Family
(Hermione)
When Ron and I got married and decided to have children I swore that we would all be early risers. No one would sleep in on Saturday, chores would be done by ten and I would not tolerate complaints. My incredibly idealistic views lasted about four minutes. Everyone slept in on Saturdays, chores got done whenever someone got around to it and complaining was my family's only means of communication.
The children were usually awake before we were on the weekends. I would come down the stairs and find Meshach pouring milk on cereal for his sisters, or digging in the lower cabinets for something. He'd smile and tell me good morning. The first time I felt guilty, I was failing in my motherly duties. The next Saturday I woke at dawn and made a huge breakfast, that in the end no one ate. So resignedly I let my son feed his siblings from then on.
When I woke the day after the hospital visit things were no different. Meshach was munching contentedly on an orange while his sisters and Lily put their dirty dishes in the sink.
"Morning Mum." He said smiling.
"How're you feeling?" I asked ruffling his already messy red hair.
"Fine."
There was a loud thump from upstairs followed by several stomping footsteps. I looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling and waited. Nothing happened so I sat in a chair, taking an orange from the bowl in the center of the table. Just as I began peeling it another thump shook the house.
"Was that Dad?" Persephone asked timidly.
"Ron was that you?" I shouted.
A muffled sentence answered me and I shrugged, "Guess it was."
I began to get worried at the third thump.
"Honey, are you all right?" I shouted.
"YES! YES I AM!" He cried in response.
The children looked at me for an explanation.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"YES I AM SURE! FOR I AM RON!" He shouted standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
He wore a pair of jeans and the shirt from his dress robes, with a pair of boxers on his head. I laughed unsure of what to do.
"I AM RON."
"Yes, that you are." I giggled.
"I AM A GREEK GOD. THERE ARE THOSE WHO CALL ME ZEUS." He strode into the kitchen and towered above me.
"Perhaps you should take the boxers off your head." I suggested.
"YOU, YOU ARE SHE WHO BARES MY CHILDREN."
At that point I found myself lifted out of the chair and thrown over his shoulder. Shrieking I pummeled his back with my fists, he did not respond, only began to spin in a circle.
"I WILL DEMONSRATE MY IMMENSE STRENGTH TO YOU."
I screamed and shouted as he spun, the world began to melt and I shut my eyes tight. Then it was over and I was standing unsteadily on the ground. I watched as my husband turned from me to the children. Their eyes grew wide as his gaze lit on them and they began to inch to the door.
"I AM RON AND YOU ARE MY OFFSPRING."
The children ran screaming from the room. My chest hurt I was laughing so hard and I somehow managed to get to the wall so I could lean against it.
"COME CHILDREN. COME TO THE GREEK GOD WHO GAVE YOU LIFE."
I could hear him chasing them through the house and back into the kitchen. Mia had crawled under a coffee table to hide while the others continued to scream and flee from their father. I vaguely recognized the roar from the fire place and still giggling went to the living room.
Neville stood looking bewildered in the fireplace with the girls. Before he could ask me what was going on Ron sauntered into the room with three small children laughing and running in front of him.
"I AM RON. YOU ARE MY BROTHER." He cried hugging Neville.
For a moment the other man seemed unsure of what to do. Then he too struck a heroic pose.
"COME FELLOW GREEK GOD LET US GIVE CHASE." Ron said clasping Neville's shoulder.
The twins looked up uncertainly at their father and met his twinkling gaze. Seconds later they were running from the room.
"WHO MIGHT OUR QUARY BE?" Neville asked striding after Ron.
"THOSE WHO SPRANG FROM OUR LOINS." Ron answered.
I rolled my eyes and went back the kitchen to finish my orange. The chase lasted a bit longer until all involved became tired.
"VERY WELL BROTHER NEVILLE LET US REST FOR I AM RON AND I AM WEARY."
Grinning both men came and sat with me at the kitchen table. I looked questioningly at Ron.
"What brought this out burst on?" I asked through a bite of orange.
He shrugged and tugged the boxers off his head. I giggled a little at the sight of his hair.
"You've got boxer hair."
He chuckled and ran his fingers through it, only messing it more.
"Well, now that I've made a fool of myself I'm off to work." Neville grinned.
"Oh Harry and Ginny are due back today." Ron said reaching for a piece of my orange.
I smacked his hand away and teasingly ate the piece he was reaching for.
"Really? Good, I'll see them when I pick up the girls then." Neville said rising from his seat.
"Sell things." I said with a smile.
Ron followed Neville to the living room, momentarily peering down at Persephone who squeaked and scampered from the room.
I heard them saying good bye and the loud pop of disapparation. Ron came back in grinning and wrapped his arm around me.
"You smell good." I said kissing his cheek.
"Greek gods usually do." He whispered near my ear.
"Don't start that again."
"Come on, you couldn't have married me for my looks, so it must have been my sense of humour."
"You know, if you wake up this happy when I don't agree the night before, I'm not sure I want to see how happy you are when I do." I laughed.
Instead of answering he kissed my neck and growled in my ear.
"Later. I have children to watch."
With a heavy sigh he moved away and sat down next to me.
"Well our son seems to be feeling better today." He said laying his head in his arms and looking at me.
"Yes. Which is, needless to say, a relief. I don't know how I'm going to tell Harry about the incident. I suppose we don't have to since Meshach is okay." I wondered out loud.
Ron sighed, "We'll have to tell him eventually. Someone will. And it's not that big a deal. I mean, it could have been worse."
I knew he was right, but I still felt that Lily was to young to have a wand. Something kept me from voicing these concerns. Ron never questioned anything Harry did. If Harry thought it was right for his daughter to have a wand before she was capable of controlling the power that it required, then in Ron's opinion it was right.
For a few minutes we sat in silence. A loud pop from the front room made me jump.
"Hullo?" A familiar voice called.
Ron leaped from his seat and hurried into the other room. I followed somewhat slower. The very person I had been thinking of was standing in our living room. Ginny stood somewhat behind him looking tired. I attempted to reach her side, but Ron had blocked my view by gathering his best friend in a huge hug.
"Finally, We had begun to think you'd run off." Ron laughed.
"Did the mission go well?" I asked.
"Fine." Harry replied.
"Hey Sis, come on out from back there." My husband called to his sister.
Ginny smiled and welcomed her brother with a quick hug. I noticed that there were dark circles under her eyes and her smile was slightly forced.
"Ron why are you dressed like that?" She asked giggling.
He looked down at himself and chuckled, "I'm a Greek god."
Harry looked at me questioningly, I grinned and shrugged.
"That's great Ron, why don't you go and put on some real clothes." Ginny suggested.
He sighed a fake sigh and ran to the stairs which he climbed two at a time.
"Mummy?" A shy voice called from behind me.
"Hello sweetheart." Ginny said kneeling down.
Lily threw herself into her mother's arms with more emotion than I had seen her show in a long time. Ginny stood up still holding the child, tears in her eyes that she would never let fall.
"How have you been, luv?" Ginny whispered quietly to her daughter.
"Oh fine." She answered.
Harry seemed unsure how to act in his child's presence. He shifted his weight several times as though waiting for something, perhaps for her to notice him. I felt for him, it's a frightening thing to think that your child may not love you.
"Hey sweetheart," He said at last and smoothed her hair.
She looked at him with a shy smile and said nothing.
"Lily why don't you go play with your cousins, I have to talk to your mom and dad." I said kindly.
"I want to stay with my mummy." She stated defiantly.
"Now dearest why don't you go and play, Mummy isn't going anywhere." Ginny whispered to her.
Reluctantly Lily dropped from her mothers arms and wandered off to find the other children.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked frowning.
I glanced up the stairs to see if Ron were coming. He wasn't so I proceeded to tell them about the tree house and the hospital visit and the sticking spell. As I spoke Harry's frown grew deeper. By the end of the tale they both seemed upset and shaken.
"I'll talk to her." He said and strode out of the room.
"Harry, I don't think it necessary," I began following him.
His steps took him outside into the yard where the children were all playing together. Lily looked up happily when she saw her father, but her eyes grew wide at his anger.
"Lily, come here."
She smiled hopefully but his expression did not change. By the time she reached him she seemed terrified.
"Did you really hit your cousin with a permanent sticking charm." His voice was low and he knelt to her level to meet her gaze.
"Yes."
"What have I told you about your wand?"
"That, that it's a privilege."
"When are you supposed to use it?"
"When I, or someone else is in trouble." She was trembling a little, but never failed to meet his glittering green eyes with her own.
"From now on that wand is not to leave your belt. It's powerful. You could have hurt your cousin more than you did. What if he had died? You don't want to carry something like that." The words were growing softer as his anger faded.
"I'm sorry Daddy." She whispered.
Harry seemed at a loss for words. So he pulled her into a quick hug and stood up. She wavered for a moment, as though perhaps she wanted to stay with him, and then ran back out to play.
"What's going on? Why's everyone out here?" Ron said looking puzzled as he came out the front door.
"Nothing." Harry said smiling at his friend.
Ginny and I stood off to the side sharing knowing glances.
"Well then, are you ready to head down to the Ministry? Have to give a report and all that." My husband suggested, straightening the front of his robes.
"Yeah, might as well get it over with."
"See you when you get back, luv." I said kissing Ron briefly.
He tried to hold on a moment longer but I pulled back. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand and then both men disapparated.
"Come on, I'll get you something to eat." I said taking Ginny's hand.
"Okay." She said and allowed me to lead her back to the kitchen.
The sun was shining brightly through the windows when we entered. I saw her smile at the sight, as if she hadn't seen sunlight in a long time. She sat in a chair at the table, letting the sun warm her face.
"How was the trip?" I asked searching through the cabinets for something to tempt her.
There was silence for a moment, "Dull."
My cabinets were in desperate need of restocking.
"All I can offer right now is an orange." I said apologetically.
"That's fine."
"Why was the trip so dull?"
Again there was a pause as she dug a fingernail under the peel of the orange and pulled it up.
"Harry's reaching pretty far now. We were supposed to be watching some guy, a suspected Death Eater. For a month we followed him around. Nothing. The guy was clean. Nothing to any of the rumors. I have no idea why we stayed so long. And the trip back was long. Harry hates to apparate long distances. So we had to go in short little spurts. By the time we reached the inn I was beyond tired."
There was an edge in her voice as she spoke of her husband. I frowned and tried to think of something comforting to say.
"Well you're home now. You can relax and get some rest."
She nodded absently and picked bits of pulp from her orange pieces.
(Meshach)
Fangs. Brilliant white and shining with venom. They snapped near my feet, always right behind me, gaining ground. I ran until my chest hurt, breath rasped in my throat and the blood pounded in my veins. I could feel a weight on my heart, pressure building as if to burst. Unable to keep going I fell to the ground. Fangs sank deep into my leg, but I couldn't move, couldn't stop them.
"Meshach."
I groaned and threw an arm over my face.
"Meshach."
One eye opened and revealed Mab staring wide eyed at me in a darkened room. There was fear in her blue eyes and she shook all over.
"What's wrong?" I asked thickly.
"You were having the dream again. You screamed." She whispered.
Faint memories came to me of pain and fangs. I shivered and once again met her gaze.
"Yeah, so what's wrong?" I asked again.
"You scared me."
I sighed and moved over in my bed.
"Come on up. You can lay with me for now." I offered.
She scrambled onto the bed and under the covers.
"What happened in the dream this time?" She asked.
I paused. If I tried I could remember every detail of the dream. My leg still throbbed where the dream monster had bitten me. Yet, I didn't want to tell her. I didn't want her to know about it. She was my little sister and I was her big brother, if I couldn't protect her from bad things what good was I.
"It had fangs and bit me. I fell down. My chest hurt badly. I couldn't breathe right and my heart was going to burst." I answered truthfully.
There are no secrets between Mab and I.
"You should tell Dad, or even Uncle Harry. Remember how Dad told us about his dreams. How Uncle Harry saved Grandpa's life cause he had a dream. He'd know what to do about it. You should tell him." Mab suggested.
"I also remember how Sirius Black died because Uncle Harry misread a dream. I'd hate something bad to happen because I was worried over a dumb dream."
Mab was not convinced. She hit me in the arm.
"What was that for?" I cried holding my arm, wishing I hadn't taught her how to hit.
"It's not just a dumb dream."
"I know." I agreed.
She rolled onto her side and pretended to be asleep. Her anger would fade in a bit. Until then I would lay awake and try to ignore the remaining pain in my chest.
(Ron)
Harry has always been melancholy. Ever since I met him on the train to school it was clear that things wore on him. Every offense was personal. Every wound was meant just for him. Every bad thing in the world was his and his alone. This made him difficult to talk to when I needed help or advise. Whatever was wrong with me was always ten times worse with him.
Of course he was very capable of being happy if he chose. When he and my sister started dating, he was happy. When he married her, I'd never seen him so cheerful. When his daughter was born, he never seemed to stop smiling. And still, his depression was always evident. I told him not to sweat the small things. Not to worry over so much, in the end it didn't matter. Harry also has a hard time taking advise.
I suppose it became obvious after the attack on the hospital that things weren't right with him.
He, Neville and I were at a meeting for the Order. There was some prophesy that everyone was worried about. I wasn't paying attention. Hermione was due to give birth to our second child any day now. When I left home she was being watched over by my mother, Ginny and Luna, all who assured me that everything would be fine. I needed to go to the meeting. It was important.
My fingers were playing with the coin in my pocket, conveniently charmed by my wife to heat up when it was time for the baby to come.
Harry was saying something about his experience with prophesies and someone was arguing with him, when suddenly the coin became so hot it burnt the tips of my fingers.
"Hey guys sorry to cut out, but I'm going to be a dad." I said standing up.
Everyone looked at me. Harry grinned over at Neville who stood up.
"We'll be back."
With that all three of us were out the door. It took about half a second to apparate behind St. Mungo's. Immediately I knew something was wrong. There were scorch marks around the open back door of the hospital. Wasting precious minutes Harry approached slowly to inspect them. Neville and I followed waiting for something, anything.
"This is wrong." I said fear building in me.
My wife was in there somewhere.
"Come on." Harry said waving us forward.
The place seemed deserted. As if there had been an evacuation of some kind. That stilled my fears a little, if they had evacuated then Hermione was okay, she'd have gotten out safely.
Carefully we climbed the stairs, I could smell something awful. Something I should have remembered. Neville nudged me and sniffed. I nodded. He smelled it too. My eyes grew wide and I knew what I was smelling. Death.
"Harry get a move on." I shouted and began taking the stairs two at a time. The others followed close behind.
My feet stopped suddenly at a door marked by more black marks. Shaking I shoved it open. My stomach churned and I thought I would pass out.
The waiting room was a mess, chairs and table were overturned, some still smoldered with curse fire.
"Hermione? Ginny?" I shouted stepping through the mess.
A faint noise came to me. A murmur of movement, a tiny whimper.
"Careful Ron." Harry said.
I nodded. The door to the patient hall was slightly open and the urge to vomit became more pronounced the closer I came to it. Gently I pushed and it swung open easily. The scene beyond was more than I could bear. Three bodies lay upon the ground.
My mother lay limp with her wand inches from her hand, her eyes staring, glazed over in death. Acid leaped to my throat, but I kept it down. Kneeling at my mother's side I held her cold wrist in my hand knowing I wouldn't find a pulse.
"Mum?" I called.
Trembling I reached out and closed her eyes. Looking up I found Neville clutching Luna to him. Her blonde hair was covering her face, matted in blood, a twitch went through her. Crucio. Only that left it's victim twitching so painfully. Unable to move I watched him a moment longer, whispering to his wife, petting her hair, begging her not to leave him. A murmur answered him. Still he begged her, weeping. She was gone.
My ears weren't working right, I couldn't seem to hear anything, it all seemed so far away.
"Ginny." Harry was saying.
My sister lay in a pool of blood. Her red hair was tangled with it, clung to her face, her shoulders. Harry was holding her head in his lap.
"Come on Gin, you'll be ok."
Hermione. My mind focused suddenly on her. I needed to get to her. I had to find her. Struggling to my feet I tripped down the hall glancing in rooms as I passed. They were empty. Clenching my fists, blinking back tears still I walked. Movement caught my eye and I approached one of the doors cautiously. It wavered as though trying to close, but I caught it and pushed it open. A man in a black robe lay sprawled behind it.
"You." I said.
He was unfamiliar. Yet, I knew him. He had killed my mother, He had killed Luna, He tried to kill my sister and for all I knew he had killed my wife and new born child as well. My wand was in my hand before I knew what I was doing.
He coughed and blood splattered the ground.
"You." I said again surprised by the calmness of my voice.
The words of the killing curse came to my lips and green light flashed. Once someone said that you must have a will for death to use an unforgivable curse. You must desperately want to hurt that person, to the point that you hate them. I hated this man, hated him for what he had done, hated him for living, hated him for breathing. I took those things from him.
"Ron?" Someone called behind me.
I didn't turn.
"Ron, we need to get help."
Harry was standing beside me. His voice caught as he began to speak again. I heard him swallow.
"He couldn't have done it alone." He said finally.
I felt his hand touch my shoulder and wrenched it from his grasp.
"Hermione."
The only word I could form, hear or think. My wife's name.
"She's not here." He whispered.
The man lay still in front of me. A body that once had held life. I turned and never looked back.
Later, after help came, we discovered what had happened. In every building like St. Mungo's there is an emergency escape plan. All the occupants are transported immediately to an alternate location. My mother, Ginny and Luna had stayed behind to face whatever was coming. They fought bravely. My mother and Luna died, while Ginny lay in another hospital bed with a wound to her face. They couldn't heal it, couldn't make it close. Instead she was left with a scar, red and swollen.
Hermione was moved safely with the rest of the patients, soon after she gave birth to our daughter Persephone.
Those were dark times. My father tried to kill himself shortly after my mother's funeral. Fred found him sitting in his study as though he were working. Blood poured from his wrists to the floor staining it red. The twins rushed him to the hospital where he spent several long days recovering. Neville mourned silently. His daughters were never far from him and he had developed a fear of letting others touch them. At Luna's funeral I saw him cry. His jaw locked and eyes straight forward he stood near the casket and let the big tears flow. Everyone suffered in their own way.
Harry took things hard as well. I knew he would blame himself for the deaths. I knew it would be a long road to recovery. But I didn't know how difficult he would make it on himself. Often I would wake and find him sitting in my kitchen with his head in his hands. Sometimes I tried to talk to him. Tried to help him see how things would get better.
"You've got to stop beating yourself up over this. It wasn't your fault. No one is holding you responsible except you." I said with an arm around his shoulders.
He looked up slowly with those haunted green eyes.
"How can you possibly sit here and seem so damned happy. Your mum is dead, Luna is dead, Ginny was …. Why aren't you falling apart?" His voice was edged and angry.
"I'm not falling apart because I have to many people that depend on me. And if you would get your head out of your ass you might see that you have people who depend on you as well. You are a father and a husband, you don't get to fall apart." I was near yelling now.
"What do you know." He spat back at me.
Angrily I stood up and glared down at him, "I bloody well know more than you. I have two sleeping children upstairs, a wife that I love and cherish is lying alone in our bed because I came down to talk to you, my mother just died, my father tried to kill himself and my sister's husband hasn't got the sense God gave a flobberworm to go home and help himself. Go home. Go be with your wife."
He didn't meet my gaze, instead he turned and put his head back in his hands, gripping handfuls of hair in his fists.
"She won't touch me Ron, she won't come near me." He whispered.
"What?" I asked confused, my anger evaporating quickly.
"She cries all the time. I try to hold her, I try to help her and she won't let me. She shoves me away. I'd love to go home and be with my wife right now, but she doesn't want me."
Sighing I sat down again and patted him gently on the back.
"She's mourning. Give her time. What she needs right now is you to go home and tell her how much you love her."
He nodded and stood up shakily.
"I… I'm sorry for what I said." He murmured looking tired.
"I know." I answered gathering him into a hug.
"It's just…" He started.
"Go home, Harry. Stop thinking about it and go home. No more nighttime visits to my kitchen when you have a perfectly good one at home."
He smiled a bit at my humour and disapparated.
Hermione was waiting at the top of the stairs for me, her robe clutched shut and her hair a ball of frizz.
"Who was that? I heard voices and got up." She asked worried.
"Harry." I yawned.
"In our kitchen? At one in the morning? What's wrong? Are Ginny and the baby ok?"
I smiled at her flurry of words and shook my head.
"Yeah in our kitchen. He's just having some trouble dealing with things at the moment." I explained putting my arm around her and guiding her back to bed.
"Doesn't he have a kitchen of his own?"
"Yeah, but it's not the same I guess."
She was silent for a moment as we entered our bedroom and climbed into bed. She snuggled against me, kissed my cheek and sighed a sleepy sigh.
"Thank you." I whispered against her ear.
"For what?"
"For everything."
She laughed and soon we were both asleep.
After that I thought things were getting better for my best friend. The gloomy cloud was gone from over his head and life was good again. Ginny began to heal and eventually joined us again. There was a disturbed look in her eyes that sent shivers up my spine, but she was still my sister. Seeing her mother and best friend die had taken it's toll on her.
So, it was with some trepidation I took notice of Harry's unhappiness as we made our way through Diagon Alley to my brother's shop. After a brief visit to the Ministry of Magic we had decided to do a little shopping and visit the twins. It seemed that the more space we put between us and anything to do our careers Harry perked up.
"Everything all right?" I asked casually.
"Yeah." He answered somewhat absently as he looked at the latest broom model.
I stopped and looked as well, the name was obscured by a huge group of small children gathered around it, but I knew it was a thing of beauty.
"Would Lily like one of those do you think?" Harry asked.
"No."
He seemed taken aback, "Why not? She's old enough to fly."
"She's scared to death of heights." I explained
"Why?"
"I don't know. She just is."
He frowned and we continued walking. The twins shop was big and brightly colored. The sign read in flashing colors "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes". Upon entering we were greeted with maniacal laughter from somewhere above us. I chuckled myself and led Harry inside. The bright colors continued until I could still see them when I blinked. Huge banners lined the walls proclaiming the product beneath them, most of them flashing. The desk stood in the center of the room partially covered in baskets holding samples of various edible gags. I looked around quickly but didn't see either of my brothers.
"Hey guys." A voice said.
Angelina was sitting behind the counter.
"I didn't see you Ange, what's up?" I asked.
"Not much. Slow today. Fred and George are in the back still arguing over what to call their latest invention. If they offer you toast, don't take it."
I laughed a little and glanced at Harry. He was grinning now, eyeing various things around the store.
"Hey Harry. You just get in?" Asked Angelina.
"Yeah. We've just been to the Ministry." He answered still grinning.
Suddenly there was a loud bang from the back room and the door burst open. Lee Jordan stood in the doorway with what looked like toast with fangs attached to his tongue, nose, ears and hands.
"Elp." He squeaked and took a step forward.
Behind him the twins appeared shaking so hard with laughter they had to lean on each other for support. Once I realized that Lee was in no immediate danger and the shock wore off a little I too began to snicker at his dilemma. Harry too was chuckling. Angelina merely rolled her eyes and shook her head and went to help Lee.
"What is that stuff?" I asked through giggles.
"Toast." The twins said together.
"The hell it was, you'd think I'd know better than to take from the two of you. Sharing a late breakfast my ass." Lee cried as Angelina freed his tongue.
"We told you not to butter it." George gasped seeming to be exasperated.
"I thought you were kidding." Said Lee.
"We were, when aren't we?" Fred asked beginning to laugh again.
Soon Lee was liberated from his toast captures.
"Who'd have thought butter would make them angry?" Fred asked.
The pile of toast shook menacingly at the word butter and Lee took several steps back.
"What is all of that?" Harry asked curiously.
"George made it up. Not sure what he did, but it doesn't like to be eaten and I wouldn't try putting any sort of jam or spread on it." Fred answered.
Suddenly the twins saw Harry as if they had not noticed him before. Before he could say anything he was clamped in a huge hug by both of them.
"Guys! Guys! I can't breathe." Came a muffled voice from between them.
"Oh sorry, we were just overcome with joy at the return of bespectacled- almost- brother. Want some toast?" Said George allowing Harry to breathe.
"We're having a bit of soiree at our house tonight. A welcome home party for Harry." Fred grinned.
"You didn't even know he was here until a moment ago, don't you always have a party when you invent something new?" I asked teasing them.
"Oh do shut up." George snapped with a grin.
"Yes, you should come and bring the kids, the wives and all the family. We'll have fun and games and wine and firewhiskey and food and music and firewhiskey and dancing and good friends and firewhiskey and everything else, but most importantly and not to be forgotten, firewhiskey." Fred listed things off on his fingers.
I caught Angelina out of the corner of my eye making a note of all the things Fred was saying.
"We'd best be going. Just stopped by on the way to Neville's." I said smiling.
"We'll be there tonight." Harry promised.
As we walked out the door to a chorus of goodbyes I saw Lee carefully prodding a piece of toast with his finger.
(Neville)
The shop felt empty as I swept the floor free of potting soil and trimmings. Every swish of the broom echoed off the walls and back into my head, sometimes if I listened there were words there, just beyond my understanding. They were almost comforting. If I stopped my movements, the whispers ceased as well and I was alone again. Most wizards frown on the muggle use of a broom, I found it reassuring. It wasn't always so, but Luna had shown me that there was a kind of comfort in such simple things. That our society had done away with menial work and therefore done away with the very things that keep us sane.
Bending down I swept the little pile of dirt into the dust pan. A little smile came to me as I straightened and carried it to the fertilizer bin in the back room. Saturday's were slow, but the income from the store was so little, I had no choice but to open and hope for business. As a result I was left with much alone time, too much. Over the years I had gotten better with the loneliness. For a long time I brought the girls with me to the store, a distraction against the memories.
There were things I did not want to remember.
But still they flooded back to me as I began to sweep the back room. It seemed that I no longer swept the scraps of my trade, I swept memories.
The store name was Luna's idea. She was insistent that it needed to be memorable and I think she succeeded in finding something suitable. Longbottom's Frondescent Foliage was emblazoned on the windows and above the door. The letters were bewitched to look like ivy and little glowing flowers, she was quite proud of herself.
I watched as she bounced on her toes on the walkway in front of the store, blonde hair swaying, wand in hand. There was a mischievous twinkle in those brilliant blue eyes. She was planning again.
"Neville! Neville! You need fairy lights for the windows." She cried excitedly as she burst through the door.
"No I think the signs you made are enough. Fairy lights might make it too glowy. Why don't you help fill out order forms?" I suggested hoping to curb her decorating instincts.
She paused and her face screwed into a thoughtful frown, I waited patiently, hoping the glowing flowers were enough for her. The twinkle remained.
"Are you sure? I could conjure some up in no time." She offered.
"No. I think you've done enough to the outside, why don't you work on the inside now?" I tried again, knowing there was little hope of her sitting down and filling out forms.
Her laughter echoed throughout the empty store and I grinned at her happiness. Sighing I bent over the order forms on the desk again and tried to concentrate. Her small voice whispered spells into the air one by one. There was a rhythm to the sound and it seemed to ease my mind a bit. After a few minutes I glanced up to see that she had assembled all the tables and bins and shelves and was working on adding more lighting to the area above each. The spell was giving her trouble and she kept shaking her wand in frustration, finally it worked but with such force she fell backwards and to the floor with a yipe.
I laughed to myself and went to see if she was all right.
"I don't know what it is with this wand, I don't think it likes me much." She complained as I knelt down beside her.
"I know the feeling." I said.
Her gaze settled on me and she smiled again, that incredible starry smile. A tiny part of me knew that she would rather be smiling at someone else. She would have preferred to be smiling at Harry, but I shoved that out of my mind and focused on her hands which were pulling me to sit beside her.
"You know what?" She asked seriously.
"What?"
"This is our store. We bought it and we are going to run it." Her fingers were entwined with mine.
I enjoyed the feeling of her wedding band on her finger. It had seemed for so long that I would never find anyone ever, but she was mine now, even if we weren't in love like the others, we were friends. We were friends who had each other.
"Yes, it is ours." I agreed.
I thought she would say something else, perhaps make a speech, or quote Shakespeare, maybe even burst into laughter, instead she kissed me. And kept kissing me. Sweet strawberry kisses. I stopped her when she tugged at my shirt.
"Someone will see." I whispered, wishing I wasn't such a prude.
She laughed and kissed me again, "You worry to much."
I stopped fighting and found that with her, even the cement floor of an empty shop can be the most romantic place in the world.
The broom whispered on as I smiled sadly at the memories it brought me.
She was positively beaming with joy as she pushed through the door to the shop. Three twirls and a giddy jump later she was standing in front of me. Hastily I put the pruning shears down and wiped my hands on my apron.
"What are you so excited for? Something interesting happen while you ran errands?" I asked grinning at her.
She giggled and grabbed my hand. Confused I let her guide it gently to lay on her stomach.
"We're going to have twins." She whispered.
"What?!" I gasped unbelieving.
She nodded excitedly. The world was far below and I never wanted to come down. Laughing happily I grabbed her and lifted her into the air. Her shrieks turned to laughter as I spun her around till both of us were very dizzy.
"So that's where you went today." I said when she was safely on the ground again.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me? I'd have gone with you."
She frowned and shrugged a little, "I didn't know if you would be happy or not, we've only been married a little bit, and I'm not…"
I knew what she was going to say and it hurt me a little to think that she was worried about that.
"Don't be silly, of course I'm happy. I'm going to be a daddy." I assured her.
"There is do much we have to do. Come on, lets close down the store today and go tell everyone."
"Okay, Okay, just let me get everything put away."
For a long moment I ceased my chores and stood in the center of the backroom. The whispers were silent, but I could still hear her laughter, feel her joy. It radiated from every corner of the room. When I closed my eyes I could almost see her standing next to me, giggling and making funny faces. Behind that image there was another, a darker place that I never went. A blood covered, cruel place.
Shaking myself violently I tried to find the peace of moments before and could not. The dirt was off the floor and I was alone. It was as if once acknowledged the dark memories could not be stopped.
The blood was everywhere, covering her from a thousand injuries. I knelt next to her and felt for a pulse, weakly she opened her eyes and a sharp twitch went through her. Right then I knew, I knew what they had done to her. A sob escaped my throat and I pulled her as gently as I could onto my lap. A frail smile came to her lips and she squeezed my fingers just a little.
"I saved her for you." She whispered.
"What?"
"I saved her for you, she's alive."
I knew who she spoke of and looked over to where Harry was pressing part of his robes to Ginny's face.
"Why would you do that?" I asked the tears flowing freely now.
Her smile remained, "You love her."
"I love you, Luna I love you."
She twitched violently and cried out in pain.
"I thought…" She coughed and blood bubbled from her mouth.
"No, never her, only you. Hang on now, you'll be fine, we'll find a healer." I begged trying to quiet her.
A shadow passed over her face.
"I love you. I always have. Tell the girls about me." Her voice was weak.
Sobbing loudly I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her with all my might, praying that when I pulled back she would be better, she would kiss me again with her strawberry kisses and everything would be fine. Instead I tasted blood, coppery and bitter. When I opened my eyes hers were fading, there was no twinkle left to speak of.
"You can't go. You can't leave me here. I'm not good at things. I can't make this work without you. Please, please, please stay. Don't leave me." I pleaded desperately clinging to her.
For a split second the twinkle came back to her blue eyes, she smiled again and squeezed my hand.
"Don't be scared, it's not so long." She murmured.
"Stay. Please stay."
She was gone. I pressed her cheek to my own. Help came soon after that, they pulled her gently from my arms and took her away. Harry and Ron were there, speaking to me, comforting me, I couldn't hear them and none of it mattered. She was gone and my life was over.
I heard the bell on the door ring, but found it hard to shake the depression falling over me. There was a loud knock on the desk up front and I started to make my way there.
"HEY! I demand to be attended right this second! How dare you keep me waiting, I'll take my business elsewhere!" A loud voice shouted from the front.
"I'm coming." I called shoving the door to the back room open.
I stopped in my tracks. Ron was standing at the desk with a wicked grin on his face while Harry held on to his shoulder laughing.
"Harry!" I shouted.
He grinned at me and shook his head trying to stop laughing.
"Sorry about that, couldn't help ourselves." He explained.
"Never mind that. How are you?" I shrugged and pulled him into a hug.
"Fine. Made it in this morning. How's business?" He asked pulling away and looking the shop over.
"Been better I guess."
"There is a party at The Burrow tonight. You're coming." Said Ron matter of factly.
"But the girls…" I started.
"No, the girls can come, they'll have a wonderful time and you can all just stay the night." Ron cut me off.
It was pleasant having them there, my brothers could always make me smile. Harry wandered about looking at my latest stock and asking me questions.
"What are these?" He asked.
I looked over to what he was pointing at and smiled.
"Kissing Daisies."
Just as I said it three of them converged on him and kissed him with loud wet kisses. He jumped back and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
"What? Did one try to slip you some tongue?" Ron called.
"You should put a sign up or something." Harry laughed.
"Yeah have it read Beware Horny Flowers" Ron answered.
"What are those?" Harry called again.
"Fanged Geraniums." I replied.
"Try kissing one of those." Joked Ron.
Harry made a rude gesture to which Ron and I both started laughing. And so my lonely Saturday was eased by the presence of my very best friends.
(Hermione)
When Ron and I got married and decided to have children I swore that we would all be early risers. No one would sleep in on Saturday, chores would be done by ten and I would not tolerate complaints. My incredibly idealistic views lasted about four minutes. Everyone slept in on Saturdays, chores got done whenever someone got around to it and complaining was my family's only means of communication.
The children were usually awake before we were on the weekends. I would come down the stairs and find Meshach pouring milk on cereal for his sisters, or digging in the lower cabinets for something. He'd smile and tell me good morning. The first time I felt guilty, I was failing in my motherly duties. The next Saturday I woke at dawn and made a huge breakfast, that in the end no one ate. So resignedly I let my son feed his siblings from then on.
When I woke the day after the hospital visit things were no different. Meshach was munching contentedly on an orange while his sisters and Lily put their dirty dishes in the sink.
"Morning Mum." He said smiling.
"How're you feeling?" I asked ruffling his already messy red hair.
"Fine."
There was a loud thump from upstairs followed by several stomping footsteps. I looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling and waited. Nothing happened so I sat in a chair, taking an orange from the bowl in the center of the table. Just as I began peeling it another thump shook the house.
"Was that Dad?" Persephone asked timidly.
"Ron was that you?" I shouted.
A muffled sentence answered me and I shrugged, "Guess it was."
I began to get worried at the third thump.
"Honey, are you all right?" I shouted.
"YES! YES I AM!" He cried in response.
The children looked at me for an explanation.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"YES I AM SURE! FOR I AM RON!" He shouted standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
He wore a pair of jeans and the shirt from his dress robes, with a pair of boxers on his head. I laughed unsure of what to do.
"I AM RON."
"Yes, that you are." I giggled.
"I AM A GREEK GOD. THERE ARE THOSE WHO CALL ME ZEUS." He strode into the kitchen and towered above me.
"Perhaps you should take the boxers off your head." I suggested.
"YOU, YOU ARE SHE WHO BARES MY CHILDREN."
At that point I found myself lifted out of the chair and thrown over his shoulder. Shrieking I pummeled his back with my fists, he did not respond, only began to spin in a circle.
"I WILL DEMONSRATE MY IMMENSE STRENGTH TO YOU."
I screamed and shouted as he spun, the world began to melt and I shut my eyes tight. Then it was over and I was standing unsteadily on the ground. I watched as my husband turned from me to the children. Their eyes grew wide as his gaze lit on them and they began to inch to the door.
"I AM RON AND YOU ARE MY OFFSPRING."
The children ran screaming from the room. My chest hurt I was laughing so hard and I somehow managed to get to the wall so I could lean against it.
"COME CHILDREN. COME TO THE GREEK GOD WHO GAVE YOU LIFE."
I could hear him chasing them through the house and back into the kitchen. Mia had crawled under a coffee table to hide while the others continued to scream and flee from their father. I vaguely recognized the roar from the fire place and still giggling went to the living room.
Neville stood looking bewildered in the fireplace with the girls. Before he could ask me what was going on Ron sauntered into the room with three small children laughing and running in front of him.
"I AM RON. YOU ARE MY BROTHER." He cried hugging Neville.
For a moment the other man seemed unsure of what to do. Then he too struck a heroic pose.
"COME FELLOW GREEK GOD LET US GIVE CHASE." Ron said clasping Neville's shoulder.
The twins looked up uncertainly at their father and met his twinkling gaze. Seconds later they were running from the room.
"WHO MIGHT OUR QUARY BE?" Neville asked striding after Ron.
"THOSE WHO SPRANG FROM OUR LOINS." Ron answered.
I rolled my eyes and went back the kitchen to finish my orange. The chase lasted a bit longer until all involved became tired.
"VERY WELL BROTHER NEVILLE LET US REST FOR I AM RON AND I AM WEARY."
Grinning both men came and sat with me at the kitchen table. I looked questioningly at Ron.
"What brought this out burst on?" I asked through a bite of orange.
He shrugged and tugged the boxers off his head. I giggled a little at the sight of his hair.
"You've got boxer hair."
He chuckled and ran his fingers through it, only messing it more.
"Well, now that I've made a fool of myself I'm off to work." Neville grinned.
"Oh Harry and Ginny are due back today." Ron said reaching for a piece of my orange.
I smacked his hand away and teasingly ate the piece he was reaching for.
"Really? Good, I'll see them when I pick up the girls then." Neville said rising from his seat.
"Sell things." I said with a smile.
Ron followed Neville to the living room, momentarily peering down at Persephone who squeaked and scampered from the room.
I heard them saying good bye and the loud pop of disapparation. Ron came back in grinning and wrapped his arm around me.
"You smell good." I said kissing his cheek.
"Greek gods usually do." He whispered near my ear.
"Don't start that again."
"Come on, you couldn't have married me for my looks, so it must have been my sense of humour."
"You know, if you wake up this happy when I don't agree the night before, I'm not sure I want to see how happy you are when I do." I laughed.
Instead of answering he kissed my neck and growled in my ear.
"Later. I have children to watch."
With a heavy sigh he moved away and sat down next to me.
"Well our son seems to be feeling better today." He said laying his head in his arms and looking at me.
"Yes. Which is, needless to say, a relief. I don't know how I'm going to tell Harry about the incident. I suppose we don't have to since Meshach is okay." I wondered out loud.
Ron sighed, "We'll have to tell him eventually. Someone will. And it's not that big a deal. I mean, it could have been worse."
I knew he was right, but I still felt that Lily was to young to have a wand. Something kept me from voicing these concerns. Ron never questioned anything Harry did. If Harry thought it was right for his daughter to have a wand before she was capable of controlling the power that it required, then in Ron's opinion it was right.
For a few minutes we sat in silence. A loud pop from the front room made me jump.
"Hullo?" A familiar voice called.
Ron leaped from his seat and hurried into the other room. I followed somewhat slower. The very person I had been thinking of was standing in our living room. Ginny stood somewhat behind him looking tired. I attempted to reach her side, but Ron had blocked my view by gathering his best friend in a huge hug.
"Finally, We had begun to think you'd run off." Ron laughed.
"Did the mission go well?" I asked.
"Fine." Harry replied.
"Hey Sis, come on out from back there." My husband called to his sister.
Ginny smiled and welcomed her brother with a quick hug. I noticed that there were dark circles under her eyes and her smile was slightly forced.
"Ron why are you dressed like that?" She asked giggling.
He looked down at himself and chuckled, "I'm a Greek god."
Harry looked at me questioningly, I grinned and shrugged.
"That's great Ron, why don't you go and put on some real clothes." Ginny suggested.
He sighed a fake sigh and ran to the stairs which he climbed two at a time.
"Mummy?" A shy voice called from behind me.
"Hello sweetheart." Ginny said kneeling down.
Lily threw herself into her mother's arms with more emotion than I had seen her show in a long time. Ginny stood up still holding the child, tears in her eyes that she would never let fall.
"How have you been, luv?" Ginny whispered quietly to her daughter.
"Oh fine." She answered.
Harry seemed unsure how to act in his child's presence. He shifted his weight several times as though waiting for something, perhaps for her to notice him. I felt for him, it's a frightening thing to think that your child may not love you.
"Hey sweetheart," He said at last and smoothed her hair.
She looked at him with a shy smile and said nothing.
"Lily why don't you go play with your cousins, I have to talk to your mom and dad." I said kindly.
"I want to stay with my mummy." She stated defiantly.
"Now dearest why don't you go and play, Mummy isn't going anywhere." Ginny whispered to her.
Reluctantly Lily dropped from her mothers arms and wandered off to find the other children.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked frowning.
I glanced up the stairs to see if Ron were coming. He wasn't so I proceeded to tell them about the tree house and the hospital visit and the sticking spell. As I spoke Harry's frown grew deeper. By the end of the tale they both seemed upset and shaken.
"I'll talk to her." He said and strode out of the room.
"Harry, I don't think it necessary," I began following him.
His steps took him outside into the yard where the children were all playing together. Lily looked up happily when she saw her father, but her eyes grew wide at his anger.
"Lily, come here."
She smiled hopefully but his expression did not change. By the time she reached him she seemed terrified.
"Did you really hit your cousin with a permanent sticking charm." His voice was low and he knelt to her level to meet her gaze.
"Yes."
"What have I told you about your wand?"
"That, that it's a privilege."
"When are you supposed to use it?"
"When I, or someone else is in trouble." She was trembling a little, but never failed to meet his glittering green eyes with her own.
"From now on that wand is not to leave your belt. It's powerful. You could have hurt your cousin more than you did. What if he had died? You don't want to carry something like that." The words were growing softer as his anger faded.
"I'm sorry Daddy." She whispered.
Harry seemed at a loss for words. So he pulled her into a quick hug and stood up. She wavered for a moment, as though perhaps she wanted to stay with him, and then ran back out to play.
"What's going on? Why's everyone out here?" Ron said looking puzzled as he came out the front door.
"Nothing." Harry said smiling at his friend.
Ginny and I stood off to the side sharing knowing glances.
"Well then, are you ready to head down to the Ministry? Have to give a report and all that." My husband suggested, straightening the front of his robes.
"Yeah, might as well get it over with."
"See you when you get back, luv." I said kissing Ron briefly.
He tried to hold on a moment longer but I pulled back. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand and then both men disapparated.
"Come on, I'll get you something to eat." I said taking Ginny's hand.
"Okay." She said and allowed me to lead her back to the kitchen.
The sun was shining brightly through the windows when we entered. I saw her smile at the sight, as if she hadn't seen sunlight in a long time. She sat in a chair at the table, letting the sun warm her face.
"How was the trip?" I asked searching through the cabinets for something to tempt her.
There was silence for a moment, "Dull."
My cabinets were in desperate need of restocking.
"All I can offer right now is an orange." I said apologetically.
"That's fine."
"Why was the trip so dull?"
Again there was a pause as she dug a fingernail under the peel of the orange and pulled it up.
"Harry's reaching pretty far now. We were supposed to be watching some guy, a suspected Death Eater. For a month we followed him around. Nothing. The guy was clean. Nothing to any of the rumors. I have no idea why we stayed so long. And the trip back was long. Harry hates to apparate long distances. So we had to go in short little spurts. By the time we reached the inn I was beyond tired."
There was an edge in her voice as she spoke of her husband. I frowned and tried to think of something comforting to say.
"Well you're home now. You can relax and get some rest."
She nodded absently and picked bits of pulp from her orange pieces.
(Meshach)
Fangs. Brilliant white and shining with venom. They snapped near my feet, always right behind me, gaining ground. I ran until my chest hurt, breath rasped in my throat and the blood pounded in my veins. I could feel a weight on my heart, pressure building as if to burst. Unable to keep going I fell to the ground. Fangs sank deep into my leg, but I couldn't move, couldn't stop them.
"Meshach."
I groaned and threw an arm over my face.
"Meshach."
One eye opened and revealed Mab staring wide eyed at me in a darkened room. There was fear in her blue eyes and she shook all over.
"What's wrong?" I asked thickly.
"You were having the dream again. You screamed." She whispered.
Faint memories came to me of pain and fangs. I shivered and once again met her gaze.
"Yeah, so what's wrong?" I asked again.
"You scared me."
I sighed and moved over in my bed.
"Come on up. You can lay with me for now." I offered.
She scrambled onto the bed and under the covers.
"What happened in the dream this time?" She asked.
I paused. If I tried I could remember every detail of the dream. My leg still throbbed where the dream monster had bitten me. Yet, I didn't want to tell her. I didn't want her to know about it. She was my little sister and I was her big brother, if I couldn't protect her from bad things what good was I.
"It had fangs and bit me. I fell down. My chest hurt badly. I couldn't breathe right and my heart was going to burst." I answered truthfully.
There are no secrets between Mab and I.
"You should tell Dad, or even Uncle Harry. Remember how Dad told us about his dreams. How Uncle Harry saved Grandpa's life cause he had a dream. He'd know what to do about it. You should tell him." Mab suggested.
"I also remember how Sirius Black died because Uncle Harry misread a dream. I'd hate something bad to happen because I was worried over a dumb dream."
Mab was not convinced. She hit me in the arm.
"What was that for?" I cried holding my arm, wishing I hadn't taught her how to hit.
"It's not just a dumb dream."
"I know." I agreed.
She rolled onto her side and pretended to be asleep. Her anger would fade in a bit. Until then I would lay awake and try to ignore the remaining pain in my chest.
(Ron)
Harry has always been melancholy. Ever since I met him on the train to school it was clear that things wore on him. Every offense was personal. Every wound was meant just for him. Every bad thing in the world was his and his alone. This made him difficult to talk to when I needed help or advise. Whatever was wrong with me was always ten times worse with him.
Of course he was very capable of being happy if he chose. When he and my sister started dating, he was happy. When he married her, I'd never seen him so cheerful. When his daughter was born, he never seemed to stop smiling. And still, his depression was always evident. I told him not to sweat the small things. Not to worry over so much, in the end it didn't matter. Harry also has a hard time taking advise.
I suppose it became obvious after the attack on the hospital that things weren't right with him.
He, Neville and I were at a meeting for the Order. There was some prophesy that everyone was worried about. I wasn't paying attention. Hermione was due to give birth to our second child any day now. When I left home she was being watched over by my mother, Ginny and Luna, all who assured me that everything would be fine. I needed to go to the meeting. It was important.
My fingers were playing with the coin in my pocket, conveniently charmed by my wife to heat up when it was time for the baby to come.
Harry was saying something about his experience with prophesies and someone was arguing with him, when suddenly the coin became so hot it burnt the tips of my fingers.
"Hey guys sorry to cut out, but I'm going to be a dad." I said standing up.
Everyone looked at me. Harry grinned over at Neville who stood up.
"We'll be back."
With that all three of us were out the door. It took about half a second to apparate behind St. Mungo's. Immediately I knew something was wrong. There were scorch marks around the open back door of the hospital. Wasting precious minutes Harry approached slowly to inspect them. Neville and I followed waiting for something, anything.
"This is wrong." I said fear building in me.
My wife was in there somewhere.
"Come on." Harry said waving us forward.
The place seemed deserted. As if there had been an evacuation of some kind. That stilled my fears a little, if they had evacuated then Hermione was okay, she'd have gotten out safely.
Carefully we climbed the stairs, I could smell something awful. Something I should have remembered. Neville nudged me and sniffed. I nodded. He smelled it too. My eyes grew wide and I knew what I was smelling. Death.
"Harry get a move on." I shouted and began taking the stairs two at a time. The others followed close behind.
My feet stopped suddenly at a door marked by more black marks. Shaking I shoved it open. My stomach churned and I thought I would pass out.
The waiting room was a mess, chairs and table were overturned, some still smoldered with curse fire.
"Hermione? Ginny?" I shouted stepping through the mess.
A faint noise came to me. A murmur of movement, a tiny whimper.
"Careful Ron." Harry said.
I nodded. The door to the patient hall was slightly open and the urge to vomit became more pronounced the closer I came to it. Gently I pushed and it swung open easily. The scene beyond was more than I could bear. Three bodies lay upon the ground.
My mother lay limp with her wand inches from her hand, her eyes staring, glazed over in death. Acid leaped to my throat, but I kept it down. Kneeling at my mother's side I held her cold wrist in my hand knowing I wouldn't find a pulse.
"Mum?" I called.
Trembling I reached out and closed her eyes. Looking up I found Neville clutching Luna to him. Her blonde hair was covering her face, matted in blood, a twitch went through her. Crucio. Only that left it's victim twitching so painfully. Unable to move I watched him a moment longer, whispering to his wife, petting her hair, begging her not to leave him. A murmur answered him. Still he begged her, weeping. She was gone.
My ears weren't working right, I couldn't seem to hear anything, it all seemed so far away.
"Ginny." Harry was saying.
My sister lay in a pool of blood. Her red hair was tangled with it, clung to her face, her shoulders. Harry was holding her head in his lap.
"Come on Gin, you'll be ok."
Hermione. My mind focused suddenly on her. I needed to get to her. I had to find her. Struggling to my feet I tripped down the hall glancing in rooms as I passed. They were empty. Clenching my fists, blinking back tears still I walked. Movement caught my eye and I approached one of the doors cautiously. It wavered as though trying to close, but I caught it and pushed it open. A man in a black robe lay sprawled behind it.
"You." I said.
He was unfamiliar. Yet, I knew him. He had killed my mother, He had killed Luna, He tried to kill my sister and for all I knew he had killed my wife and new born child as well. My wand was in my hand before I knew what I was doing.
He coughed and blood splattered the ground.
"You." I said again surprised by the calmness of my voice.
The words of the killing curse came to my lips and green light flashed. Once someone said that you must have a will for death to use an unforgivable curse. You must desperately want to hurt that person, to the point that you hate them. I hated this man, hated him for what he had done, hated him for living, hated him for breathing. I took those things from him.
"Ron?" Someone called behind me.
I didn't turn.
"Ron, we need to get help."
Harry was standing beside me. His voice caught as he began to speak again. I heard him swallow.
"He couldn't have done it alone." He said finally.
I felt his hand touch my shoulder and wrenched it from his grasp.
"Hermione."
The only word I could form, hear or think. My wife's name.
"She's not here." He whispered.
The man lay still in front of me. A body that once had held life. I turned and never looked back.
Later, after help came, we discovered what had happened. In every building like St. Mungo's there is an emergency escape plan. All the occupants are transported immediately to an alternate location. My mother, Ginny and Luna had stayed behind to face whatever was coming. They fought bravely. My mother and Luna died, while Ginny lay in another hospital bed with a wound to her face. They couldn't heal it, couldn't make it close. Instead she was left with a scar, red and swollen.
Hermione was moved safely with the rest of the patients, soon after she gave birth to our daughter Persephone.
Those were dark times. My father tried to kill himself shortly after my mother's funeral. Fred found him sitting in his study as though he were working. Blood poured from his wrists to the floor staining it red. The twins rushed him to the hospital where he spent several long days recovering. Neville mourned silently. His daughters were never far from him and he had developed a fear of letting others touch them. At Luna's funeral I saw him cry. His jaw locked and eyes straight forward he stood near the casket and let the big tears flow. Everyone suffered in their own way.
Harry took things hard as well. I knew he would blame himself for the deaths. I knew it would be a long road to recovery. But I didn't know how difficult he would make it on himself. Often I would wake and find him sitting in my kitchen with his head in his hands. Sometimes I tried to talk to him. Tried to help him see how things would get better.
"You've got to stop beating yourself up over this. It wasn't your fault. No one is holding you responsible except you." I said with an arm around his shoulders.
He looked up slowly with those haunted green eyes.
"How can you possibly sit here and seem so damned happy. Your mum is dead, Luna is dead, Ginny was …. Why aren't you falling apart?" His voice was edged and angry.
"I'm not falling apart because I have to many people that depend on me. And if you would get your head out of your ass you might see that you have people who depend on you as well. You are a father and a husband, you don't get to fall apart." I was near yelling now.
"What do you know." He spat back at me.
Angrily I stood up and glared down at him, "I bloody well know more than you. I have two sleeping children upstairs, a wife that I love and cherish is lying alone in our bed because I came down to talk to you, my mother just died, my father tried to kill himself and my sister's husband hasn't got the sense God gave a flobberworm to go home and help himself. Go home. Go be with your wife."
He didn't meet my gaze, instead he turned and put his head back in his hands, gripping handfuls of hair in his fists.
"She won't touch me Ron, she won't come near me." He whispered.
"What?" I asked confused, my anger evaporating quickly.
"She cries all the time. I try to hold her, I try to help her and she won't let me. She shoves me away. I'd love to go home and be with my wife right now, but she doesn't want me."
Sighing I sat down again and patted him gently on the back.
"She's mourning. Give her time. What she needs right now is you to go home and tell her how much you love her."
He nodded and stood up shakily.
"I… I'm sorry for what I said." He murmured looking tired.
"I know." I answered gathering him into a hug.
"It's just…" He started.
"Go home, Harry. Stop thinking about it and go home. No more nighttime visits to my kitchen when you have a perfectly good one at home."
He smiled a bit at my humour and disapparated.
Hermione was waiting at the top of the stairs for me, her robe clutched shut and her hair a ball of frizz.
"Who was that? I heard voices and got up." She asked worried.
"Harry." I yawned.
"In our kitchen? At one in the morning? What's wrong? Are Ginny and the baby ok?"
I smiled at her flurry of words and shook my head.
"Yeah in our kitchen. He's just having some trouble dealing with things at the moment." I explained putting my arm around her and guiding her back to bed.
"Doesn't he have a kitchen of his own?"
"Yeah, but it's not the same I guess."
She was silent for a moment as we entered our bedroom and climbed into bed. She snuggled against me, kissed my cheek and sighed a sleepy sigh.
"Thank you." I whispered against her ear.
"For what?"
"For everything."
She laughed and soon we were both asleep.
After that I thought things were getting better for my best friend. The gloomy cloud was gone from over his head and life was good again. Ginny began to heal and eventually joined us again. There was a disturbed look in her eyes that sent shivers up my spine, but she was still my sister. Seeing her mother and best friend die had taken it's toll on her.
So, it was with some trepidation I took notice of Harry's unhappiness as we made our way through Diagon Alley to my brother's shop. After a brief visit to the Ministry of Magic we had decided to do a little shopping and visit the twins. It seemed that the more space we put between us and anything to do our careers Harry perked up.
"Everything all right?" I asked casually.
"Yeah." He answered somewhat absently as he looked at the latest broom model.
I stopped and looked as well, the name was obscured by a huge group of small children gathered around it, but I knew it was a thing of beauty.
"Would Lily like one of those do you think?" Harry asked.
"No."
He seemed taken aback, "Why not? She's old enough to fly."
"She's scared to death of heights." I explained
"Why?"
"I don't know. She just is."
He frowned and we continued walking. The twins shop was big and brightly colored. The sign read in flashing colors "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes". Upon entering we were greeted with maniacal laughter from somewhere above us. I chuckled myself and led Harry inside. The bright colors continued until I could still see them when I blinked. Huge banners lined the walls proclaiming the product beneath them, most of them flashing. The desk stood in the center of the room partially covered in baskets holding samples of various edible gags. I looked around quickly but didn't see either of my brothers.
"Hey guys." A voice said.
Angelina was sitting behind the counter.
"I didn't see you Ange, what's up?" I asked.
"Not much. Slow today. Fred and George are in the back still arguing over what to call their latest invention. If they offer you toast, don't take it."
I laughed a little and glanced at Harry. He was grinning now, eyeing various things around the store.
"Hey Harry. You just get in?" Asked Angelina.
"Yeah. We've just been to the Ministry." He answered still grinning.
Suddenly there was a loud bang from the back room and the door burst open. Lee Jordan stood in the doorway with what looked like toast with fangs attached to his tongue, nose, ears and hands.
"Elp." He squeaked and took a step forward.
Behind him the twins appeared shaking so hard with laughter they had to lean on each other for support. Once I realized that Lee was in no immediate danger and the shock wore off a little I too began to snicker at his dilemma. Harry too was chuckling. Angelina merely rolled her eyes and shook her head and went to help Lee.
"What is that stuff?" I asked through giggles.
"Toast." The twins said together.
"The hell it was, you'd think I'd know better than to take from the two of you. Sharing a late breakfast my ass." Lee cried as Angelina freed his tongue.
"We told you not to butter it." George gasped seeming to be exasperated.
"I thought you were kidding." Said Lee.
"We were, when aren't we?" Fred asked beginning to laugh again.
Soon Lee was liberated from his toast captures.
"Who'd have thought butter would make them angry?" Fred asked.
The pile of toast shook menacingly at the word butter and Lee took several steps back.
"What is all of that?" Harry asked curiously.
"George made it up. Not sure what he did, but it doesn't like to be eaten and I wouldn't try putting any sort of jam or spread on it." Fred answered.
Suddenly the twins saw Harry as if they had not noticed him before. Before he could say anything he was clamped in a huge hug by both of them.
"Guys! Guys! I can't breathe." Came a muffled voice from between them.
"Oh sorry, we were just overcome with joy at the return of bespectacled- almost- brother. Want some toast?" Said George allowing Harry to breathe.
"We're having a bit of soiree at our house tonight. A welcome home party for Harry." Fred grinned.
"You didn't even know he was here until a moment ago, don't you always have a party when you invent something new?" I asked teasing them.
"Oh do shut up." George snapped with a grin.
"Yes, you should come and bring the kids, the wives and all the family. We'll have fun and games and wine and firewhiskey and food and music and firewhiskey and dancing and good friends and firewhiskey and everything else, but most importantly and not to be forgotten, firewhiskey." Fred listed things off on his fingers.
I caught Angelina out of the corner of my eye making a note of all the things Fred was saying.
"We'd best be going. Just stopped by on the way to Neville's." I said smiling.
"We'll be there tonight." Harry promised.
As we walked out the door to a chorus of goodbyes I saw Lee carefully prodding a piece of toast with his finger.
(Neville)
The shop felt empty as I swept the floor free of potting soil and trimmings. Every swish of the broom echoed off the walls and back into my head, sometimes if I listened there were words there, just beyond my understanding. They were almost comforting. If I stopped my movements, the whispers ceased as well and I was alone again. Most wizards frown on the muggle use of a broom, I found it reassuring. It wasn't always so, but Luna had shown me that there was a kind of comfort in such simple things. That our society had done away with menial work and therefore done away with the very things that keep us sane.
Bending down I swept the little pile of dirt into the dust pan. A little smile came to me as I straightened and carried it to the fertilizer bin in the back room. Saturday's were slow, but the income from the store was so little, I had no choice but to open and hope for business. As a result I was left with much alone time, too much. Over the years I had gotten better with the loneliness. For a long time I brought the girls with me to the store, a distraction against the memories.
There were things I did not want to remember.
But still they flooded back to me as I began to sweep the back room. It seemed that I no longer swept the scraps of my trade, I swept memories.
The store name was Luna's idea. She was insistent that it needed to be memorable and I think she succeeded in finding something suitable. Longbottom's Frondescent Foliage was emblazoned on the windows and above the door. The letters were bewitched to look like ivy and little glowing flowers, she was quite proud of herself.
I watched as she bounced on her toes on the walkway in front of the store, blonde hair swaying, wand in hand. There was a mischievous twinkle in those brilliant blue eyes. She was planning again.
"Neville! Neville! You need fairy lights for the windows." She cried excitedly as she burst through the door.
"No I think the signs you made are enough. Fairy lights might make it too glowy. Why don't you help fill out order forms?" I suggested hoping to curb her decorating instincts.
She paused and her face screwed into a thoughtful frown, I waited patiently, hoping the glowing flowers were enough for her. The twinkle remained.
"Are you sure? I could conjure some up in no time." She offered.
"No. I think you've done enough to the outside, why don't you work on the inside now?" I tried again, knowing there was little hope of her sitting down and filling out forms.
Her laughter echoed throughout the empty store and I grinned at her happiness. Sighing I bent over the order forms on the desk again and tried to concentrate. Her small voice whispered spells into the air one by one. There was a rhythm to the sound and it seemed to ease my mind a bit. After a few minutes I glanced up to see that she had assembled all the tables and bins and shelves and was working on adding more lighting to the area above each. The spell was giving her trouble and she kept shaking her wand in frustration, finally it worked but with such force she fell backwards and to the floor with a yipe.
I laughed to myself and went to see if she was all right.
"I don't know what it is with this wand, I don't think it likes me much." She complained as I knelt down beside her.
"I know the feeling." I said.
Her gaze settled on me and she smiled again, that incredible starry smile. A tiny part of me knew that she would rather be smiling at someone else. She would have preferred to be smiling at Harry, but I shoved that out of my mind and focused on her hands which were pulling me to sit beside her.
"You know what?" She asked seriously.
"What?"
"This is our store. We bought it and we are going to run it." Her fingers were entwined with mine.
I enjoyed the feeling of her wedding band on her finger. It had seemed for so long that I would never find anyone ever, but she was mine now, even if we weren't in love like the others, we were friends. We were friends who had each other.
"Yes, it is ours." I agreed.
I thought she would say something else, perhaps make a speech, or quote Shakespeare, maybe even burst into laughter, instead she kissed me. And kept kissing me. Sweet strawberry kisses. I stopped her when she tugged at my shirt.
"Someone will see." I whispered, wishing I wasn't such a prude.
She laughed and kissed me again, "You worry to much."
I stopped fighting and found that with her, even the cement floor of an empty shop can be the most romantic place in the world.
The broom whispered on as I smiled sadly at the memories it brought me.
She was positively beaming with joy as she pushed through the door to the shop. Three twirls and a giddy jump later she was standing in front of me. Hastily I put the pruning shears down and wiped my hands on my apron.
"What are you so excited for? Something interesting happen while you ran errands?" I asked grinning at her.
She giggled and grabbed my hand. Confused I let her guide it gently to lay on her stomach.
"We're going to have twins." She whispered.
"What?!" I gasped unbelieving.
She nodded excitedly. The world was far below and I never wanted to come down. Laughing happily I grabbed her and lifted her into the air. Her shrieks turned to laughter as I spun her around till both of us were very dizzy.
"So that's where you went today." I said when she was safely on the ground again.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me? I'd have gone with you."
She frowned and shrugged a little, "I didn't know if you would be happy or not, we've only been married a little bit, and I'm not…"
I knew what she was going to say and it hurt me a little to think that she was worried about that.
"Don't be silly, of course I'm happy. I'm going to be a daddy." I assured her.
"There is do much we have to do. Come on, lets close down the store today and go tell everyone."
"Okay, Okay, just let me get everything put away."
For a long moment I ceased my chores and stood in the center of the backroom. The whispers were silent, but I could still hear her laughter, feel her joy. It radiated from every corner of the room. When I closed my eyes I could almost see her standing next to me, giggling and making funny faces. Behind that image there was another, a darker place that I never went. A blood covered, cruel place.
Shaking myself violently I tried to find the peace of moments before and could not. The dirt was off the floor and I was alone. It was as if once acknowledged the dark memories could not be stopped.
The blood was everywhere, covering her from a thousand injuries. I knelt next to her and felt for a pulse, weakly she opened her eyes and a sharp twitch went through her. Right then I knew, I knew what they had done to her. A sob escaped my throat and I pulled her as gently as I could onto my lap. A frail smile came to her lips and she squeezed my fingers just a little.
"I saved her for you." She whispered.
"What?"
"I saved her for you, she's alive."
I knew who she spoke of and looked over to where Harry was pressing part of his robes to Ginny's face.
"Why would you do that?" I asked the tears flowing freely now.
Her smile remained, "You love her."
"I love you, Luna I love you."
She twitched violently and cried out in pain.
"I thought…" She coughed and blood bubbled from her mouth.
"No, never her, only you. Hang on now, you'll be fine, we'll find a healer." I begged trying to quiet her.
A shadow passed over her face.
"I love you. I always have. Tell the girls about me." Her voice was weak.
Sobbing loudly I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her with all my might, praying that when I pulled back she would be better, she would kiss me again with her strawberry kisses and everything would be fine. Instead I tasted blood, coppery and bitter. When I opened my eyes hers were fading, there was no twinkle left to speak of.
"You can't go. You can't leave me here. I'm not good at things. I can't make this work without you. Please, please, please stay. Don't leave me." I pleaded desperately clinging to her.
For a split second the twinkle came back to her blue eyes, she smiled again and squeezed my hand.
"Don't be scared, it's not so long." She murmured.
"Stay. Please stay."
She was gone. I pressed her cheek to my own. Help came soon after that, they pulled her gently from my arms and took her away. Harry and Ron were there, speaking to me, comforting me, I couldn't hear them and none of it mattered. She was gone and my life was over.
I heard the bell on the door ring, but found it hard to shake the depression falling over me. There was a loud knock on the desk up front and I started to make my way there.
"HEY! I demand to be attended right this second! How dare you keep me waiting, I'll take my business elsewhere!" A loud voice shouted from the front.
"I'm coming." I called shoving the door to the back room open.
I stopped in my tracks. Ron was standing at the desk with a wicked grin on his face while Harry held on to his shoulder laughing.
"Harry!" I shouted.
He grinned at me and shook his head trying to stop laughing.
"Sorry about that, couldn't help ourselves." He explained.
"Never mind that. How are you?" I shrugged and pulled him into a hug.
"Fine. Made it in this morning. How's business?" He asked pulling away and looking the shop over.
"Been better I guess."
"There is a party at The Burrow tonight. You're coming." Said Ron matter of factly.
"But the girls…" I started.
"No, the girls can come, they'll have a wonderful time and you can all just stay the night." Ron cut me off.
It was pleasant having them there, my brothers could always make me smile. Harry wandered about looking at my latest stock and asking me questions.
"What are these?" He asked.
I looked over to what he was pointing at and smiled.
"Kissing Daisies."
Just as I said it three of them converged on him and kissed him with loud wet kisses. He jumped back and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
"What? Did one try to slip you some tongue?" Ron called.
"You should put a sign up or something." Harry laughed.
"Yeah have it read Beware Horny Flowers" Ron answered.
"What are those?" Harry called again.
"Fanged Geraniums." I replied.
"Try kissing one of those." Joked Ron.
Harry made a rude gesture to which Ron and I both started laughing. And so my lonely Saturday was eased by the presence of my very best friends.