Chapter Nineteen – The Order, Year Three

"Are you sure this is what you want, dears?" she asked Fred and George.

"Yes Mum," they said together.

"You always have a room with us, understand?" she said.

"Yes, Mum," the twins said again.

Fred and George were moving out into their own apartment with Lee Jordan. She was sad to see them go. She had gotten used to having them under her roof again for the past year.

Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was going from strength to strength. The twins hired Lee to be the full-time manager, which left them plenty of time for inventing new products. This summer, Molly consented and allowed Ron and Ginny to work behind the counter once in a while. Both of them were glad at the chance to earn some pocket money.

Molly went back to her baking in the kitchen. Fred and George were talking at the table. Molly tried not to overhear, but when Fred said double date, she had to know what was going on.

"Who might you double date, George?" Molly asked innocently. As far as she knew, George hadn't had a girlfriend since he left Hogwarts.

Fred and George rolled their eyes. "George is going out with Alicia Spinnet, Mum," Fred said.

"She was on the quidditch team with us. She was living in Manchester, and was just transferred to London for her job," George added, "She had a crush on me at school."

"I think you mean she had a crush on me," Fred joked.

"Who in their right mind would have a crush on you? I'm the better looking twin!" George countered.

Molly knew she had to interrupt soon, or never get a word in edgewise. The twins could go on for hours when they were bantering.

Molly smiled. She just liked knowing whom her children were dating. "That means Ginny is the only one without a significant other," Molly said.

"Ginny will be beating them off with a stick if she's chosen for a professional quidditch team," Fred said.

"Ginny is going to finish her Hogwarts Education first, unlike two of my children," Molly said sternly.

Fred looked at the hourglass on the counter. "Time to run, Mum. Galleons call," he said cheerfully.

"We want you and Dad to come over for dinner next week, okay?" George asked.

This brightened Molly. "Of course!" The twins then left the kitchen with a resounding crack.

The Burrow had been livable for quite a while, but Molly and Arthur decided to stay at Headquarters. Now that Harry was staying with them, it just made more sense. Headquarters was much safer.

Molly was thinking about the Order meeting that was going to be held tonight. Percy would become part of the Order tonight. He hadn't gotten involved before, but as things started progressing worse, he decided he wanted to help.

She was very glad she had the Order to channel her energies into. With her children leaving home, she sometimes felt bored. But luckily, there was almost always something to work on at Headquarters.

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Molly was packing her belongings into her small carpetbag. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny all left for school more than a week ago. She and Arthur decided that it was time to move back to the Burrow.

Molly was thrilled. It had been almost five months since the Burrow had been destroyed. She was ready to live in her own home again.

She had arranged that the furniture and household items she bought would be delivered today. A few members of the Order were going to help her and Arthur move back into the Burrow. Molly promised to cook them all a large meal when everything was finished.

"Molly!" Arthur cried, "Are you ready yet?"

Molly did one last spot check around the room. She had checked the children's room yesterday. Ginny had forgotten a t-shirt and Ron forgot his Herbology book. She had sent the items to Hogwarts with the owl post this morning.

She grabbed her carpetbag and ran downstairs. Arthur was holding his suitcase. Kingsley and Tonks were in the hallway, along with Professor Snape. Molly did a bit of a double take seeing him. She couldn't imagine what would make him want to help with the move.

In a way, she was glad he was here. Maybe then she could finally cook for him. Molly did enjoy cooking for the members of the Order. She always tried not to take it personally when Professor Snape would never stay for dinner.

"Let's go!" Tonks said brightly. She picked up a small box that had been on the landing. Tonks had such a pretty face. Again, Molly wondered why Tonks insisted on drawing attention away from her face with her hair. Her hair was in two short, turquoise pigtails today. It was just like Bill, him wearing his hair so long.

Kingsley and Professor Snape both picked up a box as well. "Is this everything?" Professor Snape asked, raising one eyebrow.

"It is until we reach the Burrow, Professor Snape," Molly told him.

"Severus," he said coolly.

Molly nodded. "Severus, then." She never exactly liked him. She had overheard a great deal of stories about him from her children.

One by one, the group flooed to the Burrow. Molly went straight to the kitchen. The counters fit together like one unit rather than the cupboards and tables Molly had used for the last twenty-six years.

They worked for four hours, until Molly was completely satisfied. One problem was that there were some jobs Molly didn't trust anyone to do. Like hanging up the Chuddley Cannons posters she had bought for Ron.

When everything was finished, Molly cooked her first meal in the rebuilt Burrow. She made Arthur's favorite, Chicken Pot Pie. Plus a big salad. Arthur opened a bottle of wine and the five adults conversed easily over dinner.

Molly and Severus exchanged a few words when he said Harry wasn't working as hard as he could be in Occulemency. But Tonks changed the subject before tempers flared.

One bottle of wine became two, and close to midnight, their guests left. Then Molly and Arthur went upstairs to welcome each other to their new home.

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"She's beautiful, Betsy!" Molly cooed, holding her great-niece, Lizzie, for the first time. Molly couldn't believe that her nieces and nephews were becoming parents. She was the proud great aunt of one, with two more on the way. Molly couldn't wait for the day when she was a proud grandmother.

Molly was at Betsy's house with Arthur, Bill and Fleur. Lizzie was crying loudly. Nothing Molly tried would sooth her.

Fleur cleared her throat. "May I hold 'er?" she asked Betsy, nervously.

Betsy smiled, "Of course."

Molly stood up and placed the baby in Fleur's arms. Lizzie stopped crying instantly. Molly noticed the look of tenderness on Bill's face as he watched Fleur with the baby.

"How did you do that?" Betsy asked.

Fleur laughed. "I am part veela. We are able to calm babies very easily," she said modestly. Fleur now only had a touch of her accent. Molly remembered the first time she met Fleur, she could barely understood what the girl was saying then. Now Fleur spoke English with ease.

Betsy's husband Dave laughed. "You are one lucky man, Bill."

"Don't I know it," Bill said, sharing a smile with his wife.

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Molly was collecting vegetables in the garden when she heard someone shout her name. As always, her first instinct was to take her wand out. She spun around and saw that it was Fred, who had just flooed into the living room.

She put her wand away, but not before Fred saw it. "Going to curse your favorite son?" he teased.

"You're all my favorite," she said automatically, "I thought I told you not to sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry, Mum, but I'm in desperate need," Fred said seriously.

Molly looked at his worried face and became worried herself.

"What's wrong? How can I help?" she asked quickly.

"How I hoped you'd say those wonderful words!" Fred exclaimed.

"Fred, what's wrong?" Molly asked impatiently.

Fred dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together. "I wouldn't ask this unless I was in dire straights," he started.

"Fred!"

"Mum, we're desperate. Jeanette called off today. George and I have a huge meeting with a supplier. Lee can't be in the shop by himself," Fred pleaded.

"Work at you shop?" Molly asked, jaw dropped.

"Please? We'd pay you!" Fred begged, "It would only be for the morning, during our meeting. Afterwards we'll watch the shop."

"You want me to work in your shop?" Molly repeated.

Fred tugged on Molly's apron. "Please, please, please, please and please!"

Molly took a deep breath and thought it over.

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"Welcome to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!" Molly said brightly from behind the counter to the couple that entered the shop.

The woman nodded a brief greeting.

"If you need any help with anything, just let me know!" Molly said.

"Thanks," the gentleman said.

Molly went back to reading Witch's Weekly. Fred told her she could read behind the counter as long as she didn't ignore the customers. Molly couldn't believe she was admitting this, but she was having fun.

Half of the products on the shelves Molly hadn't seen before. She did a little investigating and updated herself on all the new products.

"Excuse me," the woman said.

Molly walked around the counter and up to the couple. He was holding an Extendable Ear. "Does this really work?" the man asked.

Molly sighed. "It does. My sons listened to many a private conversation before I knew how to stop them."

"Our son uses this all the time. So it really does work?" the woman said.

"My boys are smart, but they weren't able to get around every situation. If you think your son is eavesdropping on you, just place an Impertutable Charm on the door and that stops the Extendable Ears," Molly told them confidentially.

"Your boys?" the man asked.

Molly nodded with pride. "My sons own the shop. They invented everything. In a way, I helped. I can't tell you how many prototypes I destroyed."

Molly could tell they weren't that interested. "I'll let you get along with your shopping then. Let me know if I can be of anymore help," she told them. She then went back to her magazine behind the counter.

The hours flew by, and before she knew it, Fred and George were there to relive her. Molly was quite proud of herself, she had sold quite a few items.

"Thanks, Mum. I can't tell you how much this helped," George told her.

"Boys?" Molly asked.

"Yes, Mum," they said together.

"If someone else calls in sick again…I wouldn't be against helping out," Molly mumbled.

"What was that Mum?" Fred asked slyly.

"Oh you heard me the first time, Fred. You just want me to say it again!" Molly exclaimed.

"Of course I want to hear that again!" Fred grinned.

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Christmas this year was a muted affair. Ron, Ginny and Harry all wanted to stay at Hogwarts this year. Molly understood. This was Ron's and Harry's last Christmas there after all.

Molly thought about having a huge Christmas dinner for the Order, but decided against it. So many teachers were in the Order, that they'd probably want to stay at Hogwarts.

Percy, Fred and George were all at the house for Christmas morning. Bill and Fleur owled from France to tell Molly how thrilled Fleur was with her Weasley sweater. Molly spent a great deal of time on hers. It was a powder blue with a pink and yellow flower on the front.

Charlie was in Romania still, and was meeting Dayna's family for the first time. After a small Christmas lunch the boys went their separate ways. Percy went to Penelope's house. Fred to Angelina's and George to Alicia's house.

Arthur and Molly spent their Christmas dinner alone for the first time in their married lives. "We should invite all of the boy's girlfriend's families over for Christmas next year," Molly suggested after dinner. She and Arthur had built a fire and were relaxing with a glass of wine.

"Do you know how many people that would be?" Arthur laughed.

"Quite a lot, I suppose," Molly admitted. "Or maybe we'll be grandparents by then!"

"Molly," Arthur said seriously.

"What?" Molly asked innocently.

"Have you been asking Bill and Fleur when they're going to be starting a family?" he asked, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.

"I've thought about it, but I actually haven't asked," Molly said.

"Don't you remember how much you hated it when your mother asked when you were going to have a baby?" Arthur asked.

Molly put her hands over her mouth. "I'm turning into my mother!"

Arthur took her hand. "I don't think that will ever happen," he told her.

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The papers couldn't get enough. Minster of Magic Under Imperius Spell! was the headline for a week. Arthur said everyone at the Ministry was a wreck; no one trusted anyone.

There was no election for the new Minister. Everyone seemed to agree that Amelia Bones was the best for the job. She was, after all, the Head for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She would work best.

Arthur came home one day in a bit of a daze. "What's wrong, dear?" Molly asked, as she was making dinner.

Arthur sat down at the kitchen table and stared at his hands. Now Molly was getting worried. "Arthur?" she asked.

"I was called in for a meeting with Amelia Bones today," Arthur said flatly.

Molly put down the bowl she had been stirring. "You haven't been sacked, have you?" she asked.

Arthur shook his head. "No, not sacked. I've been promoted," he whispered, as if he didn't believe it himself.

Molly ran over to him and flung her arms around his neck. "Arthur, that's wonderful!" she cried. She sat next to him and took his hand. "What's the new position?"

"Assistant Minister of Magic," Arthur said, finally looking at Molly.

She dropped his hand. "What did you say?" she said quietly.

"Assistant Minister of Magic," Arthur repeated, "Madam Bones said I was the best for the job, with my muggle experience. We're going to have to reach out to some of the muggle leaders because of so many attacks. That, and she knows she can trust me, because of the Order. She said she couldn't think of anyone better or more qualified."

Molly couldn't speak; she was in so much shock. "Assistant Minister of Magic?" Molly felt faint. She knew Arthur was more than qualified for such a position, but never in a million years did she envision him actually achieving it.

Molly reached out and hugged Arthur, who held her so tightly, she thought he'd never let her go.