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Ch. 13. Nothing to Apologize For

The table explodes into chaos, virtually everyone having something to say and spewing it before listening to what anyone else has to say. I sit back, drinking the whiskey like water as Sirius calmly tries to keep everyone in check. It's not until Molly screams at Kingsley, for putting the children in danger, that I say anything. Standing, I point a finger at her down the table, my jaw tightening with rage, "You don't have any business being mad at him, it was my decision, my signature that signed off on that mission. You seem to forget who was in charge while Sirius was gone, who took it upon their shoulders to step in. Not you, not your husband, or your sons. Me. Do you think I enjoyed putting one of my closest friends into that situation? That danger? Do you think I enjoyed sending Bill and Fleur in? Do you thinkI enjoyed sending Ron and Harry and Mad-Eye out into the field, only to come back bloody and bruised almost every time? Do you think I wanted to send my best friend out there when she had a baby at home? Or when the love of Harry's life got pregnant?" I'm seething, my vision flashing red. "I was the only one that deserved to be out there. To be facing those tyrants. I would have gladly switched places if it meant I could take them down, even if it was the last thing I managed to do in life."

Molly's face crumples, tears streaming down her eyes as she watches me. But it's Ron who speaks next, his words slicing fast and deep, "Yeah, well Sirius is back. Just because you're warming his bed doesn't mean that you have any right to call the shots anymore in The Order. Don't think anyone owes you guilt because you did what any of us would have done in your position."

I rear back, the words landing against my skin like a physical blow, sucking in a breath to retaliate, to defend myself, to defend Sirius... but McGonagall beats me and everyone else to it. Ever graceful, she stands, staring Ron down in the way only she can do. He shrinks under her gaze, eyes flashing to me once before darting to Sirius and then back to his old professor.

"Mr. Weasley," he flinches, "you do not have the right, nor the power, to speak to Ms. Delphine like that. Nor do you have the right to speak of Mr. Black in that way. They have given too much, more so than almost anyone in this room, for you to disrespect their names and their choices. Do not ever speak that way towards either of them again, especially while you run around like a baboon and shag anything that has a pulse. Pity the girl isn't here, to see how cruel her fiancé can be when jealous. If I remember right, you used to treat Hermione the exact same way at Hogwarts, who's to say you won't do it to Ms. Brown?" She pauses for dramatic effect and I feel Sirius' gaze burning a hole into my temple. "If I hear you speak of Mr. Black, much less Ms. Delphine, in a similar way ever again, I will hex you so badly that you'll be throwing up slugs for a month. Do not tempt me, Ronald Weasley."

The silence is deafening as she moves to stand with me, moving her gaze from an utterly embarrassed Ron to Molly, "You raised your children better than this, deal with it next time. Perhaps try setting a better example than screaming at the Minister of Magic for doing his job. We may be part of the same group against Voldemort's goons, but we have also all been friends for longer. Show respect." Her weathered hand comes down on my right biceps, slightly tugging me from the table, "Lets move to the study, you look like you're about to be ill. They can figure everything else out."

I barely manage a nod, letting her lead me through the tense room towards the door. The silence is palpable, and I can almost feel the anger radiating off of Ron for being reprimanded. I hear Draco give a dark laugh, his chair scraping against the floor as we enter the hallway, "Sometimes I forget how horrid you can be, Weasley. You're a right arsehole for that comment. I'll go to check on her."

Sirius mumbles something in response but I don't hear it as McGonagall leads me up the stairs, turning me towards the study. She sits me down in a chair, moving to the tea cabinet in the corner and magically boiling the water. As she tinkers, I hear the kitchen burst into yelling again, Sirius' growls and shouts making me flinch. My hands are trembling and it doesn't take long for my body to begin shaking, too. Draco enters a moment later, coming to kneel in front of me, "Venus, look at me." I follow the command with some effort, tearing my gaze from the newspaper on the desk to look at his blue-grey eyes, "Breathe. Can you do that?"