Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

-oOo-

This time on A Mid-Winter's Eve: A concerned headmaster, a basilisk and what about Molly?

-oOo-

Chapter 3

-oOo-

February 3, 1998

Hogwarts, Scotland

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Warlocks, receiver of two Orders of Merlin, stood at a window in his tower.

He was looking over the grounds towards the Dark Forest. A frown marred his features as he looked at patches of the ground where the snow had melted over the night. He could see some of the dead grass already showing a bright green, like it did in the early spring. It was still a month or so too early for any signs like that, but after the magical pulse he had felt last night, he wasn't surprised.

Last night had been Imbolc. The pagan holiday celebrating the coming spring and the rebirth of magic. At one time, most of the school would have marched through the forest to the old druid circle to honour the old deities that still called some of this land home.

It had been celebrations and rituals like that that had led to some of the most powerful Dark Lords in recent times and had been the reason he had led a campaign against the old ways for nearly seventy years now. It didn't matter that he participated in events like that when he was young, or that some of his once prodigious power came from some rituals at significant holidays, he had come to realize how dangerous it was. The unfortunate thing was that magic wanted these celebrations, and some families were resistant to give up their roots.

Thus, he let those that he had not been able to convert, or outlaw, use these holidays to let lady magic know some still believed. But those numbers were still falling. This year only twenty-seven students out of a hundred possible had attended. No one under seventeen was allowed to the rituals anymore. That had been one victory he had achieved. Even with that, it had been the most in almost two decades, and the next year class he knew of only ten that might attend.

What was concerning him, though, was the reaction from last night. It had been generations since he had felt such a strong blessing. It concerned him. The last thing he wanted was a resurgence of the old, wilder magics. That could be a recipe for disaster, not to mention increase the chances of a breach of the Statute of Secrecy.

"Headmaster, Professor McGonagall just passed me," a gargoyle statue from above his office door called out.

"Thank you. See her right in," he told the office's guardian. It wasn't long before the door opened as she reached the landing. "Good morning, Minerva. I take it the Rites of Imbolc went well?"

"Better than I can remember in a long time. I haven't felt this invigorated in many years," Minerva told him. "Pipsy, tea please."

Albus turned to his Transfiguration Professor and long-time friend. One of the few he allowed himself. He learned long ago getting too close to people could be bad. Looking at Minerva, his brow rose. The woman, usually dower and long of face, had a small smile today. Years of wrinkles and worry lines looked to have melted away over the night. Always a powerful witch, he could feel she was more so this morning. The slight kick to her step was more reminiscent of the woman twenty years ago. It would appear the rites had had more of an effect than he had expected.

"Yes, the signs of a successful blessing can be seen on the grounds, and it appears in you as well," he pointed out. Albus moved to the tea table in the corner as a taller house elf placed a tea service and two plates of breakfast onto the table.

"It was rather impressive. There were also some enjoying the Rites of Bridgit after the Horned God gave his blessing. I'm sure Poppy will let us know if we need to worry of anything," Minerva informed him while she prepared a strong black tea.

"I still think it wrong that we endorse activities like this," Albus told her, reaching for his own cup.

"I would rather supervise these old rites than to leave the students on their own. They are all of age and we have no say in what they wish to do," she pointed out, putting some fried eggs and hash onto her plate.

"You are right. It is better we support those that still believe than let them do this on their own. Are you feeling well?" he asked, noticing her leg bouncing. It was a habit she had stopped some years ago.

"I just feel more energized then usual and my bones don't ache like they have," she told him.

Albus tried to hide his frown. This was a most unusually powerful blessing. "Will I need to expect any angry Floo calls from parents?"

"You know Poppy tries to keep all girls over thirteen on potions to prevent anything. I also stay out of the student's business. Again, they are all of age and can make their own decisions," Minerva told him.

Albus was starting to worry some. This was unlike Minerva... well, a much younger Minerva had expressed those same sentiments, but not for some time. As he pondered this, he watched in curiosity as she ate her breakfast, then went back for more. A real concern was starting to gnaw at him. Imbolc was the night of rebirth, of cleansing. Could it be possible she had been cleansed of some magic he hadn't realized that had taken hold of her? Or was it just the power that had been unleashed?

They sat in silence as she finished her second plate. When done, she sighed. "I haven't felt this hungry in a while. Anything else, Albus?"

"I was just wondering who had attended, and again, is there anything I might need to head off?"

She gave him a look over her wire rim glasses. "You know I never talk about those activities and who might have been involved. Poppy made sure she was available if anyone needed to go to the infirmary."

"I didn't mean any offense or to pry into something that is understandably personal. I just worry about consequences when magic and hormones are so high," he told her.

"Yes, well, I don't think there is anything to worry about. Even if there is, you know nights of magical celebrations that the laws cannot override what magic decides, so if there is anything, it is up to the students and their families," Minerva reminded him.

Yes, that was something that had crawled up his craw a few times. No matter what he tried, Magic would not allow him to change the protections of those rites. "I would not want to interfere with any family business. I just know how emotional things can get should there be consequences."

"If that is so, I don't think a young woman would talk to the headmaster about such items. Let Poppy and I handle any issues that might arise," she said as though the issue was decided.

They were about done when he looked up. There was something niggling at the wards. A very powerful wizard was entering the castle. A very powerful wizard that was bleeding out power like it was nothing. A small bell started to go off on his desk. Minerva looked at it. "Is that a danger? I can feel the wards trying to protect the castle."

"I'm afraid it is something. We must investigate," he told her, standing and leaving what was left of his meal and tea. He moved as fast as he could, which was considerable for his age. Magic was wonderful. The fact the ability to channel his magic into his body to move like this had come from a ritual when he was younger had slipped his mind in his old age...

By the time they had made it to the infirmary, Albus felt the magical flow give way. He opened the door just in time to see a black-haired boy pass out. Two older year girls were moving to hold him up so that his head didn't hit the floor.

Poppy was standing over him, her wand going. "I can levitate him onto a bed," Poppy offered.

"Is he going to be alright?" an overly concerned blonde girl asked.

"I'm sure he will be, but Potter has used an extreme amount of magic in the last twenty-four hours, if my scans are correct. You two are also showing signs of channelling massive amounts of magic and should rest for the day," Poppy told the girls.

"Poppy, what happened?" Albus asked.

"Just some high emotions after last night. Nothing to be concerned with," Poppy told him.

Instead of sitting on the bed indicated, Ms Granger used her wand to summon two chairs over to them. The two girls sat on the side opposite of the working matron. Seeing them sitting with Harry like that had alarm bells going off in his head. Ms Davis was silently watching the scene from a few beds away. Surely the boy hadn't fornicated with three witches on the same night?

"Perhaps the young witches should leave?" he suggested.

"I'm not going anywhere," Granger told him. He knew the girl was besotted with the boy. Anyone with eyes could see that. The fact she had been involved with all of Harry's adventures, including that disastrous night in the Department of Mysteries, he had no qualms about how she might feel about this. His concern was to separate them and perhaps counter anything that might have occurred last night.

"Surely the matron will need room to work..." he started to say.

"Headmaster, Ms Granger and Ms Greengrass are not in the way. I also have not finished with them. There isn't much to do for Mr Potter except let him rest. He may sleep the rest of the day," she said. Poppy twitched her wand, summoning several screens over.

"Are you sure he just needs to rest? Surely if you need to complete any exams or treatments then Ms Granger and Ms Greengrass should lay in other beds?" Albus suggested.

"Albus, this is not your concern. Poppy, will the three of them be alright?" Minerva asked.

"They will be fine. I really can't discuss anything about them unless they give me permission," Poppy told them.

"I do not give my permission," Ms Greengrass spoke up.

"Surely if there is something wrong, as Headmaster, I should know," Albus tried to convince them.

The look Ms Granger was giving him let Albus know that the rift between him, Harry and a few of his friends had not mended.

"Myself, Harry and Daphne are all of age. Unless there is a situation needing an immediate response as lain out in the Hogwarts Charter, the Headmaster has no 'right to know'," the girl said in a hard tone.

She was correct, of course, but that didn't mean that he still didn't need to know. Poppy levitated the curtains around the bed, cutting the three children off from him. "Ms Davis, if you can be quiet, you may join them," Poppy told the brunette.

"Yes, ma'am," Davis responded before slipping into the curtains.

"If you excuse me, Albus, I still have treatments I need to give," Poppy said as she moved to a rack of potions.

"Poppy, what happened in here? I felt a large magical spike before we stepped in. Did Ms Greengrass or Granger do something they shouldn't?" Albus pressed.

"Albus, that is none of your concern unless Poppy feels it is," Minerva stated.

"It is unusual to have a magical spike like that and Harry is one that has been through much in his young life," he countered.

Poppy stepped back up to the curtains hung on metal rollers. "There was nothing unusual about what occurred. Now excuse me."

Albus stared at the screens. About the only magic he was not allowed to get through in the entire castle were the silencing and privacy spells that came into effect the moment the curtains had been put up. He stared at the enclosed bed.

"Albus, if Poppy says this isn't your business, then I must press it isn't," Minerva told him.

He was quiet for a few. "Harry slept with all three girls last night?"

"If they did or did not, that is a personal thing between those young adults. Are you really trying to pry into their privacy like that?" Minerva asked.

Until the end of fifth year, Albus had known just about everything to do with Harry Potter. He had his spies, trackers and counters to a boy that exuded power. He needed Harry. The world needed Harry. That was until that night that Sirius Black and Voldemort had died. Black at the hands of his cousin. Voldemort by Harry himself. It was a feat that Albus had thought impossible, never had he considered the Veil in the DOM. Any soul going through that mysterious object had no way of coming back. It had also been proven that night once a soul, any part of a soul, went through, then all the other parts would as well. He had stepped into the chamber just as Tom had been blasted back. His shoulder had touched the moving material, and then was dragged kicking and screaming into the ethereal material. Everyone had watched the last tantrum of a Dark Lord. Mere seconds after the man had disappeared, Harry had cried out, his hands going to his scar while a black mist pour out of it. He watched in fascinated horror as the boy screamed, blood pouring from the wound while the Death Veil sucked the mist into it.

As Harry screamed, he watched in morbid horror when all the Death Eaters in the chamber fell to their knees, screams of intense pain coming from them all. Black mist had rose from the left arms of everyone that had a mark. As he watched them, unable to do anything, another black cloud rushed into the chamber. The unearthly screams as the black cloud passed him still sent shivers up his spine. Harry fell over as the second cloud was sucked into the arch.

The Death Eaters kept screaming, even if stunned, as it had no effect, until Albus counted seven of the clouds enter the Veil.

With some convulsing, the eight Death Eaters in the chamber all passed away.

The only saving grace was that Cornelius and many others had seen some of the fight between Harry and Voldemort. The inquest into those events had been done behind closed doors, clearing the six students that had gone there, claiming they had been kidnapped so that the Death Eaters could get a prophesy. It was never acknowledged that Voldemort had come back, but the Minister did say that Harry and him were cleared, having found a conspiracy that had caused the death of nearly a hundred and thirty wizards and witches, most of them Purebloods.

It had caused a stir, but it meant that Harry wasn't some hero. No. Harry Potter had been allowed to fade away. Yes, he was the Boy-Who-Lived, but wasn't seen as some great hero. All the damage to their reputations already done, so it wasn't anything much to hide the truth. The debacle after the Tournament had seen him sacked from his seat of power, and the way Cornelius played everyone after the DOM had seen him stay sacked.

Plans for Harry to die had failed. He had believed that the boy would have too.

Now, he had new plans to have the boy take up his family seat in the Wizengamot. Unfortunately, in his infinite wisdom to not tell Harry or Sirius about the prophesy, the boy blamed him for Sirius' death, Ms Granger almost dying and Ronald Weasley to be in the Janus Thickey ward of St Mungo's since that night.

"If you excuse me, Albus, I do have classes today," Minerva interrupted his musings. "Please leave the students alone. This is a personal matter between them."

"Of course, Minerva." Albus frowned as he looked at the closed curtains. How was he going to satisfy some of his promises if something had happened between Harry and those three girls?

It was a pile of papers on the floor that caught his attention when he went to turn to leave. Picking them up, his eyes widened...

-oOo-

A while later...

Hermione wasn't sure how comfortable it was, but Daphne had curled up on the large chair Hermione had conjured. Somehow the blonde girl's head had wound up in her lap. Hermione felt tired now that the excitement of last night and this morning were wearing off, but she didn't want to sleep. Instead, she was going through Harry's mail the Matron had brought into the curtains a while ago. She hoped Harry wouldn't mind, but knowing the letters involved the three of them, her curiosity had won out.

She didn't realize her hand was running through Daphne's hair as she read the contract. Harry hadn't been wrong. The way this was worded, it did indicate that he essentially owned Daphne now. Being Regent Black, his betrothed was his responsibility. Harry wasn't happy earlier and would be less so to understand some of the clauses. She wasn't sure if it had been the Blacks or Daphne's great-grandfather who had been the bastard. It essentially read as though the Greengrasses were to sell two daughters to the Blacks in exchange for a political alliance and eighty thousand galleons each, to be paid upon marriage or enactment of the betrothal.

There was a transfer clause to the next heir if there were no current heirs within ten years of the girls, or if the Regent Black choose to.

She knew that these things could happen, having to learn what betrothals were after being approached by Anthony Goldstein last year, and this was one of the worst ones. She was looking for ways out and could only find two. Either Harry rejected the Greengrasses, which would break the contract and potentially cost him or the Greengrass girls their magic, or he could declare the contract fulfilled after one of the girls were pregnant and the other not married into the family yet.

Daphne shifted. Hermione looked down to see Daphne snuggled into her lap.

Hermione gave a sad smile. Daphne had never shown this much affection before. The girl was usually cold as ice to everyone. She pushed the golden locks away from her face and over her ears. Daphne Greengrass was beautiful. Her high cheek bones, full lips and the dark blue eyes she knew to be under those lids had Hermione just as enthralled as the green eyes of the boy on the bed. For months, years really, she had fought the urges, knowing she could only end up with Harry. Being a lesbian or bisexual in the Wizarding World was not usually an accepted thing.

Daphne sighed and nuzzled her cheek into the back of Hermione's hand when she brushed the blonde's cheek.

"Merlin, what will Harry think?" she asked, looking at the contract again.

"I'm hoping that he will say yes," another girl's voice interrupted her thoughts. It had been barely more than a whisper.

Hermione looked up, her hand moving towards her wand not having heard the girl come into the curtains. The girl held up her hands. "I swear I don't mean your boy or my sister any harm."

Hermione relaxed, recognizing Astoria. The girl was slightly taller than Daphne with a willowier frame. Her eyes were a shade darker than Daphne's, while her hair was lighter, being closer to a platinum blonde, with Daphne being more of a mid-shade blonde. Beyond that, the younger girl looked remarkable like her sister. Daphne had confessed that Astoria had been deathly ill until Voldemort had been defeated. She didn't know the full details, but that sickness had led to her leaner frame and slightly sunken eyes, though the girl looked much better than she had almost two years ago.

Hermione moved her hand to her lips, indicating the two sleeping people.

The girl nodded before sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked to Harry and then to Daphne. "Can I assume it worked?"

"You knew too?" Hermione asked, a slight hint of annoyance in her tone.

"Daphne told Tracey and I of the plan. If it didn't work, I was to try another plan," Astoria told Hermione. "I don't particularly want to be a plaything of Malfoy or be force to do things with my sister I'd rather not."

"Yes, Daphne told me," Hermione confessed.

Astoria leaned over to move a stray piece of hair from her sister's face. "Did he wear her out that much?"

Hermione couldn't keep the smile off her face. It may have only been once, but the magic that had been coursing through them was tiring in itself as her body got used to it. She was thankful for the pain potion, even if she was looking forward to doing it again. "It was a little late before we fell asleep."

Astoria gave her a lascivious smirk. "I'm sure." The girl became serious a moment later. "Seriously, did it work?"

Hermione looked at the papers on the arm of the chair. Indicating the paperwork, she was not able to keep the disdain out of her voice. "It would appear that Harry is now the proud owner of one Daphne Greengrass. Harry would have never agreed to something like this."

Instead of being upset, like Hermione would be, Astoria let out a relieved breath while her shoulders slumped. "Thank Merlin. Potter doesn't seem like someone to push the fealty clauses. Do you know if he will claim me as well?"

The girl was a little apprehensive.

Hermione shook her head. "No. Harry isn't like that. He wants a family and to be loved, but he would never force it. We'll have a talk with him when he's awake."

Astoria gave a relieved smile. "I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted, but Daphne thought Harry was the best way to be rid of Malfoy. Though, I'm not sure she meant to make a play for him."

Hermione sighed. "He would have done it, even without the trickery. He has this saving people thing, you know," she told Astoria in a mildly exasperated voice that spoke of how she cared for Harry.

Astoria giggled. "Yeah, I think everyone knows about that."

Daphne shifted at Astoria's giggles. "Can't a girl sleep?"

"She could, but I think the girl she is sleeping with is more interesting than sleep," Astoria teased. She was pleased to see her sister and Hermione blush some.

Daphne sat up; half her hair wild from where it had been on Hermione's lap. Astoria giggled again. "I like the hair."

Daphne gave her a grumpy look. "You're a pain, you know?"

"I know," Astoria said cheerfully. "So, is he as good looking under the sheets as he has been in his Quidditch robes this year?"

Daphne stuck her nose up. "That is for us to know."

"And you not to find out," Hermione told the girl.

"Not even once? By the size of the tent there, he looks to have a basilisk in there." Astoria motioned to the obvious erection Harry had under the sheets.

"Merlin, it felt like one too," Daphne said under her breath, turning red as she realized she had said it out loud.

Hermione's face was matching Daphne's. "It did, didn't it?"

Daphne gave a shy look to Hermione. "I really didn't think it would fit inside me. It felt good though."

Astoria looked between the two girls and started to laugh. This earned her a glare from her sister and Hermione. "You too are too easy."

Hermione gave her a harder glare. "Don't talk about something you don't know."

"He can't be that big. I mean, he's still a little smaller than most the boys in my year," Astoria said, giving Harry a dubious look.

"He's more built than you think," Daphne defended Harry.

Astoria gave them a disbelieving look. "Come off it, Daphne."

Hermione huffed. "Until you sleep with a man, don't talk about things you don't know."

Without warning, Astoria took a hand full of the sheets, probably thinking she would just get a shock value out of her sister and the curly hair girl. Hermione moved but wasn't fast enough to stop her. Madam Pomfrey had stripped off his clothes for her check-up and hadn't put any back on. It was the same she had required of Daphne and her, but since they were awake, they were able to redress.

Whatever Harry was dreaming about must have been good... though Hermione had a good idea what type of dreams he might have after last night. Anyways, whatever he was dreaming had him rock hard and at full mast. It was the first time that Hermione had been able to see Harry in his all. Last night was too lust filled to really take in all the details, except how much he had filled her mouth and then her pussy. Both things she had found enjoyable, especially to see how Harry had enjoyed it too.

Seeing him in the light, in his all, had her catching her breath. Daphne took in a sharp breath. Astoria gasped, her eyes going wide. Looking at it, Hermione could easily say it would take both her hands, and then some, to fully hold his length. He was also thicker than what she thought her mother had described most men to be like. Admittedly, he was about as big as she thought she could take, but it had felt good.

"It may not be a basilisk, but that is bigger than the others I've seen," Astoria said.

Daphne snapped out of her stupor. "ASTORIA!"

"What? You can still do things without having sex," her fifteen-year-old sister remarked.

Hermione jumped up, covering Harry. He grunted and rolled onto his side. "I like when you kiss Daphne..." he muttered in his sleep. His hips rocked a slight bit. "Between your kiss..."

Astoria started to giggle again as the two girls blushed. "Sounds like fun."

"Bint!" Daphne yelled as she hit her sister's arm.

-oOo-

The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, England

The knock on the door had Molly Weasley getting up from the easy chair in the sitting room. It had been a busy day. She had been bustling around the house, cleaning, organizing and brewing some potions to restock their cabinet. Over the Christmas break they had used some of the pain and healing spells. Even with five adult wizards and two still in Hogwarts, they still managed to hurt themselves playing impromptu games of quidditch and wrestling. Charlie just didn't know his strength at times, being built like a mini-giant with his years at the dragon preserve.

Percy found it all childish, but at least he was coming around again with that girl, Penelope Clearwater. The girl was nice but wasn't right for her Percy. Molly wasn't willing to lose him, though. She already had one child that was lost to them, she didn't need another. That still didn't mean she wouldn't try to push him towards that nice secretary in Arthur's department. Audrey Trent was the right type of woman, with nice hips for childbearing and a lineage that was respectable. Clearwater was a Muggleborn, and since that Granger girl had rejected her Ronald, she wasn't too keen on Muggleborn for her children. They just didn't understand proper wizarding traditions.

Thus, she hoped Percy would cotton on before he did something stupid, like getting the girl pregnant or proposing to her.

Then there was Bill and his new wife. Bill had been the pride of her brood. Head boy. Ten OWL's of exceed expectation or higher, outstandings on his eight NEWTs, hired into Gringotts as an apprentice Curse Breaker before he even graduated had her bursting with pride. Of course, she would have preferred him to go into the Ministry. With his blood status and obvious drive, he could have quickly moved through the ranks and possibly been head of a department within ten or fifteen years. Instead, he already made three- or four-times what Arthur made. The only downside had been his rather roguish looks and personality over the last few years, ending in the marriage to the French half-beast.

Sighing, she had decided a while ago she could live with that, as long as all their children were redheads, and the bint didn't overrule her in her own house again. Molly was the matron of the house and when you were under her roof, you did as she said, not as his wife said. Her poor boy was whipped.

Then there was Charlie. At twenty-six, Charlie had never brought home a girl, never dated as far as she knew and had never even talked of one besides as friends. If she didn't know better, she would think he batted for the other team, but none of her children would be like that. It just wasn't accepted or condoned. Even Arthur had a low opinion of those that preferred the same sex. She was hoping he would be home over Easter. If Percy didn't show interest in Audrey, perhaps Arthur could invite her over to meet Charlie?

Even more worrying than Charlie were her twins. They liked women. There was no doubt there. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure they didn't like both sexes. She had heard a few rumours of wild parties in their flat above the store. One of the witches across the way, the counter woman at Reginald's Grocers in Diagon Alley, had been overheard about watching some strange things when they forgot to close their curtains. Molly just couldn't believe those stories of multiple partners, or that George had been seen serving another wizard... she shuttered. It just couldn't be true.

Putting the images out of her head, she hoped her twenty-year-old twins would settle soon. She liked Angelina Johnson. She was a half-blood that knew about their customs, even if she was currently playing for the Holyhead Harpies, she had the feeling the girl would settle down once children came into play. It was also obvious that she deeply cared for Fred.

Katie Bell was another she approved of. Another half-blood, her family owned two apothecaries, one in Diagon Alley, the other in Hogsmeade. Being raised in the traditional way, she had a feeling the girl would be a good mother. The fact she had nice hips and a body that looked ripe for children helped in Molly's opinion. She wanted grandchildren, already feeling disappointed that none of her adult children had given her any yet. She had Bill when she was nineteen. There should be no reason that at twenty-eight he should already have two or three, except his work had kept him busy and he wasn't allowed to marry while going through his apprenticeship, but that had been over with five years ago...

Yes, Molly wanted grandkids. She missed doting on her own young children. It was starting to feel very lonely in the house knowing it would only be Ginny coming home over Easter, unless Charlie changed his mind.

Thinking on her two younger children, she sighed again.

Ronald had followed that Potter boy into the debacle of the Department of Mysteries in June of nineteen-ninety-six. It was getting close to two years ago that her youngest boy had been attacked by Death Eaters and some brain things that the Unspeakables had been working with. Since that night, he had been in a coma at St Mungo's.

Being in the Janus Thickey Long Term Health ward, meant she had to see things that reminded her of what she had lost with Ronald. Like Gilderoy Lockheart. She hadn't believed that he had tried to curse her Ron at first. Seeing Ron in a bed next to the now insane man had her feeling a grudge. He must have done something to help get her Ron here. Then there was the Longbottoms.

She didn't really feel any ill will towards Frank and Alice, but Madam Longbottom and her grandson were just as bad as the Potter Boy. Her grandson supported Harry Potter's story of Ronald throwing that mudblood before the curse that had nearly killed the girl. Her Ronald would never do that. He was an honourable boy that had told her a few times about how selfish and self-adulating Potter was.

No. Molly Weasley didn't believe any of the rumours of her Ronald being jealous, self-serving or selfish enough to try and use someone else as a shield.

The fact Ginny said she had seen it too was even more galling.

Yes. For years she had built up the feats of one Harry Potter, extolling the virtues of the Boy-Who-Lived, to her daughter. Molly had hoped, planned even, that Ginny would catch his eye, quickly becoming her son-in-law soon after they graduated. Her daughter would give the boy a large family, something that Albus had told her Potter would want. In that large family, Potter would be so thankful that he would share the Potter fortune and raise the Weasley's back to where they belonged as members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. With his wealth and fame they would regain the power the Weasley's once held.

It was the sole reason she had gone after the Weasleys. The Weasleys were once a prominent family that Arthur's father had been trying to rebuild. Her family, the Prewitts, had offered to help Regent Weasley invest and build up the family's wealth again. As part of the marriage her family would support the Weasleys to petition for the seat they once held on the Wizengamot. She had been quite pleased with the betrothal contract, willingly giving herself to the elder brother, Ronald Weasley.

Then, in her seventh year, everything went wrong. Ronald was an Auror. He was killed in April of nineteen-sixty-eight, the contract transferred to Arthur, the second oldest of four boys. Arthur had been a tall, lanky boy of seventeen when that happened. He was getting top marks in his classes, even if he had this strange muggle obsession. He was also as endowed as his brother had been, so she gladly crawled into his bed as soon as she could. If she had known then how her life would have turned out, she would have pressed her brothers to change the contract to one of the younger Weasley brothers. Both Garry and Benjamin had become more successful than Arthur, though they still lacked the push to elevate the family. If she had been one of their wives, she would have been able to help. Unfortunately, her brothers had been killed before that could be done and Aunt Muriel wouldn't hear anything against the current contract. With Arthur being the eldest now and Head of the Weasleys, she had been forced to marry him, while her husband and his love of muggles had seen the Weasleys fall even more from prominence.

Potter had been the answer to turn this all around. Until Ronald was sent round the bend, she had encouraged it, even had plans to force it. Now, she wanted Potter's gold, but not the boy. Unfortunately, Ginny hadn't seen her view of how dangerous and bad of a person Potter had been. Instead, her daughter had crawled into his bed the end of last year. At least, she assumed her daughter had with how smitten the boy had been with her.

It was disgusting to see how her daughter hung to him. Potter was more reserved but seemed pleased enough. What boy wouldn't be to have a willing girl spreading her legs. It had all come to a boil when he came for Christmas dinner. She just couldn't keep her mouth closed, having the arse sitting at her table in the chair that should have been Ron's. No. It was just too much.

That had led to row that saw wands drawn... as well as lines in her family. Ginny and her twins had stood on the other side of the table, standing with Potter, while the rest were all pointing their wands towards Potter. Before spells could be thrown, Arthur had stepped in, reminding them all how Potter had saved a few of them and he wouldn't have wands drawn on the boy. Potter had been allowed to leave without any harm. She would have liked to curse him like he had cursed her Ronald.

Ginny and her twins had followed him, none of them coming back. This had surprised her, since Ginny had gone to the twins to stay for the rest of the Christmas Break. George had come back to get her stuff just before the Hogwarts Express left, ignoring her opinions on Potter. The only good thing was that George had told her that Potter and Ginny had broken up. Of course, he had been rude in yelling at her, Molly not remembering how she had been yelling at him, but the fact was, Potter had thrown her girl to the curb, just like she knew he would.

The knock came again. She moved to the window to see the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, standing on her doorstep. Bustling to the door, she opened it, a smile on her face. "Hello, Albus. It's been a few months since you came by for tea," she said jovially. Molly was comforted that one of the most prominent wizards of their time showed such favour to her family.

"Ah, yes. Things have been busy lately, so I have not had the time to enjoy your excellent hospitably," the man said with a genuine smile.

She showed him and put a kettle on. "Is this a social visit or is there something we can do for the Order?" Molly asked, putting her best China and some snack cakes onto the only silver server platter she had. It was one of the few heirlooms she still had from her mother.

"A bit more of Order business than a social business," he replied.

The kettle whistled and she poured the hot water into a put with the freshest tea leaves she had. "Arthur and I are always willing to help, you know this." Molly was always willing to help as it meant a few extra galleons, which was always nice. "Though there hasn't been much need of late."

"No, I agree. The need of the Order seems to be waning with many of the Dark families giving up their Blood Supremacy and moving more towards the grey and neutral houses, but there is still need," Albus told her.

She put the best teacup before Albus, taking the other for herself. After serving it up, she took a seat. "What can we help you with?"

"Well, I have recently come across some disturbing news that might jeopardize my promise to raise the Weasley's back into the Sacred Twenty-Eight," he told her.

She frowned. "You said that we would be getting a substantial amount form the Lestrange estate. My great-grandmother was a Lestrange," she told him. The gold would be pittance to the Potter wealth, but she had been counting on it for well over a year now, ever since the goblins had said she would be the last person to be able to inherit the last of their wealth once the estate was paid off.

"Alas, I do not know. The goblins will not talk to be about that and some of the estate is still caught in the Ministry. I will enquire again in the DMLE law offices if everything is resolved," he promised her. "What I am more concerned with is Harry Potter."

Molly's jovial slant changed suddenly. "What about Potter?"

Her sudden vehemence had Albus raise an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that he was involved with your daughter..."

"The arse is well through with Ginny, though he has left a mess behind him. Ginny, George and Fred won't even talk to me or the rest of the family after Christmas," she said bitterly.

Albus looked at her for a moment. "I wasn't aware of that. I thought Harry and Ginny were still dating."

Molly gave a dark laugh. "Not now. Arthur and I have finally decided to press charges against Potter. We will be compensated for what he did to our Ronald."

"You can't do that. What about your plans to see the boy as part of your family?" the man questioned.

"I would sooner drown the half-blood bastard than have him give me any grandchildren. Ginny has already whored herself to him. We don't need any more shame. As it is, she will probably not be able to find a proper husband now," she just about snapped.

Albus sighed. "I see." When he stood up, she was shocked.

"Are you leaving already? You haven't even touched your tea," she pointed out.

"Alas, I came to talk about the potential of future nuptials and plans to help your family, but it would appear you are amenable," he told her. Albus reached into his pocket and place five galleons on the table. "When I call on you in the future, I hope you will still be amenable."

Her anger flared up. "You can't have meant for Ginny to still marry Potter! He got my Ronald put into St Mungo's, probably for the rest of his life. I have three children that won't talk to me now. Not to mention that he almost got Percy fired from the Ministry and the little prat wasn't even grateful enough to pay for his stays here. That was good gold and silver we paid to host him at your prodding."

Albus electric blue eyes stared at her. The normally caring and happy man was looking at her in a way that had her taking a step back. "Mrs Weasley, let me remind you that Harry Potter is responsible for saving your daughter, your husband, giving Fred and George the means to start their most successful shop and stopped Willian from being cursed the night he defeated Voldemort in the Department of Ministries. I am sure if he wanted, he could press for his own compensation under the laws of our lands. He is part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and elite group that the Weasleys were removed from three generations ago after they had tried to reverse the decisions of the Wizengamot on marriage and muggle mixing. I would caution you to do anything against Harry Potter or we may lose him as a potential alley in the coming years if he decides to enter the Wizengamot."

Molly, sacred, but being a Gryffindor and known for the same temper that her brothers had at times, came right back. "Good riddance then. It was the Potters that were against the Weasleys at that time. It was an alliance that they were leading members in that forced my family out of the Wizengamot. Since then, the Weasleys have lost out fortune, our standing and most of the respect that should be bestowed to such an old house. I will have Potter's money and House Weasley will rise again."

Albus bristled at her. She felt his power expand. The teacups rattled, as did many other objects around the kitchen. "I once thought you were one that believed in the Greater Good. I can see you only care for your greater good. I don't think you will be called upon to do services to the Order of the Phoenix again. Good day, Mrs Weasley," the man said in a derisive tone. He turned and was out the door before she could come back at him.

Truth be told, Molly had been afraid, very afraid, at the last show of power from Dumbledore. That fear grew as she realized that she might have just lost them the grace of Albus Dumbledore. As she thought about it, her fear turned into anger. No. It had been Potter. Potter has just cost the family more. She would be talking to their solicitor to increase the compensation they were looking for to pay for Ronald's bills, the lost life he now had, the fact Potter was responsible for endangering Ginny and Arthur... why else would there not be a life debt from both if Potter had not been involved. It didn't matter that only one-life debt could be held at a time and Dumbledore had told them that Granger had one. To Molly Weasley, all their misfortunes came down to a Potter.

-oOo-

Next time on A Mid-Winter's Eve: A magical date and a ferret…