Heart of Gold, Heart of Stone (Post-War)

Chapter Eighteen

Christmas had come sooner than Athenadora had hoped for. She had woke up her children to open their gifts from her, as well as from Draco and his mother. They had sent gifts the night before, since they wanted the kids to have good gifts. Draco had told his mother about a lot of the things that had been happening, so she wanted the kids to have good gifts, just incase the Weasleys gave terrible gifts because they were mad at Athenadora and her children.

Anyhow, after opening their gifts at home, Athenadora brought them to the Burrow. All of the Weasleys were there, but none of them really talked to Athenadora, which made her feel out of place. Charlie and Bill had been told to stay quiet, but it didn't last very long. The two tried to talk to Athenadora as if nothing had happened, but Mrs. Weasley wasn't happy about it.

While everyone was sitting at the table eating a nice lunch, Athenadora could feel the glares of the family. Mr. Weasley normally kept himself out of everything, mostly because he was more introverted and laid back compared to the rest of his family, other than Bill, Charlie, and sometimes George.

"Did the kids get good gifts at home?" Bill asked, genuinely interested.

"Of course they did, with the Death Eater money being thrown their way." Mrs. Weasley commented, though her voice was low, like she was trying to cover it all up.

"That's it," Athenadora stood up,"You are so out of place! You don't get to tell me or my children that we're trash because we're not in some horrible mindset that you are in! I'm sorry I learned how to forgive people, especially for doing things they were forced to do! If you can't accept that I'm with Draco, then don't ever talk to me or my children ever again!" She exclaimed, and Mrs. Weasley looked at her surprised.

"Athena--" Bill began, but the girl shook her head.

"No, I'm sick and tired of everyone here that has something against me. You've all had a problem with me before Fred even passed," She spat,"So, from the very bottom of my heart, fuck you, and don't ever come around me or my children again."

Athenadora picked up her children and apparated back to her home. She put them in their room, and closed the door. Once she had them in their room with the door closed, Athenadora went to her room, slid down the door on to the floor and cried.

"Athena?!" She heard, causing her to jump up.

She left her room, and seen Charlie and Bill in her living room.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked, wiping her face once again.

"We're sorry," Charlie said,"If we knew how horrible everyone was to you, we would've stopped them."

"It's too late. I'm done with all of them. You two and George are the only ones ever allowed around my children again." She replied, and the boys nodded.

"George left when you did. He's mad at Mum and the others, and he has every right to be. We're mad at them, too." Bill stated, causing the girl to sigh.

"Could you two stay with the kids for a few minutes?" She asked,"I just need a minute to step out and clear my head." She commented, and the two nodded.

"They're in their room?" Charlie asked, causing her to nod as well.

"Thank you." She murmured, before she grabbed her wand and left the room.

Athenadora apparated to the graveyard that Fred was buried. She went to his tombstone and sat down beside it. She felt tears swell in her eyes, as she laid her hand against the tombstone. It hurt to be there, it always would every time she visited, and she didn't visit too often because of the pain.

"I'm sorry for what I did at the Burrow. I know for a fact that you were watching. I just...I couldn't do it anymore, Fred. I couldn't sit there and bite my tongue like I have for so many years. I've been biting my tongue since the day we started dating, and I couldn't handle your mother saying such hateful things in front of the kids. I know you would want them around the family, but I can't do it. I'll let them be around Bill, Charlie, and George, but everyone else is nothing to us anymore. I'm sorry," She felt tears swell in her eyes,"if you could give me a sign showing that you understand, that you don't hate me for doing this, I would appreciate it. I would really appreciate a sign from you, telling me I did the right thing." She murmured, leaning her forehead against the tombstone.

For a good moment after, nothing happened. She didn't even feel the snow that was barely falling from the sky. Everything was calm, until the wind began to blow really hard. The wind blew for a few minutes, until a small bunny came hopping by. It stopped and looked at Athenadora, and it seemed to nod at her, before it hopped away. The wind stopped blowing, and everything calmed down again.

"Thank you, Fred," Athenadora murmured,"I always knew you understood why I always did things other people wouldn't always do."

Athenadora stood from the cold ground and dusted the snow from her legs.

"Goodbye, Fred," She kissed the top of the tombstone,"I will visit again soon, maybe with the kids." She said, before she turned and apparated away.

Talking to Fred, even if it was just to his tombstone, made her feel better. She felt better about yelling at the others. She felt better about banning them from seeing her children again. She felt better about everything, and it was because she talked to Fred. Everything was slowly going to get better, and she knew it. She just had to let her heart heal from everything that damaged it...