A/N: Hey! It's been a while, I know. Thank you for all the favorites and follows since the last update. I hope everyone has been well and coping with finals.
I reread Bill's Rant again, and is it that difficult to read? I found the rant part rather tedious. I apologize if it was.
In response to the Guest review, you never know what could happen and I think I previously stated that he was divorced and had a kid. I may be mistaken though. Thank you for your review. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Here is Chapter 24, a bit shorter than recent chapters, but not as short as earlier ones.
Conner's Warning
The dinner went so well it was rather late when Arthur returned to his flat, but Bill was waiting for him all the same. After a reminder from Bill that he would tell Molly about her husband's infidelity if he didn't, Arthur went without a fight.
When they arrived at the Burrow, it was clear Molly had been expecting them, but Arthur was not expecting Conner to be there as well. Arthur was unsure what was going on, but he assumed Molly wanted him to apologize not only to her, but Conner as well. Or perhaps this was another attempt at getting him to open up. In order to keep everyone happy, Arthur waited for someone else to speak first.
Sure enough, Molly started, going off into an explanation about why she had been spending so much time with Conner. There were no greetings or pleasantries or apologies from Molly or the Irishman. The more Molly spoke, the less Arthur wanted to hear. He had already gotten a heads up from Bill about Molly divulging all their personal problems to the stranger, but it sounded like they met up two or three times a week to not only talk about his and Molly's marital problems and things that should stay between spouses, but their kids and the most random, trivial things.
His wife and this stranger had become friends!And close friends at that.
When Molly finished speaking, Conner held out his hand as he introduced himself, but Arthur was not interested in meeting the man his wife spent more and more time with. Instead, Arthur crossed his arms and stood at his full height, still not as tall as the other man.
"Stay away from my wife," Arthur demanded, determined to put a stop to whatever this friendship was bound to turn into. "That means no owls, no bumping into her anywhere, no meeting for tea or lunch, and especially no coming to my house. No contact in any way. Do I make myself clear?"
"Arthur, I have no ulterior motives. I - " Conner began, showing no signs of intimidation.
"- It is a yes or no question," Arthur interrupted. "Keep away from my wife, understand?"
"All I'm trying to do is help this kind, caring woman who you treat like shit. You need -"
"Arthur!" Molly shrieked.
Arthur's fist connected with Conner's jaw before he could finish his sentence. He got a couple more blows in before the stronger, taller man caught his wrists in a tight grip, but not without getting a broken nose himself. Struggling, Arthur failed to break free. He couldn't help himself. This man had no right to talk about him or his wife. He was an outsider and did not know what was going on with this family. Seriously, who did this guy think he was? What was his game? No one would do what he had without wanting something in return.
"Dad, don't make me stun you," Bill warned, exasperated, lazily pulling out his wand. Of course something like this was bound to happen.
Arthur stopped struggling, but Conner didn't let go and continued from where he was cut off. "You need to stop this, Arthur. Otherwise, you will destroy your marriage to a woman who you still obviously love even though you haven't been showing it. Stop this now or you will regret it," he warned, referring to his own past experience. Conner let go of his wrists. "Trust me."
Molly asked the Irishman if he was alright and healed the cut on his cheek while apologizing for her husband's behavior before walking him out. It seemed like none of this affected Conner though. It was strange. What kind of person was content and held no ill will after being attacked like that?
The way Conner reacted and how his wife seemed to fawn over this stranger only increased Arthur's suspicions. Completely ignoring him and his broken nose, she immediately went over to Conner. Never in their lives had Molly preferred another man over Arthur unless it was one of their kids. Feeling like yesterday's trash would have been ten times better than how Arthur felt right now.
"Do you still believe them over me?" Arthur asked Bill as his son fixed his nose.
Bill huffed and ignored his father's surprisingly valid question. "Your nose is fixed, but it'll be sore for a while. When Mum gets back in here, you are going to tell her what you did."
"What about what she's done?
"That's not why we are here." Bill had only seen his mum with Conner once and while they got along really well, he didn't suspect anything, but seeing her go to another man instead of his dad who was injured worse made him question what was actually going on.
Molly approached Arthur when she came back in a few minutes later. A resounding slap rang throughout the kitchen as Molly's hand struck his cheek forcefully enough to turn his head. "Arthur, that man has done nothing to you or this family. Attacking him like that is absolutely uncalled for," she chastised.
Did she just slap him? Never, in his life, did he imagine she would ever do something like that. Glaring daggers, Arthur rubbed his cheek as he turned back to his wife. He plastered a fake smile across his face and said, "For everyone's sake, never do that again."
Hands on her hips and fire burning in her eyes, Molly replied, "You don't scare me, Arthur Weasley."
"I'm not trying to scare you. I don't want to scare you. I'm warning you."
"Fine. If we are playing that game, never lay another finger on me again, never hit Conner again."
That wasn't fair. Arthur had already apologized countless times for the way he treated her and she knew how much he hated himself for hurting her. For now, he would push that to the back of his mind. That was another conversation for another time. Right now, there were more important issues to deal with.
Letting out a deep breath, Arthur flatly stated, "Molly, you know nothing about him."
"Yes, I do," she countered.
"No, you don't. He could've been one of Voldemort's followers. Not necessarily a Death Eater, but one of his supporters -"
"- His son was an auror," she defended, voice rising. "And he is a muggle-born. He was in hiding just like half of Wizarding Britain."
"Everything he told you could be a lie! Even though the war is over, there is no telling who you can trust. There are still loads of dark wizards loose, and you brought him into this house. He knows where we live. He can pass through the wards without having one of us accompanying him," Arthur tried to explain. He thought Molly would understand this better than anyone else. Clearly, she wasn't as cautious as he thought. Then again, Molly never was one for the security questions after Voldemort's second rise to power.
"You are just jealous, Arthur," Molly accused, pointing a finger at him, "for no reason."
"Okay." Arthur threw his hands out in admission. "I am jealous. I have every right to be. This is a man I have never met and three times now, you've been alone with him. But that is not the point I'm trying to make right now. He could be dangerous."
"Arthur, you are making unfounded accusations because you clearly don't trust me. You can go now." Molly gestured to the door behind him.
Taking this opportunity, Arthur turned to leave, but Bill grasped his upper arm to stop him.
"Dad has something to tell you first," Bill prompted, shooting his father a sideways glance.
Reluctantly, Arthur faced his wife and begrudgingly apologized for accusing her of infidelity again.
"How could you think I would do that to you?" Molly asked.
"I know. I overreacted. It's just...recently, my mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario. I can't help it," he explained.
"So, uh, Dad, why were you here Sunday?" Bill interceded. The quicker his father got to the point, the quicker this would be over.
Molly cocked an eyebrow at her husband; the same question had been on her mind for days now. He had shown up out of nowhere, looking like hell, not wearing his own clothes and didn't even give a reason for his being there.
"I came here as soon as Neil told me what happened, but then Conner was here...I thought you had done to me what I did to you and I couldn't deal with that. But because of that, I know how you are about to feel."
"And what did happen?" Molly questioned, already catching on to what her husband was about to say but hoping she was mistaken.
Arthur paled. It was time. There was no more procrastinating. He didn't have a choice. Molly would find out one way or another, and he'd rather her find out from him now lest it damage their relationship any more.
Arthur swallowed hard. This would hurt him as much as it hurt her. "I-I lost my head Saturday night. I still can't remember anything after Percy's party, but…I think I slept with another woman. I am so, so sorry."
All color drained from Molly's face and she braced herself on the counter. How could he do this to her? He even knew how it felt, to think the one person you loved above all others had been unfaithful. Had she pushed him away? Was she the reason for his infidelity? Molly wanted all these questions answered, but one question prevailed above all others.
"Why?" Molly whispered, eyes bright.
"There is no reason," he admitted. "It was a one-time thing, a slip up. Y-You don't know how rotten I've felt. I will never be able to forgive myself. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I beg you, don't let this end things for us."
"You know, I never did like it when you went out with your brothers."
"Molly, I've never cheated on you, never even looked at another woman before this. I promise." He reached out for her hand, but she recoiled.
"Don't," Molly spat. "Go.."
Arthur knew he shouldn't have expected anything else. In time, Molly would either forgive him or condemn him, and with how things were going, he wouldn't be surprised if it were the latter. Besides, he knew what he would do if he were in her position.
From that night on, an unspoken agreement was formed between the four oldest Weasleys that none of them would breathe a word to another soul concerning the events that took place on Saturday, July 4, 1998.
oOoOo
Over the next week and a half, neither Molly nor Arthur communicated to one another. Molly did not heed Arthur's warning that Conner could be dangerous and kept meeting with him. Arthur spent more time at work and stuck to his usual extracurricular activities in his free time. It wasn't until the next Friday that the couple was called into the same room.
Molly had gone to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes that afternoon to speak to George for the first time since Percy's engagement party. Ginny's three weeks would be up the next day, and she didn't care what Arthur said, her daughter would be moving back home. Unfortunately, this led to a full blown argument between her and her somewhat estranged son in his office.
When he had had enough, George stepped out of the office and told Harry to send a patronus to Arthur at work saying something important had come up and he needed him in his office immediately. Ever since Fred had been killed, George was unable to produce his own patronus. It was odd, but it didn't really bother him.
It wasn't long before Arthur entered George's office. Upon his entrance, the spouses spotted each other simultaneously.
Molly asked, "What are you playing at, George?" at the same time Arthur mumbled, "I knew I shouldn't've come."
"This isn't about either of you," George cut in. "Though both of you should pull your head out of your arse."
"George," both of his parents reprimanded.
"I'm only saying what everyone is thinking. You are both to blame. You have both done things to damage your relationship. This is ridiculous! Nothing has happened to cause you two to be like this. Fred's death shouldn't have done this. If anything, it should have brought you two closer."
"Don't bring him into this," Molly said.
"You are not going to sweep him under the carpet like you did Gracie. I am bringing him into this because he would be standing here saying the same damn thing." George couldn't help himself. His mother had pushed his temper over the edge already, and with how everything else had been going, he felt he needed to tell his parents how stupid they were being. He took a deep breath. "But that's beside the point. Dad told us Ginny can stay with me until she goes to Hogwarts and if any issues arose to come to him." George looked at his father pointedly. "Mum said she has to go back to the Burrow tomorrow night."
Arthur was about to defend his son and daughter before catching Molly's glower. As much as he wanted his kids to be happy, he knew that going against his wife, especially after what he had done, would only make matters worse. Glancing back at an expectant George, he was torn. The kids he did have meant the world to him, but he wanted his family to be whole again even if it was a long shot. The guilt on top of that made him feel powerless.
"I'm sorry, George," Arthur apologized. "I don't have a say anymore."
"What? Did I miss something? Or are you just going back on your word again?" George shot.
"I don't have a choice," Arthur ground out.
"I'll be by after you close tomorrow to pick up Ginny. Make sure she's packed," Molly instructed, head held high in victory.
George leaned on his desk. He had thought, for sure, his dad would have stood up for him. His dad was never consistent nowadays though. He looked up and, through gritted teeth, he commanded, "Get out." When Molly didn't move, he added, "Both of you. And, Mother, don't even contact me unless it's about my sister."
As they made their way to the front of the store, Molly asked, "So does your word not mean anything anymore?"
This made Arthur stop in his tracks, causing Molly to nearly run into him. She knew exactly why he let her have her way and now she was goading him? This was unbelievable. Did she not want the same thing he did, for their lives to return to normal?
When he turned around, he pointed out, "That only would have had us at each other's throats. I swear, sometimes you like the conflict."
"No, Arthur, I don't, but there is no middle ground with you anymore. You always either let things happen or completely go off the deep end."
"You know why I didn't say anything in there? Because," Arthur ducked a toy flying overhead, "I knew it would only make things worse for everyone and I don't want that, but you want to see me let things happen? Fine! I won't do anything! I won't try anymore! I've already come close to quitting once or twice, so it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Do that and see where it gets you, Arthur Weasley," Molly hissed as she passed him and disappeared into the crowd.
Arthur was left standing there, befuddled. What did she mean by that? He didn't think his life could get any worse, so what could she do that would take him below rock bottom?
