RP: Happy Birthday, Love
Date: February 6th, 2006
Character(s): Molly Weasley
Location: Graveyard
Status: Private (unless other Weasleys want to visit)
Summary: Molly visits Arthur on his birthday.
Completion: Complete
It wasn't often that Molly ventured out this way. It didn't get any easier, either.
The walk felt as though it took too long, an impending gloom settling further with each stride and Apparation seemed far too impersonal. Molly chose to walk from the Burrow, setting the wards on the house with a practiced familiarity after she finished her morning chores and fed the chickens. She wore a stout cloak and bore a small bouquet of snowdrops which had flowered quite early; Molly thought he'd like them.
It wasn't the easiest walk, even without the intended destination and the emotional weight that it carrier. Molly's boots sank into soft ground as she made her way across the meadow and would most likely be covered in mud by the time she'd finished today. Her thoughts floated nebulously around her as she walked. She really needed to clean the bathroom. Lunch with Morag would be nice at some point, too, and Ginny, too. Her work shoes needed to be re-heeled and perhaps she needed to make some adjustments to the family clock.
Gradually, though, her thoughts turned to Arthur, gathered up in a ball in her throat that made her eyes sting. She remembered birthdays and Christmases and seeing the children off to school for the first time. More than that, she remembered normal days and scolding him for encouraging the twins in their experiments and tinkering with Muggle gadgets. Sometimes it seemed as though he purposely waited until she had cleaned the kitchen floor before tracking mud across it.
Molly inhaled sharply, nearly losing her self-control as she remembered how he'd whispered 'Mollywobbles' in her ear and held her in his arms the first night that they'd brought Bill home from the hospital.
She traced a familiar path as she reached the small graveyard, finding the simply stone that marked where her husband lay.
Arthur Weasley
1950 - 2003
Arthur would never have wanted anything ostentatious. Molly found flowers there already, laying her own beside them. "Happy birthday, love," she said softly, stroking the headstone with a gentle touch. "You're getting old, Arthur," she joked with a sad smile, swallowing the knot in her throat. "So am I. A few more grey hairs than this time last year."
She sighed, pulling her cloak tighter around her. "I wish you could have been here this past twelve months. You'd be so proud of our boys and Ginny. You know they've all come so far. Careers and relationships... and don't be surprised if I'm telling you about grandchildren in the next few years."
Eyes watering, Molly brushed tears away with an impatient hand. She'd never liked to cry in front of Arthur and wasn't going to start today. "It's been a good year. Would have been better if you were here. I've got the Burrow back, too. It's a bit quiet, though. Maybe I should get a dog." Molly gave a small smile. "It would make less mess than you."
Molly paused. "I've made you a birthday cake and I'm going to send a piece to all the children." She touched the headstone again, cool and smooth beneath her fingers. "Merlin, I miss you, Arthur. My love. My only love."
She shivered and bowed her head. This never got any easier.
Character(s): Molly Weasley
Location: Graveyard
Status: Private (unless other Weasleys want to visit)
Summary: Molly visits Arthur on his birthday.
Completion: Complete
It wasn't often that Molly ventured out this way. It didn't get any easier, either.
The walk felt as though it took too long, an impending gloom settling further with each stride and Apparation seemed far too impersonal. Molly chose to walk from the Burrow, setting the wards on the house with a practiced familiarity after she finished her morning chores and fed the chickens. She wore a stout cloak and bore a small bouquet of snowdrops which had flowered quite early; Molly thought he'd like them.
It wasn't the easiest walk, even without the intended destination and the emotional weight that it carrier. Molly's boots sank into soft ground as she made her way across the meadow and would most likely be covered in mud by the time she'd finished today. Her thoughts floated nebulously around her as she walked. She really needed to clean the bathroom. Lunch with Morag would be nice at some point, too, and Ginny, too. Her work shoes needed to be re-heeled and perhaps she needed to make some adjustments to the family clock.
Gradually, though, her thoughts turned to Arthur, gathered up in a ball in her throat that made her eyes sting. She remembered birthdays and Christmases and seeing the children off to school for the first time. More than that, she remembered normal days and scolding him for encouraging the twins in their experiments and tinkering with Muggle gadgets. Sometimes it seemed as though he purposely waited until she had cleaned the kitchen floor before tracking mud across it.
Molly inhaled sharply, nearly losing her self-control as she remembered how he'd whispered 'Mollywobbles' in her ear and held her in his arms the first night that they'd brought Bill home from the hospital.
She traced a familiar path as she reached the small graveyard, finding the simply stone that marked where her husband lay.
Arthur Weasley
1950 - 2003
Arthur would never have wanted anything ostentatious. Molly found flowers there already, laying her own beside them. "Happy birthday, love," she said softly, stroking the headstone with a gentle touch. "You're getting old, Arthur," she joked with a sad smile, swallowing the knot in her throat. "So am I. A few more grey hairs than this time last year."
She sighed, pulling her cloak tighter around her. "I wish you could have been here this past twelve months. You'd be so proud of our boys and Ginny. You know they've all come so far. Careers and relationships... and don't be surprised if I'm telling you about grandchildren in the next few years."
Eyes watering, Molly brushed tears away with an impatient hand. She'd never liked to cry in front of Arthur and wasn't going to start today. "It's been a good year. Would have been better if you were here. I've got the Burrow back, too. It's a bit quiet, though. Maybe I should get a dog." Molly gave a small smile. "It would make less mess than you."
Molly paused. "I've made you a birthday cake and I'm going to send a piece to all the children." She touched the headstone again, cool and smooth beneath her fingers. "Merlin, I miss you, Arthur. My love. My only love."
She shivered and bowed her head. This never got any easier.