Molly smiled fondly at the small family assembled around the table at Grimmauld Place. Voldemort was back, Death Eaters were crawling through the cracks, and the entire wizarding world was at stake. But none of that mattered in this moment, in their own little safe house, gathered in the kitchen, eating breakfast.

While the air might be stale and food a little old, the atmosphere had never been livelier in the little house.

"The stew's delicious, mum!" George shouted, kissing up to her after the whole extendable-ear debacle. He held up a spoonful with an enthusiastic smile. They'd been having stew for a few nights now, and as forced as that smile must have been, it filled Molly with a warm, happy feeling. Because despite their quite frankly astounding lack of responsibility, they cared about her enough to fake it.

Fred smacked him over the head and the stew splattered across the old wooden table.

"I think it's better than delicious," Fred said and stuck his tongue out at George. George, in return, flicked the wet remnants of the stew on his spoon at Fred's face. "Best stew I've ever tasted."

"Best food I've ever tasted," George shot back. Fred stole his bowl. A wrestling match between the two began, each yelling louder and louder about who enjoyed the food more. Arthur got involved so Molly didn't have to, separating them by the scruffs of their jackets and confiscating their food.

Sirius and Remus had taken the spots next to them at the tail of the table, not having learned their lesson from the other night when Fred and George nearly turned Sirius's hand into a kebob. The older men were giving their serious expressions a break to play a game of exploding snaps. Bill sat with them in a chair that was tilted back to the wall. His feet were up on the table and arms leisurely folded behind his head. Molly would normally chastise him for this, give him a stern talking to, but the beginnings of the war had forced him to grow up too fast. Regardless of age, he was still young and her baby. The slightest hints of immaturity comforted her, letting her know that she hadn't failed him.

The game ended in Sirius's loss. He groaned and stood up from the table, shooting Remus a nasty look. He took a step back and shouted out to the present company.

"Everybody, I must show you something most important!" He then bowed. At his lowest point his bones started to shift and fur sprouted from every area of visible skin. He clothes morphed with him into his black coat. When he finally settled, he was a big black dog.

He lifted his head to the ceiling and gave a loud howl. Remus, as though he couldn't stop himself, joined in sounding distinctly inhuman despite his current form.

The room filled with whooping and hollering as Remus turned red. Sirius shifted back, patting his old friend on the back.

"No hard feelings, Moony," Sirius chuckled. "But that was absolutely hilarious."

On the other side of the table, Ginny leaned into Harry, Ron and Hermione's little huddle as their conversation started up again. She looked on seriously although Molly could distinctly hear them discussing nothing serious at all. Quidditch scores and the conspiracy theory that Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick had started dating.

It was endearing that such events still mattered in the lives of young witches and wizards.

"Seamus said that Dean saw them eating dinner at the Leaky Cauldron," Ron whispered. Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"And two colleagues can't just go out for a drink together?" She said dubiously. Hermione was always sensible, she saw through most malarky. Her and Ron had gotten close over the summer, a perfect match. Molly had a good feeling about that one.

"But it'd be romantic, wouldn't it?" Ginny sighed. She leaned in a little too close to Harry, who didn't seem to notice nor care.

Ginny looked at him as though he single handedly held up the moon and the stars. It had been cute and at first, she accredited her admiration to the fact that Harry saved her from the basilisk but now, Molly was beginning to wonder. Harry was a great boy, albeit not the brightest, and was Ron's best friend. He was an honorary member of the family. But being a good kid wasn't enough. He held the weight of world on his shoulders. She wasn't sure how she'd feel with him dating her only daughter while holding all that responsibility.

Harry looked up to Molly as if he had noticed her studying him. He smiled up at her and Molly felt her heart clench. It wasn't fair that he be forced into this war he knew nothing about. It wasn't fair that any of them were being used as pawns by a wizarding world that was more often than not unkind to them. This summer's newspapers had seen to that.

"Thank you for the food," he said politely without the ulterior motives of her other sons. Ron scoffed.

"You don't have to kiss ass like Fred and George," Ron said. "You're her favorite."

"Ron!" Molly admonished, not able to put her normal force into it. "Watch your language." She turned to her 'favorite.' "I was just thinking, dear, that I'm glad you're here safe with us now."

His smile turned into a more genuine type of joy that spoke to the awful treatment he'd received in the past from his so-called 'guardians.' She would never forgive Albus for leaving such a sweet boy with such wretched muggles.

"I'm glad to be here, Mrs. Weasley," he responded and looked down at his stew, swirling it around with his spoon. "I- Thank you for taking me in. I'm glad to have you all here. And if next year gets messy or something…"

Sirius came up from behind and patted him on the back.

"Don't worry, if you're anything like your father then you'll be just fine," Sirius said. "Plus, I'll always be here for you."

"As well I, the marauders stick together," Remus said, coming up from the other side. Both men slid their arms around him, bringing him into a side hug. Ginny scooted away looking distinctly disappointed.

"We're your family now, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. The entire room was now watching. "We all have your back."