"Have you seen Esme around, Molly?" Severus Snape strolled into the kitchen, his heavy black robe swishing majestically.
Several knives were set on the counter, chopping away at a stack of potatoes. Molly sat at the table with a cup of tea, blowing over the top of it before taking a sip. She looked up, the corners of her eyes drawn out, like she couldn't quite see who was in front of her. "She dragged Percy off with her a few minutes ago," she responded, a tea cup fluttering from a cabinet and settling on the table.
"Do you think we made the right decision, splitting up all the kids?" she said suddenly, picking up the teapot and pouring the steaming contents into the cup. Severus drew over and slid into the kitchen chair.
"Of course we did. Obviously they needed a chance to start over; certainly didn't need any reminders of the past," he said assuredly, taking a sip of the tea. Molly didn't look convinced as she topped off her own cup. "Why do you ask?" he added.
Molly sighed, and she looked down, cupping her tea in both hands. "He's been so happy the last couple of days. Even with everything going on... he finally feels like he has a place in this family. And I can't say that it's just because all the kids finally know," she gave him a pointed look.
Severus returned it with a withering look of his own. "Oh yes, what with him being completely smashed last night and yelling at the two of you. Well adjusted, I'd call it," he shot dryly, sipping his tea and looking out the back window.
"And your daughter was the picture of sobriety, was she?" she returned smoothly. Severus rolled his eyes, picking up his teacup and holding it in his hand. "I didn't say that Esme was improving," he muttered, sighing.
"She's thinner. And obviously tense. I don't consider myself Father Of The Year, but I can recognize when she's stressed to the point of breaking. Esme's too self-reliant to speak about it to anyone except when she's stone drunk." He leaned back in his chair leisurely. "If I could have, I'd have let her stay in America." The last bit came out rather quick, and he took a large gulp of tea, replacing the empty cup on the counter.
Molly's jaw dropped slightly in surprise. "You're not serious," she remarked, breathlessly. Severus gave her a hard look. "What she needs is to be working, to live her life- not to be cooped up in this monstrosity of a house with the constant reminder that someone is out to get her," he clarified sharply.
"What she needs is a father to talk to her plainly and offer a shoulder to cry on," Molly retorted, reaching across the table and poking him in the side. Severus's eyes wound up briefly as the old wound, the one he had hidden from Esme, flared with pain. When his eyes reopened, they looked murderous.
"Do you honestly think that Esme completely trusts anything I say? That either of our children trust us? Wake up, Molly! We couldn't protect them then and we can't protect them now and all of the pretty little lies we've told to integrate them into society, to make them feel safe, they are just that- lies. It's folly to believe that someone as intelligent as Percy doesn't see that," he spat out. He slowly rose from his seat.
"But they needed those lies told so some part of them could believe they were true. A group mentality between the five of them would have only strengthened their resolve to not believe in them- and what about Evarin? Should we have included him too? The last time I saw him, he wanted to put a wooden slat through your son's chest."
Severus's hands dug into the wood of the table as a silence swept through the kitchen. Molly's hands trembled slightly around her teacup, and her eyes were closed lightly. Severus stood up straight and walked to the swinging door. "Keeping them together would have only reinforced the past and what they needed was a clean start, Molly. We did the right thing," he said, his voice brooking no opposition, before sweeping out of the room.
"I'm bored." Ron twirled his wand between his fingers, tossing it into the air and attempted to catch it. He missed, and instead it clunked against Neville's skull.
"Thanks," Neville rubbed the top of his head and stuck Ron's wand into his pocket. "Hey!" Ron shouted, rolling over on his bed and making a grab at Neville, who on the floor against the mattress. Neville ducked to the side, switching over to lean against Harry's mattress. "That's the third time you've managed to clobber me with the thing- I'm keeping it," he shot back.
Harry chuckled from his bed, snatching Ron's wand out of Neville's hand and tossing it to Ron. Ron caught it easily and smirked at Neville, who stuck out his tongue. "We could plan out a birthday party for the two of you," Ron commented, spinning his wand between his fingers and tossing it into the air. This time he caught it.
Neville rolled his eyes. "What, another round of Dean and Seamus trying to charm the pants off of each other, Luna searching for Crumple-Horned Snorkaks under your bed, Ginny trying to stand unassisted and you and I singing 'Beat Back Those Bludgers, Boys, And Chuck That Quaffle Here?' off key? Pull the other one, it's got bells on," Neville cut down the idea. Ron picked up his pillow and threw it at Neville, who couldn't move fast enough to avoid it.
"You think after last night Mum's not going to lock up every bit of alcohol left in this house? No chance of a rousing chorus of The Hedgehog Song to the tune of Ogden's Old for us. What do you think, Harry?" Ron asked, changing positions to sit cross-legged on his bed.
Harry lay flat on his bed, hands behind his head, his stocking feet resting on his pillow at the head of the mattress. "Dunno. Never really had a birthday party before," he said honestly. After a moment, he turned his head. "The Hedgehog Song?"
Neville rolled his eyes and Ron smiled. "It's an old wizarding song. You can only sing it properly when you've had a lot to drink," he replied cheerily, hopping off of his bed and settling down onto Harry's. "That's what we'll do then. A birthday party. A huge cake with your names done in buttercream; candles; presents, the lot."
Harry sat up. "We aren't allowed to leave the premise, Ron. Presents?" he asked. Ron waved his hands. "Not to worry, not to worry. It'll be taken care of..." A strange look came over Ron's face, a faraway look in his eye.
"Ron?" Neville asked, getting to his feet. Harry waived him off, looking concernedly at Ron. After a moment, Ron looked towards the door and rubbed the back of his neck. He got to his feet and walked to the door, only to stop halfway. He looked down at his feet and then turned around. "Bill was supposed to be here yesterday, wasn't he?" Ron asked. Neville and Harry both stared back. "Er... I don't know. Was he?" Harry replied, his hand hovering over the pocket holding his wand.
Ron turned back towards the door and began to march quickly towards it. He threw it open and went next door. Not bothering to knock, he pushed his way through. Ginny and Hermione sat on their beds, scribbling on parchment. "Gin- when was Bill supposed to be here?" Ron shouted as he halted in front of Ginny's bed. Ginny looked up, confused. "Er... today?" she said.
Ron bit his lip. "You sure?" Ginny shrugged. "No. Why?" she asked, but Ron was already heading towards the door. He walked across the hall and walked into that room. A bright blue flash exploded across his vision and he coughed with all the dust.
"You know better to knock first, Ronnie-kins," George walked towards him, fanning away the smoke. Ron joined him. "Where is Bill?" Ron asked. George look startled and looked behind him. From within the folds of the smoke, Fred emerged. "I dunno... wasn't he supposed to come in yesterday?" Fred said and Ron paled. He turned around and took off with huge, loping steps out of the bedroom.
And crashed into Harry and Neville. The three of them tumbled to the ground. Ron pushed Neville's legs off of him and scrambled to his feet. He flew down the stairs, taking them three at a time before tripping and spilling himself down the last six of them. He collapsed at the bottom of the staircase, wacking his leg hard against the end of the bannister. "Ron! Are you alright?" Harry called from the second floor.
Ron lifted his head off of the floor and looked up the staircase, waiving a hand at Harry. He sat up slowly, rubbing his lower back as he got into a sitting position. He put himself against the opposite wall and looked back up the staircase. The world seemed sluggish, like treacle, as he spotted Neville and Ginny peer over the edge of the second floor, Harry and Fred already on their way down, followed by Hermione and George. Ron turned his head to the right, his movement slow as if he was moving through wet sand. The front door creaked open ominously, tenuously.
The world snapped back into sharpness as Harry gave out a brief cry, smacking his forehead with his hand. Ron looked back towards the door and saw the door swing open even wider to reveal a small figure standing on the stoop with a mad grin on his face. Kreacher.
And behind him, the pale, smirking face of Lucius Malfoy.
"Diffindo!" a voice shouted from the left of Ron, a jet of green light shooting down the hallway from the kitchen. Kreacher found himself flung into the air, his body acting as a barrier between Malfoy and the spell. The cutting charm took Kreacher's head clean off. Ron felt a hand grab his left arm and toss him towards the steps. Severus Snape didn't even steal a look as he progressed forward. "Crucio," he followed it up and Malfoy neatly sidestepped it, the spell instead hitting a cloaked figure behind him.
Ron paled as he looked down the hall, past the front door and to the outside. "Get upstairs, you fool!" Snape shouted as, with a flick of his wand, the door slammed shut. A shriek tore from the kitchen and Ron found his progression halted. Fred pushed by him followed by George as they ran towards the kitchen.
Molly burst through the swinging door at full speed. "Upstairs, you lot," she said, her voice amazingly calm as she caught the twins by their shoulder and spun them around. She marched them quickly towards the stairs. "Everyone, go into my bedroom and STAY THERE," she shouted as she threw Fred and George towards the staircase.
Charlie popped in from the dining room. "Sealed all the kitchen windows and doors," he reported, his voice cold. "Front door as well," Snape said as he walked back to the group.
Everyone took turns giving each other nervous glances as silence purveyed through the house. Then, a loud 'poof.' Screams from close by.
Then a louder poof, followed by heavy stomps. "Run!" Molly shouted as five, dark-cloaked men rushed out of the living room doorway and down the hall.
They all took off up the stairs, Charlie bringing up the rear.
Percy pulled back from the kiss, looking confidently into Esme's eyes. She still looked like she was a deer caught in the headlights. "I suppose we are even on the assaulting front," he said dryly, a smirk growing. Esme didn't respond, instead taking a shuddering breath and touching her fingertips to her lips.
"Oh dear..." she trailed off. Percy backed up from the table, leaning back a bit. He looked at Esme, the confidence draining from his eyes. Esme got up and paced towards the back wall, running a hand through her hair. "You didn't mean it. Tell me you didn't mean it," she stuttered, her eyes trained on the floor.
"What?" Percy coughed out, looking gobsmacked. "You didn't mean it. Why... you couldn't have meant it," she repeated forcefully, her head picking up and her eyes searching him." Percy closed his eyes, swiping the glasses off of his face and pinching the bridge of his nose. He opened his eyes, keeping his head down. "What are you going on about, of course I meant it," he said slowly, trying to keep his voice even. He slipped the glasses back on and walked towards Esme.
Esme closed her eyes. The she opened them and Percy was standing in front of her. "The thing is..." she started, then closed her mouth. He was so confused, so lost to her actions. A flash went by of a boy with bright red, curly hair looking sullen and scared in the corner of a large white room. She turned her head and the memory continued- a smaller boy with dark, ancient eyes fighting a team of white-robed men who were succeeding in restraining him. It sent a chill through her.
"Oh... you know what? Screw it," Esme said, wrapped her hand around his collar and pulled down, catching Percy in a searing kiss.
"You know," she took a breath, another kiss. Breath. "Ginny said you had a thing for libraries," she said. Kiss. "Classrooms," he said off-handedly, smiling. Kiss. "You're such a nerd," Esme giggled. Kiss. Kiss. "I'm Superman, remember." Kiss. "Big Head Boy, rather." "Hey!" Percy protested to Esme's giggles. "Pompous, arrogant, obnoxious..." she joked. "Do shut up," he replied. Kiss.
Percy pulled back, turning around towards the door. Esme blinked. "Do you...?" Esme asked and Percy nodded. "Feel that... yeah." Soot rained down gently in the fireplace. The two of them turned to the bookcases on the left wall, the small fireplace buried in it creaking metallically. Esme could feel Percy slip a hand around her wrist, down to grasp her hand.
Green flame shot out from the opening. "Knock the books off the shelf," Percy shouted as several men in hooded black cloaks shot out of the fireplace. Esme screamed as she pulled out her wand. The shelves began to shed themselves as books began to fall under Percy's wand.
"Inflammare!" Esme shouted, a row of flames making a wide circle around the uninvited guests. She could feel the hand around her wrist tighten at the fire, but Percy's face was a mask of concentration and betrayed no fear. Several books flew over to join the blaze, the flames licking higher. "What are you doing, those were probably priceless!" Percy snapped, distracted. He launched several shielding charms around the area. Esme glared. "Are you mad- we are being attacked and you're worried about books?!" she shrieked, sending off several more rows of books to stack in front of the fireplace.
Percy clutched his arm suddenly as a cutting charm managed to find its way past the shields to his arm. The fire was gone, and despite the now desperate situation, Percy sighed with relief. "Protego!" Esme shouted, as several curses made there way towards them. He pulled her with him around the room to just left of the fireplace, kicking the books blocking the fireplace and running a hand across the top of the mantle. "What on earth are you doing?" Esme asked as she threw up another shield.
Percy's finger's caught on a piece of plaster jutting from the junction between wall and mantle. "Maleficio," Esme shouted as the shield dissolved. A green haze swept out of her wand and seeped around the Death Eaters. They froze in their spots. Percy pointed his wand at the outcropping and whispered, "Evanesco Insubito." The tallest of the villains threw a punch that laid out another cloaked figure. A third set the first on fire. The second was hit with the Cruciatus curse from the fourth.
"Here we go," Percy wrapped a hand around Esme's shoulder and released the latch his fingers were wrapped around. "Wha...!" Esme was cut off as the ground opened beneath them and the two dropped down.
The two fell for a few seconds before landing on a damp, concrete slab. The two of them made contact with the ground, and Percy wasted no time in getting to his feet. He pointed his wand upwards and shouted, "Subito." He turned to Esme, who was rubbing her ankle, her lip between her teeth. "Come on, we've got to get upstairs," he said, grabbing Esme's arm. She shrugged him off. "Give it a second to set," she seethed through gritted teeth. She took a deep breath and got up. She slipped off the heels she was wearing and tossed them into the darkness, putting her weight on her left foot gingerly. She winced slightly, but stood.
"Where are we?" she asked, looking around their location. The air smelled stale and while the stones lining the floor were elderly and crumbling, the walls was smoothly paved with concrete and looked substantially newer than the surroundings. Dimly lit torches lined the walls, illuminating the ground. She looked up- it was a black that extended forever.
"Secret passage. All the old wizarding families have them in their houses," he whispered. He ran his hands along the cold, slimy wall. Thunks sounded above. "Footsteps... they're heading upstairs," Esme said. Percy walked down a bit farther, his hands still trailing over the smooth gray stone. "Where is it... where are they," Percy muttered to himself. Esme looked at him, trailing down the corridor, and her eyes caught the ground.
"The stones... Percy," Esme called, bending down, looking intensively at a stone. 2L was etched into a stone with what looked like a coil under it. She walked forward, and after about 5 more stones, there was another etching, this time reading 2B1 with a coil. She scooted forward more, and then snatched Percy. "3B2, that's my bedroom. Come on," Esme exclaimed. She backed up a little bit, then skipped towards the mark. She jumped and landed right on top of the 3B2 stone. Esme shot up like a firework into the darkness. Percy smiled.
When Percy got into the bedroom, Esme was slipping on a pair of red trainers. "Come on," Percy said shortly, throwing open the door to the hallway. The two of them spilled out onto the corridor. "We're being attacked and the two of you are shagging in Esme's bedroom!?!" Ginny shouted.
Esme and Percy looked up at the Weasley children, Neville, Harry and Hermione, all in varying degrees of worry, coming up the stairs. Lights strobed down the staircase and screams in Latin and in Greek garbled together cacophonously. "Dad..." Esme whispered, her face stricken.
"He can take care of himself," Percy patted her on the shoulder, picking himself off of the ground. He turned to Charlie. "They broke through all of the fireplaces, we managed to hold them off in the library and find the entrance to the secret passage. Brilliant hex, by the way Esme, really inventive," Percy turned to Esme, giving her a warm smile. She blushed.
"Secret passage?" Harry asked. "All of the old wizarding houses have them," Hermione replied, helping Esme up. "The Burrow doesn't have one," Harry retorted. "Yes it does," chorused the Weasleys as they filed into the bedroom. Harry's eyebrows lifted. "Really? Why didn't you ever tell me, Ron?" Harry asked. "Emergencies only," Ron replied, his voice dead.
"We've got to find the catch. George, watch the door," Charlie began running his hand over the bookshelves. Suddenly, the floor opened up and a cloaked figure shot up from the hole. His wand twitched and several daggers shot out of his hand. "Stupify!" Harry shouted, the figure careening into the wall with a sickening crack. Everyone looked at Harry, who looked down at the body grimly.
"Is anybody hurt?" Charlie asked. Hermione trembled a bit, a dagger thunked into the wood a bit to close to her head for comfort. Two daggers were wobbling in one of the bed posts, and one of them was sticking clean through Percy's shoulder. "No. The bloody vanishing charm must have not worked," Percy replied emptily, ripping the bit of metal out and watching as it transfigured back into a large stone on the way down.
"Or they came up from a different room. Hermione, George- ward the door," Charlie instructed as he swooped over Percy. "It's fine, Charlie," Percy shrugged him off, fingering the line of blood on the paleness of his shirt.
"We're getting out of here," Esme said, digging through the bed table. She pulled out a large brass ring from the drawer and then, from underneath her pillow, the time turner. Percy looked at her strangely. "But we didn't run into ourselves the first time," Percy squinted. Esme smiled and began pulling out the chain, making it larger and larger.
"We've got 2 minutes until the portkey will be activated," Esme dropped the time turner and hopped out of the circle. She gathered up the chain as the 9 others jumped out from the circle and she tucked it into her pocket. "Disillusionment charms," Charlie said and Esme smiled. "Right you are," she replied, digging into her closet and swinging a robe on.
Ginny looked at the door. "We've got to warn ourselves- we're all in the kitchen looking at the OWL results," Ginny made towards the door. Hermione grabbed her wrist. "We can't be seen, it's against the rules," Hermione scolded. Ginny looked at her like she was mad. "Against the rules! Are you mad!? My mum might be dead!" Ginny shouted. Her jaw clicked shut as the reality of those words sunk in.
"45 seconds, everyone," Esme said, her sad eyes trained on the bedside clock. Charlie started tapping everyone on the head with the charm, the sensation feeling like chocolate syrup being poured over their heads. "10 seconds," Esme's voice fluttered in the superficially empty room.
"5 seconds, 4... 3... 2... 1." The brass ring vanished.
Author's Notes: What a chapter! First thing I have to do is say that I'm borrowing the Disillusionment charm idea from LavenderBrown's marvelous work. Read it- the thing is this absolutely fabulous, two story epic that is incredibly in character... oh! It's great! Sorry for the delay- with Thanksgiving, the no-posting time earlier this week and me finally getting a job (hooray!), I've been a bit busy. But thank you to my incomparably faithful DB, my enchantingly wonderful Miss Piratess, my marvelously crazy Schizo13, andmy new reviewers OnceUponADecember31and Mikhyel. You guys rock my world!