VII

Molly Weasley strode over to a large dinner bell dangling over the kitchen window and rang it smartly, despite the fact that Severus didn't hear anything come out of it. In fact, only a Weasley could hear it, no matter where on the planet they happened to be.

"Breakfast! Come on, sleepyheads, it's Christmas morning, you know! Isn't anyone hungry?" Like a stampede, Weasleys began to appear from everywhere, inside and out, grabbing a chair at the impossibly long table that didn't even remotely look as if it should fit in a kitchen that size at all. There was a great deal of fuss from Molly when Fleur walked in with Bill leaning on her with a smile, and Molly would not hear another word until he was comfortably seated. Charlie had his hands full with his three rascals, practically tossing them to his wife to get them to settle into a seat.

"Hail, hail, the gang's almost all here! Where's Dad at?"

"He'll be home shortly," Molly assured them.

"He got called away in the middle of the night again, didn't he? I thought I heard the door," said George.

"Yeah, who died this time, Mum?" Fred asked.

"Now, there's no reason to assume that every time your father gets called to work that someone has died," Molly said hotly. But the tension in her voice was enough for most of them to exchange looks. "Ah! Here he comes now," she said after a furtive look at the family clock. "Pour the drinks out, Ginny, dear! I think I'll step out to meet him," she said, wiping her hands off on her apron before going to the door.

She opened it just as he was about to come in, and after a wan smile he kissed her, waving in response to the chorus coming from the kitchen as he pulled his wife aside.

"How bad?" Molly whispered.

"As bad as it gets," Arthur whispered back. "Three different villages went up in smoke…mixed neighborhoods, but mostly Muggle. Well over a hundred people dead."

"And on Christmas Eve," Molly murmured in horror.

"Their government wants an explanation, not that I blame them. They're talking about calling up troops and heavy artillery, despite the fact we've warned them it'll only make the situation worse. None of that compares what happened at the hospital…"

"The eggs are getting cold!" Fred hollered from the kitchen.

"Don't mention any of this to them right now, Molly…"

"Oh, no, not today, not on Christmas. They'll find out about it soon enough as it is," Molly agreed.

"Come on, then, let's go put a brave face on things, shall we?" Arthur said with a weak smile, wrapping an arm around his wife. She nodded, forcing a smile on her own face as they walked in. "Happy Christmas, everyone! I can't remember the last time I've seen so many red heads at this table!"

"Still, there is someone missing," Charlie said, looking around while bouncing his youngest on his lap. "Where's Ronald?"

"At Hogwarts, of course. He didn't feel right leaving Harry alone," Molly explained as she and Ginny began setting out the food. (Fleur still hadn't quite managed to earn kitchen privileges yet.)

"So, why didn't they just come here?" Bill asked.

"Professor McGonagall didn't think it would be safe for Harry or us to have him outside of the school right now," Arthur explained as he sat down. "Perhaps she has a point." Molly gazed at him thoughtfully.

"How could he possibly safe in that castle with Snape there?" Ginny asked in an agitated tone. "He's probably just waiting for the opportunity to corner him and send him to…"

"Don't you dare say that name, young lady, especially not at Christmas!" Molly cut her off with a frown. "Now, sit down and eat. I don't want to hear another word against anyone today, not even the Headmaster."

"That will take some doing," George said, and Fred sniggered.

"I just don't understand why everyone completely misses the fact that Snape murdered Dumbledore to give control to the school to…"

"Ginny, your mother said that was enough," Arthur said firmly.

"I'm surprised you didn't stay at the castle yourself, Ginny," Fred said. "Ron told us you two were awful tight last year."

"Yeah, you should have stayed and given him someone to kiss under the mistletoe," George added. "Now who has he got to kiss?"

"Ron," the twins both said together, grinning at each other.

Ginny got up and threw her utensils down and stormed up the stairs, while Molly rubbed her head.

"Perhaps zumvun should go talk wis her?" Fleur suggested.

"I'll go up in a bit once she's had a bit of time to herself," Molly said.

"Fred…George…" Arthur started with a sigh. "You know, you are adults now, and I can't bloody well send you to your rooms anymore, but for goodness sake, let's all make a greater than normal effort to make this Christmas as pleasant as possible for everyone? Ginny is under a lot of stress, as we all are. Now, Molly, how about some sort of Christmas grace, and when Ginny comes back down, we'll start on the presents."

"Can I open mine first, Grandpa?" asked one of Charlie's kids.

"Youngest to oldest, and everyone gets their turn, that's how it works in this house, Timothy," Arthur said, shaking a finger at him. "Go ahead, Molly."

"Well, I suppose if I am thankful for anything, it's the fact that we're all here, safe and sound…something I know most folks tend to take for granted in less trying times," Molly said. "May we all be thankful for what we have instead of missing what we don't have, and may we all have a peaceful, warm, loving…"

"Don't press your luck, Mum," Fred put in, earning a round of chuckles.

"Understanding holiday," Molly continued. "And may God look after those close to use who aren't with us…Ron, Harry, and all of our friends, from the Ministry to Hogwarts."

"Except Snape," George put in.

"No, no, God bless Snape as well," Molly said, sitting down.

"God bless Snape?" Even Percy repeated that back in a questioning tone.

"If anyone needs it, he does. Now tuck in, it's getting cold," Molly said. Fred and George shrugged at each other as everyone began to concentrate on their food and on catching up about what everyone had been doing since the first of Yule.

"You know, I always knew that Molly was overly nice, but that's pushing it," James decided. "Ever think you would ever hear anyone blessing you?"

"No," Severus said flatly.

"Me either," James admitted.

"Fine, now that we've seen this silly family holiday ritual, may we go?" Severus asked.

"I only wish we could," James said somberly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Severus squinted at him. Just then, a blood curdling scream rang out.

"What was that?"

"It was Ginny!" Molly screeched, Arthur bounding out of his chair and taking the stairs by two. Everyone else got to their feet, wondering what was amiss, until Ginny dashed down with a look of pure terror on her face and Arthur following close behind.

"Wands out, everyone! Charlie, grab your kids and get them out of here, use the floo! NOW!" Arthur said.

"What's going on?" Percy asked. "Is it Death Eaters? Should I send up a Ministry flare?"

"It's too late for that," Arthur said. "There's an army of Dementors coming towards us even as we speak. Ginny! I want you to Apparate to Hogsmeade and head to Hogwarts!"

"No! I'm staying!"

"It may be you they're after! Do as your told!" Arthur shouted back.

"If I am who they're after, I'm not about to lead them to Harry," Ginny said stubbornly, taking out her wand. "I'm staying."

It was then that the cloud of despair began to hit them. Severus could see it in their expressions, the fire that had been in their eyes a minute ago ready to fight had dulled dramatically, even as Arthur tried to coax them on. But as the Dementors began to swarm into the house, using their breaths to make them tumble to the crowd, three robed Death Eaters, lead by Lucius, entered with wands blazing.