[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

[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?"