Author's Note: Hi all, and yes, I am posting. My life is finally quieting down. My mother had been with us, and it ate up most of my free time and brain power. I also had surgery to correct a long-standing issue, and while I am confined to rest for another five weeks, I will have time to write. I hope to get to something like a regular updating schedule again. This chapter took me by surprise, but I just went where the characters took me. MNF

Chapter 24:

Wednesday 3 August 1994

"Sirius, I'm not so sure about this," Harry said as they waited at the small café where Sirius, Arthur and the boys had met in Muggle London the last time they spoke. "I just don't know that I can trust any of the family."

"Harry, I understand that; however, I've had another conversation with Arthur when I was at the Ministry, and I think you need to hear him and the older brothers out. Then you can choose what to do. I would never ask you to speak with Molly, Ron, or Ginny."

"You said Remus will be along as well?"

"He's walking with Arthur, the twins and Bill. Charlie would have liked to have been here as well, but he was needed at the preserve. They have six dragons on their nests, and are apparently very nasty when awaiting their babies," Sirius explained. Harry nodded.

"I can only imagine." His thoughts drifted to Aunt Marge's nasty bulldogs and when the females were anticipating a brood. Then again, she bred them to be malicious – at least the ones she kept at her home. The babies were too young to be mean and those she sold off. Harry shuddered at the thought of the dogs and an incident from his childhood tried to rear its head, but Harry beat it down. "What happened with Mr Weasley?"

"Harry, I told you he had a revelation, but the rest is his story to tell." Sirius wasn't about to share Arthur's tale, just as he hoped Arthur would never tell his. Life stories belonged to the person they happened to, and Sirius would never betray the trust Arthur put in him.

Harry's milky tea had gone cold by the time Remus ushered the four redheads into the café. Sirius had chosen a large booth by the back of the café, and Remus lead the group to the rear of the room. Sirius stood and shook hands with the four men, but Harry remained seated and just nodded.

"Harry, I'd like you to meet Bill Weasley, the oldest of the Weasley children. Bill works for Gringotts as a Curse-Breaker trainee," Remus said.

"Nice to meet you," Harry muttered. "Sounds like an interesting career."

"It is. If you ever want to talk about it, I'd be more than happy to." Bill smiled in such a warm and genuine way that Harry couldn't help but return it. Remus took the orders for everyone and went to the counter to make their purchases. Sirius made small talk with the others until Remus returned.

"Alright then," Sirius said with some authority and an equal part trepidation, "Arthur, I would appreciate it if you would talk with Harry about what happened at your home and with your family after the revelations about Dumbledore, Molly and Harry's key."

"Of course," Arthur said nervously. "First, I am so sorry this happened. Had I known I would have put a stop to it. I am willing to swear on my magic that I had no idea."

"That isn't necessarily, Mr Weasley. But I do wonder, didn't you think it was odd that your family had an influx of gold right before term?" Harry asked.

"Ah, well…" he paused and looked anxious. Sirius nodded and waved his wand. Harry felt the privacy shield come up. Bill put his hand on his father's shoulder and Arthur continued. "Molly was lacing my morning cuppa with a love potion. She'd been doing it since we were in school. If I started asking questions, she would add a little extra, so I'd accept whatever answer she gave me." Everyone was quiet, save the gentle stirring of the spoon in Remus' coffee cup.

"How did you find this out?" Harry asked.

"After I met with Sirius the first time, I had a bit of an eye-opener. You see, I was supposed to marry someone else. A betrothal had been set between my family, well my grandfather set it, and I was to be married to Synedria Selwyn. We had been spending time together at Hogwarts, she was a year behind and in Ravenclaw but we both excelled in Herbology and Charms and liked one another well enough. Then I remember becoming obsessed with Molly Prewett. I cut off all ties with Synedria and while we were on a Hogwarts weekend our seventh year, we ran off to Gretna Green and were married. It cost my family what little gold we had and the Weasleys haven't recovered, even more than twenty years later."

"I'm so sorry, Mr Weasley," Harry said honestly. "I didn't know Mrs Weasley was so good at Potions."

"Neither did I. Anyway, after I had the meeting with Sirius I went back to my office and tried to decide what to do. If Molly was truly plying me with potions against my will, then she clearly had broken the agreement she had with you and the DMLE. Alastor Moody is a man I count among my friends, and he agreed to visit my home and look for signs of Molly's transgressions. He found her hidden potions lab as well as enough completed potions for six more months of a daily dose. Molly was taken in by Alastor. Two Aurors came and collected the evidence." Arthur had tears leaking from his eyes by the time he was done relaying his tale. Bill put his arm around his father.

"Holy Shite," Harry muttered. "I'm sorry, although that doesn't sound like enough. I can't believe…"

"It gets worse, Harry," Bill said, taking over as spokesperson for the family. "Molly had made love potions and some form of a compulsion potion so that you'd accept Ron and Ginny. There were baked goods laced with potions, inks that would pass through the skin if you touched the page, even an atomizer filled with a spray version that smelled like strawberries –"

"Your sister always smells like strawberries!" Harry didn't like where this was going, especially after finding that fake betrothal contract.

"We know," the twins said in unison.

"Molly violated her agreement with the DMLE by making the potions and dosing dad. She negated the agreement she had with you and your father by preparing to ply you," Bill explained.

"What happened to her?" Harry asked, his ire rising. Sirius could feel his son's magic uptick.

"Harry, stay calm, it's been dealt with, and we are in a Muggle establishment," Sirius whispered, and Harry closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

"What happened?" he repeated once calmer.

"Because the contract with you was also with the Goblins, Molly," Bill spat out the last word, "has been interred in a Goblin mine. She will not return to the magical world when she completes her four years." Harry's eyes were wide as saucers, Remus had explained to him what happened to inmates.

"What will happen to her then?" Remus asked, seeing that Harry was incapable of words.

"If she survives the four years, which we all doubt she will, her memory will be wiped by the goblins and her magic will be bound. She will be set up in the Muggle world and left there," Bill answered. "Molly will never remember she had children. Right now, I wish we could forget her. She caused some difficulties in my training, and I can only thank my training officer for stepping in and relaying my work record. I also thank you, Lord Black, for penning the letter in my defence. I'm sure it helped."

"You did nothing wrong, so I was happy to do it," Sirius said solemnly. Everyone's drink had gone cold, so Remus cast charms and they sipped en masse.

"I annulled our marriage," Arthur said after a long pause where they all digested the news. "It was made under false pretences and I just – staying married to her could have completely bankrupted me."

"My Merlin, Arthur, Sirius had said it was a sordid tale, but I had no idea it was this bad. No one will condemn you for ending things," Remus said with sadness. "I am so very sorry."

"Thank you, Remus. I am struggling to come to grips with it all," Arthur replied honestly. "There's more I need to tell you, Harry, although I'm struggling to do so. Sirius, do you think you could –" his voice faded into a muffled sob.

"Of course, Arthur," Sirius said before looking at his boy. "Harry, when you return to Hogwarts, you will not find Ron or Ginny there."

"Why? What happened to them?"

"They're at the wizarding equivalent of rehabilitation," Bill answered. Harry choked on the sip of tea that was in his mouth. Remus gave him a firm rap on his back, and he was able to swallow it down. After coughing a few times, Harry looked at Bill.

"Why?"

"She was dosing them with pliability potions of various designs, mostly her own. Apparently, she began with Ron shortly before he went to Hogwarts, making him believe it was his 'right' to be your best friend. She continued to do so, even while at school through treats she sent him," Bill explained. "She never sent that many sweets to any of us, but Ron has always needed more reassurance of her love."

"Explains his attitude," Harry said disdainfully.

"It also makes him believe anything good about Dumbledore, and bristle against words against him," Bill explained. "Ginny's did too, but Molly started dosing her far earlier."

"How early?" Remus asked.

"Our daughter, my little princess, was dosed by her mother beginning at the age of five," Arthur said with tears in her eyes. "A love potion, keyed to make her think the only boy for her would be Harry. At nearly thirteen she was taking nearly double an adult dose daily." Arthur began to cry, and all three brothers had tears in their eyes. Remus put a hand to his mouth and Sirius pounded his fist on the table. For Harry's part, he felt numb.

"What does that mean?" he muttered.

"Harry, a love potion, such as Amortentia, temporarily changes the brain chemistry of the taker. A normal dose can last for twenty-four to thirty hours," Remus explained. "To have been on a daily dose for eight years means her brain has been irrevocably changed."

"What? That can't be right? There must be some way to help her," Harry said. "I'll pay for it if you'd let me. She shouldn't be hurt because of me."

"No one blames you, Harry," Arthur said quickly.

"There's never been a case like this, Harry. The addiction, for lack of a better word, to the compulsion potions will end but once Ginny is fully weaned off the love potions, they don't know what the state of her mind will be," Bill said softly.

"If Dumbledore weren't already dead, I'd kill him again," Harry said.

"You'd be killing him for the fifth or sixth time, Harry," Gred or Forge said grimly. Everyone was silent again, taking it in. Harry was thankful that his dad had put his hand on Harry's shoulder, as he needed his strength now.

"Look, I was never upset at any of you, not really. I was livid at Mrs Weasley, er, Ms Prewett?" Harry screwed up his face as he said it, not sure if it was right.

"Good enough name as any for her," the other twin groused.

"Okay, and I was angry at Ron and annoyed with the whole betrothal. That it went this far, that Ron and Ginny were hurt so badly by her…I couldn't have even dreamed that up. As of right now, we're on good terms."

"Thank you, Harry, that means a great deal to us," Bill said.

"Thanks, Harry," the twins said in unison. "It'll make Quidditch easier."

"Yeah, about that," Harry said sheepishly.

"What?" Gred asked. Harry looked to his father for help.

"I'm not sending Harry back to Hogwarts for the time being," Sirius said.

"Why?" Fred said sharply.

"Harry had several magical bindings in place, which I have had removed and his magic is quite unstable because of it. Until I know that he's able to control it, he will be homeschooled. Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom will be joining him."

"Shite," the twins said together, making the others laugh and breaking the tension around the table. Their party broke up another five minutes later, everyone feeling stunned and broken-hearted.

Harry had been quiet once he went home, and Sirius and Remus decided to let him have his emotions. It was a bit before nine when Harry went to find his father in his study.

"Dad, I want to do something Mr Weasley," the boy quietly whispered. Sirius indicated he should sit down on the loveseat by the windows where he joined his boy.

"I can understand that," Sirius said gently, "he was kind to you."

"He was, and the twins make good teammates and friends," Harry added. "Percy is a prat, but he doesn't deserve whatever he's feeling about his mum."

"That's very mature of you, Harry. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking we give Mr Weasley the money that my mother and father left for him in their will." Sirius went to say something, but Harry carried on. "I know, the money was seized because of what Mrs Weas, er, Ms Prewett did and at the time that was the right choice. However, now he needs the money, and I don't. I can't see the family suffer because of what she did. Haven't they suffered enough? She isn't ever going to be able to use the money, but I think that with Ron and Ginny needing care and their family being as poor as they are he could use it now." While he spoke, Harry had sped up his speaking until the words were just pouring out of his mouth in a wild torrent of compassion.

"Harry, I agree with you," Sirius finally was able to interject when the young man had stopped to breathe. "I was going to do the same, as Arthur is my cousin."

"Oh," Harry said in response. "That's good."

"I agree. Why don't we spend a few minutes and think about how we want to do this. We don't want to embarrass Arthur and the boys."

"Right," Harry agreed, and the pair talked for another hour until they had a working plan.