Chapter 5
May 4, 1998 Planning Fred's Funeral
May 4th would be known as the day Molly Weasley planned her son's funeral. She awoke early to find the sky gray, heavy rain clouds filled every inch of space and rain flowed down not ceasing for even a moment. It was only fitting the somber mood, of the day, Fred's final resting place was chosen, he would be buried next to Molly's brothers in the Prewett family plot, close to the Burrow. Just a few miles from home. The Weasley family plot had been sold off in bits and pieces over the years by Arthur's ancestors when money was needed to care for the ever expanding family. The lack of money, had never bothered Molly before, but now she wondered if they had better means, could they have left Great Britain, maybe immigrated to the United States or anywhere Voldemort was not a threat? Merlin another question! Would they ever stop?
Molly sipped a cup of coffee, and ate a few bites of toast at Arthur's insistence as she sat in the chair by the window. Between sips she looked up at Arthur and spoke slowly "Would you mind if we had a funeral, just for Fred?" " We can still take part in the Memorial Service here at Hogwarts, but I really want Fred to have his own recognition, he earned his own spot and this will be the only time he will ever have, that is just for him. From the time they were born it was always the twins this and the twins that, Fred was his own person as well as half of the twins."
Arthur agreed with Molly, Fred should have his own service, for friends and family, that knew and loved the happy go lucky young man. "There is that pretty little chapel in the village, next to the stationary shop. That would be a nice place for services." Arthur offered as a suggestion.
Molly readily agreed a private service closed to the media, The Daily Prophet was still sensationalizing every story they reported. Rita Skeeter rehired reporter would be banned from the village until after the conclusion of the burial. Who should they ask to speak? Kingsley Shacklebolt, the most obvious official would be contacted immediately by owl. If he had no other conflicting appointments most likely would agree. He and Fred were both members of The Order of the Phoenix, and had worked on the rescue of Harry from Privet Drive mission.
With the details settled, Arthur asked "Molly, do you wish to stay here for a while or do you want to go home?", all the while hoping she was ready to be in her own surroundings. Having to do a few things for herself and family would be good for her, or so he thought. Again the male mentality reared its ugly head .not taking into consideration Molly could not even dress herself without thinking out each step, one at a time, before being able to do the simplest of tasks. The many things she had done for years were now complicated, and incomprehensible.
Molly looked at the lost look in her husbands eyes. He really had no clue what was involved in running a household. Simple cooking and cleaning charms were somehow forgotten, they would come back someday...maybe. Right now it took every bit of her strength to crawl out of bed and nibble on toast provided for her by someone else. How could he expect her to fix meals, clean up after a group of grown children, that were just as lost as she and Arthur were. BUT if he really felt the need to go home she would go, she had married him for better or for worse, and things probably couldn't get much worse than the aimless wondering in and out of the castle. He looked at her begging her to answer him, she spoke slowly, eyes flickering between Arthur and the door "If you feel the need to be at home, I will go with you, but I can't promise that anything will be different than it is here." "It's way too early to make promises I don't know if I can keep, and I have never broken a promise to you Arthur and don't plan on starting now."
"Molly, the children and I will help you all we can to make things as comfortable as they can be at home." Hermione and Harry will be returning to the Burrow with us, if that is OK." " They both have a lot of things to work out as well, as we do." Arthur shrugged his shoulders just a bit turning away from Molly and sinking wearily into the other chair., waiting for Molly's decision.
All Molly could do is whisper a quiet and apprehensive "OK!" , before she got up from the chair, walked hastily to the bed, laid down, curled into a ball, pulling up the comforter and closing her eyes tight, trying to make the world go away and leave her in peace.