A Helping Hand

Arthur found himself down a side street in Hogsmeade. After looking around and taking in his surroundings, he realized he was standing outside the Hog's Head.

He wasn't sure how he managed to apparate there without being splinched or why he even came to this spot. He hadn't been thinking of anywhere in particular, just that he didn't want to see anyone he knew and that he wanted to completely forget what had happened. In that case, this was the perfect spot; the only person he knew at this pub was Aberforth, but they didn't really know each other, and it was the perfect place forget things.

He slowly entered the pub and scanned the room for anyone he knew. He didn't recognize anyone, except Aberforth who was behind the bar. He hadn't expected to see any familiar faces due to the pub's reputation.

Arthur took an empty stool at the bar and ordered a firewhiskey. It was odd because he was used to drinking straight from the bottle and not a glass. He was already finishing his second glass when Hagrid and Charlie walked in half an hour later.

"Hey, Charlie, isn't tha' yer Dad?" Hagrid nodded his head toward where Arthur was sitting at the bar.

Charlie looked at the middle-aged, red-headed man who was sipping his drink at the bar. "Yeah. Yeah, it is," Charlie replied as he made his way to his and Hagrid's usual table. He wasn't surprised to see his father drinking, but he was surprised to see him at the pub. Usually, his Dad drank in the privacy of his shed.

"Shouldn' we check on him?" Hagrid asked. He knew this was odd behavior for the Weasley patriarch.

"No. He doesn't look like he wants to be bothered. Come on."

Neither man spoke as they took their seats and ordered their drinks. After they got their drinks, Hagrid inquired, "Tell me, wha's goin' on, Charlie? You don't seem surprised tha' he's here."

"I'm not, honestly."

"An' why's tha'?"

"Well, I am surprised to see him here. He normally only drinks at home, or tries to hide it when he's in public," Charlie said as he and Hagrid studied Arthur who was still drinking steadily at the bar. It was clear to them both that he was slightly drunk.

"Is he alrigh'?" Hagrid asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't think so, but we don't ask him about it. Mum's tried to, though."

"Has Molly gotten through to him? Surely, she has. If anyone can it's her."

Charlie shook his head. "No. They've been arguing a lot lately. Most of the time, her asking him questions is what causes the arguments. There are even a few holes in the wall." He turned back to Hagrid. "He's…changed."

Hagrid nodded his head in understanding, and said solemnly, "I see…Do you think this has anything to do with Fred?"

"That may be the root of the cause, but I think it's more than that. He just won't tell anyone what it is," Charlie said as he stood. "Well, I gotta get home. Mum'll have dinner ready soon."

"What abou' yer Dad?" Arthur hadn't moved from his barstool since Charlie and Hagrid had arrived.

Charlie shrugged. "I guess he'll come home when he wants to, and I wouldn't bother him if I were you…I can tell you want to. Anyway, see you tomorrow."

"Can't I try to see what's wrong?"

"You can do whatever you like, but don't say I didn't warn you. " Charlie exited the pub and disapparated.

Hagrid watched Arthur for a few minutes before approaching. He was starting his fourth glass of firewhiskey, Hagrid noticed. Arthur had apparently been drinking a lot since he was capable of drinking that much in an hour with only showing minimal signs of intoxication.

"Arthur," Hagrid addressed as he came to stand next to the troubled man.

Arthur looked at Hagrid, startled that someone he knew was there. He gave the half-giant a curt nod without saying a word and returned to his drink.

But he wasn't getting rid of Hagrid that easily. "Arthur, what are yeh doin' here? Yeh should be at home, with yer family."

"Hagrid, it is none of your business why I'm here or what I should or should not be doing," was Arthur's blunt reply.

Hagrid was taken aback by Arthur's tone. He wasn't sure what caused this sudden rudeness. He hadn't seen Arthur since Fred's funeral and he'd never been around the man when he was drunk, so this change in Arthur's personality could have been because of the war and his son's death or due to the fact that he was intoxicated. Hagrid would have to be stern with him either way.

"Well, I'm makin' it my business," he said roughly. "Charlie told me what's been goin' on, how you've been drinkin' and actin' lately. So, I'm tellin' yeh to get yer act together and go home ter Molly an' yer kids, Arthur."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I will when yer actin' the way yeh are."

Arthur turned and locked eyes with Hagrid. "Fine. I would, but I can't…especially not now."

"Yeh can't, my arse," Hagrid retorted. "There ain't nobody stoppin' yeh from goin' home." His voice boomed throughout the pub, bringing everyone's attention to the red-headed man and the half-giant at the bar.

Arthur stood abruptly, swaying slightly and knocking the stool over as he did so. "Look, you don't know what's happened or what I've been through, so I suggest you stay out of it," he snarled.

"I was only tryin' ter help," Hagrid replied indignantly.

"Oi!" Aberforth interrupted the confrontation. "I'm goin' to have to ask you two to leave if yeh don't settle down."

Arthur downed the rest of his firewhiskey in one large gulp and said, "That's fine, I was just leaving anyway," before storming out of the pub. Hagrid stayed a few more minutes.

When Hagrid left the pub, it was dusky outside and the street lamps had cut on. As he looked down the side street, he saw a man leaning against a building, but could not determine his identity due to the shadow cast on his face by a nearby streetlamp. The man was not looking at him, but staring at the ground

"'Ello?" Hagrid called, approaching cautiously. It was still dangerous to approach unidentified witches and wizards because there were still Death Eaters loose.

The man raised his head and looked at Hagrid. He relaxed as he recognized the man as Arthur Weasley, but he was still apprehensive because of their encounter a few moments ago.

"Look, I'm sorry." Arthur was the first to speak. "I understand you were trying to help…but you don't know the situation, and I don't want to talk about it."

"That's alrigh'. I shouldn't've been in yer business. But yeh know yeh can trust me if yeh do want ter talk about it."

"Thank you, Hagrid…I'll just say Molly and I got into an argument – well, a fight, really – the biggest one we've ever had, then…she told me to leave." He would not elaborate…He was still too ashamed of himself.

"Yeh need ter try an' fix it."

"I know, but the kids keep getting in the way and won't let me near her. They, especially, wouldn't let me talk to her if I show up drunk."

Hagrid gave Arthur a quizzical look. Whatever Arthur had done must have been terrible. He thought back to what Charlie had told him about Arthur hitting the wall and always drinking. Could he have gotten drunk and hit Molly? Surely not, but the only way of knowing is if Arthur told him.

"Well, yer their father, so yeh have authority over them to let yeh do what yeh want, and Rosmerta has some Sober Up Potion, so –"

"- Hagrid, I'm afraid it's not that easy. The kids are behaving according to the way Molly and I raised them, and they're acting like true Gryffindors. What they're doing is," Arthur stopped. He never thought he'd have to say this in his entire life, "They're protecting Molly…from me."

Hagrid was shocked. He never thought he would ever hear Arthur Weasley say anything along those lines.

When Hagrid didn't respond, Arthur continued, "I hurt her. I actually hurt the woman I love. – Not physically," he added, "Well, almost physically. Merlin, how could I do that?" He squatted, put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands as realization hit him again.

Hagrid took a knee next to Arthur and gently placed a dustbin lid sized hand on his shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. "Bu' yeh didn' though, did yeh? Yeh can fix this," he said reassuringly.

Arthur slid his hands up his face and through his hair to rest them on the back of his neck. "No, I didn't, but I'm not sure if I would've stopped if the kids hadn't stepped in. I won't even be able to trust myself around her…You didn't see how scared she was. She was terrified…terrified of me."

"Yeh can't think like tha'. Yeh have ter at least try to fix this. Yeh can't just give up. Yer goin' ter stop drinkin' an' yeh won' have to worry abou' that."

"...But I've lost my temper before, and I was completely sober when that happened. And what if I can't stop drinking? Or if Molly doesn't give me another chance?"

"That's in the past, yer goin' ter do yer best, and I'm sure she will," Hagrid answered. "An' yeh know where ter find me if yeh need help."

Arthur nodded, and both men stood. "Alright. You're right. Let's get that potion from Rosmerta and I'll see what I can do."

Hagrid walked with Arthur to The Three Broomsticks to get the Sober Up Potion. After it took effect, Arthur thanked Hagrid and apparated back to the Burrow.

A/N: So there's chapter three. Told y'all there would be a special guest. I'm not sure how I did writing Hagrid's dialogue, though. Hope y'all enjoyed!

Chapter 4 will pick up with Arthur back at the Burrow and Charlie will find out about the fight.

I love, love, love reviews and feedback so please keep 'em coming!

Until next time!