set up one as well so both gentlemen, ended up staring at the other as the smoke cleared.
Both men stared at each other across the table, the soft tick-tock of the clock the only sound for a moment before Fred’s Laughter ran out from his frame. Both blushed, before they without words to each other reached for the bonding bands being offered. Harry stood and moved to clasp the Prewitt band onto Georges Wrist, sliding the matching ring onto his own finger. George in turn stood, and clasped the bonding bracelet onto Harry’s wrist and slid the matching ring onto his own finger.. Harry spoke first after silencing a still chuckling Fred with a wave of his hand “Well great minds must think alike.” George grinned and his hands grabbed Harry's hips pulling him close as their lips met in the softest of kisses.
The End.