Willow Song

XIII. Weasley Holiday

Ten days later Serena rode the Hogwarts Express for the first time. She shared a compartment with Ginny, Luna, and Neville, playing Exploding Snap most of the way to London.

At the platform Hermione left to reunite with her parents, so Harry and Ron joined Serena and Ginny when they spotted the Weasleys. Serena found herself looking over Molly's shoulder for evidence of Charlie. Molly quickly realized what she was doing and laughed, saying, "He's not here yet, but he will be soon."

"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley."

They piled into a Ministry car and headed to the Burrow. Molly served them chicken pie for dinner and homemade peppermint stick ice cream for dessert before they all gathered around the hearth to share stories before bed.

The next day Molly told Serena that Fred would be accompanying her to St Mungo's for her eye appointment while George minded the shop. Serena and Fred left right after breakfast, apparating to St. Mungo's lobby together. They were directed to the oculist and sat in the waiting room. After several minutes, Serena was called back to see him alone.

He ran a number of tests with his wand and tried some special lenses and various potions. Finally, he shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Miss Willowsong. The condition is degenerative and will keep progressing. I can't stop it or reverse it. It has nothing to do with the conjunctivitis you suffered last October; that probably just made you notice it sooner. The good news is that it's happening very slowly, and it will likely take several years before the lights go out permanently, although it could happen sooner."

"Condition? You mean, I'm going blind? Completely?" Serena held her breath.

"I am sorry, Miss."

Serena burst into tears. This was what she feared. She choked back a sob. This was what Professor Snape had predicted. She swallowed hard. So this was her great sacrifice. She took in a deep breath. She would lose her sight to better serve the Light. So be it. She steeled herself mentally, even as emotionally she switched everything off. At least it shouldn't happen for a long time, and maybe they'd find a treatment by then. She slowly let her breath out again. She dried her eyes and prepared to leave.

"I am sorry, Miss," the healer repeated. "You probably should come see me every year or so." Serena nodded and left the room.

She met Fred in the waiting room. "Well, how'd it go? Did you pick out some cute glasses?"

"It went," she said with false flippancy. "And I don't need glasses." Her voice was artificially high.

Fred looked at her, puzzled, and was about to ask more when she interrupted his thought. "Say, do you mind if we stop at Diagon Alley? I have some Christmas shopping to complete."

They apparated to Diagon Alley and began strolling through the little shops together. Serena seemed unnaturally cheerful and animated. An hour later Fred reminded her, "You're not telling me anything about what the healer said."

"No. I'm not," Serena replied frankly as she grabbed her last purchases.

They apparated back to the Burrow where Fred followed Serena to hide her purchases in the room she was sharing with Ginny. Her silence made his understanding grow. "It was bad news," he stated. Serena nodded, afraid to speak. "How bad?" Fred took in Serena's forced swallow and shallow breaths and her dark eyes threatening to spill over with tears. "Serena, how bad was the news?"

"You have to promise not to tell anyone, not even George. I'm not ready for anyone to know. Please promise."

"I promise," he replied, his concern growing.

"I know what my great sacrifice is now." She steadied her breathing. " I'm going blind. It's irreversible and untreatable."

Fred's face fell. He hugged her soothingly. She put her head on his shoulder and let the tears fall. Fred's eyes were threatening to start leaking too when he felt Serena giggle. "What was that?"

"I just heard the door open a little, and I was thinking it's about time for Ron to burst through the door and accuse me of being a scarlet woman." She laughed through her tears.

While he laughed at what Serena had said, Fred waved a very hurt and bewildered looking Ron away, who mouthed the word "lunch" before he tiptoed away. "Oh yeah, Ginny told me about that one." Then, after Ron had left he said, "Serena, I'll keep your secret, but you're going to have to tell people soon. I mean, the Order should know soon. Charlie should know."

"They'll know when I'm ready to tell them! This is supposed to progress slowly. I should have a few years before I'm completely blind, though he said it could happen sooner. And maybe they'll find a treatment before then; why should I make people worry if it might not happen? I want to avoid pity as long as I can. I want to be treated as normally as possible. For now, I'm going to try to ignore it and enjoy all the sunsets I can."

"Okay, but remember, if you need to vent about it, I know your secret. Come on, Mum's calling for lunch."

Minutes later they were sitting down to steaming bowls of vegetable soup and fresh warm bread. "So, how'd the appointment go?" Molly asked cheerfully. Fred warningly caught her eyes and almost imperceptibly shook his head. Molly's look changed to one of puzzled concern. Ron looked up and tried to catch Fred's attention too, worry lining his forehead.

"Fine," Serena lied tersely. "I don't need glasses." She hadn't missed the silent exchange between Fred and Molly, nor Ron's look, but she pretended to ignore them. While she slowly ate her soup, she formed a picture in her mind of Fred, tied up with a sign that said 'secret breaker' hung on his chest, while Serena shot violet flames from her wand and toasted Fred's bare toes. She focused on Fred and the image. He suddenly looked up at her astonished, then started laughing so hard broth burst from his nose. Everyone else at the table looked on in confusion, trying to figure out why Fred was laughing. Serena just smugly ate her soup, another development in her powers just confirmed, at Fred's expense.

As they helped Molly clear the table she asked, "Fred, have you got something to tell me about? What the joke was, or anything else?" She eyed him quizzically.

"No, Mum."

"How about you, Serena?" she asked sweetly, "Have you got something to tell me?"

"No, Mrs. Weasley."

"Well, I think you're both hiding something. Why don't you join Ron, Ginny, and Harry and tidy up before Bill, Charlie, and Percy get here. They should be home tonight."

"Percy?" asked Serena.

"Arthur took your advice. This'll be Percy's first time back with the whole family, although he's already spent some time with just Arthur and me. Thank you, Serena." Molly gave Serena's hands a motherly squeeze.

Everything was in readiness, and Serena had just finished wrapping her gifts, when she heard Ginny squeal, "They're here!"

Bill and Charlie had just arrived. Ten minutes later Percy joined them. It was touching to see all the Weasleys together. Serena and Harry stayed in the background, watching the exchange of hugs.

Fred saw Serena and brought her forward, "Percy, I'd like you to meet our good friend, Serena Willowsong. She's in her last year at Hogwarts." Percy shook Serena's hand formally, and then leaned over to George, asking him whose 'special friend' she was.

"She really is friends with all of us, but if you want to know whom she fancies, I think you can figure it out for yourself shortly."

Charlie had taken Serena aside and given her a big hug, breathing in deeply the scent of her hair and her neck. As he pulled away, he grabbed both her hands and looked closely at her face. "Something's the matter; what is it?"

"Nothing, really." Serena smiled, lying unconvincingly.

"You'll tell me later then."

The next few days were a wonderful mix of cacophony and love. Serena insisted on helping Molly in the kitchen, but when the chores were finished Serena went flying with the Weasleys and Harry over the woods and fields near their house. Each evening, Serena and Fred watched the sunset together. She felt completely part of the family for this holiday. On Christmas morning Serena opened her first Weasley jumper, black fuzzy angora with red rosebuds and green vines around the neck and cuffs.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Serena pulled the jumper on.

"I thought the black would play up how dark your eyes are, dear."

Fred gave a worried glance at Serena. Neither Charlie nor Ron missed it.

Serena handed Charlie his gift from her. He opened it to find a tackle box the size of a spool of thread. He opened the lid and saw it was completely loaded with miniscule fly fishing tackle and a teeny telescoping fly-fishing pole and reel. Charlie tapped the tiny tackle box with his wand and commanded, "Engorgio." The box and its contents were suddenly full-sized. He admired each hand-tied fly and every hook. "Thank you, Serena. This is brilliant. I know just the stream I'll use this in first."

The rest of the presents were opened in turn except for Charlie's present to Serena. "Wait here, just a minute," he told everyone, then came back carrying two guitars. He handed a beautiful cherry wood parlor guitar with mother of pearl inlay to Serena and told her, "Happy Christmas." Then he sat cross-legged in front of her and, in front of the whole Weasley clan, began to play a maple dreadnought guitar. "I learned this song for you." He began singing in a soft baritone: "When you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all. I'm on your side when times get rough and friends just can't be found. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down." He sang the whole song for her. He received applause and whistles from the Weasley clan and embarrassed smiles from Serena.

Her eyes were a bit glassy, and she got up suddenly. "Excuse me. I'll be back in a few minutes." She left hurriedly for the room she shared with Ginny.

Ginny began to get up, "Should I go after her?"

"No" said Fred, "She just needs some time to herself."

Charlie scrutinized his brother. "You know what's the matter, don't you? Come on Fred; let's have a little talk. " Charlie then maneuvered Fred out to the room with Ron following them.

While Percy told the remaining family members how he had decided to accept Dumbledore's request to join the Order, Charlie and Ron cornered Fred in the master bedroom.

"How about starting with what you and Serena were crying about the other day?" said Ron. "Charlie, she was crying in his arms, and he was near crying himself when I walked in to tell them to come to lunch."

"I can tell something's troubling her. Speak up Fred," implored Charlie.

"I can't; I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone. Not even George."

"Does she fancy some bloke from school now, or perhaps you, Fred?" asked Charlie.

"No. You're the only one she fancies. I can't tell you more."

Molly walked into the room. "No fighting, you three. It's Christmas."

"I'm just trying to get him to tell me what he knows about what's troubling Serena. I'm not blind, you know. I can see something's wrong."

Fred's ears turned scarlet at Charlie's last remark.

"You know," said Molly "now that I think of it, you and Serena have had some kind of secret between yourselves ever since you got back from St. Mungo's."

"St. Mungo's? What were you and Serena doing at St. Mungo's?" asked Charlie alarmed.

"None of your bloody business! Ask her yourself. Thanks for nothing, Mum!" Fred stomped out of the room.

Ron explained to Charlie, "Fred accompanied her there to get her eyes checked. But she said they were fine. She didn't even need glasses. They went shopping in Diagon Alley afterwards. Maybe it's something that happened there."

"Thanks, Mum, Ron." Charlie left thoughtfully.

A few moments later, Serena came up behind Charlie. "Thank you for the guitar, Charlie, and the song. It was beautiful. Will you teach me how to play it?"

"Sure." They spent much of the remaining vacation time together playing guitar. Serena's fingertips first blistered, then calloused, as she picked up the basic chords and pick patterns rapidly. Serena's clear soprano blended nicely with Charlie's soft baritone as they played and sang together.

The holiday was too quickly coming to a close.