Chapter 211: Breakfast (1/2)

At ten past five in the morning by Ron's watch, the door swung open and Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen. She was extremely pale, but when they all turned to look at her, Fred, Ron, and Harry half-rising from their chairs, she gave a wan smile.

”He's going to be all right,” she said, her voice weak with tiredness. ”He's sleeping. We can all go and see him later. Bill's sitting with him now, he's going to take the morning off work.”

Fred fell back into his chair with his hands over his face. George and Ginny got up, walked swiftly over to their mother, and hugged her. Ron gave a very shaky laugh and downed the rest of his butterbeer in one.

”That's good, Molly,” Aurelia said without any kind of expression but her voice was soft.

”Thank you for taking care of my children, Aurelia. . .” Mrs Weasley grasped Aurelia's both hands.

”It's alright Molly,” Aurelia replied. ”Now, have some breakfast then take some rest.”

”Kreacher can do breakfast. Krea —” said Sirius.

”Oh Sirius, don't,” Aurelia sighed. ”He will come, swear and throw insults — it's really tiresome to watch. Let him be.”

”It's alright, I will —” Mrs Weasley began.

”Spend time with your kids, Molly,” said Aurelia. ”They need you, I will manage.”

”I will help you,” Chris said getting up. ”How does tea, toast, bacon and eggs sound?”

”Wonderful!” Sirius said loudly, and joyfully, then he hurried over to the stove.

Aurelia and Chris followed. Harry tried to follow them too but Mrs. Weasley stopped him.

”I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for you, Harry,” she said in a muffled voice, hugging him tightly. ”They might not have found Arthur for hours, and then it would have been too late, but thanks to you he's alive and Dumbledore's been able to think up a good cover story for Arthur being where he was, you've no idea what trouble he would have been in otherwise. . .”

Harry nodded and hurried after Chris to take out the plates from the dresser, while Mrs. Weasley joined Sirius and Aurelia.

”You okay?” Chris asked as she handed him the plates.

”Huh?” Harry didn't look up. ”Yeah, sure.”

”Harry, is there something you haven't told them?” Chris whispered.

”What? How did you —” Harry almost dropped the plates but Chris caught them.

”Harry?” Chris looked at him, clearly surprised. ”What's wrong?”

”I need to talk to Sirius,” Harry said abruptly and walked towards Sirius, who was asking Mrs Weasley to stay at Grimmauld Place as long as Mr. Weasley was in the hospital.

”Everything alright?” Aurelia appeared in front of Chris, who was staring at Harry and Sirius's retreating figures.

”Umm. . . Yeah,” Chris replied looking back at Aurelia.