A/N: Sorry for the long wait guys! I'm back! Hope you're still enjoying the story! Please review, thanks!
Rose slowly opened his eyes. "Where are we?" she whispered. The room was dark. She felt Goosebumps all over her. "Scorpius, are you there?" There was no answer. Rose felt her heart beating fast. "Scorpius, if this is a joke I am going to kill y-"
"Shh," hissed Scorpius as he pressed his ear to a door. "I can hear something from here. Come," he said. Rose neared him and did the same. They both heard very low whispers that they couldn't understand, although Rose could tell that one belonged to his grandfather because of the many times he spent her time with him. "Can you hear properly?" asked Scorpius.
Rose shook her head. "I only hear whispers," she replied.
"So do I," admitted Scorpius. Suddenly, his ears perked up. "I think I've heard that voice from somewhere," he said. "Yes, I did hear that voice from somewhere. It's my grandfather, I think. He's talking with you grandfather." Rose and Scorpius exchanged excited glances. "Move closer, we might hear it if we do," he suggested.
Rose looked at Scorpius. "Wait," she suddenly said, suddenly remembering why they were there in the first place. "This is Dad's memory, meaning he's here too." She looked around for any sign of her father, but she couldn't see anything in the dark.
Scorpius tugged Rose's shirt. "There," he whispered. He saw Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny all pressing their ears to the door. Percy looked at them disapprovingly, although he didn't say anything. Bill and Charlie looked nonchalantly, but Scorpius could tell that this was some interest by the conversation going on behind the door. This made Scorpius even more curious figuring that Bill wouldn't be too interesting in unimportant things.
"You're stepping on my toe," hissed Percy. Fred looked back at him and lifted his feet. Percy slid it back nearer to him. "We shouldn't be listening to this. This is between Dad and Mr. Malfoy. It's nothing to us," he said to them.
Charlie glared at him. "Don't say that. It's our family on the line here. What if we end up never seeing each other again, would you like that?" Percy pursed his lips and didn't say another word. Charlie looked at the twins, Ginny, and Ron. "You could hear it clearly the same way if you stood with us over here," he said calmly. The four of them scrambled to their feet. "Just be quiet so that they won't hear us," he warned and shot a deadly look at the twins.
"It's going to be heard from there. Come on," said Rose as she and Scorpius walked over to where the Weasley children gathered. Indeed the conversation was clearly heard from there. Rose looked at Scorpius uncertainly. She had a feeling that she didn't want to hear to conversation at all.
Scorpius could tell by Rose's face that she was worried. "Don't worry," Scorpius reassured her. "This is the past and nothing would ruin our friendship." Rose's face eased. Scorpius smiled at her and turned back to the thick door in front of them from getting a clear view of what was really happening. But he wasn't about to complain, he could hear it perfectly well from the outside.
"Funny you should say that," came Lucius Malfoy's voice. "I don't think you can even afford to have that done. Not that I am insulting you. But look at the robes your wife and children are wearing. They aren't even fit to wear their attire inside the house and I see them running around having those ratty clothes on. I do pity them, especially your wife. She could have married a better man, being in the Prewett family after all, she is," he said.
"And what's that to you, Malfoy?" said Arthur hotly. "Don't change the subject. I want to know whether or not Crouch allowed me on the loan. You know I need it to send Bill and Charlie off to Hogwarts. I'll even have to send Percy off there next year. You are toying with us, Malfoy, and I just know it. I don't want to go around in circles with you."
"I am not going in circles," replied Malfoy. "I am just pointing out that you should dress your family more properly. I hear that your oldest son is a prefect and your next boy is a Quidditch player. You don't want to see them walking around in old tattered robes, do you? I won't even let my son touch those filthy things like that." There was a moment of silence before Malfoy continued, "Besides, Crouch said no on the loan so you can kiss those Galleons goodbye."
Bill turned pale. "Crouch said no?" All his other siblings looked at him. Bill knew most about this since he was the eldest. "We're in a bit of a hot water boys." Ginny stared at him. "And girl," Bill added. "Without that loan I don't think we could ever go back to Hogwarts." Percy gasped. Charlie was taken back when he heard this. "Dad's been placing everything he has out and now we're out of luck." Bill tried to put on a straight face as he fought back a very sad look. "We're in for it."
"But how are we going to school?" asked Charlie suddenly. He didn't like the thought of being home-schooled by his mother. It would be a total disaster being Fred and George's classmates too. Most of all, he would miss playing Quidditch. Besides, he had a chance of being captain as soon as his current team captain graduates from Hogwarts.
Rose's heart sank as he saw the Weasleys' faces. Her father had never told her that they had reached this level on their poverty. Because of her current life and her father's current job, she would have never guessed that he came from a situation like this. She wanted to burst out and tell them it's going to be all right. The gloomy atmosphere killed her slowly. She had never seen her Uncles and Ginny look so down, and they were children too, not much older than she was, Ginny looking only five.
Scorpius looked at Rose sideways. He felt sorry for the Weasleys. "I never knew Ron had to go though so much," he whispered. Rose felt a lump on her throat and just nodded. Scorpius looked at Ron who was only about six at the time. "I don't think your dad really understands the situation yet. Look at him." Ron looked at Bill who tried to smile at him. "Why can't that Crouch lend them the money? Isn't he that man from the Ministry in the past?" he asked.
"I believe so," replied Rose. "There is no other Crouch that we know of."
Bill turned to Charlie. "I don't have a clue," he answered lamely. Charlie pouted, but he wasn't about to argue. Bill looked at Percy who was looking upset since it would be his turn to go to Hogwarts soon. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll be able to go to Hogwarts," said Bill encouragingly, but his voice sounded very unconvincing since it didn't seem that he believed it himself.
"What if we can't go?" Ron suddenly asked. "You heard Dad. He needs to get that money, right?"
Charlie nodded. "Yes he does and it's no-go for us if he doesn't," he explained. "I don't know what Dad's going to do next. We've always been borrowing the money every year." He looked at Bill uncertainly. "What will happen if Dad never gets the money we ought to have? What if we really don't go to Hogwarts this year?" His eyes filled with anxiety as he waited for Bill to answer. "Come on, Bill, answer me," Charlie insisted.
Bill sighed. "Then we don't go, it's as simple as that." Percy looked as if he was about to cry. "Suck it up, Perce. No Weasley boy cries just for this," he said. Percy did as he was told, though it was still evident that he felt like crying. Bill looked at Fred and George. They were unusually quiet. "I know Dad's going to find out something. He always does." Bill tried to convince himself as well as he said it.
"What if he doesn't?" asked George. "That means we'll never get into Hogwarts!"
Percy shook his head unbelievingly. "No, we will go to Hogwarts."
Rose clasped her hands to her mouth. Tears started to roll down her eyes as she looked at the Weasley boys. She hadn't realized that they were wearing tattered clothes until now. She looked at her father who had a puzzled look on his face. She studied him closely. She looked like his other brothers (and sister), red hair and freckles, and dressed like them too. They all her shirts and jeans, although faded, especially Ron's. The patches on their shirts were neatly knitted. Rose could only guess Molly had knitted them. They were only barefooted whilst in the house. They looked extremely poor, though she had never heard any of them complaining so far.
Scorpius placed his arm around Rose. "At least we have the peace to know how it ended," he murmured. Rose nodded, not replying. She couldn't take her eyes off of the boys and Ginny. Scorpius rubbed her arm. "It's all right." Although Scorpius said this, he also felt sad that the Weasleys had to go through so much, even to go so far as fearing that they might not even enter Hogwarts.
"Percy is right," said Bill. "We will be going to Hogwarts no matter what. Mum and Dad believe it's the best place to be to learn magic and I'm sure they will find a way to send us there." Just then, he heard whispers coming from the door again. "They're talking again. Quiet, all of you," he said. All the boys and Ginny turned their attention back to the door.
"That's it? A know? Many times I filed for an appeal about it!" protested Arthur. "Lucius, you know I need this money. You have got to talk to Crouch about this. Don't smirk at me like that. I know you're enjoying this. Lucius, I need the money." There was rumbling from inside of the room before Arthur's voice spoke up again. "Please, Lucius, I'm begging you. What do you want from me?"
"I'm sure you're too poor to give me the things I want," Malfoy replied coldly. "I want nothing to do with you, that is what I want. So if you'll excuse me, I'll be going to the Ministry now. There are some things I want to discuss with the Prime Minister." The Weasley siblings were about to scatter when they heard a yell. "How dare you touch my robes with such manner, Weasley?"
"You have to give me that loan," Arthur said. "You have to ask Crouch to give me that loan. All I want is my boys to be sent to Hogwarts. Bill will graduate in two years. After graduation, I believe he can help me with earning the money and everything will be all right. I won't have to ask for any more money. Please Lucius, just two more years. Tell that to Crouch. He'll understand my situation."
"It's your fault for working in that part of the Ministry, Weasley," sneered Malfoy. "Your interest in Muggle things has led you and your family here and I don't care where else you lead them. I suggest that you led go of my robes because I have to be on my way now. If you need the money so badly, why don't you go ask Crouch yourself? Oh that's right, he doesn't even want to see you lately since he knows you're to ask for money."
"Just until Bill graduates. Please Lucius," begged Arthur. The footsteps grew nearer to the door. "If my two boys graduate, I know I can pay back all the debts. They'll all be out from Hogwarts before you know it. All of them are really hardworking and knowledgeable. They deserve a chance of finishing Hogwarts," he said. "All of them do."
"Don't live on your fantasy world forever, Weasley." The doorknob turned. All the Weasley boys jumped. Percy made a run for it. Charlie scooped up Ginny quickly and ran the opposite direction as Percy had. Bill took Ron's hand as the twins jogged behind them. All the Weasley children disappeared as Rose and Scorpius followed behind them.
"They do run fast," said Scorpius. He turned back and could not see anything but black. He looked forward and kept his eyes on Rose's father. "Where do you think they're heading?" he asked as he raced down the stairs so that the black scene wouldn't catch up to him. Rose was a bit slower than him so he had to practically drag her along with him.
Rose looks at Bill, Ron, and the twins. "They're headed for the living room, I'm sure of it," she said. "This is the fastest way to the living room." Scorpius nodded and pulled her to the living room. Sure enough, Bill, Ron and the twins stopped their. Bill let go of Ron's hand. Rose looked at Scorpius. "Why didn't your grandfather want to help mine?" she asked, sounding a little bitter. "He knows perfectly well that Grandpa wouldn't use it for himself."
Scorpius shook his head. "I have no idea, Rose. Let's not start a fight here." Rose nodded understandingly. "Now I know how Ron could be so angry towards me. I never knew tat my grandfather did this to his family…" his voice faded as he cast his eyes on the tired boys. He thought of some justifications for his grandfather not to be helpful, but he knew it was worthless. He didn't want to speak his mind to Rose knowing that it could lead into an argument, but he thought his grandfather still had a reason for being like this. There must be something behind it. Who wouldn't try to help the Weasleys? Scorpius thought they were the nicest family there is. But for some reason, Scorpius felt that the world had been so unfair to the family. There was no way he would complain about his family situations from now on. Charlie and Ginny soon showed up, so did Percy who came out from the other room. "All of them look so…"
"Tired," finished Rose. "Not only from the run. They're tired of this. Look at them, especially Uncle Bill." Scorpius nodded sympathetically. "I wish I could felt them somehow," said Rose sadly as he tried to reach out to her family, which she never could.
Scorpius looked at Rose. "At least," he started, "we know what became of all of them. They're very successful, aren't they? He was about to mention Fred, but decided against it. It might upset Rose more than she already is. "Maybe this is why all the people in your family worked hard in Hogwarts. None of them had a mediocre achievement, is there? You said that all of the Weasleys are known for something." Rose nodded, slowly smiling. "Maybe this is why this had to happen to them, so that it will bring out the best of them," he suggested.
"I'm just glad they all turned out all right," said Rose.
"What are you all doing in the living room?" Molly had just come out of the kitchen to see her children sitting around the couch. She looked at them suspiciously. "You haven't gone up to the room where your father is, have you?" she asked. All of them shook their heads. Molly sighed. "Okay then. Charlie, I want you to take Ron and Ginny to their rooms and give them their naps. Bill, you and the twins clean the garden. Yes, de-gnome it. Percy, you come with me and help me clean the house. Now that is something to preoccupy all of you," she said.
Without a word complaint, all of the Weasley children did as they were told.
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Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
-Pink-
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"We're going to another memory again, aren't we?" said Rose as she looked around and the dark scene came down on them. Scorpius nodded to her. Rose looked calmer now. "I hope we get to see something happy next," she said hopefully as everything fully disappeared.
A/N:
NEXT CHAPTER: Part of the Family