Letters from Molly
Molly Weasley was old, her long life was slowly coming to an end. Was she sad? Yes and no. There was sadness because she would be leaving behind her husband, her six boys, her only girl, their spouses and herthirty grand-children. She had lived a good long life, her body was old and tired, she was ready. So while yes she was sad, she wasn't at the same time. She thought on this as she lie in her bed looking out of the window. She needed to tell Arthur and the kids one last time how much they each meant in her life and how much she loved them all. Talking made her to weak now, so she decided to write them each a letter.
"Arthur?" she called out to her husband.
"Yes, Molly dear" he answered as he came slowly shuffling into their room. He too was older, his body bent and low with age but he stayed strong for her.
"Would you please bring me my writing board and supplies?" he nodded at her request and she watched him as he gathered her supplies, finally smiling her strong smile at him as he helped her sit up and arrange her things. Gingerly he sat down beside her holding her hand.
"What are you going to write?"
"There is so much I want to tell the kids before I go. I know I can't tell it to them with my voice, it makes me to weak, so I am going to write them each a letter. It's something they will be able to treasure so much more than any words I would speak."
Taking a deep breath he struggled to fight back tears at hearing his wife so ready for death, he patted her hand and stood. "I'll leave you to it then my dear, let me know if there is anything I can do for you."
"I will." She picked up her quill and watched as she exited the room.
Quill poised she stared at the first piece of parchment, once again reflecting on her life. She had lived through so much. The first war came to mind, so many had died family and friends; each leaving such a void in her life. She and Arthur had married during this time, sometimes not sure if even they would live from day to day, then she had her William, Billy as she called him back then. Having him had made her realize she had been born to be a mother. It was the one thing that brought great meaning into her life.
Bill had filled their life with such joy in a time full of so much sorrow. Her times spent alone with him while she was bathing him, changing him and most of all nursing him had led her to make a strong connection to her eldest son. When she became pregnant with her second child, Molly was sure she wouldn't be able to handle two children so young. When her Charles was born she was proven wrong, he was a quiet and pleasant baby. For three years there was lots of fun in the house the two boys became best friends and sometimes enemies, but she had been sure to run a tight ship; helping them to end their squabbles and pleased that it was usually just a stolen toy that cause the trouble. She was elated when she learned yet again she was pregnant.
Her pregnancy with her third child was a hard one, she had been sicker and more tired than during her two previous pregnancies. But she didn't have toddlers running around her heels the first two times either. Finally her third son was born, when Percy entered the world she knew he would be different from her other boys. Even at the earliest age he was striving to be the best and do all he could to gain Molly's attention and she always gave it to him. She saw so much in that little boys eyes. Percy had brought her heart so much joy and so much sorrow. While he did come back to the family, eventually, tension from his brothers was forever there. He was always distant.
She soon started home schooling her children, knowing they would never fit in at a muggle school. Bill and Charlie were doing so well both were very smart, and Percy not wanting to be left out soon learned to read at age three and by age five was doing the same work as his brothers which helped Molly considerably as she soon learned she was pregnant once more.
From day one this new pregnancy was different than her others had been. She was sicker, more tired, and she started showing long before she did with her other three. The other boys were a great help especially Bill now getting so big was able to help with Percy and Charlie when needed and held the fort down while Molly would rest during the day after their schooling. She could honestly say nothing had ever surprised her more in her life than the day her twins were born, April Fools Day. Once the boys grew into their personality she always said no other day fit for them than that one.
Once the twins were born life just seemed to run in one gear for her, fast. It was full speed ahead from then on. Some days she didn't think she would make it through. She schooled the older boys, played with the twins, and still managed to some how manage the house. She often said to herself how she wouldn't have made it if she were a muggle. In her fast forward life she became pregnant once again. Her final baby boy, Ronald, was born in March and the next August her last baby was born, her only girl, her princess, Ginerva. The war ended shortly after Ginny was born, but this didn't help her life to slow down any.
It wasn't until after all her kids were out of the house and off to Hogwarts and starting lives of their own that she had to breath and often times she didn't get that. Ronnie and Ginny made sure she didn't have time to breath, the second war began and ragged strong for years, herself and her children in the midst of it. When the war finally ended with the defeat of Voldemort, she no longer feared the name, she was quickly bombarded with weddings and the births of grandchildren quickly followed those even. Her house was empty once again, but her life was more full than the house had ever been.
Smiling sadly at her paper, she dipped her quill and began to write her first of eight letters.