The Sins of a Father

Chapter Thirty

                                                                        Raven's POV

"Are you sure that you won't stay with us?" Molly asked me as I was packing my final bag.

"I'm sure Molly, I think George is going to need some time. I know I need some time," I responded, recalling my father's memory.

"Where will you stay?" she asked desperately. I looked out the window and saw my brother and Ginny.

"My brother gave me Grimmuald Place so I'll be there. I have some things I need to do, give George my love will you?"

"Of course, my dear but wouldn't you rather tell him yourself?" I thought about it, my heart desperately wanted to tell him myself but I knew the outcome if I did and it's not the way I wanted it to leave.

"No, I know I'll start crying and I'm done crying for a long time but give him this, please?" I handed Molly a letter that I wrote. It was just a simple letter explaining where I was going, how long I suspected I would be gone, where he could find me and I gave him the ring he and Fred gave me for my birthday, an eternity ago.

"Of course, well goodbye Raven, you'll write to us, yes?" I could see the tears in her eyes so I looked away and nodded.

"You know I will Molly, thank you so much for everything you have ever done for me. I don't know how to repay you for all your kindness you and your family has shown me." Molly walked in front of my bedroom door, blocking it, forcing me to hug her. Her arms wrapped themselves around me and held me close. I felt a mother's love through her and I couldn't have been more grateful for it.

"It's no trouble I think of you of as daughter and  you are welcome back here anytime." We smiled then gave each other one last hug. I headed downstairs where everyone else was, gave each one a hug said my goodbyes.

"Raven, I'm going to help you move in, Ron, Hermione and I are anyway and there is no way you aren't going to let us," Harry told me firmly.

"Alright well grab a suitcase and we'll apparate - bye everyone, hope to see you real soon." We walked outside and in the distance I saw George standing above Fred's grave. I muttered my love to him quietly, then held out my arm for Harry to take so that we could apparate to Grimmuald Place.

George's POV

                Raven would be leaving today, she didn't tell anybody why, she would only answer that she had unfinished business to attend to. In the middle of the night, I woke up from a flashback, turned to Fred's bed expecting him to be there but it was empty. I crept from my bed, shuffled to Raven's bedroom, peeked inside, saw her sleeping peacefully then went outside to visit Fred. I sat across from him and started to talk to him like he really was sitting across from me.

"Hey Freddie, Raven's leaving tomorrow, I'm going to miss her but I don't think I could miss her as much as I'll ever miss you. I don't know where she's going, she won't talk to me, I suspect it's because she giving me some space. I do need some space, not from just her but from everyone – except you of course..." I paused, imagining Fred's response to everything I had just said but his voice was my voice it made no difference ... "I wish you were here Fred, I need my brother, my right hand man – my best man..." I croaked; I positioned my body to lay exactly parallel to his and fell asleep groaning his name.

                The next morning, I sat up from the grave used my wand to make a bouquet of flowers grow around his grave.  I rubbed the dirt off of my hair and clothes, and then gazed at the tombstone, which I made myself. Later I heard a commotion coming from the house. I reckoned it was Raven saying her goodbyes, I knew that I should have moved towards the house and say goodbye but my legs wouldn't move. I scanned the front door waiting for her to come outside. At first all I could see was Harry, Ron and Hermione carrying Raven's stuff and finally she came out with a fake smile on her face. I knew her fake smiles from her real ones - I knew that she really wasn't happy or confident about leaving us. She turned to me and our eyes met for a moment before I turned away. I sat there until midday when my mother came outside handing me a letter written by Raven.