Order Only: Private message to Tonks

[alt_charlie]

Ugh. Can't sleep. Or rather, can't stay asleep. It's like the whole house is wrapped in this oppresive cloud of misery. And I think part of it, the misery I mean, is that everyone knew this was coming. He made his decisions a long time ago, and just because we can't trace back to exactly where we lost him doesn't mean we didn't lose him long before yesterday.

But Mum's just absolutely destroyed. Even knowing what was coming didn't make it any easier to bear, I suppose. And -- I guess I can't really blame her? Or, I don't know the best way to say it, except I've been thinking, what if Baby someday decides that becoming a Death Eater is his or her life's ambition, what would I do then? I guess I'm not so much upset at Percy dying as I am upset that Mum's upset.

Percy's ghost appeared to Mum and Ginny, did you hear that? At least he thought it was safe to come home, at the end. I guess that's something.

(I keep thinking, would it help her to feel better if we told her about Baby? Or would it just make things worse?)

Mum's had a brainwave, at least. The big fancy house in New London's between tenants right now, so once they release the body, that's where we'll be holding the vigil and the funeral. Because none of us really want to deal with the prospect of dicking around all the wards to let all the Death Eaters in.

You probably won't want to come by, there's no good way we can explain it, but -- can I come by, sometime this afternoon? Or tonight? I could use an hour or two out of the house.

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

Of course you should come by. Whenever you're able to. We understand about not coming there. You'll be having all the neighbours and everyone who fancies a connection to your mum. And who knows about the Council. Do they pay visits when mothers are mourning? Ugh.

Come to Grimmauld. It's Sunday, so we'll be here instead of the garden.

We can talk about telling her... Only, not right now when the sadness is fresh. I understand what you're thinking, but really you shouldn't try to stop her grieving him. Not yet. She needs to work through it properly, you know.

[alt_charlie]

Yeah, no, you're right. I mean, the reasons for not telling her until after Baby's born are still there, even. I just ... I guess I'm understanding her a bit more, now. More than I did, at least. You're right that not now, though.

If you're up, maybe I'll come by in a bit, if that's all right. I can make breakfast for your lot -- nobody's up here yet, and once they are I have the feeling Mum's going to want the kitchen today to distract herself.

I don't know if any of the Council will stop by the funeral, but I have a feeling it will be some awful gambit in their perpetual game of chess.

[alt_nymphadora]

I'm up. You know me--I never sleep. Anywiz, I can't change my schedule for the weekend.

We've got plenty for a proper fry up here, so do come.

[alt_charlie]

Will do. I'll just leave a note so everyone knows where I've gone, and bring myself on over. Call it -- oh, ten, fifteen minutes?

I'm glad for you, you know. Just in case I haven't said that lately.

[alt_nymphadora]

Aw, luv. I like you, too.

[alt_nymphadora]

Rather a lot.

[alt_charlie]

Ta, luv. Turns out that a morning spent with my best girls was exactly what I needed to make this day bearable.

(I think the twins think I snuck out last night, not this morning, but at least they won't give me too much grief. And it's not like there wasn't a tonne of sneaking around going on last night!)

Now, you get some sleep, yeah? You're starting to look a little ragged around the edges.