Early EveningThe Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole
Molly Weasley sighed as yet another shriek split the moment of peace. She struggled to her feet, shedding story books, blankets and cuddly toys in the process, her arms immobilised by two drowsy babies.
“Bill.” She called, her voice pitched at a level a battlefield general would envy. The eldest of her brood poked his head in the door. There was gravy in his hair and something that looked suspiciously like mashed potato was dripping down the side of his otherwise innocent face.
“Yes mum?” His voice did it’s best to convey that the mashed potato was entirely coincidental and the shriek nothing to do with him.
“When I asked you to supervise your brother’s I didn’t mean while they learnt the finer arts of food warfare. No food fights.”
The eight year old sighed and withdrew, leaving his mother with the troublesome twins. Once out of what he deemed to be earshot of the room he broke into a run, dashed down the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky spots, and pelted into the kitchen. Having dramatically entered the battlefield he put his hands on his hips and mock glared around the apparently empty room.
“Alright, you horrible little boys,” He bellowed as best he could while keeping his voice to a whisper. “I want a ceasefire and I want you both out here to shake on it.” He continued to glare around the empty room. When neither party was forthcoming he narrowed his eyes and strode towards a tell-tale tuft of red hair.
He strode over, puffing out his chest in his best imitation of an angry commander. Slowly, knowing he was being watched, he turned to glare down behind the chair.
“Hey Perce.” The toddler looked up, expression solemn.
“Hi Bill.”
“Mum says we have to keep it down.” The boy nodded up at his brother. Bill waited, but it seemed like Percy had nothing more to say. “So how about you come out of there?”
“Can’t” Bill raised his eyebrows in his best imitation of his mother.
“Can’t or won’t young man?”
“You know, you sound just like mum when you do that.” A new voice announced. Turning away from the crouching toddler, Bill eyed the second Weasley up and down as Charlie emerged from the pantry, dusting flower out of his hair.
“And it’s can’t.” The six year old added, glancing up at his brother. “He got stuck, which is why we stopped.” Bill sighed gustily and turned back to the youngest combatant.
“You stuck down there Perce?” The toddler nodded glumly. “Well hold your arms up then.” Reaching down to Percy was simple, unfortunately, he was too short to be easily lifted out and it finally took both the eldest Weasley children and a chair to extricate him.
Fifteen minutes later, Bill stepped back to survey the recently freed Percy and grinning Charlie. Dust had laid a thick grey layer over Percy’s pyjamas and Charlie has failed to get all the flour out of his hair, dulling the Weasley red to a pale orange.
“I think,” Bill pointed out, “That you two need baths.” Percy looked around the kitchen then back at his brother.
“T’ kitchen needs baths too.” He pointed out solemnly. Bill nodded sagely as he herded the younger boys towards the stairs,
“I think so too, Perce.”
Mid-EveningHeadquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, London
Remus Lupin sighed as something went whizzing past his door. For the third time that evening he was forced to put his book down, get up from the chair which was easing the aches and pains that always beset him after a full moon, and go out into the draughtyhallway.
The dog, which had been dashing along the hallway for the last ten minutes collided with his legs, sending them both crashing to the ground. Once there it turned into a well built young man with a somewhat guilty expression.
“Sorry Remy.” Remus sighed.
“Sirius, when I told you to go and get some exercise I did not mean for you to run up and down the hall. I was hoping you’d go outside and let me read in peace.”
The twenty-year-old looked fifteen years younger than his actual age as he pouted up at the werewolf.
“Mrs Bones said I shouldn’t” He muttered sullenly. “She said dinner was almost ready and it’d be silly for me to outside now.” Remus sighed and stared up at the ceiling for a minute.
“Did she tell you to come up here and run up and down outside our room?” He asked. Sirius muttered something.
“What was that?”
“She asked me to set the table.” Remus sighed and closed his eyes, hoping the darkness beneath his lids would inspire patience. All it did was make the headache that had been nagging at him all day more pronounced.
“And did you do that?” Sirius muttered again.
“Pardon?”
“No.” Remus squeezed his lids down tighter.
“Well why don’t you go and do that?” Sirius’ face twisted into a look of profound distaste.
“Don’t want to.” He said. Remus tried to move his legs under the lump of a man.
“Well what is it you wanted to do?” He asked. Sirius looked up at him, eyes hopeful.
“No.” Remus told him. Sirius pouted.
“No.” He said again, still not opening his eyes. Sirius pouted some more.
“Off.” Remus ordered shifting his legs as much as he could to encourage faster removal of the weight. Reluctantly, Sirius stood up. Remus felt the pain lessen a little. He opened his eyes to find Sirius holding a hand down to him. He let the taller man haul him to his feet and then found himself wrapped in Sirius’ strong arms. For a moment he rested his head on his lovers chest. Then he straightened.
“Sorry,” Sirius told him, in an unusually serious voice. “I forgot how bad it gets.” Remus nodded and stood on tiptoe to press his lips to the taller man’s.
“Why don’t you go and set the table now?” He asked, eyes shining playfully.
Sirius sighed dejectedly and turned to go, with many a wistful glance back over his shoulder. Remus, smiling quietly to himself, settled back into his chair and picked up his book. As he searched for the point where he had been interrupted he unconsciously raised his hand to his lips where his fingers lingered and his smile grew.
Late EveningThe Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole
Molly Weasley crooned softly, leaning over the bars of the crib. One of the twins, she was already having trouble telling them apart, leant up and sleepily latched his fingers around the trailing tendril of hair. She smiled down at him and gently pried the tiny digits loose. She bent down once more, one hand carefully holding her hair out of harms way as she kissed her two youngest sons goodnight. She moved quietly to the door, tapping the light with her wand once as she passed. It dimmed until the nursery was lit only with a soft glow. She paused at the door, looking back over the cosy little room with a smile.
Across the hall, Percy was snuggled down next to Bill, who was reading from a giant book of fairytales. The two year old was watching intently as Bill ran his finger under the line of text he was reading, squinting slightly.
Charlie was in his bed, opposite Percy’s. He was lying down with his eyes closed, pretending not to listen, but Molly could see the reaction on his face each time a new event occurred.
She watched her oldest boys with pride. Bill, already so good with the babies. Charlie, all fire and energy and temper. And Percy. Quiet little Percy who was rapidly becoming a target for the tiny twins and Charlie’s fits of rage.
Bill glanced up and she realised the story was finished.
“Was it a happy story?” She asked, coming across the room to where they were sitting. Percy nodded seriously.
“Aren’t they all?” Charlie asked, sitting up and opening his eyes. “I think they’re booooooring.” Molly chuckled to herself and she could see Bill fighting to keep a straight face. But little Percy seemed upset by this. She quickly wrapped her arms around him.
“Hush now Charlie, it’s time to go to sleep.” The boy grumbled a little but subsided, turning over a few times and huffily pulling the blankets up over his head. She smiled at his back, releasing Percy and tiptoeing over to drop a kiss onto his hair. He grumble, but a face poked out of the blankets and returned the favour, placing one on her cheek.
By the time she got back to the others Bill was already up and had Percy snuggled down.
“Night Perce.” He told the toddler, who blinked sleepily in reply. He stepped back, letting Molly kneel beside the bed and hug her middle son through the blankets.
“G’night Mum.” He said and she smiled.
“Good night Percy, sleep tight.”
“Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Chorused Bill and Charlie. Percy smiled and turned over, his chubby little face relaxing against the pillow.
Molly Weasley stood up, wrapping an arm around the shoulder of her first born and gently guiding him out into the hallway and across to his room. He climbed into bed without a fuss, pulling the covers up and stretching his arms out for a hug.
“Night Mum.” He said, smiling as she kissed his forehead.
“Goodnight Bill. Thank you for all your help today.”
Late EveningHeadquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, London
Several towns over, at the highly secret Head Quarters of the Order of the Phoenix, Lily Potter stared at the little stick. She tapped it against the sink and then stared hopefully at it again. Nothing changed. She frowned and then sighed. She placed it carefully on the bench before settling herself on the closed lid of the toilet. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping slender arms around her denim clad legs.
She didn’t move for several very long minutes. She just sat there, staring at the stick as if it ha disappointed her. It was a look her husband and his friends had some to know and dread over the years.
She wanted a child. Not in the abstract idea of having small versions of her running around someday. She was in the middle of the war and her husband might die any day. She might die any day. At the very least she wanted a chance to hold her baby before either of those days came.
A knock on the door stirred her and she jumped guiltily.
“It’s only me.” Alice’s voice was somewhat muffled by the thick wood of the door and Lily relaxed somewhat. Still, she forced her legs under her and stood, grabbing the little stick on her way to the door. She pulled it part way open and peered cautiously out into the hall. There was no one in the little slice of it she could see and she came to the conclusion that peering around doors was not a valid way of checking if the hallway was clear. Before she could devise a better strategy the barrier was tugged gently out of the way, revealing only Alice.
“What? You thought I’d been subverted to the enemies side?” Lily smiled somewhat wanly and played along.
“Well they could have been holding you at wand point.” She told her friend. Alice’s tart expression softened and she reached up to her friends cheek.
“No luck?” Her voice was gentle and Lily, blinking, realised that she had been crying.
“No luck.” She informed the shorter woman in a thick voice. Alice reached out and Lily half fell forward into her friends arms.
“Is there anything I can do?” It was such an Alice question that Lily laughed, albeit wetly, though her sobs.
“Got a fairy godmother handy?” Alice smiled kindly and shook her head.
“I have the wand but not the wings.” She bit her lip and looked at red haired friend as if debating the right words.
“I know.” Lily told her. “Magic can only do so much. I just want…”
“I know.” Alice repeated. “And you will have. Someday. Just not today.”
Lily nodded and sniffed once or twice before drying her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt. Though it was frowned upon many of the younger generation shunned robes when at home, choosing to wear the muggle clothes they used when venturing outside their wizarding sphere.
“So how are you and Frank doing?” Alice chuckled and shook her head.
“Lily, you know we agreed not to have children until the war is over.” Lily shrugged and grinned.
“Accidents happen Alice. Besides, I’d love to have a godchild even if I don’t have a child of my own.” Alice’s eyebrows rose and she playfully whacked her friends arm.
“Oh really? And what makes you think you’d be godmother?” Lily laughed outright, the last of her tearful mood melting away.
“Oh, I don’t know. Who else is going to spoil the kid rotten enough?” Laughing together the two women linked arms and headed down the hallway. They might be in a war but there was very little that a hot cup of tea and a good nights rest couldn’t fix. Or at least overcome. For a little while.
Later EveningThe Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole
Sighing Molly let herself out, almost running into her husband on the stairway. He caught her arms to prevent her falling and she smiled at him, leaning into the embrace.
“Twins asleep?” She felt his voice vibrate through his chest more than hearing it.
“Mhmmm.” She nodded against the soft wool of his sweater, turning her face towards him. He chuckled slightly, wrapping her more securely in his arms.
They stood like that for a moment, safe together. Molly knew the downstairs there were socks that required darning and baby clothes waiting to be knitted. But they could wait, she decided, right now was a precious moment. The children were tucked into their beds, some happily some not so happily, and she and Arthur were together and safe for a rare moment of peace. She leant back slightly and smiled up at him. He removed one hand from her waist and raised it, carefully sweeping back the loose trail of hair.
“You’re beautiful.” He informed her and she smiled up at him. She didn’t think she was. She had never been one of the glamorous girls, taking time with her hair and make up. She was more interested in getting things done than in how she looked. But she could see in his eyes that he truly believed his words and so she drew him closer.
“You’re amazing.” He ducked his head slightly and her smile grew.
“Let’s get some rest.” Knitting and darning be damned. He looked back up at her and nodded, still smiling and faintly flushed from her compliments. So it was like that, warm with love and their arms fixed around each other that the Weasley’s went to bed.
Late EveningHeadquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, London
The meeting had run late and everyone was tired as they trooped off. Most headed quickly for the fireplace. The older members who were staying with the Bones’ family headed for their rooms. Only a few of the younger members stayed.
Lily sipped her hot chocolate, leaning back against James and enjoying the feel of his arms around her.
“Where did you slip off to earlier?” His voice is muffled by the haze of exhaustion but she still has the presence of mind to blush.
“Oh, nowhere.” She replies, sipping. He hmms quietly but drops the subject, letting her get away with it. No man particularly wants to deal with a crying wife, especially not when it’s his fault she’s crying.
Lily waved lazily at Alice and Frank as they headed for the floo and finally managed to reach the bottom of her cup.
“We should go.” She states muzzily, standing up and trying to pull James to his feet. He nods in agreement and stands, sweeping her up and bearing her towards the stairs. Their brooms are waiting on the roof, one covered by the Potter invisibility cloak and the other under a disillusionment charm. They’ll leave one here tonight, as they always do when she’s too tired to ride, and pick it up sometime later.
The house slumbered beneath them. Mrs Bones laying out the things she would need to make breakfast in the morning while behind her the family House Elf hummed cheerfully as it washed the dishes.
Arabella Figg snored in her room and Peter Pettigrew scurried through the walls, enjoying the liberty his rat form brought him. Amelia Bones sat with her father and brother in the library. Edgar bouncing little Alfred on his knee and somewhere upstairs Martha could be heard singing to their daughter as she tried to hush her to sleep.
Remus was already asleep, exhausted by the full moon the night before and the constant strain his curse places on his body. Sirius, his arms wrapped around the small werewolf, was still half awake. He enjoyed the feel of having Remus in his arms once more as he drifted off to sleep. He always slept badly on nights when the moon was full and he had to sleep alone. Often he would simply take his animagus form and slink down to the reinforced room in the basement where Remus spent such nights. If anyone tripped over a large black dog when they went down in the morning none of them commented. But more often than not they would enter the unlocked room to find a very tired looking Sirius Black nursing the exhausted Remus Lupin in his arms.
Christina Bones smiled to herself as peace descended on the house. Grim the times may be and worn out they might make the members of the Order but it was always better to know you were not alone.
MidnightThe Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought you said we were going this way.”
“No, you idiot. I said left.”
“This is left.”
“My left.”
“Oh.”
Bill Weasley, eight-year-old brother of four, lay very still as the footsteps retreated. They weren’t friendly footsteps, like his father coming to check on him or his mother on her way to make breakfast. They weren’t scared footsteps, like six-year-old Charlie made when he had a nightmare and wasn’t game to navigate the house alone. They weren’t even stumbling footsteps like the Percy, three, or the twins, one, who had already figured out how to get out of their crib and make trouble. These were mean footsteps like those of the bogey men who inhabited the nightmare darkness or monsters from under the bed. He paused for a moment, torn by indecision. They were heading towards mum and dads room, so there was no way he was going to be able to get them. They were in-ac-cess-ible and dad had said that if that happened then Bill was to look after his brothers.
Charged with this sacred duty a very scared eight year old boy slid out from under the covers of his bed. He padded on sock lined feet across the hall to the room where Charlie slept. He could open the crib by himself but he would need Charlie to carry one of the twins if he was going to keep Percy from becoming frightened.
Crashes from the other end of the house momentarily halted his progress. As silence fell a shiver ran down his spine and he ran on tippy toes the rest of the way to his brothers room.
“Charlie.” He hissed, crossing the night light illuminated floor and shaking his brothers form. Charlie rolled over, muttering something in his sleep.
“Charlie, there’s bogey men in the house and I need you to help me with Percy and the twins. Charlie opened indignant six-year-old eyes, shadowed by a hint of fear and glared at his brother.
“No such thing as bogey men.” He informed him in the same hushed whisper. Bill raised an eyebrow as more crashing came from downstairs.
“But I ‘spose hiding can’t hurt.” He quickly amended, sliding out of bed to join his brother. On the other side of the room three year old Percy was already awake and trembling under his blankets. Bill knelt beside the bed and laid a comforting hand on his little brother shoulder.
“Come on Perce, we need someone who can keep the twins in line.” Only three years old but already determined to control his brothers antics Percy slid out of bed to stand resolutely beside the elder two. The trio hurried back across the landing as the crashing below redoubled and Bill hurriedly tripped the catch on the side of the cot. It slid to the ground with a jolt masked by the sounds from below. The twins, still asleep in that heavy way that only babies can achieve, were duly lifted and all five exited the room. On the landing, Bill glanced down and then up, torn. The best thing to do would be to get his brothers out of the house, but to do so without the intruders noticing would be difficult. And after just eight years of existence Bill was beginning to realise that there are some things in the world that are darker than bogey men. Percy was trembling again on the cold landing and it was that which finally prompted Bill to make his decision. That and the fact that all below had gone suspiciously quiet. He hurried his brothers up the top flight of stairs and pulled the cord, which would open the flight to the attic. He shooed the others up and followed, drawing the trapdoor closed behind him. He herded his small flock behind a set of boxes and there they settled. Charlie held one of the twins on his lap and Bill the other, Percy between the two, clinging tightly to Bill’s hand. It was then that the screaming started.