5,389Embracing His True Self
Chapter 69
"Fred, George? Why the hell the cryptic letter to meet here?" Bill asked, standing as soon as the twins entered the Hogs Head, "I swear if this is all for some sort of joke…" he was going to kill them if that was the case. He trailed off seeing the looks on their faces, and his breathing hitched, what the hell had caused such a look to grace their always cheerful brothers faces? Hell, he didn't think he'd ever seen the twins look like that since their father gave them a wallop that time they tried to get Ron to swear an Unbreakable Vow. The twins had succeeded where nobody else had, enough to rile up their father to use corporal punishment.
"Is everyone okay?" Charlie butted in, coming to the same conclusion as his brother, regarding the twins state. "Guy's talk to us, now." Glaring at the twins, his mind going to dangerous places, thinking awful thoughts, as he waited on pins and needles for his brothers to speak.
"It's dad," Fred spoke, solemnly, taking a shaky shuddering breath. "We got an anonymous note telling us that dad was being poisoned. They even told us they'd made an appointment for him," incredulousness of that particular part of the situation finally being comprehended.
"And you believed it?" Charlie snorted, it was probably just someone scaremongering.
Bill relaxed and gave a quiet huff of amusement, as if they'd believe it and spend a fortune they didn't have on a healer. The war brought out the best and worst in people so it did. Imagine targeting his family…everyone knew they couldn't afford shit like that. "Just ignore it, it's probably some idiot playing a prank on you." His shoulders relaxing, "Here," handing over a Butterbeer to the twins, but they did not look placated at all.
Fred and George automatically took the beer, staring at their brothers in befuddlement, wondering why they weren't reacting to what they'd just said. It dawned on them quite quickly, they shook their heads vehemently. "No, no, it's not a prank…we actually took him to St. Mungo's…" George corrected them.
"Wait, you actually took dad to the hospital over the word of a stranger? Are you mad? Do you have any idea how much that sort of thing costs?" Bill argued, "Dad won't hear of us helping either!" he was too damn proud by far, even their mum accepted money from them if things were tight.
Charlie slumped into the seat, staring at the twins in disbelief. He'd never thought any of his siblings were stupid enough to fall for a stunt like that. However, there was a niggling at the back of his head, the looks on their faces…they weren't embarrassed looks the twins were supporting.
"…so come on then, how much is it going to cost?" Bill continued to berate the twins, who just stood their stoically allowing Bill to get out his frustration without a single snide comment or cracking a grin as they normally would when they were reprimanded.
"Bill…stop," Charlie said, squeezing his brothers shoulder tightly, making it clear that he shouldn't say a damn thing more. "What did they find?" worry causing his chest to tighten in fear.
"What…Charlie…" Bill stared at his brother in bewilderment before glancing at the twins and slumping himself, swallowing thickly. "Alright…alright, let's hear it," what had happened to their dad? Sitting down, wishing he'd ordered a damn firewhisky.
"They said they had paid for the appointment, I mean it was pretty stupid if it was a joke…so we got dad there in time." Fred told them grimly, as he took a seat, "It's not good news at all."
Bill and Charlie swallowed thickly, worry showing as they stared at the twins. They didn't even comment on the fact for the first time in a long time the twins weren't speaking together or finishing each other's sentences.
"Apparently dad's been drugged with Amortentia since he was seventeen…" George swallowed half the butterbeer bottle.
"What? No!" Bill's eyes widened, they all knew what that meant, and they went into immediate denial.
"Impossible!" Charlie uttered, rubbing his forehead, this couldn't be happening. Why would their mother do such a thing? It wasn't as if the Weasley's had a lot of money…why would she need to do something like that? They needed to speak to their mother immediately.
"That's not the worst of it…" Fred added, looking even worse for wear, "He's being drugged with the Draught Of The Living Death…for the past month,"
"Why the hell would he be drugged with that?" Charlie blurted out, "It makes no sense!"
"Actually…that's poisonous if given in small doses, makes you sick slowly until you die that potion is supposed to be given in a large dose to make you imitate eternal sleep…but the way it's given yeah, it's been poisoning him…" Bill said pale and shaken, well aware of the consequences of that potion being given to their father. "He'll have had aches and pains, hair will have started falling out, internal organs would have begun failing within another month…within half a year he would have died." Stomach rebelling in disgust.
"But he wouldn't just consume anything unless he trusted them…which means only the Order…" Charlie trailed off, someone they trusted, knew, was trying to kill their father.
"Yeah, dad's in shock, he's being kept in St. Mungo's until the potions are out of his system…" Fred said, hastening when their brothers stood to go to him, "They won't let you in, even we weren't allowed to stay…no visitors until he's recovering and even then only who he wants."
"The Aurors have been called in, they're probably already there taking a statement from the healer…" George added, "What do we do?" his tone taking on a desperate tinge, showing their age.
Bill and Charlie straightened up, "Alright, first things first, let's head home, see if we can get an answer from mum." His tone changing when he said the word 'mum' it was almost said glacially.
"There's an Order meeting…" Fred admitted, they were supposed to have been there, so was their dad. "Wait, why weren't you there?"
"Mum isn't aware we had returned to the UK yet," Bill admitted, she could be a bit too much sometimes, always wanted them around, then criticised them for their clothes, hair everything she could think of. Oh, they knew she loved them in her own way, but it was just a bit too much sometimes. So, yes, they had not told her they'd returned yet, not that they'd been away long. "Someone in the Order must have been drugging dad…" with a potion that was slowly killing him. Arthur was such a gentle soul, couldn't hurt a fly, and loved tinkering with his Muggle items…and damn, it sickened them to the core.
"Alright," George agreed, as long as they weren't having to feel this pressure alone…because it was awful. "What about Ron and Ginny?"
"We'll write to them later," Charlie clapped the twins on the shoulder, urging them out of the pub.
Bill pulled down the silencing charm he'd put up when they came in and the four Weasley's were gone.
Once outside they all Apparated back to the Burrow only to have a dozen people pointing their wands at them.
Each Weasley raised their hands in the universal gesture for surrender. Confused by the mass of Aurors there, I mean they were only there to question one person…their mother…so why?
"What's going on?" Charlie asked, staring around in utter bafflement.
"I'm sorry sir, we cannot let you through, this is a crime scene," the Aurors informed the Weasley's.
Fred swallowed, "Crime scene?" bile crawling up their throat…"Who?" the four Weasley's asked in sync.
"Carson, I've got this, go on," the senior Auror on the scene commanded. Walking towards the group, a grim look on his face. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this gentlemen but your mother Molly Weasley…has been found dead." probably a mercy really, after all she would have spent the rest of her days behind bars in Azkaban…decades of using a love potion on her husband would have ensured that.
"Dead?" Charlie echoed dumbly, staring at the Auror in disbelief, eyes catching something moving, and found bodies being brought out, covered in blankets, and not just one…dozens of bodies begun to emerge from the house.
All of them blanched, what the fuck had happened?
"What the bloody merlin hell happened?" Fred blurted out, they'd obviously been in an Order meeting…and the house was still standing so what…they were so confused. The wards they had up should have held and stopped anything happening. "We were meant to be there…so was dad…" how close they had come to death hit them like a freight train.
"We're going to find out," the Auror reassured them, "I'm sorry but we can't let you in," the entire house was now a crime scene.
"Sir, we found the potions," a crime scene Aurors stepped towards the senior officer, holding out a antique box, and opening it. Revealing the two potions within the box containing what little jewellery the family had.
"That's mums…" Charlie blurted out, having a funny feeling he knew what those two potions were. A single glance at Bill confirmed it when he nodded seriously, looking utterly heartbroken at the confirmation.
"I'm sorry we can't let you even summon clothes…" the senior Auror did sound apologetic.
"We don't live at the burrow," Fred admitted, "None of us," so there was nothing there for them to collect. Bill had a cottage with Fleur, and of course, Charlie was staying there in the guest bedroom through Fleur's insistence. She wasn't exactly fond of Molly, despite her attempts to like her, and obviously she knew how overbearing the woman could be so immediately offered Charlie a place to stay until he got his own. "Has Percy, Ginny and Ron been told?"
"That's up to your father," the senior Auror commented, "Bag and tag it, and get it to the Ministry."
The Ministry car drove off with the dead bodies in the back, taking them back to the Ministry of Magic. Leaving the rest of the Aurors to continue taking pictures, examining the crime scene and finding the evidence they needed.
"Dads…in St. Mungo's right now…" George pointed out, he couldn't make any decision for anyone. "We don't know how he'll be when he wakes…" all those years of love potions…could have muddled him completely. That was actually quite a terrifying prospect. What if he couldn't even look at them after what had been done to him for so long?
"I know, I've just came from there," the senior Auror nodded grimly, "I'll be returning at a later point to speak to him." it was the whole reason he was here, they'd intended on arresting Molly Weasley but ended up at a scene of carnage, including a few of their own dead. The Ministry was in an uproar, especially with it being so close to Dumbledore's trial. They would find out what happened…and quite frankly they wouldn't be surprised if Molly Weasley had poisoned them all and herself accidentally the poisons they'd found while searching the property.
The three Weasley's just stared at the Burrow, the place where they'd grown up, quite happy. They'd had a good childhood, loving, there was no doubt about that. Unfortunately, there was now a dark cloud hovering over their memories…their father had been drugged for decades, their entire lives…and now…well, now they'd never have answers as to why.
"Where's that letter you got?" Bill asked grimly.
"We left it at the shop," Fred sighed, rubbing his weary eyes tiredly, between worrying about the shop and now this…they just felt utterly drained. Defeated might be a more appropriate word. "I'll show you it, come on, let's go,"
"No, go get it and come to Shell Cottage," Bill told the twins, "I need a bloody drink," was all he had to say, and he had a good bottle that he'd received as a wedding gift calling his name. Plus, he wasn't keeping this from Fleur…there was no way, plus, if they had told his mum they were back…he and Fleur would have been at that meeting and suffered the same fate. He needed to see her, touch her, make sure she was alright, even though he knew she was.
The agreement was made, and the twins apparated back to their shop only to retrieve the letter before meeting back up with their brothers.
"Bill! Is everything okay?" Fleur asked, blinking at the sight of him with his brothers, they did not look good at all. Not that him being with his brothers was unusual, it was just the way he'd left earlier without a word only to return looking sick to his stomach. She grunted a little, utterly baffled when he in turn strode over to her and hugged her as if her very life depended on it. "What is going on?" her French accent still noticeable but her English was nearly impeccable.
"Charlie?" Fleur asked, watching him raid their cupboard for the drink, bringing back five glasses, and pour the brew into it. Even when Bill stopped hugging her, he kept her close, and the twins didn't so much as give a single tease to their brother.
Something was seriously wrong.
"The Aurors are all over the Burrow," Voldemort commented as Harry entered his office, the computer he'd had with him nearly all the time for days finally put away. "None survived," they were all carted out in body bags. It was safe to say that Harry's plan had gone off without a hitch.
"Didn't expect any to," Harry said, especially seeing them all reacting to the poisoned food, "The Ministry will be feeling tense due to the loss of their own as well," just wait until Dumbledore's trial, the entire Ministry will be in shambles, they'll need a good leader…and Voldemort could just swoop in and do what needed to be done.
And finally reshape the magical world to his image.
"A few have still survived," Voldemort pointed out, aware of his shenanigans.
Harry smirked, "Honestly, it's like having big brothers constantly trying to get me into trouble," well aware of whom had told Voldemort about his little…side venture one might say. "Do they let you know when they go to the toilet too?" he added teasingly.
Voldemort snorted, finding himself wholly amused by Harry's deductions. "Not quite," making his way over to the teen, he lazily kissed the wizard, excitement getting the better of him, soon Dumbledore's trial would be underway, he could not wait to see it in action. "What are you up to?" surely he did not think for a moment the Weasley's were going to forgive him for killing their mother and just wander off into the sunset without fighting with all they had to avenge their fallen mother?
Harry leaned against the comfort, seeking it freely and without reservation or fear. "Molly Weasley has been drugging Arthur for decades…since he was in Hogwarts apparently. They won't fight, its…broken them beyond repair." A sight sadness to his voice, "Especially Arthur."
"That's…interesting," Voldemort drawled out, "And certainly explains a few things."
"What do you mean?" Harry queried glancing up at Voldemort curiously.
"Weasley was dating Antonin Dolohov's sister I believe, promises were made…and broken just as quickly. Anthea Dolohov, she ended up having to marry a wizard from abroad leaving behind friends and family. She hadn't made any provisions for such a thing, and put all her efforts into Arthur Weasley. She never returned, even for a visit, Antonin was rightfully…furious." Once she was married her family didn't have a say in her life, her new husband did and he forbid her from returning. So the only contact the brother and sister had was through letters. "Antonin hasn't been able to see his sister since she was eighteen-years-old, she didn't even get to attend her parents funeral."
"Who is it and why the hell didn't he just kill him?" Harry asked incredulously, Antonin was a damn powerful wizard, angry pretty much all of the time, and a hardened warrior, capable of just about anything.
"I believe he almost did after the wake of their parents funeral, she was pregnant at the time and begged him not to." Voldemort informed him, he knew almost everything about his people, if not due to his reading of their minds but because they told him everything. It wasn't just Rabastan and Rodolphus that told him everything.
Harry arched a brow at that, wondering about that, maybe he should talk to Antonin. "Severus' healer got back in touch, he's coming here, if you're amendable to the idea," Harry informed him, the entire reason he'd came if he was entirely honest.
"I shall create a portkey for him," Voldemort agreed, he was definitely not getting his hands on the potions without first getting the Vows to ensure that it was not ill-used or stolen from Harry. He deserved the credit for his work, regardless of whether he cared about its uses or not.
"Thanks," Harry murmured, closing his eyes and leaning further against Voldemort, he was tired for some reason. "After this I'm going to need to sleep,"
Voldemort smirked, "I do believe after seeing Dumbledore brought down…you'll desire anything but sleep, especially if you intend to see him fall further."
Harry sniggered, rolling his eyes, slightly bemused, "You're probably right," he agreed.
"MY…lord…s," Barty said, his voice going from being loud and abrasive in one word to quiet and almost shy.
Harry snorted, he'd never thought he would see the day, that was comical so it was. Sighing dramatically, he took a step back and slid into the seat, leaving Voldemort to deal with whatever it was.
"You should get changed, we will be leaving for the trial soon," Voldemort pointed out, and the attire he had on was way too casual for a court setting.
Harry stared down at himself with a thoughtful frown, going through the pros and cons of attending looking like this or dressing appropriately. "On one hand…they'd expect this…on the other…it might make them wake up and take me more seriously…"
"Are you kidding? Dress up, can you imagine the look on Dumbledore's face when he sees you like that?" Barty blurted out in amusement, "Like seriously…he'll know you've claimed your place, your rightful place that should have been explained to you before you reached Hogwarts."
"He does make a fascinating point," Voldemort agreed, eyes gleaming vindictively, plus he preferred Harry in his pureblood 'getup' as he sometimes called it. It made him look years older, more sophisticated and without a doubt very appealing. His looks might have a great deal to do with his desire for Harry, but the rest was definitely for his smarts.
"Uh, fine, is Antonin here?" Harry asked, he wanted to talk to him before he left anyway. The thought of anyone putting up with abuse for the sake of children made him furious.
"I do believe so, yes, he's with Lucius on the grounds," Voldemort informed him, "They will soon be leaving for the Ministry, so you may wish to be quick." Giving him a knowing look, Harry was entirely too predicable sometimes.
"Alright," Harry said, standing back up and stretching out, "I'll see you later," with conviction he didn't feel, he leaned in and kissed Voldemort again. Eyes watching every reaction he garnered from him, to see if he truly did not mind his actions.
"You will," Voldemort agreed, gripping his hip for a few moments before reluctantly letting go.
"I'll give you my memory so you can view it in a pensive!" Harry told Barty when he saw him opening his mouth.
Shock was displayed before he pouted, he was not predictive damn it…Harry was just that good.
Barty closed the door when bid by the Dark Lord.
Will Harry give Arthur his happily ever after or is she already gone from this world explaining why Dolohov has done nothing yet? Or is it a matter of simply being forced by his sister to make a vow not to harm him? Dumbledore's trial FINALLY happening next chapter promise! :) and I will ensure it is a full length chapter too! STAY SAFE AND TAKE CARE R&R please
