Molly's POV. Set after Fred's funeral. OK, so I have had this idea for a while. There's a moment right at the end of the story which may appear to be out of Molly's character. I come from a big family and there have been moments that, rather than yelling at us for what we have done my parents have allowed us to dig the hole and jump right in during a casual conversation. And I think with so many boys, Molly would use a similar tactic. She can come over as a bit of a nag but I also think she sees the funny side in a lot of the antics her kids get up to, even if they drive her mad!-I see it in my own Mum-having so many strong, self willed children can make your sense of humour a bit twisted! This story is angsty but has a heavy on the side with cheese and fluff. RH HG BF MA and a bit of C? thrown in.

It had been one of the longest, hardest days of my life, but now I sat quietly on one of the kitchen chairs in Fr ... in Georges room, with Charlie sitting across from me on another chair. George lay on his side facing the window. He hadn't spoken since we had brought him upstairs after the funeral. Charlie had brought the chairs upstairs when we realised neither of us could bring ourselves to sit on Fred's bed. George hadn't slept in here since our return to the Burrow a few days ago. He had hardly slept at all. He would pace around the house for hours and hours, sitting for a moment, before beginning his relentless pacing again. To begin with I had tried to comfort him, but Arthur had persuaded me that George would search us out when he needed us. And he eventually had, falling on my shoulder and crying as I had never seen him cry before, then laying between Arthur and myself on our bed before drifting off into an unsettled night's sleep, like he and Fred used to when they were little and there was a storm

Charlie and I had persuaded George to come up here as there were still a few guests lingering and talking to the family. Arthur, Bill and Fleur had reassured me they could take care of the last of the mourners. There is only so much hugging and arm squeezing I could take so goodness knows how George felt. I didn't know who's grief was the greatest, mine and Arthurs for losing a child or George for losing the closest person in his life. I felt so lost, so abandoned, like nothing good could ever happen to this family again.

George was beginning to fall asleep; Charlie sat with his back to the window with one hand lying gently on George's knee. There was a light tapping on the window. Charlie turned to see the owl sitting on the windowsill offering its leg so the letter it held could be removed. Charlie unrolled the letter and smiled to himself.

"Eric?" I asked quietly, not wanting to disturb George.

"Yeah" Said Charlie, "He sends his love and promises to try and come over in the next week. I did leave them all rather in the lurch when I came home last week" Charlie continued reading his letter.
"So, who's Eric?" A croaky voice came from the bed.

Charlie gazed at his brother, blushing slightly.

"He's a ...a friend"
"Charlie, I had a bet going with Fred mate. It's OK you know?"
"What do you mean you and Fred had a bet?"
George pushed himself up onto his elbow "We knew mate, we just wondered how long it would take for you to come out to us. Looks like you already had to Mum and Dad."A half smile, half sad frown appeared on his face "So that would mean Fred owes me, he said it would take you until you were old and grey before you admitted you were gay." George looked at Charlie and smiled
"Git!" said Charlie before smiling back at his brother then leaning across and giving him a gentle hug before pushing him back onto the bed. What other bets have you placing then?" George gave him a watery smile before turning round to me as I stifled a yawn.
"Mum, please go get some rest, Charlie will stay with me. We're OK... I'm OK"
"I can't leave you George"
"Yeah you can, go see Dad."
"Go on Mum" said Charlie "I need to find out what other things my sweet iccle brothers were betting on! And I am not sure you will want to hear"
I raised my eyebrows. "You might be right there. Alright boys, but if you need me George, just call"
George leant over and squeezed my hand "I promise"
As I walked out the door George turned to Charlie "Talking of iccle, we had a bet on whether our Iccle Ronniekins would ever build up the courage to get to first base with the love of his life, I bet he would."
"Would that be our Hermione?" Charlie asked. "They appeared to be close when I met you all at Hogwarts the other day." I didn't hear Georges reply as I pulled the door to. I sighed. Having so many boys, no, that should be young men, in the house, I had got used to these sorts of conversations and all my reprimanding in the world didn't stop it. And to be honest it was good to hear George talk like this. This was more like my old George.

I walked downstairs to find the guests gone and Arthur, Bill and Fleur washing and drying up. Percy was levitating my pots and pans back into the cupboards. Arthur came over and wrapped his arms around me. I felt so safe in this man's arms, had done for the longest time. He kissed my forehead as I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes.
"I sent the kids up to bed. I don't know the last time Harry slept properly. The poor lad has been to too many funerals in the last few weeks. But I couldn't see him going alone, so I sent them all up to grab some sleep." He said.

"I may just go and check on them then" I said "It looks like you all have this under control. Have me a cup of tea ready?"
"Anything for you." Arthur said as he gave me a gentle squeeze.

I turned back to the stairs and slowly made my way up. I tapped gently on Ginny's door before gently swinging it open. The bedside light cast a gentle glow on the two figures on Ginny's bed. Ginny was sitting upright, resting against her headboard, with Harry lying on his side, one leg laid across Ginny. Harry was fast asleep but Ginny was awake and looked very uncomfortable.

"Mum!" She exclaimed softly "We were talking and he just fe..."

"It's OK Ginny, I'm not here to have a go, but you don't look comfortable lying there."
"I'm not, but I don't want to wake him" I walked gently over to the bed and lifted Harry's leg ever so slightly.
"Wriggle down now. You'll be more comfortable and he needs you here. I don't think he'd sleep if you weren't."
"Thanks Mum" Ginny slid down the bed and I let Harry's leg fall back gently down again. Harry unconsciously took this as a queue to snuggle in closer.
"It's OK, but don't get too used to it" I looked around Ginny's room "...Where's Ron and Hermione?"
"I'm not sure" said Ginny yawning "Harry fell asleep and they left"
"OK" I said, and kissed her gently on the forehead. I stepped away from the bed and closed the door softly behind me. Arthur and I would need to have a conversation with these two soon. Although I knew both Ginny and Harry were too tired at this very moment to do anything, I knew that situations like this could lead to more-Bill was evidence of this! Not that I ever regretted having Bill, nor any of my children, but they both were still so young , had been through so much and so much to live for now.

Ron and Hermione had not returned to the kitchen so I decided to head towards Ron's room at the top of the house.

As I opened the door I noticed Hermione had places her signature ball of fire in jars the boys loved her to create around the room. Hermione and Ron were laid on Ron's bed on their sides, Hermione in front of Ron, with Ron's arm holding her tightly to him. Ron had pulled a sheet over the pair of them but it was evident from the pile of clothes on the floor and from where I stood that neither wore much or if any clothing. I gasped at the sight of my youngest son, sleeping alongside the girl in his arms.

I had seen flickers of the change in their relationship before they had left nearly a year ago. I had witnessed them tentatively stepping over the line from best friends to girlfriend and boyfriend, testing the waters gently before they felt confident enough to jump in. But then the Death Eaters came and they were gone.

I didn't know when they had come together, had found each other; they had been away from us for so long.

Bill had told me about Ron's arrival a week or so before Christmas and how Ron had asked for Bills advice on relationships. He'd said that Ron had been a shadow of himself and was so withdrawn. Then one evening, Ron had taken him to one side and asked "Bill, when do you know that what you're feeling is love. You know like proper, can't imagine being with anyone else love and not just some stupid school crush?" Bill and Ron had talked long into the night.
"Mum" Bill had said to me "You could see in Ron's eyes that whoever he was talking about he was really in love with her, not some puppy love, but you know? Real love. Like the love I see when you and Dad look at each other, or when Fleur looks at me." I had smiled and Bill had blushed at these last words.

Ron had suddenly disappeared again one night leaving a simple note of thanks.

Bill had also talked about their arrival at Shell Cottage a few weeks ago. He still wasn't sure how they had ended up at Shell Cottage with a dead house elf, a goblin and Hermione on the point of death herself. We were all still waiting to hear where they had been, what they had been through over the months. But Bill had told me of how Ron had barely let Fleur tend to Hermione's wounds before taking over all of her care.

And when I had set my eyes on my son again just before the battle I saw the love in his eyes when he looked at Hermione. After the battle they had tried to spend as much time as possible with each other, holding hands or cuddled up together in some small hole when we were still at Hogwarts. When I could see waves of grief hitting Ron over the loss of Fred, it was Hermione who was there to comfort him. And when Hermione became overwhelmed and stared at the scar on her arm it was Ron who was there to hold her and kiss every letter.

When we had returned home they continued to be close, spending time with Harry and Ginny, attending the funerals of the many that had fallen, coming back to us each night weary and just sitting in silence holding each other. And today, even though at times I was overwhelmed by my own grief, my mother's instincts still looked out for each of my children stood around the grave. Hermione had been strong and held Ron throughout the service for Fred.

As I stood watching them sleep I considered for a moment whether I should wake them. What exactly would I say to them? Would I yell? Would I give them the talk right there and then? Would I tell them that I disapprove? No. Of course I wouldn't. I wasn't condoning what I saw, but I wasn't sure that I was condemning it either. There was a time and a place to talk with them. Just as I had decided there was a time and a place to talk to Harry and Ginny. I turned away and left them sleeping.

There was definitely a conversation Arthur and I would be having as soon as possible with Ron and Hermione.

As I headed back downstairs, I looked in on George and Charlie. George was asleep and Charlie was rereading his letter from Eric with his hand placed gently back on Georges leg. Charlie looked up at me "He's OK" He mouthed to me. I nodded and closed the door. I lent my head against the door. I could feel the smallest of smiles creeping onto my face. It felt strange, like I hadn't smiled for the longest of times.

I walked back downstairs to find Bill with his arms around Fleur hugging her closely. There was so much love around, even at this time of so much grief. I stopped myself. Especially at this time of grief. We needed the love to help us move forward. Arthur was placing a cup of tea and sandwich down in my place at the kitchen table. He walked over to me and held me close again.
I think the smile I had on my face was still there. "Are you alright?" He asked me. I looked up at him.
"I'm alright" I said smiling up at my husband "We're alright, our family will be alright. It's going to take us time but we'll get there." It had been a long hard day, but we had begun to find our way.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH

I woke up the next morning to the sun shining through the window. I had actually managed a full night's sleep since Bill and Fleur's wedding, since the Death Eaters came. I rolled over to find Arthur still asleep. He hadn't slept for the longest time either. He had been so strong for everyone in the family. He had supported both me and Fred throughout the last week, taking only a moment to grieve privately with me in our room. He had held me close and our tears had mingled as we cried for our son. I laid there for a moment just watching him sleep, the worry lines relaxed, just for the shortest time. I decided to leave him to sleep, although I am sure he would tell me off later for not waking him. I kissed him gently on his shoulder, grabbed my dressing gown and made my way downstairs. It was time for me to start putting things into some semblance of normality. We would have our sad days, but last night showed me that, in the smallest of ways, we were all beginning to mend, even George. So this morning we would start with a famous Weasley breakfast.

I found George and Charlie sitting at the kitchen, both nursing a mug of tea, talking with each other in quiet tones. George still had dark shadows under his eyes but he was able to look at me and show me the watery smile I had begun to see last night. I gave him a hug on my way to the stove.

As the smell of bacon wafted up the stairs I knew it wouldn't be long before it woke my youngest son. I could hear movement and then his familiar footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Charlie, George, would you mind leaving me and Ron alone for a moment?" I asked quickly and quietly. They looked at me quizzically but picked their mugs up, giving me looks as they headed outside.

Ron soon made an appearance looking very dishevelled and, thankfully, with pyjama bottom and t shirt on.

I smiled over to him, meeting his eye and holding it.

"Good morning Ronald, did you sleep well?"
Ron smiled to himself. "Yeah, I did. Thanks Mum"
I still held his gaze and I couldn't help that small smile appearing again "So... Did Hermione sleep well?" I asked as casually as possible.
Ron responded without thinking "Yeah, she slept well, she's just taking a shower" It took him a moment to realise what he had said. His ears began to burn that famous Weasley red when they get caught out over something. I could almost see the cogs whirring in Ron's head. Why had I asked him where Hermione was? Shouldn't I have been asking after Harry? Did I know that he and Hermione had spent the night together? I could see these thoughts playing across his face. "Wait! Shit! Mum ... did ... did you see me and ... did you look in on us last night?"

I casually flipped my wand so that it would put the bacon and eggs in the pan behind me onto a plate and bring it to the table. I met my youngest sons eyes again and with a raised eyebrow said,
"Yes Ronald, I did." Trying to keep a serious tone in my voice, after all, this was quite a serious conversation I needed to have with my youngest son and the young woman I hoped one day I would call my daughter in law. "I think maybe you, me and Hermione will be having a chat later?" Ron broke my gaze and looked down at the table, rubbing his thumbs along the edge just as he used to as a child when I had found him sneaking Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans I had put out of his reach. "Oh and, er, you might want to think about putting a decent locking charm for your room in future?"