Summery: She's done it all before, that's how she knows what to do. Even if it's painful.
Character(s): Hermione, Molly Weasley
Additional Notes: One of my favorite Harry Potter fanfic writers is Solstice Muse. I just finished up reading the only story of hers i never read. I never read it because I knew it ended sadly, and i didn't want to have some heart break! But the story is called Lost in Parasomnia, one of her her ealier works. In it, Molly's two (known) brothers are twins. I just loved that idea so much I ran with it. It is my own personal head canon that Molly had been the only girl in a large family, so I added a few more siblings to Molly's line.
Hermione leaned heavily against the Burrow's back porch, watching Ron and his brothers laugh and talk. She wasn't sure what the conversation was about...maybe Fred. Fred was the subject of a lot of talks lately, and George had made it his soul mission to make sure everyone laughed when they brought up his twin. Even if tears came first, the conversation had to end in laughter. The Weasley were a little more lively today as they had a guest over.
Luna had come by and sat in front of Harry and Ron, wearing a big sun hat that resembled a large bird's nest. A toy griffin was seated at the top of her hat, and would bow every so often. Her dress was a bright mauve with tiny griffins had been been bewitched to dance around the hem.
It was quite an amazing outfit really, and Hermione couldn't help bat marvel at the wild get up.
In Luna's lap was a simple journal and pencil. But it would soon contain an exclusive interview from the, "Golden Trio," ( as they were being called around the Wizarding world ) for the Quibbler. Harry was ready to talk, as were Ron and Hermione. It was time to get the story out, as much of it as they were willing to tell. They would be giving Luna, as well as the Weasely family the whole story. Luna promised to write down only what the three wanted published, leaving out details of torture or any other unpleasantness that the trio didn't want published.
It was a little nerve wracking to finally be on the verge of telling the whole story as there were holes that the trio had kept from each other. Hermione didn't know what Ron underwent from the locket, Neither Harry or Ron knew what happened to Hermione during her torture, and Harry seemed to have a few more details about his time alone in the woods that he needed to tell. They would all finally be caught up and know everything, and soon the wizarding world would know a great deal of it.
The thought was very taxing, but if anyone was to be trusted with this story, Luna could be.
She'd already helped her father publish a very lovely story about her own imprisonment at the Malfoy manor, a story that had been very hard and dark, and often detailed descriptions of Xeno Lovegood breaking down over his daughter's plight were woven in the story. Luna had told her Dad everything because she was certain he needed to hear everything in order to heal. But with a kind smile she'd assured Harry, Ron, and Hermione that they needn't tell her everything.
"If you come across something that's not ready to leave you yet, keep it. It's not good to hold onto darkness, but neither is it good to let it leave too soon," Luna has said with a small smile. Her large eyes had then turned to Ron's tent in his backyard and she gasped, "Oh how lovely! Can I sleep in it?"
Luna had always been odd to Hermione, but now Hermione could barely think of another witch whom she'd respected more.
"Here you are dears, some sandwiches!" Molly's motherly tone brushed past Hermione as the mother brought out food to her children and guests.
She was profusely thanked, and Ron took about four sandwiches as everyone laughed. George called him a git, and his mother pinched his cheek promising there'd be more. George brushed scarlet as his brothers and sister laughed. George made a grand show of huffing and puffing, and went to fetch some chocolate he'd stowed away in his cot inside Perkin's former tent. Molly's smile did not waver, but her eyes looked at the tent that George had disappeared into and that her children had been sleeping in. There was a flicker of some deep emotion, but it passed quickly as she kissed the top of Ron's head, and ruffled both Harry and Ginny's hair messing them until Ginny was complaining loudly.
As Mrs. Weasley headed back up the porch she caught Hermione's eye and approached her casually, though she blocked Hermione's view of everyone, "Hermione dear would you help me with this soup I'm making for tonight? It's going to rain later and I'd feel better if everyone had warm soup inside them before you all slept in that drafty thing again," She tossed a hand over her shoulder gesturing wildly at the tent.
"Of course!" Hermione eagerly agreed, and followed the older witch back into the kitchen.
When inside, Hermione saw that soup was already made, and packed in magically sealed jars that would keep the soup warm for as long as it was needed. Confused, Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasley to find the older woman gently offering her a tea towel.
"You're crying again my dear," Mrs. Weasley said with an incredibly understanding look on her face.
Hermione jumped and touched her face. And so she was... her face was drenched as great big tears lolled down her face.
"I-I hadn't noticed. I didn't realize..."
"Hush now...it's alright. I just know you wouldn't have wanted them all to see..." Mrs. Weasley said helping to guide the towel in Hermione's hands.
Hermione dabbed her cheeks, and took in a calm breath, "Thank you," she whispered her voice feeling strained.
Mrs. Weasley nodded and peered outside at everyone out back, a blank look crossing her face. Somehow Mrs. Weasley seemed to be taking in the fact her children couldn't come inside their childhood home with stride. It was amazing that Mrs. Weasley hadn't gone into an over emotional state of distress. The poor mother was known for her emotional temper.
"How do you do it?" Hermione found herself asking.
Mrs. Weasley jumped a little and turned to look at Hermione.
"Do what?" Mrs. Weasley asked tilting her head in confusion.
"How are you so...calm? Ron can't come inside...and...and everyone is out there in that tent-that blasted tent!" Hermion's voice choked up a hand on her chest. It felt suddenly very hard to breathe. She took in a large gulping breath trying to get herself under control, but before she could speak again, Hermione found herself wrapped up in Mrs. Weasley's arms.
The two woman held each other a moment, and then Hermione found herself being sat down at the kitchen table, and her hands were taken up in the older woman's. Mrs. Weasely rubbed Hermione's hands, and squeezed the young witch's fingers, pouring in motherly affection through hands alone.
Hermione had always felt that there was some distance between her and Ron's mom. It had always felt as if Mrs. Weasley didn't quite trust her. Hermione knew now, that Mrs. Weasley had known Hermione's heart... had known Hermione had strong feelings for Ron. And no doubt Mrs. Weasley had seen the same longing in Ron's eyes for Hermione. It must have been hard to see her little boy so quickly falling in love. Especially with people like Rita Skeeter painting Hermione to be like some harlot. That had been between them before Hermione had even understood how much she'd longed for Ron.
But right now as Mrs. Weasley held Hermione's hands, none of that seemed between them.
"Hermione," Mrs. Weasley began softly, "I'm going to say something that may come off as...maybe rude or even angry. But it's not. The simple fact is...you all aren't the only ones to have lost something. Someone. Family. This is...this is not my second time to lose family."
Hermione's eyes welled with tears, as did Mrs. Weasley.
"I came from a large family myself you know...it may not have crossed your mind...but my family, my parents, my brothers... they are never...never brought up," Mrs. Weasley whispered wetly, "That's because...you-know...that's because Voldemort wiped out my line during the firs Wizarding War. The Weasley line is strong...but there will be no more Prewetts from my line." Molly Weasley took in a deep breath, steadying herself as she continued speaking, "I was the oldest of my family. After me I had two more brothers, Cecil, and Ignatius. Then there were the youngest members, who came to my mother as a surprise. They were Fabian and Gideon, twins as well you know," Molly looked up at Hermione's face, a bright light in her eyes as she began speaking of her brothers, "So much like George and...and darling Fred..."
Hermione squeezed Mrs. Weasley's hands as the woman stumbled over her son's name.
"Oh Freddy..." Mrs. Weasley moaned, shutting her eyes for a moment. Taking several breaths, she blinked eyes eyes open and continued, "During the first Wizarding War, I was a messenger to the Order. Sometimes, Arthur and I helped transport wizards and witches away from danger, to safer homes... but for the most part we played messengers. I had many young children at the time, so I wasn't looking to get as heavily involved with the Order of Phoenix at that time. But my parents...well...well they were a little more involved. My mother, father...Cecil and Ignatius were wiped out in my old family home. Death Eaters had torn the house apart, but they never found what they were looking for. Turns out it was where the Order's new location. Under torture my family had managed to conceal that the Order's meeting place was their own basement. It feels ugly to be so proud of them, but I am. They took torture and never revealed that what Voldemort wanted was just down the stairs! "
Hermione hiccuped suddenly, and realized again she'd been crying.
Now that Mrs. Weasely had started it didn't seem she could stop, "A little over a year later I lost Fabian and Gideon as well. I lost everyone so quickly-and wouldn't you know it, Voldemort fell not two months later after my brothers' deaths? I was so bitter," Molly said spitting out the last words and shaking her head, "Oh I was so bitter. But I had children. I had to persevere. I had to."
"How?" Hermione asked in a squeaking voice, "How?"
Molly Weasley smiled a little, and wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hands, and then wiped Hermione's face and cupped her cheek, "After I lost my parents I looked to my children. As a mother, I needed to be strong for them...I had my husband...I had so much love. But at the same time I needed more love, I needed the greatest love I knew...so I got pregnant with Ron."
Hermione's mouth opened in surprise as Mrs. Weasley spoke.
"Having babies made me feel whole. I lost my whole family...but within me I could create a new one along with my husband. I could build a happy life out of misery. I was determined. And when I had Ron I felt that if I could continue to have children, if babies could still be born in all this heartache, if families could continue to grow in the wake of being ripped apart... then I could be okay. Love could still exist in this heartbreaking world if I had my children. And then after Ron I had Ginny...who came at the perfect time just as he did. Just before I lost Fabian and Gideon I had Ginny. I had no time to fall into depression when I had my beautiful children to worry about...my darling loves."
Molly let out a long sigh, and brought both hands back to Hermione's trembling hands. She smiled, her face wet, and eyes tired. She looked as if she'd revealed a great secret that she'd been holding on to for years.
"So you see...I knew how to heal myself then. I had my children..." Mrs. Weasley concluded sounding at peace.
Hermione bowed her head and let out a wretched sob as she felt panic clench at her heart, "How...How do you go on now though? How! You've lost Fred! Your baby..." Hermione bit her lip to silence herself instantly regretting her words. When under stress she tended to blurt out the most insensitive things, and now she was really kicking herself for it. Before she could stammer out apologies over her hiccups and sobs, Molly took Hermione's chin, and lifted her face up. With gentle hands she smoothed Hermione's hair back and looked into the young witch's eyes.
"Hermione...I go on because my children still need me. More than ever now. I know what it's like to lose a brother. I know. Arthur knows. I wish with all my heart my family could have been spared this pain...but I have other children who need me. And Freddie always hated to see me cry, so I must be strong for him too. He'd hate to see his Mummy give up and not help George or Ron...I can't let them down, and I won't let Fred down."
Hermione launched herself across the table and crushed Mrs. Weasley in a tight hug, "You have me too! If...if it's too much, if you're sad, please talk to me! I love you, I'll help support you! I'll help you!"
The two sobbed for a long time, and held each other tight wrapped up in love and support. When they calmed they dried their eyes, and helped each other clean their faces and look like they hadn't been crying for almost an hour. Of course they failed, but hopefully no one would point out their red rimmed eyes.
As Hermione got up to rejoin everyone outside she paused and smiled at Mrs. Weasley, "That story...about why you had Ron...you should tell it to him. He really needs to hear it."
Mrs. Weasley smiled and nodded gently, "Alright. I will then."
Hermione made her way outside, thanking the heavens for surrounding her with strong woman. Surely, she'd be able to overcome any sadness with woman like Molly Weasley around.
End