Sinners and Serpents {g.w.}

Chapter 17

a/n: i just wanted to thank you guys for the love you've shown this story so far<3 your comments and votes really mean the world to me and i love reading what you guys think about the story so much !

You felt your heart squeeze in your chest as everyone looked at the injured man, who was smiling so widely one might've thought he'd been off on vacation, not recovering from a near-fatal attack by a snake that had been thicker than your torso.

Glancing over at Harry, you knew, much like yourself, that his vision was swirling through his head as he looked at his best friend's father. It helped ease the guilt by the smallest amount, but you still felt strangely responsible for what had happened to him.

You couldn't imagine how much worse Harry must've been feeling.

Molly's eyes widened at the sight of her husband. "Arthur! Kingsley told me you weren't coming home for another day or two. What did you do?"

"Nothing, dear, truly," Arthur told her, smiling at his worried wife. "I just asked if I might be able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family. The Healers told me that as long as I was resting and I continued to apply the salve they gave me, it was just fine."

Molly tutted, muttering to herself that it was a ridiculously and insanely irresponsible choice as she walked to the kitchen, piling a plate high with steaming breakfast. Arthur looked at your group, his eyebrows furrowed. "You'd think she'd be happy I was home," he sighed.

Hermione guided Arthur to the table, pulling out a chair for him. "You know she means well, Arthur," she consoled. "She's just worried. Remember when Harry fell off his broom one summer and nearly shattered his shoulder?"

Arthur chuckled as Ginny poured coffee into a mug and handed it to her father. "She nearly bit your head off, didn't she?" Arthur asked Harry, who grinned, but it was shaky.

"That she did," he confirmed, grimacing at the memory. "It's just how Molly shows her love, I'm afraid."

"I do hope I'm hearing my name in there because you all are discussing how much you're enjoying my cooking," Molly said as she brought Arthur's plate to him.

"Yes, yes, of course, dear," Arthur assured her quickly.

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Though Molly had to nearly force him to sit down, Arthur spent the rest of the day relaxing and applying a salve to his wounds that caused the Burrow to smell of mint and lavender. He seemed in good spirits, but you were still worried.

Harry was as well, because he had volunteered the two of you to degnome the garden. You had sent him a reproachful stare, but once you caught the anxiety dancing in his eyes, you softened your face and went without complaint.

As you walked out to the garden with him, Fred and George were on their way to clean out the shed once more, as they had tracked mud through it while sorting their brooms. Fred smiled happily at you and Harry, but George refused to look at you, which made your heart plummet, even as you refused to acknowledge that it had.

"Harry, Arthur is okay," you told him quietly. "I know...I know it was terrifying, but he's back and he's going to be okay. You heard what Kingsley told him. A few scars, maybe a bit of time before he regains all his strength, but he'll be good as new."

Harry wiped his face as he tossed a gnome into the bucket beside him. "I know. That's not why I'm worried, though. I mean, not entirely."

"Then what's going on?"