Chapter 2

Molly awoke suddenly. She lay still, listening to Arthur's snores. Something was in the room with her. She strained her eyes, but could see nothing. She sat up and swung her legs out of bed. She stood beside the bed, straining her ears to their limit, but she heard nothing. Still, the feeling persisted. There was someone other than Arthur and herself here. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Her heart rate sped up. Was it a Death Eater? Had they somehow gotten into her house despite the wards her eldest son, Bill, had set up. She reached for her wand, preparing to fight to protect her family.

She nearly screamed when a hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her fingers mere inches from her wand.

"Shh," a voice hissed in her ear. "You don't want to wake your husband, do you?"

Molly frantically tried to pull her hand back, but the grip on it was unyielding. "Be still bitch," the voice snapped. "I'm not going to hurt you, unfortunately."

A soft white light filled the room, revealing the intruder. Molly gasped, her hand not in this person's iron grip flying to her throat.

Beside her, clutching her hand in her small one was Lily Potter. Her red hair fell to the middle of her back in a single long braid. She wore a long flowing white gown that covered her from neck to calf. Her feet were bare and unless Molly's eyes deceived her, weren't quite touching the floor. Her green eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Mrs. Weasley's face.

"Hello Molly," Lily said quietly. Her voice seemed to echo, as if she was speaking from inside a cave.

"You're dead," Molly whispered.

"Indeed," Lily said dryly. "How very observant of you."

"What do you want," Molly said, her voice trembling slightly. She tried again to free her hand, but Lily's grip tightened painfully.

"To help Harry," Lily said simply.

Molly stared at this apparition haughtily. "Then why aren't you with him?"

"Because, there are things you need to see. Your family is the closest thing to a family my son has ever known and you single handedly stripped that away from him."

Molly bristled. "It is not my fault if my family finally saw what a danger he posed to their safety." As she spoke, her eyes dropped from Lily's face. She stared down at the floor sullenly.

"All your lies will cross your eyes," Lily said in a sing song voice. "That's what my Mother said anyway. I'm not going to argue with you. We're going on a little trip. It's time you saw what my son's life was really like."

Molly opened her mouth to protest, but Lily tugged on her arm, and just like that, they were somewhere else.

XXX

Molly blinked in the sunlight. She looked around the street dazedly.

Cars were parked in the drives of houses nearby. Each lawn was perfectly kept. The grass was perfectly cut, not one blade stood higher than any other. The houses were all two stories high, all looked exactly alike. Same beige paint and sloping roofs. The only difference appeared to be the brass numbers on each door. Molly looked at Lilly.

"Where are we?"

"This is the Dursley home," Lily explained frostily. "This is where Harry grew up." She pulled Molly forward. "Come with me."

The two moved down the street. As they passed the occupants of the houses, Molly noticed the people drawing back, as if they'd felt a sudden chill. Seeming to read her mind, Lily spoke.

"They can't see or hear us, but they can sense our presence."

Before Molly could say anything, they stopped in front of a house that looked the same as all the others. On the door was a brass number four. Lily turned to her.

"Looks neat enough, doesn't it? From the outside, you'd never know that this was home to some of the most bigoted monsters on the planet."

"What do you mean?" Molly asked.

"Come now," Lily said. "You suspected what went on here. Heaven knows my son dropped enough hints."

"Well," Molly mumbled. "I knew he wasn't happy."

Lily laughed mirthlessly. "Not happy, that's the understatement of the century, but enough talk, come, let's see what the inside is like, shall we?"

Not giving Molly a chance to respond, Lily drew her forward. They passed straight through the wooden door as if it wasn't there.

XXX

Molly blinked in the sudden dimness. After a moment, her eyes adjusted and she was able to look around.

They were standing in a large living room. The furniture was all in bright blue's and yellows. There was a chair, a sofa, and a long couch against the back wall. Each piece of furniture was draped with a dust cover. Molly looked at Lily confused.

"Are they moving? Why is everything draped with cloth?"

"No," Lily said. "My sister is a bit of a neat freak. She can't abide any type of uncleanliness. She views it as abnormal so…" She gestured at the covered furniture. "Nothing can get on the furniture with those sheets on it."

"Well," Molly said, pointing at the pictures lining the walls. "She doesn't have good taste in art. Look at the pictures of pigs everywhere. Has she always loved them?"

Lily snorted. "Those aren't pigs Molly. They're pictures of my nephew, Dudley."

Molly blushed. "Sorry."

"Don't be, he did look like a pig when he was younger. Although, from what I hear, he's really turned his life around over the past couple of years."

Their conversation was interrupted by a crash from the kitchen. It was followed by a bellow of rage. "Boy," a man's voice roared.

Hurriedly, the two women rushed to see what'd happened. They entered the kitchen just in time to see a small dark haired boy fall to the ground, clutching his face. When he moved his hand, they could both see his left eye swelling shut. His other eye, as green as his Mothers, stared up at the fat man fearfully.

He clambered to his feet, cringing against the far wall. Looking at him, Molly guessed he couldn't be older than three or so. His dark hair was a mess as always. He was dressed in oversized baby clothes. They were so large they hung down over his feet. Molly didn't see how he could walk without tripping.

"I'm sorry Uncle Vernon," the boy whimpered. "I just couldn't reach the stove. That's why the bacon burned."

"That'll teach you to get something to stand on next time won't it," the fat man said nastily. "Just for that, you don't get any food today. Now, get to your cupboard."

The boy opened his mouth to protest, but Vernon raised one purple fist threateningly.

Shoulders slumping, Harry turned away from his uncle and made his way down the hallway.

Molly looked at Lily. "What does he mean by cupboard?"

Lily gestured for Molly to follow her. They followed Harry down the hallway to the stairs. Kneeling, Harry opened a small door built into the staircase. When she saw the inside of the cupboard, Molly gasped.

The cupboard couldn't have been more than four feet high and three feet wide. In one corner there was a mess of mops and buckets. Cleaning supplies were piled in another corner. In the middle, there was a battered mattress. The fabric was ripped and springs poked out in several places. Covering the mattress was a thin tattered baby blanket.

Lily looked at Molly stonily. "I think your family ghoul has better accommodations, does he not?"

Molly shook her head. "Dumbledore said he'd be safe," she whispered.

"Safe from Death Eaters perhaps, but not safe from my sister and her oaf of a husband. Dumbledore took it upon himself to place my son here, but he didn't check up on him. He knew what sort of people my sister and her family were, yet he left Harry on their doorstep with naught but a letter for explanation. How can you respect a man that cares so little for those he takes it upon himself to protect?"

Molly was silent. She could make no defense for Dumbledore. He had failed utterly as a surrogate guardian for Harry. He may have had his reasons for doing what he did, but she could think of none that would justify leaving Harry in an abusive environment. Unbidden, a thought occurred to her. What if it were her children? What if she and Arthur had died and Dumbledore had left her children in a place like this. She stifled a sob. She couldn't imagine how Lily must be feeling.

After giving her time to respond, Lily continued. "Come, there is more you must see before we move on."

The room seemed to shimmer around them and they were standing in the kitchen once more. Harry stood at the stove. He was clearly a little older. His shirt and jeans were still far too large for him. He flipped an egg, watching as it sizzled in the hot bacon Grease. From several feet away, they could hear his stomach growl.

"He hasn't been fed for three days this time," Lily said dully, "but he is still expected to cook their meals." She wiped a tear from her eye. "It must be pure torture for him." She straightened and her expression hardened. "There is one last thing you must see before we continue onward."

The room shimmered again. When they could see, they stood in a living room surrounded by brightly wrapped packages. The tree decorated with lights and tinsel standing in one corner made it clear it was Christmas time.

On the floor in front of the tree, was a large fat boy with piggy little eyes and blond hair. He was ripping the paper off the packages, not even looking at the contents before tossing it aside.

"Little tike is so excited," chuckled Uncle Vernon.

Molly turned to Lily. "Where's Harry?"

Lily pointed at the cupboard. Through a crack in the door, they could see a pair of green eyes staring at the pile of presents longingly. He may get a pair of socks for Christmas," Lily said conversationally. "If he's lucky, he'll get a pair of Dudley's old underwear."

"Poor boy," Molly murmured.

Lily's head whipped around to look at her. "What?" she asked her eyes wide in mock surprise. "Could you be feeling sorry for the person who caused your son's death through his inaction?"

Molly hung her head in shame. Lily glared at her.

"Let's go," she said shortly "We have a few more places to see." The room faded from view around them. There was a feeling of weightlessness, and then they were somewhere else.

XXX

Molly looked around, taking in her new surroundings.

There were shelves of jars all around the room. Some contained animal feet, some contained pickled toads, and rats soaked in formaldehyde. Molly thought some of the animals were moving when she wasn't looking. The stone walls constantly dripped with moisture and the cauldrons around the room steamed in the cold air.

As Molly looked around the room, she saw Harry and Ron sitting together at one of the tables. By their height and appearance, she guessed they couldn't be more than eleven years old. She glanced sideways at Lily, a confused expression on her face.

"What are we doing in the potions classroom?"

"Watch," Lily said shortly. "This is their first potions class."

No sooner had she spoken, Snape swept into the room. His long black hair billowed behind him. He glared at the students waiting for him. His black eyes lingered on Harry, a sneer twitching at the corner of his thin mouth.

Molly tuned out most of his speech, wondering why this was significant. Why would Lily want to show her this? Hearing Harry's name, she started paying attention again.

"Ah," Snape said in his low cold voice. "Harry Potter, our new celebrity."

Molly heard the Slytherins in the room snickering. Snape continued.

"Potter, what would I get if I combined powdered root of asphodel with an infusion of Wormwood?"

Harry blinked at the professor. "Um," he said hesitantly. "I don't know sir."

"Fame isn't everything is it, Potter?" Snape sneered. "Let's try again. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't know sir," Harry said again.

"What is the difference in Monkshood and wolfs bane," Snape snapped.

Harry looked around the room. "I don't know sir," he said, still as respectful as ever. "I think Hermione does though, why don't you ask her?"

Molly noticed Hermione standing up, her hand waving in the air.

"Sit down," Snape snapped. "Potter, that's one point from Gryffindor."

Molly turned to Lily as Snape explained the answers to his questions. "Okay, he singled Harry out, but that's nothing to what he went through at the Dursleys."

"Watch," Lily instructed.

The lesson continued as normal until Neville melted his cauldron, causing boils to sprout all over his body.

"Potter," Snape growled. "Why didn't you tell him not to at the porcupine quills until he took the cauldron off the fire? I suppose you thought it'd make you look good if he got it wrong? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

"We can go now," Lily said solemnly. Instead of vanishing, she turned and walked through the door. Hesitantly, Molly followed.

"Why did you show me that?" she asked shakily.

"Snape's actions were relatively minor at first, but every time he saw Harry, he was reminded of what James did to him. He escalated from this point. Once, he even destroyed Harry's potion and gave him a zero for the day. I am showing what Harry's life was like, so you can understand how much your betrayal hurt him."

Molly stayed silent. For the first time she'd been with Lily, she felt guilt. Could she have treated Harry unfairly?"

Lily's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Did you know that you were first to give Harry a Christmas present?"

Before Molly could answer, everything faded away again."

XXX

When they reappeared, they were standing in a graveyard. Crumbling headstones towered on either side of them. The statue of an angel, standing tall, with wings spread and sword held aloft, stood at one end of the graveyard.

"Listen," Lily hissed in Molly's ear.

Molly did. She could hear muffled grunts of effort and the thud of a body crashing against a hard object. Lily gestured for her to follow. As they moved towards the sounds, Lily turned to her. "Remember, they can't see or hear us. We are shadows in this time and place."

Molly looked at Lily confused. "Why do you feel the need to mention that?"

"You'll see," Lily said cryptically.

As they maneuvered around another headstone, Molly gasped. There was Harry tied to a headstone. "No," she whimpered, immediately knowing what was coming. "Not this, please not this."

"Watch," Lily barked. Suddenly, she sounded furious. "I had to watch it without being able to do a damn thing to stop it, so you should have to."

Molly watched, horrified, as a short, fat, balding man dragged a large stone cauldron to the foot of the headstone where Harry was tied. She'd never seen him before, but she knew immediately who he was from the descriptions of her son and Sirius.

"Wormtail," she hissed.

Wormtail drew his wand and spoke to the night. "Bone of the Father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son."

Molly gasped as the earth shifted; a bone rose out of the ground, and plopped into the cauldron with a wet splash.

Wormtail began to sob, the small frightened weeping of a child who has just been told that the monsters under his bed are real. "F-flesh of the servant," he whimpered. "W-willingly given, you will restore your m-master."

Molly shrieked as Wormtail drew a long silver dagger, and with one swing, cut off his right hand. There was a sickening thud as the hand hit the ground. Panting quickly, Wormtail picked up the hand and threw it into the cauldron.

He turned to Harry, the bloody dagger still clutched in one hand. "Blood of the enemy," he croaked. "Forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."

Molly flinched as Wormtail cut Harry's arm with the dagger. Blood flowed steadily from the wound, staining his robes before Wormtail was able to catch some in a small vial. Turning back to the cauldron, he tossed it in.

There was a billow of steam. A few seconds later, Voldemort stepped out of the cauldron. "Robe me," he hissed.

Molly swayed on her feet, and would have fallen had Lily not gripped her arm tightly. "Stay on your feet," she hissed. "We have more to see."

Molly turned to shout at Lily, but froze when she saw the tears running down her face.

Over the next half hour, Molly was forced to watch as Voldemort tortured Harry. She watched as Harry dueled the evil wizard, and finally escaped with the help of the echoes from Voldemort's wand.

After it was all over, Lily looked at her. "Two more things, and then we are done."

Molly was shaking. She'd known Harry's life hadn't been easy, but she'd never expected anything like this. "No more," she begged. "Take me home, I get it. I screwed up. I won't do it again, just please take me home."

"Two shadows more," Lily said firmly. Before Molly could say anything, their surroundings faded once again.

XXX

When Molly was aware again, she knew immediately where she was. She was standing in the Hogwarts Hospital wing. Looking around, she caught a glimpse of Sirius leaving the room. She froze as she heard her own voice.

"You need to take your potion Harry. Try and think about something nice, try and think about what you're going to buy with your winnings."

Molly winced at her past self's words. How insensitive could you be? The poor boy had just witnessed a fellow student's death and the return of the most evil wizard on the planet, and she was telling him to think about money?

She heard Harry say that he didn't want the money, that it should've been Cedric's. She watched as tears filled his eyes. She continued watching as her past self wrapped her arms around him and held him close, stroking his hair. She could feel her own tears running down her cheeks.

"You were the first person he can remember hugging him like that," Lily said softly. "You were the closest thing to a Mother he knew."

Molly fell to her knees, sobbing. "I can't stand it," she wailed. "I'm so sorry Lily. Please, let me go home and I swear I'll make things right."

"One more thing," Lily said quietly.

XXX

They stood in the kitchen of Grimmauld place. They listened to the argument between Sirius and Molly about whether Harry should be given any information concerning the war with Voldemort.

"Well," the past version of Molly said. "I can see that I'm going to be overruled. I'll just say this. Dumbledore must have had a good reason to keep things from Harry, and speaking as someone who's got Harry's best interests at heart…"

"He's not your son," Sirius growled.

"He's as good as,' past Molly shot back. "Who else has he got?"

I don't think we need to see any more of this," Lily said, taking Molly gently by the arm. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Just like that, they were back in her bedroom.

"Do you understand now?" Lily asked harshly. "Harry thought you were his family. He thought he could count on you, but after he'd defeated Voldemort, after he'd watched his classmates die, you threw him away. I hope you're proud of yourself."

With those final words, Lily was gone.

Molly fell onto her bed, tears running down her cheeks. After what seemed like a long time, she drifted off into a fitful sleep.