Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling. This fanfiction is for writing practice only and no money will be made.
HMWSB
"You've done what?" Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore demanded for the otherside of his desk.
"I've adopted Harry Potter," Molly repeated herself slowly, as if speaking to a small child. Something she had a lot of practice with, so she wasn't too put out.
The Grand Sorcerer, she was sorry to say, was not so quick on the uptake. "I'm sorry, Molly, but it is out of the question. Harry needs his family and the protection they can offer him."
A few days ago, she wouldn't have dreamed of arguing with the great Albus Dumbledore. But that might as well have been a lifetime ago. Dumbledore was a powerful wizard, was doubtless well versed in many esoteric magics, was as cunning as he was wise, but he knew nothing of children and their need for family.
"Petunia Dursley and Vernon Dursley were no family to Harry. The opposite was true. They were his jailors and their home his prison. He's with us now, his real family, and that's where he'll stay."
Molly being Molly didn't notice that she'd raised her voice a few decibels but Dumbledore certainly did.
The twinkle left his eyes. "Molly, I'm certain that you mean well. But Harry's situation is precarious. He'll remain with the Dursleys. I insist he be returned there immediately."
Her fingers began tapping on the arm of her chair. One of the Weasley males would have been able to warn him that was a sign of an incipient blow up. Alas, they weren't there to warn the Supreme Mugwump.
"You have no say in the matter, Albus," she snapped out. "I didn't stutter. I didn't say that I was going to adopt Harry. I said I had adopted Harry." She threw a scroll on the table in front of him. "Read it."
His long fingers snatched the scroll of his desk. It was a genealogical chart provided by the goblins for a small fee. The smallest in this case, as it merely confirmed the family names of a witch or wizard's parents. Molly and Arthur were strapped for gold- as much as she loved the man, Gilderoy Lockhart had no idea how much having to buy each of her children all seven of his books had stressed the family finances.
She knew what the scroll said. Harry Potter. Father- Potter. Mother- Prewett.
"What have you done," he repeated, his hand shaking.
"I've adopted Harry Potter," she said again.
Why it had never occurred to her before was beyond her, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that Albus Dumbledore was just like other men. He was no better at listening than any other man and even more prone to having a difficult time comprehending the words his ears heard. Or reality.
"That's illegal," he accused, obviously grasping for straws.
She couldn't help but feel smug. "Not if his former guardian, my husband, and Harry all agree. And they have."
"Why?" he asked plaintively.
Her temper began to rise. "Because an orphan boy showed up at my doorstep who'd never experienced a mother's love. His guardians abused him, starved him, and neglected him. He's my son's best friend. What did you think I'd do, Albus?" She leaned forward, placing her hands on his desk. "Did you know!?"
Albus shrank back from her, as he avoided her eyes. He had never looked so old. His obvious guilt was all the confirmation she needed. Subconsciously, her fingers twitched as if seeking her wand.
Fawkes began crooning. Slow, gentle, calming. Molly thought it quite beautiful.
She exhaled and forced herself to relax, sinking back into her seat. Cursing the Chief Warlock would only cause problems she could ill afford to deal with.
"Why?" she asked.
He seemed a defeated man when he replied, "The Blood Wards. His mother's love would protect him from Voldemort as long as the Blood Wards stood."
Molly Weasley was no Ward Master. Not even a Curse Breaker. But she smelled something rotten. "A mother's love doesn't work like that, Albus. It's unconditional. It isn't tied to a place. It isn't conditioned upon being in the presence of another family member. It certainly doesn't require that a child suffer abuse. It just is." She sighed, trying to let go of her agitation. "Lily Potter will always be Harry's mother, just as I will always be his mother. That's true no matter where he is or what he does."
Dumbledore smiled wanly. "I hope that's true."
Fawkes hopped off his perch and onto the arm of Albus' throne-like chair. The Phoenix leaned into his companion, still crooning. Albus' hands began to stroke the bird, his face visibly relaxing. "Now what?" he asked.
She harrumphed. The man really was dense. "I told you. He stays at the Burrow during his school breaks. Otherwise, everything is the same."
He steepled his fingers before his face. "He has enemies. Your family will be targeted."
The nerve of the man. "I know all about Harry's enemies. Or have you forgotten Fabian and Gideon? I haven't." She was pleased to see him flinch. "Bill is taking some time off. He's offered to ward our home. My family, including Harry, will be fine there."
"I would be glad to lend some assistance," he offered, a dim twinkle returning to his eye.
"That won't be necessary," she refused as politely as she could. Which wasn't very.
Bill had warned her that warders would often leave themselves points of entry, making themselves exempt from the ward system. He'd been insistent that she should allow only someone she trusted absolutely access to the Burrow's ward scheme.
Unfortunately, that no longer included Albus Dumbledore.
He seemed to sense the reason for her refusal. "I'm sorry that you feel that way, Molly. I mean neither you nor Harry any harm."
She couldn't help but snort. "Then explain to me why my son has nightmares. Explain why he had to kill another human being to safeguard the Philosopher's Stone, which was protected by obstacles that any First Year could defeat!" she demanded, her temper again rising despite the Phoenix song. "Explain why he was doing detentions in the Forbidden Forest looking for a known unicorn killer. Explain why you took no action when Quirrel tried to murder him under your very nose at a school Quidditch match!"
She was shouting now, though she couldn't bring herself to care. The thoughts she'd just spoken had been festering in the back of her mind since Harry's sobbing confession.
He paled. "I assure you Molly," he began, obviously working himself up to spew a thousand smooth words that sounded wise but imparted no actual knowledge. She wasn't having any of it.
"I don't need your assurance, because I will give you mine," she bit out, her face flushed red. "If there are any more games, anything that even hints at a danger to my children, I will pull them from this school. Arthur and I will homeschool. You can explain to the public why they should think that Hogwarts is a safe place for their children when it isn't a safe place for the Boy Who Lived."
She had Percy to thank for that idea. Between Arthur and herself they had NEWTs in eight subjects. More than enough to cobble together an acceptable homeschool curriculum. If Bill and Charlie visited and helped with lessons, an objective observer might even think they could provide an excellent program of instruction.
Besides, from what she heard, learning potions from her would be a far better learning experience than that provided by Severus Snape. She was certain that she and Arthur could do an excellent job teaching, at least comparatively speaking.
Even if it wasn't, being subjected to a mediocre homeschool curriculum was better than risking death and dismemberment. Something that any mother, any parent, would recognize and agree with.
So the threat was very real, even if Percy was convinced it wouldn't come to it. Harry Potter leaving Hogwarts would see Dumbledore out the door before he could say, 'Greater Good'.
Dumbledore, astute as he was, was certainly aware of what would happen if Harry left Hogwarts. And now, thanks to her politically minded son, she knew it too.
"Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain," he protested.
She snorted, and then scathingly retorted, "That's not true. You Know Who wasn't, and won't be, wandering the Burrow at night, but he was walking your hallways. So spare me your lies."
She suddenly felt the pressure from his aura intensify as his visage darkened. She'd forgotten that she was dealing with the Defeater of Grindelwald. "I will not be spoken to that way in my own office!"
She almost hesitated. Then she saw Harry's too thin, pale and wane face. Suddenly, she didn't care that she was sitting across from the most powerful wizard in the world, a wizard who was decidedly unhappy.
"Then don't give me reason to speak to you as if you are a misbehaving child who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar!" she snapped back. Standing, she was surprised to find her wand in hand. "I won't have my children put at risk."
Dumbledore had risen as she had. They stood across from each other, both with wands in hand. Sparks were flickering from their fingertips and magic glowed from their eyes.
Molly didn't notice, however, so consumed was she by her anger. She also didn't notice when Albus' eyes widened in surprise.
Fawkes flapped over and landed on the desk between them. He unfurled his wings, stretching himself to the greatest degree possible as he physically interposed himself between witch and wizard. His song became more pleading, more melancholy, more desperate.
Dumbledore sagged. "I wouldn't have them endangered," he admitted, sounding aggrieved.
Molly only half believed him. He sounded too much like the twins trying to talk themselves out of punishment despite being caught red handed. Still, it was a start.
"Good," she nodded curtly. "But if they aren't safe, if they aren't happy, if you have some crazy scheme that doesn't directly involve their education, I'll pull them from this school faster than you can say Quidditch."
He rubbed his eyes before giving her a crooked smile. "I promise you, Molly, that I will do everything in my power to keep them safe."
She stared at him, unblinking. She very much wanted to believe him. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding and he could go back to being the great Albus Dumbledore.
She recalled her children's horror stories. Not just Ron and Harry's, but the others from prior years. While the twins might tell tall tales, her eldest three were reliable. There was no way that she'd take Dumbledore's word over theirs. At least, not anymore.
"I want to trust you, Albus. I really do." She frowned at the man she used to admire most in the world. "I'll give you this year. They'd better be kept safe. No more danger, no more bullying. That includes Severus Snape. He's there to teach, not abuse children due to childish grudges."
"I trust Severus with my life," he said, though he already sounded defeated.
"Well, I don't. His abuse of Harry, Ron, and any other children he doesn't like, ends. Or I'll make other arrangements."
"Molly," he implored, "there's more at stake than you realize."
"Educate me," was her simple response.
To Dumbledore's credit, he did. Or at least he tried.
From what she gathered, Voldemort was trying to return. That wasn't news, based on Ron and Harry's report. What was news was that Snape was Dumbledore's spy. He acted like a malignant bat, abused Gryffindors in general and Harry in particular, to maintain his cover. If Voldemort returned, and Dumbledore made it sound more like a when rather than an if, Snape would be posed to retake his place at his side and continue serving as an informant.
When he was done speaking, she thought over what he said. She then asked, "Why should this be of any concern to me?"
A look of consternation crossed his face. "Molly, surely you see the value he has as a spy . . .".
She flicked her hand dismissively. "Spies are for the Aurors, Hit Wizards and Unspeakables. I'm talking to you as Headmaster of a school. If you want to run a war, join the DMLE. Become Minister; you could easily win an election. But if you want to be Headmaster, your job is to ensure they are safe and have the best education possible. It isn't to allow your students to be abused so you can maintain your spy's cover."
The blue of his eyes suddenly intensified, as he captured her gaze, trying to bend her to his way of thinking, to convince her he was right, by force of will alone. She didn't blink. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, each trying to compel the other to their viewpoint.
Molly was no Occlumens, but she didn't have to be. She didn't care about the Greater Good- where had that thought come from?- she only cared that her children were educated in safety, free of danger and bullying. Everything else paled in significance, including her steadily growing headache.
Eventually, he broke eye contact. "As you say," he said, sounding ashamed. He looked out the window for a long moment, avoiding her sharp gaze. "I'll need a new Potions Professor." He finally turned and faced her. His expression seemed lighter somehow. "I would like you to take the position. At least until someone more suitable can be found."
His sudden reversal knocked her back momentarily. "Me? Why?" she finally managed.
"Because I fear that Gilderoy is no longer suitable for the DADA position. Which means Severus will have to be moved over to Defense," he smiled wryly, his good humor apparently returning. "I'm sure he'll be pleased but that means I need a replacement for him. You earned an Outstanding on your Potions' NEWT. Horace once raved about your talent in the subject. As Britain has a shortage of Potions Masters, you'll have to serve until other arrangements can be made."
She wondered at his mercurial temper. She was no stranger to fighting and making up, but even patient, forgiving Arthur sometimes needed a day or two to cool down. Albus went from hot to cold in seconds.
She then thought of the money she wasted on five complete sets of Gilderoy Lockhart's books. Thankfully, Harry's set had been free. Then she thought of the money she could earn as a Hogwarts Professor. Then she thought that all of her children were either in Hogwarts or overseas working.
The only one at home was Arthur, and he'd understand. Besides, they could visit on the weekends.
Why not, she decided. He was giving her the opportunity to make sure he held true to his word. And if he didn't, she'd be perfectly placed to recognize and act on it.
"I accept," she said, wondering if she was making a mistake.
Fawkes apparently didn't think so, as he hopped from the desk onto the back of her chair. His crooning was full of joy and hope. She couldn't help but smile.