Renouncing Magic's Child

Fleur felt apprehensive as she entered the Weasley family chambers. She was certain that she was going to get in trouble for her reaction to Ron. Her grandmother was obviously unimpressed and looked ready to launch into a lecture on when it was appropriate to use your allure. Her younger self was standing almost timidly beside her grandmother, prepared for the lecture too.

Mrs Weasley quickly invited the head of the Veela council to sit down and then they were all looking at the older Arthur, waiting for him to begin the meeting. For his part, he looked like wasn't at all sure where it would be best to start.

"I think we have a lot to discuss," he said eventually as he stood in front of the fireplace. No one said anything, although they all looked like they had something to say. He settled himself down in the armchair closest to the fire, grateful that he could see his entire family from his position. "I'm not really sure where we should start. These books are... A lot."

"You can say that again," Bill said with a sigh.

Ron huffed. He hated this. It was bad enough that all the girls in the chamber were annoyed with him, but now his family was going to get in on the act too.

Arthur sighed. "Right. Well, first, I should apologise."

Ron gaped at his father. He hadn't expected that.

"I did not adequately assess the danger at the World Cup," he explained. "I should not have asked you four and Hermione and Harry to go into the woods without an adult. That was my fault and I am sorry."

Ron just shrugged. He hadn't even thought about that in ages and he hadn't really cared then. Sure, it wasn't great that Hermione's parents and Sirius were annoyed about it but he thought they'd get over it eventually. And if not, he'd just go visit his friends instead of having them come to him. The others seemed just as much at a loss.

Arthur then turned to the twins. "Your mother and I... well, the four of us... We've been talking."

The twins sighed. They could just picture all their dreams going up in smoke. George glared at his father, crossing his arms.

"We believe we may not have been as encouraging of your... inventions," he eventually settled for, "as we should have been."

The twins were gobsmacked. They were actually speechless. Older George was less impressed. He still felt bitter about what they'd read in this book, it had really brought it all back and he really resented how his parents had treated his and Fred's ambitions. And an apology now wasn't going to cut it. After all, his Fred was gone. And while he thought his father was most likely sincere, he really doubted the same could be said about his mother.

"We understand that you don't want to work for the ministry," Molly said. "I'm sorry that I tried to pressure you into that. I just... I just wanted you safe and respectable... and..."

"Are you saying we're not respectable?" George demanded.

"No. That's not what I mean," Molly said, blinking rapidly. "I underestimated you and Fred. I was wrong. And I'm sorry."

George didn't say anything. He wasn't sure he could forgive her right now.

"We really are proud of how much you achieved," Molly said. "Your shop... It's incredible. And you even used it to help protect people in the war. I couldn't be more proud."

There were tears in her eyes as she remembered Fred. "I should have told you both that before..." she paused, unable to continue.

Arthur patted her on the back before picking up the conversation again. "When we return, we will build a second shed," he said. "It will be warded to the moon and back to guarantee your safety and there will be very clear safety rules but it will be yours to use for your inventions. We know that with everything you've already achieved, you'll do even better in the new timeline and we can't wait to see it."

George nodded tightly. "Why didn't you tell us about our inheritance?"

Molly looked up from where she'd been crying into her hands. "I couldn't bring myself to talk about it. Talking about your inheritance was a reminder that my brothers were gone. And I struggled to face that. I've..." She took a deep breath. "I've been talking to the mind healers about that and about Fred. And well, everything actually. I realise that I've made a lot of mistakes and I can only hope that you'll all forgive me."

"Does this mean you won't screech at us whenever you think we've done something wrong?" George asked shortly. "Will you at least talk to us before jumping to conclusions?"

Molly looked heartbroken. She was beginning to realise that she wasn't the mother she thought she was. Or the wife she had thought she was either. Arthur telling her off for undermining his authority with the children had shaken her. She hadn't even noticed that she'd done that.

"I can't promise that I won't slip up," she said tearfully, "but I'm going to try my best."

Arthur nodded. So surprisingly did George.

Ron grimaced. When were they going to get angry with him? Obviously, his mother didn't mean she'd not shout at him for being an insensitive jerk.

"Next, I'd like to discuss the bickering in this book," Arthur said. "I'm not going to berate any of you for it, but I would like to point a few things out. If you think I'm being unfair, then by all means let me know. First though, I would remind you that you are all Weasleys. That makes you family. And family sticks together. You might disagree with each other. You might even dislike each other at times. But I ask that you try to be more considerate of one another. Ginny, Pig is Ron's owl. Not yours. And you need to respect that. I don't know why you thought it was okay to name your brother's owl, but it was actually very disrespectful." Ginny didn't say anything. She did give her father a thoughtful look. "Ron, you might not be interested in the things Percy likes, but it wouldn't hurt you to respect his interests and perhaps show a little interest from time to time. Fred, George, be careful that when you tease your siblings it doesn't turn into bullying."

George nodded. He'd noticed a few times in the books where he and Fred had been a bit much.

"Percy," Arthur hesitated. He wasn't sure how much of what he'd been like was due to the love potions and he certainly wasn't about to blame his son for any behaviour caused by them. "I appreciate you had extenuating circumstances."

The others looked between the two of them in confusion.

"But I hope that now those circumstances have been dealt with that you will make more time for your siblings," he said gently. "Try and be patient with them, even if they annoy you. And don't take their actions too personally. They all love you."

Percy nodded. He could do that.

"What extenuating circumstances?" Fred asked.

Even Molly was looking at her husband in confusion and younger Arthur looked just as unsure.

"I am not at liberty to discuss it. If Percy wants you to know, he will tell you," Arthur said sternly. "When and only if he is ready."

Everyone looked at him now, even his younger self, and Percy felt suddenly nervous. He knew he should probably tell his family. He certainly wanted to but what if they laughed at him? He took a deep breath. Better to drink the potion in one gulp, he told himself.

"I... Penny..." He paused, barely able to breathe. "She..."

Fred was tempted to make a joke about her breaking up with him, but he didn't think that would help right now. And he was pretty sure that might fall under the category of bullying. He'd have to check with George. He was always better at considering other people's feelings than he was.

"Whatever it is Perce," George said, "you know we have your back."

Percy smiled gratefully at George. "S-she used a love potion on me."

And just like that the entire chamber erupted. Mrs Weasley - both of them - were screeching at the top of their lungs. But they weren't alone. Ginny's voice was almost as loud as she declared war on the other girl. And Fleur's grandmother was showing her veela, looking more than ready to throw balls of fire. The male Weasleys weren't much better.

"That-that-That scarlet woman!" Mrs Weasley screeched.

All the boys rushed to hug their brother, the twins promising retribution, while the others promised to protect him when they returned to Hogwarts. This was something they would prevent happening in the new timeline at all costs. Ron began to feel hopeful that they wouldn't be discussing his own behaviour at this particular family meeting, although that hope was short lived.

Once everyone had settled back into their seats, Isabeau turned to her granddaughter. "This, très cher, is why we do not use our allure recklessly."

Fleur looked shocked. That wasn't the same. Was it?

"But it is natural for a veela to use their allure," Fleur argued. What she didn't say was that it was the only part of her veela heritage she truly had. Except her aversion to the cold.

"On their mate, oui," Fleur's grandmother said, "and with their consent, but never to control."

Fleur sighed. She'd been told that before. And as an adult, she knew not to use it so freely but as a teenage girl it had been harder to control and she'd always enjoyed the attention it awarded her. "Oui, I know. I don't use it now."

Isabeau nodded in understanding. It was different once you found your mate. It was much easier to control and also that ever present desire to find your mate stopped leading your actions. Even so, it was important that Fleur remembered this lesson for when she returned. Of course, young Fleur would already know her mate upon returning. It would be easier for her.

Bill squeezed his wife's hand. He hadn't been pleased by what they'd read but he was actively reminding himself that his wife wouldn't like what he had been doing at the same time. It wasn't like he'd been living a celibate lifestyle before he met her.

Eventually, Ron felt his father's eyes on him. "Ronald," his father said, and Ron actually flinched. His father never used his full name. "I think you should talk to the mind healers about your jealousy."

Ron bristled. He didn't need to talk to the mind healers about this. He was perfectly fine and he told his father as much.

"You know that's not true," Arthur said gently. "You're insecure about your older brothers, and that is at least partially our fault. And how you feel about Harry... Ron, that boy has nothing. Money, fame, none of that truly matters. What matters is what you have in this room."

"I know that," Ron muttered.

"I hope that is true. But I would like you to talk to them anyway," Arthur said firmly. "I want you to appreciate yourself for who you are, the amazing young man I know you are. Brilliant at chess. Hilariously funny. Terrible taste in quidditch teams."

"HEY!" Ron said.

Arthur simply chuckled. "The man that sacrifices himself for his friends, who faced his worst fears at the age of twelve, who was willing to face a basilisk to save his sister."

"I didn't actually..."

"No. But you were willing to," Arthur pressed. "The young man who asked me to let him stay at school for his first Christmas, even though he missed his parents, just so that Harry wouldn't be alone. The young man who arranged for his mother to give Harry a Christmas jumper because he suspected that he wouldn't have any presents come the holidays. You are an incredibly kind and considerate young man and there is so much about yourself that you undervalue."

Ron blushed. He wasn't used to his dad saying these sort of things.

"I'll talk to them," he said eventually, earning himself a smile.

"And lastly, some of the things you said in this book," Arthur said, his smile turning pained.

"I know," Ron sighed, "I messed up. I shouldn't have..." He couldn't quite bring himself to finish.

"No. You shouldn't have. Not only were your words cruel but you did yourself a disservice," Arthur said. "That is not the man I know you to be. I want the people in that chamber to know exactly why I am proud to call you my son. I want them to see who you truly are. That said, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. You were fourteen, probably feeling awkward at the idea of having to ask a girl out, and you spoke before you thought. I understand that, but I need you to remember to try and think first. Your words are weapons and they hurt. Please be mindful of that."

"Yes, dad," Ron said nervously. "But you should know I'm probably going to say loads more that disappoints you."

Arthur chuckled. "Don't worry. I already have my excuses lined up. Oh, he's only fifteen. Oh, he's only sixteen. Oh, he's only seventeen. Just remember, eventually your age will stop being an excuse."

Ron grinned. "I can do that."

With that their meeting came to a natural end with Molly reminding them that they really did need to go to the dining room if they were to be in time for lunch. The boys' eyes all lit up at the mention of food and they all made their way out of the family rooms. Ron smiled. That hadn't been anywhere near as bad as he had feared. He only hoped he could live up to the high praise his father had given him.