A/N: xyellowconverse, Missing Triforce and I would like to dedicate this chapter to our lovely new reader and reviewer, EmeraldStorm7, who has been devouring and leaving lovely reviews! Thank you, Emerald! :D
-C
When Molly found out about Harry doing an interview with the Quibbler about what really happened when Voldemort returned I thought that her head might explode. The reactions of the other Order members were a little tamer than hers. Sirius had a drink to celebrate Harry's rebellion against the Ministry. Snape snorted about Harry being as much of an attention-seeker as his father and even McGonagall seemed to quietly celebrate her pride in Harry for being so brave. Kingsley and Remus seemed to be the only two who had their heads straight about the whole matter. Harry'd done an interview with the Quibbler, which had an awful reputation for being absolutely ridiculous. Maybe a few people who read it and see the truth about what actually happened that night in the graveyard but this wasn't going to fix all of our problems. The people who refused to believe Voldemort was back would probably continue to deny his return. The Ministry wasn't going to look at this interview as if it was some sort of proof that Voldemort was back. The interview didn't really change anything, except for brassing the Ministry off even more, which wasn't necessarily anything that we needed.
"Molly, don't worry," Sirius waved off Molly's matriarchal concerns. "It's not like the Ministry wasn't gunning for him before."
"Yes, Sirius, but now he's openly defied them! They aren't going to take kindly to that! Is that really what he needs, especially with Dumbledore gone from the school?!" Molly retorted, beginning to peel potatoes for her roast. "He needs to be careful!"
"Well he can't just roll over!" Sirius argued. "The Ministry is slandering him!"
"Actually it's libel," I commented, tired of listening to the two of them argue. "Slander is verbal and libel is in print."
"Exactly! Emma agrees with me!" Sirius exclaimed triumphantly.
"I didn't say that," I pointed out despite that neither of them was likely to listen to me.
"Well Emma's still a child herself so her opinion here is irrelevant!" Molly scoffed, brushing off Sirius' argument.
I was a child? In what neck of the world was being twenty-five still considered being a child? "I'm going to go write Val," I announced, though neither of them were listening to me.
I got up from the kitchen table; glad to get away from those two's bickering. Writing a letter to Val was more productive than listening to their argument. Honestly, what did arguing about the situation really accomplish? The Quibbler was still printing the article and everyone who wanted to could still read the interview. If the Ministry was going to punish Harry then it was already inevitable. Honestly, those two gave me a headache.
I went into the study, sitting at the dusty oak desk. I pulled a piece of parchment from the desk's drawer, taking an old feathered quill and dipping it in an inkwell before beginning to write my letter.
Dear Val,
I hope that things are a bit calmer in your neck of the woods. England's a bit crazy at the moment. Have you read the Quibbler lately? Molly and Snuffles have been going at it over a certain article in there. They won't shut up about it. It's starting to drive me nuts.
I haven't heard from you in a while. Actually, I never got a reply to that letter I sent you about Mum lying to Baldie about Dad doing suicide. I know that you don't like to talk about Dad's death but I figured that you should know what our dear old Mum has been saying about it. I haven't talked to her since I took Bill over to meet her. It's been almost a month and a half. This is the longest time I've gone without talking to her ever. She deserves it too. What kind of woman lies about the death of her husband? Horrid cow!
How are things in Romania? How's Charlie? How are the dragons? Is it beginning to look like spring there? I can't believe that it's already March. Soon Jo's going to graduate and we're all going to be out of Hogwarts. Are you coming back to England for her graduation ceremony? I figure that Mum won't go (considering that she didn't go to any of the rest of ours) and it might be nice if you could come. You could bring Charlie with you. I mean, the twins are graduating so he could see them graduate while you're there. Just a thought. I'm sure that you're crazy busy with all the on goings of work. I mean, writing about turnip growing contests might take up a lot of your time.
Well I just wanted to see how you are and tell you to try and pick up a copy of the Quibbler. I don't know if they print in Romania so I guess I'll have to send you a copy myself. It's a pretty interesting read. It's gotten quite a bit of mixed reviews here. Molly hated it but Snuffles thought it was pretty good. I thought it didn't quite get the job done the way that everyone said it did. Bill agrees with me but after everything that's happened with Mum he seems to be purposefully agreeing with me about almost everything. I know that it's his way of trying to make me feel better but it's getting a bit eerie. No couple is supposed to agree that much.
Tell Charlie hi for me and try to be careful, alright? The entire world's a dangerous place, not just England. And I'm not ready to be an aunt yet so be careful on that account too!
Your incredibly frustrated yet always loving sister,
Emma
"Emma!" Sirius called me from the kitchen as I folded Val's letter. "Emma, come in here and tell Molly that I'm right!"
I groaned. I was beginning to feel more like a babysitter than a member of a secret order that was trying to save the world from a dark wizard. Maybe there'd been some misunderstanding…
