Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 159 - The Great Moon Trial

Two days before the October full moon, the Minister of Magic pays me a visit.  I am wrapped up in my fuzziest blanket, sipping hot tea as I read over the current negotiations with the Wizengamot.  They are willing to pull back on the veela registry by two generations as long as they get to keep control over the reproduction rates.

They make me want to burn the whole place down with me still inside it.

A knock on the door pulls me from my glowering.

"Come in."  I call, my voice sounding scratchy.  I don't move from my place at all, even when it's revealed who is behind the door.

"Good afternoon, Hazel."  Kingsley greets me, stepping inside.  "Hello, Mia."  

"Good afternoon, Sir."  Mia says politely.

"Hey."  I croak tiredly.  I feel like I have the flu.  I'm giving my best here.

"How are preparations going?"  He asks, taking the seat across from me.  Teddy abandons his toys in the corner and toddles over to Kingsley.

"Up."  He demands, holding his hands up to the man.

"Well, hello there Mr. Lupin."  The Minister coos, easily scooping Teddy into his arms.  Teddy snuggles in, popping his thumb into his mouth.

"Prep is fine.  I did everything last week."  I tell him, watching as Teddy's eyes start to get heavy.  

"Harry thinks similarly."  Kingsley nods.

"Dada."  Teddy mumbles, upon hearing Harry's name.

"We've got the location ready.  Defensive wards installed.  Emergency exit strategy for Harry in place.  The potion is all ready for our werewolf volunteer.  And all documentation is ready and submitted."  I rattle off, yawning towards the end.  

"Fantastic.  I apologize if this adds pressure to an already stressful situation, but this experiment is very important.  This will dictate a lot of the Wizengamot's opinion of your capabilities.  If this goes wrong, I'm not sure I can prevent them from shutting down your entire operation."

"Thank you for your concern.  I am aware of the stakes here, and we are doing our best.  Mia will be monitoring from outside of the wards the whole time, as I will be indisposed.  She is well versed in the project, and if you have any concerns during, she is more than capable of handling them."  The room starts to get a bit blurry and I realize that I've about hit my limit for the day.  It's already past three, and normally this close to a moon, I go home after lunch.

"Very well.  Why don't you and Teddy head home and rest up?"  Kingsley suggests, noticing the two of us on the brink of sleep.

"Yeah, that might be a good idea."  I agree with another yawn.

"Would you mind seeing them home?"  The man asks Mia.  "Hazel looks like she's about to fall over at any moment."

"Of course."  Mia stands from her desk and comes to take Teddy.  He gently shifts the lightly dozing child to her.

"Thank you.  I'll see you Monday morning.  Good luck with the full moon."

I mutter a thank you as he departs, setting my now empty mug on the desk.'

"Take me home, Mia."  I mumble, grabbing my purse off the floor.

"Aye aye, Captain."  Mia mock salutes.  She helps us back home, even offering to put Teddy down for a nap, so I can go straight to bed.  She leaves after I reassure her several times that Fred would be home in a little over an house.  And then, I sleep.

***

It's time.  The sun is setting, and I'm trusting Harry and Mia with everything.  I'm being herded into a cell with the rest of the wolves, hoping and praying that things go well with Serena.  This was the first moon that all of the registered wolves had voluntarily drank my potion.  After months of watching their fellow werewolves come out relatively unscathed, even the most resistant of the bunch caved.

As the moon rose, the usual shouts and cries of pain begin.  I cursed the stupid sky rock as my bones and organs rearranged themselves, feeling relieved when I finally land on four paws.  I sit, tail curling around me as I perk my ears for a listen.  

The complete silence is unnerving.  

I let out a small bark, asking a question.  

A chorus of barks respond, reassuring me that everyone is okay.  I lay my head down on my front paws, closing my eyes for a long night on the cold floor.  At least the screaming is gone.  That was worse than the silver walls.

***

When morning came, I am awake and waiting when the open the door.  I hurry out into the hall, nearly running Fred over.

"Oh, you're here."  I blink in surprise.  He winces. 

"Oof."  He grunts, wrapping me in a hug.  "Painful, but deserved."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad.  Just slipped."

"It's fine.  Like I said, deserved."

I break away from his embrace, too anxious to hear from Harry to be waiting around chatting.  I grab his hand, dragging him through the ministry to my and Mia's office.  We had agreed to all meet up here after.  We're there first, which is unsurprising, considering that we were already here at the ministry.  I pace the entire time, refusing to let Fred comfort me.  

Eventually, and by that I mean three minutes and forty-six seconds later, Harry, Mia, and Serena enter the office.

I scan their faces for any hints as to how it went.

"Well?"  I demand after a long moment of silence.

"It was brilliant!"  Serena bursts out, grinning ear to ear.  "I've never got to wolf out in the wild before!  The smells!  The freedom!  Truly exhilarating!"

"It went really well."  Harry agrees, giving me a tired smile.  "Safe to say we're all pretty worn out though.  Ran all night to keep up with her."  

Mia yawns behind them, eyes blinking sleepily.

"We did it."  I whisper, tears in my eyes.

"Yeah we did."  Harry grins, grabbing me into a hug.  

"WE DID IT!"  Fred shouts, joining in.  Serena and Mia laugh, joining the hug as well.

***

That night, we celebrate.  We had presented our trial run to Kinglsey, who had been overjoyed by the success.  It would still be a few moons until we had enough Animagi to cover all the wolves, but the step made today is a major break through.

I sit at the nice Muggle restaurant, surrounded by friends and family.  Teddy sits between Mia and Draco, happily showing his aunt and uncle his shoes.  They coo and praise him, clapping each time he says the word.  Harry and Ginny sit across from them, the red haired girl looking more as ease than I'd seen her in weeks.  She must have been more worried about the full moon than she let on.  Serena sits across from me with her husband Enzo.  He's a rather good natured man, laughing easily at the jokes thrown around the table.  

Fred's hand finds my thigh under the table, giving it a small squeeze.  I turn to him.

"I'm proud of you."  He says quietly, placing a kiss on my cheek.  "My girl is changing the world."