‘What happened with Ginny?’ Arthur asked pleadingly.
‘Right, well I have taken her case on your behalf,’ Heap said. ‘But unfortunately, she has ignored by advice wants to fight on the grounds that she was in the right. If she does that she will lose.’
‘And get the kiss,’ Arthur said grimly.
Heap nodded, ‘yes.’
‘Does she have any hope?’ asked Arthur softly.
‘Her only chance would be a plea of insanity due to being indoctrinated all her life,’ Heap said. ‘Due to her young age and how long Molly and Dumbledore groomed her to be Lady Potter especially if we make her look younger and more vulnerable than she is the Wizengamot might take pity on her. It would mean turning on Dumbledore, and your wife who would then be considered fully responsible for the line theft.’
Arthur closed his eyes – so it would come down to a choice between his wife and daughter. He loved his wife despite everything it turned out she was involved in. But Arthur knew that there was no choice at all – he would always choose his children. And it was Molly who had dragged Ginny into that. The word grooming had unsettled him, but that was exactly what she had done wasn’t it and Arthur had been blind to it.
Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George had seen what kind of a person Molly was. Even before everything had come out Bill and Charlie had moved to opposite ends of the world to get away from her. And now Arthur wondered if Percy, Fred and George would have followed suit anyway.
‘And what would happen to Ginny?’ asked Arthur.
‘If she was categorised as insane, she would have her magic bound and be locked up in the secure ward of Saint Mungo’s for the rest of her life,’ Heap said grimly. ‘And not the permanent ward where those who cannot function on their own are kept for their safety, but the locked ward where those who are a danger to others are kept. It is not a pleasant place.’
‘Better than Azkaban or the Kiss,’ Arthur said. ‘I’m still her legal guardian – aren’t I? So, I can override her decision.’
‘You can, but your wife would complicate that,’ Heap warned.
‘Molly was disowned shortly after her brothers were killed,’ Arthur said.
There was a reason that the boys had been unable to use the Prewett name when they had disowned themselves. Arthur never knew the reason behind the disownment, Molly had just said that her mothers had never liked her. But now knowing everything that he did know about Molly Arthur now wondered if that was the complete truth.
‘I’m not entirely sure why,’ Arthur said. ‘So … so if we were divorced I as the parent from the more prominent family would be R-Ginny’s guardian so I could make all decisions regarding her court case.’
‘You would,’ agreed Heap. ‘Do you want to divorce your wife?’
Arthur closed his eyes, ‘no, but I want my daughter to be kissed less.’
‘I’ll bring the appropriate forms later,’ Heap said. ‘But let’s turn our attention to your own legal troubles. The DMLE have provided us with a list of questions that they will ask you – they will not be able to ask you follow up questions. If they do wish to, they will have to do it at a later date.’
Arthur read through the list of questions. They all seemed fairy standard. Did he know where Dumbledore was and what he was up to. Did he know that his daughter had committed first degree line theft? Had he received goods bought with fraudulent identities and stolen money. Did he benefit of embezzlement? What was his involvement Dumbledore’s Order, and Ginny’s line-theft? Had he committed any other crimes in association with Albus Dumbledore that the DMLE should be aware of?
‘Is there anything else I should be worried about?’ asked Heap.
‘I don’t think so,’ Arthur said. ‘Nothing that we haven’t already discussed.’
Heap nodded, ‘then I will say to the Aurors that we are ready to talk.’
Arthur nodded, ‘alright.’
In walked Gregor Perkins, Jamieson Tuckett and Rafael Coote who sat down opposite him with serious looks on their faces. Arthur was once again filled with a deep sense of wrongness. These were people he had known for a long time, who he had counted as friends, who he went for a drink on Friday afternoons with. And now they were on opposite sides of an interrogation room and not for anything minor like charming a muggle car, but for line-theft.
‘Formal interview of Arthur Septimus Weasley, associate of Albus Dumbledore and father of Ginevra Weasley. Conducted by Senior Aurors Gregor Emil Perkins, and Jamieson Theseus Tuckett. Interview started on seventh of August at 17: 02. Master of Magical Law Caesar Heap acting as Mr. Weasley’s legal defence. Healer Rafael Josiah Coote is present to administer veritaserum,’ Gregor said. ‘Healer Coote is to inspect Mr Weasley before Veritaserum is administered.’
Heap frowned, ‘that is not standard protocol.’
‘It is within our rights to inspect suspects if we believe they have ingested or smuggled in potions,’ Tuckett said.
‘That is usually for potions addicts and dealers,’ Heap argued.
‘True, but another associate of Albus Dumbledore had a fake tooth filled with poison and killed themselves rather than allow themselves to be questioned under Veritaserum,’ Gregor said. ‘Naturally, we would like to prevent that from happening again.’
Arthur felt hands close around his heart. Someone had poisoned themselves to escape from questioning. Who was it? Please, oh Merlin, please let it not be his Molly. Yet, with Molly’s fanatical loyalty it would not be surprising if it was her.
‘Who?’ demanded Arthur.
‘I don’t think that is any of your concern,’ Gregor said.
‘It is if it’s my wife!’ Arthur said harshly.
‘It is not Mrs Molly Weasley,’ Gregor said. ‘You would have been informed if that were the case.’
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Strange that you thought that your wife would be willing to poison herself to hide Dumbledore’s secrets,’ Gregor said raising his eyebrows.
‘Was that a question?’ asked Heap.
‘Just an observation that Mr Weasley is more than welcome to explain,’ Gregor said.
Arthur did not say anything.
‘Okay, then, Healer Coote if you would,’ Gregor said.
‘Open your mouth.’ Instructed Coote pulling out his wand and began tapping each of his teeth in turn. ‘He’s clear,’ Coote said placing a drop of veritaserum on his tongue. ‘Arthur Weasley administered with Veritaserum at 17:15.’
Arthur felt strange like the world was very far away from him. It wasn’t until the person spoke did, he come back to reality and that reality was the question. It was like the whole reality boiled down to the questions which he knew he had to answer truthfully.
‘What is your name?’ asked Coote.
‘Arthur Septimus Weasley,’ Arthur replied.
‘What is your date of birth?’ Coote asked.
‘Sixth of February 1950,’ Arthur replied.
‘VVQ passed,’ Coote said.
‘Do have any idea where Albus Dumbledore might be hiding?’ asked Gregor.
‘No,’ Arthur replied.
‘Do you know what Dumbledore is planning?’ asked Gregor.
‘To expose Lord Foma Slytherin as You Know Who and defeat the Slytherin family,’ Arthur said.
‘When did you find out about the plan to assassinate Hadrian Slytherin?’ asked Gregor.
‘When it was published in the Prophet,’ Arthur replied simply.
‘Did you know that your daughter had committed first-class line theft?’ asked Gregor.
‘No,’ Arthur replied.
‘What was your involvement in the line-theft that Miss Ginevra Weasley committed?’ asked Gregor.
‘My wife told me that Ginny had been in a sexual relationship with Harry and was now pregnant,’ Arthur began. ‘We were worried about what would happen if Ginny came forward after Harry had joined the Dark Lord, so we chose to hide it for her and the baby’s good. I was concerned that Dumbledore knew given what he had done to Harry, but I had to protect my daughter.
‘When the story came out that Harry was pregnant with Lucius Malfoy’s baby, I became concerned as the dates did not make sense as he and Malfoy were already lovers when Ginny became pregnant. I was worried that Ginny had been duped by someone using Polyjuice Potion. Molly convinced me it would be unwise to report it as if I was wrong then Ginny could be charged with second-class line theft and the baby would be taken from us.
‘Master Heap asked me if there was any chance that Dumbledore, Molly and Ginny committed first-class line theft. I didn’t want to believe they were capable of doing it. But I feared they might have done so,’ Arthur said. ‘I chose not to admit what I knew and suspected because it would condemn my wife and daughter.’
‘Did your son, Ronald Bilius Weasley, know anything about the line theft?’ asked Gregor.
‘I don’t know,’ Arthur said. ‘I never discussed it with him.’
‘Albus Dumbledore has been using embezzled money to purchase goods which were shipped to your home,’ Tuckett said. ‘Did you receive them?’
‘No,’ Arthur said.
‘Did you know they were being sent to your property?’ asked Gregor.
‘No,’ Arthur replied.
‘Were you aware that Dumbledore was embezzling from both Hogwarts and Heir Slytherin?’ asked Tuckett.
‘I am unaware that Dumbledore was embezzling from Hogwarts,’ Arthur said. ‘I found out when the article came out in June that Dumbledore alongside my wife and youngest children were embezzling from Harry. Dumbledore admitted he did it when Bill pushed him.’
‘Did you benefit off Dumbledore’s embezzlement?’ asked Gregor.
‘I don’t know,’ Arthur said. ‘My wife dealt with finances.’
Gregor snorted, ‘what was your involvement with Dumbledore’s Order of the Phoenix?’
‘We were part of the Order fourteen years ago during the war,’ Arthur replied. ‘And when it was started up in June Molly offered to host it at our home.’
‘Have you committed any other crimes in association with Albus Dumbledore?’ asked Gregor.
‘I heard several members of the Order wish to kill Harry and said nothing,’ Arthur said.
‘Which Arthur seems to be your ultimate crime – knowing and saying nothing,’ Gregor said sharply.
‘Interview terminated at 17:30,’ Tuckett declared.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Amelia made her way back into the interrogation room where Molly Weasley was sat glaring at her like a child who just been told bedtime existed. If there was anyone who would kill themselves to keep Dumbledore’s secrets it was Molly Weasley. Amelia wondered if anyone had told her that her daughter had been arrested for first-class line theft and her son had been removed from her care.
‘I am not going to answer any of your questions so you might as well go,’ Weasley said.
‘Formal interview of Molly Isolde Weasley suspected on charges of knowingly profiting from embezzlement, a known associate of Albus Dumbledore and mother to Ginevra Weasley. Conducted by Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Head Auror Rufus Adam Scrimgeour. Interview started on seventh of August at 16:50. Healer Eileen Fiona Finnigan is present to administer the Veritaserum. Mrs Weasley has turned down the offer of legal counsel,’ Scrimgeour said. ‘Healer Finnigan, if you would inspect her.’
‘Hey,’ Weasley said as she was manhandled.
‘She’s clear,’ Finnigan said after she had carefully checked all her teeth.
‘I am sorry about that, Mrs Weasley,’ Bones said. ‘An associate of yours managed to hide poison in their teeth. We didn’t want a repeat. Now Healer Finnigan if you would administer the Veritaserum.’
‘I haven’t given permission,’ argued Weasley.
‘The Wizengamot has,’ Scrimgeour said coolly.
‘You can’t do this!’ Weasley screeched.
‘I can assure you we can,’ Scrimgeour said. ‘We will restrain you if necessary. Healer Finnigan.’
Finnigan pulled out the vial of Veritaserum and dropped a drop into Mrs Weasley’s mouth. Amelia watched as Mrs Weasley’s resistance stilled and her eyes went blank and emotionless. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief when there were no negative reactions.
‘Veritaserum administer at 16:58. What is your full name?’ asked Finnigan.
‘Molly Isolde Weasley,’ Molly said.
‘When were you born?’ asked Finnigan.
‘30th October 1949,’ Molly replied.
‘VVQ passed,’ Finnigan said.
‘Do you have any idea where Albus Dumbledore might be hiding?’ asked Scrimgeour.
They had to phrase it like that, because unless the person on Veritaserum was a hundred percent sure they would be able to answer in the negative. Amelia didn’t really expect anything from this. Dumbledore was far too careful to tell someone who might be dosed with Veritaserum where he was hiding.
‘No,’ Molly said.
‘Do you have any idea what Dumbledore is planning?’ asked Scrimgeour.
‘To reveal that Lord Slytherin is He Who Must Not Be Named, kill him and his heir, defeat the Dark side and make sure none of his allies see the outside of a prison,’ Weasley said. ‘We will have to wait to kill Heir Slytherin until we can take the baby out of him.
‘He also wants to pass more laws restricting Dark witches and wizards. Like the Magical Affinity Law allowing Dumbledore to tell who is Dark and who is and not. Eventually we will have all those Dark siders arrested so that they can never again be allowed to take over like Grindelwald and You Know Who tried.’
‘Let us be clear you were planning on killing Heir Hadrian Slytherin and kidnapping his Heir in order to steal his wealth and power?’ asked Amelia disgusted.
‘Y-Yur-Yes,’ Weasley unwillingly said.
‘What was your involvement in the attempted assassination of Hadrian Slytherin?’ asked Amelia.
‘Professor Dumbledore told me what had happened after Dedalus and Sturgis were arrested,’ Weasley replied.
‘Did you know that your daughter had committed line theft?’ asked Scrimgeour.
‘No,’ Molly said.
‘What was your involvement in the line-theft that your daughter committed?’ asked Scrimgeour.
‘I didn’t have one,’ Weasley replied.
‘So, there were no plans to use commit line theft against Heir Hadrian Slytherin?’ demanded Amelia.
‘No, we planned to commit line-theft, but Professor Snape was never able to get us a semen sample,’ Weasley replied. ‘Then we found out that Slytherin was pregnant, so it became redundant.’
‘What about your daughter’s pregnancy?’ asked Amelia.
‘It was an accident,’ Weasley replied.
‘And who did you think the father was?’ asked Amelia sceptically.
‘Ginny didn’t know – she had a few lovers,’ Weasley replied.
‘At thirteen!?’ demanded Amelia.
‘Yes,’ Weasley said.
Amelia felt like tearing her hair out. Molly Weasley should have been unable to lie under Veritaserum. Snape had told them that she was involved, before he had died that was. Unless Ginevra Weasley was telling the truth and she and Snape had planned it alone.
‘Did Ronald Weasley know anything about the line-theft?’ asked Scrimgeour.
‘I don’t know, I don’t know anything about it,’ Weasley replied.
‘Albus Dumbledore has been using embezzled money to purchase goods which were shipped to your home,’ Scrimgeour said. ‘Did you receive them?’
‘Yes,’ Weasley said.
‘You knew you were receiving goods bought with money embezzled from Hogwarts?’ confirmed Scrimgeour.
‘Yes,’ Weasley said.
‘Why?’ asked Scrimgeour.
‘Dumbledore needed the money to keep funding the Order of the Phoenix, I needed the money to be able buy things for the children and the house,’ Weasley said. ‘Arthur does not earn much.’
‘Are there any other crimes that you have committed that we have not previously questioned you on?’ asked Amelia.
‘I-I-no-I killed my brothers, Fabian and Gideon,’ Weasley said.
‘Wha-why?’ Amelia said shocked.
Amelia had been a Senior Auror at the time, but she wasn’t on that case and couldn’t really remember much about it. The seventies had been absolute hell. Murders, battles and outright slaughters that the Auror Office just couldn’t keep on top of. There was a reason that they had allowed a vigilante organisation to help … because they had no other choice. And by the time Amelia had become the Head of the DMLE the war was a nought but distant nightmare. It was no wonder that she couldn’t remember exact dates of one double murder.
‘To prevent the prophecy from coming true,’ Weasley explained. ‘In 1838 Griselda Prewett met with a Seer when she was pregnant with twins who foretold that the Prewett line should have a set of twins every generation, until a set of twins from the Prewett line reach the age of twenty-one with their twin-bond undamaged they would see the victory of the Dark.
‘Naturally, throughout the years she and my ancestors made sure that the twins were separated, and the twin-bond was broken. However, my parents didn’t believe in prophecies so were content to allow the twin-bond to grow undisrupted, as it did the Dark side grew too. Aunt Muriel told me about the prophecy, so I tried to break their bond but no such luck as they grew so did their ability to think as one.
‘I spoke to Professor Dumbledore about it when nobody else would listen to my worries. He told me that if I was unable to get them to break their bond, I should make sure they never got to the age of twenty-one. So, the day before the turned twenty-one I killed them with the Avada Kedavra curse and shot the Dark Mark above their bodies, so that everyone believed Death Eaters were responsible.’
‘You killed your younger brothers because of a family legend?’ asked Amelia horrified.
Amelia had lost her brother and sister-in-law in the 1981 and it had broken her heart and to this day she couldn’t answer Susan’s questions on “why”. To this day Amelia could not believe that anyone would murder their own siblings. Yet, here was Molly Weasley confessing to having murdered her own family because of something as inaccurate as a legend of an ancient prophecy. It was sickening.
‘Yes,’ Weasley said.
‘You have twin sons, do you not,’ frowned Scrimgeour. ‘What were you going to do with them?’
‘I have been trying to make them break their twin-bond,’ Weasley admitted. ‘But they have been very stubborn about it. If they do not break it in the next four years, I will have to kill them both to be safe.’
‘You would be willing to murder your own children?’ asked Amelia shocked.
Looking at Scrimgeour who was as horrified as she was. Amelia had raised Susan since she was six months old – the thought of harming her was completely alien to Amelia, never mind killing her! Rufus had two preteen girls and must be thinking the same.
‘Yes,’ Weasley said. ‘To save the rest of them.’
‘Interview terminated at 17:19,’ Amelia said.
They left the interrogation room both feeling disgusted and shocked. It seemed in this case that whenever Amelia had an idea of what was going on, she found herself completely blindsided. She was going to have to re-open the Prewett case.
‘Weasley is quite a piece of work,’ snorted Scrimgeour. ‘I’ve met Death Eaters who I’d trust more.’
Amelia nodded, ‘she will be charged with double murder and accessory to an embezzlement.’
‘I was expecting her to know about Miss Weasley’s line-theft,’ Scrimgeour said.
‘As was I,’ admitted Amelia.
Amelia entered the main room for the team of then working on the Three Chasers Murder case. Half of them were back at home for the night. But the other half of them would be working through the night. Perkins and Tuckett must be still interviewing Arthur as they were not present.
‘Any luck on tracing the gemstones?’ asked Amelia sharply.
‘No, ma’am,’ Senior Auror Swordbane said. ‘We are still going over the payment records for the Muggle shops that the day shift got. We haven’t found anything strange so far.’
Amelia nodded, ‘Evanson, I want you to find the records on the Prewett Murder case, in the late seventies or early eighties.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Evanson said.
Perkins and Tuckett arrived soon afterwards.
‘What did he say?’ asked Amelia.
‘We can easily charge him for second-class line theft,’ Perkins said. ‘There might be an argument for first-class as he definitely suspected the truth … but I don’t think Arthur deserve that. From everything he has said he was kept in the dark and he was left to figure things for himself and when he did it was either turn his family in.’
‘That is for the defence to argue,’ said Scrimgeour said sharply. ‘If you are going to let your friendship with Arthur Weasley get in the way you will be off the team.’
‘I know,’ Perkins said. ‘But either way, proving it to be first-class line theft will be difficult as he did not know, nor was told anything.’
‘And did he know anything about the embezzlement?’ asked Amelia.
‘Nothing,’ Tuckett said.
‘And did Ronald Weasley know anything?’ asked Amelia.
‘Arthur wasn’t sure, it was Mrs Weasley who told him about the pregnancy apparently being Hadrian Slytherin’s,’ Tuckett said.
‘Mrs Weasley stated under Veritaserum that she had no idea who the father was,’ frowned Amelia then she groaned. ‘I don’t think Ronald was the only one who was obliviated. Healer Finnigan if you could confirm that Molly Weasley was obliviated before being apprehended.
Finnigan nodded and left. She was back within five minutes, ‘she was.’
‘We can charge her with second-degree line-theft as well then,’ Amelia declared.
…………………………………………………………………..
Ginny Weasley was pacing the room once more worried about the twins she now carried. Not worried for them, of course – they had brought her nothing but trouble and pain. No worry about what they could be. Ginny was not a Prewett but she was of the Prewett bloodline even if her mother had been disowned due to her parents’ unproven suspicions.
But did that mean that her twins would be the ones from prophecies? The ones who would damn the world to Darkness. Ginny knew they would not be separated and with Flint raising them they would be encouraged to break their twin-bond and there would be no one to deal with them before they turned twenty-one.
The only choice would be to get rid of the cursed Flint twins before it was too late. She didn’t have any access to potions or her wand so she would have to do it physically. Ginny took a look at the reading lamp on the desk and came up with an idea.
Ginny grabbed the lamp and raised it, tensing in expectation of pain, and attempted to bring it down on her stomach. But before she could do so she found the lamp being ripped from her hand and she suddenly being pinned to the bed. A furious looking house-elf was standing glaring at her through watery eyes.
‘BAD WITCH, MUST NOT HARM LITTLE MASTERS!’ squeaked the thing glaring at her.
Then it disappeared and five minutes later Lord Flint was in the room looking thunderously at her. Ginny glared at the wizard and began spitting curses at him. He waved a wand which robbed her of her voice.
‘Do you really think that if you miscarried the twins your crimes would go away?’ Flint asked coolly. ‘Or that I would not take precautions against you? Now if I remove the spell will you be civil?’
Ginny spat at the Flint Lord. Naturally it didn’t come anywhere near the man. Still, he looked at her in complete disgust.
‘Well then just listen,’ Flint said as though Ginny had a choice in that matter. ‘Roopy is going to be watching you constantly – whether you can see her or not. She will be there to make sure you, and therefore my children are healthy – that is making sure you cannot do any yourself any harm, making sure you eat, bathe, go for a walk once a day and are genuinely healthy.
‘Now I doubt there is not a way I can make life your life more miserable, so I am not going to threaten you. I am just going to remind you of the futility of your actions!’
And with that Flint left the room without looking back at her. As soon as he left the spells were dropped meaning Ginny could now move and talk again. Ginny screamed and sobbed out her rage, anger, grief and despair at the world. Until finally she curled into a ball and fell into an uneasy sleep.