Chapter 12
The Burrow was enveloped in a solemn quietude as the Weasley family gathered around the long, worn dining table. The aroma of Molly's cooking filled the air, but even her famous roast couldn't lift the heavy spirits. Ron's funeral had been only a few days prior, and the grief was still raw. Molly Weasley sat at the head of the table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. In just a few days, it seemed as though she had aged a decade. Arthur sat beside her, his usual twinkling eyes now clouded and distant.
Bill and Fleur were there with their three children—Victoire, Dominique, and Louis—each of them casting concerned glances at their grandparents. George sat next to his wife Angelina, their children, Roxanne and young Fred, fidgeting quietly. Percy and his wife Audrey tried to keep their daughters, Molly and Lucy, entertained, but even the usually lively girls were subdued. Charlie had arrived from Romania for the funeral, his rugged face etched with sorrow.
Harry and Ginny were present as well, their children—James, Albus, and Lily—sitting close to their parents. The entire family was together, yet the absence of Ron was a palpable void that no one could ignore.
As dinner concluded, the younger children were gently ushered into the garden to play under the watchful eyes of their older cousins. The adults remained at the table, a sense of anticipation mingling with the lingering grief. All eyes turned to Hermione, who sat beside Harry. Rose and Hugo were on either side of her, their faces a mix of curiosity and lingering sadness.
Hermione took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she placed them on the table. "Thank you all for being here tonight," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "There's something important that Harry and I need to tell you."
Molly leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "What is it, dear?"
Hermione glanced at Harry, who gave her an encouraging nod. She continued, "A few days ago, on the same day as the funeral, an individual was apprehended at Shell Cottage."
Bill, Charlie, and Percy exchanged knowing looks but remained silent.
"This man," Hermione said carefully, "looks exactly like a younger version of Ron."
A collective gasp filled the room. Ginny's hand flew to her mouth, and George's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean?" Ginny whispered. "How is that possible?"
Harry cleared his throat. "We didn't believe it at first either. I personally interrogated him using Veritaserum. His answers were... accurate. He knew things only Ron would know—personal things."
"That's impossible," Arthur said softly, shaking his head. "It must be some kind of trick."
Hermione nodded. "We thought so too. But we used a device from the Department of Mysteries to access and analyze his memories. They haven't been tampered with, and there's no trace of dark magic."
"He has no memories after the war," Harry added. "He believes he's still on the Horcrux hunt."
Silence settled over the room as everyone absorbed the information. Fleur reached for Bill's hand, her eyes searching his face. George leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Are you saying... that Ron is back?" he asked hesitantly.
"We don't know what this means yet," Hermione replied. "But we felt it was important to tell you all before rumors start spreading."
Rose and Hugo looked up at their mother, tears welling in their eyes. "Mum," Hugo began softly, "is he... is he Dad?"
Hermione's heart ached at the hope and confusion in her children's eyes. "I don't know, sweetheart," she said gently. "We're trying to find out."
Molly's voice trembled as she spoke. "Can we see him? Talk to him?"
"Not right now," Hermione replied. "He's in a safe house in Kent. For his safety and ours, we need to keep his presence confidential until we understand more."
"What's the official story?" Percy asked, his brow furrowed in thought.
Harry answered, "We've put out that someone attempted to infiltrate Shell Cottage using a powerful glamour charm to impersonate Ron, probably in league with the neo-death eaters. It's a plausible cover, and it helps us manage the situation while we investigate."
Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "This is... it's just so much to take in."
Arthur placed a comforting hand on Molly's shoulder. "We trust you both to handle this," he said to Hermione and Harry. "Just keep us informed."
Molly turned her gaze back to Hermione. "And how are you holding up, dear?" she asked softly. "If... if this is Ron, what does that mean for you?"
Hermione looked down at her hands, her emotions swirling. "I honestly don't know," she admitted. "Even if he is Ron, he's seventeen. I'm not the same person I was twenty years ago. I'm a mother now, and the Minister for Magic. I don't know if... if we could have the same relationship."
"It's not just about age," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "So much has happened. I've changed. I don't even know if he would want to be with me now."
Ginny reached across the table to squeeze her hand. "We'll support you, whatever happens."
Charlie leaned forward. "What's the next step?"
Hermione straightened up, regaining some of her composure. "Our main focus is finding out how this happened. We're consulting with experts from the Department of Mysteries and doing our own research. Until we have more information, we need to keep this within the family."
Harry nodded. "I've reassigned the investigation into the neo-Death Eaters to another team. My priority is helping Hermione uncover the truth."
George let out a low whistle. "Well, this is definitely not something you hear every day."
There was a faint ripple of uneasy laughter around the table.
"Thank you for telling us," Audrey said gently. "Please let us know if there's anything we can do."
Hermione offered a small, grateful smile. "Just knowing we have your support means a lot."
Rose looked at her mother with a determined expression. "I want to help," she said. "Whatever I can do."
Hugo nodded in agreement. "Me too."
Hermione's eyes softened. "I appreciate that. Right now, the best thing you can do is be patient and keep this to yourselves."
Molly wiped a tear from her cheek. "I just hope... I hope we can see him soon."
"We'll do everything we can," Harry assured her.
As the conversation began to wind down, the family members exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts. The revelation had left them with more questions than answers, but there was a glimmer of hope that hadn't been there before.
"Well," Arthur said, attempting a smile. "It seems we have quite the mystery on our hands."
"Nothing the Weasleys can't handle," Bill added, squeezing Fleur's hand.
The atmosphere in the room lightened just a bit, the initial shock giving way to a cautious optimism.
Hermione felt a weight lift slightly from her shoulders. Sharing the burden with her family made it a little easier to bear. She knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with their support, she felt more confident in facing whatever came next.
"Let's head outside," Ginny suggested. "I'm sure the children would love to see us."
As they made their way to the garden, the family began to talk among themselves, the buzz of conversation slowly returning to a more normal rhythm. The younger children ran up to them, laughter and playfulness momentarily dispelling the lingering shadows.
Hermione stood back for a moment, watching her family interact. Harry stepped beside her, following her gaze.
"How are you holding up?" he asked quietly.
She took a deep breath. "It's overwhelming," she admitted. "But seeing everyone together like this... it helps."
He nodded. "We'll get through this. Together."
She offered him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Harry. For everything."
As the sun began to set over the Burrow, casting a warm golden glow over the fields, Hermione allowed herself a moment of peace.