Chapter 25

MOLLY'S REACTION

Ginny stood in the shower, letting the water cascade over her; trying to cleanse away her fears.

As a witch she had plenty of tools with which to fight enemies, including Voldemort; but against her Mum, she felt defenceless. As understanding as Harry, Sirius, Remus, Hermione and Ron had been, there was still truth in Ron's original reaction and she didn't half wonder what the rest of her family's reaction would be to her return. And would her family forgive her for running away?

Ginny took a deep breath, steeled herself and stepped out of the shower; she stared at her reflection in the misty mirror for a few minutes, sighed heavily again and then began to get herself ready to go to The Burrow.

&&&&

"What's taking her so long?" asked Ron edgily.

"Ron, be patient. You know that she's terrified right now don't you? And remember? She's only got your reaction to gauge everyone's else by, so she's probably trying to prepare herself. Give her some time, there's no rush. Molly doesn't know we're coming and Arthur said to take our time this morning. He wants this to be as stress free as possible for Ginny and for Molly. She's going to get quite a shock you know," explained Hermione as patiently as she could, standing in the living room her fingertips tapping against her thigh; the only real sign that she, too, was nervous.

Hermione knew what her role would be today. Peacekeeper. Between everyone. She was the most level headed and given that Harry would be quite wound up today, she didn't expect him to really be of any help to her. He would just be in there defending Ginny to Molly, steeling himself for a fight.

But Hermione didn't really think it would come to that. At least she hoped not. She'd come to know Molly quite well since they'd first met, but especially in the last three years since she'd left Hogwarts, and she thought that with a little intervention, Molly would be just fine.

A door opened and all three turned their heads towards the hallway; they could just hear Ginny's footsteps and as they held their breath, she emerged into the lounge room.

"So," said Ginny stiltedly, like her mouth had got stuck. "Let's go before I change my mind." She had a very small smile on her face. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

The four of them stood together in the middle of the lounge room, drew their wands and with a flick of their wrists, disapparated.

&&&&

Molly was feeling quite peaceful this morning. Percy had gone to work; Penny had taken Leo to a girlfriend's place for a visit and Arthur was going to work late today, because of all the overtime he'd worked lately, and was currently in the garden out the back of The Burrow, throwing some gnomes around.

Molly smiled. It wasn't often that she got to sit peacefully with a cup of tea and have her husband around at the same time and she was quite cherishing the feeling.

Hearing Arthur's footsteps at the back doorstep, she turned to glance over her shoulder, to smile at him, and her smile faltered momentarily and then broadened… as Harry Potter stepped through the doorway.

"Harry!" cried Molly, jumping to her feet and reaching out to Harry as he moved into the room and into Molly's embrace.

"Hi Mrs Weasley," said Harry quietly. He was so nervous. Ginny was still outside and would stay there until the right time. Ginny and her dad had already had a brief reunion… but the next stage had to be handled delicately. "It's good to see you again."

Molly let him go and looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes. "Are you back for good?" she asked tentatively.

"For the moment, yes," replied Harry as non-commitally as he could. "But guess who I bumped into at the Portkey Authority Terminal?" Molly looked at him questioningly and then behind Harry she noticed her youngest son, Ron, with Hermione.

"Ron, Hermione!" cried Molly again. "I didn't realise you were due back today, I was waiting to get an owl from you first."

"I know Mum, sorry about that, but after discussion with Bill we decided to surprise you instead," smiled Ron cheekily, desperately hoping he was fooling his Mum.

"Hi Molly," intervened Hermione, giving her surrogate mum a big hug and praying that this would all go smoothly.

"Well now, look at the two of you… you've even got a bit of colour too," remarked Molly. "Well, I don't know who to - " began Molly looking from her son and fiancé to Harry.

"- interrogate first?" interrupted Ron cheekily, whilst Hermione tried to smack him over the head; missing because of his quick reflexes.

Molly put her hands on her hips, pinning Ron with her gaze. "Well, since you've been away such a short amount of time Ron, why don't you and Hermione tell me what you've been up to the past couple of weeks, and then Harry and I can sit down to a nice, long chat," stated Molly matter-of-factly.

"Excellent suggestion dear. Why don't I get us all a cuppa, eh?" suggested Arthur who was standing behind all of them. Arthur moved into the kitchen, with Harry following him, whilst Ron and Hermione sat down in the family room with Molly.

&&&&

Arthur and Harry stopped in the kitchen, just looking at each other, not speaking. Neither of them really knowing what to say next; they were both nervous. Arthur spoke first though.

"Ginny is looking remarkably well Harry, given all she's been through," began Arthur quietly, as he magicked the kettle onto the stove and the cups and saucers into their places ready to be filled.

"I'm glad you think so Mr Weasley," began Harry.

"Harry, please call me Arthur. We've invited Hermione to do the same and I think you're a bit old to be calling us Mr and Mrs, don't you?" Arthur smiled genially at Harry.

"Yeah, I guess," replied Harry, his head bowed. He stood there feeling guilty at how badly he'd protected Ginny; he began to feel overwhelmed with all they'd been through, at all that Ginny had been through - without him to protect her.

Arthur watched Harry closely. Having watched Harry grow up over the years had given Arthur more insight into Harry then Harry would probably be comfortable with. But then having seven children tended to give Arthur an edge when dealing with other people's children. And right now, although Harry was trying to hide it, Arthur could interpret the expressions on his tired features.

"Harry, at some point you're going to have to stop kicking yourself," stated Arthur blandly, curious as to what Harry's reaction would be a comment like that.

Harry's head whipped up and looked at Arthur in surprise. "What do you mean?" he edged, not really wanting to know how Arthur had guessed what he was thinking.

"Harry, I would be feeling the same way, I assure you."

Harry was about to come up with his usual tactic to avoid the issue like he always did, when he stopped himself. Arthur's comment about him being too old to call them Mr and Mrs anymore came back to him all of a sudden; and he realised that if he could be honest with Ginny about his feelings, then maybe he should be extending this courtesy to Mr and Mrs Weasley. After all, they had been more like his parents than the Dursley's had ever been and he knew deep in his heart that he could trust Arthur like he trusted Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

"Mr Weasley," he began until he saw Mr Weasley's brows raise questioningly. "Sorry, Arthur, that's going to take some getting used to." Harry paused for a moment. "I just… I'm feeling guilty. Guilty that I haven't protected Ginny and kept her safe."

"Harry. How can you say that?" started Arthur incredulity in his voice. "You've risked your life to keep her safe. If you hadn't gone in search of her, goodness knows if she would even be alive today. Especially given recent events."

Harry looked at Arthur uncertainly. "You're not mad at me then?" asked Harry.

"What on earth for?" Arthur said steadily.

"Well, since I found her she's been kidnapped, twice, tortured at the hands of Draco Malfoy and Adam, subjected to the presence of a Dementor, and…" his voice trailed off, helpless.

"All of which are a consequence of her original actions Harry, not yours," replied Arthur calmly. Although he loved all his children equally, he was able to be objective about them, whereas Molly couldn't. And although he knew that Ginny had been through ordeals that he might never hear the details of, he didn't want Harry living with any more guilt. He'd had enough of that to deal with whilst he'd been growing up.

Arthur put his hand steadily on Harry's shoulder. "The thing you do the best Harry, is loving my only daughter, and I'll be eternally grateful that you are part of, not only her life, but ours too. C'mon. Let's get this tea organised and let's get this over with, I'm not sure I can handle the suspense for too much longer. I prefer Molly when she's all riled up… I tend to know what I'm dealing with then."

Harry looked up at Arthur again, tonnes of questions running a continuous circuit in his head; but he realised that they'd been in the kitchen for too long and they didn't want Molly coming to find them.

&&&&

Harry and Arthur walked back into the lounge room to find Molly pouring over the photos that Bill had taken, rather hurriedly, of Ron and Hermione during their short visit.

"Here you go," began Arthur conversationally, levitating the tray to the coffee table.

"Ah, perfect timing Arthur." Molly put the album aside and began to pour for everyone. "So, Harry, I'm sure you've already caught Ron and Hermione up on your travels, but…"

'Here it comes', Harry thought to himself, 'the question I'm most afraid of.'

"… I'd really like to hear if you have any news about my daughter." It was a statement. One that required an answer. Now.

Harry stood stock still. The look Molly was giving him was hard to interpret. He sensed Arthur fidgeting, Hermione giving him looks of encouragement, Ron's slightly terrified, but 'thumbs up' type of look. But Molly… she was pinning him with a look… it was hard to say whether she was just anxious or whether she was waiting for bad news, or whether she was in 'kill' mode, as the twins' often called it.

Harry, for lack of anything to do, shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted his stance to a more casual one, trying to force himself to relax. "Well, Mrs Weasley," he began, before she cut him off.

"Harry," Molly stood up and walked towards him. She gently pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them in her own, keeping her eyes steadily on his. "Please tell me. Whatever it is, good or bad, I need to know." She paused as her eyes welled with unshed tears.

Harry gulped nervously. He wasn't phased by the gentle tone at all… there was a firestorm coming and he quickly decided that they should get it out of the way as quickly as possible.

"Molly," Harry started tentatively, when Molly's eyes left him and looked over his shoulder.

"Hi Mum," came the quiet, shaky voice of Ginny.

Harry's hands fell from Molly's grasp as Molly moved past him. You could hear a pin drop, it was so quiet.

"Ginny, love," began Molly, her voice wavering slightly.

Harry went to move to Ginny's side, but Ginny gestured at him to stay where he was. The look on Ginny's face was one of strength. And peace. In the short time they'd been at The Burrow, it seemed she had come to terms with what was about to happen.

&&&&

Earlier, in the back garden…

Ginny sat peacefully on the bench near the herb garden.

Seeing her father again after so long had been emotional. But true to form, her Dad hadn't even blinked an eyelid and had just wrapped her tightly in his arms.

'Ginny, I'm so glad you're safe and home again," stated Arthur wrapping her in his embrace. "I love you, and missed you.'

They had only spoken for a brief moment, but once everyone had moved inside, Ginny had, initially, collapsed onto the bench crying; utterly grateful that she had such a wonderful father.

As she sat, head bowed, trying to steady her breath, she felt a sense of peace that she hadn't really felt before.

Ginny was ready; ready to face her Mum. It would all work out okay. She knew her Mum loved her; like her Dad did.

And she knew there would be fireworks, and maybe she wouldn't be forgiven, but she knew that even if her Mum didn't understand, at least Harry, Ron and Hermione understood. And, she realised, that once Sirius and Remus showed up; well, Ginny knew that Remus was one of the few people that could calm her mother and make her see another's point of view in the calmest way possible.

She lifted her head and looked at the house where she had grown up. She had done so much growing up in such a short amount of time. But, Ginny realised, it was all worth now that she and Harry were together again, at the end of it all.

With a hopeful smile on her lips, she got up and walked towards the house and snuck just inside the back door, waiting for her cue to walk in.

&&&&

"Ginny, love," began Molly, her voice wavering slightly.

"Mum," repeated Ginny softly. Whilst she had been standing silently just inside the back door, listening to their conversation, Ginny had decided that she would just let her Mum do the talking. She felt that taking the receptive approach would be best, rather than spilling out the whole story in a rush of explanation. That would come. In time.

Molly was frozen on the spot. It was a rare moment and one that, in some ways, everyone was relishing, because they were certain they wouldn't see it again in their lifetime.

Molly's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Everyone waited.

'It's odd,' thought Hermione, 'that Molly hasn't stormed across the room to grab her yet."

"She must be in shock," whispered Ron to Hermione, as if reading her mind.

Molly turned around slowly, looking from her husband, to Ron, to Hermione, to Harry and then back to Ginny, before crossing the room and enveloping Ginny in her arms tightly.

"You're home," Molly whispered as she clung to her only daughter.

Everyone else stood silent. Hermione sniffed, as she tried not to cry in front of everyone, though she noticed that Arthur looked suspiciously red around the eyes, and she didn't blame him one bit. It was a beautiful, poignant moment, and she felt privileged to witness it.

Molly released Ginny from her embrace and stood back, looking at her. Molly looked as if she wanted to say something, but Ginny quickly spoke up.

"Mum, I know you're just itching to read me the riot act, and I know I've hurt you and you're disappointed with me…" Ginny faltered for a moment, not really knowing what to say.

Molly looked steadily at Ginny, counting to ten in her head before she said anything. Although Molly hadn't spoken about Ginny with Arthur recently, she suddenly realised that he'd known for a while. Her accusations to him recently on his whereabouts came back to her in a flash; she felt guilty about that now, but at the same time angry with her beloved husband. There were too many thoughts going around in her head, if she didn't' say something soon she would explode, like she normally did, and she didn't want Ginny dealing with that.

"Ginny, I'm…" Molly faltered as well, then quickly regained herself, "I don't know what to say. I'm just standing here thinking of what I said to Arthur just recently about why he was acting mysterious and I'm actually angry at him, because I've realised that he's known that Harry found you for a while," and with this remark she turned to face her husband and Harry. "I'm angry at the fact that you knew Harry had found her! Why didn't you tell me?" Molly, in an instant, had reverted to type.

She stood there, her back to Ginny for the moment, hands on hips, looking for all the world like she was going to scold the twins for misbehaving.

"Now Molly," started Arthur placatingly, moving forward a couple of steps.

"Don't you Molly me, Arthur. How could you not tell me? There had better be a darn good reason why not, or…"

"Or what Mum?" asked Ron bracingly. He'd never stood up to his Mum before, none of them had, except for Bill about his earring and Ginny from time to time, but he figured now was as a good a time as any to make a stand. "There were bloody good reasons actually!"

"Ronald, your language please!" admonished Molly.

"Stuff that," Ron shot back quickly. "What is my little bit of swearing compared to what we've just been through."

"Like what?" said Molly. "What's happened?" She looked back at Ginny, who amazingly enough was standing quite still, serene and ready for whatever was going to come her way.

"Mum, there's so much to tell you and most of it's only happened in the last month or so. Why don't we sit down, have a cuppa and we'll all try and tell you what's happened." Ginny wasn't smiling, but she was calm.

Harry moved to her side, putting his arm around her and planting a gentle kiss upon her hair, and spoke. "Molly, please believe us when I say that we had Ginny's best interests at heart all the time." He spoke quietly and steadily. The kind of quiet authority you'd expect from The Boy Who Lived, and the man who had helped defeat Voldemort.

Molly sat down, with Arthur at her side. Ginny and Harry sat opposite her and Hermione got comfortable in Arthur's cosy chair with Ron sitting on the arm of it.

As Hermione poured tea for everyone, Harry started at the beginning of his story of how he had tracked Ginny, and what had transpired since his arrival in Australia.

There were many interruptions and questions from Molly, who tried not to overreact to everything, given that she knew she was hearing this all in the past tense. And there were tears… from everyone.