A Light of Meaning

When Harry stepped through the door into the Weasley’s kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was seated at the table with her head in her arms, sobbing. Mr. Weasley was attempting to comfort her, without much success. Harry shut the door, and the sound made Mrs. Weasley look up; her face darkened when she saw him. “Get out!” she snapped, although her tears made it sound less harsh than she’d probably meant it.

“No,” Harry replied, and drew his wand; when he raised it Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both flinched, and Harry had to fight back tears at their apparent lack of trust. Harry cast a quick Silencing Charm, sealing the room from outside ears. “I have to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you!” Mrs. Weasley barked.

“Fine,” Harry answered harshly, “then you can shut up and listen!” Mrs. Weasley, looking shocked and angry, opened her mouth again, but Harry pushed onward: “I can’t stand seeing all of you fighting like this anymore! It hurts me almost as much as it hurts Ginny and Ron, because…because I love you like they do!”

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stared; that was clearly not what they’d been expecting. “When I got here to the Wizarding World, that’s when I consider that my life actually started, because I got exactly what my pathetic excuse for a life had been lacking. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George, they all gave me friendship, but it was you who gave me a family. Mr. Weasley, you’ve helped me, given me guidance and never talked down to me, even when it would have been easy to. And Mrs. Weasley…you’ve worried yourself sick over me, and defended my honesty when the whole world thought I was mad; you’re the only person who’s ever hugged me like a mother. Until I met the Weasleys I never understood why people would do anything to protect their families. If my parents had lived…I’d have wanted them to be just like you.”

Despite all the spite and bad feelings between them, Harry could tell the Weasleys were undoubtedly moved by what he’d said; but he wasn’t finished. “Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, listen carefully, all right? Ginny, Ron, Hermione and I haven’t been staying at Fred and George’s place. We’ve been staying at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place in London.”

Harry watched as the Weasleys’ expressions changed, the shock and incredulity as clear as day. “I- I’ve just remembered,” Mr. Weasley muttered. “How could I have forgotten about Grimmauld Place? The Order was headquartered there! It’s ridiculous!”

“No, it’s not,” Harry insisted. “I cast the Fidelius Charm to protect the House of Black; since I’m the Secret-Keeper, no one else will remember it unless I tell them.”

Mr. Weasley gaped at Harry. “You cast the Fidelius Charm? That’s astonishing!”

“And- and you didn’t trust us enough to tell us?” Mrs. Weasley exclaimed.

“A minute ago you didn’t trust me enough to believe I wouldn’t hex you in your own home!” Harry shot back. “Anyway, it was too important to risk; I couldn’t chance anyone from the Order knowing unless they had to. Voldemort’s too good a Legilimens, he might pick it up if he captures you.”

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both flinched at Voldemort’s name. “But you’re telling us now,” Mr. Weasley pointed out.

“Because you have to know to understand why,” Harry said, trying to impress on them that he was being completely honest. “You had to know that I wouldn’t have shunned both the Order and the Ministry, despite the danger I’m in, without good reason! Before he died, Dumbledore gave me a task that’s more important than anything the Order is doing, or the Ministry. Keeping our location secret was necessary to protect our activities from getting out.”

“Albus gave you a task?” Mr. Weasley’s skepticism was evident. “Harry, I know you and Albus had a close relationship, but-”

“You think I was with Dumbledore when he was killed because we’d been chatting about Quidditch?” Harry interrupted sarcastically. “We’d had just ten minutes earlier gotten back from…well, from a mission.”

“Albus would never have taken a sixteen-year-old boy on an important mission…”

“I was not just a sixteen-year-old boy!” Harry said fiercely. “I would have thought you of all people would have realized that! Or did you think all my Fifth year you were guarding the ministry’s secret Voldemort-killing Mouldy Sponge of Doom?”

“Albus told you what we were guarding?” Mrs. Weasley gasped.

“Of course he did,” Harry muttered. “He owed me that much, at least, after keeping me in the dark so long.” He sighed. “Dumbledore knew – he knew years ago that there was something only I could do, to help win this second war for the light. He never asked me to do it – I told him I was going to, whether he wanted me to or not. That’s why he took me with him that night.”

Mrs. Weasley looked utterly horrified. “Harry…you’re serious? You were going off on missions with Albus? In the middle of the school year?!”

Harry stared blankly at Mrs. Weasley for a moment before laughing weakly. “I never thought of it like that- it never occurred to me to even consider that school would be more important than killing Voldemort.”

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley shivered again. “Don’t say his name!” Mr. Weasley said sharply.

“I’m not going to stop saying it,” Harry replied hotly. “I won’t live in fear! Voldemort’s taken too much from me already – now that I finally have a life I want to live, I won’t let him take that too!”

“You’ve been through enough, Harry!” Mrs. Weasley cried suddenly. “You’ve done your part!”

Harry was overjoyed that Mrs. Weasley had gotten past her anger enough to worry about him again, but he had to shake his head at her words; “No, I haven’t. No one has until Voldemort’s dead. I know you understand that, or you wouldn’t risk yourselves when you have a family that loves you so much.” He swallowed nervously, trying vainly to ease his dry throat. “What I still have to do for the war is so difficult and dangerous that sometimes it seems impossible. Ginny, and Ron and Hermione, insisted on helping; they chose to go with me, because they didn’t want to see me dead. Ginny was the one who convinced me, by the way – I was going to go off on my own to protect you all from the danger of being near me, but Ginny made me open my eyes and see that I wouldn’t have lasted a week without them.

“And- and honestly…it hurt so much to be away from Ginny I almost didn’t want to bother trying. Mrs. Weasley, please believe me; our marriage isn’t a farce, it’s real! I love Ginny- I don’t know why you’d think I would ever even consider marrying her unless I did. Ginny didn’t run away from home and marry me to spite you or hurt you; she did it partly to help fight against Voldemort, but mainly because she loves me! It’s not a schoolgirl crush – it’s really love!

“Ginny is like me in so many ways…and like me, she hasn’t been a child for a long time. She was scarred just as badly as I was when Voldemort’s spirit violated her mind four years ago. I don’t think anyone else really understood that – I didn’t until very recently. Ginny…we’ve found something together that makes our burdens easier to bear. The rest of my life may be very hard and exceptionally short – but anything is worth it to be with Ginny.”

“And what if what happened to Ron happens again?” Mrs. Weasley whispered in anguish. “What if it happens to Ginny?”

“What happens if Ginny stays here, and the Burrow gets attacked by a hundred Death Eaters?” Harry countered. “What happens if you lock Ginny and Ron in their rooms, and then something happens to you, and they’re trapped in there and starve? Should Ginny and Ron spend the rest of their lives hiding while their family is away fighting and maybe dying? That’s not fair, to them or to you. They have as much right to fight for you as you do for them. They love you as much as you love them.”

Mr. Weasley, looking very pale, met Harry’s eyes with his own. “I hardly know what to say, Harry,” he said quietly. “I do believe what you’ve told us; and I’m torn between being confused and furious…and being unbelievably proud that you’re my son-in-law.”

It was Harry’s turn to stare in shock; he hadn’t anticipated Mr. Weasley so readily accepting both his story, and his marriage to Ginny! “I always wanted to be part of your family,” he whispered. “And now I am- legally, anyway. But I won’t really be until you’ve accepted it. Both of you,” he added for Mrs. Weasley’s benefit.

Watching her struggle between her fears and remorse, and her love and pride, Harry felt incredibly sorry for Mrs. Weasley right then. He’d always seen her as someone larger than life; always boisterous and alive, always ready to give. But at that moment Molly Weasley looked very small, and afraid, and very much alone.

“Harry?” Ginny had appeared in the doorway; her eyes were still a bit red from crying. She took one look at her parents and her expression reshaped into a scowl. “Come on,” she said shortly, striding into the room and grasping Harry’s wrist. “Bill and Fleur are about to cut the cake, and we’re not missing it – I’m not letting them ruin this day any more,” she added nastily with a curt gesture at her parents.

“Ginny-” Mrs. Weasley stood up slowly, her movement betraying her uncertainty.

“Don’t!” Ginny snapped, cutting her mother off. “Send me a Howler if you want to insult me more, but not here, not now! Bill deserves better then that from you!”

Mrs. Weasley’s face twisted up, and to everyone’s surprise she threw her arms around Ginny, her cries redoubling. Ginny, completely shocked, stood perfectly still with her arms out to her sides as her mother sobbed into her shoulder. “I’m so s-sorry,” Mrs. Weasley blubbered. “I l-love you so m-much…”

“M-mum?” Ginny stammered. Her jaw dropped when her father hurried over to wrap his arms around both of them. “Dad?”

“We missed you terribly, Ginny,” Mr. Weasley whispered; there were tears in his eyes as well.

Ginny stared out between her parents at Harry with huge eyes, her mouth hanging open. “Harry, did you Obliviate my parents?!”

“What? No!’ Harry exclaimed. “We just talked- I told them some things, and…” He shrugged.

Ginny tried to size up her mother, who was still clinging to her. Very carefully, she put her arm around her mother, as if worried Mrs. Weasley was fragile and would break. “Mum?” she said tentatively. “Are you…okay?”

“No,” Mrs. Weasley answered, still crying. “This is all my f-fault…”

“I- I didn’t help,” Ginny admitted. Her automatic cynicism was beginning to fade as she grew more certain her mother was honestly trying to apologize.

“We know you’re not a child, Ginny,” Mr. Weasley said. “We know you didn’t want to hurt us…”

“No,” Ginny whispered. “I didn’t.”

“I was so angry, and so frightened – I still am frightened,” Mrs. Weasley went on. “But I let it come between us, and I shouldn’t have. I’m so sorry I didn’t l-listen when you said you had to do this; I’m sorry I didn’t think you were old enough to understand love!”

“I- I-” Ginny was completely gobsmacked. Fifteen minutes earlier her mother had been at her throat; now she was hugging her and apologizing.

Ginny’s eyes glistened when her mother mumbled “Please forgive us, Ginny…”

“Mum…” Ginny twisted around so she could see Mr. Weasley. “Dad- I…”

Mr. Weasley looked right into his only daughter’s eyes. “We’re so sorry, Ginny,” he said.

Finally, Ginny began to cry herself, and her arms tightened around her parents. Harry smiled as the three of them hugged, and fished in his pocket for a special Galleon; Hermione has cast a Protean Charm on it specifically for the wedding, so it would call to the seven other D.A. members in attendance. He tapped it with his wand and whispered the trigger as quietly as he could, so he wouldn’t disturb the reconciliation.

After only a moment, Harry heard what sounded like a stampede of footsteps approaching; his Silencing Charm prevented sound from getting out, but not from getting in. Ginny and her parents didn’t notice until the door burst open and Ron, Hermione, Fred and George, Angelina and Luna all flew in, wands drawn. They all stopped dead when they saw Harry waving them down. “Harry, what’s going on?” Hermione asked, not taking her eyes off the Weasleys.

“Ron!” Mrs. Weasley let go of Ginny and clamped onto Ron like a vise.

“Mum?” Ron looked just as shocked as Ginny had. Since he was so tall Mrs. Weasley’s hair was just under his chin, and he raised his eyebrows over his mother’s head at Harry. “What did you do? Hex them?”

“Why does everyone assume I cast some spell?” Harry asked sullenly.

“Well, this is kind of sudden,” Ron muttered

“Nothing happened, Ron,” Mr. Weasley said quietly, walking over and putting his hand on Ron’s shoulder. “We just talked, like we should have done weeks ago.”

Ginny ran over to Harry and hugged him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered so only he could hear. “I don’t care what you did, just- thank you.”

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had moved over to hug Fred and George; Fred was begging for help with his eyes, but Angelina was just smiling placidly at him. “Harry,” Hermione said tentatively, “if nothing’s wrong, then why did you activate the Protean Charm?”

“Because I thought that Ron and Fred and George should be here for this too,” Harry said with a shrug. “And I didn’t want to send a magical message that would get the whole wedding party curious.”

“Thanks for that, mate,” Ron said fervently. “This is private.”

“Yeah,” Ginny agreed, raising her head off Harry’s chest and smiling at Ron. “This is family business.”

“That’s right, it is,” Mr. Weasley said, walking over to stand in front of Harry. “Which includes you, Harry. You know, we’ve thought of you as another son since we first met you; I may have been less than pleased by the circumstances surrounding your marriage to Ginny, but don’t doubt that I considered you a part of our family long before it was made official.”

Now it was Harry’s turn to tear up. “Is it going to bother you having another person calling you dad?” he asked, trying to joke his way through.

“I probably won’t even notice one more,” Mr. Weasley replied with a smile. Ginny squeezed Harry even tighter, laughing and crying at the same time.

Ron slipped around Mr. Weasley as they continued talking, and crept up to his mother’s side. “Er, mum?” he said tentatively.

Mrs. Weasley looked around and smiled wetly at him. “Yes?” Ron leaned over and whispered something in her ear.

Mrs. Weasley’s strangled shriek was enough to get everyone’s attention. “Oh, Ron!’ she gasped, staring at her youngest son. “You mean-? Are you certain? Absolutely sure?”

Ron looked a bit pale, but answered without hesitation. “Yeah, of course I am. Er…can I?”

Mrs. Weasley hugged Ron again. “Oh Ron, that’s wonderful!” she babbled, starting to cry again. “Oh, of course you can…”

“Molly?” Mr. Weasley said nervously. “What is it?”

Mrs. Weasley leaned back and looked Ron in the eye. “Now, Ron?” she asked.

Ron nodded, looking even paler. “Yeah.”

Mrs. Weasley released Ron, and her hands fumbled for a moment; then she held out her hand, and when she placed the ring in Ron’s palm Ginny gasped. “Mum’s engagement ring!” she whispered.

The room was completely silent as Ron turned and walked far too slowly across the room, until he stood in front of Hermione, who looked quite ready to bolt. “It’s an old family ring,” he said, his voice shaking. His eyes were fixed on the ring – presumably so he wouldn’t have to meet Hermione’s eyes. “Bill couldn’t give it to Fleur; some weird tradition of hers. But mum said if any of us ever…”

Ron licked his lips, and then got down on one knee. Hermione’s hands flew up to cover her face. She squeaked.

Ron fiddled anxiously with the ring a second more before looking up at Hermione, and when their eyes met he froze. He’d looked all prepared to ask the question everyone knew was coming, but Hermione’s gaze had stopped him cold; eventually, he only managed to hold out the ring and mutter “Umm, here.”

Nothing happened for a long moment. Harry, who was standing just behind Hermione’s right shoulder, frantically mouthed the words Will you marry me? until Ron caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. “That is, uh…Hermione Jane Granger – will you marry me?”

Hermione gave a strangled cry from the back of her throat. Unable to make a single intelligible sound, she nodded her head frantically; since she seemed unable to do more, Ron reached up and drew Hermione’s left hand away from her face. Their hands shook so much Ron barely got the ring on her finger, but they managed it finally. Hermione, one hand still covering her mouth and her eyes dewy, glanced from the ring to Ron, and back to the ring.

Then she tossed her arms over Ron’s shoulders, leaned down and kissed him so forcefully he almost fell over. Ron stood up, but Hermione wouldn’t let go and he ended up lifting her off her feet, still kissing.

Everyone seemed unwilling to intrude on the moment, but eventually Harry couldn’t take it any more; the Weasleys were on their way to being reconciled, and his two best friends were engaged! With a whoop of joy Harry ran forward and embraced his friends; Ginny joined them a second later. “Bloody brilliant!” Harry whispered at Ron. Ron couldn’t respond because Hermione was kissing him again and again, each time tearfully gasping “I love you, I love you…”

Mrs. Weasley was in Mr. Weasley’s arms, and she’d dissolved into happy tears. Fred sighed expansively. “I do so love a good wedding,” he exclaimed, pretending to wipe away a tear.

Finally Hermione released Ron long enough for them to be properly congratulated. “It’s a very old ring,” Mr. Weasley told Hermione. “We’re not exactly sure just how far back it goes, but it’s been passed down through my family for at least fourteen hundred years.”

“Oh, my,” Hermione said faintly. “Th-this ring is older than Hogwarts? I- if you’d like I’ll give it back as soon as we’re married…”

“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Weasley answered shortly. “Some day one of your children will have to give it to his intended.”

Hermione hugged Mrs. Weasley. “Thank you so much,” she cried. “I do love Ron, and I hated the thought that his parents were angry with me…” She stopped and pulled back, looking horrified. “Oh- I have to tell my parents!”

Harry chuckled. “I hope they both have strong hearts.”

“I haven’t even told them we’ve been dating yet!” Hermione said in a scared whisper.

“Hermione, your parents love you. They’ll be happy for you,” Luna said dreamily. “After they get over the shock, that is.” She smiled at George. “That looked very fun, didn’t it? We should do that too.”

“Wh-what?” George blurted out. “Get engaged?”

“Oh, not right away,” Luna said calmly, “because of course you’d need time to get the ring and let the memory fade so I’ll be surprised. I’m in no hurry.”

Mrs. Weasley looked like she would pass out if she got any more shocks that day. “George? Is there something you and Luna would like to tell us?”

“Er…well, mum, she is my date…”

“George and I have been together for a month now,” Luna said calmly. “But don’t worry, Mrs. Weasley, I’m happy to wait until George is ready.”

While everyone’s attention was on George’s embarrassment, Ron leaned down so he could mutter in Harry’s ear. “Thanks for that.”

“No problem; I could tell you were a bit lost.”

“What? Oh, yeah,” Ron said, flushing. “Yeah, thanks for that too, but I meant for whatever you did to make mum not angry any more. I had to give ‘mione that ring, and I couldn’t while…so thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Harry said with a grin.

Ron matched the grin. “Be my best man?”

“Bloody right I will!”

Hermione, clearly grateful for the distraction that Luna and George had provided, tearfully hugged Harry. “Those are more tears of joy, right?” Ron asked.

“Of course, you prat!” Hermione exclaimed with a soggy laugh. She kissed Harry on the cheek. “Thank you, Harry. I’ve been dreaming of this since- well, since the troll, really.”

“Since the troll?” Ron hissed. “Since you were twelve? Why the bloody hell didn’t you say?”

“Because about some things, Hermione’s even thicker than you, Ron,” Harry replied, and ducked when Hermione mock-cuffed his head. “Get off,” he said, pushing Hermione at Ron. “Go kiss your fiancé again.”

“Fiancé…” Hermione looked up at Ron, and their lips met a second later.

“All right, that’s it!” Bill exclaimed furiously from the door. “This is just too- what the…?” The angry expression slid off his face and was replaced by a puzzled one as he glanced around at the happy faces. Fleur, standing behind him, was carrying a knife, which after a moment of paranoia Harry realized was intended for the wedding cake. However, the way in which Fleur was brandishing it suggested it might be used for other purposes if her wedding was any further melodramatized. “What in the name of Nimue’s fluffy bunny slippers is going on?” Bill demanded, staring accusingly at his mother.

“Well, Bill,” George explained with the air of a very proper instructor, “It seems mum’s forgiven us, and all was right enough with the world for the youngest of the Weasley boys to declare his intentions to- er, his intended,” he finished lamely.

Bill blinked. “Oh,” he said. His gaze swept over Ron and Hermione, who were still kissing and oblivious to the world, and settled on Ginny, who nodded happily. “Well…good.”

Fred nudged Bill in the side with his elbow. “Sorry, Bill old bean, but Mr. and Mrs. Granger over there have definitely taken the prize for Most Dramatic Kiss of the day. Outclassed at your own wedding! For shame, Geeyamme, for shame.”

Bill raised an eyebrow at Fred, and then contemplated Ron and Hermione, who had finally disengaged and were both very red. Then Bill shook his head. “Nah, I can beat that,” he declared, and spun around to kiss his new bride, dramatically dipping her practically to the floor. Fleur whacked the side of Bill’s head and let out a muffled sound of indignation, but softened immediately, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave as good as she got.

“Harry?” Harry turned away from laughing as the Weasleys all teased Ron, who’d taken up Bill and Fred’s challenge without consulting Hermione first. “Could I speak to you in private for a moment?” Luna asked.

“Er…sure,” Harry said, not too thrilled at the idea of leaving right when there was so much long-needed laughter in the Weasley family. He caught Ginny’s eye and managed to indicate that he and Luna were going upstairs to talk; Ginny looked at him questioningly, but when Harry shrugged she smirked and nodded.

Harry and Luna walked up the stairs to Ginny’s room, but found it locked. Sighing, Harry led Luna into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. “Should I do a Silencing Charm?” he asked.

“I think it might be a good idea,” Luna replied, so Harry cast the Charm. “Thank you. I do wish I was better at that Charm; George always has to do it for us.”

Not wanting details of Luna and George’s sex life, Harry quickly asked “What did you want to talk about, Luna? Couldn’t it have waited until after the wedding was over?”

“Well, I suppose, but seeing the Weasleys so happy made me think of it; family really is quite important, don’t you think?”

“Er…yeah,” Harry agreed, very confused. “I’ve always thought so.”

“Oh…of course you have, Harry,” Luna agreed quietly. “So it’s no wonder Neville’s parents popped into my mind, isn’t it?”

“You- what? Neville’s parents?” Now Harry was very confused. “What about Neville’s parents?”

“All the extra work I’ve been doing this last week has been about them,” Luna explained patiently. “And just last night I think I solved it, so I thought I should let you know. I’m fairly certain I know how to bring Neville’s parents back.”