VIII
Anger Welling
"You should be ashamed of yourself. Six children in the middle of a war. Just irresponsible!"
Molly is furious. "Why are we fighting if not for the future?" she spits.
Judgment
"He started it!"
"No, I didn't! It was him!"
"It wasn't! Really, Mum!"
"Sounds to me like it was both of you. Up to your room until lunchtime!
Companionship
Molly is knitting the Christmas sweaters and Arthur is reading the Prophet with a frown on his face.
He reaches out and takes her hand without looking up. She smiles.
Left Out
Bill and Charlie and the twins are playing in the orchard, and the babies are asleep.
Percy is sitting quietly in the corner reading.
Molly worries about him.
My Life
The baby cries and she hauls herself out of bed yet again. Arthur mutters something, but does not wake.
But he smiles in his sleep when she comes back.
Testing the Limits
"Will you still love me when I'm bald?"
"How about if I get fat?"
"What about when I'm fifty?"
At sixteen and seventeen such things seem impossible to contemplate.
Relief
The Healer is coming towards them and she feels Bill's hand tighten on hers. Then the Healer smiles at them.
"Your husband will recover, Mrs Weasley."
Emotional
"Mummy, why are you crying?" Ronnie's little face is concerned.
She tries to smile. "I'm not dear, I'm fine."
And she carries on sorting out Bill's new school robes.
Stubborn
She is six months pregnant and was up half the night with Ronnie. She is worn out.
"Molly, go to bed," Arthur orders, but she shakes her head. "I'm fine."
Around the Corner
They hold each other in the dark without speaking for a long time. They cannot keep their children safe from this war.
They dread what the future will bring.