Safe Place
Murphy felt groggy. After all the fright and adrenaline wore off from last nights events and she was feeling the effects in full throttle.
Although the physical abuse to her body was healed, the mental exhaustion her body had gone through, left her barely able to open her eyes as the bright morning light shone into the room.
It took Murphy a minute to remember exactly what had happened the night before and where she was.
The Burrow, Molly had called it.
For a second she held her breath as if she was still dreaming. As if the last twenty four hours was but a dream and her father was going to come stomping through the door any second and wake her from it.
Or worse. It wasn't a dream and her father could appear out of nowhere just like she had, just like Bill had and rip her from her first warm bed in what felt like forever, a place where kind smiles didn’t turn sinister and end with a new collection of bruises.
Murphy laid in the cot she slept in for a few more minutes before slowly moving to sit up. Looking over to Ginny's bed, stuffed doll still clutched under her arm, she found it empty with Ginny's blankets neatly laid out across her bed.
Murphy suddenly jumped when she heard foot steps pounding down the stairs from above until they continued right past her.
It took Murphy a moment of uncertainty before she climbed down from the cot, gently placing the stuffed doll on her pillow before walking to the door.
Molly had just finished calling everyone to breakfast and turned to make her way up the stairs for Murphy, only to find, once she’d glanced up, small girl who slowly crept down the steps unsure of what to do, racked with anxiety.
"Good morning darling," Molly beamed. "How'd you sleep?"
Murphy's throat suddenly closed up as all eyes turned to her, all put one persons. Bill.
"Well, come in. I was just about to wake you, breakfast is ready."
Breakfast was loud as she got to know a little bit more about the family, she was sat between Ginny and Ron, no doubt Mollys effort to make her feel
Comfortable and directly across Bill who'd smiled in greeting but otherwise payed her no mind.
The twins who's she'd learned were Fred and George where quite mischievous she'd gathered just from the short meal they'd shared together. Percy was a little uptight but seemed nice enough. Charlie was quiet like Bill but offered to refill plate with eggs after noticing she'd all but scarfed them down opposed to Bill who silently reached over the table and filled her cup up with juice once it emptied and plated her another sausage once she'd swallowed the last of her own.
It’d taken a great deal of effort not to burst into tears when one of their attentions were focused on her. When Ron had paused and asked if she liked chocolates, Murphy froze in shock as all the peering gazes of the Weasley family turned to her. The kind of fear induced shock that you can’t really break yourself out of no matter how much you scream at your body to move.
Instead she’d curl into herself and eventually they’d all gotten the hint, they went about their conversations as if Murphy wasn’t there.
After dinner most of the Children wandered off to do their own thing while Molly cleared the table until the only two people left at the table were Murphy, who was still uncertain of what to do next, and Bill who had yet to speak.
"Umm," Murphy started eventually. "Will you still show me more of your magic?"
Bill grinned as if he was waiting for that question before nodding, "of course. Let me just let mum know where we're going."
Bill quickly explained to Molly what he'd promised Murphy, Molly insisting that they only be gone for a few hours before sending him off with a basket full of baked goodies.
"Come on," Bill said reaching out his hand for Murphy to take. Murphy grinned in excitement, and jumped to reach for his hand, completely unaware of Molly watching the odd pair in amusement.
It was quiet the trek up an old hill under a large oak tree but Murphy didn't complain, she'd be willing to walk up this hill that made her legs burn and left her breathless and slightly dizzy everyday if she could watch Bill use magic.
"Wow," Murphy gaped once she finally caught her breathe and took in their surroundings. They could see everything from there.
Bill chuckled, "quiet the view, huh?"
The hill overlooked a gigantic field, one that included the Weasleys family home and a huge pond that Murphy was certain was big enough to fit a ship she’d seen once playing in the background of an unpleasant memory.
It didn't take long for Bill to pull the basket of pastries out, and Murphy spent the better part of her morning watching Bill cast little spells, as he called them.
It wasn't until noon when half the sweets had been half eaten did the pair trek back down the hill and towards the Burrow.
"I was wondering when you'd be home," Ron said as the pair opened the door. Once again, Murphy went silent once she was accompanied by anyone other than Bill. "We were just about to go to the field to play Hide and Seek. Want to come?"
Murphy looked to Bill in question as if asking permission. "Go ahead, if you'd like."
Murphy hesitantly nodded her head. Ginny who'd stood next to Ron grinned and stepped up to the girl, "We can hide first!"
Once Murphy, Ginny, Ron, Fred, George and even Percy made it out to the field they begun only for them all to stop dead in their tracks as Murphy spoke up.
"Uhm," she started shyly. "I don’t know how to play."
Ron’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head, “how do you not know how to play Hide and Seek?!”
Murphy flinched at the sound harsh thunk coming from the back of Ron’s head as one of the twins, Murphy couldn’t tell which, smacked him with a roll of his eyes. “Don’t be so daft, Ronald.”
“Basically,” Percy was the one who stepped up after sending a disapproving glance at Ron who stood rubbing the back of his head in confusion about what he’d done. Percy spent at least five minutes going on and on about the rules of the game and how it’s played while the twins piped in every once in a while before finally one of them deemed it necessary to cut his lecture short.
“Alright, Perc, I’m sure she gets it. Let’s play before you put her to sleep where she stands.”
All the kids stood around a tree while, Fred moved so he had his nose to big oak tree, counting slowly.
As soon as the first number left his lips, Ginny grabbed Murphy’s had and took off running with her.
Either Ginny notice the quite dramatic flinch Murphy’s body did instinctually or she just didn’t mention it at the unexpected physical contact.
It felt as if the moments went by, the adrenaline of the game was kicking in, and although Murphy was certain she’d never played this game before, somehow it seemed all too familiar.
Murphy’s heart increased in an unsteady rhythm as she watched Fred creep nearer to the girls who were hiding in a bush hand in hand.
Murphy glanced to Ginny who grinned widely, pressing a finger to her sealed lips, silently telling Murphy not to make a sound.
Murphy’s eyes grew wider and Fred moved closer to them, her breathing quickened in a way that felt all too familiar.
This is fun, she told herself as Ginny squeeze her hand in anticipation. This is fun, she repeated to herself in a way that seemed like she had to convince herself. Taking one more glance at Ginny’s large smile, before Fred walked nearer, and nearer and nearer.
Murphy’s breath stilled as she willed her heart to stop pounding so loudly, sure that if he took one more step in their direction he could hear it.
But as Murphy waited with bated breath, Fred walked straight towards them, then right past them.
Murphy felt a wave of nauseating relief flood through her, relief she was all to familiar with no matter how little it come.
Murphy released a shaky breath, thinking she was in the clear before suddenly she was struck with pure terror, a feeling that sunk so deep in her bones she was certain wouldn’t leave.
Fred’s arms wrapped playfully around Murphy’s shoulders and all at once the playful, “Gotcha.” And Ginny’s high pitched giggles were cut short by Murphy’s loud, petrified scream of terror.
Fred released Murphy instantly in surprise, expecting to see an arm twisted the wrong way or a wound gushing blood but all he could see was Murphy as she scrambled back, pushing herself as far away from Fred as she could, eyes screwed shut with a panic not one Weasley will soon ever forget.
Murphy’s breath quickened at an alarming rate, in that moment she realized.
That familiar feeling in her gut wasn’t because she might’ve played the game when she was younger, perhaps before she was really able to remember, but because she’d played that game with her father every drunken night when he had just stumbled through the door.
None of the Weasley children could coax the girl to stop crying, Fred apologized profusely and tried his hardest to crack jokes with his twin to lighten the mood.
Nothing was making the small girl budge, who now had her head tucked into her knees with her arms fighting wrapped around her self.
Percy, ever the responsible one, sent Ginny to run back to the house and felt their mum in hopes she’d know what to do.
When Molly and Arther finally arrived with Bill trailing behind worriedly, Molly was at a loss.
Gently she’d ran soothing circles down the girl back in hopes of being some sort of comfort, but that had only served to make the girl tremble harder as silent tears flowed down her face.
In this moment, like many other moments, Murphy wished with all her might that the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
Slowly, Molly retracted her hand. Kneeling down beside her, she waved the rest of children back to the house while Fred whispered one last apology before sulking away.
“There, there.” Molly whispered in a soothing tone, “you’re alright. You’re okay. Hush now, that’s it.”
Molly looked up to Bill after a few minutes who stood watching, waiting for some kind of reaction from the small girl. An idea popped into the mothers head as she caught Bills eye. Gesturing, Molly scooted away and let Bill take her place, leaning his back against the tree Murphy had managed to push herself against.
Silently, Bill sat there. Unknowing of what to do, or say- how he could be of comfort to the small girl. Moments went by as Murphy’s tears finally started to slow, Molly smiled sadly as she watched the two before grabbing Arthers arm and leading him back to the house. Certain that Bill had it under control.
Murphy hadn’t glanced up once, hadn’t even opened her eyes, but somehow she knew that the warm presence beside her was Bill.
For some strange reason Murphy couldn’t quite understand Bill felt like her safe place. A place where she felt as if her father couldn’t get to her, a place where she was out of the worlds reach. No one could hurt her with Bill on her side.
Slowly, Murphy leaned slightly so that she was resting against his side.
Bill was surprised at first as the small girl shifted so her entire weight was leaning against him. Wordlessly, Bill sat with the girl until finally she’d raised her head, sniffling.
Murphy was as new to this as Bill was.
Murphy who’d never had someone to lean on before and Bill who’d never had someone lean on him.
In some strange way, it felt good. It felt good to have someone depend on him like Murphy had, he could only guess as to why it was his shoulder she chose to cry on instead of his mothers, or even sweet Charlie who’d always been a comforting rock in the family.
One things for sure.
Bill would do anything to keep this feeling.
Anything to protect Murphy.