[debut] out of the frying pan (for Aggie)

[teaandsympathy]

No mother should outlive her children, yet Fred lay in the Great Hall with the rest of the dead, and Molly’s heart continued to bleed even after crying ‘til no more tears could come. And Harry, too, dead at Voldemort’s hand, and Molly felt his loss like a mother to a son as well. But there was no more time for tears or grief until the battle was won, and Molly would not allow her family to lose any more than they already had.

Bellatrix Lestrange fired a Killing Curse at Ginny, only just missing her, and whatever comes after red, that’s what Molly saw. She raced forward, crying, “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!” In spite of Bellatrix’s laughter, Molly entered the duel fiercely, all riled mama bear not clucking mother hen. There was no elegance in the way her curses flew or how she fended off Bellatrix’s, just raw, straightforward magic, but the skill was undeniable, no matter how out of practice Molly was, and her need was greater.

Bellatrix continued taunting her, wondering what would happen to the children once she killed Molly, but that merely made Molly angrier and more determined to win. When her shout showed Bellatrix’s words had hit their mark, even if her curses did not, Molly got her moment. Bellatrix laughed, her arms thrown wide, and Molly’s curse shot right past her guard to hit just over her black and shrivelled heart. Bellatrix toppled, and the world spun around Molly, almost and yet entirely unlike Apparating.

When her head settled again, Molly did not stand in the Great Hall, nor anywhere near Hogwarts from what she could see. It was a city, filled with Muggles by the looks of things, and Molly had no idea where she was or what kind of curse Bellatrix had hit her with as she died.

Molly was already starting to draw looks from the Muggles, though, so she tucked her wand into her robes, attempted only somewhat successfully to brush the dust from them, and set off in search of something that made sense.

Comments

[ghost_holder]

There's very little Aggie's afraid of anymore. Not after she's destroyed a town and been the monster herself. Aggie knows her power and it means she has little fear of approaching strangers, even if they're dusted with rubble and wearing peculiar clothing.

"Are you all right?" she asks, putting aside the book she'd been reading for school.

[teaandsympathy]

No, Molly was most assuredly not all right. Still she dredged up as reassuring a look as she could manage for the girl who was years younger than Ginny still, if Molly judged right.

"Oh... yes. Yes. Just a bit turned around, dear," she answered before sweeping her gaze one way then the other, trying and failing to see anything that looked even vaguely familiar.

[ghost_holder]

Aggie nods pressing her knuckles to her mouth thoughtfully. "Did you just come from somewhere else?" It's hard not to read the confusion on her face. She looks ruffled, as if she was in the middle of something else entirely.

Checking her watch, she thinks she has a little time before Hermione and Ron's wedding, and holds out her hand. "My name is Agatha."

[teaandsympathy]

"Yes, I did." It wasn't quite a question, but Molly was definitely curious, and there was some relief too, that the girl didn't appear concerned about the possibility of someone being where they were.

"It is nice to meet you, though, Agatha," she said, wiping her hand off on her robe before shaking with her. "I am Mrs Weasley."

[ghost_holder]

"So you've just come to this city." This time, it's definitely not a question, but then she gives her name and Aggie startles, eyes going quite big.

"Do you know a Ron Weasley?"

[teaandsympathy]

"Just moments ago, and it's no city I've ever been to before, that I can tell."

"Do I know Ron? I should hope so," Molly answered, eyes that have seen too many tears today now warming, "I'm his mother." It was known Ron was with Harry, and that the Ministry was looking for him, so maybe it wasn't so strange the girl asking about him in particular, of Molly's children. But with the sudden changes, Molly wasn't sure what should be strange any more. Regardless, one thing she'd never do, was deny her children.

[ghost_holder]

"Oh no, you've really got to come with me! I'll explain on the way," Aggie says. In a hurry, she withdraws the invitation from the little purse she has, highlighting Ron and Hermione's names in elegant gold script. "I'm going to his wedding!"

She doesn't realize how young she looks, but Aggie holds out her hand. "This city it's...People call it a pocket world. Or other names, but they're usually really rude and people frown when I repeat them because they think thirteen-year-olds don't have ear."

[teaandsympathy]

That wasn't possible, Molly thought, as she read the invitation. Ron and Hermione were far too young to be getting married. That thought was automatic, but it was just as quickly followed by the realization they couldn't possibly be getting married. She'd seen them both moments ago in the Great Hall.

"They're here?" she asked, skipping right past the 'pocket world' nonsense for the moment. "Ron and Hermione? But... how?"

[ghost_holder]

"They same way lots of us get here," Aggie says. "We were in one place and then we turned around or closed our eyes and suddenly we were in a whole other world. I met Hermione months ago, but I haven't met Ron yet."

Walking briskly, she hurries them to the venue. "You came just in time!"

[teaandsympathy]

"Months ago? But I just saw them." It had to be some kind of trick. Only Molly couldn't see what, as she followed along with the girl. It was all too much to take in at once, after the day she'd had.

[ghost_holder]

"Time is very strange here, I think," Aggie says. "People can come from the same moment, but arrive months apart. Or else come from years in the past or future. I know it sounds strange but...trust me. I've known Hermione Granger for ages. She's one of my magic teachers."

[teaandsympathy]

It was all a dream; it had to be. And if it was a dream, then no harm done in going along with Agatha. Or she was dead, but Molly didn't want to think about that.

Had Bellatrix gotten in one last curse, though? Molly didn't think so.

"You talk about it all like it's normal here," she said, shaking her head. Almost like talking with Muggles, except entirely not. No, this had to be a dream.

[ghost_holder]

"In this place? It is. That's why people call it a lot of very unpleasant things besides a pocket dimension." Aggie shakes her head, walking briskly as they're almost there.

"But trust me. Ron and Hermione have been here some months. And they're getting married today."

[teaandsympathy]

Molly nodded vaguely, but hurried along with Agatha. If Ron and Hermione were here, there was nowhere else Molly needed to be. And getting married too. Even if they'd been here months they were far too young, but she couldn't help but be excited for them. It had been obvious for years they were headed that way eventually. They reminded Molly more than once of her and Arthur, when they were at Hogwarts.

"Then I have been unbelievably lucky to run into you today. I don't know how I'll repay you."

[ghost_holder]

"You don't have to," Aggie says quickly. She's hardly doing anything important and she's certainly not a part of the wedding party. She's just glad to help someone get where they need.

[teaandsympathy]

Molly patted the girl on the shoulder. Agatha was taking her to Ron and Hermione, and on their wedding day. There was little Molly could think of more important just then, if she really was stuck in some strange pocket world.

"Well, thank you, then. And if there's anything I can do, you just let me know, all right?"

[ghost_holder]

Aggie smiles, looking closer to thirteen now for the first time in the conversation, rather than older and more somber. "She's my friend, and my teacher. I think this will make a good present."

[teaandsympathy]

Molly hoped it the mother of the groom unexpectedly showing up just in time for the wedding would be the best present the newlyweds could receive, but even if she didn't speak for Ron and Hermione, it was certainly the best gift she could have hoped for - not that she would have had any reason to hope for it - today of all days especially.

"I know it is for me," Molly told her, then more cheekily she added, "And if my son doesn't agree, you just let me know, and I'll remind him of his manners."

[ghost_holder]

Aggie smiles, sparking up a little with power before letting it fade back into her skin. "If he makes a fuss, I know ways to make people be quiet."

[teaandsympathy]

The magic was unlike any Molly knew, but it was magic all the same, and another day Molly might have asked about it. But today it was just one more in a long series of unexpected things, and a minor one at that.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, dear. I have seven children," she did her best to ignore the stab of loss and grief for Fred, "I know how to discourage a fuss. Believe me."

[ghost_holder]

"It sounds like you're pretty well set to me," Aggie says. Even better, they're almost at the wedding.

"If we turn the corner, we'll be there. Do you need a second?"