THE SECOND OF MAY, 2000-
Molly Weasley stood hunched over the kitchen sink, scrubbing at the skin beneath her nails. She had previously been scrubbing away at the dirt left over from this morning's gardening, but the soil had long washed down the sink, and now she just scrubbed to keep her mind steady, focused on a more tangible pain- rather than one she could not quite control.
"Aunty Molly," came the lispy little voice of two year old Teddy Lupin across the kitchen. He sat at the Burrow's large kitchen table, which had occupied so many over its lifetime- including the young boy's parents. Today, Edward's hair was blue with pink tips, something he had learned how to do before his second birthday, and his nose was slightly smaller than usual. But his pale, pointed face and large green eyes reminded Molly terribly of Remus, and his small form was slightly reminiscent to Tonks, and Molly wanted to turn away again.
Teddy was surrounded by people who loved him, and he spent almost every weekend staying at someone's house, be it the Burrow, Harry and Ron's flat, Shell Cottage or with his Grandma. But no one had wanted to look after him this weekend.
Molly put down her nail brush, and mothered over to Teddy, planting a kiss on his head and pouring him a glass of orange juice. He smiled angelically up at her, before noticing her raw hands and frowning;
"Red red." He accused, as if to say- "What have you done to yourself Aunt Molly?"
"Yes, dear, I've been cleaning my nails." Molly said absentmindedly, summoning Teddy's bowl and pouring out a ladleful of porridge.
"Hurt. Aunty Molly", Teddy said in the same tone, demanding her attention.
"Yes, dear," Mrs Weasley sighed with a flick of her wand, and the bowl landed steadily in front of the toddler (he gurgled delightedly at the magic), "It did hurt a little."
Molly flicked her wand again and a spoon began feeding Edward, the boy making a game of catching the spoon in the air and laughing when it dipped to catch any dribbles on his chin. Mrs Weasley leant back on her counter, observing Teddy and his game with a half-smile. He reminded her so much of the twins at his age.
Molly caught her breath as a sharp pain hit her in the chest. She turned around and clutched the counter, rooting herself. Immobile for a few seconds, the scenes began hitting her, she couldn't remove them from her head, they had started now and she could see it, see him in the great hall, stretched out, see him-
She mustn't think of these things, she scolded herself, straightening again and putting on the coffee pot.
Arthur Weasley clunked down the stairs and headed straight for Molly, wrapping her in a particularly long hug. Molly stiffened. It felt wrong, the warmth of love, when she was so cold. When it became clear his wife would not reciprocate, Arthur removed his hold quickly and turned to Teddy, composing his face into a smile.
"Good Morning young man, are you quite well?" Teddy gave an attempt at an articulation of his health, but the words didn't quite come, so he laughed at Mr Weasley instead, "I'm glad," Said Arthur, continuing, "I'm very well, thank you for asking." This little jest had Teddy in uproarious laughter, and another smile reached Mrs Weasley's lips.
Arthur fetched himself some coffee, and then sat with Teddy at the table,
"Nice to have a break from work today- I am glad they made it a bank holiday."
"Yes, it seemed the respectful thing to do, didn't it, dear?" Mrs Weasley replied quitely
"I suppose we'll be taking Teddy to the memorial?" Another brief stab of pain hit her, but she shook it off. Teddy looked up inquiringly at the mention of his name, smiling again, but soon returned to his porridge.
"Yes, of course, but I think he'll sit with Harry, Ginny and Ronald." She said stiffly, returning to the eggs she was poaching.
"What time does it start, dear?" Arthur continued.
"Three o'clock, dear." She began buttering the bread quite harshly.
"I thought I might take Ted into the village?"
"If you would like too, Arthur. I'm going to be spring cleaning the house."
"That's nice idea- keep yourself busy." Arthur gave a kind smile.
"Busy from what, exactly, dear?" Mrs Weasley said coldly, turning back to the stove. She bit her tongue quickly. Why did she always do this- push her family away from her each time they attempted to bring her back. But she couldn't go back, losing –him- had changed everything for her. No one else had attempted to help her before it was too late. It wasn't their fault, of course, Molly reproached herself; they were dealing with their own grief. But the other side of her, the cold side, just couldn't accept it, and couldn't accept Arthurs love.
Arthur sat quietly at the table, not quite sure what to say. It was normal now, Molly's lack of love which had originally been so foreign, and Arthur had long learnt to put up with it rather than beginning a tearful and screaming argument. But it was today, two years later, and wasn't it time Molly put the past behind her, and began living her life again? Of course, not to forget Fred, never to forget Fred- but rather, put his memory to rest, like all his siblings had done and Arthur tried so hard to do. It hadn't been easy for them, George had his bout of depression which only ended after he was quite literally saved by Angelina, his now wife, and Percy had made himself sick with guilt and had been out of work for nearly a year, but they were fine now, and safe now, and Molly needed to be happy again. Two years was a long time to be unhappy.
The two boys finished their breakfast and, after dressing Teddy and brushing his teeth, they made their way into the village. Molly fished out a Celestina Warbeck record and played it loudly, letting the music envelop her as she began sorting through the living room. It warmed her up, almost, and helped her to forget, as did cleaning. She began to feel almost-happy as she threw out all the old textbooks that Ginny had stored in the cupboard, and dusted the mantelpiece, adjusting the various knickknacks and the floo-powder pot that had been there since the couple had moved in.
A sound of high pitched squawking brought Mrs Weasley back down to earth. It was coming from the kitchen, an owl. Sure enough, there sat a high speed delivery owl, perched on the chair Teddy had occupied a 20 minutes before. A quick note had been scrawled across the parchment in Bills handwriting;
Mum,
Fleur is in labour. The MagiMidwife has come here, no time for hospital.
Come quick,
Bill
Mrs Weasley screamed. She grabbed her key from the cupboard, flying through the door and down their driveway, onto the little country lane.
"Arthur! Arthur!" She screeched as she raced down the winding road.
There they were, just crossing the boundary of Ottery St Catchpole.
"Arthuuuuuuuuurr!" She bellowed, "Its FLEUR!"
Arthur stopped dead, and swung around.
"Merlin's Beard!"
The two ran towards each other, Mr Weasley dragging Teddy along by the hand, who was laughing delightedly at the commotion. They collided, and with a deep breath, Arthur turned.
They were stood outside Shell Cottage.
The warm may wind brushed delicately through the dunes and grass. Rays of sun shone dappled through the clouds and the smell of salt and sea hit Mrs Weasley, and she breathed deep, cleansing breaths. Shell Cottage sat clumsily in the sand, giving a quaintly squished feel to the small house.
Teddy swayed faintly, with slightly green skin, his hair returned to the natural mousy brown, clearly quite shocked at the unexpected apparition.
"Oh, Teddy I'm so sorry," Arthur apologised, lifting the boy up to sit on his hip, "Much too young for an apparition- but we couldn't floo either and really-"
"Oh, come on Arthur!" Cried Molly, and she rushed down the dunes to the house, skidding on the loose sand which slipped in little avalanches beneath her feet.
A pale Ron stumbled out of the doorway, a frantic look in his eyes.
"Mum, Dad, thank Merlin you're here!" He exclaimed, "No one has any idea what's going on other than that cursed MagiMidwife!" He scowled, before smiling at Teddy cuddled happily up in Arthur's arms, "You better come in then, Charlie's here, but we're not allowed in the room according to,"- here he put on a annoying, girlish voice- "Gwendoline." He lead the way inside.
Shell Cottage was much the same as always, sandy and homely, but with a distinct atmosphere of apprehension. Charlie sat anxiously on the stairs, obsessively plaiting and unplaiting a strand of his hair which, Molly angrily noticed, he had somehow managed to magically regrow. She would have words with her 28 year old son after all this was over. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she passed him, reaching the landing with Arthur and Ron close behind her. Bill opened the door of their bedroom as they cautiously approached, looking relieved when he spotted it was his mother.
"Help." He whispered imploringly, looking absolutely terrified.
"Oh my darling boy." Mrs Weasley crooned at her 31 year old son, as she pulled him into a warm hug, "I'm so proud of you!"
"The baby's not even born yet! And I'm fast loosing my temper at this ridiculous midwife- try to come in!" He spoke in hushed, rapid speech, exuding both terror and excitement at the situation.
Molly pushed past him, and was immediately halted by a hand thrown in front of her face. An awful chattering noise began. In front of her stood a large, bossy looking sort of woman, who was in rapid-fire speech explaining just why Mrs Weasley was forbidden to enter the premises. Past her, Fleur was groaning with excruciating pain, whilst managing to still look quite beautiful. Suddenly an ear-splitting scream was emitted from her mouth, and Gwendoline the Midwife didn't move to help at all.
"WILL YOU PLEASE JUST LET ME SEE MY DAUGHTER IN LAW, IN MERLIN'S NAME CAN'T YOU SEE SHE'S IN AGONY, YOU USELESS HAG!" Mrs Weasley screeched at the poor woman, who suddenly backed off in fright of the furious witch.
Molly scurried to Fleur's side, accompanied by a grinning Bill and harassed-looking Mr Weasley. She held her daughter-in-law's hand as the baby was delivered.
Bill held the child up, ecstatic, "A girl!" He laughed, "Fleur, we've had a baby girl!"
Mr and Mrs Weasley kissed both their children's cheeks, and left the couple to themselves. Ron and Charlie were stood outside, peering at their parents for the news.
"A girl!" Mrs Weasley revealed, "Oh, Arthur, we've got a grandchild!"
They looked at each other, and suddenly they were having their first real hug in two years. Molly felt the coldness she had been forced to bear suddenly melt away. She later reflected to a 13 year old Victoire that it was like falling in love again.
Bill and Fleur stood hand in hand in front of the little fireplace, the whole Weasley clan gathered around them. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione had arrived straight after the Memorial service, Percy in time for Supper and George had been collected by Charlie during. It hadn't felt right without him there and although he only gave small, strained smiles it was nice to be together again.
"We've decided to call her Victoire." Fleur smiled gently, looking up at Bill for a nod of confirmation, "She was born on our day of victory!" This brought a collective 'Awww' from the group, aside from George, who looked as if he was trying very hard to smile.
"We know it was also a terrible day of loss, of course we know, and it always will be," Here, Fleur took Bills hand, "But we want Victoire to mark a new era for our family."
Curled up next to Mr Weasley on the sofa, with Teddy perched on his lap, Mrs Weasley couldn't have agreed more.