"That being said, I swore to your mother and father that I would love and protect you, because we were family, and I promise you the same thing. I feel so ashamed that I went after Pettigrew instead of staying behind to make sure you were safe. I'd like to be here for you now, if you wanted."
Harry looked a bit overwhelmed at the sudden intensity of their conversation, and his grin turned bashful.
"I'm glad to have met you. I've talked to mum and dad a bit, but since they're dead it's really not the same. They said you were supposed to raise me and I guess - I dunno, it would be nice to get to know you."
For his sanity, he shoved that bit about James and Lily into the back of his mind. They were dead and Harry was right here.
"I'd like to get to know you too," he said.
The Adults Are Trying Their Best
It was completely silent but for the faint echoing of dripping water. All Arthur Weasley could hear was the rapid thumping of his own heartbeat. He felt ill. The slain corpse of the basilisk lay in front of the thirty or so adults gathered in the Chamber. It was a mistake to agree to this, he thought, as the footsteps of the others crashed in his eardrums. He could not move. All he could think about was his two youngest children. He shouldn't have interrupted his holiday for this. He needed to see them again, to hug them and to make sure they were safe.
"Arthur?" Dumbledore quietly called to him. "Are you ill, do you need to go back?"
"No, no," he assured, looking away from the beast. "I just need a moment."
"Very well, I am going to head further in with the Ministry officials, why don't you stay here with Minerva."
Most of the group carried on deeper into the Chamber. He heard the loud accent of the American parselmouth they'd brought in conversing with Amos Diggory and some other members of the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He'd been introduced to them all, but Arthur couldn't remember any of their names. He was looking at the corpse of the basilisk again, trying to imagine Ron blinding the thing. It was so large, as thick as a train. How had two children and a phoenix defeated it?
"Arthur?" He was guided away from the corpse and led over the rest of the group stationed by the exit. Professors, some miscellaneous Ministry workers and a few members of the Board of Governors were all standing around, too nervous to venture deeper. Minerva led him towards the other Heads of House and Ms. Adams, who was as horrified at the sight as he was, though her face was drawn into a tight grimace that showed very little. She nodded at him.
"Our children were down here!" He muttered without any greeting. "They could have died."
"They should have died," she said darkly. "I'd naively assumed the basilisk must have been young, but the size of that thing! And Harry stabbed it with a bloody sword."
Professor Sprout squeaked in terror.
"Oh those poor dears," she said. "Are they handling things alright?"
Adams nodded but Arthur shook his head.
"Going on a trip was helpful, the sun and some time with their family has been good, I think. For all of us. Ron has been doing alright, all things considered, but Ginny, she's been struggling. She doesn't remember much of last year, and what she does remember was not good. She's been having trouble sleeping."
"Do remind her there is no need to rush on catching up on her school work," McGonagall assured him. "We'll make sure she doesn't fall behind, but she should use the summer to heal."
"Possessions can be major sources of trauma," Alabasandria said quietly. "And besides that, she was essentially being groomed by Tom Riddle. From what Harry told me of the situation, it certainly sounded like that kind of scenario."
"Oh." Another piece of Arthur's heart broke at that thought. Minerva and Sprout both offered a hand on his shoulders. A kind gesture, but all Arthur wanted at the moment was to return to his wife and kids. "I - yes, I suppose it did resemble that. Me and Molly were discussing her seeing a mindhealer - well, I will make sure we look into it post haste."
"That was perhaps an insensitive choice of wording," Alabasandria apologized.
"No, it's alright. I just don't think it's set in for me or Molly what happened, that our daughter -" Arthur's voice shook, and he stopped talking to wipe away a few tears. As much as it hurt to think about, he appreciated her candor. He couldn't help Ginny if he didn't understand what had happened to her.
Minerva pulled him into a hug. "It's over now, Arthur. Your children are safe. And don't forget why we're here. We will make sure this never happens to another child." Arthur nodded and tried his best to pull himself together before someone like Lucius Malfoy looked over and saw him crying. Not that he didn't deserve to. His poor children. Oh, how he'd failed Ginny.
Echoing footsteps marked the return of the rest of their group.
"Excellent news, all! No sign of any eggs, another basilisk, or a different exit. The school is safe!" Diggory said in a happy tone. Arthur couldn't help but feel a tinge of anger against the man. Let's see how happy he was when it was his child who was hurt. As the party cheered and clapped, he forced those feelings down. That wasn't fair to Amos, he was a nice man. Arthur clapped along halfheartedly.
Their group, the newly formed Hogwarts Health and Safety Committee quickly left the dreadful Chamber, none eager to remain. They reconvened in the Great Hall, where a singular table and a light buffet were waiting. The mood of the group lifted considerably, but Arthur was in no mood for further small talk, so he sat down and resolutely made no eye contact.
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