chapter sixteen

Mid-August 2008

Arthur was sitting in his private workshop with a picture of his daughter, Athena, in his hand.

It had been almost two weeks since Molly had forgiven him and returned to the burrow, and he had cut off his contacts with Minerva temporarily so that things with Molly would settle down a bit.

One of the strange coincidences, which Arthur found ironic, was that Minerva sent him a letter the day after Molly forgave him telling him that she had told Athena, and that Athena wanted to get to know him and meet him.

Arthur sent her a letter, telling her that he reconciled with Molly yesterday and that he will not be able to communicate with her or meet Athena now, but he will send her a letter soon with the date of their meeting.

His life with Molly almost returned to normal, he made a great effort to return to normal, he avoided talking about Minerva and Athena and Molly did not discuss this issue much.

But Arthur really wants to meet Athena and get to know her and be in her life, but at the same time he is afraid of losing Molly again.

The relationship between him and his children was tense at first, but it gradually began to return to normal, especially after Molly forgave him, but Ginny was the only one who did not forgive him until now or talk to him.

This was the reason for his presence in his workshop now, that Ginny and her children are in the burrow now, she visiting her mother and checking on her.

His relationship with his grandchildren has not changed from before because they do not know anything. Of course, the older grandchildren felt a little change in the family, but they do not know the reason behind that.

Arthur's thoughts were interrupted by opening the workshop door, so he immediately hid Athena's image.

Little James, the eldest children of Ginny and Harry , entered while smiling at his grandfather.

Arthur smiled as soon as he saw his grandson.

James said in a childish voice, "Grandpa, I came to say hi to you, why don't you sit with us?" He moved over to Arthur's place and Arthur picked him up and hugged him and kissed his cheeks.

"I had work to do in the workshop, my little Jimmy," said Arthur.

"Come and play with me and Albus," said James. "Grandma tells you she made a fruitcake and put lots of strawberries in it."

Arthur was a bit hesitant to go out, he didn't want to upset Ginny, but he wanted to talk to her badly at the same time ، She had a special place for Arthur, she was his only daughter among six boys, and she was his youngest child, and she was close to him. Of course, she is no longer his only daughter now, as he also has Athena.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by James's voice saying, "Come on, Grandpa, let's go play."

Arthur came out of the workshop holding James' hand and entered the burrow's kitchen and found Albus helping Molly cut the cake and prepare the juice.

Albus shouted when he saw Arthur, "Grandpa, look, I helped Grandma cut the cake and decorate it." He smiled at his grandfather, and Arthur found some cake crumbs around Albus' mouth.

Arthur said, "Well done, Albus," and went to Albus, who embraced Arthur, and Arthur carried him, and then Albus placed a kiss on Arthur's cheek and some cake crumbs as well.

Arthur surrounded Albus by his arms and kissed his cheeks and said to him, "Come, you and me, and James, let's play a little bit." The three of them went to the burrow garden, and when they passed the living room, Arthur found his daughter Ginny, and she was carrying baby Lily and shaking her tenderly. He wanted to go And hug her and talk to her as usual.

After Arthur had played with James and Albus for a while, Molly came over and said, "Come on, kids, you must have some food and rest, and also you, Arthur."

They all entered the burrow and went to the kitchen, and ginny was there too, and she began to take care of the children and put food for them.

"Oh, Arthur," said Molly, "I need your help with something. can you come with me a moment?"

Arthur went with her to one of the burrow rooms, and Molly said to him after they entered the room, "Why don't you try to talk to Ginny today, that Lily is sleeping now, and I will take Albus and James to of a room and tell them a story to sleep a little, because it is almost time for their nap, why Arthur, don't use this time to talk and make peace with Ginny."

"I don't know, Molly, if this is a right decision, I'm afraid Ginny will refuse to speak to me." Arthur said

"You did not know unless you experienced it. This dispute between you should not continue for a long time, right?" Molly said

Arthur sighed, and Molly continued, "She always asks me about you, and she asks about your health."

Molly smiled and said, "You know, I think she's jealous at the thought of you having another daughter besides her, and that she's no longer your only adorable little girl."

Arthur said quickly, "Don't be silly, Molly. I don't think Ginny thinks like that. She is shocked at her father because he betrayed her mother."

Molly sighed.

"Sorry for saying that," Arthur said quickly.

"Don't worry," Molly said, "I've accepted that it already happened."

"It's your chance, Arthur," said Molly. "You should try to talk to her and make peace with each other."

"Well, Molly," said Arthur, "I'll try."

When they finished eating food and the fruitcake, Molly said as she stood up, "Come on, Albus and James, let's go to the bathroom, and then I'll get you ready for your nap." And when their voices rose that they did not want to sleep now, Molly said, "I will tell you a new story."

"Can you wait for me in the living room, Ginny?" said Molly while coming out of the kitchen with the Albus and James.

Ginny said, "Okay, Mom."

Molly looked at Arthur, then she winked and smiled at him .

Ginny went into the living room, and after about 10 minutes Arthur followed her into the living room.

He found her sitting on one of the chairs with the Daily Prophet newspaper in her hands, and he guessed that she was browsing the Quidditch section, as she is the senior Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet .

Arthur swallowed his saliva and said, "Is there anything new? I heard the Holyhead Harpies played an important game two days ago."

Ginny looked at him and narrowed her eyes, then sighed and said, "They barely won, but the match was a farce. They played badly. They won by a very small difference."

Arthur smiled and his spirits lifted and encouraged and continued, "I heard they changed coach recently, is it possible that this is the reason?"

"He's a temporary coach, but I think he's one of the reasons," said Ginny.

Then Ginny returned to look at the newspaper again.

Arthur went to the chair next to her and said, "Dear Ginny."

Jenny put the newspaper down and said " No, Dad, I can't act as if nothing happened, that it bothers me and hurts me, I can't forget what happened"

Arthur said, "I am very sorry, my little Ginny. It hurts and squeezes my heart that i am the cause of your pain and grief for you, your brothers and your mother, but I regret and want our family to return as it was."

Ginny laughed sarcastically and said, "Is that possible?, Will you forget and break off your relationship with that bitch and her daughter?"

Arthur said firmly, "Watch out for your words, Ginny. I told you before that I was responsible for what happened. Stop blaming Minerva and insulting her like that, and her daughter is my ..." Arthur stopped.

He wanted to say that she was his daughter and her younger sister as well, but he stopped. He remembered Molly's words about her jealousy and her annoyance that she was no longer his only youngest daughter, so he decided not to mention Athena now.

Jenny stood angrily and said, "Why are you defending her, she betrayed our trust in her, and I also blame you like her, but I cannot sever my relationship with you, for you are my father in the end, and I cannot ignore this fact." Some tears fell on her face.

Arthur said as he tried to embrace Ginny, who, to his surprise, did not refuse to embrace him, "Oh, my little Ginny, I am sorry for everything." He was silent for a while as he embraced Jenny and stroked her hair. His little daughter, Jenny, grew older, but she still hides in his lap when she gets upset. Arthur continued and said, "What happened does not change my love for you and your brothers, and of course it does not change my love for Molly at all." It's wrong, can you at least try to forgive your old father for this mistake"

Ginny said, "I'll try."

Arthur took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his daughter's tears and said, "Thank you, my little girl, for this opportunity." He smiled at her.

Ginny smiled back at him.

In the evening

After Ginny and her children returned home, Arthur and Molly sat in the garden for a bit, enjoying the breeze.

Molly said, "It's good that you and Jenny are talking again and that you're reconciled ،She's always been asking me about you."

Arthur said, "I want my relationship with my children to return to as it was."

"You must be patient, Arthur," said Molly, "and allow time for the wounds to heal, and you must accept that there are scars."

Arthur sighed. Molly was right. Did he think everything would go back to the way it was?

He still couldn't believe that Molly forgave him in the first place, he should try hard to make up for his family and leave the wounds healing for time.

"Did Minerva send you any letter about Athena?" said Molly.

Arthur strained, Molly didn't mention Athena and Minerva or didn't ask about them directly before.

Arthur replied, "Why do you ask, Molly?"

Molly said, "You didn't tell me you had any contact with her since I got back to the burrow," and then narrowed her eyes and said . "Arthur, are you hiding something from me?"

Arthur said, "No, of course not, I'm not hiding anything from you," and he sighed and continued his words. "Minerva sent me a letter the day after you forgave me, telling me that she had told Athena that I am her father, and said that Athena want to meet me and get to know me, of course I told her to put it off a bit, sorry Molly, I didn't tell you that then because you had just come back to the burrow And I didn't want to remind you of them or upset you . "

"I understand you, Arthur," said Molly. "Don't worry, I'm not mad at you."

Molly continued, "Don't make the girl wait for you any longer.

You want to meet her too, right?"

"Sure , Molly," said Arthur, "but I don't want to bother you or make you sad "

"Why would that bother me," said Molly, "what is the fault of this poor girl in all this? I bet she wants to meet her father and get to know him."

Molly put her hand on Arthur's and said, "Go and meet your daughter, Arthur. I know you want that too."

Arthur said, "Well, do you want to come with me?"

"I don't think it's a good idea," Molly said. "It wouldn't be comfortable for me to be in the same place with Minerva right now, and I don't want to make your first meeting with Athena uncomfortable."

Arthur kissed Molly's hand and said, "Thank you, my darling Molly."

Then, before Arthur went to sleep, he sent a letter to Minerva telling her that he are ready to meet Athena and to set a date for that.

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