Chapter 20

Molly's Cemetery visit

Molly walked the short distance to the cemetery where they had laid Fred to rest the day before. Her magic was to unsteady for to apparate, and the fresh air would do her good. She remembered her reaction to Ron, when he had demanded she make him breakfast. It had always been a pleasure to cook for her family. Ron always appreciated her work, by returning an empty plate, after having it refilled three or four times. Why did she not care to fix him breakfast now? She had been upset, that she hadn't been able to speak to Hermione before she left, but that couldn't be all there was to it. Ron had gotten on her last nerve by just being himself. A bit arrogant, and hungry. She shouldn't of thrown those things at him, but Merlin he was a grown man, if he couldn't fix himself something to eat, what would he do when he moved out shortly, to work at the Ministry. Yes he could apparate to the Burrow, but for the first time in her life Molly was hoping to have a little peace and quiet, the children could visit......often if they wished, but she was tired of taking care of everyone, she wanted someone to take care of her for a while, but she would never ask. Mothers couldn't admit that they needed to be pampered.

She arrived at Fred's freshly filled grave. Sniffling, she knelt down and began planting seeds she had placed in her pocket before Ginny had come into the kitchen. Neville Longbottom had given them to her, a new plant he had developed, an ever flowering lily, the flowers would be scarlet and gold, Gryffindor house colors. Neville told her the plants would grow overnight and bloom forever. She outlined the entire grave with the seeds, and on the inside planted all the other seeds Neville had given her as well. He hadn't told her what they were, other to assure her there were no marigolds in the lot.

Finishing she reached for a watering can, someone had left nearby. She lightly sprinkled the seeds with water, and returned the can to where she had found it.

Sitting on her knees, she reached out and touched the smooth stone that bore Fred's name, and dates of birth, death, and the words "To the well organized mind, death is the next great adventure." Dumbledore's words, he had spoken to Harry, when the Philosophers Stone was destroyed, and Nicolas Flamel and his wife would die, but Fred had a very organized mind, and it fitted him.

Molly found herself talking to Fred, telling him about everyone's plans for the future, about Bill and Fleur planning on starting a family, about Percy and Audrey getting married, about George and Lee reopening the joke shop, About Harry and Ron and Neville going to work as Aurors, about Charlie and transfiguration's, and about Hermione looking for her parents.

She related her story about how she had thrown things at Ron, because he had asked for Fred's favorite food, and how she had stomped off, not telling them where she was going.

She told him about yelling at Dumbledore's tomb .and about no one being able to find Snapes body, Hoping it wouldn't be like Mad eye and never found, wanting to give him a dignified burial.

Tears streaming down her face full force, she then begged Fred's forgiveness for pushing him aside to embrace Percy when he had returned to the family, before the final battle. It was as she was expressing these feelings that Arthur arrived, hearing the guilt in his wife's voice he began to understand some of her anguish. She was feeling guilty for having pushed Fred away, the last time she had seen him alive. Their entire life it was as if they had to move one child away in order to deal with another, and when

Fred died after she moved him out of her way,.........no wonder Molly was in the state she was in.

Arthur stood back, not wanting to interrupt the private conversation Molly was having with Fred. He hoped that she would find some of the answers, she was in need of. He knew Fred had understood, Molly's feelings with Percy's return, after all it was Fred who had first welcomed him back, excepting his explanation of having been wrong for deserting the family in the first place. He wouldn't have expected anything else from his mother, she had always been trying to keep everyone happy. It was Percy's return that had given her a bit of happiness. Their family had been complete for a few minutes,before the explosion, and the wall crashing down on Fred. He would not have wanted to see Molly like this, there would have been some joke on his lips and she would have been laughing as she swatted his bum with a kitchen towel.

Molly rubbed her red rimmed eyes on the sleeve of her robes, gingerly she stood, her whole body shaking from crying so hard. She turned a bit hearing leaves crunch under the sole of a shoe. Seeing Arthur, she turned away, wiping more vigorously at her eyes, before she turned back to him. "I was just having a little chat with Fred," a few things I needed to tell him. Sniffling quietly, as Arthur put an arm around her shoulder they walked together, back down the path, to the Burrow. There was no hurry to get anywhere today so they took their time, taking in the surroundings of the little village.

As they came closer Arthur spotted the utilities office. He looked down at his wife, remembering her request the day before, asked, "Do you still wish to have electricity in the house?"

Molly had to think hard, what was it she had wanted electricity for? She was having a hard time remembering, then it hit her, Hermione was going to bring a computer thingy and show her how to find the "Potterverse", all those stories, and music, and pictures. "Uh Hu, if it's OK with you Arthur." she glanced sideways to see her husband with a broad grin on his face. She should of known it would be OK with him, he loved everything Muggle, and you couldn't get more Muggle than electricity, or could you?

The couple walked into the office, looked at the young woman working behind the counter, Arthur cleared his throat to draw her attention. "Excuse me miss, we would like to get electrical service to our home."

The young woman pulled out a card and began asking questions, "Are you new in the Village?" "have you ever had service with us before?", "Where are you employed?", "Do you wish to be billed by the post, or e-mail?", "Do you heat your home with gas or is it equipped for an electrical furnace?"

Molly and Arthur looked at one another, "Uh …..I think we had better come back another time, we have a pressing appointment, and don't have enough time to answer all those questions now, could we take the card with us, and fill it out, and bring it back?" Arthur questioned the annoyed looking woman. She shoved the card into Arthur's hand and turned to answer the telephone that was now ringing.

Once outside Arthur laughed, "I think we might need a bit of help with this.", he said waving the card in the air. Molly nodded, they would need a lot of help, Arthur hoped Harry might know enough of Muggle utilities to be able to help, if not they would have to wait until Hermione returned. When that would be, they had no idea. Molly tucked her arm thru Arthur's and they walked back to the Burrow.