A Love at Stake

CHAPTER 2

Emerging from the cosy chaos of the Ministry's infamous toilet network, Lily felt a blast of cool Atrium air brush against her cheeks. She wiped her palms on the tattered hem of her robes, brushing away the infernal remnants of her journey through the murky plumbing system.

"Seems you've already faced a dozen Death Eaters," Arthur Weasley teased, his ginger hair a stark contrast to the polished marbles of the Atrium floor. His familiar grin made her feel instantly at home, despite the discomfort lingering from her recent journey.

"Oh, I'd take on Death Eaters any day over using that foul toilet," she replied with mock resentment, pushing rebellious strands of hair from her face and tucking them behind her ear. "If only the phone booth were closer to my house, I could avoid it altogether."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, suppressing a laugh. "You'd think the Ministry of Magic could band together and do something about it. Perhaps even summon some house-elves?"

Lily groaned in genuine exasperation. "I swear that toilet is cursed! Can you hold these papers for me?" she asked, shoving a hefty stack of reports into Arthur's arms. "I'm afraid they might slip from my hands at any moment."

He accepted the stack with surprise, arching a brow at the sheer volume. "The meeting must be incredibly important if you felt the need to bring all of this," he remarked, squinting at the dizzying array of notes, maps, and articles.

She let out a long sigh, stretching her arms above her head as if trying to shake off the tiredness that came with the weight of responsibility. "It is," she replied, her voice steadying. "I need every piece of information at my fingertips. I can't afford to overlook anything crucial."

As they stood awaiting the lift, the flickering fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow over the small corridor, making the atmosphere feel heavy. Arthur flicked his gaze toward Lily, whose brow was furrowed with worry. He could sense the weight of the moment pressing down on her—a heaviness that went beyond the typical pressures of parenthood.

"How's Harry been doing lately?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

Lily's expression darkened, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Harry hasn't been himself recently," she replied, the hint of anxiety creeping into her voice. "I believe I may have contributed to his unhappiness this morning."

Arthur studied her, his heart sinking as he sensed the self-blame pooling in her words. "What happened this morning?" He felt compelled to dig deeper, wanting to understand the root of her guilt. "Why do you think you upset him?"

Just then, the lift arrived with a jarring clang, and they stepped inside. The doors closed with a soft hiss, sealing them off from the bustling world beyond. Lily sighed, her breath a soft exhale of regret. "I lost my patience with Harry earlier. I told him I'd be home by eight because of a new case, completely overlooking the Hogwarts assembly tonight," she confessed, her tone remorseful.

Arthur felt a rush of surprise. He knew how much the assembly meant to Harry. "Did Harry remind you about the assembly?" he pressed, hoping to draw out more of her feelings.

Lily nodded; her gaze dropped to the ground as if ashamed of her own distraction. "Yes, Harry mentioned it, but I was so preoccupied with work that it slipped my mind. I'll have to make it up to him somehow." Her thoughtful tone suggested she was already envisioning ways to mend the rift created by her neglect.

Arthur recalled his own family's struggles. He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Molly reminded me as well," he said, hesitantly sharing his own admission. "She believes I don't spend enough time with the children." He offered Lily a gentle nudge. "Just don't forget about the assembly later, alright?"