The grasslands outside Otter St. Catchpole were beautiful, especially during the summer. This morning, the sunrise was catching the tall, yellow stalks of grass at, what seemed to be, the perfect moment. Everything seemed to be golden as the sun shined through the grass, creating the most beautiful colors. The sky was clear, it's colors radiating tones of pink and yellow and gold. Birds flew across the yard, chirping a harmonious, morning song bringing a sort of peaceful, serene feeling to the air.

Molly Weasley leaned her arms on the windowsill of her and Arthur's quaint and charming little bedroom. She took in a deep breath, inhaling the morning fresh air, and taking in her surroundings. It had been 2 days since the battle at Hogwarts ended. 2 days since her world turned upside down.

Molly stared out the window trying to calm and steady herself in preparation for what was about to occur. She felt anything but peaceful or serene at the moment, she thought, a tear sliding down her freckled face. If anything, her thoughts continued, she felt like an icy dark pool had settled in the center of her chest, leaving her gasping for air all the time.

Molly could remember playing with her children in those fields, running around, giggling as they competed in a game of hide and seek. Bill would always win, Charlie would try to cheat, Percy was always a stickler for the rules, and the twins . . . the twins would play some impractical joke. She inhaled again and held her hands to her chest so tight, they almost hurt.

Molly knew this would be the perfect place to raise children when she and Arthur first set eyes on it all those years ago. Of course, she did not plan on having so many children, the house was only a two story cottage then, with only 3 bedrooms. She had always wanted be a mother even when she was a girl herself. Indeed, she imagined that she would have a boy and girl. She was absolutely delighted when she and Arthur brought Bill into the world. She was shocked to find that Charlie was a boy but loved him just the same. Percy had the most beautiful curly hair, she wasn't disappointed at all to have another boy. By the time Fred and George were here, she thought she'd given up on trying to have a girl. Ron came, a shock they did not expect and she loved him another piece of her heart.

One night, Molly had been dreaming of a little red headed girl flying on a broomstick and it touched her so much that she and Arthur tried one last time, and her beautiful Ginny came along. Although she loved her boys with all her heart, she craved to love a daughter too, and was perhaps, Molly admitted to herself, a tad more protective of her than she was her boys. And perhaps. . . this was why-why he died. She could not say his name, she couldn't bear saying his name and death in the same sentence. It was much much more than she could handle at the moment. To speak the words would make it final and she just wasn't ready. She wasn't ready die him go.

More tears spilled down Molly's face as she reminisced of a happier time with all of her children. She heard a knock on her door and heard Arthur say, "Molly?" She quickly brushed away her tears as Arthur came in and braced herself to turn around and look at her husband. He was wearing a new set of dark robes for the occasion, a bottle green cloak fastened at the base of his neck. He looked very handsome. However, she had never seen him look more defeated as he did in that second. There were more lines than usual on his face, his hair was graying at his side burns, and look of raw sadness that could only be described as grief was etched upon his soft features.

He gave her a sort of understanding grim smile and said, "Molly. . . I know Molly. Come here."

She all but ran to him as Arthur locked his arms around her and she wept, wept like there was no tomorrow. She could feel the tears that were spilling down Arthur's face drop into her hair and she wept for him too.

"How can this be, Arthur? It's just not right, it's not fair!" She wailed.

Arthur tightened his hold on her and with a trembling voice, he said, "I know my Molly Wobbles, I know. We shouldn't be suffering like this. I'm so sorry."

Molly sobbed, "If I had been more stern with him. . ."

"No," Arthur said in a steely voice, "don't you do that. Don't blame yourself. We have very brave, very stubborn children, and there was nothing, NOTHING you could have done to prevent Fred and George fighting. Do you hear me, Molly?"

She nodded into his chest trying to believe his words of comfort.

"If you want to blame someone," he continued, "blame Voldemort and those death eaters of his. They're to blame, they're the reason Fr-he's not here with us anymore."

Molly looked into her husband's face. She was not sure if he couldn't say his name either or if he did it because he knew she couldn't hear it, but she was glad for it. She gazed into Arthur's green eyes. There was nothing but love and sadness there and she him closer to her. "Now," he said standing up straight and watching her closely, "it's time, they're all waiting for us. We have to go say. . . goodbye." His voice cracked on the last word.

Molly allowed herself a few more tears, brushed them away once more, and nodded. "How do I look?" she asked. She wore a black velvet dress and black heels to match. She even wore a Sleek Easy potion in her hair that Hermione had made last night. It knotted in an elegant bun. On her neck, Molly wore the diamond necklace that he given her one Christmas.

"You look absolutely beautiful," Arthur said softly and sadly. Taking her hand in his, he lead them out of their room, across the living room and kitchen, and outside where there was the large canopy set up that they had for Bill and Fleur's wedding.

As they walked together, she could see all the chairs, with people sitting in them, lined up in neat little rows, and an isle that lead to one of the most beautiful coffins she had ever seen. It was dark green, shiny, and details of flowers and leaves were carved all around it. One side of it was left open. To the left was the short, tufts clergyman who officiated Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Molly trembled as she and Arthur walked down the isle and approached the casket. She couldn't help herself. He was in there. She closed her eyes and allowed Arthur to lead them forward so they could peer down at their son, one last time. Finally, they had stopped, and she opened her eyes. There he was, she made herself think his name, there Fred was, lifeless and still, attired in his dress robes. He did not move, speak, or breathe, and he never would again.

Molly held out a hand and inched towards Fred and laid her palm on his chest. All of a sudden, she could not hold it in anymore, Molly threw herself onto him and wailed, "Freeeed! My Fred! Oh, my darling boy, I am so sorry!" She cried and cried until finally she felt Arthur's hand on her back and she knew it was time. She looked upon Fred's face one last time and said, very shakily, "Goodbye my Fred, my boy, Momma will always love you."

She and Arthur turned and holding her fingers to lips to keep them from quivering, they sat in the front row to await the eulogy. Molly laid her head on Arthur's shoulder, tears still quietly streaming down her face. He held her tightly and leaned his own head onto hers and there they sat, 2 grieving parents at their son's funeral.

The End