Molly entered the Burrow somewhat deflated. She wasn't sure why. She and Arthur had just gotten back from France, from the World Cup. Her only daughter had gotten married to a man that obviously worshipped her. She spent a great deal of time with her family. Why was Molly sad?
She sank down onto the couch in the living room and stared out the window. There was the apple tree that Molly loved so much. The very apple tree that had given her courage after her miscarriage. It had given her hope to see the tree there after the Burrow had been destroyed so many years ago. Now the tree was making her cry, remembering the happy times her children had spent trying to climb the branches."Molly?" Arthur asked tenderly, seeing that she was upset.
"Oh, Arthur," Molly said, wiping her eyes. "Don't mind me. I'm being silly," she told him. But it didn't feel silly. She wasn't needed anymore. Her children all had lives of their own now. They would never need to depend on her again.
Arthur sat next to her and put his arm around her. "I love you, Molly MacKenzie," he said softly. Molly looked at him. She loved hearing him say those words. They gave her courage, they gave her hope. She was needed. Arthur needed her. They needed each other.
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A week later, Ginny came to the Burrow by herself. "Where's Harry?" Molly asked.
"In Wales," Ginny answered, waving her hand, which showed off the thin gold band she now wore on her fourth finger. "He's collecting some dragon heartstring or skin, or something that deals with dragons to make wand cores."
"Harry's enjoying that, isn't he?" Molly asked.
Ginny nodded. "It's peaceful, making wands. Harry deserves a bit of peace after everything."
Molly agreed. "No practice today?" Molly asked lightly.
"Mum, stop that. You know I have to stop for a bit," Ginny said sharply.
Molly was confused. "What do I know?" she asked truthfully.
Ginny stared at her with her mouth open. "You mean you don't know?" she asked, disbelieving.
"Know what Ginny?" Molly asked, bewildered.
"I was positive you would know out of everyone. Harry thought you knew too!" Ginny said accusingly.
"Ginny, are you going to tell me what you thought I knew, or can we change the subject?" Molly asked exasperated.
Ginny looked down at her hands. "Mum, I'm pregnant," she said softly.
"Nonsense," Molly said quickly. "You've only been married two weeks."
Ginny looked right at Molly. "I was four weeks pregnant when we obtained the marriage license. I'm ten weeks now," Ginny said.
Molly sat down. "You can't be pregnant," Molly said faintly.
Ginny sat down next to her. "Please don't be mad, Mum," Ginny begged. "Angelina and Fred got pregnant before they were married. It happens!"
Molly thought only of the curse. Should she say something now?
"Harry and I already knew we were going to get married," Ginny pleaded. "When I found out I was preggers, we just married sooner rather than later!"
Molly felt her forehead, she was flush. The room seemed to be tilting.
"Please say something, Mum," Ginny said softly.
Molly looked at her daughter. Molly knew she would make a wonderful mother. "Congratulations," Molly said weakly, taking Ginny's hand.
Ginny sighed. "Thanks Mum. I know this is a bit of a shock."
Ginny had no idea.
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That night, Molly wept on Arthur's shoulder. "Why couldn't I have done something?" Molly cried. "She has such a wonderful quidditch career in front of her, and now it's over!"
Arthur sat there, his hand rubbing Molly's knee. "Molly," Arthur said gently, "There's nothing you can do. I will not have you regretting the children she and Harry are going to have."
"I won't regret them!" Molly said, blowing her nose loudly. "I just wish that Ginny had control over her own destiny!"
"Maybe this is her destiny, Molly," Arthur said. "Maybe she was meant to have seven children, just like you were."
Molly was able to take a deep breath. Arthur was right. Molly didn't want seven children at first, and maybe Ginny wouldn't either. But Molly knew that Ginny would love every child that came along.
"I know I'm being silly, Arthur. Maybe I need a change in my routine. I need something different," Molly sighed.
Arthur cleared his throat. "I've been thinking along those lines myself," Arthur admitted.
"You need a change, too?" Molly asked, eyes bright from crying.
Arthur nodded. "This is just an idea," Arthur started. "I was thinking…maybe if you agreed…we might want to look…"
Molly smiled at Arthur, already feeling better. "What dear?" she asked patiently.
"Maybe it's time to leave the Burrow," he said softly.
Molly let the words impact her. "Leave the Burrow?"
"We don't need this much space. It's great for the grandkids to run around, but we could find another place for them to run around in. I was thinking we could go back to London," Arthur said.
"London?" Molly repeated.
"London," Arthur said yet again. "Remember how happy we were there?"
"London seems like a lifetime ago," Molly said. She was remembering how alive London had made her feel; how it's always bustling.
"Well, I thought it was a good idea," Arthur said, defeated.
"We'll go looking for a place first thing tomorrow morning," Molly said happily, taking his hand.
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"You're really going to live here?" Ron asked.
"It's beautiful, Molly," Hermione said. "Just let me look at the contract before you and Arthur sign anything." Hermione was a very respected lawyer now. There was even talk of her being appointed to the Wizengamot. She would be the youngest witch appointed in history.
Molly looked around the flat she and Arthur had found. It was perfect. The flat was three blocks away from Diagon Alley, and only five away from the Ministry of Magic office. In the front, there was a large room, perfect for family gatherings. Molly had known this was perfect when she saw the kitchen. The kitchen was the most beautiful thing Molly had ever seen.
There were three bedrooms. One for Molly and Arthur and two for guests. The best part of the apartment was the roof top terrence. Go up a small flight of stairs and the roof of the building was their patio. There was a beautiful view of St. Stephen's Green, which was just across the street.
"What's going to happen to the Burrow?" Ron asked.
"We're most likely going to sell it," Molly said easily.
Ron and Hermione shared a look. "Well, Molly…" Hermione started.
"We were wondering, Mum, if we could buy it," Ron said quickly.
"You want to buy the Burrow?" Molly asked.
Hermione nodded. "It's a perfect place to raise a family," Hermione said shyly, as Ron put his arms around her.
Molly looked at the pair of them. "Surely you're not…" Molly trailed off.
"Only two months later than Ginny!" Hermione said excitedly.
Molly felt faint. "Oh Hermione! Oh Ron!" she squealed, throwing her arms around the pair. "I don't believe this! I'm in all of a dither!"
"I always hoped that we'd have children around the same time Harry and Ginny did," Hermione said, smiling.
Molly burst into tears.
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"Say this again, Mum," Fred said seriously.
"Fredrick Weasley! I've told you three times now. I'm not saying it again!" Molly bellowed.
"Please?" George asked, smiling.
"What can we say Mum? We'd be honored to have you work for Weasley Wizarding Wheezes?" Fred said happily.
"I just thought it would be nice to get out of the house once or twice a week," Molly said. "You wouldn't even need to pay me."
George's eyes lit up. "You're hired!"
Molly started that Monday.
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"Arthur, are you sure?" Molly asked for the umpteenth time.
"I'll be fine on my own, Molly," Arthur told her again. "Bill and Fleur deserve a vacation. And who better to watch the little ones than their own grandmother."
"I just feel so awful about the timing. We just moved in. Ginny's due in a month," Molly said.
"Molly, it's okay," Arthur laughed. "Go, or you're going to miss the Chunnel."
Molly nodded and gave Arthur a kiss. "I'll see you in a week," she said softly.
"Floo me when you get there," Arthur said. "I love you."
"I love you too," Molly answered, giving Arthur a kiss.
Molly walked onto the strange boat apprehensively. Thirty years ago, Molly simply would have apparated to France. Even though she was only fifty-five, the distance worried her. There were things about getting older that no one bothered to tell her. Like that the back of her legs would ache after long walks. Or that she couldn't apparate the same distance as her youth. She decided to take the muggle way, and Bill and Fleur would meet her in France.
The ride was quick. Molly kept thinking about Ginny. She had decided what she was going to do. Molly had begged them to take the test that determines the baby's sex, but they refused. They wanted to be surprised. After the baby was born, then Molly would sit Ginny down and tell her about the curse.
"Grand-mere!" Johnny and Theresa called out happily, seeing Molly come through the gate.
"Grand-mere, is it?" Molly said happily, thrilled to see her grandchildren again. Johnny was turning seven and Theresa was almost five. Molly had a soft spot for Theresa, whose full name was Theresa Margo, short for Margaret.
"Thanks, Mum," Bill said, "This means a lot."
Molly smiled and took the hands of her grandchild. "Oh the fun we're going to have!" Molly cried.
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That night, after Johnny and Theresa went to bed, Molly wandered around the study they had. Bill and Fleur had a magnificent house. Molly's favorite room was the study. Maybe because it reminded her of her father's study back at the house she grew up in.
She looked through the shelves and a book caught her eye. She looked at the book she and Arthur had given Bill more than a year ago, from their vacation in France. Molly sat down on an old leather chair and flipped through the pages, remembering how beautiful the illustrations were.
She came across the curse that had made her curious before; the Sept Fois Sept curse. She read the French, not understanding a word of it.
Une place de femmes est seulement dans la maison,
La mère lui dira, et la fille gémira.
Quarante neuf mères seront tout les mêmes elles que
Toutes essayeront de trouver quelqu'un pour blamer.
Sept fois enceintes, elle sera toujours dite
jusqu'à ce qu'une mère décide d'être bravez.
Elle la donnera à sa fille très pour posséder la voix que
La malédiction est cassée, elle a maintenant un choix.
She looked at the woman in the picture again. The tired looking woman could almost be a relative of hers. She put the book down, making a note to ask Johnny to translate for her tomorrow.
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"Why do you want to know?" Johnny asked.
"I asked a favor of you Jean-Luc," Molly said. "Either you'll help me or you won't." Like the generation before him, Johnny had learned if Grandma said your full name, it meant business.
"My translation isn't very good," Johnny grumbled. "I'm only seven, you know."
"There are no grades, Johnny. Just any help you can give your old grandma would be great," Molly said brightly.
"Okay," Johnny jumped off of Molly's lap and ran into his bedroom with the book. For the next hour, Molly played with Theresa. Then Johnny came out of his room holding a piece of paper.
"Here, Grandma!" Johnny said happily. "I did it!"
Molly looked at the child's scribbles. Many words were crossed off, but Molly was able to understand what it said.
A women's place is in the home,
Mother will tell her, and daughter will moan.
Forty-nine mothers will all be the same.
They all will try to find someone to blame
Seven times pregnant, she'll always be told,
Until a mother decides to be bold.
She'll give her daughter her very own voice,
The curse is broken, the girl has a choice.
Molly gasped. It certainly sounded like the curse her mother had told her about so many years ago. Johnny and Theresa were clamoring for attention. Molly folded the piece of paper and stuck it in her apron pocket.
The week went by too quickly for Molly. She truly enjoyed spending the time with Johnny and Theresa and was sad to say good-bye. On the Chunnel back to England, Molly took out the piece of paper that had the translation of the curse.
"Until a mother decides to be bold," Molly whispered to herself, feeling defeated. Molly hadn't been bold. Hadn't she done nothing, and just watch fate go to work. Ginny had gotten pregnant and Molly hadn't done a thing to change the curse.
But wait, a small voice called out in her head. Molly looked at the paper again. "She'll give her daughter her very own voice," Molly read aloud. In a way, Molly had done that. She didn't tell Ginny about the curse. She let Ginny make all of her own decisions about her life without a thought to the curse. Which was the exact opposite of what Molly's mother had done.
"Mother will tell her…" Molly tailed off and put the paper back in her pocket. There really was nothing to be done. Forty-nine generations would have six boys and one girl. Molly couldn't believe that she thought for a moment that she could break a powerful curse like that.
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Molly was unpacking two weeks later when Harry's head appeared in the fire. "Molly!" he cried. "Ginny's in labor! We're at home and the healer's here."
Molly's heart skipped a beat. It was time. "We'll be right there," she told Harry.
"Arthur!" Molly cried. "Ginny's having the baby!"
Arthur walked briskly out of the room they had made up like a study. "A week early!" he cried in delight.
Together, Molly and Arthur flooed over to Ginny and Harry's apartment. Ron and Hermione were already there. They were sitting side by side, with Ron's hand on Hermione's bump.
They heard Ginny give out a loud cry from the bedroom and Hermione put her hand to her mouth, looking terrified.
"Don't worry dear," Molly said. "There are spells to help the pain."
Hermione nodded weakly.
Molly started pacing. She had brought the translation with her. She took it out of her pocket and started reading it again. She closed her eyes, opened them and read it again. She started breathing nervously. There was a chance, a slight chance that she had broken the curse.
She excused herself to the small patio that they had, and closed the glass door behind her. Molly put her hands on the railing and looked over the city. "Please," she said out loud, "Please give Ginny a choice. I did what the curse said. I never told her; I've let her make her own decisions."
Tears started streaming down Molly's cheeks. She put her forehead to the railing. "Please!" she cried out. "I want her to have a choice! Ginny deserves to make her own destiny!"
Arthur slipped onto the patio and saw the distress Molly was in. "Molly?" he asked worriedly.
"Arthur!" Molly said, dabbing at the tears in her eyes. "Any word yet?"
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked.
Molly shook her head. "Nothing, dear, nothing. Too much emotion. My only daughter having her first baby…"
Arthur smiled. "It's cold out, Molly. Let's go back inside."
Molly took his arm. She gave one last look to the sky, pleading her case. Then she decided she was ready to accept Ginny's fate.
The labor was long and intensive. Ginny seemed determined not to use any spells to help or speed up the birth. Six hours later, a baby's cry could be heard from the bedroom.
A moment later, Harry burst into the living room, his cheeks mixed with sweat and tears. He looked at the group that had gathered in the living room and smiled broadly.
"Come meet our daughter."