Chapter 2- The Early Years
Dear Mum,
We are sorry for blowing off the roof of the house. We did not mean to. We hope you and Dad still love us.
Fred and George
Molly remembered that incident all too well. Fred and George had been six and a half years old and causing trouble all over the place. One morning, while she was busy taking care of a sick Ron with the fever, Fred and George had somehow gotten hold of her wand and ended up blowing off the roof. Molly had stormed in and put them in their rooms for a time out and then owled Arthur to come home immediately. After yelling at the twins for an hour, she found that Charlie had gotten stuck in a tree while flying on his broomstick and that Percy was complaining that someone had stole his copy of the Magical Encyclopedia. What a morning that was! As always, everything was chaotic at the Burrow.
Molly reached forward for another letter. This one was from Arthur while he was away in America for a huge assignment concerning some wizards who thought it would be funny to mess with an American singing star.
Mollywobbles
USA is fascinating! Obliviated many memories, but still had trouble fixing the singer's skin color back to normal. Think the wizards behind this may have used permanent skin ink. However, we seemed to have succeeded in covering up this incident in pretending it was a huge accident. Be back very soon!
Arthur
Molly had been extremely alarmed at this whole incident, believing that it may have been Death Eaters behind it. However, Arthur assured her that he was just Muggle baiting. Still, to this day, the famous American singer never got his original skin color back.
As Molly repaired some tears on the letters, a large, handmade card slid into Molly's lap. It was a Mother's Day card. Possibly the last one signed by all of the Weasley children together.
In the front were the neat penmanship of Bill's handwriting (as best he could) stating HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. Then, inside were lots of little drawings and signatures from all of her boys and a small handprint from the infant Ginny. Arthur had signed it too, with a drawing of a little airplane stating, "you make my heart leap into the sky".
Molly remembered how touched she was when the children all crowded around her and watched her read the card. Molly was so touched that she didn't complain about the messy handprints that Ginny left on the floor crawling from one room to the other because Charlie forgot to wash her hands off.
Then came Bill's first letter from Hogwarts. Written in a quick, rushed handwriting, Bill wrote,
Dear Mum,
I forgot to bring my Standard Book of Spells. Could you send it to me? Thanks.
Bill
Molly remembered that when Bill was nine years old he decided that Molly should stop calling him "Billy" in public and to strictly stick to Bill as he was no longer a little boy. She had agreed with him and laughed at it, but later while upstairs in her room she realized how strangely empty she felt now that one of her sons declared himself "no longer a little boy."
Behind Bill's letter was a crisp folded letter with the words St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries on top. Molly shuddered as she recalled what this letter was meant for.
Molly had written it herself. The Dark Lord had risen to an unbelievable height and Arthur had been severely injured when a large group of Death Eaters invaded the ministry, searching for some sort of record.
Molly's eyes misted over as she opened and read her writing,
'Arthur Weasley, How could you!' Molly wrote in bold print, her face flushed and tears spilling over.
How dare you leave me with five children and one more on the way, sitting here in this cold hospital room beside you, fearful of your life? How many times have I told you that you are not allowed to leave me nor the children! What would the boys do without their father/ What would I do without you?
Arthur Weasley, I did not marry you to be alone! I married you so we could be together! We are supposed to grow old together, until our bones are brittle and our hair grey.
You are what keeps the family going. Don't you know how afraid I feel every time the clock moves to Mortal Peril and knowing that I cannot do anything, but hope that you move back to "work" or "home"? Do you know how terrible it is for me to stay up each night, wondering why you are not home yet and missing you terribly, yet knowing that I can never worry you. You have enough on your mind, but Arthur, it's driving me insane.
When you put that ring on my finger, you promised that you will always be here for me. Where are you now? I need you. I'm not strong enough to carry on with you.
Arthur, you better not leave me! You better wake up Arthur Weasley, or I will never forgive you!'
Molly finished the letter and sealed it, knowing she would never show it to her husband. Instead, after writing out her frustrations on paper, she put on a brave face and held Arthur's hand, hoping that he would wake up.
Thankfully, Arthur had made it through the night and never had to go to St. Mungo's again, except for the horrible incident about fifteen years later. But Harry had helped him be rescued in time.
Mrs. Weasley reflected on her husband for a moment. She remembered all the years they had been through together. The many times when they were burdened with financial worries, Arthur had always ensured that they would be alright. And somehow, he always came home with some extra sickles when times became desperately low. Once, when Arthur came home with a small bag full of galleons, Molly had been so relieved to be able to provide school materials for the children that she did not notice the source of the galleons. Several days later, she noticed Arthur's hands looking abnormal and then demanded to know where his wedding ring went.
Molly's heart sank when she remembered how she yelled at him for losing it and being careless of their marriage rings when it hit her that Arthur could not have possibly earned the bag of galleons for a "few hours overtime". She had sobbed and begged Arthur to forgive her. They were quiet for a few moments and Arthur promised that he would get it back as soon as they had enough saved up, but Molly refused. Instead, she sold her ring as well and told Arthur that their marriage did not need a silly token.
"Indeed it does not." Molly muttered. Suddenly, she heard a crack down below and looked out of the attic window to see a figure walking toward the Burrow.
"Percy!" Molly exclaimed in excitement. Her lips trembled. She hoped he was back for good at last.
Molly immediately Apparated downstairs to open the door for her son.