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Epilogue: Far Off Blue Sky

"The ones who love us always watch over us. It is their blessing and love that helps us to move forward in life."

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His room smelt of treacle tart, books and wildflowers. He had, as of late, taken to becoming a dessertoholic, bibliophile and a wildflower lover. Mostly because it reminded him of periods of everlasting, and depressingly, never coming back moments of his life. A soft breeze blew, carrying the sound of a melancholic melody being played by a piano's sweet keys.

He tilted his head up to face the far off blue sky, greying hair falling to his dying eyes. The clouds were scattered, aloof and carefree. There was nothing wrong with it; it looked as normal as a sky could be. But something inside his heart seemed to make him more alive and paranoid.

"Dad?" The sound of his son's voice rang in his ears and he turned around to face the man, who was even now a boy in his blue eyes. "Dad, please come over. You have been alone for an awful lot of time. Please, Dad."

Ron smiled sadly. "Blimey, Hugo! There's no need to worry about this old man. He's all right about being alone. I have been for a week, haven't I?"

"But I insist!" Hugo pleaded, wailing his arms around like he always did When he was but a wee baby. Ron was reminded of his birth, the fifteenth of August, just a few days after his aunt's birthday. His aunt who was noble enough to sacrifice herself for Ron's family. Tears welled in his eyes but he had to put up the show of Gryffindor bravery which he had maintained even after Hermione's death.

"No, kid. It's better this way. Trust your dad," Ron replied instead, putting on a smile which was hard to muster on his tired face. Hugo sighed. He nodded reluctantly and left the house after giving his father a hug which clearly spoke volumes of his guilt.

Both of Ron's children, Rose and Hugo, were compelled by their respective spouses to not get him under their care. Children these days considered the elderly as an unwanted and undesired burden. Although Rose and Hugo never had that emotion, Ron, as well as Hermione, knew their family members would not accept them.

Ron was perfectly fine with it because he knew, deep down, that it was not his kids who did not desire his and his wife's presence. As long as their partners kept them happy, he was okay with it. Times had gotten darker and harder on the Weasley when Hermione died of contracting a Muggle disease. A disease which Ron never even wanted to hear the name of again. It had become, in a way, a taboo to him. Just like Voldemort's name was.

As Ron turned back to gaze at the far off blue sky, he felt more alone and lonely than ever. Hermione was gone. Harry had left far earlier. Ginny never lived even half of what he had. Oreo just was not meant to live after her leaving the world entirely. His brothers were sick and old, just like he was. The family was crumbling, only holding on because of the successors whose spouses despised them. What had become of the once loved world? The world which treated each and every being, creature, with utmost respect. Why had it become devoid of all the emotions and pure feeling of love? Ron could never answer that. Perhaps he would never know.

That night, the same piano music rang in his ears as he sat down on the couch, a copy of Hogwarts: A History on his lap. It was not just any copy; it belonged to Hermione. Flapping through the thick, accented pages he found the chapter he had to continue reading from: the last chapter. Ron had never really adored reading but for some reason, he was determined to finish the book. His solitude had compelled him to do so.

The Corridors of Hogwarts: A Home to All

The chapter title read. Memories resurfaced in Ron's mind as he read though the page, his eyes glossing over each word and its syllable, his wrinkled fingers tracing the lines softly. He felt sleep overcome him but forced himself to complete the reading; and he did.

His nostrils caught a whiff of wildflowers before he fell asleep, never to open his eyes to the cruel mortality of the world. . .

⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

A white fog boggled his vision. His head spun like the earth, only hundred times faster. Everything darkened for a second and his ears rang painfully.

"Ah –! I was expecting you, Loyal," a deep voice which was unearthly rasped with a power that was evident in its voice. Ron struggled, but managed to open his eyes. Standing in front of him, with a dark cloak on, was. . . Death. A raven was perched on the shoulder of his cloak, which billowed in the air like a feather. The raven's eyes, scarlet and intimidating, searched him. Perhaps Ron had also passed in the mortal world. The place he was in eerily reminded him of Ginny's descriptions of the afterworld.

"Hullo, Mr Death," Ron spoke with as much cheerfulness as one could muster at the face of Death.

Death laughed, shallow and filled with amusement. Ron could not comprehend what was so funny. "My dear child, I am not to be afraid of. You have walked that treacherous world, fulfilling every inch of what your true name means."

"My true – n-name?" Ron croaked.

"Yes. Unfortunately, I do not have much a time to go into depths of nomenclature. I am sure your loved ones will be more than glad to do that. On you go, for this is but the next great adventure!" He raised his bony hands. Ron felt a warm feeling settle in his insides.

"Where do I go?"

"On."

"What? Mr Death?" All at once, Death had left him. It felt as if everything that he had seen was but a vision. What exactly was on? Where was he supposed to go now? More questions ran through his mind frantically. Everything was a fog around him. There was nothing other than that. No room, no doors, nothing. A feeling of dread replaced the previous warmth and he broke into a sweat.

"Ron?" an angelic voice, one which he would recognize anywhere, spoke. Ron wheeled around and standing in front of him was a smiling Hermione Granger, in her teenage years. Her trademark bushy hair was freely flowing past her shoulders and her hands were tied behind her back, as if shy to meet him. Ron could no longer stand still, so he ran to cover the distance between them. His Angel in white had come to rescue him from the shallow emptiness of the afterlife and the cruelty of the mortal world; he hugged her.

"Hermione. . . Hermione. . . Hermione. . ." he whispered into her hair, bringing her as close as possible.

"It's okay, Ron. Everything is fine now." It felt strange given the fact that he was the one who would go about comforting people. It felt bizarre yet heart-warming to be comforted. Ron pulled away from the hug, tears streaming down his cheeks and a grin playing with his lips.

"Why do you look young?"

Hermione frowned. "What do you mean? Do I always look old?"

"Oh, yes you do!" Ron joked. She pouted but a few seconds later smiled.

"I know I sound selfish but I'm really glad you are here." She caressed his cheek and he leant into the touch he had missed for a week. "And we turn to the age we experience the most joy. I did when I was nineteen."

Ron looked down at himself and could hardly believed he looked no more older than she did. "I am. . ."

"Probably eighteen." Excitement bubbled inside him and he gave Hermione a quick kiss.

"Where are the others? Harry? Mum? Ginny? Are they here too?"

Hermione simply nodded then jerked her head behind her. Ron looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening as he caught sight of his mother, father and Fred, all smiling and beaming at him. Ecstatic, he greeted each and everyone of them with the trademark Weasley hug. "There are so many others you have to meet. Remus, Tonks, Mum, Dad, Sirius, James and Lily!" Hermione suggested when Ron was done with greeting his family.

"Yeah, but ask him if he forgot about his best mate and his sister!" a mirth filled voice exclaimed from behind and Ron found himself grinning even more. The honk of a car sounded and he turned around at the right time to see the Ford Angelia come to a sharp halt in front of him. Hermione screeched but he did not really look to her. His eyes were locked at the people sitting inside the car: a grinning Harry and a smug Ginny.

"Ruddy hell–"

"You are in Heaven, you chicken!" Ginny teased, getting out of the car to hug him.

It was a moment of bliss when he reunited with the one he had missed for so long: his sister. Short but sweet was their reunion. No other words were exchanged simply because they could feel the power of love, his whole family could. Time passed but the light did not change in afterlife, showing the traits of the perfect heaven. Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron were sitting in front of a steadily flowing stream after a while of exchanging courtsies.

"Hold on," Ron paused, remembering his encounter with Death. "What the ruddy heaven was it about true names?"

Hermione was the one who took up the initiative to explain. "It's the name with which everyone here is addressed by Death. It shows their most important trait with which they are born on the earth. Mine is, for instance, Intelligence."

"I'm Brave, what do you know?" Harry winked.

"What about you, Ginny?"

She turned to face him, her teenage brown eyes meeting his blue orbs. She and Harry were aged fifteen and sixteen and to say that it was bizarre to him would be an understatement. "Loving," she replied. "That's mine. Guess it built up all the tension to the 'Hiraeth' situation, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but I am glad it did."

Ginny looked at him quizzically, as if he had gone mad.

"If it hadn't, I would have never felt the real sibling bond that we ought to have had when you were alive in body. Blimey, but I guess that was the sole reason for our strong bond which exists even now." He smiled.

"You are. . . right, Ron. There can never exist an emotion as strong as love. I've learnt as much in my whole life. Weasels forever?" She raised her pinky. Ron reciprocated the gesture and promised her in silence to forever be a best friend and a best brother. Harry and Hermione soon joined in as well, declaring it to be unfair if they weren't included as family as well as best friends.

The moral that despite fights, arguments and misunderstandings, it is your family, your sibling that always stays by your side was learnt by both the Weasley siblings after going through life. The true meaning of life would be much easier to comprehend with each other by their side. Ron knew that.

Deep down, he loved the mortal world for giving him the privilege of being someone's brother. Ginny felt the same and together, their moments of happiness will be cherished and, the moments of sorrow will be remembered. The blissful reunion could no longer be broken just as how love as genuine as Ron's and Ginny's could not be broken. No matter even if Hiraeth was broken. This would not be.

After all, if it was broken then it would not be the end.

~Fin~

A huge thank you for supporting me for sooo long, literally! This book the longest time to get over despite having less chapters than most of my books. Writing this book was a bit traumatic, having experienced some of the things that I've written but it's totally because of my audience's unwavering support and commitment to reading this book that got me to finish it. I cannot thank you all enough for this.

Until next time.

Miyoko xoxo