Epilouge: It's Never Too Late

I can't believe the story is over now. Thanks to all those who have read and reviewed! How did you like the story? Any comments left now will help me continue writing and possibly fix some of the problems I may have had in this story or continue some of the good writing. This chapter is quite long seeing as I had to fit in many things and half of it is written in flashback. There are many time jumps, but this is just an overview not a sequel. I do not own Harry Potter, or it's characters. I do own Celia, this fanfiction, and the joy of being able to put it up as complete now instead of in progress.

The soft winds of an early September afternoon blew through the sun-warmed hair of Celia Weasley. Her eldest daughter boarded the train, and with a tear in the eye of her mother, the girl waved goodbye. Celia had always known that Ella would get a letter from Hogwarts. Ella was bright, brave, and boisterous. She would do fine. Still, Celia felt as if she were losing her daughter, because once Ella stayed at Hogwarts it would be her home from then on. It felt so wrong to lose her daughter at the age of 11, but Celia knew that this was best and natural for her daughter and that Ella was still her daughter and would always be.

Percy smiled as Celia brushed away a stray tear.

"There is no reason to cry love," he said to her softly.

She smiled and nodded. Percy gave her a bigger smile and rubbed her pregnant stomach. "I hope that all of our children, even the unborn, have an opportunity at Hogwarts."

"I know they will," she said as she pulled their son closer to her so he wouldn't wander away in the chaos of the afternoon. "Charlie," Celia said. "I don't want you to get lost stay by me or dad."

The boy of 9 look up at her and said, "But I want to see Lily and Hugo," the boy complained. Celia was still amazed that most of the cousins were the same age.

"We will see them in a few minutes," Celia assured Charlie. "Where are your sisters?" Celia said looking around.

"With dad," Charlie answered scouting them out. "There they are."

Percy was standing next to the train with their 6 year-old daughter holding his hand and their 3 year old daughter on his shoulders. The 6 year-old was Andrea, named after Celia's sister, and 3 year old was Molly.

"I hope the next baby is a boy," Charlie complained. "I am sick of being the only one!"

Celia laughed. The train had departed and Percy walked back to be with his wife. A group also dropping off students soon met up with Percy and Celia. Celia recognized Harry and his wife, who had a child the same age as Ella, and Ron and Hermione, who also had a child the same age as Ella.

There was an awkward silence. Not many had approved of Percy's marriage to Celia. They claimed that she was unnatural and also claimed that there was an open door for incest with a great grandmother also being of child bearing age. It got worse when she was pregnant with Ella. She had caused a lot of trouble for Percy and he was eventually forced to quit his job at the ministry because of all the harassment. Kingsley had tried time and time again to help Percy, but Percy finally came in one day covered from head to toe in slime and with welts all over his skin. "Enough is enough," Percy said. "This is my two weeks notice." Celia had been through a lot of hardships in her life but none hurt her more than seeing her husband beaten down because of who she was, because of what happened to her.

She watched them discriminate against her age and those who did so believed that she was unnatural and needed to live her life out without getting involved with the here and now. She knew what vampires must feel like except that she wasn't a blood-sucking monster, well at least not literally. Some believed her to be worse creating children with a man who was only a few years older than her great grandson. Only Molly and Arthur had approved of their marriage. Well, they hadn't exactly approved, but they were glad that Percy was back in their family and happy.

No one thought that 12 years later she would be old news that Percy would get a new job back at the Ministry and Kingsley would appoint him a very high position for his unique situation and his compassion for those in situations that were more prone to discrimination than others. It had taken Kingsley almost ten years to reform the Ministry, but Percy was one of the first to get a call when that change was made. Life turned around after that point and Celia began to feel optimism for the future ahead of them.

Harry was the hardest to look in the eyes. He refused to believe that she was his great grandmother so she never brought it up again. He had made it very clear the first Thanksgiving that she spent with Percy's family that he never wanted to be reminded of what Minerva had said in the hospital wing the day after the battle. Celia was fine with that it took some of the awkwardness out of Christmas, which was spent with the Weasley's that same year. There home had gotten too small for such gatherings after the grandchildren had been born so they were spent at Bill's after that. Bill and Fleur had one child themselves, but she was a few years older than Ella. They also weren't concerned with Celia marrying Percy, they just laughed and said, "Incest? The children would be first cousins so I think you've nipped that problem in the bud." Celia had laughed and felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. There was no way she would have to worry about.

"How are you?" Percy asked his brother Ron.

"Oh," Ron said surprised to hear his brother talking to him. He looked over to Harry who currently had his fists balled up at his sides. "I am fine I guess."

"That's good, and you Hermione?" Percy asked trying to keep the conversation going.

Hermione ignored Harry's scowl and answered, "Well, you know same old, children off to Hogwarts, I saw Ella she looks just like you. Except for the eyes."

Harry had heard the song and dance when he was being told about his own appearance. He sighed. "It's good to know that she will have friends at Hogwarts before going there. That was a hard transition to make without friends," he said sympathetically.

"Yes," Celia said. "I was the only to go in my family as well. I'm sure she'll do fine with family there to keep her in line."

Percy laughed and was soon joined awkwardly by the rest of the group.

"We had better get going," Harry said and nudged Ginny.

"It was nice to see you again," Ginny said sympathetically.

"Yes, I'm sure we'll see each other again at the next holiday time. We are family," she said not caring what Harry had said about not wanting to hear about the fact that he was her great grandson. That wasn't how it was supposed to be taken, but if he took it like that then so be it. "Couldn't deprive Molly and Arthur of time with their grandchildren," she said looking over to Harry briefly before looking back at Ginny.

Ginny and Harry left and so Celia and Percy were left with Hermione and Ron.

"Well that was awkward," Ron said.

"Quite," Hermione said agreeing.

"It's ok," Celia said looking up. "I'm used to it by now. It's not anyone's fault, at least no one who is alive to blame anyway, so I don't blame him for being angry or uncomfortable," Celia said calmly.

No one said anything else and eventually Ron and Hermione left as well. Percy and Celia were left alone for a moment.

"Do you remember, being here 19 years ago?" Percy asked.

Celia closed her eyes. She did remember. It had been raining that day.

Flashback (to avoid confusion)

Celia stood at the train station. She looked so off set by everyone carrying luggage. She had no belongings. The ones she did have she would go and retrieve eventually. She didn't want to set foot in Albania until things had cleared up in her head. She knew that only heartache would await her there now. The empty halls would echo her abuse and the windows would reflect the broken woman the castle and its keeper had helped create.

Celia was going to live with Minerva, at least for a few months. Then she would find someplace on her own. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life now. She wasn't expecting all of this extra time to be tacked on for her to straighten things out again.

Living at Minerva's house wasn't hard. Living on the street would have probably been a cakewalk in comparison to what she was used to living in, but she like how quiet Minerva was. Usually the quiet in the castle would have scared her, but here in the confined and warm walls of Minerva's house she felt safer in that silence.

"It's not much, I never did get around to fixing it up," Minerva said. "Same place though you will notice that I don't change much."

Celia nodded. She was glad Minerva had lived in the same home. It would be easier for her to adapt in a place she was already comfortable. The only thing that made her uncomfortable was the way Minerva looked. It wasn't that Minerva was ugly, or even old looking. She just looked wise and mature. Celia looked at herself in comparison and only saw a 19-year-old woman just starting out her life. She knew that soon everyone would know about what happened with her and everyone would shun her as if she were some kind of circus freak. Even Minerva couldn't put up with it for long, and it must look strange for a woman to be friends with someone who looked like they could pass as her granddaughter.

"Any reason you decided to stick it out here?" Celia asked.

"I liked it here. I never really live here except in the summer, so there is no reason for me to spend the time looking for a new home when this one suits me fine," Minerva said.

"It's so small," Celia said. "I never noticed that before. Do you think you'll move someplace bigger if you ever start a family or get married?"

"I think it's a little late for me to be getting married. As for children, that time has come and gone almost a decade ago," Minerva said coldly.

"I'm sorry," Celia said. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"Celia," Minerva sighed. "You didn't offend me, it's just hard sometimes having someone around to talk to about things. You talk as if we are nineteen years old again."

"I am nineteen years old Minerva," Celia said.

"What I wouldn't give to have a few years back myself," Minerva said.

"Don't gamble something precious like that. There are some things you would never want to endure for a few years," Celia said sharply.

"I guess I keep forgetting that you aren't like the rest of us," Minerva said trying to keep the conversation going.

"I hate that!" Celia said finally feeling the pain she had been desperately trying to hold down. She felt the bile rising up into her throat. "I hate feeling like some kind of freak Minerva, I wish I could just be like you!" Celia said losing control of the tears now.

"I'm so sorry," Minerva said. "I know it's going to take a while to get used to things."

"It's really not your fault," Celia said reassuring Minerva as she got control of her emotions again. She bit down on her tongue hoping to take the edge off the pain growing in her chest. When she felt the bile and acid settle in her throat and move back down into her stomach. "I'm going to find another place to live, after a few weeks. Maybe I'll go back to the university. Who knows, maybe there will even be dorms for girls now," Celia said forcing a laugh.

"Are you sure that's the best idea, in your, situation?" Minerva questioned.

"It'll keep my mind off of things," Celia said gritting her teeth. "Things I'd rather not think about."

Celia lived with Minerva for the remainder of June and applied for the same University she had been expelled from so many years ago. She contemplated changing her name. The thing that stopped her was her father, though he had been dead for many years. It had been the name he had given her, by being married to her mother. She decided to deal with the discrimination and not back down. She could handle their hate; she had lived with much worse. For that reason, she was declined from most of the universities of her choices.

It took her almost a full year to find one that would take her despite her story. By that time everyone knew it. She had been featured in many magazines many times as the circus freak she had feared she would be portrayed as. Some, however, made up for the others. Some called her many other names like a heroine while others called her a coward for not acting. Many sources didn't even have the full story so they had no idea that she had tried everything she could then to fight him. She never told anyone how she loved him. She was certain that she would be executed for remarks such as that. Many people had lost loved one's in the war and would be happy to come and murder her for a remark about loving him. One single source somehow found out about the conspiracy between Severus Snape and Celia. That story was almost completely disregarded by the public, but a few sent her letters every now and then thanking her for her bravery. She was glad when she stopped hearing about it two years later after her first year at the university. Soon, after five years from the day she was released from her binding spell to Voldemort, she had certification to be a nurse in the sense of the wizarding world, if you would consider healers themselves as doctors. That was good enough for her. Unfortunately, she was still having a hard time getting hired.

After moving out of her dorm, she lived in a small studio apartment in the same building as Percy Weasley. She remembered their first encounter on the stairwell when he held a door open for her and recognized her.

"You changed," Percy said as if she had morphed from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

"Yes, I think you call it aging?" Celia said trying to make a light joke while smiling at him.

"You never stop smiling do you?" he asked.

"Why should I stop smiling?" Celia said.

"I don't know how about why no one will hire you," Percy said getting angry himself. Celia could see it in his ears. They were a bright red that matched his hair.

"I'll get by somehow," she said plainly. "I can't make them hire me, and there is a shortage for jobs, you know that. I shouldn't even be alive so I'm not going to complain about some petty people who have a problem with me."

"You absolutely amaze me," Percy said breathless.

"You are holding up foot traffic," Celia said motioning to the angry people on the stairwell. "We can continue this riveting conversation in my apartment if you would like," Celia said.

They spent the entire night talking. Eventually Percy had to leave to wake up at a decent hour to work the next day. Celia got many visits from Percy after that. Soon it was an everyday occurrence. They were becoming close friends.

One rainy day, six months later, Percy asked Celia on their first date. At first Celia had said no. She didn't want Percy to be discriminated against as well for being with her. She could handle the abuse, but she couldn't stand it if he were going to be hurt because of her.

"I don't know Percy," Celia said as they sat in her apartment on that fateful rainy day.

"You think I'm too young for you don't you?" Percy asked his head down. He obviously had taken a big leap to ask her out in the first place and was now feeling crushed with rejection.

"If we are going to by physical age you would actually be older than me by a few years," Celia said.

"Celia, is it my age?" he asked again.

"No," Celia said truthfully.

"Then what is it?" he asked.

Celia sighed and pulled her knees up to her chin. "I don't want to see you have to go through this," she said quietly.

"What do you mean?" he asked sitting closer to her.

"I don't know," Celia said. "I don't want to see you get hurt. I don't want you to lose your job, and get pulled down with me as I spiral out of control. I don't know if I'm even ready for something like this. I don't know how stable my heart is going to be and honestly I don't think some broken package is worth your time."

Percy groaned. "Celia, will you listen to me, and I want you to really listen," he said pulling on her chin gently to get her to face him. "I love you. I have since the first time I saw you. I can't explain it, but the more time I spend around you the more enamored I am. I don't care about what people think. I can understand if it's something about me, but don't let other people decide your happiness. Haven't you already had enough of that?"

"You are wise beyond your years," Celia said quietly. "You don't find it at all weird, to be dating, a.. circus freak?" she asked in the same quiet voice.

Percy's face was as red with anger as it had been the day he had held the door open for her on the stairwell. "You are not a freak Celia. You're exactly right for me."

"I'll give it a try," Celia said. "But nothing big, not for a while. I don't want you getting in trouble at work because of me. If things develop, we'll see what comes from there."

Percy beamed at her. Celia couldn't help but smile. He had the kind of smile that was contagious. He often said that about her as well in the following months.

Celia felt stability in the two years of their secret dating. After the first year Percy invited Celia to meet his family for Thanksgiving. Celia felt unsure about that.

"Do you think that would be such a good idea?" Celia asked. She knew that Harry had married Percy's sister so she didn't want to cause trouble for him or the rest of Percy's family.

"I want them to meet you," Percy said. "I know for sure you don't have anyone to spend the holidays with, and I would really like to spend my holiday with you. I missed you everyday I was there last year."

Celia looked him in the eyes. "You know I can't say no to you when you're like this!" Celia said in mock anger. "I'll go, but if things get weird I am leaving and you are staying got that."

The Thanksgiving had been awkward, but Molly and Arthur seemed nice enough. It seemed that the only person that was against her was Harry himself. That was the Thanksgiving he had approached her about being related.

In those two years of dating she felt like she was going to be able to pick up the pieces. She would never feel as whole as she did with Tom. She would never admit that to Percy though. She loved him too. Not in the same way but she tried to give as much of heart as there was to take. When things got more serious Percy invited Celia to move in with him.

"My apartment is much bigger, and it's really lonely without you there," Percy said.

"I don't know Perc," Celia said. "I really don't want to cause any trouble."

"Celia, I really don't care," Percy said. "I only care about you, and having you for the rest of my life."

Celia couldn't argue with him when he was like this. "The rest of your life is a long time," Celia said joking.

"I know," Percy said as he began to kneel down to the floor of Celia's apartment. At first Celia was going to ask him if he had dropped a contact lens, which he had started wearing after they had been dating for a while though Celia insisted she loved the glasses she was accustomed to seeing. He reached into his pocket, for cleaning solution Celia suspected, but when his hand came out it was holding something smaller than a bottle of cleaning solution. Celia only had a moment to gasp before Percy said; "I meant it when I said I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life. I want to do this the right way." He said to her.

Celia cried. He looked like he was going to cry as well, but Celia soon answered him, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I wouldn't be holding this if I weren't sure. I'm sick of hiding you; you aren't some kind of disease. You are beautiful and I want you to be my wife. If you want me as a husband that is."

"Yes," she breathed.

They had gotten eloped with Molly and Arthur as their witnesses. Celia didn't want to make a big deal out of it or cause any trouble in the family. It would only be a few months before everyone found out anyway because Celia was pregnant.

End of Flasback

"I do remember Percy," she said to him. "I remember everything."

"Let's go home I think you've spent enough time on your feet for today," Percy said protectively.

"I'm only seven months pregnant," she complained.

"And in two more months we are going to have another child," Percy said. "Save your energy for that."

Celia laughed as they made their way back to their house. The house was beautiful and sunny. It was also decently sized, not huge by any stretch of the imagination, but it was big enough for the children they had and themselves to live without being too cramped.

Toby did come right on time. He was the last child that Celia and Percy had because their house was just the right size for their family and if it got any bigger it would start to get cramped and uncomfortable.

Celia and Percy were great parents and every last one of their children went to Hogwarts. When Toby graduated Celia and Percy moved into a cottage by the sea. It was at this time that Celia made one solitary trip to Albania.

Celia's hair was starting to become a silvery grey. She was 55 now so it was to be expected. She walked through the ferns that now surrounded the abandoned castle. She felt one tear roll down her cheek, but the pain that this place would have caused her 36 years ago did not appear. She wasn't healed, per se, but she was no longer broken. She was taped up strongly.

She walked down the halls of her memories. She found what she had been looking for.

She picked up the music box. She touched all of her dust covered pictures and jewelry. She decided she would pass it down to Ella. As for the violin it would go to Charlie who was quite skilled on most musical instruments.

She began to walk out of the bedroom, but before she did she picked up his dress robe. That was enough to send her into tears. She ran from the castle. She never set foot in it ever again.

At the age of 80 Percy departed her leaving her alone again. She spent most of her time getting to know her grandchildren before she would pass on herself.

One day at the age of 89 she felt strangely. She had been spending the day with her daughter Andrea and Andrea's children.

"I think I need more sleep," Celia said. "I'm just getting too old."

"Take care of yourself mum," Andrea said. "I don't want you to go yet."

Celia just laughed. "Everyone dies Andrea. I will have to go eventually Andrea. I love you, but I can't live forever."

Andrea asked Celia to call the next day. Celia promised she would. Celia fell asleep that night and never woke up again.

Celia was back in a familiar hallway, but she saw the door behind her completely disappear. It wasn't coming back. She looked down at her hands. She wasn't wrinkled anymore.

She walked through the familiar door into sunlight. There were many people there like it was a train station.

Three men approached her. She recognized them. One was Percy, her husband. One was her best friend, Severus and one was, her soul mate, Tom.

"Celia, it's been so long," Tom said kissing her on the cheek.

Celia looked up at Percy to see his reaction. "I love you Celia," he said. "But, I know that what we had is different from what you had with him."

"What do you mean?" she asked afraid that she had upset him, even in the afterlife.

"He is your soul mate, your true other half. Those fortunate enough to find their true love in life can choose to spend eternity with them."

"Oh," Celia said looking into Tom's smiling eyes. "I'm sorry," she said looking back at Percy.

"It's not your fault," Percy assured her. "You are lucky to have found him, and I know he is going to take good care of you. We've been watching you for years."

She looked over at Severus who nodded. "I also found my soul mate," he smiled. "I came back to make sure that you made it back alright. Everything is so much clearer here in the afterlife than it was in life."

"Lily was your soul mate?" Celia asked.

"Yes," Severus said.

"What is going to happen to you Percy?" Celia asked.

"I am going to look for my soul mate while I'm here. It will take a long time but everyone is paired with someone. I will wait thousands of lifetimes if I have to. That is how it works here. It is pure luck to find your soul mate in your lifetime. I will spend time with my parents and other family in the meantime. I've found several lost friends. It's not so bad waiting, because I know when I see her things will be different. I will have eternity with her. I only hope that she is not lost to eternal suffering. If that is so I may never find her. That is not all that this place is about though, it's just the wish of all the inhabitants to find their other half."

Celia smiled and wished Percy the best of luck. "I think I'm going to go and see my family while I'm here. It was great to see you again Percy, and you too Severus."

"Goodbye, for now," Percy said kissing her on the cheek before departing.

"I am happy to see that things worked out for you," Severus said hugging her as he departed.

"Where can I find my family?" Celia asked Tom.

Tom grabbed her arm. "I'll take you to them," he said.

"You've met my family?" she asked.

"Of course," he said. "They've been watching you. They are very proud of all that you have accomplished. Your children are beautiful by the way. I'm sorry that I was never able to fulfill that for you in our lifetime. I regretted it every time I saw you with them. Andrea looks like you I was happy to see that."

"Did you meet our children?" Celia asked.

"I did meet Mark," Tom said. "He wasn't very forgiving, but he seemed to understand in the end. There aren't many grudges to hold when you are dead. He almost got lost in the other world as well, the place I would have gone had it not been for you tethering me between worlds. You see the world of the living is in between this world and the world of suffering and loss. He was tethered as well from the love his family. I never did meet Amy; I'm not sure what happens to those who were never born. Of all the time I've been here there are still many things I don't know."

Celia changed the subject seeing that Tom was uncomfortable talking about Amy "Do my parents approve you?" Celia asked.

Tom laughed the airy laugh he had laughed the last time she had visited the afterlife. "I am your soul mate Celia. They understand that I wasn't the best in my lifetime, but the reason we are paired up the way we are is to keep peace."

"Are my parents soul mates?" she asked.

"Yes," he said laughing his airy laugh again. "It seems that your family is fairly blessed in that matter."

"In what matter?" she asked.

"Love," he said to her as they walked into the great beyond.