Eyes Wide Open

Aliera Marie Weasley sighed as she pushed herself up from the ground, dusting off the front of her blue jeans. She rested a hand on the small of her back, taking a deep breath. Her fifty-two-year-old body was no longer what it used to be.

“Need a hand there, love?” George Weasley asked, smiling widely, making crow’s feet appear at the corners of his eyes.

She turned to see her husband, standing in his black slacks and blue wool sweater, his brilliant red hair still as vibrant as ever, despite the fact that her own dark hair was now greying. “I can manage myself,” she said, clutching the small, white children’s coat she had picked up from the ground to her body.

“Rambunctious little buggers, aren’t they?” he chuckled, grabbing his wife’s free hand to lace their fingers together.

“Oh, to be young,” she sighed as they came to a stop just in front of George’s childhood home, which was currently being filled with energetic grandchildren and tired adults.

“Oi, we’re still young, Ali,” George countered, giving his wife a crazed look.

She let out a laugh. “If you say so, love.”

They entered the seven story household, children and teenagers instantly buzzing around them. It nearly took Aliera’s breath away, for she could remember a time not so long ago, when she herself had been seventeen years old, dating George and being merely a guest in the chaotic house. Now – well, now she was an aging woman married to the redheaded man beside her and a part of this large family.

“Oh, George, you’ve made it!” his mother cried, running to her son, despite being up in age herself.

Mrs. Weasley, the oldest Mrs. Weasley, no longer had her bright red hair, but now had curls of silver. Her pale skin was wrinkled and her eyes were a bit dimmer than Aliera had last remembered, but she was still such a lively woman.

“Of course I made it. Didn’t you see Benjamin running around here?” her husband questioned, smirking.

“Oh, I saw him, alright,” she said, an unreadable look on her face that made Aliera believe her grandson had already caused some kind of mischief. “But I haven’t seen little Molly; where is she?”

Aliera instantly became filled with alarm at the mention of absence of her only granddaughter. Her brown eyes began scanning over every inch of the house and just before she felt as if she were going to have a heart attack, the little redhead appeared, skipping into the house.

“Where were you?” she questioned in a motherly tone.

“I was chasing the gnomes,” the girl giggled and it was then that Aliera noticed the grass stains on her white dress.

“Oh, Molly, look at your dress. We better fix this before your mother sees it. Merlin knows she’ll have a heart attack,” Aliera laughed, thinking of how her second oldest daughter, Samantha, had turned out even more motherly than she.

With a wave of her wand, the green stains on Molly’s dress disappeared, leaving the material a fresh white once more.

“Thank you, nan!” the little girl cried before skipping off further into the house.

“Where are Samantha and Nicholas, anyway?” George’s mother asked.

“They’ll be coming shortly, mum,” he told her.

The woman nodded her head. “Well I’ll be in the kitchen. Hermione, Ginny and Fleur are helping me, if you’d like to join, dear,” she said, looking at Aliera.

She nodded her head. “I’d love to help.”

George gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek before letting her go with his mother. Aliera’s eyes widened as she stepped into the kitchen, seeing the buckets of vegetables and plates of meat sitting out on the table. She found herself sitting before a tray of potatoes, using her wand to peel back the skin. In no time, the five women found themselves sharing stories of their youth and complaining about their husbands.

When it came time to eat, every member of the Weasley family found themselves seated at a rather long, dining table outside, as the inside was much too small to hold everyone. Plates upon plates adorned the middle of the table, and no time was wasted in delving into the food. Jokes and laughs were shared, and memories were reminisced and Aliera couldn’t help but to think at how remarkable time had been to her.

She had married George at age twenty-two, and nine months later had given birth to their first child, a boy named Fred Gideon Weasley II. A year and some change later she gave birth to Harlow Marie. Later came Samantha Jane, and lastly the twins, Michael Arthur and Gavin Albus. Now she was a grandmother to two mischievous little boys and one sweet girl.

Yes, life had been good to her.

After dinner, everyone either left or stuck around for a cup of tea. Aliera had just grabbed a mug of the liquid when she felt two hands place themselves on each side of her waist.

“Come with me,” her husband whispered.

“Where are we going?” she asked, dumping three sugars into the orange cup, stirring it around.

“Just outside.”

She nodded her head and handed him a blue cup before the two of them walked outside. The air was a bit chilly, but the breeze felt lovely as they walked out into the large field. She was just about to ask why in Merlin’s name they had come outside when George stopped abruptly and took a seat on the grass.

“What are you doing?” she questioned, a smile lingering on her lips.

“Sitting. Join me,” he smirked.

She laughed lightly and rolled her eyes before taking a seat beside him. She saw George take something from his pocket before muttering a spell. A second later, a sage quilt was created and he draped it over both their laps.

“Thank you,” she smiled.

“You’re welcome,” he told her, wrapping his left arm around her shoulders as she leaned into his embrace.

In nearly every window of the house, there was a light on and shadows of people could be seen dancing across the walls. Above them was a blanket of dark sky sprinkled with twinkling stars, a half-moon hanging high.

“This reminds me of the first time I came here,” Aliera said, her eyes leaving the sky to look at her husband. “When I was so nervous about meeting your mum and you brought me out here to calm down. It seems so silly now, doesn’t it?

He chuckled. “I told you my mum would love you. You just wouldn’t believe me.”

She smiled sheepishly and took a sip of her tea. “It’s amazing how many memories this house holds.”

George nodded his head in agreement. “I’ve always been proud to call it home,” he stated.

Millions of thoughts began seeping to the forefront of Aliera’s mind and before she could think to stop them, tears began flooding her eyes, threatening to spill at any second. George, feeling his wife’s sudden rigid figure, turned to look at her.

“Oi, love, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern filling his voice.

“Nothing,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m just a stupid old woman.”

He chuckled and gently grabbed her face, making her look at him. The pad of his right thumb brushed away her tears. “You’re as young as me, Ali. Now, why’re you crying?”

She sniffled a few times before finding her voice. “I just … do you ever think about life, George?”

“What d’ya mean?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

She sighed and rested her forehead against the bottom of his chin. “We’re getting old. Our kids are having kids and time is slipping past us so quickly, Georgie,” she managed to say before more tears choked her.

George sat the cup in his left hand down on the grass before wrapping both his arms around his wife, holding her as tightly as he could. “Aliera, love, our bodies may be getting old, but we still have the hearts of sixteen year olds. Our kids are starting their own families, yes, but that doesn’t mean our time is up. Ali, we’ve still got plenty of life ahead of us. The best has yet to come, love,” he told her, laying a kiss on the top of her head.

“Do you promise?” she breathed, her tears slowing.

He pulled back, looking into those beautiful brown eyes he loved so much. “I promise.”

She smiled and wiped her eyes. “I love you, George.”

“I love you, too, you stupid old woman,” he smirked, giving her a wink.

She couldn’t help but to laugh, her head falling back onto her shoulders.

And it was then that she realized age and time truly meant nothing to her and George. Their love was timeless and infinite and about as worn in as the house that sat before them.