alt_arthur | A rather late night last night

A rather late night last night

Molly decided to go to New London to spend some time with Bill this weekend, now that the children are off to Hogwarts. So I was alone last night when I received a rather unexpected visit from a few chaps from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It seems that they had a few questions about Ronald's rather unorthodox method of getting to Hogwarts this year. Given that young Harry Marvolo accompanied him, they felt (quite rightly, I'm sure) that perhaps the questions were urgent enough that they couldn't wait until I showed up again at work on Monday morning. Since I was, of course, most anxious to do everything I could to set minds at ease, I accompanied them back to the Ministry, and we chatted rather late into the night. I'm home again now, as is Molly. I trust that all the Ministry's queries have been entirely satisfied.

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It's welcome news that you're home again, Arthur. I assume that means they couldn't find anything to charge you with. Are they going to let it go at that, my friend?

Very relieved to hear that you got home safely, Arthur.

I think it will be all right. I'm absolutely sure there wasn't anything at the Burrow that would give them any excuse to make trouble.

They did mess up the place a good deal. Molly's most upset.

Dad, you know as well as I do that if Lucius Malfoy doesn't have an excuse to make trouble, then he's perfectly happy to manufacture one out of thin air.

Yes, well, I think it's best not to dwell on possibilities like that. The point is to appear calm, as if we don't have anything to hide.

It helped, I think, that Crockford was leading the interrogation. I knew about his boy Cal from Fred and George. Used to be a Beater on the Slytherin team, and is quite the young thug, always getting into trouble. So I harped quite a bit on the theme of "boys will be boys," and I think that had a sympathetic audience with him.

And really, Bill, your mother doesn't need any more worry.

Sorry, Dad.

Upset? Upset!?! I think I have a right to be upset. Did you see what they did in the bedrooms? And in my kitchen? And in my cellar? What gives them the right, those miserable, ruddy wankers!

Those are only things, Molly. They can be replaced.

And really, I know it looks bad, but really, with a few tidying and reparo charms, everything can be set to rights. It's tiresome, I know, but Bill and I and Xeno will help.

But the food, Arthur! How will we ever get through the winter?

What's this? What about the food?

My canning! Those wretched spiteful MLE goons smashed EVERY SINGLE JAR IN MY CELLAR! I hadn't finished the job yet, and thank Merlin the apple harvest isn't in yet so I hadn't started the cidering because I'm sure they would have STOLEN it, but oh, all the vegetables! Over half of my entire summer's harvest is gone!

Mum! Calm down, it'll be okay. The Order certainly won't leave you and Dad to starve.

No, indeed. Now, really Molly. We might have to tighten our belts a bit, but I dare say I could stand to lose a stone or two. Your cooking spoils me, my dear.

And besides, what makes you think our neighbours won't step into help, after all you've done for them? Why we took in Xeno last year, and I know that Maisie Diggory will gladly share, especially after the help you gave her when her potato crop failed last year.

Oh, I know, Arthur. I'm just--I just feel so violated, having them in my kitchen messing about with my pans!

And I know--I know I've fussed so much over the years over all your Muggle collections, and now I feel so dreadful. Why did they have to take it all? Even your silly plug collection?

Oh, my goodness. I was so worried! I'll have you know Frank was up in arms and ready to come blast you out of the Ministry if need be.

damn straight.

glad you lot are in one piece and all accounted for, otherwise I would have had to make some serious trouble.

Merlin forbid, we don't want to draw more fire now! But I understand the feeling.

Thank you, Alice. I feel a little better now. Arthur's made me a pot of tea--in the one unsmashed teapot we have left!

I hope the children aren't too upset that I had to leave so abruptly last night, without even saying goodbye. Do give them all my love.

It was about as tight a corner as I've been in any time these past five years. Between you and me, I'm very relieved to be home safely, too.

I have a hunch we're not entirely out of the Forbidden Forest yet, though. From what Crockford said, it sounds as though there will be a fine levied.

Trust Lucius bleeding Malfoy to find a way to soak me for money.

Stephen's got a few potions he's been saving for a rainy day that would go for a good price on the black market. you need some quick cash, Fletcher can always sell em.

I'll be sure to tell them all. You'll be getting a packet of thank-you notes in the post soon.

I'm so very sorry, Molly. They are wankers. All of them.

Can you repair the damage, at least?

Well, the food is ruined, of course. And most of what they smashed, they vanished. Leaving just a few shards behind. They left the everyday crockery, but oh, Alice, they destroyed my Grandmother's tea pot and the platter I inherited from my own Mum, and I don't even have enough Mason jars left to put up the rest of the harvest.

Arthur's right, I know; they're only things. But oh, Alice, it hurts.

There, Molly, dear. They're only things.

Thank you for offering, Frank. Molly and I certainly don't want to draw upon the resources of the Sanctuary if we can possibly avoid it, though so let's keep that option in our pocket for now, until we find out what the fine is going to be.

Molly dear, I can only imagine. They are just things, but they are yours. You have every right to be angry and sad. I cried buckets when we had to leave our little flat in London and put all our things into storage. I even miss those ugly orange sofas we had.

We're running a pretty tight ship in these parts when it comes to food stores, and some things can't ever really be replaced -- but if there's anything else you have need for, we can certainly go on a "shopping" trip for you around Peel. Linens, jars, dishes, just say the word and we can get a crate of stuff to you in a week. Or, if you'd prefer, we can pass it along in dribs and drabs to make it less suspicious.

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A rather late night last night

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