Molly was in the kitchen of The Burrow, making lunch with her youngest son, Percy, pressed against her chest in a sling. Her eldest son, Bill, chased her second oldest son, Charlie, around the living room; the sounds of roars and squeals of delight coming from the room brought a smile to her face.
Her husband Arthur had returned from work five minutes ago and was upstairs washing up for lunch. As she finished the last of the sandwiches, she heard the familiar pop of an apparating witch or wizard. Molly stopped what she was doing and nervously poked her head out of the kitchen to look towards the front door. She wasn't expecting anyone and Arthur hadn't mention anything about visitors. As she walked into the living room towards her sons, there was a persistent knocking at the door. Molly protectively grabbed both of her sons, carefully handing off Percy to Bill, and gently nudged them towards the stairs. "Boys, go upstairs and get your father, don't come down until we say so. Bill, honey, make sure you watch your brothers." Molly's motherly tone was tinted with nervousness as she sent her sons upstairs to get Arthur. She smiled meekly as she watched Charlie run up the stairs, Bill carefully walking up the steps behind him as he cradled his baby brother. The persistent knocking had gotten louder now, and Molly rushed towards the door, wand at the ready. She looked behind her to make sure her sons were no longer on the stairs before turning back and opening the door. Her aggressive stance calmed as she saw her former professor standing in front of her with a look of surprise on her face.
"Minerva," Molly's voice was once again sweet and motherly, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Molly's smile faded when Minerva didn't smile back. "Is everything alri-?"she abruptly stopped her sentence when she opened the door further and found Albus standing behind Minerva. He was cradling a teenage girl in tattered clothing and scar ridden face in his arms. She knew that Arthur and her had come to an agreement upon housing Felicis if her current safe-house was compromised, but she hadn't imagined a situation in which Albus and Minerva would arrive so suddenly or with Felicis in such a state. Molly stared at the girl in shock as her husband rushed down the stairs to see what was going on. Arthur came up behind his wife and put a protective and comforting hand on her shoulder, "Molly, dear, the boys told me that-" Arthur also abruptly stopped his sentence and joined his wife in staring in shock at the girl being held in Albus' arms. After what felt to be an eternity of silence, Arthur gently nudged Molly aside and ushered Albus and Minerva inside, quickly locking the door behind them. "What happened? Why didn't you send us a letter or Patronus before arriving?" Arthur said as he lead Albus and Minerva into the living room. Albus gently laid Felicis onto the couch and sat in another chair with a heavy sigh.
"The cottage was attacked. Malorie gave away the location to Death Eaters. Malorie was killed and Felicis was hit with an unknown curse," Albus said.
"Is that why her skin looks like that?" Molly asked. Albus curtly nodded in reply.
"I wish I could say that I'm surprised but, considering what that woman did to my father, I'm really not," Arthur said. There was a moment of silence as Minerva and Albus exchanged a knowing look before turning their attention back to Arthur. Albus looked at him with curiosity, while Minerva avoided eye contact as she seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable.
"I'm afraid Minerva and I are unaware of the exact relationship between Malorie and your father," Albus said.
"Of course, right," Arthur replied, "I take it that you are unaware of the debt between the Gaunts and the Blacks?"
"No, I am not. Is it connected to what occured between Malorie and your father?" Albus said.
"Not directly, but it is an important part of the story. Why don't I have Molly grab a change of clothes for Felicis and then we can talk," Arthur replied.
A/N
3.25.22
I just realized Percy wasn't born yet when I made this scene. I'm not changing it because I'm lazy. So, to make this chapter work, Percy was born on May 22nd, 1976. All other birthdays, unless specified otherwise, are canonically correct.
YOU ARE READING
Stolen Years: The Flower Reborn as a Tree
FantasyNo one knew much about Felicis Williams and she preferred it that way. It was best for someone with such a big secret to remain unknown to her peers. She was nearly finished with her first year at Hogwarts when her secret was revealed to the Wizardi...
