Chapter 1: The Weasleys' Unexpected Guests

August 1981

The atmosphere above the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole was that of a heavy one in this particular August night. The angry grey clouds above threatened to thunder, but did not do so as the foul humidity just weighed upon the air and suffocated it. And within the midst of the humid countryside, stood a house; The Burrow.

Inside The Burrow, despite being early dawn, a single redheaded individual sat wide awake, unable to sleep. Mrs. Molly Weasley had originally woken up quarter past three. She had been awaken by the sound of her week-old toddler, Ginny, fretting from hunger. However, even when she had fed and changed her baby, she couldn't go back to sleep. So Molly sat alone with her baby toddler in her arms in the kitchen, looking for hours at the innocent child sleeping.

Suddenly, warm arms surrounded Molly's shoulders from behind. "You didn't sleep at all again, did you Molly?" Arthur, Molly's husband accused. When he didn't get any response from her as she sat there, he sighed as he let go of her and sat next to her. "You had a baby a week ago Molly, you shouldn't be overexerting yourself, nor should you be under this much stress."

"But how could I rest, Arthur?" Molly asked, tears that has plagued her visions the past few days threatening to escape.

The war was raging on, and casualties were high with Lord Voldemort's power now at its peak. However, it wasn't until a few days ago that became too much of a harsh reality to Molly. Molly had received the news of both her brothers' deaths only two days after Ginny's birth. Fabian and Gideon Prewett were both killed in a Death Eater raid, and their families were missing, presumed dead. Even the presence of her children, which usually brightened her days in these dark times, did not cheer her up, and the thoughts of her brothers and their families plagued her nightmares; hence robbing her of her sleep.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the backdoor, breaking the heavy silence that had fell upon the Weasley couple. They both tensed, their faces both snapping towards the door as an ominous silence fell upon them again. They looked at each other, seeming to search for any answers from one another only to see the other had the same confused face.

A knock sounded again, and Arthur silently got up from his seat, motioning for Molly to get away from eyesight, just in case. Molly quickly removed herself towards the living room, behind a wall, clutching her baby closer to herself. All the while, Arthur raised his wand and walked towards the door, and whispered harshly, "declare yourself!" But the unexpected voice surprised both the awaken Weasleys.

"It is I, Albus Dumbledore, founder of the Order of the Phoenix," the familiar voice declared.

Arthur proceeded to unlock the door but as soon as he flung open the door, he put his wand beneath his formal Headmaster's neck. "Which member of the Order of the Phoenix did we go to after the death of Benjy Fenwick?"

"By we, I believe you mean Fabian and Gideon Prewett?" Dumbledore smiled, knowing the little skullduggery Arthur Weasley tried. "You were not present at the night of Fenwick, but Fabian, Gideon, Frank and Alice went to Emmeline Vance's house."

And at that, Arthur Weasley nodded his head as he lowered his hand. "Sorry about that Professor Dumbledore-,"

"It's quite alright, Arthur. It was I, who suggested the necessary protocols. Good morning, Molly," the Professor said. Indeed, Molly had come back from behind the wall, holding her toddler at the voice of the friendly. Except she noticed something Arthur hadn't, and she gave a gasp. "Mind if we come in?" Dumbledore asked, chuckling.

"Of course, of course, come on in, Professor," Molly ushered, pulling out a chair for him at the rectangular dinner table. "Please, do seat," she said as she herself pulled out a seat and handed over Ginny to Arthur.

"I apologize for the unexpected visit. I realize that I may have caused you quite some scare," Dumbledore apologized sincerely. "However, I thought you would like to know the news, soon as possible."

"Professor, is that-,"

"Ah, so you've noticed, Molly," Dumbledore smiled a genuine smile, his icy blue eyes over the half-moon glasses twinkling. He looked down to the child, sleeping innocently though her bunched up eyebrows suggested she may be having a nightmare. "I trust you already have an idea who it is?"

"Estella," Arthur nodded.

"May I?" Molly asked, indicating to her niece, who slept soundlessly in Dumbledore's arms. The said professor nodded, before he handed over the girl to Molly, who looked down at her.

Her niece, Estella, was the only child of Molly's brother, Gideon Prewett. She had seen Estella in many occasions in the girl's short life. She sported the red hair that was prominent in the Prewett line and her pale skin was absent of all blemishes or freckles. Estella had been the joy of Gideon and his wife Evelyn's lives, and adored their daughter, and it wasn't hard to see why as Molly looked down at the frowning face of the sleeping child.

"But Professor Dumbledore, if Estella is with you, where is Evelyn and Helen?" Arthur asked, his voice trembling at the fear of the answer to come.

Dumbledore's face immediately fell grave. He was reluctant to share the news but he breathed in before he began. "We were very lucky to find little Ms. Prewett in the airport in London. We reckon, after their husbands' demise, both Mrs. Prewetts were planning on an escape. However, Voldemort's followers had trailed them," Dumbledore said, before his eyes flickered to the little girl in Molly's arms. "It is quite lucky that Evelyn thought to leave Ms. Estella in a very busy women's lavatory when she heard commotions. I'm sorry to have to inform you both Evelyn and Helen Prewett has been killed in action, but the Ministry was able to intervene before the Death Eaters were able to find young Estella."

At the story Mrs. Weasley gave a big sob as she held on tighter to her niece. "Oh, our poor Estella, she must have been so scared… and poor Helen… she was expecting her first child next year."

"Now, now Molly, my dear. You'll wake the children," Arthur chastised, afraid either his niece or his toddler would wake at the sound of the wailing.

Molly stopped her wails but couldn't stop as she choked on her tears that kept falling down her face as she tried to suppress her loud sobs. The unfortunate events surrounding her brothers' families were too much to handle for the emotional woman. "Poor Estella, she will never know… she is going to grow up without Gideon and Evelyn… without knowing just how much they love her…"

"Yes, Estella will grow up without knowing her parents' love for her," Dumbledore said somberly before he let the uncomfortable silence commence for a bit before he turned to face them again. "She may never know her parents' love growing up, but it is my wish for her to know love. Now, I know this is not a good time for both of you. You already have seven children of your own, and I am very much aware that times are hard. But I thought it necessary that I ask, if you would like to take the custody of little Ms. Estella Evelyn Prewett?"

"Of course we would," Molly whispered. She looked to her husband, who was also nodding in agreement.

"Now that we know Estella is alive, we wouldn't have it any other way," Arthur agreed. "Estella will get all the love she would ever need from us. We at least owe this much to Gideon."

"Ah, I knew. I had a sneaky suspicion that you may take up the offer," Dumbledore smiled, his icy blue eyes twinkling mysteriously. "Now, I would love to stay, but I have to get to the Ministry as soon as possible. Good day."

And with that, Dumbledore disappeared, leaving Arthur and Molly looking down at the little girl who slept with a frown on her face.

(A/N) A rather short and not very well written story, but bare with me

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