Chapter 36
Chapter 36
******** this chapter is purely about Arthurs memories. If you dont want to read it please skip. I believe I cover the important points so you will not miss much. ******************
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Outside in a courtyard young adults Molly and Arthur are snogging against a tree. Charlie and Bill avert their eyes immediately.
‘Why would this need to be altered?’
‘I don't know. I guess we need to pay attention?’
‘But it's mum and dad.’ Charlie complained.
‘I know-’
‘Molly stop! We can't do this.’ Suddenly both weasley men are paying attention.
‘Really? Why not?’ Molly questions in a pouty tone.
‘Why not? Really? Your brothers sent your last 3 suitors to the hospital wing and I don't want to be added to the list.’ Charlie and Bill exchange a glance in confusion.
‘Nonsense, why would they do that?’
'As if you don't know.’ Arthur scoffs. ‘Look I like you but I'm not doing this right now. I will see you in class.’
He stomps off.
‘Mum always said dad couldn't keep his hands to himself.’
'That's not what it looks like.’ Bill raises his wand and begins a chant to return this memory to normal.
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Molly walks up to Arthur in the library.
‘I can't talk now. I have to finish this essay for class.’
‘I know I just wanted to give you this.’
‘I'm not hungry,’ Arthur says without taking the chocolate bar from her.
‘Save it for later then?’
‘Fine, thank you.’ He returns to reading his book.
‘That seems harsh, maybe they had a falling out?’ Bill says hopefully.
‘Maybe.’ Charlie raises his wand this time to correct the memory.
After he finishes he sees Arthur absentmindedly opening the chocolate while reading.
*.*
Arthur has his arms wrapped around Molly, he is whispering in her ear.
‘Let's go for a walk.’
‘No Arthur, I'm studying.’
'You can study tomorrow.’ He kisses and bites her neck and gently, ‘Come for a walk with me.’
‘Alright wait by the lake, I will be there soon.’
‘I can't wait to have you in my arms again.’
Arthur went outside and waited by the lake. Soon it begins to rain but still he waits. Hours later Hagrid finds Arthur and drags him inside to the hospital wing. Arthur protests the entiire walk that he is waiting for someone.
Bill waves his wand to cleanse the memory. He looks at his brother, and Charlie just shakes his head.
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For the next several memories they watch their father chase after a woman that shows little interest in his advances. It becomes more and more clear that Molly is dosing their father in increasing amounts. Some of the memories are when Molly accidentally skipped a dose and Arthur becomes more lucid. He does not want this relationship, he doesn't even want Molly and is disgusted with his memories of their time together.
After each one they both feel like they are invading their fathers privacy but they continue so that they can help him get his closure. Before they know it their parents have graduated and married, she reveals that she is 4 months pregnant with Bill on their honeymoon. Arthur is concerned to have a child with the war brewing but he loves his son more than anything. Molly begins going on missions alone. Arthur rarely goes on missions; he wants to be home with the children. They see themselves getting older.
Arthur floos into the Burrow one evening. Dumbledore is having tea while Molly feeds twins he has never seen before. Softly he hears Molly ask, 'are you sure Regulus Black wont come looking for them?'
'There is no reason to fear. everything has been taken care of. '
'What do you mean by that?' Molly asks as Arthur enters the room. Suddenly she turns to give Arthur a hug. ‘How has your day been? The boys all had an eventful day. Albus says the twins are finally healthy enough to visit relatives.’
‘What do you mean? Whose children are they?’
Albus clears his throat. Arthur looks over at him and he feels a presence enter his mind.
Suddenly he remembers Molly has had a tough pregnancy, the twins were ill for the first few months of their lives. They are finally healthy. The presence fades away. Arthur smiles.
‘Healthy you say? This is time to celebrate. Let's spend the weekend with Muriel. I'm sure she has missed the boys.’
‘That is a wonderful idea. Hold Fred? I'm going to check that the boys are washed up for dinner.
Molly kisses his cheek before heading up the stairs. Dumbledore bids them good evening.
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Arthur apparates home and sees his children in the yard. Percy is reading under a tree, the twins are chasing the gnomes, Charlie and Bill are racing brooms around the yard. He pauses a moment to enjoy the sight of his carefree children. He feels tremendously blessed to have 6 healthy children.
Before he can walk closer he sees Dumbledore come out of the house. He calls to the children and then raises his wand. Arthur jogs forward in alarm. Where is Molly? As he approaches he hears Dumbledore's words.
‘You remember your sister. She is in the house with your mum and Ronald. I want all of you to promise to always take care of her.’
A chorus of promises echo from the children. As they are excused they run back to their previous activities.
‘Albus? What are you talking about?’
Dumbledore turns around and slips into Arthur’s mind. Molly was so happy when her daughter was finally held in her arms. She had kept the pregnancy a secret until the last few months because she wanted to know the gender. Albus blinks and Arthur shakes his head to clear his mind.
‘Thank you for inviting me over for dinner. Unfortunately I have an urgent matter to attend to. Next time?’
‘Of course Albus. Until next time.’
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The last memory they correct is the fabricated sex life Arthur believes he has. Everytime he believed he made love to his wife in the last 15 years was a fabricated lie. Arthur has been living in a sexless relationship since the conception of his second son, Percy. And with 5 children to chase around it was understandable. But then how was their brother Ron conceived? Perhaps another secret of Molly's.
Charlie and Bill finish correcting Arthurs memories and exit his mind. Neither says anything as they stand and walk to the kitchen. Charlie pulls out a bottle of firewhiskey and pours them both a large portion. Without hesitation they both finish what is in their glass and Charlie pours another. Arthur is confused. He follows his boys into the kitchen. Not sure if he is ready to ask the question out loud. After the 3rd glass in a row Arthur finally clears his throat, they look at him sadly.
‘Boys? Just tell me please. I need to know.’
‘Alright dad. Drink this first?’ Charlie reaches out his hand offering another portion of firewhiskey.
Arthur reaches forward and grabs the glass. He swallows it all at once.
Bill begins talking. Arthur vaguely remembers the day he stood outside in the rain. Not much else from 7th year jumps to mind. He always assumed he was happily dating Molly. Now he knows that he was less interested in her, almost indifferent to her. He realizes that his entire relationship was a lie, and likely only happened because of her potioning him.
Arthur holds up his hand not ready to hear any more just yet.
‘Dad, please let me finish. I don't know if I can start this conversation again.’
‘Alright. How much worse can it get?’
Bill opens his mouth and then closes it again. He struggles to say anything else.
Charlie takes over. ‘Dad. The twins were brought into the house by Dumbledore. He talked mum into keeping them. Regulus black was their father.’
‘No that's not possible.’
‘Dumbledore himself altered your memories as well as all of ours.’
‘Is there anything else?’
‘Ginny is also not yours but we have no idea who her parents are. Mum was more concerned with finally having a daughter. You havent had sex with mum since the coception of Percy. We have no idea who Ron's father could be. Biologically speaking you only have 2 sons, me and Percy.’ Bill says.
‘That's not possible. I remember it many times over the years.’
‘It was fabricated. You were led to believe many things about your life that were not true.’
‘Thank you for telling me and repairing my memories. I'm sorry I made you both do something so sensitive. We will restore our house. Molly will not be considered a Weasley for much longer. Let's go get something to eat. I think we all need time to process this.’
‘Alright dad, let's go to the pub.’
Their meal was a quiet one. All three were trying to come to terms with the new information they had. Most of the Weasley children were not biologically Weasleys. All those years of struggling and for what?
Arthur could have easily supported 2-4 children on his salary. 7 was a strain and he spent many extra hours at work over the years to be able to maintain his household. He doubts he would have dated Molly let alone married her if not for those potions. Arthur looks back on the years sadly. All his memories are now tainted.
Bill is concerned about what will happen now. His mother will not handle this well. He begins to plan on how to tell his siblings that they are not related. No version of that conversation goes well. He hopes that his father had a better idea for how to handle such a sensitive matter.
Charlie plans to make another visit to his boss. There is much more going on then he initially anticipated. His leave from work may become more extended then they already discussed. Unfortunately this may become a more permanent situation. He looks forward to being closer to family; he just wishes that he were going home for a happier reason.
When they return to Charlie's cabin Arthur bids them goodnight and shuffles off to the guestroom to mourn his failed marriage. Bill and Charlie turn in for the night as well. Knowing that things are only going to get more exhausting and they will need their strength.
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****It seems that i am making up for lost time by posting extra ehapters. enjoy.*****