Through A Looking Glass

Chapter 4 - Squabbles

Meanwhile, back in the burrow, Arthur Weasley was slumped in a chair with his hands covering his face. Molly was pacing back and forth, casting nervous glances at her husband. There was no movement for a while, as Arthur appeared to be doing some serious thinking. Then finally,

"Aagh!!!" cried Mr. Weasley, shuffling his fiery red hair in frustration.

There was a crash of breaking china as Molly, completely surprised with the outburst, dropped yet another dishware.

"O honey, what is it?" he said, finally spotting Molly and helping her with the broken plate.

"You tell me Arthur! You had been sitting in that chair for hours, mumbling and grunting

and shuffling your hair. I'm surprised you actually noticed I've broken anything!" answered Molly, shoving Arthur's hand away.

"Oh, I'm sorry honey. It's just that You-know-who still hasn't shown us any sign at all and...you just couldn't imagine how my position is greatly stressing me nowadays. Although people are quite satisfied with the Daily Prophet's reassurance that You-know-who is not spotted anywhere, more concerned wizards smell something very fishy. Take Albus for instance, he just...Oh, dear. Let's not talk about my work please," said Arthur in great rush to explain.

Molly's anger seemed to have drained away as she tried to smooth Arthur's forehead.

"Arthur, dear, tell me what's happening. What's fishy dear? I know you're stressed out but I have to understand why you're acting this way. Why isn't You-know-who's disappearance good news?"

Arthur looked at the determined expression at her face and sighed.

"You see Molly, none of the Death Eaters are doing anything queer after You-know-who's rise. Macnair's still at work in the ministry where we are closely watching him and Crabbe and Goyle are still acting their oafish selves. Although I tried to stress out that Lucius is mostly out of the crowd nowadays, no one would agree to search his manor saying that the person's absence alone does not merit us a search warrant. All we are assured is that he keeps regular contact with Narcissa which tells us he hasn't gone to hiding."

"But Arthur, how about the children?"

"Oh, them? I am trusting that Albus would keep a close watch at them. But not too close, I may say because the ministry has to--err...I mean, they got to have some--err...space and all..." Arthur quickly took back, but not quick enough.

Molly's eyes turned sharply at him. "Don't tell me they're setting Harry as bait!"

There was a sickening silence as Molly's face turned to a very white hue.

"Oh Arthur! How could you allow this? Harry, Hermione and our own son Ron will be in great danger!" she squeaked, looking ready to faint.

Arthur caught her in time and knitted his brows. "I'm sorry about that too, honey, but the League's getting desperate--too desperate I may say. I don't want all this too but my position just can't take any more chances of having You-know-who back in power. The soonest possible way of finding them is through Harry," explained Mr. Weasley, taking a huge gulp. "Molly, you do understand, don't you?" he said to the unconscious Mrs. Weasley.

"This will help, I hope," he whispered as he got hold of his wand. For a moment, he hesitated and stared at her but as if trying to swallow something very large, he raised it and pointed at her. "Obliviate!" he muttered as yellow sparks shot out of his wand and hit Mrs. Weasley sprawled on the kitchen floor.

Thud.

Hundred miles away, where the temperature was twice as cold, the same spell was cast at just about the same moment. But this time, Mrs. Weasley was not the one sprawled on the floor.

Lucius looked up, tearing his stare away from the limp body of Narcissa on the floor. "Tut, tut," he muttered. "Told you not to go exploring this part of the manor, love. How many times do I have to warn you..." came his cold voice. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Believe me, love. You wouldn't want to see what I hold here. Just useless junk really. So, back to the rose garden perhaps? Ah, yes. You dozed off once more and found your subconscious self here. Tsk, tsk. Sweet thing. You wouldn't want to disobey me had you been in your right self and not in that dreamy state of yours--tsk, tsk. Another call to the ministry, perhaps? Ah, yes of course. Most efficient, I daresay. Most efficient," Lucius smiled and with an effortless tug, he heaved her up to his shoulders and headed towards the upper manor.