More Than One Way
It was deafening, The silence. It practically screamed through the whole of the Burrow just begging to be broken. Of all the occupants of the lopsided house, blood and honorary Weasley alike no one had spoken a word in over three hours. Speaking would solidify what no one wanted to believe.
Arthur Weasley, Dead.
They had proof, of course, his body lying in the middle of their floor frozen in the last position that he had ever held, a look of terror on his face and tears forming in his eyes. No one could bring themselves to say or do anything other than sit in their respective places and stare at the cold body of the Weasley family patriarch.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry started after some time, stopped only by the sharp disapproving look he received. "Sorry, Molly, I can't say I know what you are feeling but I think we should at least put a stasis on Arthur until we can get our bearings together."
He was not awarded an answer, just regarded with the puffy eyes of all the rooms occupants. His own eyes probably resembling theirs.
"Harry's right" Hermione hiccuped breaking the silence yet again. "He lived for his family the future of the Weasley name, he died the same way, I don't think it would do well to keep him like this. This isn't how he would want to be remembered. At least, I don't think he would."
"Yeah, and what do you know he wasn't your father! Neither one of you" Ron said pointing in Harry's direction.
"Ronald!" came a collection of voices.
"No, don't Ronald me, They are the reason he's dead. We are purebloods but aligning ourselves with them made us targets."
"Doing what's right makes us targets, this war wasn't because of Harry, Ronald Weasley, in fact, had it not been for Harry there would have never even been a reprieve from the first war and Voldemort would have probably already taken over." Hermione snapped. "I understand you are grieving and I don't know how that feels but you will do well to remember who approached whom on the trolly first year so if you feel like you need someone to blame for 'making your family a target' blame yourself."
"Hermione!"
"No, he's being a-"
"All of you just shut up!" Said Molly, who had been silent since the Aurors had released Arthur's body. "I won't stand for this in this house do you hear me? This was no one's fault but that megalomaniac. Hermione and Harry are no more to blame than any of us. We don't believe in anything that he is trying to do and that makes us targets in and of itself. I will not sit here and watch my children tear each other apart. This is what he wants, don't you get that? He wants us to become weak, and now is more reason than ever to stay strong. Otherwise, no matter who is to blame Arthur died in vain.
"Now I am going to put a stasis on him and send him to the attic" there was a pause as Molly tried to swallow the bile that rose in her throat. "Until we can plan a proper service. I know what your father wanted but unfortunately, in these times we can't chance that monster making him and inferi. He will have a firebed of that much I am sure, anything else has to be planned properly and I am quite frankly no able to do it right now." Molly had tears in her eyes, it wasn't the first or even the second or third time that she had cried that night and she felt that over the next few days she would be able to use her tears to water her entire garden.
Molly had seen the looks in some of her children's eyes, they had agreed with Ron. Ginny and Percy wore their agreement on their faces. She knew that it would need to be addressed soon but for now, she was just grateful that no one had said anything else while she struggled to perform the charm.
"Off to bed with the lot of you, breakfast may be a bit late in the morning but I still expect everyone up before noon we have a lot of work to do," she said sniffling and turning towards the steps. "Come on dear let's go to bed." she said floating her husband in front of her as she took the steps slowly as not to bump him into anything.
Hello all, I know that this is a short chapter, most of my stories may start out that way. I will say that I have this completely written up but it might change a bit. I am a pantser so if I am editing there may be some major changes to be made.
That being said, this chapter was originally Arthur's death scene but the focus of the story is on Molly so I felt I needed to go in this direction. It's not completely OOC as Ron is a turncoat more often than not and though Molly is portrayed as the motherly doting type until the end of the series she has a strength to her that we don't get to see manifest until the last book I'm pulling on that strength a little in this story. It's going to be a bumpy ride so click it or ticket.
Thank you for reading, like, favorite, follow, comment and let me know what you think. Your opinions and support are what will keep me motivated.
Lirit The Writing Spirit