Lunch was over and the children were slowly streaming out to get back to their daily chores. At least Molly hoped they were.
"George, come here a second, would you? I need to talk to you." Molly wasn't looking forward to this conversation. She had been delaying this moment for days, but Evey would be here soon. George had to know before she arrived.
"Just me, alone?" George gave her a quizzical look. Fred stopped at the bottom of the stairs, obviously curious.
"Yes, dear, just you," Molly said.
The twins exchanged a look, then Fred shrugged and went up the stairs.
"What did I do? You know, whatever it was, Fred likely had a hand in it too."
"Sit down, George, please."
George stopped in his tracks, looking as serious as she'd ever seen him. "Mum? What's going on?"
She sighed. "It's about Evey. Will you please sit down?"
George slowly took a seat. "Is she alright? What happened?"
"Well, she's unhurt but… there was a… George, there was an attack. Her family was killed." The words came rapidly; there was no use beating about the bush.
Her son looked shocked. For once, he was actually speechless.
"George? Are you alright, dear?" He hadn't known the girl for very long, and they had broken up – Ginny had told her – just after Evey graduated, but he was fond of her, she knew.
He found his voice at last. "I… I don't…" He choked on the words. Molly got up to hug him; he leaned into his mother's embrace and began to cry. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him cry. She felt her own tears slowly roll down her face. "It's alright. Everything will be alright."
Fred was curious. He'd wanted to use the Extendable Ears to listen in on the conversation his brother and mother were having in the dining room, but decided it was useless. George would tell him anyway.
He heard his brother coming up the stairs and sat up on the bed. George walked in, looking pale, his eyes red. Had he been crying? "What's wrong?" Fred asked.
"Evey will be staying with us. She'll be here soon," he replied blandly.
"Really? Well, that's good, isn't it? She broke up with you because the long-distance relationship would be hard to maintain, but if she's here, that won't be a prob…" He trailed off, frowning. "Why is she coming here?"
"Greyback came to their house two days ago. Her parents and her brother were murdered."
He felt the blood drain from his face. Merlin's underpants, Greyback? He couldn't think of anything to say.
"Dumbledore's afraid they might come for her again if they realise she's alive, that's why she's staying here. Mum says everyone thinks she's dead. If you were wondering why we couldn't find a copy of the Daily Prophet yesterday, that's why."
Fred's voice returned. "But why would they come for her?"
"Does it really matter? It's probably an attack directed at the Order, at Dumbledore. They know he's fond of Muggles, and they don't like that. They want to demoralise us."
"Well, it's certainly effective." He paused. "Are you alright?"
"I can't get my head around it. They were nice people." George had spent part of the last Easter holidays at Evey's place. He looked more distraught than Fred had ever seen him.
"I know, I remember them from the station. Her brother was pretty funny, and you know I don't use that word lightly."
"Yeah, he was a good kid. Merlin, I can't believe this is happening… It's only been weeks since Voldemort came back!"
"He's clearly not wasting any time. And they thought he was going to lie low for a while," Fred added with a grimace.
There was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Ginny, Hermione and Ron came in, looking perturbed. "Is everything alright?" his sister asked. "I just went back to grab a glass of water downstairs and Mum was crying. What happened?"
George didn't look eager to explain again, so Fred told them what was going on. When he was finished, Ron had turned a sickly shade of green and the girls were crying silently. Ginny moved to the bed to sit next to George and put an arm around him. They all stayed like that for a long time in silence, until their mother gave a quiet knock on the door. "Kids? Evey will be here in a minute, if you want to come down."
They all looked at each other without speaking. George went out first, looking determined.
George went down the stairs and into the dining room. Before any of them had time to sit, however, the front door opened. George went right back into the hall.
There she was, as pretty as ever. Her dark brown hair was tousled, but that was not unusual. She looked pale and tired, almost drained. Her green eyes came up to meet his, and he walked up to her, but she didn't close the space between them.
They just stood there for a moment. The others had remained in the dining room, to give them some privacy, he supposed. After some time, George spoke. "I'm so sorry, Evey."
"Not as much as I am," she murmured. "I was useless. It's my fault they're gone."
"Hey, don't say that. What could you have done? It was Greyback, for Merlin's sake. It's a wonder you're even alive."
"Maybe it would be better if I wasn't," she whispered softly. Before he could think of a reply, she went on. "I just need to be alone for a while."
"Of course. I'll show you to your room." They walked up the stairs in silence. He didn't know what to say, how to comfort her. They reached the girls' room a moment later. "Evey, you're not alone. We're here for you. I'm here for you."
"Thank you, George. I just need some time. I'm sorry."
He watched the door close behind her, feeling helpless.