Together Again

Even though Arthur and Molly intended to take things slow, they were not very successful. When you have been with someone as long as they had, it was nearly impossible not to get emotionally involved. Over the next week and a half, they went out every night.

Molly felt a contentedness she hadn't felt in a long time. Spending time with Conner was fun; she was comfortable with him and he made her feel special, but things were different with Arthur; for the most part, he was his old self. There was a familiarity with him that she had with no one else and a love stronger than any other. She and her husband knew each other better than anyone else. And just as Arthur began to recognize her little quirks he had forgotten about, she recognized his. As they spent more time together, a mutual rekindling was felt.

No other negative effects from the dark magic occurred in that short span of time. However, Arthur continued to have problems sleeping. He would lay awake into the wee hours of the morning until unwittingly falling asleep for an hour or two. Throughout his day, he would periodically catch himself dozing off at his desk. The less he slept, the less likely it was that he would have another episode like the one that led to his trip to St. Mungo's.

When he went in for his appointment with Alexander nearly two weeks after they discovered the curse, it was confirmed there had been no change. Arthur hadn't thought about telling Alexander that it had been three years to the day since the attack; it didn't seem to be significant information anyway. There still hadn't been any leads as to what this particular curse was or how to treat it. On his date with Molly that night, he told her what Alexander had said.

Arthur stood on the Burrow's porch with Molly after their date. He gave her a brief kiss on the lips as he had done the previous two nights. When he was leaving this time, Molly stopped him.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked.

He glanced at the door then back to her before he said, "Okay."

Once they were inside, Molly fixed them each a cup of tea. They snuggled close together on the couch in front of a roaring fire as the wireless played softly in the background. It was reminiscent of late nights spent together when the kids were small and in bed or when they were older at school before things got so busy.

"It's getting rather late, you know, and tomorrow is Saturday so you don't have work," Molly said. She mindlessly ran her fingers down the buttons of her husband's shirt. "Maybe you ought to stay here tonight."

"Do you want that?"

"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't."

Arthur stroked her hair. "Who am I to deny my queen what she wants?" he murmured before kissing her atop the head.

As they enjoyed the time in each other's arms, all unpleasant memories melted away. The past several months seemed like nothing more than a bad dream. All that mattered now was the need to continue their life together and to feel whole once again.

Gently taking Molly's chin between his thumb and forefinger, Arthur lifted her gaze to meet his. "I love you, Mollywobbles," he murmured.

Their lips met, simultaneously searching to fill their need for the other. Molly slowly pushed him back then proceeded to climb on top of him. As they continued to kiss, she carefully unbuttoned his shirt.

"Wait," Arthur breathed in a gap between kisses. "I – want –" Unable to get the words out, he held Molly's cheek in his hand to get her to stop long enough for him to whisper, "I want to make love with you properly this time." In one swift motion, he collected her in his arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom.

oOoOo

The reunited couple lay contentedly in each other's arms. Molly lay on top of Arthur while he stroked her back. Rising up on an elbow, she looked at her husband and smiled at him. He smiled back, a light reappearing in his eyes that she hadn't seen since before the war ended. She ran her soft hand across his forehead before letting it rest behind his head on the pillow.

"Come home," Molly whispered.

Those two words meant more to Arthur than anything had in a long time, but he was still afraid of getting hurt. What if Molly ended up regretting asking him to move back in? What if she told him she had made a mistake and told him to leave again? Or what if he did something else to hurt her?

He swallowed hard before asking, "Shouldn't you think about it more?"

"I've thought about it plenty." And she had. She had been mulling it over every spare second she had for the past week. She had wanted her husband back for months before that, and now that he seemed to have his act together, she was certain she was making the right decision.

Arthur sat up and kissed her, giving her his answer and, thus, starting another round of love-making.

When they finally wore themselves out completely, they settled into their usual sleeping position – Arthur on his back holding Molly with her curled up against his side, their legs entangled. She fell fast asleep, but he remained awake. While most recent sleepless nights had been irrational, this one was not. He had forgotten what the date was until then. It was December the eighteenth. Three years ago, he had been attacked in the Department of Mysteries. On the first anniversary of the attack, he'd had a nightmare that shook him to the core. After that, he swore never to sleep on the anniversary of the attack again. With the most recent nightmare and finding out they were linked with the curse, he was going to make sure he didn't fall asleep tonight.

Arthur was able to stay in bed for a while, but eventually had to get up when he noticed he was beginning to doze off. He got dressed and made his way downstairs. For the next couple hours, he sat up drinking the strongest coffee he could make. At some point, a ginger cat startled him when it jumped into his lap. Molly hadn't said anything about a cat, but for the first time, he spotted a small bed in the corner of the sitting room. The young cat curled up in his lap and fell fast asleep. Arthur didn't have anything against cats, but he did not like this one at all. He wasn't sure why, though.

Around five o'clock, Arthur figured it would be okay to go back to his grandparents' house. Surely, Molly wouldn't be up for at least another two hours.

Once at his grandparents' house, he told them Molly had asked him to move back in. They were overjoyed at the news, but a little sad that he wouldn't be living with them anymore. Arthur quickly packed his things before going out to help Gramps with the morning chores.

About the time Arthur thought Molly would be waking up, he headed back to the Burrow and began making breakfast for the two of them.

"Oh, good, you're still here," Molly said breathlessly as she entered the kitchen in her bathrobe. "I was afraid you'd changed your mind."

Arthur turned from the stove to face her. "I'm sorry." He grabbed her shoulders and softly planted a kiss on her forehead. "I just couldn't – I tried staying in bed, but I would have fallen asleep."

After a few seconds of bewilderment, understanding came to Molly. "Oh…yesterday was the eighteenth, wasn't it? I am so sorry. It completely slipped my mind."

"That's okay. It's not your burden to carry."

As they ate breakfast, Molly kept glancing over at Arthur with increasing worry. Suddenly, she grabbed his face and felt his forehead with the back of her hand.

With a confused, crooked grin, Arthur asked, "W-What are you doing?"

Without responding, Molly proceeded to check his pulse while peering inside his shirt.

Arthur's grin instantly turned into a frown. "What?" he asked much more seriously this time.

"You've lost all your color. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I think. A bit nauseous maybe, but –"

Abruptly standing, Molly said, "I'm calling Alexander," as she passed Arthur to go to the Floo.

"No – " Arthur gently wrapped an arm around her waist. He stood and spun with her as she continued to walk past him. Stars danced before his eyes. He braced himself on a chair as a sudden light-headedness overcame him. Molly immediately rushed to his side.

Arthur shook his head and blinked several times. The stars were gone, but the light-headedness remained.

"Is he at home or is he at the hospital?" Molly asked.

"No, don't bother him," Arthur calmly commanded. "He said everything was alright yesterday. I've been fine all night. I even helped Gramps this morning. It's probably because I haven't slept, or from all the caffeine I had earlier."

"Shouldn't you be avoiding caffeine?"

"I know."

"Why don't you go lie down until you feel better? I'll sit with you."

Arthur easily gave in to his wife's request. Once in bed with a cool rag on his forehead, it was only a few short minutes before sleep overtook him. He slept for most of the day, and Molly was right there by his side for ninety-nine percent of it.

That evening, Arthur woke relieved not to have had a nightmare and feeling much better. Perhaps, rest was all he needed. Molly must have been satisfied as well because she did not mention having Alexander check him over again.

After eating a hardy dinner, they took an early shower together.

"Oh!" Molly exclaimed while she was washing Arthur's back for him. "I forgot to tell you. An owl came from Harry this afternoon. He picked Ginny up from the train station and assures me they are both staying with George. Between the two of them, they managed to convince her to come over to help decorate tomorrow!" she told him excitedly. "The whole family will be together again!" Her face suddenly fell. "Well, almost…"

Arthur turned around to face her. He brushed her cheek with the rough pad of his thumb. "Fred's with us," he whispered.

"But it won't be the same."

"There's nothing we can do about it." He shrugged. "Let's just be glad we didn't lose anyone else."

Molly nodded then stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband, water falling over them like rain. She had lost him for a while, but now he was back where he belonged.

Arthur suddenly broke the kiss, eyes wide. "Wait – So we're telling the kids we're back together tomorrow?"

"How else would we explain why you're here?"

"I just thought – Well – It's a bit soon to say anything, isn't it?"

"I don't see why not," Molly said slowly. "Unless…you're having second thoughts?"

"No, no, no," Arthur assured. "I'm just a little…insecure still?" he said in the form of a question, unsure if he worded it correctly. "Not all the kids are going to react well. We might as well face that fact. And I don't want to get their hopes up just for them to be crushed in a little while - I mean, I'm not planning on things going back to the way they were," he hastily added, "but part of me is still afraid, because I know it can happen."

"Arthur, Love, I am absolutely certain things will continue to get better. As long as you tell me if you are struggling - with anything - everything will be fine."

Arthur smiled at how confident Molly was in their ability to rebuild their marriage. Not one ounce of doubt showed. Some of her confidence rubbed off on him.

"Okay."

He glanced away and opened his mouth before closing it again. His second try, however, was more successful. "I should probably tell you, then, that I've not been sleeping well, at all, the past couple weeks. It sounds stupid, but I'm afraid of having that nightmare and having even more damage done to my heart."

"That's not stupid. We'll find a way to get past that, together."

The water had gradually been growing colder as they talked, so they had to finish quickly. As they dried off, they heard a voice holler up the stairs.

"Hello?" it called again. Arthur and Molly realized it was their daughter.

Excitement bubbled up inside of Arthur at being able to see his little girl again. Almost tripping in the process, he pulled on his pajama bottoms as he made his way to the bathroom door. Molly chuckled at how the hair on his head stuck out in all directions. He bounded down the stairs and almost crashed into Ginny at the bottom.

"Daddy!" Ginny squealed as he enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug that could rival Molly's.

"I am so sorry," he croaked into her hair. Holding the back of her head, he pulled away and looked into big, brown eyes so much like her mother's. "I am so, so sorry." He kissed her on the forehead before wrapping her in his arms again.

"Daddy, you don't need to apologize," she mumbled into his bare shoulder.

Arthur stepped back. "I do."

"No," Molly said from where she watched on the bottom step, holding Arthur's shirt and bathrobe, "I think I should be the one apologizing this time. Arthur, I had no right to forbid you from seeing your kids - and I didn't think how it might hurt you as well, Ginny"

"Molly, no," Arthur shook his head, "you had every right. I was out of control. You did what you believed to be best." He turned to his daughter again. "Ginny, don't be upset with your mum. She was only watching out for you."

"I couldn't care less about how she treated me. What about you?"

"What happened with me and your mother is between us. It is not your or any of your brothers' concern. We have agreed to put the past behind us and move forward."

Molly handed him his white nightshirt. He pulled it on over his head as Ginny asked, "So when Gran and Gramps said you were here, they meant you moved back in with her?"

"Yes," her dad said, slipping into his threadbare bathrobe. "And I would hope you'd be happy for us."

With a slight frown, Ginny looked between her parents.

"Things are a lot better now," Arthur said then looked over at Molly.

"They are," she agreed with a smile.

Ginny crossed her arms, but made no indication of speaking.

"I guess I'll leave you two to catch up then," Molly said before going into the kitchen, not bothering to hide how hurt she was.

Arthur gave Ginny a stern look and nodded toward Molly.

"No," Ginny said flatly.

"Why won't you talk to her?"

"How can you forgive her?"

"...I love her - and I brought a lot on myself. Your mum doesn't deserve to be treated this way."

Deflating, Ginny admitted, "I guess I have been a bit of a bitch."

"She apologized and she didn't even need to. Everything she did was to protect you."

"Not everything. Conner –"

"- is none of your concern," Arthur interrupted fiercely. Neither he nor Molly had brought up that subject. And, so, he continued to allow himself to live in ignorance. He took a deep breath. "Just talk to her. Please? This is hurting her more than when Percy left."

With no further complaint, Ginny went into the kitchen.

"Mum?"

"Yes?" Molly said indifferently, setting the kettle on the stove.

Ginny hesitated. "I may have let my temper and stubbornness get the better of me."

"Oh?"

With a small shrug, Ginny said, "Yeah."

Well, it wasn't an apology, but it was a step in the right direction at least.

Mother and daughter stood in uncomfortable silence, both wishing Arthur would come in and ease the tension. After what felt like an eternity, Ginny said, "So have the guys driven you mad yet?" She gave a small smirk.

"Between you and me, all the time," Molly answered dramatically. On a more serious note, she said, "No, they've…they've been fine. George and Percy have been a bit distant, but they come around." She went quiet as she began placing teabags in mugs.

"They're probably just busy," Ginny suggested quietly.

"That must be it," Molly said, feigning a smile. She knew it wasn't because they were busy and she was sure Ginny knew that as well.

Leo the orange kitten came to their rescue. He swatted at Ginny's ankle, trying to get her attention. She picked him up. The conversation quickly turned to the kitten. When asked where she got him, Molly vaguely answered that he was a birthday present.

The two were sitting on the floor giggling over the kitten when Arthur entered, red hair neatly brushed. "Sounds like my two girls are at least tolerating each other," he said as he took a seat at the table.

"Look, Mum got a kitten!"

He narrowed his eyes at the fur ball as it stopped playing with the ball of yarn and trotted over to him. Leo looked up at him expectantly. "I know," he said, carefully pushing the kitten away with his foot.

Picking up on her husband's dislike of Leo, Molly asked, "He's not going to be a problem, is he?"

As Arthur pulled his foot back, Leo playfully pounced on it. "Of course not," he answered his wife. "I mean, why would he? He's just a cat."

"Right," Molly said while Ginny called Leo, who looked at her, before jingling a ball and rolling it across the floor. Having lost interest in the toys and the women fawning over him, he turned back to Arthur and, much to Arthur's annoyance, jumped up into his lap. "He hasn't done anything." Arthur didn't have to know Conner was the one who gave her the kitten. That would only make Leo a problem, which would most likely mean she would have to give him up and Molly did not want that; she had grown quite attached to the little guy.

"Down. Get down," Arthur ordered the cat, but he only made himself more comfortable, rolling over onto his back with his head hanging upside down between Arthur's knees. Arthur huffed. Well, he would have to make himself like the cat. It apparently already liked him.

Molly and Ginny moved to the table, also.

"So you went to Gran and Gramps's?" Arthur asked Ginny.

"Yeah."

"And where do Harry and George think you are?"

"At Gran and Gramps's"

The rest of the evening went by rather quickly. Ginny and Arthur had a lot to catch up on. Noticing the conversation was mainly between him and his daughter, Arthur did his best to bring Molly into the conversation as much as possible.

Eventually, Ginny asked if she and Harry could stay at the Burrow during Christmas break. After both parents happily agreed that it would be wonderful for her to come home starting the next night, Ginny went back to George's flat.

oOoOo

As he stared out of their bedroom window, Arthur said, "Well, one down, si–" he forced a cough, "five to go."

"I don't think Bill, Percy, or George will be much of a problem. Charlie and Ron on the other hand…" Molly trailed off.

Arthur made a noncommittal noise. He wasn't sure he agreed with his wife. Percy had been livid after the fiasco at his wedding and had been treating him rather coldly at the Ministry – That was why Arthur made sure to see Kingsley when Percy wasn't there. And, George, well he seemed more disappointed than angry, but Arthur hadn't heard from him since the wedding. The next day would not be easy at all.

Molly slid her hands down his arms and let them rest in his hands, gaining his full attention. "Everything will work out. It will take time, but it will be okay."

Arthur sighed. "It won't be the same, though. The kids will never look at me the way they used to. They saw a side of me that I didn't even know existed."

"I wouldn't be too worried about that." She gave his hands a squeeze. "I'm more concerned with how they'll take it when we tell them about your health issues tomorrow."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "I'm not telling them tomorrow."

"Why not?"

"Don't you think that's a lot to dump on them in one day? And I don't want to tell them for the same reason I didn't want to tell you. I want them to accept me for the right reasons. And I don't want them to think this –" he motioned between them, "us is because of that – unless…it is?"

"You know that's not the reason," Molly reassured. "But you'll have to tell the kids eventually, and if they find out you've been keeping this from them, do you really think that will be good for your relationship?"

Arthur hesitated in frustration. "Just let me get through tomorrow."

"Okay," Molly conceded. "But you're not alone in this. You have me." She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

He grinned at her before placing a kiss atop her head.

oOoOo

First thing next morning, George, Ginny, and Harry were the first three to arrive at the Burrow. The couple greeted Arthur while George greeted Molly before swapping. George stopped short, though. He knew Arthur would be there, Ginny having had told him, but he wasn't quite prepared to see his father.

"George," Arthur said softly.

"Dad…" George said warily.

Arthur gave his middle son a small, nervous smile.

"I almost wrote you a few times," George admitted. "I actually expected you to write me, making a bunch of excuses."

Arthur looked his son in the eye. "I'm done making excuses."

The other three watched with apprehension as father and son stared wordlessly at each other, George being unsure of his feelings about this new direction his dad had gone in and Arthur afraid to make a move and be rejected.

"You...look better," George finally said.

"I feel better," Arthur replied. He scratched the back of his neck and looked toward the ceiling. "I was about to go up to the attic and start bringing down decorations..."

George opened and closed his mouth before offering to help. Ginny and Harry went with them, leaving Molly alone to cook breakfast.

Within the next ten minutes, Bill, Fleur, Ron, Hermione, and Charlie arrived. After Molly refused any help from the girls, all five sat and talked around the kitchen table.

Charlie suddenly groaned. "You know what I just realized?" he asked grumpily. "We have to bring down all those boxes."

"Stop your whining. It's being taken care of as we speak," Molly informed.

Charlie's face lit up. "Sweet! Is Conner here? I'll give him a hand," he said as he hopped up from the table and headed toward the swinging door.

Molly grabbed his arm as he passed her. "No, Conner is not here. And let's not mention him today," she said as she looked around at her other children.

"Is everything alright between you two?" Charlie asked with concern. "You seemed to be getting on really well - And what else would you be doing since you've cancelled any plans you've had with any of us for the past two weeks?"

"And you've had a lot more privacy since I moved out," Ron chimed in with a wink.

Molly's face turned scarlet. She huffed while placing her hands on her hips. "You better not be implying what I think you're implying." She pointed between Charlie and Ron, who ducked their heads in embarrassment. "I am married to your father, and you should know I would never do something like that," she said in a deadly tone.

"No one's heard from him in months," Ron remarked.

"And I don't know why you're sticking around for him after the way he's treated all of us, especially you," Charlie added.

"It's none of our business," Bill reminded his brothers as Percy and Audrey came in the back door.

"I love him," Molly said determinedly. "And everyone deserves a second chance."

"Second chance?" Charlie blurted. "We passed that a long time ago."

Bill cleared his throat. "Mum, you didn't bring all those boxes down yourself, did you?" he asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"No, Dear." She turned around to the stove and started removing pans from the eyes.

"Who did, then?"

Before Molly could answer, Ginny, Harry, George, and Arthur came back into the kitchen laughing. The other Weasley children's eyes were glued to Arthur, who abruptly stopped.

"Er – You haven't told them yet, have you?" he asked Molly.

"I was just getting to that."

Molly crossed the room and took hold of Arthur's hand. "I've thought long and hard about this – We both have – And we've had some serious, deep discussion before making any big decisions _"

"You're splitting up," Ron said hopefully at the same time Bill evenly asked, "You're getting back together?"

"We've already gotten back together," Molly replied. "Look, I know not all of you will approve, but as your parents, we don't need your approval, and I hope you all will take a more mature stance moving forward. If your dad and I can put the past behind us, so can you."

"He can't go a day without drinking," Percy said hoarsely, his eyes unmoving from his father.

"Yeah, Mum, we've been here before," Charlie said.

"You're dad has gotten help."

Ron scoffed. "You think he's gotten help."

"I have," Arthur spoke up, "and if you don't believe me, Kingsley wouldn't have let me keep my job if I hadn't."

"You only got help to save your job," Charlie calmly accused.

"No, I saw how badly it was damaging my life, and how much I was hurting all of you…and that I couldn't control it anymore. I don't want to live like that.

"I don't know what else to say," Arthur continued after several seconds of silence, "because I've said it all before. Nothing I can say would even matter because it lost meaning a long time ago. So, instead, I'm going to let my actions and my behavior speak for themselves."

"So what? We're supposed to forgive you just like that? Like the past seven months didn't even happen?" Ron asked.

"No, I'm not going to ask for your forgiveness – I don't deserve it – but I do hope you can forgive me, eventually."

"How do we know in a couple weeks, after you've gotten back into our good graces, that you won't go back to drinking?" Charlie asked.

Arthur sighed. "You don't," he said with a shrug, "but I'm nine weeks sober, to the day. I haven't gone that long without a drink in…" he thought briefly before realizing he couldn't recall the last time he had even gone a month without a drink, "I don't know how long. Years, maybe? I think that really says something."

"I think it does, too," Molly said.

oOoOo

"I give it 'til New Year's," Charlie mumbled as he and Ron worked on untangling lights thirty minutes later.

"I only give it 'til Christmas," Ron wagered.

"Mum's deluding herself. I bet she's only doing this because it's the holidays."

"And their anniversary is coming up, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Throughout the day, Molly had to discretely ask Charlie, Ron, and Percy to help their dad with various tasks while Bill, George, and Ginny didn't even have to be asked. Her three stubborn sons, however, would argue with her until she asked them to do it for her if nothing else. Then, they would begrudgingly assist their dad. This did not go unnoticed by Arthur, but he was glad they were at least talking to him now.

"Percy, treating me like a colleague will not work here," Arthur told the bespectacled Weasley while he was helping him set the tree up. "We are at home."

Percy dropped the tree branches he had been holding back into the box and said, "Alright, Father, what do you want?"

"I want you to talk to me…Son," Arthur ventured. "I want us to get things out into the open so we can go back to how we were. We were getting along so well."

Percy ran a hand over his face. "You ruined mine and Audrey's wedding reception, Dad. It was beyond embarrassing."

Well, that was easier than Arthur expected.

"I know, and –" Arthur stopped short. He gestured for Percy to follow him. After getting Audrey from where she was helping Molly and Ginny put up garland on the mantel, he took the couple into the empty kitchen. He sat across from them at the table.

"Audrey, Percy, I am extremely sorry for the pain and humiliation I caused at your wedding,' Arthur apologized to his son and daughter-in-law both for the first time for that incident. "If I could go back and leave after the ceremony, I would. I know it was hard for you, Son, so, Audrey, I can't begin to imagine how terrible it must have been for you. That is not the welcome you should have received upon marrying into this family. This family is much better than I am…Look, I can't undo what I did, but I hope there is some way I can mend my relationships with each of you."

"Thank you, Arthur," Audrey said. "That means a lot. I don't think it should be too difficult to get back on good terms." She gave her father-in-law a small smile.

Arthur and Audrey looked to Percy who still hadn't said anything.

"Dad, that's all I wanted," Percy finally said. "For you to apologize to Audrey – and not just in some shame-faced announcement, but to tell her face-to-face."

"I'm sorry it took so long," Arthur said.

All three of them stood. Arthur hugged his son and daughter-in-law in turn before they all rejoined the others.

After the tree was assembled, Arthur, Charlie, Percy, and Ron went outside to hang Christmas lights on the house. They spread out. Each of them levitated part of the strand and let it rest on a small nail in the roof. They continued this with the higher levels and windows as well.

They were hanging one of the last strands of lights when Arthur's end began to droop. Charlie, who was nearest to his dad, glanced over at him. Arthur swayed unsteadily. Charlie dropped his wand as he rushed over and caught Arthur before he could hit the ground. Ron picked up Charlie's wand as he and Percy stopped what they were doing and went over to their brother and dad.

Percy opened the door so Charlie and Ron could carry Arthur inside.

"What happened?" Molly asked in alarm, moving boxes and decorations off of the couch. Charlie and Ron set Arthur down on it.

"He passed out," Charlie said, "without warning."

"Someone fetch a cold rag," Molly commanded.

She sat on the edge of the couch next to Arthur. As his cheeks warmed and the color brought on by the cold left, it revealed that he was deathly pale.

Ron came back with a damp rag and handed it to his mum.

"Why don't you all go and make yourselves some sandwiches," she told her kids as she patted Arthur's forehead with the cool, damp rag. They all disappeared into the kitchen.

It wasn't long before Arthur came to.

He took in his surroundings. "What happened?" he asked in a daze.

"You fainted."

Arthur carefully sat up. Leo jumped out of the depths of an empty box and onto Arthur's lap, but Arthur left him alone. He didn't feel much like fighting with the kitten at the moment.

"Have you not been feeling well today either?" Molly asked with deep concern.

"I felt fine until a couple hours ago."

"You need to go back and see Alexander tomorrow."

"He said nothing has changed," Arthur argued weakly. "Look, it's three o'clock. I probably just need something to eat."

Molly was not convinced that was the reason, but she left it at that. If Arthur had another episode like that, she would take him to Alexander whether he liked it or not.

They sat in silence. Molly watched Arthur, who had regained his color, closely. Finally, he insisted, "I'm feeling better – really."

Molly sighed. "I was thinking…You should tell the kids today."

Arthur's eyebrows knit together. He opened his mouth, but Molly interrupted.

"Listen, all of the kids seem like they are at least willing to give you another chance. So, you owe it to your kids to be honest with them."

"Molly, I don't know. We don't know anything yet. Why worry them?"

"It wouldn't be worrying them. By telling them, they'll know what's going on. And if something happens while you're with them, they won't be frightened. They'll know what's causing it, whether it be light-headedness, fainting, chest pains…"

Arthur had to admit she had a point. The kids all seemed to be willing to give him another chance. Even Charlie and Ron had let their guard down around him. Well, it seemed like it took both Molly and Hermione talking to Ron to get him to loosen up a bit, but, still, it was something. And he hadn't thought about how much worse it might be for the kids if something happened and they didn't have a clue as to what was going on.

"It's up to you, Arthur, but I really think you ought to tell the kids."

"Tell us what?" George asked from where he froze upon entering the sitting room.

Arthur repositioned himself on the couch to face him. "George…it's noth-"

"No," George interrupted softly, "don't tell me it's nothing. I'm not a child anymore. I can tell when something is wrong."

"I know. Whatever you heard, please don't tell the others. I'll tell you all after dinner. But, honestly, you don't need to worry."

"Okay," George whispered. He started to go back into the kitchen, but turned around suddenly. "Oh – Um – What kind of sandwiches did you want?" he asked.

"Ham."

"The same."

Arthur insisted he could eat at the table, so he and Molly joined the kids in the kitchen. Everything returned to normal rather quickly, except for George, who became quite reserved for the remainder of the day. This made Arthur have second thoughts about telling them about the curse, but he didn't really have a choice anymore.

Molly disappeared into the kitchen to cook dinner as the rest of the family put finishing touches around the house. The Christmas tree twinkled with golden lights while various homemade decorations hung from its branches. Garland hung on the mantel and bannisters. A little Christmas village sat on the mantelpiece as well. The rest of the lights and decorations were put up outside, too.

When everyone finished eating dinner, Arthur cleared his throat to gain their attention.

"There is one more thing you all need to know," he said. "And I want to make it clear that this has had no bearing on your mum and I getting back together – Not long ago, I had to go to St. Mungo's."

"Yeah, we know. Your drinking almost killed you," Charlie said.

Arthur bit his lip. "This was more recent than that." He proceeded to tell them what the Healers discovered while he was at the hospital – about the curse and how nothing was known about it, but that it was nothing to worry about. Molly held his hand underneath the table the entire time.

"So you've been a jerk because you're cursed?" Ron asked.

"No, I've managed that on my own."

Bill leaned forward on the table. "Dad, what do you mean 'it's nothing to worry about?'" he asked. "This is Voldemort we're talking about – the most powerful dark wizard to ever live. Just because nothing has happened yet, doesn't mean it won't."

"I've lived with this for three years and never knew about it. If something were to happen, it would have happened by now," Arthur shrugged off his kids' concern.

"But what if something does happen?" Ginny asked. "I mean, it would be odd for Voldemort to create a complex curse like this and not use it."

"Yeah, some cursed objects have a delayed reaction. It lulls you into a false sense of security before having detrimental effects. Creatures could be the same way," Bill said.

"I'll be going to the Healer every other month for them to monitor and study it. My next appointment is in February," Arthur informed. "We will keep you updated as we learn more. And if it makes you feel any better, I have the best Healer in the Cyprian Youdle Ward."

"Uncle Alex?" Bill asked, having known most Healers specializing in curses at St. Mungo's since he was a curse-breaker.

Arthur nodded.

"But he's not the Healer-in-Charge," Percy stated.

"Just because he's not the Healer-in-Charge doesn't mean he is not the best," Arthur said. "Oh, and the only people who know about this are Gran and Gramps, your Uncle Alex, and, now, everyone at his table, and I'd like it to stay that way."

Everyone agreed it would stay between them.

After a bit more discussion, everyone retired to the sitting room to enjoy the decorations and each other's company.

Arthur went to help Molly with the hot cocoa a while later. While he heated the milk, she locked the door and cast a Silencing Charm. She came up behind him and rubbed his shoulders. "Are you still feeling the way you did when we talked a couple months ago?" she asked.

Arthur turned around to face her. He took her hands in his and shook his head. "No, I feel better. Not normal, but better."

"Then how can you be so calm about this? How are you okay with this?"

"I'm not," he croaked. "This scares the hell out of me. But if we don't act like this is serious, then the kids won't either."

"But it is serious."

"I know, but the kids have been through enough. They don't need to worry about this right now," he said. "We will let them know as we find out more, but, for now, let's give them some time to be carefree."

Molly leaned into her husband and wrapped her arms around him. He held her as well. "They have been through a lot, haven't they?" she asked.

Arthur hummed in agreement.

"And there really isn't a reason to be worried, is there?"

Arthur shook his head.

Molly looked up into his blue eyes. "Just continue to be completely honest with me?"

"Of course," he said before kissing her on the lips.

They finished making the hot cocoas and took them to the family in the sitting room.

Harry and Ron played wizard's chess while Hermione watched. Ginny, George, Bill, Charlie, Fleur, and Audrey sat on the floor around the coffee table playing cards. Percy sat behind Audrey on the couch. Arthur and Molly took up residence on the loveseat near the fire. The wireless played Christmas songs in the background.

oOoOo

It was nearly midnight when the kids left, but they didn't go home. Instead, they popped into a pub in Diagon Alley.

All ten of them crowded around two tables that they pushed together, each with a pint in front of them.

"Maybe things are different this time," Charlie mused, taking a sip from his Butterbeer. "Maybe Dad has finally gotten serious."

"I still don't trust him," Ron said.

"I didn't say I trusted him - Just that he's trying."

"I haven't seen Mum this happy in a long time. Not even with Conner," Bill commented.

"For her sake, let's hope he's being genuine this time," Percy said.

"I think he is," Ginny asserted.

"You also stood by him when he was a complete menace," Ron calmly pointed out.

"From what Gran and Gramps told me, Dad has really been working on himself."

Throughout the night, George had been unusually quiet. It had slipped everyone's notice with everything else that was going on. Charlie finally picked up on his brother's odd behavior.

"George, you've been awfully quiet tonight," Charlie said. "Y'alright?"

"Yeah," George sighed, drawing patterns in the frost on his glass.

"Somethin' you wanna talk about?"

Everyone eyed George closely as they waited for him to respond.

"It just seems like it's one thing after another with our family," he finally said. "Ginny and that diary - Ron countless times – the blow out with Percy – Dad being attacked by that snake – Bill was attacked by Greyback – and then Fred and the past several months…" he trailed off. "Now this?"

Harry's face turned redder than the Weasleys' hair while Ginny crossed her arms and sank into her chair. Ron unconsciously rubbed at his scarred forearms. Percy ducked his head. Bill, however, kept his cool.

"George, none of that is anyone's fault," Bill said quietly.

George looked up from his glass for the first time and saw the state some of the others were in. "That's not what I meant. I know it's not anyone's fault. I'm sorry. I didn't - I just thought, once the war was over, things would get easier."

"That's just life right now," Bill said. "It's going to take time, but things will get better eventually."

"Yeah, ya know?" Charlie said. "And, look, none of us expected Dad to drop that Dungbomb on us tonight."

Having recovered from his embarrassment, Percy jumped in, "Dad didn't seem too worried about it either."

"After he was attacked and was bleeding continuously, he didn't seem worried," George said. "Just because he doesn't seem worried doesn't mean it's not serious."

"There's nothing we can do," Charlie said. "We just have to trust Uncle Alex."

"And fretting over it won't help," Percy said.

"If you need to, I'm sure Dad would be willing to talk to you about it," Bill added.

"Yeah – No – Maybe you guys are right. It's nothing to worry about right now."

After George's concession, the conversation relaxed, but remained focused on their parents. They stayed for another pint or two before Ginny and Harry headed back to the Burrow while Rona and Hermione went to Grimmauld Place. The four older siblings walked out together not long after.

"George!" a dark-haired witch exclaimed before throwing her arms around the redhead.

When she stepped back, George got a better look at who it was. His face lit up. "Angelina!"

"Merlin, I haven't seen you in months."

"Yeah. What have you been up to?"

She ran her fingers through her long hair before throwing it over her shoulder. "Travelling a lot with Quidditch. I think this is going to be my last season, actually. I know it hasn't been that long, but I'm ready to come back home and stay. I just don't know what I'm going to do to make money."

"I could always use some help at the joke shop."

"That's right! I've been seeing your ads in the Prophet. So, how is that going?"

George shrugged. "It's alright. It's not the same without Fred, but I still enjoy it." He gestured to the pub he'd just exited and asked, "Do you want to go in where it's warmer?"

She smiled at him. "That would be nice."

Bill winked at George as he held the door open for Angelina.