In Essence Divided

Chapter 10

Molly wept for a long time, cold and bitter tears. Arthur had come home to her, broken in the kitchen, crying more than he had ever seen her. This wasn’t like his wife to break down like this. He immediately thought something had happened to someone. But she sat, wailing at the wall. And there was nothing that she could do, she was never rendered this helpless. She clutched the clock in her hands and looked at the hands that pointed them all to ‘mortal peril’ and her heart was heavy and hurting.

“Where have the twins gone?” Arthur asked her, sensing that something was wrong with his children.

All Molly could manage was a feeble shrug. And more sobs. He took her arms and gave her a small shake. “Where’s Harry?” With his name, Molly let out a small cry of anguish. Harry Potter. She loved the boy as one of her own, and yet she wondered what their lives would be like without him. Would all her children be so endangered? Or would they have normal lives? All the questions ran through her head like a swift current, countering each pro with several cons. She hated thinking like this, and she couldn’t stop her mind from the carousel ride that it insisted on taking her for a ride on. She tried to shove all of these emotions out of her head and give her husband a solid answer. Her voice wasn’t working properly.

Ron could have been safe from all of this, Molly knew that he never would have gotten involved in something so dangerous on his own. But Harry had saved him many times in the past. But Ron would follow his friends anywhere. But Harry would never lead him into danger, it was true that he had sent Ron back when things got to hard. So many ‘buts’ and ‘what ifs’. She was becoming frustrated with herself. She had prided herself on letting the boys do as they wished, but now she saw just how little influence she had over them in the long run. She shifted her mind away from Ron.

Ginny. Wasting all that time and energy fussing over Harry. Harry had saved her from the Chamber. And then he broke her heart. Now he wouldn’t even talk to her. Running around like a hoodlum, disreguaring laws and advice that were there to keep him safe. What had she and Arthur done wrong? They raised their boys right, she had tried to be a mother to Harry, and now what? Nothing. Harry seemed to know that he could fall back on them, but he looked down on them as though they didn’t matter. In a way, he was right, they didn’t. He had to do this thing, not anyone else. But did he have to leave this path of destruction in his wake?

Harry had driven Fred and George away. Plain as that. With his words, or actions, or something, he had driven them away. Pale and angry they had been as they left her house. She had watched them leave, into the night, to that home that they shared, with not an idea of what they were facing. Not a clue. Molly tried to tell Arthur all of this, but she had the idea that he already knew. There was nothing now that she could do. Not even she knew all of what had to be done, only Harry did, and he brushed off all offers of help. He didn’t know that in trying to keep them all safe, he was breaking them himself in the process. One by one.

But Molly knew that Fred and George were not going to give up that easily, they were fighters. There was nothing that would deter them from what they felt that they had to do until it was over. She inwardly cursed Harry for being so stubborn. Why couldn’t he just give them something to do? She had noticed their wands, she knew that something had changed, why had no one else seen this? They were trying to keep it from anyone’s notice, but a mother knew. If there had been a change in their face, or a limp in their step, she would have known. And the way they used their wands, it was not their norm. How could they think that they could hide such a thing from her? Why couldn’t everyone just come clean and let each other in on their lives?

Harry had left, finally, and for that, Molly was happy. She didn’t know if she could look at the boy right now. Arthur held her and rocked her until her breathing went back to normal.

“I just wish they had some idea of what it was they had to do.” She said into his chest as she wished them all the luck she could.

+++++++

“I just wish we had some idea of what we have to do!” Fred almost yelled.

George looked at him over the bottle of firewhiskey that graced the kitchen table. “I know what you mean. That git wouldn’t tell us a thing. And Dumbledore also. You think they’d be wanting all the help they could get.” George muttered. “They’ve been at it for long enough.”

“They sure could use it at the rate they’re going. How many years have passed?” Fred took another shot, “And nothing has happened yet. Oh well, aside from the murders and Death Eaters roaming about, and the Dark Lord getting stronger and stronger. But Harry Potter, the Chosen One, has it all under control. No problem, no worries.” Fred snorted, reciting the Ministry’s claim that all was well. Even as they secretly arrested Harry every chance they could get.

George nodded. “Maybe if we get Dumbledore alone, he would tell us something. He seemed like he wanted us to know. I dunno.” George said. “We can’t just sit here like fools because some kid told us to.”

Fred nodded. “True. We have to see him without Potter there. Blimey, he turned out to be shifty. I’m shocked. Glad we paid him back though. He was stubborn then too. Not wanting to take our money. Pfft, I’m glad we paid him when we did. I’d hate to say I owed him now. So you reckon we meet with Dumbledore alone? I think it’s a good idea.” Fred concluded.

“Then it’s settled. As soon as possible, we see Dumbledore and tell him everything. He has to know just how serious we are.” George said.

Fred agreed. There was no way to turn back now.