chapter fifteen

August 2008

Arthur was sitting on a chair in the garden of his house, the burrow, the house was quiet, despite the passage of about a month since he discovered the presence of Athena and the discovery of the family and Molly about the betrayal and the presence of Athena, Arthur had not yet got used to the calmness and loneliness in the burrow, he was missing Molly badly.

He was constantly reassured about her by one of his children, and the news of her improvement and her almost return to her normal state made him very happy.، It saddened him and hurt his heart that he was the reason for Molly's grief and deterioration of her condition.

Whenever he wanted to meet her, one of his sons convinced him that it would be better to leave her for a while ,and let her to decide the right time to talk about it.

Arthur sighed and asked himself again, but when is the right time?

The weekly family gatherings held in the burrow had temporarily stopped, and this made Arthur feel isolated from his family and increased his sense of loneliness.

He met Minerva sometimes and they exchanged letters, Minerva was trying to comfort him, finding her by his side made him less lonely, but he wanted his family and his beloved wife back.

A large part of the conversations and letters with Minerva revolved around Athena, he are very excited to meet her, she is a special mixture between him and Minerva, and she is similar to her siblings as well.

From a distance, Arthur saw an owl approaching him, which he recognized as the owl belonging to Ginny and Harry.

The owl approached and stood on the arm of the chair on which Arthur was sitting, and extended its foot, which had a message addressed to Arthur. Arthur deciphered the message, and the owl remained standing. Arthur knew that it was waiting for a response to this message.

Arthur opened the letter and felt his heartbeat getting louder and louder. He recognized its beautiful handwriting. This letter was from Molly to him. He read it quickly.

Molly was telling him that she wanted to meet him at the burrow in the afternoon to talk to him and asked that he send her a reply if the time was right for him.

Arthur ran into the house and took a feather and a bottle of ink and wrote a quick reply with approval and that he would be waiting for her and returned to the owl and tied the reply to her foot and then the owl flew away.

Arthur stood in the garden of the house, not believing himself, he would finally meet Molly and talk to her, how much he missed her, he stared at the garden he had neglected a lot this month, then he remembered the condition of the house.

He entered the house and pulled out his magic wand and cast cleaning magic here and there in order to make the house as clean as possible.

He went into the living room and took the picture of Athena, which he used to put with the rest of the pictures of his children, and took it to put it in a safe place in his private workshop.

Arthur's cleaning continued, until the decision to go to clean himself, take a shower and trim his beard that had grown recently. He had lost weight clearly recently as well. His children had told him to take care of his health and his food, and his sons' wives were taking turns to send him food daily, but his appetite I said very recently.

He went to his bedroom and chose his clothes carefully, and he smiled as he imagined Molly in front of him, and then a face turned when he remembered the thing she had come for. Surely they will talk about the subject of his betrayal and the existence of Athena, will she forgive him or worse, Arthur sat on the bed When he thought of the worst, the worst was Molly breaking up with him and not forgiving him. The last month had been hell for him, he couldn't imagine the rest of his life without Molly.

Arthur stood up and tried to get those thoughts out of his head. He would try to make her forgive him, and he would do everything he could to get Molly and his family back.

Arthur was standing in the living room walking back and forth waiting for Molly to arrive, then he heard a knock on the house door.

Arthur went rushing to open the door, and when he opened it, he found her in front of him. She had also lost some weight, and the features of sadness were drawn on her face. Arthur's heart squeezed and he wanted to embrace her, console her, and apologize to her, but all he did was stare at her.

"How are you, Arthur?" said Molly.

Arthur said, "I'm fine, and you, Molly, how are you and your health?"

Molly said, "fine."

Arthur made way for her to enter the burrow and they went to the living room.

"I miss you so much, Molly," said Arthur. "The children advised me to leave you until you calm down. How is your health, honestly, Molly? You've lost a lot of weight."

"I can say the same about you, Arthur," said Molly. "You've lost weight. Don't you eat well? The children told me they send you food every day and check on your health."

"There's nothing like your cooking, Molly," said Arthur. "You're always the best to me," and he smiled lovingly at her.

Molly didn't reply but sighed and looked at the fireplace.

This silence lasted until Molly spoke and said, "Tell me the story from the beginning, Arthur, and don't hide anything from me. I want to know everything from you."

Arthur sighed. He knew she had come for this matter, but he wanted to put it off for as long as possible.

"Okay," said Arthur.

Arthur told Molly all about that night nine years ago.

Molly looked at the window and stared at her for a while, then said, "Did you communicate or talk to Minerva?"

Arthur said, "Yes, I met her in order to tell me the truth and tell me about Athena."

"Arthur, please tell me the truth," said Molly, "do you have any feelings of love or admiration for Minerva or desire for her of any kind?"

Arthur replied quickly, "No, Molly, believe me. Minerva was my friend, and if she came back to my life, she would only be a friend and Athena's mother."

"On the subject of Athena," said she, "have you met or spoken to her, Arthur?"

Arthur said, "No, Minerva did not want to introduce me to her until things were settled with my family and until I grasped the matter and got used to it."

Molly laughed sadly and said, "Wise decision, which is expected of Minerva McGonagall."

Molly sighed and said, "I decided to forgive you, Arthur, but it didn't pass like this, and I won't go back to the way I was immediately. I'll go back to the burrow from tomorrow. I'll try to forget it, and I want you to help me with that. I want our lives to go back to the way they were, I want you." To be patient with our children too, as they are shocked at you too. Of course, the children (grandchildren) do not know anything. Things did not go back to the way they were immediately, but let us try to bring our happy family back together, Arthur." Molly put her hand on Arthur's hand and smiled at him.

Tears fell from Arthur's eyes and he said, "I'm so sorry, Molly, and thank you for this opportunity."

Molly wiped Arthur's tears with her hand and said, "It's not easy for me to live without you, Arthur, after all these years. You know how much love there is between us."

Arthur shook his head in agreement and embraced her tightly, and her scent invaded his nose. He inhaled it happily. How much he longed for this scent and how much he longed for this warm embrace. For the first time in a month, Arthur felt comfortable and safe while he was in the arms of his life partner.

August 2008

At the same time in the house of the Minerva family

Minerva was sitting in the study room of her family's house on the outskirts of Caithness. She had decided to stay her and Athena in this house, especially after so many insulting messages from Ginny Potter. ، Minerva did not respond to these messages, as she understood Ginny's feelings and her shock at Minerva , but for how long will Minerva remain understanding?، Why doesn't anyone understand her feelings as well as Athena's feelings, she knows that what she did was wrong, but what is the fault of her little Athena in all this?

Minerva spoke to Arthur two days ago, and she was very sad about his health and physical condition ، He had lost a significant amount of weight and his beard had grown. She knew that he was now living alone in the burrow ، Despite all this, he was always asking about Athens and about her.

Minerva decides that she will tell Athena today, though she doesn't know if it was the right decision or not، And is Athena in the age that allows her to understand the matter or not.

Minerva stood up and went to the living room, where she knew her daughter was sitting there.

Athena has been feeling very bored lately. They did not spend the holidays as they wanted, and they did not go out to the places of witches and wizards either. Minerva was afraid that she or Athena would meet a member of the Weasley family.

She found Athena sitting on the floor in the living room, grooming and polishing her broomstick ، Flying, reading, and Minerva presence by her side provided Athena with patience during her secluded existence here.

Minerva said, "Are you done, my kitty?"

Athena said, wiping her forehead with the backs of her hands. " Yeah, look, Mama, the broomstick looks like new one "

Minerva smiled and said, "Well done, my little girl. ,go wash your hands, and come. I want to talk to you about an important matter."

Athena already knew that something had happened recently, she was feeling her mother's constant tension and anxiety and that she was not in her nature, and of course in addition to their unjustified presence here, Athena did not swallow her mother's unconvincing justifications, but she did not pressure her mother to tell her the truth.

, Athena wished her mother would tell her Today the fact.

Athena went and took her broomstick and her broomstick grooming tools with her, went to put them in their places and to wash her hands.

When she returned to the living room, she went to sit next to her mother and smiled at her and said, "What is this important matter, Mama?"

Minerva sighed and said, "I want to talk to you about your father, Athena."

Athena's face changed, her eyebrows furrowed, and she said, "My father."

Minerva said, "Do you remember when you asked me about your father and I told you he was alive and was not meant to be with us?" Athena nodded yes.

Minerva continued, "His name is Arthur. I never told him you existed, so you've never met him before, but he knew you existed a month ago."

"You mean he didn't know he had a daughter," said Athena. "Why didn't you tell him before, and why don't you live with us? I don't understand, Mama."

Minerva sighed. It was more difficult than she imagined. She said, "Your father has a wife and children. Telling him was not the best decision, Athena." Athena did not reply. She stared at her mother in incomprehension and shock.

Minerva continued, "He and his wife were sixth-year students when I started teaching at Hogwarts, and their children were also my students. He was a close friend of mine after the Battle of Hogwarts, and his wife was a friend of mine as well."

"Were you secretly in love with each other?" said Athena in disbelief.

Minerva said, "No, it wasn't love, Athena. It was a mistake. Our relationship was just friendship, and... Aww, Athena. It's hard to explain to you now." Minerva paused as she watched her confused daughter, Athena.

Athena said, "Am I the result of a mistake, is my existence a mistake, Mama?"

Minerva said, embracing Athena, "You are not a mistake, my child. You are the best thing in my whole life. You are a wish that came true. I did not know that I wanted it, but I knew how important it was in my life and that I needed you when I held you in my arms for the first time. I don't consider it a mistake.", and I do not regret it, as long as its results were your presence in my life, my little girl "

Athena came out of her mother's arms and said, "But you did nothing wrong ?, you are Minerva McGonagall, you are the best, you can do nothing bad."

"I'm human too, Athena," said Minerva. "I make mistakes."

Athena quickly replied, "But you are not a bad person. Was Sir Arthur the reason? I still don't understand, Mama."

Minerva sighed while placing her hand on her daughter's cheeks and said, "You are still very young. You will not understand it now. You will understand when you grow up."

Athena said, "Is that why we hid here? Is he a bad person?"

Minerva said, "No, he's not a bad person. He's a very loving father, a wonderful husband, and a good friend. He's a very good person. He's not the reason we're here." She continued, "He wants to get to know you, Athena."

Athena was silent as she absorbed all this talk ,She suddenly had a father, a stepmother and siblings.

Minerva said, "Take your time, my little girl."

Athena said, "Tell me about him, mother."

Minerva said, "I will leave him the task of presenting himself to you, but he has fiery red hair like you," she said, while gently stroking her daughter's hair.

Athena embraced her mother.

Minerva said while stroking her daughter's hair, "You are confused, right?"

Athena said, "A little."

Minerva said, "I am always by your side, my child, and I will explain it to you more when you reach the right age."

Minerva remained embracing her daughter while thinking about the future and whether the Weasley family would accept Athena or not ، And whether her decision to tell Athena was a hasty decision or not .

Thank you for reading the story so far

If you liked the chapter, leave a comment with your opinion

I want to know your opinion on the story so far and in this chapter and on the characters and their behavior.

Are you with Molly's decision to forgive Arthur? Is Minerva's decision to tell Athena now a right decision? Does Arthur really have no feelings of love or admiration for Minerva?