𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 70

"How long does a bloody rescue mission take?" Natasha groaned, throwing her feet onto the arm of the couch she was dramatically lying across. She had been banned from cursing after Molly had threatened to make her peel potatoes by hand, though Molly still didn't know of Natasha's wandless magic.

That didn't mean the threat scared Natasha any less.

"I know! It's just like, zip zap, pew pew, and we're good," Sirius whined, lying in a similar position to his daughters on the neighbouring table. Adrian was the only one not complaining, his anxiety levels spiking to the point of his nails leaving imprints on the palms of his hands.

Molly was also in an anxious state, locked away in her bedroom continuingly changing the look of her hair and changing the colour of the wool she was knitting with. She knew the dangers of what was to come, with four of her boys involved in the mission, but she was more scared for her daughter-in-law, who could lose her husband and father of their unborn child at any second.

There was a bang, and Molly looked out of her window, seeing Hagrid and the real Harry come crashing down into the garden. Ginny was out of the house before Molly could even blink, followed by Natasha who instantly went to fix the hole they had created.

"Harry! Hagrid! What happened?! Have you seen the others!" Molly cried, and Harry looked at Hagrid before shaking his head. Natasha swore and patched up everything before running to Hagrid, checking over the small cut he had on his head.

"Careful Hagrid let me get this cut clean, and those burns some relief," she said softly, as Harry and Molly talked with each other in flustered manners. Hagrid began to follow Natasha inside, as another blinding blue light appeared from the edge of the protective spell, producing another 'Harry', this time accompanied by Remus Lupin.

This Harry was bloodied and could barely stand, and as he morphed back into his original body, Molly cried out in shock. "My boy! My darling boy! What've they done to you?!" she sobbed, as Lupin and Harry dropped the now bloodied George onto the couch.

As she tended to her son, Lupin grabbed Harry's shirt and held him against the wall, his eyes holding no mercy. Natasha went to help him, but Sirius held her back, shaking his head with slight movement.

"What creature sat in the corner the first time Harry Potter visited my office at Hogwarts?" he bellowed, and Harry, initially confused, looked over to his godfather, who was still holding Natasha back with a firm grip on her shoulder.

"Are you mad?" Harry said in an offended tone.

"What creature?" Lupin bellowed once more, and this time Harry took no wasted time in answering.

"A grindylow!" he shrieked, and Lupin let go of him, running a hand through his hair. Sirius walked up to him and embraced him, clapping his back supportively before stepping back, observing Remus for any cuts and bruises.

"Why the paranoia Moony?" he asked calmly. His gentle tone seemed to have an effect on Remus, but the man was still agitated, so Sirius stepped aside, back to Natasha who unconsciously clutched her stomach.

Adrian ran inside from where he had been stationed, and began to help Molly with George, glancing over to Natasha. "Nat go sit down. Stress isn't good for your baby, and I know you're already worrying about Fred," he said, pulling out a chair for her.

"We've been betrayed," Remus said, answering Sirius' question. "Voldemort knew you were being moved tonight. I had to make sure you weren't an imposter." Adrian looked over to Natasha fearfully, knowing full well what a traitor could mean for his life.

"Who did this to him?" Harry asked Lupin, gesturing to George who was now just under the care of his mother. Angelina was at the shop with Oliver and Lee, keeping it in check for the night, and didn't know about the move of Harry tonight, keeping her in for a nasty surprise once George returned home.

"Snape," Remus answered darkly, his words sending goosebumps up Natasha's skin. She placed her head in her hands, beginning to sob quietly, and Sirius wrapped his arms around her, taking her outside for some fresh air.

Another couple entered the vicinity of the Burrow, and Hermione and Kingsley appeared, Kingsley heading towards Remus as Hermione beelined for Natasha. "Natasha, are you alright? Is Ron back yet?" she asked concerned, rubbing the pregnant woman's back.

Her second question was answered as six more people appeared, two of them being Fred and Ron. Hermione ran into Ron's arms, as Fred saw Natasha's distressed state, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Natasha!" he called out, running to her side. Sirius let her go, and she collapsed into Fred's arms, her nose red and her eyes puffy. Fred held the back of her head and her waist, hugging her as tight as he could, before kissing her on the lips passionately, all his fears from beforehand disappearing.

"Are we the last?" Arthur asked. "Where's George?"

Everyone fell quiet, apart from Natasha's small sniffles, and Arthur looked over to Remus, who now had Tonks in his arms. "Remus. Where's my son?" he asked again, as Fred looked at his father, his eyes tearing up.

They ran into the living room, where Molly and George were, and the two men's eyes teared up, with Fred crouching by his twin brother's side. "How do you feel Georgy?" Fred asked his brother.

"Saint-like," was his answer, and Fred paused.

"Come again?"

George pointed to the side of his head, cracking a small smile. "Saint-like. You see, I'm holy. Holey, Fred, get it?" Some people smirked as Fred just looked disappointed, shaking his head.

"With the whole wide world of ear-related humour at your disposal, you go for holey? Pathetic," he groaned, standing back up to go sit with Natasha who was back in the chair Adrian had drawn out for her before.

"I think your mother will be here in a second Nat," he whispered, and she nodded, extending her hand for him to take. He helped her up slowly, and wrapped a hand around her waist, helping her outside to where a white dove was now landing on the garden, transforming into Aurelia.

"Sirius! Aurelia's back!" Fred bellowed, as Natasha embraced her mother, whispering what Remus had said before about Snape. Aurelia's heart broke at the words, and she dropped to her knees, alongside Natasha, the two of them crying fresh tears at what Severus had done.

"Lia, oh Lia, I'm so sorry," Sirius said gently, as he dropped to his knees to support his wife and daughter. He kissed both of their heads, turning to Fred before beckoning him over.

"You're a part of this wacky family too Fred, and right now, we need all the support we can get," he ordered. Fred obeyed and knelt beside his wife, encircling her with his arms.

There were no words that could heal the gaping hole in Natasha and Aurelia's hearts, as they wept on the garden, their salty tears dropping like diamonds onto the freshly cut grass. Their cries could be heard for miles on, and their seer abilities meant that Severus felt their full heartbreak, falling onto the floor of the Headmaster's tower clutching his heart.

He had hurt the two people he had sworn to always protect.