A/N: So there's only probably going to only be one chapter after this one to wrap the story up. Hopefully I'll get that posted later today so I can start the next story I have in mind which, as I said, isn't about Molly, but I can continue Molly's story wen I've finished the next one if you want.
Chapter 32
Three sets of eyes watched the potion go down Molly's throat. Molly herself shivered slightly at the cold sensation that spread throughout her body. One thought was going through her head: I wish for everything to be back to normal. I wish for everything to be back to normal. I wish for everything to be back to normal.
Over and over again.
I wish for everything to be back to normal.
Suddenly, George collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily. Any colour that had been in his face left and he shivered slightly as he stuttered, "I'm an idiot. Did it work, Mol?"
"I- I don't know. What happened to you?"
"Nothing important. Fred, do you have your memories back?"
"It's hard to tell," Fred replied slowly, "George, you need help, we have to get you to-"
"Don't be stupid, Fred, I'm fine."
"What happened?" Fred asked gently, stepping towards his brother.
"I was attacked," George replied, "The idiot that started this mess found me in the forest. We had a… a chat."
"It looks like you had more than just a chat," Teddy said dubiously as George clambered awkwardly to his feet, stumbling a bit before balancing himself against a wall.
"It was quite a violent chat involving sass, torture and the imperious curse but I'll explain later. Right now, we have to make sure the potion worked. Let's go to the Great Hall."
So Fred and Teddy half-carried George up to the Great Hall where, to their Great relief, students were looking happily at their limbs which were, slowly but surely, returning. A few seconds later, Angelina was sprinting down the centre of the hall to wrap her husband in a hug.
"George, what happened?" she demanded.
"Just a little meeting that went wrong," George brushed her off, "Nothing to worry about."
Fred meanwhile, was looking around the hall in utter confusion. When his eyes landed on his daughter, he engulfed her in a huge hug and apologised repeatedly in her ear.
"I'm so sorry, Mol!" he cried, "I can't believe I-"
"It's my fault, dad. Not yours."
Fred smiled and headed over to George, "I'm assuming the half-dead-zombie-look isn't intentional," he said, "Care to explain?"
"Yeah but not in front of everyone. Come on."
George led Fred, Fred jnr., Angelina, Molly and Teddy out of the hall and up the stairs to Angie's office.
"The man who gave you the potion, Molly, his daughter died in the war," George began with a sigh, "He just wanted her back. He kept saying that by the time he'd found out the battle had even started, that she was already dead, killed by a Death Eater before he could arrive to fight with her. He just wanted a chance to save his daughter, his only child. He tried to move on for twenty years, but then he heard about Fred coming back in the Daily Prophet, and it brought everything back. After all, if I could have my brother back, why couldn't he have his daughter back? So he tried as many things as he could. Various potions and different types of necromancy, he even went all over the world trying to find a Time Turner. Until eventually he came up with this. He used us, used Molly, to get his plan to work then used me to stop us from, well, stopping it."
"But how did he know what Molly would wish for?" Angelina asked.
Molly suddenly gasped, "He's that creep that lives next door!" she exclaimed, "I knew I recognised him from somewhere; I saw him walking down the street every day when we moved house! He will have heard the arguments through the walls of the cottages!"
"What a twisted dude," Fred sighed, "Please tell me you would never have done that to get me back, Georgie."
"There was probably some point where I considered becoming a necromancer but-"
Fred cringed, "I was joking."
"So was I," George winked.
Like the mature 41-year-old he was, Fred stuck his tongue out at his brother.
"Anyway," George continued, "I tried to change his mind, convince him to do something else, but he had me under the Cruciatus curse- oh that reminds me, I need to go and find my wand- and he wouldn't listen to anything I said. He needed to make sure everything was reversed so he could save his daughter and he wouldn't listen when I said that that was a load of nonsense and he'd lose his memories and not be able to save her."
"I feel sorry for him," Angelina said thoughtfully, "Imagine what he must be going through."
"I can't feel any sympathy for a man who put me under the Cruciatus and Imperious curse within the space of half an hour," George mumbled angrily.
"George!" Angelina exclaimed, "This man lost his daughter!"
"Yeah I lost my brother but I don't feel the need to curse everyone who walks past me."
"You got Fred back!"
The bickering pair were interrupted when the fireplace next to them erupted in green flames and suddenly Professor McGonagall was standing before them, worry etched onto her face.
"The students!" she cried, "Are they all-"
"Everyone's fine, Professor. The kids are all back to normal, now. Are you feeling better?"
"I remember everything!" she said with a sigh of relief at hearing her pupils were all safe, "I can't believe it."
"Molly, Fred, why don't you take Professor McGonagall down to the Great Hall? We'll be down in a second," George suggested.
"No, Molly, I'm going to head home to your mum. I'll make sure she's ok and send an owl, yeah?" Fred said, wrapping his daughter in another hug.
"Ok. Will you-"
"I'll make everything up to you," Fred promised, "Both of you. Angie, can I use the Floo?"
"Yes, of course. See you later."
So, Fred stepped into the fireplace and a few seconds later, found himself standing in front of his wife.
"I'm so sorry," They both said.
And they both meant it.