Ten Years & Ten Months Later

"Ma, where's Mimi? She said she'd come to say goodbye!"

"Ma, do you really think I'll be in Gryffindor?"

"Oh, look, Molly, there's Gwendolyn, Mark and their children. Do you think we should go say hello? Their son Devin and Harry are just a year apart…"

Failing to make heads or tails of what anyone in her family was saying, Molly threw up her hands in exasperation. "One thing at a time!" she chided. "I can't understand you lot when you all speak at once."

The three managed to look sheepish as they glanced between one another, deciding on who should speak first. Arthur nodded at the boys, bowing out as a staring contest began between Junior and Harry. In a show of underhandedness that hadn't been seen since Christmas Eve dinner of '88, Harry gasped and pointed at something behind Junior, causing the older (and far too gullible) boy to swerve around to look.

Grinning widely, Harry turned to Molly and asked, "Ma, do you think I'll be sorted into Gryffindor?"

Molly bit her lip. They were on this again? "Of course you will be, love," she said with the same confidence she'd used every time she assured Harry he would be sorted exactly where he was meant to be.

"Really?" Junior broke in, wearing a sneer. "That trick there wasn't very Gryffindor-like."

The bit of relief that had begun to bring a smile to Harry's face quickly faded as he turned on his brother and socked him in the arm. "Take that back! Mimi was the one who taught me how to do that and she was in Gryffindor!"

"Harry James Weasley!" Molly shrilled, grabbing her son by his ear and dragging him over to her side. "We do not hit our brothers!"

"He deserved it!" Harry protested as he slipped out of her hold.

Molly just shook her head. "Honestly, boys, when will you grow up? You're fifteen and eleven!"

Still rubbing at his arm, Junior said, "You know, Harry, Mimi might have taught you that, but she's also working in the Werewolf Registry Office. If that's not bravery, I don't know what is."

"Hush, Junior," Arthur scolded. "Werewolves are no more dangerous than you or me when it's not the night of the full moon."

Junior's lower lip puckered outward as he fell into a sulk. Even though Arthur made a good point, Molly couldn't help but agree with Junior's feelings about working with werewolves. Yes, werewolves were usually safe when it wasn't the night of the full moon, but that didn't mean they couldn't do something to you still. Even in these modern times, research on whether being attacked by a werewolf in their human form would turn you into one or not was still inconclusive. Some insisted you'd become as full-fledged a monster as the werewolf who attacked you while others argued it'd do little to you beyond giving you a few wolfish tendencies, like having insomnia on the night of the full moon.

Since Molly had never talked lycanthropy symptoms with any wizards or witches who'd been attacked by a werewolf while said werewolf was in their human form, she was inclined to be leery of werewolves no matter what time of the month.

"Ma, how do you know I'll be in Gryffindor?" Harry asked.

Taking a deep breath, Molly was prepared to repeat the same speech she had been giving Harry all week when, from behind, a familiar, throaty voice declared, "Because you kicked You-know-Who's arse when you were just a baby."

"Language!" Molly chided as Mimi fell into step beside her. Giving the young woman's arm a sharp pinch, she said, "There are scores of children present!"

Wincing, Mimi rubbed at her arm and muttered, "Sorry!"

"Mimi!" Junior greeted with a laugh. "I thought I'd have to get on the Express without saying goodbye!" Which would have been a true (if unlikely) tragedy for Junior. Mimi was very good about saying goodbye to her brothers and others she cared for. Even when all odds pointed against her being able to do so, she always appeared to find a way.

Molly knew that was all in thanks to her father. Benjy, while a loving father, was by no means a perfect one and had made his children many promises he could (or perhaps never intended to) keep. In response to all the lies she'd been fed in her childhood, Mimi had vowed to herself to be honest with all those she loved and to keep every promise she made. It meant she could come off as caustic and pig-headed sometimes, but Molly tried not to hold it against her adoptive daughter. It was the result of good intentions, after all.

As for Junior, all he wanted these days was to say goodbye. He had not gotten the chance to exchange farewells with his father before he died and since then, Junior did not like to part without a goodbye. When he was smaller, he used to throw big fits when he'd not gotten to say goodbye to those he loved. He didn't do that anymore, but Molly suspected he still felt the same anger and sorrow when he missed his chance to trade farewells. Molly was sure Mimi held the same suspicions as her.

The young woman smiled at her brother. "Nope! I'd never do that to you, Junior!"

As Junior grinned, Arthur, eyes sharp, but lips curved in amusement asked, "Just how did you managed to get away from the office, Mimi? With how short-staffed the Werewolf Registry is, I'd think they'd not let you off for something like this so early in the day."

"They might think I just went to the loo," Mimi admitted as she carefully looked away from them to scan the whispering crowds. "Wow, there are a lot of people here today, aren't there? More than last year, wouldn't you say?"

Molly rolled her eyes. Of course there were more people milling around the Platform than last year, Harry was here. Witches and wizards of all ages were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Wizarding World's savior before he left for his first year at Hogwarts. She didn't say this, however. Harry didn't need to know that he had drawn a crowd yet again. So, instead, Molly narrowed her eyes at Mimi.

"I hope you're planning to hurry back to work in the next few minutes, Mimi. It wouldn't do for you to lose your job over something like this," she said.

Mimi laughed. "Oh Molly, I won't. They don't get nearly enough applicants as it is. They aren't going to fire the newest blood they've gotten into the office in almost eight years."

"Smugness is a rather unbecoming trait in a young woman," Molly scolded lightly as she grabbed hold of Harry before he was run over by an overeager child and their trolley of luggage.

She laughed again and swung an arm around Junior, then Harry, and said, "You better watch out for our little brother, Junior. Harry's such an ickle boy and no doubt others will be looking to take advantage of that."

"That's what you think others are going to try and take advantage of?" Junior asked, eyebrow raised.

Mimi sighed and Molly almost did the same. Their family didn't talk about Harry's fame openly, the same way they didn't talk about how Molly and Arthur gained guardianship over the Fenwicks. No one liked to dredge up the fact Harry had survived an attack on his life by the Darkest Wizard of the century anymore than how Molly and Arthur had to make the Fenwick's grandfather cry before he signed over guardianship of Junior and Mimi to the Weasleys.

They were sore spots for the children. Harry hated being reminded of how he survived because it always made him think of those who didn't and overpowered him with a guilt a boy his age didn't deserve. The Fenwicks didn't like being reminded of how Mimi had to tear apart her grandfather's capabilities as a guardian in front of Family Services so that Junior would be placed in the safer hands of Molly and Arthur. Just asking how the two became honorary Weasley often caused Mimi to tear up and, sometimes, excuse herself so she could call her grandfather so she could apologize again for taking Junior away from him.

It had been the right thing to do, all those years ago, but it did little to sooth Mimi. Though her grandfather had forgiven her shortly before Junior went off to Hogwarts, not even he could truly comfort Mimi when she was reminded of the betrayal she'd committed against him.

"Ah! Look there, children!" Arthur cried suddenly, pointing out his brother, his wife, and their children, Wilber and Anthony. Wilber was the only one of Ignatius' boys old enough for Hogwarts, but next fall Anthony, after Wilber graduated, would take over his brother's spot at Hogwarts and join Junior and Harry at Hogwarts. Relieved for the distraction, Molly hustled the children toward the family.

"Hello!" she said, reaching out for hugs first from her sister-in-law and then, her nephews.

Wearing a smile, Arthur's brother asked Harry, "Excited for your first ride on the Express?"

Harry gave a small nod. "Yes, I think so."

And for a few minutes, they all made pleasant chatter, swapping Hogwarts Express stories while assuring Harry that he was going to make an excellent Gryffindor, just like his cousins and Mimi before him. When Anthony began to whine about having to wait another year before he could go to Hogwarts, Mimi took a step back from the group and gave a little wave as she pointed herself away from them.

"As great as it's been to see you all, I have to be getting back to work. Goodbye!"

"See you later!"

"Goodbye!"

"Have a nice day, dear!"

They called after Mimi as she disappeared into the throngs. Once she was gone from sight, they returned to their conversation for a few more minutes. When the Express gave its warning whistle, Molly felt her heart skip a beat. Eyes snapping to Harry, she put on a wide smile when she saw he was staring back at her.

"Ready love?" she asked.

Harry just stared back at her, a faint glint of fear in his eyes. Sighing, Molly gently grabbed hold of Harry's face. Tracing his features with her thumbs, she said, "You'll do splendidly at Hogwarts, I'm sure."

"I love you, Ma," Harry whispered, one of his own hands coming to cover hers.

Molly leaned forward and kissed Harry's forehead. "I love you too, Harry."

"Come on, Harry, we should get going," Junior urged, Wilber waiting beside him, but looking toward the Express.

Letting go of her son, Molly said, "Write me, my darling boy."

"I will," Harry promised.

Turning her gaze on Junior then, Molly told him, "Keep an eye out for your brother."

Junior smiled. "I will. Bye, Ma. Love you."

Molly couldn't help herself. Launching forward, she grabbed both boys in a tight embrace and begged, "Please stay safe. Listen to your professors, think before you act, and don't do anything idiotic like wander into the Forbidden Forest looking for Werewolf cubs or dive into the lake to try and befriend the giant squid."

When she pulled back, she saw the boys were grinning at her. "Don't worry, Ma! Curiosity is Mimi's thing, not ours, right, Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, smiling up at his brother.

Molly wrung her hands. It was on the tip of her tongue to remind Junior they were just as prone to trouble as their sister. It was him who threw himself in a tussle with some older boys over their teasing of a classmate in his first week at Hogwarts, not Mimi. It was Harry who nearly got himself kidnapped when he was six and wandered out of the pub during supper with the extended Weasley family at the Three Broomsticks, again, not Mimi.

Those two instances were only the tip of the iceberg as well. If Molly truly wanted to, she could name a half dozen more if given a moment's pause for thought. Before she could voice this, however, Arthur laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Goodbye boys," he said.

"Bye Papa," they returned before grabbing their things and heading for the train. Molly watched, feeling some relief at how Wilber and Junior arranged themselves to keep Harry safely situated between them. Harry was going to fine, Molly told herself. The older boys were kind and responsible. They wouldn't leave Harry alone while on the Express if he didn't want to be.

A few minutes later, when the boys appeared in one of the Hogwarts Express's windows and began to wave goodbye as the train took off, Molly had to clutch Arthur's hand to keep herself hunching over to cry. This was the last time she was going to see either of her boys before Christmas. All her babies were finally grown up.

Kissing her cheek, Arthur murmured into her ear, "You did well, Molly, they're great boys."

Turning her head to meet her husband's eyes, Molly said, "We did well. I didn't raise them all on my own."

He smiled. "No, I suppose not."

Leaning in for a kiss, Molly sank into Arthur's loving arms. It'd been a long while since they were last able to kiss like this. Definitely not since Junior went to stay with his sister in August. They would have even further deepened their kiss if not for the gagging noises of Anthony and the whistling of his father.

Flushing, Molly yanked herself away from Arthur and snapped, "Honestly! You'd think you could control your boys, Viola."

Arthur's sister-in-law just gave an amused little smirk. "Dear me, are you embarrassed Molly?"

"Of course not," Arthur replied as he slipped an around around Molly's waist. "Your boys just ruined our first real kiss in nearly a month. It was a brilliant kiss too. Up until Ignatius and Anthony started making noises, anyway. Wouldn't you agree, Molly?"

Molly smiled. "It was brilliant. In fact, it reminded me of our first kiss. Remember how we were so pi–"

"Little pitcher!" Viola barked, grabbing her son and pressing his head into her shoulder.

It was Molly's turn to smirk. Viola was well aware of the rest of the story surrounding their first kiss, how it was elicited by a dare in a game of Truth or Dare. How that first kiss turned into outright snogging in front of friends and not-friends alike thanks to a few shots of firewhiskey beforehand.

Laughing, Arthur let his arm fall from Molly's waist to take her hand again. "I guess it's time we go get that ice cream we were talking about the other day?"

"Yeah!" Anthony shouted as he appeared beside Molly and took her free hand.

"C'mon, Aunt Molly," the little boy urged.

Fondly, Molly ruffled his hair. Her sons might be gone for the time being, but she would be fine. They were not lost, just traveling a path that led away from Molly for now. They would return and in the meantime she had Arthur, Mimi, and the rest of the Weasley family at her side to fill up the empty space and time created by her boys' departures.

Casting a glance toward where the Hogwarts Express once stood, Molly thought, 'Be safe, Harry, Junior. Make your father and I proud.'

THE END