The Family's Decision – and Ginny's Biggest Fear
Lily was in the Burrow, pacing back and forth, very much worried over the consequences of this meeting. She'd not told a single soul about the purpose, for she had a good reason for seeing failure: People's memories.
Especially the people here.
Hopefully, all her centuries of work, of being an example will overcome all that.
Shaking her fiery red head in much worry and sadness, she continued to pace and wait for the rest of the family to arrive.
James came in to the living room, "Lily, everyone's here, it's time now. And don't worry. They're your family, they'll understand."
"I know, darling, I know. But, still . . . ,"
Lily went out to the kitchen and found all eyes upon her, smiling. They knew Lily would be here for a reason and that they trusted her, so what could be the problem?
Arthur spoke up first, "What is it, Lily? Why the meeting so rushed?"
"Oh, Arthur, I need you, each and everyone of you without exception." Lily started to pace, to walk back and forth in the kitchen. As she walked by each of her family, she reached out and touched them, lovingly.
"I don't know where to start except to explain some background and my reasons, then and only then will I make my request. But, make no mistake, my request will be great. It is not to be lightly taken, but the task itself is within your capabilities, I KNOW that."
"Lily, if what you ask of us is really that great a responsibility, then we all consider it a grand honor to do what it is you ask." Charlie was always one of her supporters who never hesitated at helping her.
"Thank you, Charlie, for speaking out positively. I really needed that support from you just now."
Lily was still pacing, gathering her thoughts, and holding onto her hands. The worry was definitely on her small, slender shoulders, and it showed.
"Also," she resumed, "there is nothing, and I repeat NOTHING to fear." She turned to her son, and looking at him directly into her own emerald green eyes, tears starting to brim forth uncontrollably, "OH, oh, I just can't, I can't ask this of you, I can't!" She fell down to her knees, resting her head on someone's lap, who, she didn't know, for it didn't matter, and there, in front of all her family, Lily Evans Potter, the Mother of the Boy Who Lived - the woman on whom Grace had been given from her Father, the woman who had single handedly, while VERY much pregnant, held off the very demons from the Pit with no fear in her heart - cried out her heart uncontrollably.
Hands reached out, loving, gentle hands caressed her head and shoulders, and back. She knew their touch and appreciated it. Her heart once full of fear over asking the seemingly impossible, was softened.
"What is it Lily? What is the task you ask of us? You've given us so much, how could we even consider turning you down?" One of her brothers asked.
Lily raised up her head, looking at them all, told them: "Because I ask of you, of this loving family and home, to take in a person and show love, to demonstrate love and forgiveness unfeigned and without reservation in your hearts."
The family was taken aback, perplexion written all over their expressions, for they didn't understand her request, even put that simply.
"But, Lily, if that's all, that's no problem, we've done that before. What's the problem now? We don't understand."
"Molly, remember how you took in Harry, the first time? Remember how you loved him, fussed over him, gave him hand knitted sweaters for Christmas, and worried so much about him?" Lily looked at Molly and reminded her with a great notable exception that Molly would always recall: "Molly, do you remember what you said to Arthur, at Grimmauld Place, just before Harry's 5th year? "He's as good as, who else has he got?"(Authors' note: See Book 5, page 90, American Edition) You knew he had NO OTHER MOTHER then who could reach out and help him if by no other way than by worrying over him, and he appreciated that. Harry really needed that expression of love from you, and you gave all you had. He still remembers that, even today, even now over a thousand years later. He's reminded me of that many times." Lily looked up into her sons' face, smiling and turning to Molly said "Look at Harry now, see, you can see he DOES remember that love you gave him then."
"Oh, Lily I believe you, I really do." And Molly added, softly, almost hesitantly: "I still feel like his Mum."
Lily looked at her and smiled a smile that gave a world of thanks and appreciation to a woman who knew her job and could do it well.
It was this that Lily was truly counting on.
"Oh, Lily, you know we'll all carry out your request." Molly added.
"Lily, we'll all help you, we really will, with no reservations, but you did say that there'll be nothing to fear. Why did you say that?" Percy asked.
"Oh, my dear sweet precious family, I love you all deeply and truly and I would, with out hesitation give all of myself to save each and everyone of you, but Percy's question does need answering. There's a person, one whom has been gone for a very long time." Lily turned away some, thinking of how to phrase this next part. "One, from the distant past. This person has been, well, absent, and taken care of by some very special people who are trained in helping in these cases. But now, now is the time for this person to go out on their own, so to speak, for this person has some very unique skills and abilities, far and above the average witch or wizard."
Lily turned to her family, facing them all, every one of them: "I need him. I need him to help me very much. I can do my job without his help, but it'd make my job, and yours, too, much easier. Besides, Father has asked me to do this."
"You said 'he' and you mentioned the 'distant past'. Is there nothing else we have to go on, then?" Charlie asked.
"Here's where I teach you a very important lesson: Faith. All I can say is believe me when I tell you that you truly have nothing to worry about, nothing at all. You'll just have to take my word on that, and as you know by now, I'll never NEVER lie to you!"
Lily turned to James, saying, "There are people who have suffered – Greatly – I might add with no amount of understatement, but he just needs to be loved, shown love and how it works, how it feels to love, again. Especially from people who have no reason to give it and every reason to withhold it from him."
Turning to her family, she asked the fateful and final question: "Will you take him in? It's only temporary. I need to know today, now."
The boys were all talking amongst themselves, speculating on who it might be and what to do. But, they didn't look at their Mum - or even Ginny. Both women were standing still as statues, shocked beyond their comprehension to even acknowledge that one of their own family members would even consider this particular, and very sensitive - request.
Ginny was the first to say something, to react.
"No, Lily, Oh, Please, No. No. NO. I can't, Please, NO, I'll do anything you'd ask, ANYTHING but This. It's just been too soon. I'll have my nightmares back, the waking up in the middle of the night screaming uncontrollably." Tears were falling down her cheeks, shaking her head, her hands trembling so bad her Mum had to go to her and hold on to her.
Ginny fell down to the floor crying and sobbing, saying "Please, please, Lily, I can't, I just can't. A thousand years is but a moment in time for me as far as this, THIS is concerned!" Ginny was on her knees, her hands clasped in front of her, " Lily, PLEASE, I'm begging of you in front of everyone, don't bring him here, please. This is my home, I've no where else to go. Oh, Please, Lily, Please don't! Harry will be able to handle this, but I can't. He's in my head, my thoughts. Oh, Please, PLEASE, Lily, ANYTHING but THIS!"
Molly gathered her daughter up in her arms and took her to the living room and laid her on the couch and gave her a quieting spell, to calm her, and it was working, but barely. Molly, looked at her only daughter, her most precious child, her youngest and marveled at the pain she endured for so long and never told a single soul. She knew Ginny was strong, but eventually she, too, had her breaking point, but that point was far and above the breaking point of the rest of the family.
"What happened? Who is she talking about?" One of the brothers asked.
Harry knew. He knew - absolutely. His beloved Mum gave it all away by the use of that one Key word: Love.
He looked at his Mum and a look of acknowledgement crossed between them. Wordless communication.
"Mum, I love you with all my heart. I'll take care of Ginny. Go and get him."
Lily looked up at the rest of the family for their answer.
Each of them said "Yes". Still they didn't know who this person was, except Ginny and Harry, for they had met him, Harry had many times, but Ginny, well, she'd endured him for almost a year.
Lily walked over to the fireplace and flooed her office. "Dobby, you can bring him here now."
There was a sudden "Woosh" from the fireplace and there, in the Burrow stood Dobby, Lily's elderly house elf, with a man whom, had it been a millinium ago, would have utterly terrified everyone around him:
Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Wands were immediately drawn, shouts of utter profanity were uttered. The boys tried to protect both their Mum and Ginny all at the same time. Molly had her wand drawn and was looking directly at Tom "You killed my brothers, two of my BROTHERS!" She was openly hostile and crying so both at the same time. The memories of her brothers, Gideon and Fabian, were still a tender spot in her heart, but when she looked at Tom, all she saw was blind, burning rage and hatred the extent that none of her children nor husband had ever thought she'd be capable of.
Ginny was taken up from the couch by Bill and Charlie and were standing in front of her, ready to protect their only sister with their very lives Just as James and Lily had done for their only son, so many years ago in Godric's Hollow, in their home. Their wands drawn and pointing at Tom.
Lily stood in front of Tom, with Dobby standing beside her, her Grace of Protection bestowed upon her by Father, starting to emit, covering her, Dobby, and Tom.
And what did Lily's family see? Here in The Burrow, the family home of the Weasley's for many generations, the home of the Minister for Magic, stood Lily, a most beloved family member, guarding and protecting Tom Marvolo Riddle, the most feared and despised Wizard the Magical World had ever known and had ever walked the Earth!
Lily's protection was complete, it was absolute in every way.
Tom, from the moment he appeared at the Burrow, never moved. His arms hung down, down by his side, he'd not even tried to protect himself. This was the initial moment that Lily was afraid of: A negative reaction so strong that her own family, her beloved family for whom she would be willing to give up her very life to protect, would be willing to fight her. Here she was, a beloved Daughter of her Father, now protecting someone whom her own family wanted gone. It was time for her to reason with them, or try to.
"Please, listen to me, you've nothing to fear. Tom has not moved nor tried to even protect himself. He's been under the guidance of Father and His children for these past thousand years. Tom is not the man he once was, he's not Voldemort. Voldemort is gone forever. Please, listen to me, he won't hurt you. I told you that." Lily was trying hard to get her family to listen.
"Lily! Of all people to bring HIM here, you were the last we'd thought. Don't you remember the pain and suffering he's caused? He even killed YOU and JAMES and tried to kill Harry during your first life." Arthur talked to Lily sternly looking directly into her eyes. "My word, woman, look at the reaction even your own family has against him. Can you imagine what it'd be like outside if every Witch and Wizard in our world even knew he was here? The mayhem alone would be more than the entire Ministry could control. It'd be out of my hands." Arthur tried to reason with Lily. He was shaking with fear. He had responsibilities to tend to, others he had to protect.
And here, in his own home, . . .
Lily had her left hand on Tom's shoulder. He was encased by her Protection.
The entire family saw it. They knew what that meant.
They would not be able to hurt Tom, not even able to so much as touch him as long as Lily was protecting him. No one knew what to do. It was a stalemate.
"My dear family, please, I told you there was nothing to fear, and I haven't lied to you previously and I won't lie to you now. . . ."
"You never told us you were planning to bring HIM here! Of all the wizards, Lily, how COULD you? You, of ALL PEOPLE, know how everyone feels about him!" Molly told her, still holding up her wand. She was a very stern witch, and she never backed down.
"We were thinking you'd be bringing back someone else, like Professor Dumbledore, or Moody or Professor Lupin. We'd understand, but Lily, you're pushing us beyond our endurance, beyond even our good graces." Fred said.
"Fred, I do appreciate what you just said, but I can't bring back someone who's died. Only Father can do that. Tom is here to fulfill part of Father's plan. Tom needs to see love in action, love given, like I said before, by those who have no reason to give it and every reason to withhold it." Lily was near tears now. She fell down on her knees, her head bowed, and shaking. "Oh, Father," Lily said, then looking up,"With all the power you've given me, I've failed you, miserably. Oh, Please, help me help my family overcome their fears, please. Help me, please!" Lily fell to the floor and cried uncontrollably. Everyone of her family just stood there, and listened to their beloved Lily cry and ask Father for help – for them. They lowered their wands, and heard her sobs and cries, still. They knew she was sincere and emotional, much like Molly, but the extent, the true extent - they'd not realized until today.
What they saw next floored them all, for what they next witnessed was totally unexpected. Tom moved towards Lily. Her Protection was dimming. She was cutting it off and making herself vulnerable to their attacks. If one of the curses, even the killing curse hit Tom, it'd hit her, also, and not only would Tom die but so, too, would Lily.
Charlie, always, the level headed one, reached up to his Mum's hand, the hand that held her wand that was pointing directly at Tom. "Mum, please, don't, if a curse hits Tom, it'll hit Lily too, and affect – kill – them both. We don't want Lily hurt."
"Molly," Arthur said, quietly, "Lily's willing to protect Tom with her life, just like she did for Harry. There's something we don't know, lets' listen to her, it may be for the best."
Tom bent down and placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing her back and telling her calm words such as they'd not expected to hear from such a person as Tom used to be.
"Lily, it's alright, I understand how they feel. I knew that when I was sent back here that I risked this reaction. I deserve it and I won't try to get out of it. Lily, you've helped me more than I can ever repay you. Father alone knows how much I needed the love that you've tried to show me, and you've not failed. I promised Father, when He sent me here, that I'd serve you without question; I'd be your faithful servant to the end and protect you as has your son and family. Lily, I will always remember your grace and love for all of Fathers' Children, even myself, the least of them all." Tom stood up and backed away from Lily a little bit.
Looking at Lily's family Tom said – "I don't want Lily hurt on my account. I deserve any and all punishment that you deem necessary to mead out to me and it will not be held against you. When Father sent me here, under certain provisions, I asked Him to include this possibility. I didn't want any of you to suffer anymore on my account."
"You may proceed now." Tom hung his head.
No one in the room moved, not even Molly. They couldn't begin to comprehend the change that'd come over the one person they'd feared the most. Even his very memory still brought much fear, as exemplified by Ginny's sudden reaction in the kitchen.
Molly walked over to Lily, who was still kneeling on the floor, weeping at her seeming failure to bring about Father's Plan successfully. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around Lily. "Lily, maybe we were a bit hasty, about you, about Tom, about our own reactions. We trusted you before and we'll all trust you now. None of us really understands you, completely, at times, but like you said, we have to learn to go on faith that you'll do the right thing."
Molly looked back at her husband and children and then up to look at Tom. At that instance, what she saw softened her heart, for she saw not the fearsome Wizard but a slender 16 year old student who looked to be attending Hogwarts. He was frail, slender and had a feeling of innocence about him. The same feeling that she had when she was with Lily. She also saw something of Harry in him: an Orphan who was desperately trying to do his best to 'fit in' to show that he, too, wanted love.
Molly reached up and extended a hand to Tom. Something that had never occurred to him in this world in this life that he could ever remember. So he did what he'd been taught how to do.
Tom Marvolo Riddle, the most feared Wizard in the Magical World reached out and took Molly Prewett Weasley's offered hand and bent down and hugged her, and they all heard him say, "Thanks, Molly, thank you so much, for trusting me. Father was right: you do have faith and love in abundance."
That was the true turning point in the Weasley-Potter household: The first step taken by their Matriarch Molly in how to have faith and exhibit love. Besides, they all loved Molly.
Molly and Tom helped Lily get up from the floor. Still holding on to Tom's hand Lily turned to him "I want to thank you for trusting in Father, and taking a chance. All will be well now. You've nothing to fear from my family, none will hurt you." Lily turned to her family as she said that. They all nodded in agreement, slowly and hesitantly, but they were trying, even Ginny was.
"Tom, this is my family and they've agreed to take you in for the time that you're here. You may talk with them, help them in any way that they want help from you. You may ask them questions, but please, be cautious and careful around Ginny, she's still having difficulties, even after all this time. Some of the family may want to ask you questions and you're allowed to answer to the best of your ability so long as you adhere to the rules that Father has given you. He's told me what they are. Do you understand all that I've said?" Lily was being good and kind to Tom, trying to be gentle.
"Yes, Lily. I understand. I won't cause any problems and I'll stick to the rules that have been given me. I know the penalties fully for they will be enforced immediately." Turning to her family, he said kindly "I want to thank you, each of you, for taking me in. This kindness that you've shown me means so much and I'll treasure this moment always."
Lily looked at Molly, smiled at her, "Remember what I told you, here in this very kitchen almost a thousand years ago? – Not to fear, that there is a decision you'll have to make, that there's a job for you to do, a job specifically suited just to you. Molly, You made the right decision. See, it wasn't hard afterall, now was it?"
"You were right, Lily, it was an easy decision. And it'll be an easier job." Molly said.