Plans - Part 2
Everything in Aunt Muriel's house was pretentious and fussy, definitely not the type of home where young boys or tomboys would ever feel comfortable. As that was the case, Arthur had rarely taken his family for even a short daytime visit. Now, four of them lived there and four others apparated in and out as necessary. Other Order members came and rested in a relatively safe place and moving on as soon as their body or soul had the sustenance it needed to keep on. Reports were that a number of families had disappeared with their children who were home on holiday break from Hogwarts. We are now part of that group. Hopefully, that is what happened with the others __ and not Azkaban or worse. Kingsley and Remus came by as often as they felt safe to but since that day in late December, no one had news of Ron, Hermione, or Harry. Molly didn't want to let Ginny out of her sight, but had relented some when Ginny had threatened to run off if she didn't get some time alone. Ginny. She's given her heart away to someone who had known he couldn't plan a future. All three of "my" children thought they knew what they were doing when they left the night of the wedding. I wonder how they're feeling now.
When he'd heard that the three had been spotted at the minstry, his heart had nearly stopped. Lucky for him, he had been in a meeting with several of the Dark Lord's trusted members, being lambasted and ridiculed for all manner of things. And that, he believed, verified that there was no way that Arthur could have been in contact with the children. Runcorn had told him earlier that day that he was being followed, not that it surprised him. What had surprised him was the look Runcorn had given him. that made him realize later he had actually spoken to Harry. That had made him begin thinking. He knew someone had taken Mad Dog's polyjuice potion. And if the kids did, and all three had been there, had he spoken to his son at one point? He thought over all his conversations that morning. It couldn't have been any that were in the meeting, but the elevator? He remembered Cattermole entering all wet. He looked at a picture of three of his sons on Muriel's shelves. Ron was there, looking frantic, probably because of the twins next to him. That was it! That look! Reg had had that look. And the look of relief when I mentioned the spells that might help. That would explain how Reg and his wife had gotten away. Reg was not known as the brightest or bravest bloke around but Arthur was happy he and his family appeared to have disappeared safely. I helped Ron without knowing it. I hope he took some comfort in that. He racked his brain but didn't remember anyone who might have been Hermione.
And then today. Bill had shown up with Mr. Ollivander. Bill said that the Trio was safe. He refused to say more, though Arthur could see his eldest son was frustrated. Luna and Dean said nothing but the same and then asked what they could do to help the Order. But, Mr. Ollivander. He understood. He understood how hard it was for parents to not know. And so he had spoken quietly to Arthur, in the bedroom now reserved for recovering fighters. They had been captured, taken to a dungeon. Somehow, Dobby had found them and got Luna, Dean, and Ollivander out. But he said Ron was in a terrible state as the Malfoy's had taken Miss Granger upstairs and performed the Cruciatus Curse. Ron was ready to tear apart the ceiling to get through. Ollivander had felt that Ron would have been next. Arthur's heart hurt for both of his children. But they were safe. Ollivander said they made it back. Hermione would have nightmares. So would Ron. And Harry. He was sure. But Ollivander and Fleur had taken care of them all and Bill would have told me if they were seriously injured. Ollivander did say he thought they were up to something involving Gringott's. Arthur could just feel his hair going grayer, at least the part that wasn't just dropping off. I'll be bald before this is over. Ollivander had agreed to just tell Molly they looked fine and were safe, but she looked at her husband as if she knew he was protecting her. It really didn't help much. She still cried most nights. Fred and George tried to get by every week or so, but they were busy with their work for the Order. Funny how their joke shop products were so helpful in all the sneaking around done for the Order. Charlie was working for the Order in many capacities. He was a strong aide to Kingsley, managing the different activities that all were involved in. Somehow or other, eight of the Weasley family were now in the top fourteen undesirables. The Trio (he included all three as his family) were the top 3. Fred and George had made a collection of the wanted posters, lamenting that "Ronnie" had gotten higher billing than they had.