It's at that moment that dad enters the room. Grandma is beside him. She must have persuaded him to get out of bed to visit Sunrise but I'm not sure whether he knows where he is or what he is doing. I can see from his eyes that he is just not here with us.
Sunrise as soon as she sees him burst out in sobs 'Daddyyyyy' she wails trying to reach him.
Her shriek manages to pierce his lethargy and, like if he just woke up, he finally sees her, his eyes, cleared from that glazed apathy, light up with a longing to hold her. But as he reaches out instinctively to receive her, just before their hands touch, a shout stops us all in mid gesture.
'Don't touch her!'
It's James who barked meanly the sentence.
We all look at him bemused.
'James…' Dad murmurs seeming to spot him for the first time.
'Don't touch her' he repeats minacious.
'James, what the heck…?'
'You shut up!' he barks in my direction 'and don't give her to him'
'Are you mad or something?!' I blort out while Sunrise is still struggling to get to dad. His arms are not ready to receive her anymore though, they fell limp on his sides, and he is looking at James wide eyes who advance on him thunderously.
'You won't touch her anymore. You will stay far away from her'
'James dear…' Grandma trying to interrupt him, but he doesn't as much as acknowledge her.
'I won't allow you to get close to her. She is just gonna be in danger. If she stays with you, she is only gonna pay! I'll take care of her from now on.'
'You are raving!' I spit disgusted. How can he say something like that to dad?!
'How can you defend him?' he hisses looking at me 'It's his fault if mum died! Do you want the same for Sunny?'
'James, don't dare to say such a thing!' grandma apostrophised him stern taking Sunrise from my arms who is still crying at full lungs trying to reach for dad, but before she can give it to him, James sprints forward and snatching her roughly from grandma's arms barks in dad's direction 'You left mum alone! You let her to be killed! You had to die not mum! She didn't have any fault! I don't want to see you ever again! I don't want you to see Sunny ever again!'
The only audible sound is Sunrise's cries as we are all astounded, petrified on our spot.
But I feel rage mounting very fast. How does he dare? How does he? I'm gonna smash his face once and for all!
'James!' I boar with all my strength, my face getting purple by anger 'What the fuck…'
'Albus, leave it.' It's dad, so steady it manages to stop my impetuosity 'He is right. Leave it'
'Dad, he is not right! It's all some huge bullshit!'
I must shout to be heard over Sunrise desperate howling for dad.
'He is. I'm going. She'll be better far from me. He is right.'
I protest warmly but he is not listening to me anymore, he is back in his numbness. He only throws a last glance to Sunrise who is reaching out for him desperately from James' arms, he turns under grandma anxious gaze that moves fast from James to me still calling to get his attention back, but it's clearly a lost cause.
His awareness is already buried somewhere deep inside him while he leaves the room.
I'll strangle that piece of shit at the first chance I get! Fortunately for him Sunrise's presence shields him from my physical wrath.
But nothing can save him from my verbal one 'Are you out of your mind completely?' I shout walking threateningly in his direction, while grandma's hand grasps my shoulder to retain me.
'Do you realise the condition he is in? He almost died! He has been tortured! He is wrecked to bits, and you go and tell him that it's his fault?'
He death stare me trying to calm Sunrise who is screaming as if possessed all her face congested.
'You are a fucking daddy's boy!' he says accusingly 'You don't get it, do you?!'
The noise in the room had attracted attention and all together: Uncle George, Bill, and Ron stumble in the room.
'What's going on in here?' Bill asks stern.
But nobody answers him, me and James are glowering at each other, and Sunrise is still crying her eyes out shouting for dad.
Grandma profiting of the diversion rush to James taking Sunrise from him, endeavouring to calm her down with some soothing hushing.
James doesn't oppose too taken by our exchange.
'That madman wanted to kill him, mum has been used to get to him! How long do you think it'll take for a new madman to make the same connection? To use the same mean to get to him?'
'I don't care. I'll stay with dad' I say firmly.
'Surprise, surprise' he smiles maliciously 'Daddy's boy'
'Stop it!' I bellow enraged.
'But you are. You don't care about mum being dead because of him. You just care about him' he spits disgusted.
Rage lash and whips me so fast it catches me unaware.
My mind gets suddenly crowded with mum. Mum who kisses me goodnight when I was little, the tickles fights, me hiding under the table while she was making a tart and her slipping a slice of apple to me time to time as if by mistake, mum telling me laughingly with a hint of pride that I was a Weasley through and through when cutting my hair so like her own.
And always mum only a few days ago in the morgue, her hair arranged on one side, her eyes closed.
I lunge toward him blinded by these visions, I can barely hear Grandma gasping alarmed, but he is ready. It is what he was expecting, probably what he was hoping.
But, as him, everybody else is on the lookout too.
George and Bill sprint forward stopping me as I was about to grasp him, keeping hold of me. I struggle but they won't let me go.
'Calm down.' Bill orders me severe.
George, who is keeping me likewise, stares hard at James 'You know, you actually deserved a good socking. Stop saying bollocks. You should take example from your brother. It's not your father's fault.'
'I actually think he is quite right'
This voice come unexpectedly from a corner and, as we were all so taken, it took us a good moment to understand the provenance of it.
Distracted, Bill and George loosen up their hold on me, but I'm so staggered my anger had subsided fast.
It's uncle Ron, arms folded, looking darkly.
Grandma interjects 'Ron, this is not the moment…'
He ambles over us interrupting her 'James is right. Not about Albus not caring for Ginny that's downright stupid. But he is right about Harry. It's his fault.'
None of us spoke so stunned we all are, James too, who was expecting only opposition, is staggered at first but very soon his expression grows smug.
'Harry's presence is dangerous. Honestly, I think we should take distances'
Uncle Bill is completely bemused 'What are you talking about? We have always stuck for Harry, you most of us all. It's not his fault. It has always been dangerous. Ginny knew it. We all know it.'
'Things changed. There is not a You-know-who threatening us all anymore. It shouldn't be dangerous but with him around still is. We already paid too dearly. I personally don't want to have anything to do with him anymore. And you shouldn't either if you care for your lives. We can take Sunrise with us, me, and Hermione, she'll be safe in Rumania, in good time she will even forget to be his daughter. The same for Albus and James, they can come and stay with us over the summer, we can adopt them legally. They don't need to meet him any longer'
Sunrise cry has transformed itself in a steady whimpering and she is sucking her thumb her head on grandma shoulder who is listening bewildered.
George winces visibly at his words 'Guys, hold on! This is getting preposterous. Ron, you are taking the piss, right? Are you actually saying we should abandon him to his destiny, cut our contacts and tear away all his kids from him?'
'No!' I bellow alarmed and horror-struck 'This is all wrong! You cannot do that! I won't come'
'I'll come' James mutters darkly 'It's perfect'
'No, it isn't.' Grandma states severe rocking Sunrise 'You don't take away children from the only parent they have left. It isn't right. It's ridiculous, Ron.'
'It is not ridiculous!' he hisses 'Do you realise how many people already died because of him during the years?! Do you need some mind-refreshing?! Let's gloss over his parents…'
'Ron, that was You-know-who! How can you say that?!' Grandma interrupts scandalised.
'Excuse me, who did he want to kill in the first place?!' he snaps enraged covering grandma's voice making her flinch. 'But let's not count them…' he adds quieter, realising it 'Let's see…' he says pretending to think 'We had Ginny saved by a fluke when she was eleven…'
'By Harry if you remember properly' Uncle George interjects bitterly slightly fidgeting, unnerved.
'Yes' Ron spits darkly, the tips of his ears becoming crimson, a clear sign of rage (I know because it works the same with me) 'But she risked her life only to be used as a bait to get to Harry. But then we have Diggory, Sirius because he has been reckless enough not to listen to Hermione…' counting on his fingers.
'It is not as if you struggled so much to convince him to stay put, didn't you? Played along, followed everybody who was leading without taking any decisions, didn't you?' George says bitter through his teeth clenching his fists, his knuckles white, his freckles even more visible on his face as he is so livid.
Uncle Ron ignores him and carry on with a louder voice 'Then Dumbledore, Lupin and Tonks…' and every name is pronounced louder than the one before 'Colin and…'
'Ok, Ron. This is enough. Drop it' Bill tailed him off stern giving a swift uneasy glance to George, because we all know where he was leading, and one in our direction.
Uncle Ron, spotting it, shouts enraged:
'Let them hear! It's only right for them to know how things stand! They lost a mother! Mum lost a daughter. We lost a sister! Do you want to lose a niece next?'
'We already lost one' George replies accusingly as a put down.
And we all stare in an uneasy silence. He is talking about Lily. We all know. I swallow, like usual I always feel a knot when Lily is mentioned. I was her favourite, a bit like James is for Sunrise, we were always together.
I don't hold a grudge against Uncle Ron, maybe I should but I don't. Perhaps because mum repeated so many times it wasn't his fault I got used to the idea. Now that I think of it, perhaps she was only trying to convince herself through repetition. It's bizarre how only now I realised of it.
But there is a strong prepossession that protect him from my resentment. He is Rose's father. I don't want to hold a grudge against Rose's father. Rose is so fond of him, I'm fond of him too. He has always been rather nice with me and James. He told us Hogwarts' tale and we could do with him all those sorts of activities in the magical community we couldn't do with dad.
'You lost a twin' Ron answers meanly titling his head on one side 'You, first should want to shun Harry. Fred has been killed because of him and you still hang around with him as if he is your best mate or something'
I see George's eyes widening at his words and then straight away darkening, but it's the work of an instant because the next second, he is on him so swiftly, nobody has the time to stop him. He sokes him straight across his mouth. Uncle Ron grasps his face as grandma shrieks, but straight away attacks back.
Bill, recovering from the first startle of surprise, lunges forward dividing and keeping them far from each other.
'Pack it in! What the heck are you doing?!' he bellows upset.
Grandma, leaving me quickly a Sunrise who is still sucking her thumbs convulsively, sprints toward them with a set expression.
'Boys that's enough! The situation is bad enough without having scrapes and rows any other day! Now both of you will apologise and shake hands!' she orders stern.
They only glare at each other and none spoke, Bill is still dividing them.
'Bill, step away.'
Bill, leerily, comply but they don't move.
'Now you shake hands and apologise. I won't have this kind of behaviour in my family.'
She is asking a lot, I reckon. It seems an impossibility, it looks like they'd rather kill each other. And for a moment I'm sure they won't do as asked but then Uncle Ron, though not speaking, outstretches his hand.
But Uncle George doesn't.
'Go and fuck yourself' he murmurs glowering, leaving the room.
Grandma follows him straight away.
Bill, pushing roughly Uncle Ron in a corner, starts a vigorous and angry whispering/scolding not to let us hear. Uncle only glowers back clearly unnerved.
James and I hadn't moved. We are still in our respective position. Sunrise, in a world of her own, eyes hazed and watery, doesn't stop sucking her thumb.
James steps toward me to take her. Our eyes meet and, in a murmur not to be heard, I state between clenched teeth 'He is our father'.
He looks away as he takes her.
'I haven't got any father' he mumbles back.