19 December 1995 – Kiss

"Mum—he's going to be okay," Bill said gently, touching her arm. "Why don't you go to Grimmauld Place? You can sleep a bit, let the others know that he's all right. I'll stay with him and make sure he gets into his new ward."

"Not yet, Bill, dear," Molly replied. She ran one hand through her hair, holding Arthur's uninjured hand. Perhaps it was foolish—selfish, even, but she was not moving from this spot until she saw his eyes open, until she knew for herself that Arthur was still there, beneath the bloodstained bandages and frighteningly pale features. Her eyes lingered on his horn-rimmed glasses, which lay on the bedside table. She sighed, holding his fingers more tightly.

It had been a very, very long night, and it was not yet over. She hadn't slept since Arthur had left the house for work early yesterday morning, and now she was not sure she would be able to do so ever again. She had very nearly lost him—the Healers had told her so.

"Can I get you a cup of tea, then?" Bill asked, gently rubbing her back.

"That would be lovely, thank you, darling," she said softly. He kissed her cheek as he got up.

"Be back in a minute."

The critical care ward was hardly a private place, but Molly waited until Bill had drawn the curtains around Arthur's bed again before she closed her eyes, bringing his hand up against her cheek. "Arthur, dear…you're going to be all right…I promise…but please, wake up, sweetheart. Wake up." She opened her eyes and looked down at him. "I know you're in there, you barmy old man," she whispered, kissing his fingers.

"Heh."

She started. "A-Arthur?"

"Issthat…s'that any way to…talk to me?"

"Arthur!" she gasped, as his eyes opened slowly; it seemed to be a great effort for him to focus on her face.

"Hi, Mollywobbles," he mumbled, blinking hazily. "What're you doing here?"

She gave a weak laugh, putting a hand to his hair. "Well, they called your other wife, but she was busy."

"Ah," he said, with a serious little nod. "I see."

"Do—do you remember what happened?" Molly asked anxiously. "Any of it?"

"W'son duty," he mumbled his eyes closing. "On duty at—at the Dep—"

"Shh, shh," Molly said. "Yes, you were on duty. And then what?"

A frown creased Arthur's forehead. "Snake," he said. "Bloody, filthy, dirty great snake. Bit me, it did, the stupid—where's my arm?" he asked suddenly, looking around as though he expected Molly to pull it from her pocket.

"Your arm's still on, darling," she told him, placing a hand on his forehead and smiling tremulously. "It's all bandaged up, see?"

Arthur looked down at his own fingers protruding from the blood-spotted bandages and frowned. He wiggled them a bit. "Oh, look. That's good, isn't it?"

"Oh, darling," Molly said, shaking her head and laughing understandingly. "I think you've had a lot of medicine for pain."

"Well, that's good to know," he replied. "I thought I'd just gone mad."

"That too," she promised him. She wiped away her tears, leaned forward, and kissed his forehead. "Bill's here, sweetheart—he's going to sit with you, and then I'll come back later—"

"Where're the kids?" Arthur mumbled. "Hang on—wait a moment…" he seemed to be struggling with something that was beyond words. "Wait…wait…how did anyone know where I was? Just Dumbledore, I thought—and—and you—?"

"Harry," she said simply. "Harry had—well, Dumbledore told me that it was a dream—he had a dream about you, and the snake, and he—he went straight to Dumbledore—I don't understand much of it—"

"A dream?" Arthur's expression sobered as he forced himself to concentrate. "What?"

"He dreamt about you getting attacked," Molly said, feeling tears fill her eyes. "He saw the snake bite you—while he was sleeping, I imagine—so he went to Dumbledore—he saved your life, Arthur."

"Merlin's beard," Arthur muttered. "And…where is he? And the kids?"

"Dumbledore sent them all—er, Fred and George, and Ron, Ginny—Harry, too—to Grimmauld Place, away from Dolores Umbridge, before she could find out anything about where you were," Molly told him. "They're safe with Sirius. Bill's written to Charlie and—well, everyone knows," she finished, hoping that Arthur missed her near-mention of Percy.

He seemed to, for he closed his eyes, still holding her hand. "Thank goodness for that."

"Dad?"

Arthur's eyes opened, and he smiled as he looked at Bill, who had just reappeared through the curtains with a mug of tea in his hand and a newspaper under his arm. "Hello, son," he said merrily. "How are you?"

Bill gave a short laugh, sitting down beside Molly and looking incredibly relieved. "I'm fine—how are you?"

"Oh, brilliant," Arthur replied. "I got bitten, though."

Molly smiled and kissed his hand again. She looked at Bill, who was grinning. "Arthur, darling—I need to give the others the good news," she said gently. "Will you be all right if Bill stays with you?"

"I'll miss you," he replied, so plaintively that Molly felt her cheeks turn pink. Bill looked away.

"If you go to sleep for a bit, it'll—it'll be like I never even left," she promised. "They'll take you to a brand-new room and everything."

Arthur sighed heavily. "All right, then."

"That's the spirit," Molly whispered, leaning close and kissing his cheek. "I'll see you later. I promise."

"Where's my kiss?" Arthur whispered back, sounding put out. Molly chuckled and kissed his cheek again. "Am I your Aunt Muriel?" he asked indignantly, and Molly distinctly heard Bill snort. "I'd like a real kiss, madam."

Molly, blushing furiously, leaned over and kissed Arthur soundly—it could have been ten minutes before they finally broke apart. When they did, she sat up, fixing her hair self-consciously, and Arthur grinned stupidly at her. Bill was still turned tactfully away, skimming the Daily Prophet he had brought from the tearoom.

"Don't you go anywhere, Arthur Weasley," Molly told him seriously, adjusting her cloak over her dressing gown. "I mean it."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied sleepily. "Mm—Molly?"

"What, darling?" she asked softly, bending over him.

"Have the Knut?" he asked.

Tears filled her eyes. "It's safe, Arthur. I promise."

He smiled dreamily. "Oh, good."

Molly straightened up and looked toward the tiny sliver of a window that was visible in the curtains. It was still quite dark outside. She glanced down at Arthur, who seemed to have nodded off again, and kissed the top of Bill's head. "Take care of him, dear," she murmured.

"No problem," he replied. "Bye, Mum."

"Bye, Mum," Arthur echoed. Molly smiled and wiped away a tear.