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Author: tess Story: Matris Vereor Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 15 Words: 32,026
Dear Mrs. Weasley, I wanted to apologise to you for getting Ron and Ginny hurt at the Ministry of Magic. I've never written a letter like this, so please excuse me if it doesn't come out right. I'm not quite certain what to say. I really truly am very sorry for what's happened. I never meant to make you angry. I never meant for Ron and Ginny to get hurt, and I keep doing it. If Ron wasn't friends with me, Ginny might never have been possessed, Mr. Weasley wouldn't have been attacked by the snake last year, and you'd be a lot safer. Do you remember when you tried to stop me from finding out about what was going on in the Order? I think I know now what you were trying to do. You were protecting me. More importantly, you were protecting my friends, your children. And you even said I was as good as one of your children last year when you were arguing with Sirius. You were right. I shouldn't have ignored you. I was wrong and I'm sorry. I don't think there are words to describe how sorry I am. I've been trying to think of a way to, that is, I've wanted to thank you for everything. I never meant to get anyone hurt. I also wanted to thank you for sending me food, you really don't have to do that, but you've done it anyway. It makes me upset that Professor Dumbledore doesn't even acknowledge that without your food I'd be starving by now. And it makes me upset that no one seems to see what you do for me, and for everyone else. I don't really know how to say this, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry for getting Ron and Ginny hurt, and I know that I have a lot of growing up to do. If you could forgive me, I'd really like to come and visit you before the summer is over. If you think it isn't a good idea, I understand completely. I wouldn't want my kids hanging out with me either, come to think of it. I understand I did something very rash, without thinking about the consequences, and while I can't make up for it, and I can't take it back, I promise to change my behavior, and I promise to keep myself, and Ron and Ginny safe and out of trouble.
P.S. You'll probably hear a report from the Order that Vernon struck me today. Please don't worry about it, I was asking for it anyhow. I've learned my lesson there, too. In the dark silence of the morning, Molly made her way down the stairs of her home, and out her back door into the yard. Dew clung to her feet as she walked along the old paths toward the pond. It only took fifteen minutes to get there; it was hard to believe that this was part of the same world. Moonlight glinted off of the inky black pond and lit her path down to the small dock. Sitting on the edge she dipped her feet in to the cold spring water, and took out Harry's letter again. 'Oh, Harry.' A sob escaped her lips, and she bowed her head, ashamed and worried. Harry, I was never angry with you. I was concerned. That's what parents do. We worry. I happen to be a champion worrier. Molly took a deep breath between wracking sobs that tore her lungs in half. The pain was unbearable. Reading on, she cried even harder. Why is it that he felt he had to write this? I would just come and get him, he doesn't have to beg. She had failed one of her children. Fear, thick and bubbling, filled her heart. What made him feel so guilty? Hadn't anyone spoken to the boy? Didn't she hug him and tell him she would get him out of there? Why didn't he believe her? Eventually, the tears passed, and she lifted her head out of her hands. She settled herself against the edge of the dock, leaned against the mooring post and trailed her foot in the water. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the swing, still there, a wide plank held up not a foot from the ground by two thick ropes. Charlie had brought those ropes back from Romania, enchanted to never break or burn or fray. It was Ginny's idea to use it for a swing. Molly lifted her cold feet out of the water and walked over to the swing. After the water, the harsh reality of the wooden dock made her feet hurt, but she paid it no mind. The pain grounded her, made her remember how these moments made her feel alive. Molly reached the swing, and grabbing the thick, rough rope she placed one bare foot on the board, and pushed off to swing forward, bringing her other foot up to stand on the swing. She smiled as the half moon glinted off the water and pushed a bit further. Harry would have loved this swing. You will love this, Harry. x x x x x Arthur stirred from his spot on the couch when he heard the kitchen screen quietly close. He knew those footsteps, had known those soft padding feet since he was twenty. Now he put every effort into following them quietly. What had woken his wife at three in the morning after such a long day's work? He paused in the kitchen and his breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of an angel in a small white dressing robe walking away from the house through the window over the sink. Her sink. Her house. It only stood because of her magic. She held it together, how he could only marvel and watch. She started down the path. He knew then, where she was going. He slipped off his slippers and went out after her. He couldn't bear it if she fell out there. She had fallen when she was pregnant with Charlie. That had been scary, and her dog had come running to find Arthur right away. Molly loved to wander around with her dog, Charlie, and his wagging tail was always a source of security to Arthur. Nothing could harm her as long as Charlie was there. Charlie passed away happily on the front porch, guarding the Burrow the very afternoon that his second son was born. They named him Charlie, of course. It only seemed right. Now there was no dog, he'd have to look into getting another one. For now, he'd have to suffice. Slowly he picked his way along the path, towards the small spring. Arthur didn't want to crowd her. But it was dark out. And she was beautiful in the moonlight. And it had been such a long week. He watched as she sat on the dock, and slid her feet into the water. She used to come here when she was pregnant, the cold spring water was good for her aching feet, and better than the river on the other side of the orchard. Muggles were known to go fishing on that river, too. He grew concerned as she took a piece of parchment from her robes and read it carefully, shoulders heaving as she cried. He stepped back. Whatever it was, it was private. He couldn't ask to read it. But he would stand guard over her as she did. Eventually her cries died down, and she stood up, smoothing the wrinkles from her robes. She shook her curly hair out and across her shoulders, walking back up the dock, and over to the swing. Arthur watched as his angel grabbed the ropes and stood up on the swing, gently swinging herself back and forth as she watched over the pond. Arthur crept back along the path, and then walked at a normal pace over to her. 'Molly? Are you okay?' His angel did not turn to look at him; instead she leaned back and swung herself higher, standing rigidly on the swing, swinging in precisely the manner she had forbidden her children from doing. 'No, Arthur. I'm far, far from it.' 'Do you want to talk about it?' He asked his angel. She did not respond, but swung herself higher still, her curly hair flowing down her back, her night gown fluttering out from her legs with every pass. 'Talking hasn't helped the situation much, darling. I'm starting to wonder if I've failed Harry.' Arthur furrowed his brow in concentration. His daughter had reported that he was frustrated, but in decent spirits, and that when around good people he was willing to smile and joke around. He did know Ginny was also very upset that he could not be here. Vernon had knocked him around a bit this past afternoon, but Mundungus had reported that Harry had fended him off, even left Dursley on the kitchen floor. That had to be it. 'Is this because of Fletcher's report at the meeting?' Molly's hands twisted on the ropes and she gave an almighty push, heaving the swing higher than probably was safe to do so. Arthur drew his wand and held it to his side. 'In part,' Molly bit out. 'Mainly, though, I'm upset that this situation exists, and that SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO FIND THIS ACCEPTABLE.' She jerked the swing higher still. Arthur followed the swing's progress with his wand. 'Retardo,' he incanted. The swing reached its peak, his wife jumped off, and the swing immediately slowed down. Arthur gasped and could only watch as Molly dove into the water. He stepped over to the water faster than he had ever moved, just in time to see his very, very angry wife surface, and start to walk back to shore. Her hair was perfectly dry, and the air was crackling around her. Arthur stepped back instinctively. 'HOW DARE YOU!' 'Molly, please, I was worried you might fall off, I didn't want you to get—' 'THAT'S ENOUGH!' Molly shrieked. 'I CAME HERE FOR PEACE AND QUIET!' 'Molly, please, calm yourself. We can't be hysterical about this. We have to trust Dumbledore. He has Harry's best interests at heart.' Molly froze mid-stride. Slowly she approached her husband and gazed steadily into his clear blue eyes. 'Arthur, I love you.' Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. 'I love you too, Molly,' he murmured softly. 'And darling?' 'Yes, dear?' Arthur said, his heart warming as he turned his eyes on his beautiful, rational wife. 'I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE JUST SAID THAT! That you could BELIEVE in such tripe!" she bellowed. 'At what point, pray tell, is it all right to leave a child on their own with people who hate them?' She took a step forward. Arthur's survival instinct stepped in again and he began to move backwards. 'What is it about the phrase 'best interests' allows for starvation?' She voiced her question slowly, as one would do if they were speaking to a very young child. 'Molly, Harry—' Molly wouldn't hear any of it. 'No, Arthur. You listen to me, and you listen to me good. James towered over Lily. And Lily was a almost a foot taller than me. Are you going to tell me that their son Harry wound up as tall as Ginny due to the luck of the draw?' Arthur gulped. He had forgotten that. Molly continued speaking to him in a low, growling tone of voice. 'Harry's small because that's what malnutrition does to children over a long period of time. That's what happens when you keep children underfed. They wind up slight of stature. They have a hard time concentrating on schoolwork and they have a hard time standing up for themselves.' Arthur stood still. As usual, his wife was right, and he had overlooked something rather important. 'Arthur, Harry has been neglected. He's been abused. Vernon hit him about the head twice today. I don't care that Harry fended him off. It's never okay to hit a child in your care. Never!' she hissed. Arthur took another step back, and found himself up against the tree. Molly had that look back on her face. Arthur kicked himself mentally. How could he have missed that look before? She used to get that look in Prefect meetings at school. There was no use for it now, he chided himself. He'd have to tell her. 'Molly, darling,' Arthur started again, hoping this time to start his strategic move in the opposite direction. 'No, Arthur. You will hear me out on this. I'm ashamed you would just open your mouth like that without thinking. How dare you assume that I'm just being hysterical! Child abuse is never okay! I don't care how old he is! I don't care who he is! He's not "The-Boy-Who-Lived", he's the boy who survives in spite of everything and that's not who can save our lives. Only a boy who actually lives will conquer Tom.' Molly sighed deeply and shook her hair out. Arthur wished she wouldn't do that. She was pretty when she was angry, and the hair maneuver was very distracting. Molly continued to talk, oblivious to her husband's gaze. 'Even the fact that you're trying to talk me down is worrisome. What did your parents do to you to make you think it's perfectly okay to hit a child?' 'Molly, please. We have to trust Dumbledore; he's…that is—' '—No, dear. You tell me!' she demanded imperiously. 'We've always had such a wonderful level of communication. Please, I am curious. I mean, after all, it was your idea that we go to speak with the Dursleys at King's Cross.' Molly advanced again, and Arthur found himself with his back up against the tree. Molly put herself right in front of him, and leaned forward. He could still smell the toothpaste on her breath. 'How is it appropriate that a child should have the magic beaten out of them? I mean, really! I've read Magical Moments: Every Witches Guide to Child Development. Do you remember when you bought that for me?' Arthur nodded his head. Molly gave a tight-lipped smile. 'And do you recall that I couldn't put it down and you bought your own copy?' Arthur nodded his head again. Her hands flew up in the air in frustration. 'Then, is my copy missing a section somewhere? Perhaps the bit about psychological warfare?' Arthur played the silent card. Molly stared expectantly at him. Arthur dug a toe into the ground. 'I'm sorry, Molly, but I know a few things about this situation that you don't. Albus didn't want anyone to know—' Molly balled her hand into a fist and opened her mouth to speak, but Arthur cut her off. '—So I'm telling you now.' Molly glared at her husband. 'Out with it,' she hissed. Arthur took a deep breath. 'Dumbledore used ancient blood magic to protect Harry. As long as he can call the Dursleys' house his home, Voldemort can't touch him there. Petunia is Lily's sister, by blood.' Molly stood very still for a moment. 'Please, Molly, don't be angry with me.' Molly said nothing. She stared out at the pond. 'Harry's like a son to me,' Arthur continued. 'I worry about him, too. I wish that we could keep him forever. But Dumbledore thinks this is best, and I don't have a better solution for the problem. God knows I don't want Voldemort to come after Harry.' He winced under his wife's piercing gaze. 'There are worse things to suffer than death, Arthur.' Arthur sagged. Again, he was wrong. Dead wrong. 'Yes, you're right,' he agreed, warily edging to the side. Molly stayed where she was, obviously deep in thought. Moments passed into minutes and Arthur successfully maneuvered himself over to the side, where his back was no longer up against the tree. The sky had turned green around the edges, and the sun would be up in a short while. 'Molly?' he asked tentatively. 'Are you okay, love?' 'Yes,' she breathed, her eyes lighting up. 'This will work.' Arthur felt the fear creep back into his heart again. 'Molly?' he asked again, putting a hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly, her once-distant gaze returning to his and smiled. She reached up a hand to his face, and pulled him into a kiss. 'I love you, you silly, silly man. Everything will be okay.' 'Molly?' Arthur asked softly, very confused at what had just happened. 'It's okay, Arthur. Albus just missed something. So everyone missed it. I can fix it though. I'm not surprised he didn't think of it.' 'What? What did he miss?' Molly smiled and took Arthur's hand. 'Let's go inside. I'll make some breakfast. You need to Floo everyone who came with us to King's Cross. We'll need everyone for this to work right.' 'For what to work?' Arthur asked. Molly smiled up at him and said the words he never expected to hear. 'Rescuing our Harry, of course.' x x x x x 'Ron.' 'Ron, get up.' 'RON!' The young man in question bolted upright, wand at the ready. His older brother had been expecting this, and had already backed up. 'Oh, it's you.' Ron breathed a sigh of relief. He just hadn't been waking up right lately. Nor had he been sleeping well, as he was plagued with strange dreams about some sort of brown furry monster in red attacking him. 'Fred and George said to get up, the fishing tours have started up again.' Bill shot a significant glance at Ron, which Ron grinned in response to. 'I'll be right down, let me get my sword.' 'Excellent,' said Bill. 'We'll meet at the swing.' 'Is Ginny coming? She has the day off.' Said Ron, as he hopped into a pair of shorts and shrugged on a bright orange shirt. He stopped at a hand on his arm. Bill was looking at him seriously. 'No orange, Ron. We've got to look the part, remember?' 'I'll have my robes on over it!' Ron said in defense of his choice of attire. Bill held up a hand. 'Hear me out. This is one of the few circumstances when it's not really Muggle baiting. We're just kids today. If anyone thinks anything of it, we're actually just having a good time as young kids. This is the last time I can even think about getting away with this. I'm too old now.' Ron snorted at the idea of Bill being old. 'If you're wearing a shirt with moving letters on it, and your robe gets ripped when we're fighting, we'll be in more trouble than you can imagine. Now come on, throw a different shirt on.' Ron began rooting through the clean pile, and came up with a plain red shirt. That will do, won't it?' Bill nodded his head and went back downstairs. Ron went to his bed, and reached behind the headboard to grab his sword. Earlier that summer Fred and George had found them in the bottom of the basement. There was a passage between the basement and the barn, for getting to the barn in bad weather, they assumed, and inside it was a virtual armory. They had been fooling around with them ever since Bill had discovered them and put a Cut-Me-Not Charm on the blades. Throwing on his robe Ron headed down the stairs to his sister's room. As he went sailing by the door on his rear end, Ginny opened the door up. Ron looked up in time to see her in her damsel in distress robes, before he spun out at the end of the hall. 'Ron? What happened?' Ginny took a step out into the hall, and closed her door. Ron looked up bleary eyed at her. 'The Slipping Solution, Ginny. You put it in front of your door again.' Ginny looked down at the floor thoughtfully. 'I guess I forgot to take it off.' She smiled and walked over to her brother, and offered him a hand up. He looked at her skeptically, and took her hand. 'How come you don't fall on it?' Ginny smiled. 'That's my secret.' 'Aren't you going to remove it?' Ginny shook her head thoughtfully. 'I haven't decided yet.' The pair continued downstairs, and out into the kitchen. Slowly and quietly Ron and Ginny made their way across the lawn, and over to the path. Half way to the swing they met up with Fred, George, Bill and Charlie. Bill was gesturing for quiet, and they all crouched low into the bushes on the side of the path. Seconds later their mother and father came into view, heads bent low in conversation. Silently they waited until their parents passed, and then crouched back out to the path. Charlie and Bill broke into a silent run, and led the group to the swing. 'Okay, here's the deal. Ginny, you signal when they're coming. Charlie and I will attack, Fred and George and Ron will defend.' 'Who's picking me up first?' Ginny asked. 'Whoever picks you up first. That way it's more realistic.' 'I can't pick her up,' said George, grimacing. Charlie looked at his younger brother concerned. 'Ginny's Slipping Solution,' supplied Fred. Charlie looked at him again. 'Try a Gecko Charm. I wear one all the time on my feet, no matter what I'm doing.' Bill nodded in agreement. 'Really, bro. You should just have us charm your shoes. That's what Ginny did.' Ron pouted. 'It's not fair!' Ginny rounded on him. 'Not fair!' she roared. 'Next time you have a headache I'll send Fred and George after you every six minutes with something new to taste!' Ron had the decency to look ashamed, and apologized. 'Well, now that that's over,' Fred said brightly. 'We should begin the festivities,' George quipped. 'The tours start at sunup, you know.' Fred turned to inform Bill, who nodded in agreement. 'And the sun is coming up,' George whispered into Bill's other ear. 'Indeed. Our audience will be gliding by soon.' Bill stated, nodding seriously and cracking his knuckles. 'Yes, and that means we need to get to the river' Fred spoke up. '—and fight,' George chimed back. '—that way the tour will be so much more realistic, and interesting,' said Fred. '—and we'll get to fight without Dad watching.' Ginny supplied. '—and plan how we're going to rescue Harry,' Fred added, poking Bill on the shoulder. '—and Ginny will to take her frustrations out on our resident idiot,' said Charlie, joining in the act. 'Hey!' exclaimed Ron. 'Great idea!' Ginny exclaimed, and ran down the path ahead of her brothers. x x x x x Arthur took over the Floo for Molly while she cooked breakfast. First on the list was Minerva McGonagall. He took a small handful of Floo powder and threw it into the flames. 'Minerva McGonagall,' he called out clearly. A brief sensation of spinning overtook his head, and then he found himself looking at the sensible, square toed boots of Hogwarts' Transfiguration professor. 'Yes Arthur, is everything alright?' she asked as she took a seat on a small ladder-backed chair. 'No,' Arthur spoke softly. 'Molly's done something to herself, and we can't afford a trip to St. Mungo's. I was wondering if you'd help sort her out.' The stern-looking professor swept the braid off of her shoulder and nodded her head. 'I thought as much. I'll be over in a few minutes; I need to find something to occupy Albus.' Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thank you, Minerva.' He pulled his head out of the flames, and made his next call. 'Remus?' Arthur called out into the dark cavernous room. The sound of quick footsteps, followed by the sound of someone falling over, followed by more quick footsteps, followed by something crashing met his ears. A string of creative profanity followed, and then a short woman with blue hair and bright orange eyes knelt down in front of the fireplace. 'What is it Arthur?' she asked. 'Sorry to bother you, Tonks, but Ron's stuck himself in a tree and we can't get him to come down. He's in an awful mood about his OWL results, and he's afraid he won't be able to enter the Auror's training program. Could you come over and try and talk him down? Molly's ready to hex the tree down.' The young Auror nodded her head and cracked her gum. 'Of course, Arthur, I'd be happy to help. I'll be over in a trice.' Arthur breathed another sigh of relief and bade her goodbye. He turned around just in time to see Molly opening the door for Tonks and warmly greeting Remus. Smiling at the return of his angel, Arthur set about lengthening the table. x x x x x 'Say, Isaac, throw me that fishing pole,' 'Here you go! Make sure your bait's tied on tight.' 'Pass me that ale, Robert?' 'Sure thing,' the disembodied voices floated on the thick, humid morning air. Music to Fred's ears. Slowly he crept forward, watching for Ginny's signal. They would be here soon. 'Hey, did'ja hear the one about the Japanese Golfer?' Chuckling followed this comment, and the soft whirr of the release on a fishing pole punctuated the morning silence with the small splash. Ginny took out her hair brush and began to brush her hair, sitting on a rock by the shore. The wide expanse of the river shimmered in the early morning light, and a long haired young man began to sneak across from behind her. Two small canoes came into sight and the men on board stared at the strangest thing they had seen. A young girl was wearing an old-fashioned robe, brushing her hair and humming to herself. Suddenly she was lifted over the head of another young man, he was also wearing the strange robes. An ear-splitting shriek echoed across the water, and the men in the boat tensed up. 'What's going on?' asked Isaac. 'I dunno, that looks like a fight.' 'Don't seem like it.' 'Can't swim from here.' At that moment two identical men sprang from the woods behind, charging the long haired man. 'ARRRRRRRR! LET HER GO YOU SCOUNDREL!' The ringing clash of swords echoed in the morning mist. Two other young men joined in the fray, and soon the young girl hopped down, dropped to the ground, and came up behind a very tall young man with a small dagger in her hand. He spun on his heel and jumped back, only to be pushed back over to her by the twins. Robert peered through the mist, and recognizing the red hair he chuckled. 'It's okay folks, they do this every summer. They're just local kids, all brothers and their kid sister. I think they like to mess with the tours.' The men visibly relaxed, and watched the show. The tall, long-haired brother was sparring with both twins, while the shorter brother was sneaking up on the young girl. Ginny twisted and turned, then ducked and rolled around Ron. He continued to reach out with his sword, intent on disarming her. She was smaller, and that gave her a distinct advantage. If she could get inside his reach, he was hers. She hooked her hand around his arm, and pulled it back quickly to her hips, twisting it as she pulled. She used her other arm to shove him down to the ground and then quickly sat on his back, throwing her arm around his neck and pulling up. The other brothers erupted in a loud cheer, and then all was silent, as the young girl sat perched on her brother's back. Silence fell over the groups, and the fishermen waited with baited breath. Had she won? Ginny sat tight, pinning Ron's shoulders and lifting his chin, as she had been taught. 'Mercy,' Ron finally called out. Applause rang out from both of the boats, and the girl hopped off of her brother, his sword grasped in her hand. Smiling she waved a victory sign, and offered a hand to her brother. Ron grinned, took her hand, and allowed himself to be pulled up. He dusted off his robes, offered his hand to Ginny, 'Good move, Ginny' he exclaimed enthusiastically. 'You've got a great style!' Ginny grinned, and Ron promptly lifted her up and tossed Ginny into the river. Coming up sputtering the redhead vowed to kill her brother. Charlie took this opening and charged his younger brother, dragging him into the river, Fred and George followed suit, picking Bill up and swinging him into the river, and dove in right after, much to the amusement of the fishing tour. After a while, the boats stopped coming and the teens retired to sunning themselves on the rocks. Ginny stared at the sky pensively. Charlie sat on a rock, sharpening his knife on a wetstone while Fred and George conversed in low tones. Ron lay down under a tree in the grass, content to watch the clouds float by. Bill noticed Ginny's mood and smiled at her. 'How is your project coming, pumpkin?' Ginny smiled sweetly over at her oldest brother. 'Don't call me pumpkin, or I'll cut you where you sit,' she said, flicking her dagger in his direction. Bill laughed and lifted his hands. 'Okay, I give, will you please tell me how your project is coming along, Ginny.' 'Just fine. I have a few more books to go through and then I'll be ready to write my paper. Hermione's going to edit it for me.' 'Are you going to talk about the wedding in your paper?' asked Bill. 'I might not. It makes me angry to even think about that day. I nearly murdered Harry's Aunt and Uncle. I searched the kitchens for rat poison for half an hour, but no luck there. I wound up using glass cleaner.' Ginny and Ron doubled over in laughter. Fred and George perked up. 'Harry's aunt was there?' 'Glass cleaner, what's in that?' Ginny looked wistful. 'I don't know, and I don't care. But she was in the hospital for three days, had to get her stomach emptied,' she said, with a dreamy look in her eyes. 'Why did you do that? Was she the one who hurt Harry right in front of you?' Ginny scowled menacingly out at the river, 'Yes. She was the one who dragged him around by his ear. In front of everyone. And Dumbledore still wouldn't let him come here, and still expected a full report from me afterwards.' George looked confused. 'A report? On what?' 'Harry's emotional state,' Ginny bit out. Ron snorted softly. 'Of course. That's why she was allowed to go. To check up on him.' 'You mean spy,' Ginny spat out. 'I couldn't even write to him ahead of time and let him know.' George looked thoughtful. 'You know, we could hide him here.' Fred looked at Bill, who looked at Charlie. Charlie nodded his head. 'If not here, I could get him to Romania, he could stay at my cabin.' Ginny sat upright. 'Don't tell Mum, or Dad, but when Dumbledore was there at the wedding, when he came to give Harry an assignment for Occlumency, he said he didn't want Harry to leave his aunt's because of some protection she offers him.' George snorted. 'Protection magic from Muggles who hate anything to do with magic? Now that's irony.' Ginny stood up and put her dagger back into its holder. 'Let's go back to my room, we can plan this there.' Drying Charms were cast all around, and they headed back to the house. x x x x x Remus was savagely putting butter on a piece of toast. Tonks sat beside him, with a piece of parchment in front of her, eyes glittering with unshed tears. her hair darkening and lightening from blue to indigo. Molly sat completely still, save for the occasional sip of tea or red spark that would crackle around her hair. In a quiet, calm voice she addressed the woman in front of her. 'As you can see, this situation is untenable. He cannot stay there, and I will not allow it.' Tonks nodded her head. She pushed the paper over to Remus, and he pushed it to the center of the table. 'No, I can't read it.' Molly looked up, her eyes flashing. Remus put a hand up, stalling her. 'No, really Molly, I would be very tempted to do something I'd regret.' Molly's lips twisted in a smirk, and a low chuckle escaped her lips. 'By the time I'm through with them, anything you might have done will be considered merciful.' Remus looked carefully at Molly, and edged away from the table. 'Indeed,' came the voice of Minerva McGonagall. 'I've half a mind to take matters into my own hands. This cannot go on.' The tall witch came in from the front door and pointed her wand at a stray wood chip on the floor, turning it into a straight backed chair. She sat down on it, and accepted the cup of tea offered to her. She sipped her tea and sighed in relief. Gazing at the group assembled she continued speaking. 'Now, I have the entire day free, Albus is under the impression that I am visiting the homes of several Muggle born children. Which, I am,' she added as an afterthought. Remus looked at her questioningly. 'How?' Minerva reached into her robes and produced a small hourglass on a long chain. 'Time turner,' she replied succinctly. Tonks smiled and produced one herself. 'Really? I'm in the office right now.' Remus smiled and took another sip of his tea. His eyes danced with laughter. 'Arthur, you better check Molly, you might actually have two wives' Arthur shuddered, put his tea down and looked alarmed. Molly let out a chuckle again. 'No need to worry about that, dear.' Tonks finished her tea and pushed herself off of the bench. 'What we need is a plan; we need to keep Dumbledore busy, and away from his office, because his trackers will alert him to Harry's absence, and to magic being used in the house.' Everyone nodded in agreement. 'Moody?' suggested Remus. Minerva nodded. 'I'm certain that either he or even I could find something suitable to occupy Albus for today.' At that moment the kids trooped in, stopping short at the kitchen table. Molly smiled over her tea. 'Come and sit, I've got breakfast waiting. And we need you're assistance today.' Her tone brooked no argument, and the teens sorted themselves around the table. Fred and George took up the ends, and began a steady stream of flattery at their former professor. 'It's wonderful to see you,' George exclaimed. 'Professor, we have you to thank for our success,' Fred jumped in, smiling widely. 'Did you know we transfigured a couch?' George asked. '—out of a pair of those snapping teeth they sell at Zonkos,' supplied Fred. 'It's amazing,' sighed George. '—you wind up the couch,' Fred explained. '—and it chomps its way across the floor!' '—if it weren't for your tutelage—' '—if it weren't for all of those detentions with Filch—' '—if it weren't for your occasional blind eye—' Molly's teacup hit the table with a thump. 'That's enough, boys. Thank you. Now please, we have business to attend to.' Fred and George fell silent. 'What's happening today, Mum? How can we help?' asked Ginny. Molly smiled. 'We're going after Harry, dear. And I need all of the help I can get. This has to be a family effort.' Only in dreams had there been such a complete and utter silence in the Weasley kitchen. Nothing stirred, until Ron let out a sigh of relief. 'Good. It's about time someone started talking some sense around here.' Ginny nodded her head fervently. Molly glanced around. 'Each of you has a part, and in order for this to work, we have to do our share. No deviating from the plan.' Her eyes fixed upon the twins first. 'Fred and George, you'll help with distracting the Dursleys, won't you? I want you to pull out all the stops.' The twins nodded mutely, still partly in denial of the turn this particular breakfast had taken. 'I think I should be in charge of the Floo connection,' Arthur offered, adding a slice of lemon to his tea. 'After all, it's the least I can do to help Harry come home. And I have prior experience with their ekletrictic fireplace,' he added with a smile. Bill looked over at Ginny, who nodded. 'We'll get Harry to the Burrow so you can finish the job.' Molly was paused in thought, absently reaching across the table to push a lock of hair out of Ron's face before she snapped back into action. 'Bill, Ginny, make sure to move quick. Fred and George, I'll need you to give us long enough for Ginny and Bill to get Harry out of there. Oh, and Ron, could you be in charge of getting Harry's things to the Burrow?' Ron opened his mouth to speak, nearly lost part of his last mouthful of toast and instead settled on nodding his head cheerfully. This was going to be excellent material for his next letter to Hermione. Molly's normally pleasant face took on a look that frightened the entire table, and a small twist to her lips turned upwards at the corners, causing everyone except for Arthur and Minerva to push away from the table. 'Yes, that will work fine,' Molly breathed. 'You just leave Petunia to me.' Beta Note: OK, I've betaed everything she's given me…go pelt the bunny for more food!
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