A/N: Sorry, ahead of time, if you are a fan of Molly and Arthur… ::goes to hide just in case::
Chapter 25
I can't stay surrounded by every lie (Every Lie by My Darkest Days)
Fred loathed the Order meetings, but knew they were a necessary evil. Sharing a guarded look with George, they joined Aiden, Bill, and Charlie before all five of them stepped into the kitchen of Grimmauld one-by-one. It was only a matter of time before his mother or father approached them, though since losing The Burrow they seemed to stay back and listen more than anything. At least, at the meetings the five of them attended. He didn't feel the least bit bad about it either. They were getting exactly what they deserved.
He couldn't help but worry, even though he knew Daphne was safe at Annwn with Liam and Morag. Pansy, Theo, Kirley, and Ruya should be raising a bit of hell about now, taking out that Snatcher camp. He rather thought the Death Eaters were getting dumber by the day. Who in their right mind would set up camp just outside Annwn's wards? George elbowed him in the ribs and he shook his head, attempting to pay attention to the meeting.
"We simply do not know who or what has been attacking the Snatchers and Death Eaters," Minerva said angrily. "We really must find out what is going on. Until we do, consider them enemies."
Fred bit back the urge to jump across the table and strangle the bint. Enemies? What the hells was she playing at? George all but growled, but managed to stay in his seat with a well-placed glare from Bill.
It was, surprisingly, Tonks that spoke up. "Minerva, whoever or whatever they are, they are helping the Light."
Mad-Eye grumbled, pushing to his feet to stand with Minerva. "They are, yes, but they are a risk, an unknown faction. If they were our allies, surely they would have contacted us."
Not if they thought you were a bunch of bumbling morons, Fred thought angrily, clenching his fists under the table. If any one of them dared attempt to harm his family they would soon understand the full ramifications of doing so.
"Why would they?" Bill asked idly. "I mean, clearly they have some sort of agenda. I say we leave them to it as it makes our job easier… Harry's as well."
Fred couldn't help but wonder how difficult it had been for Bill to choke out that little wanker's name. After finding out about his bumbling attempt to ask Gin out and his little accusations, well, the hero was not on any of their favourite person lists. In fact, he had to wonder if any of them would even attempt to help the little brat if he were dying- provided he had killed off the madman already. Probably not, he decided almost immediately. In fact, they'd likely help him die quicker.
"I say it has something to do with those haughty MacDougals and Moons."
Oh my gods. Molly was digging her own damn grave and had no clue about it. He shook his head. It was almost too easy to string the woman along and make it clear that he had no knowledge of the current events at the same time. "I do recall hearing something about them retreating to the safety of their estates…but what does that have to do with anything?"
Molly sniffed indignantly. "They clearly have some agenda, what with fleeing Hogwarts and not helping save our world."
"It's not your world," George muttered irritably.
"I would think it was saving their children," Aiden said dryly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But then again, I sent my sister half a world away for the same reason … so what would I know of protecting and loving my family, eh?"
"Young man," Molly said, her face getting redder by the second. "I will not have your sort of disrespect!"
"My sort?" Aiden got to his feet slowly, his tone one Fred easily recognized as past the point of livid and a few wrong words from removing a few vital body parts if Molly didn't shut her damn mouth. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Molly stomped over to the table, crossing her arms over her chest. It was her 'I am about to rant and you will listen' pose. Rolling his eyes, Fred slouched back in the chair and prepared to watch the show. He wasn't kept waiting long.
"You aren't any different than those horrid brats that Ginny seems to have fallen in with! Spoilt and self-righteous! How do we know you and the whole group that fled Hogwarts aren't spies for You Know Who?"
"You do realise that my baby sister is one of those …horrid brats… you so casually have dismissed, don't you?" Aiden was using that slick Slytherin 'fuck you' tone now. "If I recall, it is you that is a self-righteous bint! Attempting to ship an eleven year old innocent child to the Closed Ward because you were too damn embarrassed to have anyone know she had a brush with darkness! I won't bother with the rest; clearly it is you that needs a stay in the Closed Ward!"
"Young man!" Molly screeched. "You will not discuss things above and beyond your understanding!"
"Oh, but," Bill said softly, dangerously, "Aiden is my best mate and knows the whole sordid tale… Molly. He understands all too well what you did to Gin and why she hates you with every fibre of her being. It is you that lacks knowledge and understanding of the situation. You would do well to remember the very people you are insulting have run Our world since before we split from the Muggles."
"Why are you even allowed here?" Molly snarled, pointing her finger at Aiden as if she was making some grand point that would otherwise have been missed. "You Slytherins are a risk!"
"Leave Aiden alone," Fred snapped, jumping to his feet and pulling his wand, just in case it was needed.
"You need to sit down," Kingsley said, his tone almost as dangerous as theirs had been. Funny thing, that. Most forgot he had been a Slytherin. Everyone excluding Molly and Aiden complied. "All of you."
"Not until Molly apologizes for her slanderous comments," Aiden demanded, still clearly angry.
"Molly," Kingsley demanded. "You do recall what Albus said about alienating our allies, don't you?"
"I will NOT apologize for speaking my mind!" Molly screeched.
"You are dangerously close to having yourself removed from this meeting," Minerva said, glaring at Molly. "You have disrupted one too many meetings with your ravings, Molly."
Charlie snickered. Fred didn't blame him, he was barely holding in his amusement as it was. He wondered if Narcissa or Marguerite could get their hands on a Pensieve so that they could share this memory. Minerva taking Molly to task was priceless!
"Charlie, you are being disrespectful! Young man, I had hoped that sending the twins to you would have kept you three from being tainted as Ginny clearly did to Bill!"
Fred nearly fell out of his chair. It was only the fact that he was sitting so close to George that kept him in his seat actually. Had she really just said what he thought she did? Had she just said that Gin was tainted? Why that fucking cow! He surged to his feet, angrier than he could ever remember being before. "YOU COW! How the seven hells can you stand there and so freely toss about accusations like this?"
"You four are dangerously close to being disowned as we were forced to do to Percy," Molly snapped, looking pleased with the threat.
"Who fucking cares?" George stood, glaring in a way that no one, except perhaps Molly and Arthur, mistook for anything but outright murderous. "Why the seven hells would we want any sort of ties with you?"
"Are you seriously that deluded?" Charlie all but hissed. "We have a family that loves us and whom we love unconditionally. A family that doesn't include you, your simpering fool of a husband, or that simple-minded cretin you call a son!"
Fred didn't miss that everyone was staring openly, most of them gaping. He would be amused later when he wasn't so damn angry. Right now, they were all too irate to do more than lash out at the bint who had hurt Gin so badly. Kingsley even seemed to understand that this was a long time in coming. Tonks and Remus both were shooting them knowing looks, even as they both were staring at the confrontation.
Arthur stood and stepped out of the shadows, looking completely depressed. "I just don't understand where we went wrong with all of you. Why is it that only Ron remembers the ideals we raised you on?"
"Because," Bill drawled, planting his hands on the table, looking utterly dangerous. "He is the only one of us without the mental capacity to comprehend that your bigoted, hypocritical behaviour is to blame for our blood family being a fucking joke. You have no home, no job…not even two knuts to rub together to start a fire and yet you remain the hypocrites you always were. Did you learn nothing at all when you were sacked and your precious Burrow was taken for non-payment of the mortgage? You do know who was responsible and why they did so, don't you?"
"Death Eaters!" Molly spat.
Aiden barely caught hold of Bill in time. Fred couldn't spare him more than a thought as he struggled to get away from Charlie, who was having no trouble, damn him to Tartarus, holding him and George back from attacking the delusional cow.
"How fucking dare you!" Fred and George chorused; the hatred for her growing every fucking second.
"You will not speak about Daphne in such a way," Fred snarled, vainly attempting to get away from Charlie and across the table so that he could gut the bint he used to call 'Mother'.
"Shut your mouth about what you don't understand," George suggested viciously. "I would love to toss you in a duelling ring with Aradia and watch my lovely girlfriend kick your sorry arse."
"Traitors!" Arthur screamed, pulling his wand and pointing it at them.
"ENOUGH!" Remus roared.
"We… Fred, Charles, William, and George Weasley… disown you, Molly Prewett Weasley and Arthur Weasley," Bill all but whispered, the magic of the oath needing no wand. "For far too long have we been forced to associate with your lies and delusions. I, William Arthur Weasley, declare before the gods and my ancestors, myself free of any ties which formerly tied us together."
"I, Charles Septimus Weasley, declare before the gods and my ancestors, myself free of any ties which formerly tied us together." He grinned wickedly. "I must say it feels delightful to finally say it."
Fred smirked. "I, Fred Gideon Weasley, declare before the gods and my ancestors, myself free of any ties which formerly tied us together." He really couldn't resist one more thing, knowing that they had no clue their precious Ronald was dead. "Ickle Ronnekins can have you all to himself."
George brushed off Charlie's hand, glaring heatedly. "I, George Fabian Weasley, declare before the gods and my ancestors, myself free of any ties which formerly tied us together. I hope you rot in Tartarus, you bint."
Bill, it seemed, wasn't quite done. "Just so everyone is aware, Gin performed the oath when she was eleven years old. All of Molly and Arthur's manoeuvrings to regain control of her were for naught because of it. She was telling the truth when she said she had no parents."
"Oh my gods," Tonks whispered, breaking the silence.
"Damn, but that felt good," George quipped, his tone merciless.
"I do believe that-"
Whatever Bill was going to say was cut off by the arrival of an owl. An owl the five of them knew was bearing The Quibbler. They shared a look of glee, shifting back to lean on the wall and watch the show that was sure to happen when this lot got a good look at the magazine.
As planned, the owl dropped it directly into Tonks' hands. She unrolled it, and promptly dropped it on the table with a gasp.
"What is it?" George asked innocently, looking positively puzzled.
"The MacDougals, Moons, Bletchley, and Goldstein have put out the word that anyone wanting safe haven from You Know Who can do so by contacting them," Remus said after a quick scan of the cover.
Minerva grabbed the magazine, flipping through it until she too gasped and dropped it back on the table. "It cannot be!"
"What?" Fred said, warming to the game.
Her face screwed up in a look of loathing and disgust. "Those poor children that were kidnapped…they have done interviews praising that group of… vigilantes!"
Charlie sniggered. "I presume that would be who rescued them?"
"It is a trick!" Molly exclaimed, looking righteous. "You Know Who is at work here!"
"How exactly did you come to that conclusion?" Tonks asked looking appalled. "It said that they were protecting the former prisoners and in high style if those families have taken them in."
"Isn't that dangerous?" someone questioned softly.
Aiden laughed. "Why would you think that? The wards around their estates are some of the best in the world. That madman won't be making it through them even if he tried for years and years."
Mad-Eye had picked up the magazine, his scowl deepening the more pages he scanned. "Outrageous!"
"What?" most everyone chorused.
Mad-Eye held up the magazine so that The Tribe's symbol, which had been drawn by Adrian, though none of these fools knew that, was plain for all to see. "It says here that this secret group only hunts those working for You Know Who and that they will not harm innocents. It also says that when this symbol is seen, that everyone should be re-assured that they have removed a few more of the enemy."
Fred grinned outright. He couldn't help it. That last line was pure Daphne. When they were both back at Adl, he was going to show her just how much he adored her and that brilliant mind of hers.
"Well…" Remus said cautiously. "They did certainly shake up things. It is clear that the prisoners are being cared for and protected. Perhaps we should re-evaluate that whole enemy idea."
"Here here," Tonks muttered. She was promptly echoed by everyone but Molly, Arthur, Minerva, and Mad-Eye.
"Does it say anything else?" Charlie asked, looking nothing but curious.
Tonks took the magazine back and finished flipping through it. Her eyes went wide and she turned in her seat looking back at her parents. "It says that Narcissa Snape and Marguerite Zabini have been assisting Moira MacDougal and Ianthe Moon in caring for and protecting all those who are under their protection and that they will continue to do so."
"Cissy?" Andromeda whispered disbelievingly. "I thought she had fled with the children."
Bill looked quite smug. "No, they decided to stay back and help however they could. If you had questions, we could have answered them for you, Andromeda."
"They are after all… family," Charlie said cheerily.
"I- I didn't even think about it," Andromeda replied dully. "I just hoped that she and Draco were safe."
"Oh they're safe," Fred told her winningly.
"Safer than anyone else." George grinned wickedly. "They are dear to all of us."
"See! They are traitors," Molly said scathingly. "Why else would they remove themselves from their parents and associate with those evil bints?"
She found herself with seven wands trained on her in a matter of seconds. Fred wasn't too terribly surprised that Tonks and Andromeda looked all too ready to hex Molly within an inch of her life. They were privy to secrets such as the fact that Andromeda and Narcissa had reconnected over the past couple of years and were quite close because of it.
"You know," Aiden said musingly. "I wonder what Draco and Blaise would think of that accusation?"
"Or Gin," Bill added.
"Theo and Pansy," was Charlie's contribution.
"Daphne," Fred all but sang.
"Aradia," George said in an icy tone.
More by accident than design, they all turned to the man standing in the corner and who had remained silent the entire time, chorusing, "Severus!"
He didn't disappoint, gliding silently across the room and doing that overgrown bat imitation he was so fond of. His wand was trained on Molly. His tone was that low, dangerous drawl that only accentuated his anger and disgust. "I have heard more than enough of your delusional screeching to last me five lifetimes. Should you dare insult my wife, her best friend, or our children any longer I will find it in myself to work up a painful and perfectly legal hex to use on you."
"I do believe it is past time for this meeting to end," Minerva said carefully. "It does us no good to fight amongst ourselves."
"No," Remus said calmly. "We should not fight amongst ourselves. He will win if we do."
Fred couldn't help but wonder how this lot was so damn clueless. Right there on the table was the proof that there were others out there far more capable to fight this war. In fact, keeping this group arguing might just give them the time they needed to finish their research on the 'items of importance' as Severus so loved to call the horcruxes. "I do believe there are others; if The Quibbler is anything to go by, out there fighting with far more fervency and dare I say …success… than the Order."
"Young man." Minerva looked scandalised. "We fight for the Light! We refuse to use those barbaric means to win this war!"
"You know," George said musingly. "If you lot are going to continue on as you have been, I do believe I may make a trip to Scotland. Clearly, they have a better idea of what it will take to win this war."
"Too right you are, Forge," Fred quipped; his tone and grin just this side of derisive. "I've missed Li and Ewan…it will be ever so fun to catch up on things with them, will it not?"
George hooked his arm in Fred's playfully dragging him to the door. "It very much will. Oh, we won't be back. We've grown tired of the self-righteous company found here-"
"No offense meant towards Remus, Severus, Tonks, Ted, and Andromeda-"
"Or our brothers of course," George finished with a grin, shoving the door open as they marched into the hall.
Fred leaned in to whisper, "Sev is going to have our heads for that."
George smirked. "Not if we get to our girlfriends before he can catch up with us."
They hit the front door at a dead run, slamming it behind them without caring about the portrait's screeching that was sure to further disrupt the joke of a meeting. Smiling, George Apparated the moment they cleared the wards, back to Adl. Fred snickered and Apparated to Annwn, hoping that the raid had gone off without a hitch. The news of what had happened tonight was not going to go over well at all. They may just need Daphne and Pansy's healing skills after imparting the information.