To anyone who has read my other stories - don't get used to these quick updates. I can pretty much garuntee they are not a new, regular thing. But, I had most of this written when I posted the first chapter, so I figured, why not?
Hope you enjoy the conclusion. (There's more Arthur and Bill in this, I swear.)
After he finished his cup of tea, Bill glanced at the gaudy gold clock hanging on the wall above the sink. It had been almost an hour since he had left Shell Cottage, Fleur would be getting worried.
He stood up from the table, and reached for his cloak hanging over the back of his chair.
His mother was the first to notice his actions, "Are you leaving Bill?"
He gave her a small smile and nodded, "I should really be getting back. I've left Fleur with a houseful of people who need to be looked after in one way or another. And I don't need her to start worrying about me too."
His mother couldn't quite manage to mask her disappointment, but she gave him a small smile that spoke volumes of understanding.
"Of course you do dear. You should hurry, before she has any more time to work her worry up to a panic."
"You'll let us know how everyone is, right Bill?" Bill swung his head around to look at Ginny, who was clutching her mug tightly and anxiously awaiting his answer.
He gave her another smile, "Of course I will Gin. In fact," he added as he swung his cloak around his shoulders, "you will likely be seeing me sooner than you might think. Our house isn't quite large enough for everyone in it right now, so if it's all right with you, I'd like to bring Olivander by once he is feeling better. Maybe Griphook too."
His mother nodded emphatically, "Of course dear! I'd hate to think of you and Fleur putting that kind of strain on your selves. Don't worry about a thing, I'll smooth it out with Muriel."
With a last nod and a hug each for his mother and Ginny, Bill turned towards the door. He was about to open it when heard his father behind him. He turned to give him a questioning glance to which Arthur responded, "Just thought I'd walk you out son."
Bill smiled and held the door open wider, allowing his father to exit.
Once the two eldest Weasley men were on the other side of the now closed door, Arthur turned to his son.
"What else did you find out about those three? Any idea what they've been up to, or where they've been?"
Bill shook his head ruefully, "I've tried dad. Ron refuses to tell me anything, Hermione was still unconscious when I left, and I haven't had a chance to talk to Harry yet, but I have a feeling he won't say anything either. Whatever it is they're doing, they're determined to keep it to themselves."
Arthur ran a weary hand through his thinning hair. "It's hard to help them we don't know how."
Bill sighed and nodded, which his father took as a prompt to continue,
"I've spent my entire life trying to make sure that you were all as safe and happy as you could possibly be – er – given are circumstances that is. "
Bill looked at his father wearily, "You were a great father Dad. One of the best. If this is because of what Percy said again-"
"No, no," his father cut across him. "It's not that. I just wish there was something more I could do to help them. Every since this all started, I've done everything I can think of. I worked with the Ministry to protect the house over the summer, I worked with the Order, I helped Ron transfigure the ghoul for a cover story, and I've lied for months about where he is, all in an attempt to protect them. I spent all of those months waiting, hoping to hear some news so I knew they were okay, but at the same time dreading that I might hear something from the wrong person. And now that I finally know where they are, it's only to realize that all of my worst fears about what they've been going through may have been true – and I still can't help them."
Bill sucked in a breath as he saw the tears threatening to leave his father's eyes, "Dad," he began quietly.
"They're too young Bill," Arthur said quietly, "They're only 18 – Harry not even. I thought that the first war was bad, but that war didn't have the world putting their hopes on the shoulders of children. Not my Ron, not my children. They should be in Hogwarts, not fighting a war. We should be getting letters from them every month complaining about homework and Quidditch practice, not having them showing up on your doorstep in the middle of the night, hurt and broken. Ron – Ron shouldn't have to watch the girl he fancies be tortured. It's too much for them Bill, and we can't do a damn thing about it."
Bill stared quietly out into the distance, not sure how to respond to that. His father was right. Bill had been thinking the same thing since Ron had showed up at his house before Christmas. He had been lost and full of self-loathing. He had done nothing but sit quietly and gather all the intel he could find. He jumped at small noises and was constantly on edge. He slept fitfully, and hardly ever quietly. He had nightmares from which he woke up crying, but was determined to hide them from his brother and sister-in-law, convinced that he was already too much of a burden to them. The war had made his youngest brother grow up too fast. But really, there had never been a choice.
"They never had a choice," he repeated quietly, causing his father to turn towards him. Noticing his father's questioning glance, Bill clarified;
"It's never been a choice for them. Harry's fate was decided for him years ago. Ron's on his first day at Hogwarts when he sat with Harry on the train, and Hermione's soon after. Harry was meant to fight this war, and our Ron was never going to let him do it alone. They're smart, the three of them. I suspect they've survived more than the rest of us have ever imagined. And the will survive this. I suppose, in the mean time, we can only help as much as we can while they're with us, and I suppose we'll have to trust that they're making the right decisions as well. Regardless of how secretive they're being," he added as a begrudging after thought.
Arthur didn't seem to have a response to them. The two men resumed their examination of the surrounding landscape for a short period before Arthur clapped a hand on his son's shoulder, "look after them, will you Bill?"
Bill gave his father a sad smile, "you know I will Dad. For as long as they'll let me."
With a last hug, the two Weasley men parted and Bill walked to the apparition point. Upon reaching it, he turned to give his father a reassuring smile before disappearing into the night air.
A few days later Bill would return with Olivander, only to make excuses that he had to get back home, because they still had a houseful after all.
A week after that, a very solemn Bill would return to inform his family that the trio had left again, this time taking a goblin with them. As Molly sobbed and the younger siblings exchanged grimaces, Bill and Arthur exchanged an understanding glance over the table. They had done all they could, in the only way the had.
Now it was up to them.
And there you have it! All done. And, I think I'm pretty pleased with it. Not too sure about the ending (I tried a few different things), but I think it fits.
But I'd love to know what you think!