Novus Orbis | Fred Weasley x Insert | ON HIATUS

Chapter 40 - Spill

"I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly."

The group around the table is focused now solely on a single conversation–the heated argument between Molly and Sirius. Y/n grasps Fred's hand beneath the table, and he rubs comforting circles with his thumb as they watch the interaction with clenched jaws.

"I'm not sure you are!" Molly says. "Sometimes, the way you talk about him, it's as though you think you've got your best friend back!"

"What's wrong with that?" Harry asks.

"What's wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father, however much you might look like him!" Molly says, not even looking in his direction. "You are still at school and adults responsible for you should not forget it!"

"Meaning I'm an irresponsible godfather?" Sirius asks, voice rising.

"Meaning you've been known to act rashly, Sirius, which is why Dumbledore keeps reminding you to stay at home and–"

"We'll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of this, if you please!"

"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley says, rounding on her husband. "Arthur, back me up!"

Mr. Weasley doesn't speak immediately, taking off his glasses. He cleans them on his robes, not looking at his wife. When he's replaced them carefully on his nose, resting his hands back on the table, he says, "Dumbledore knows the position has changed, Molly. He accepts that Harry will have to be filled in to a certain extent now that he is staying at headquarters–"

"Yes, but there's a difference between that and inviting him to ask whatever he likes!"

"Personally," Lupin speaks at last, looking away from his friend–and promptly, Molly's head swings in his direction, obviously hopeful– "I think it better that Harry gets the facts–not all the facts, Molly, but the general picture–from us, rather than a garbled version from...others."

His expression remains mild, but Y/n's ears turn warm with embarrassment anyway.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley says slowly, looking around with disappointment, "Well...I can see I'm going to be overruled. I'll just say this: Dumbledore must have had his reasons for Harry not wanting to know too much, and speaking as someone who has got Harry's best interests at heart–"

"He's not your son," Sirius says quietly.

"He's as good as," Molly says fiercely. "Who else has he got?"

"He's got me!"

"Yes," the woman says, lip curling. "The thing is, it's been rather difficult for you to look after him while you've been locked up in Azkaban, hasn't it?"

Y/n and the twins let out quiet, but audible 'ohh's as she says it, and Black begins to rise from his chair.

"I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this," Remus says. "Sirius, sit down."

"I want to know what's been going on," Harry says at once, as Sirius obeys like a child, face white, and Molly's lip trembles. A moment of silence passes, before the old woman relents.

"Very well," she says, voice cracking. "Ginny, Ron, Hermione–Fred, George, Y/n–I want you out of this kitchen, now."

Uproar ensues, and in her own exclamations Y/n can barely make out the other arguments.

"I'm not your daughter!" She cries sharply.

"We're of age!" Fred and George bellow together.

"If Harry's allowed, why can't I?" Comes Ron.