The Girl who Survived (Fred Weasley)

CH 20. Some Kind of Ending

~Elodie's POV~
​ "We have to go," Hermione said, pulling on my hand.
​I grabbed onto Harry's hand and we began running. Our last run of the night I'd hopped and made our way out of the courtyard and into the bell tower. Escalating up the god-awful stairs to approach the infirmary. Where we saw Dumbledore, pulling his head out of the double doors.
​ "Well?" he asked us firmly.
​ "He's free," Harry answered. "We did it."
​ "Did what?" Dumbledore asked. "Goodnight." There was a twinkle in his eyes, and he smiled as he proceeded down the stairs.
He understood. He just couldn't say. Will anyone ever get used to the way this man works in such mysterious ways? We made our way into the infirmary just in time to catch up with our old selves leaving. And there we were. Begin the mission all over again.
"How did you get there...I was talking to you there?" Ron asked, pointing back and forth frantically between our past and current selves. Hermione turned to look at Harry and I and I knew instantly where this was going.
"What is he talking about?" She said with a slight laugh in her words.
"I don't know, honestly Ron, how can anybody be in two places at once?" Harry answered her.

***

Exams had passed, and the year would be over any moment now. While I was glad, I'd be able to go home and lay in my tiny bed for a few months it still felt strange that so much had happened this year. I made my way through the halls and approached Minerva's office. Dumbledore had sent me a note that he had already informed her of the events that took place. And in doing so, cleared up the misunderstanding with Sirius.
I knocked on the door to her office and watched it open on its own.
"Hello my dear. What can I do for you today?" She asked me kindly.
I closed the door behind me. Most students who tend to do poorly on their exams usually try to come and find a way to boost their grade slightly, so I didn't want anyone eavesdropping.
"Cup of tea?" She asked me and waved her hand to fill my favorite china teacup.
"Mimi, I wanted to apologize," I told her. I looked at my feet not able to look her in the eye. "I've been unfair to everyone this year, most especially to you. I've been cruel," I said.
She moved across the room and placed the cup of tea in front of me as she sat on the sofa beside me. I felt he place a gentle hand on my knee and pat it slightly as I looked up to meet her eyes.
"When you were sent to be under my care, I thought to myself that it would be as easy as caring for another one of my students. Quickly though you proved me wrong. I may not be your mother, but you definitely taught me what it was truly like to have a child," She said and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "I knew that argument would come one day, what else was I to expect."
I smiled at her. No, she wasn't my mother, but she was the best thing I had and if I couldn't have anything more, I was eternally grateful to have her.
"I won't lie to you, and tell you that it'll be easy, no. You are going to face challenges, but promise me, no matter what they are, you will continue to come to me. As you have in the past," She asked me. Her hand fell from my face and, but she still held my gaze. There it was again. The feeling of love.
"You may not have been my mother, but you will always be my mum," I told her. I leaned over and hugged her gently. She was my family. And this was enough. We stayed like this for a few moments until she pinched my chin and went around to her desk.
"I hear Amos and young Cedric have invited you to attend the world cup with them?" She asked me.
"Yes, but not till the end of Holiday. They'll be traveling beforehand so I won't see much of them this summer," I told her before taking a sip of my tea.
"Very well. Unfortunately, I will be needed here for most of the holiday. So, I trust you will find something constructive to fill your time with. Molly and Arthur would enjoy having you, so that's an option," She informed me.
A summer at The Burrow. Not my number one pick, but definitely not terrible. I hadn't told her about the "almost accident", I mean, how could I? She would find it horrifying.
"Right, I don't suppose there's any use in arguing is there?" I asked her, already knowing what her answer would be. I didn't have to be psychic to see that.
"None at all," She informed me, and I knew the matter was done. She gave me a long look from her desk. "I like to pride myself on being a modern woman my dear, yet you always leave me amazed," She said after a moment.
"How's that ma'am?" I asked her confused by her statement.
"It doesn't take a seer to see that there are many young men in the castle that fancy you," She said almost mockingly, she enjoyed this part. Slightly embarrassing me. "Now, you know I'm not one to encourage you to play games, but my dear as much as you've grown you are still young. I see how you change yourself to be the person others want from you. It's not fair to them, and it is not fair to you. You are a strong woman, with a brain, and more than a fair amount of reasonable ability. I know you won't settle for less than what you deserve," She told me. There was a bit of scolding in there, but she had a point.
I knew what she meant; I just wasn't ready to admit it. I didn't want to think about it just yet, but if not now then when? I couldn't keep up this shifting personality, I just needed to find who it was I wanted to be.
"I'd better go, start packing and such," I told her and took one final sip of my tea.
"Yes, lots of baggage to take with you I'm sure," she said to me sarcastically and even I couldn't hold in my laughter from that one.
"It's good, okay. You got me," I told her as I walked up to place a kiss on the top of her head. "Will I see you at home?" I asked as I walked back around to the door.
"Yes, I will be there when you arrive, have your bags ready and I'll take them with me," She informed me.