Thanks to Scarhead101, cecelle, Hippy Gypsy, boredanddelirious, duj, XindigoflameX, carpthia, Sirius Revenge, purplegirl, livy black, and Lexi Lupin for reviewing chapters 1 and 2. Chocolates to all.
Chapter 3
Arthur Weasley POV
After a year, Cornelius Fudge finally believes us. Does that mean I'll get my son back? I've got my oldest sitting here, a proud warrior against You-Know-Who, but at the same time still my little boy. My second oldest is across the continent, too far away for me to protect him. My little boys, Fred and George. I'll never admit it to Molly, but their departure from Hogwarts kept my days bright for weeks afterward. They've always had the nerve to do things like that. Like younger versions of Sirius. My two youngest, my babies, safe at Hogwarts under the watchful eye of the only person You-Know-Who ever feared. But it isn't the same without Percy. Our ambitious, intelligent, and (yes, I'll admit it) arrogant and pigheaded son. That row with him, it breaks my heart again to think about it. I don't have much hope for an apology, at least a spoken one. But forgiveness will be granted anyways.
Looking over at Molly, I fall in love all over again. How did I get her? She's a Prewett, one of the bravest families in the original Order. Gideon and Fabian, they died like heroes. My beautiful wife. She knows what we're getting in to, what there is to lose. That horrible boggart of hers. I remember that sinking feeling I got in the pit of my stomach when Lupin and Sirius told me what had happened. Molly hadn't wanted me to know. She thought she was being silly. I thought she was being anything but. We don't know what will happen. There's a very good chance that some Weasleys will die before this war is over. I'm just grateful we've got such a wonderful support system in the Order of the Phoenix. We don't have to worry about the children going hungry or cold if something should happen to me and Molly. One less worry for a worry-filled mind.
I wonder how Harry is taking this. Obviously not well, but does he blame himself the way he did when he dreamed of the snake attacking me? I suppose this time his vision didn't save a life, but his intent was good. What is that saying? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Forget that. He thought someone he loved was in danger and he did what any of us would have, and have done.
I guess we all have good intentions. In the past year we've broken enough laws to land the lot of us in Azkaban, but we did it for the good of the world, Muggle and wizard alike. We need to fight for the wizards who believe, yet fear. We need to fight for those who return in shame. We need to fight for the defenseless Muggles who have no idea of the storm coming their way. These are our intentions and by Merlin, if they're not good then I don't know what good is.
I guess we're all on the road to hell.