DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

That Wednesday, just after classes, Abhimanyu, Ginger and Collin were all standing together in the atrium and peering over a newspaper that Ginger was holding.

Abhimanyu exclaimed, "I knew this was going to happen!"

Ginger said, "Remember what Dumbledore said before we left Hogwarts? We really need to be serious about this."

Collin exclaimed, "I bet that cruel stepsister of mine's on the Dark Lord's side! I hope she goes to jail!"

Abhimanyu said, "Collin, she isn't just a cruel stepsister, she's a supporter of Voldemort. And plus, this is a war that has just started."

Collin suggested, "Maybe he'll lose within a few weeks or months or…"

"He won't," Abhimanyu said seriously, "this war could go on for years for all we know."

Ginger asked, "Abhimanyu, where's Bellatrix? She was supposed to join us now. What's taking her so long? Our auror training classes have just…"

At that moment, they saw a pair of lift doors opening and Bellatrix stepping out, looking serious and not in the least interested in flirting in any way.

Abhimanyu couldn't help feeling worried sick. There had been a horrible nagging feeling in his chest since the previous night. And that day, Bellatrix had not spoken with him at all.

He approached her and said, "Hello Bellatrix, listen, I… I'm really sorry about what happened last night, and I, I should have…"
"Save it," Bellatrix hissed angrily, cutting him off.

"Bella," Abhimanyu pleaded, "I…"

"Don't, call me that," Bellatrix raised her voice and said in a rather rude tone, "It's Bellatrix Black, daughter of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black to you."

Abhimanyu said, "Bellatrix, please listen, I was an idiot for…"

Bellatrix wouldn't even let him finish as she rudely and firmly declared, glaring at him, "Shut up! It's over between us! I'm breaking up with you!"

Abhimanyu was shell shocked to hear that.

He stuttered, "Bu… but, why? What did I do? Is it because of last night?"

Bellatrix sneered in his face, "I can't be with a Muggleborn like you. I am a pureblood from a pure and noble family. What will my family say if they see me with a Muggleborn? We cannot be together anymore. How can I marry someone like you?"

Abhimanyu's mouth was open with horror and he slowly started, "If that's your decision, I respect…"

But Bellatrix went on, "Don't think that we can even be friends, Pandey. Why would I be friends with someone like you? It's over. Goodbye."

And with that, she turned her head proudly and walked away.

Abhimanyu felt heartbroken as he watched her go. Part of him wanted to yell at her, but another part of him did not.

Ginger and Collin themselves were shell shocked at what had just happened.

Ginger walked over to Abhimanyu and placing a hand on his shoulder, he said, "I'm really sorry about this mate."

Collin went over to Abhimanyu and said, "I didn't think this was going to happen. I'm really sorry. You two were a really good couple."

Abhimanyu spoke, bitterness evident in his voice, "How can I be happy? What have I done? Yesterday, I tried to get to know her parents, and they found out about me being a Muggleborn and threw me out, and now, Bellatrix has left me."

A tear fell down his cheek as he choked back a sob and said, "I didn't think Bellatrix would betray me like that."

Ginger said, "Cheer up mate, it'll be okay. You know what? I think you should go home. We should all go home in fact."

Collin said, "Who knows, maybe you'll find some pretty girl someday."

Abhimanyu declared, "No Collin. She was the love of my life. I won't be with another woman, never."

Later on in the evening, when Abhimanyu stepped into his and his parents' house, his face still bore a sorrowful expression.

Subhadra, who was right in front of the staircase, standing before Abhimanyu after just having greeted him, noticed that something was wrong.

She asked, "Abhimanyu is something wrong?"

Abhimanyu just said, "It's nothing Ma."

Subhadra asked, "Baccha, don't hide it from your Ma. Was someone mean to you? Did someone say something mean to you?"

Abhimanyu broke down in tears at that moment.

Subhadra went and pulled her son into a tight hug, rocking him from side to side as she did so.

She led him up the stairs and to the right at the top, to his bedroom, a nicely sized room with a comfy bed big enough for two, shelves with books, and a chair and table.

She made him sit on the bed and sat down beside him.

"What happened my child?" Subhadra asked as he wept, "What happened?"

After calming down a little, he explained, "Bellatrix and I broke up."

Subhadra said, "Oh no, poor thing. What did she say?"

Abhimanyu then proceeded to tell her all about the visit to Bellatrix's parents that had gone horribly wrong, and what had happened in the atrium after the day's classes, what Bellatrix had said to him in his face.

"Oh my poor baby," Subhadra cried out as he wept, holding him against her bosom.

After a few minutes, Abhimanyu calmed down and stopped crying.

He was just sniffing.

Subhadra said, "Abhimanyu, you should have come to me about this before going to meet her parents. But anyway, what has happened has happened. Unfortunately, those parents of hers are xenophobic. She herself told us how strict they are. You know, to be honest, I had a feeling that something like this would happen. You remember what your principal had said last time about this just after your NEWTs, right?"

Abhimanyu said, "Yes. I remember. I tried to be as polite as possible. Was I wrong when I said that Papa works for Tata? Was I wrong at any point of time?"

Subhadra replied, "You perhaps should have been a little more careful, but they would have probably pressed you to be specific. Either way, they would have found out."

Abhimanyu said bitterly, "Bellatrix says we can't even be friends anymore. I loved her, and she betrayed me!"

Subhadra said, "Calm down. You should not make such statements like that. Who knows, she may have been forced to act that way. I could be wrong, but maybe, who knows, she may be feeling bad that all this has happened."

Abhimanyu said, "You're right Ma. I didn't think of that. Sorry."

Subhadra paused for a moment and then said, "You know, a lot of people tend to fall into such relationships and then when they break up, they start going down dark paths. Drugs, alcohol, may seem to be easy solutions, but they are all destructive."

She then asked, "Abhimanyu, what does Krishna say about this in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga?"

She continued, "Dhyayato Vishayan Pumsaha Sangas Teshupajaayate. Sangaat Sanjaayate Kaamah Kaamaat Krodhobhijaayate. Krodhaad Bhavati Sammohaha, Sammohaat Smriti Vibhramaha. Smritibhrahmshaad Buddhinaasho, Buddhinaashaat Pranashyati."

(When one thinks of desirable things in this world obsessively, such thoughts lead to attachment to that object or bondage, which leads to desire to satisfy that attachment, and if the desire is not fulfilled, one becomes angry. Anger leads to delusion, delusion leads to loss of memory, loss of memory leads to loss of discrimination, and without discrimination, that one is destroyed (goes mad, becomes like an animal.)) (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, verses 62 and 63)

Subhadra explained, "So you see, see how upset you became when Bellatrix broke up with you? You became angry and upset. Life is full of ups and downs, happiness and sorrow, but we cannot let these things pull us down, otherwise, we will never be happy. Ultimately, all of this is just an illusion. The only one we can really trust, who will never betray us, is God. Why do we pray every day? It is because we want to maintain a connection to the Supreme Being, paramatman. Son, pray to God about this. No matter what happens, you must not allow yourself to be ruled by your desires and attachments. You need to move ahead of this. Hold yourself together."

Abhimanyu looked at his mother and hugged her saying, "True. No one really is our own."

Subhadra said, "Always remember, whether we are in a crowd or not, we are always alone. The only one with us throughout is Bhagavan."

Abhimanyu said, "Yes, you are right. I have to pull myself together and move on. Thank you Ma."

Subhadra caressed his cheek and said, "You don't have to thank your mother for everything. It's a mother's duty to help her child, and you are the joy of my life."

Mother and son hugged each other, and eventually, Abhimanyu laid his head in his mother's lap as she sung him a lullaby.

Meanwhile, Bellatrix was lying on her bed and looking up at the ceiling, a tear rolling down her cheek.

She couldn't help feeling horrible about what she had done.

There had been no choice.

If she had not cut off all ties with Abhimanyu, her parents would have thrown her out of her home.

It was a matter of family pride, tradition.

If only she had not met Abhimanyu, her interest in the dark lord and her disdain towards Muggles and Muggleborns would not have waned, but would have remained, increased.

And now, she was feeling torn.

Abhimanyu had given his word that he would not fall for anyone else.

But now she had broken up with him.

She hissed, "Why, why did I ever meet you?! Why did I ever fall in love with you, knowing that we couldn't be together, knowing that Mother and Father would never approve?"

And then, as another tear rolled down her cheek, she whispered, "It would be better if you hated me. We can't be together. My family will never allow it. I know you must hate me for what I've done to you, but you did this to me. You changed me forever. Being with you changed me forever. You were right when you once said that company influences your life. You influenced me. I am not a proper Black. I have become a disgrace to my family. Father wants me out of this house even more than before. What have you done to me? What have I done to you?"

She continued, pausing to choke back a sob, "Andi, Cissy, I have been a bad example to you. I am supposed to protect you, but I let him influence you. What kind of big sister am I?"

Bellatrix was heartbroken.

She felt that she had failed her family, everyone, including her sisters.

Abhimanyu had come into her life and changed everything for her.

She did not know what to think of him.

Perhaps it would be better if he hated her.

Then it would be easier to forget about him and follow her traditions passionately as she had done before.

And he would never try to pursue a relationship that would lead him nowhere.

It would better for both of them.

That was mainly why she had been so cruel towards him that day.

Little did she know of what was to come in the future.

The next day, after auror training classes…

Abhimanyu was walking out of a small café in the atrium of the ministry when he suddenly ran into a certain red headed wizard.

"Arthur," Abhimanyu cried out excitedly, "It's you!"

"Abhimanyu," Arthur cried out before rushing to hug him, "It's been some time since we last ran into each other. How are your classes going?"

"All good," Abhimanyu replied.

Arthur then whispered, "Hey, I heard about what happened yesterday. I'm sorry."

Abhimanyu replied, "Don't worry. What needed to happen happened. Maybe I had a lesson to learn from life. And it's her choice. I've gotta respect that."

Arthur replied, "You are one strong person Abhimanyu. Don't worry, everything will be alright. And oh by the way, I've got some good news for you."

Abhimanyu asked, "What is it?"

Arthur replied, "Guess what? I proposed to Molly just the day before yesterday, and she said yes. And on the 14th of this month, we're getting married."

"What?!" Abhimanyu exclaimed in shock and surprise, "She never told me anything! Is this true?!"

Arthur replied, "It is true, and by the way, I wanted to ask if you're willing to be my best man."

Abhimanyu replied, "Oh sure Arthur! I'm not going to miss out on my sister's wedding. And oh by the way, since Molly has always been like a sister to me, you'd better take care of her."

Arthur assured him, "Don't worry my soon-to-be-brother-in-law in all but blood.

I will take care of her. I'll lay down my life for her if I have to."

Abhimanyu took Arthur's hand and said, "I have something to look forward to."

Saturday, February 14, 1970

A medium sized group of wizards and witches was gathered in a small church in the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, for the wedding of Molly Prewett and Arthur Weasley.

Dumbledore and Minerva were among those gathered, as were Alexander, Maya, Amelia, Edgar and Lewis, plus Abhimanyu's parents.

Abhimanyu was standing behind Arthur on the stage as his best man for the ceremony, and nearby, standing, was the priest, a middle aged man with glasses and a calmly smiling face.

Molly Prewett walked gracefully down the aisle as the organ played, being accompanied by her bridesmaids and her father who was walking her down the aisle.

She walked up to the stairs and stepped onto the stage, smiling in excitement as she was led to Arthur.

As she and Arthur stood opposite to each other in the centre of the stage, the priest came over to them and asked, "Arthur Septimus Weasley, do you take Molly Prewett to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Arthur replied, "I do."

The priest then continued, "Molly Prewett, do you take Arthur Septimus Weasley to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Molly replied, "I do."

Wedding vows were made, rings were exchanged, and Molly and Arthur were declared married for life.

And when the time came to dance, Abhimanyu smiled as he watched his sister and brother in law, in all but blood, dancing together.

Bellatrix had not showed up. Had she shown up, it would have been a lot more pleasant. However, there was nothing that could be done except to accept what had happened, and to be happy for others, especially for Molly and Arthur on this great day.