Edge Of Gravity

Author Note- thought it was time for a little bit of joy.

Molly Weasley pursed her lips at the half frozen meals she had set out nearly four hours ago for Hermione and Draco, who had sworn to be back in an hour. Their eyes sparkling, and smirking they might have a guest returning with them. She could see the mischief in their faces, Merlin knows she had seen it daily in Fred and George’s faces.

Even now she could see it flashing behind their eyes, clutching their latest creations even though she scolded them it could explode at any second. The crystals their most used creation, while neither twins favorite, made her shaky just looking at them. Bright colors, each holding grim effects, shimmering everywhere in their room. They would wink at her from desktops, nightstands, open books, even some being used as bookmarks. While she had more then expressed her feelings on the bookmark use, it had not stopped them from leaving them about for any poor soul to enter their domain to explode in a horrifying pop.

Picking up the two plates she sighed, knowing that their tardiness was probably due to her mischievous sons who had disappeared with a matching grins not long after them. Their pockets full of probably their newest creations, for as they put it, “A nice quiet stroll.” She wasn’t even sure they knew the definition of quiet from their complete lack of it since their births.

Staring down at the plate, she tried to ignore the way it made her stomach twist, the corned beef on the plate reminding her of times gone by. Waving to her sons and daughter from the platforms, with a hot corned beef sandwich in their pockets, if she knew her children at all. (All except Percy of course.) Mashing up into a ball until hunger over ran the excitement of the new school year. It made her eyes burn despite how she fought against the warm memories of the past, the times when she watched their faces glow with happiness.

Now she could see the shadow crossing her…remaining children’s faces and could see the lines of loss in her and Arthur’s face. Her husband’s easy going nature tightening over the years, even though the unburdened man of the past would surface with a warm smile that would light up the room, each time he saw any of their children.

A good father and husband who was probably in bed wondering why she had not returned yet. Even before the War Arthur would come down the steps, staring at Molly with half sleep hazed eyes to mutter staying up pacing would not bring them home any faster. He coxed her back to bed, which she usually complained about the entire time, snuggling up to her until she fell asleep in a warm restful sleep. It would always be interrupted by one of her children finally arriving home, which she would properly scold them over.

Quickly reaching up to wipe at a stray tear, she completely forgot about the contents of the plate that promptly tumbled to the ground. “Merlins!” She was just thankful that it wasn’t the soup she had first thought of this morning, cleaning that would much more time consuming then just chips and corned beef.

“Molly?” Arthur’s voice floated down the stairs, sounding more asleep then awake.

“Be up in a moment Arthur.” Molly sighed up, knowing her husband wouldn’t expect her up to bed for at least another fifteen minutes. She knew she should just go to bed, to try to shake away the itching fear in the back of her mind for Draco and Hermione. While they were both very capable Wizard and Witch they could find trouble that they might not be prepared for, if indeed her instincts were correct, with Fred and George.

Leaning down she slowly began to pick up the food scattered at her feet, forcing away the nervous burn in the pit of her stomach. They would all be back at the Burrow soon enough, probably covered head to toe in grim. Picking over her muffins she had prepared earlier in the day, spoiling their urge to eat breakfast like a normal adult. A soft smile warmed her lips, making her feel lighter then she had then she had for the last three and half hours.

Picking the last of the useless food off the floor, she piled them on the plate. She would simply put these away, and then just go to bed. Her instincts always warned her when her children were coming home, not to mention the spell to wake her and Arthur when anyone entered the Burrow at night.

“Mum?” Bill’s voice was soft in the dark, nearly scaring the life out of Mrs. Weasley and making her spill half of the plates contents.

“Bill!” She snapped, smiling despite the fact that her heart felt like it was up in her throat. “You shouldn’t sneak up on…”

She fell silent seeing the stricken look of his face, his eyes tired. “Do we have any sleeping draft?”

Molly didn’t have to ask who it was for, Fleur had been having several nightmares lately, especially since the pregnancy. Bill had grown more anxious with his wife, seeming to be more paranoid then his mother had ever seen him. “Tell her not to take to much or the morning sickness will be worse in the morning.” Molly pulled the vile from her robes, smiling comfortingly at Bill. She knew Fleur would not be silly enough to take too much of the potion but Bill had a tendency to overreact when it came to Fleur.

“Yes…yes…” Bill took the potion vile, kissing his Mother on the cheek. “Thank you, Mum.”

Watching her eldest son racing up the stairs, she smiled at his over protectiveness. Even though he still never listened to her about cutting his hair, and the fang earring he had become a fine husband. Most likely as fine a husband and father as his father. She really should go to bed, Arthur would be coming down soon if she didn’t come up. With a small shake of her head, she moved to put away the plates.

“Mrs. Weasley?”

Molly turned on her heels to stare at Draco, his robes completely missing and his arm hanging limply at his side. “Draco, where have you been?” She moved towards the young Wizard, noticing the small scratches and his scorched hair. “Are you alright dear?”

Draco stumbled forward, his mouth trying to smile but his body giving him too much pain. “I…We…”

A panicked throb went up in back, looking around for his Witch companion. “Hermione?” She directed the question to the blonde who slouched into a chair, forcing a smile on his face finally.

“Right here, Mrs. Weasley.” She sighed, stumbling into the kitchen.

“Molly?” Arthur called down the stairs, his voice wide awake this time.

“It’s just Hermione and Draco, Arthur.” Molly called up, setting the plate on the table. Her eyes taking a quick check of both of them, trying to see all the damage. “Were you attacked?”

“Sort of?” Fred grunted, maneuvering to allow George and himself to hold up the barely conscious young man. “Dementors.”

Molly covered her mouth, horror crossing her face as she looked at each of them. “You’re not hurt? Draco? Hermione? Fred? George?” She made a small hiccup, moving closer to them.

“No, but…” George nodded his head to the boy he and Fred were supporting between them, causing Molly to notice his presence for the first time. Each of the four faces lit up, and their eyes sparkling brightly.

“We have a guest.” Draco smirked, making a perplexed frown form on Mrs. Weasley’s face.

“Oh, you poor dear.” Molly moved towards the boy, pushing passed his hair to feel his lowered forehead. “You had better take him to bed he is quite warm.” She frowned at her twin’s boys faces who remained motionless. “Don’t worry dear, you will be…”

Harry’s eyes blurred for several long seconds but the warm feel of a familiar voice called him into full consciousness. Lifting his head he stared at Mrs. Weasley, her face unchanged from when had last seen her. Even the twinkle in her eyes was the same. “Mrs. Weasley.” His lip quivered seeing her staring at him, her face growing more pale by the moment. Tears slipped out of his eyes that he couldn’t deny.

Molly lip quivered, staring at the young man she had not seen in over a decade. She turned to stare at her sons, their faces warm with smiles. “Mum, you remember Harry.” Fred grinned, a glaze of tearful mischief in his eyes.

“H…H…Har…Harry.” Molly whispered, reaching out to touch the young man’s cheek. He was warm…and really here. Her hand shook for several seconds, tears streaming down her cheeks. “HARRY!” She sobbed, throwing her arms around the young man.

Fred and George let go of Harry’s waist to allow black haired Wizard to hug her more fully. Their faces warm with emotion, watching as they clutched the young man to her. “Mrs. Weasley.” Harry whispered, letting his face drop into her warm, soft shoulder.

“Harry…Harry.” Molly chanted over and over again, feeling for the first time a lifting of the shadows on her soul. It made her feel like one of her fallen children had come back to her…no one of her children had come back to her. “Harry.”

“Molly?” Arthur stood at the foot of the stairs, his robe hanging from his shoulders and pajamas showing through. “What’s the matter?” His hand hung limply at his side, his wand still in it. He stared at everyone in the kitchen. “Draco are you alright?”

Molly leaned back to touch the crying young man’s face, pushing back stray hairs on his forehead to see the lightening shaped scar on his forehead. Even though she knew that this was Harry Potter, she some how needed to see the scar to make it more real. She could feel it all the way down to heart, which was about to jump out of her chest. “Harry.”

Arthur moved forward, frowning at his Wife’s back. “Molly?” She turned to him, tears rolling down her cheeks and the happiest smile had seen in years on her face.

“Arthur.” Molly moved away from Harry keeping her arms around him just in case he couldn’t stand on his own.

Arthur frowned at the young man in front of him for a moment before clarity dawned on him. His eyes growing saucer like as he grabbed Harry to pull into a tight bear hug. “Harry.” His voice couldn’t work above a whisper, hugging the young man who had died in the raid of Hogwarts nearly eleven years ago. “How?”

“It’s…complicated.” Hermione smiled, tears dripping down her cheeks.

“Really complicated.” Draco smirked, trying to ignore the way his body ached.

“And your going to explain.” Molly voice was firm even through the tears.

Bill stumbled down the stairs, his eyes slightly worried. “Mum, what‘s going on?”

“Bill?” Harry choked, looking over Mr. Weasley’s shoulder.

The small vile of sleep draught dropped to the floor, shattering to a thousand pieces as Bill Weasley fell to the floor in a faint.

Beta_Larilee