"Elle, dearie! Would you mind helping me clean up?" Molly asked me, standing up after everyone had finished eating.

I exchanged a glance with Fred. We both know that all she wants to do is talk wedding plans. Can't I just enjoy being engaged for a little while?

I chuckled. "Of course," I responded, standing up and grabbing Fred and I's plates.

Fred stood up with me, putting a hand on my waist and kissing my cheek before leaving for the sitting room with George and Charlie.

I brought the plates over to the sink and went back to the table to grab some more dirty dishes while everyone was moving back out into the sitting room to talk.

That leaves just me and Molly.

"So dearie, I was thinking we set up the location first," Molly stated, waving her wand to get the dishes washing.

"I was wondering if we could do it in one of the fields beside the Burrow?" I asked her, levitating all of the dirty dishes to the sink.

"Oh! With all of the tall, wild grasses surrounding us! Oh, dearie, that'll be beautiful! When do we want to do this?" She exclaimed, waving her hands around as if she was grazing the top of the grasses.

"Erm... sometime in late March, maybe?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"The weather will be perfect in March! We can ask Professor McGonagall to send the children home for a day or two!" She answered, shuffling around the room excitedly.

I put away all of the leftover food. Once I was done with that, I leaned against the counter and watched the dishes wash themselves.

She got out the calendar. "How about March 27? It's a Saturday, so the kids won't miss any classes," she mentioned, pointing to the date on the calendar.

"That's fine with me. Let me just clear that with Fred," I responded, still leaning against the counter.

"Okay. So what are we going to plan now? Ooh! How about the flowers?" She asked excitedly, scrunching up her arms near her chest.

"Actually, Molly, could we just go out and visit with the family?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh, of course! We all want to hear where you ran off to!" She responded, getting up to put the calendar away.

I smiled softly and started to make my way out to the living room. Thank Merlin I got out of hours of wedding planning. Thank you, Regulus for "kidnapping" me and giving me an excuse!

As soon as I entered the living room, I seen Fred was sitting on the couch. I went over awkwardly, as all eyes were on me. I sat on the arm of the couch, crossing my arms over my torso.

I noticed that Molly went and sat in an open chair beside Arthur and took his hand. It's sweet how they're still in love after so many years.

"Elle, we all want to know where you ran off to!" Arthur exclaimed, looking at me.

I cleared my throat and fidgeted slightly in my spot.

"Erm... I was kidnapped," I started, looking around at everyone.

I heard gasps of surprise. I hurriedly continued before anyone could ask any questions, "But before you start freaking out, it wasn't really a kidnapping."

I paused, looking at everyone seriously. My gaze stayed on Dad for an extra couple of moments.

"What I am about to tell you all cannot leave this room," I stated, looking pointedly at Percy. No offense to him, but he's the one I trust least in this group.

Everyone nodded, practically ready to fall out of their seats.

"Regulus Black is alive. He's the one who took me. He wants me to give a message to my dad," I said, standing and reaching into my back pocket, where I had the letter stored.

The room was eerily quiet. I looked to my dad. His face was extremely pale and he looked like he was ready to pass out.

I walked over to Dad and held the envelope out. He stared at it for a moment before reaching a shaky hand out and taking it.

I stayed where I was for a moment before I went back to Fred's side.

I looked at him, but he was staring at his hands, a solemn expression on his face.

"Did he hurt you?" He finally murmured, looking up, and still wringing his hands.

I shook my hand. "No," I responded, taking one of his hands.

Everyone looked between Dad and I anxiously. They were polite and allowing Dad to read the letter to himself before they asked it to be read aloud. But of course they were polite, they're the Weasleys!

Dad was still sickly pale and the expression in his eyes was hard to read. It seemed to be a mixture between surprise, disbelief, and rage. I don't blame him. I would be fuming if my only brother faked his death and caused me and my family so much pain.

Finally, he looked up. He opened his mouth a couple of times, but closed it as if he was contemplating what he should say. He locked his gaze with mine.

"Are you sure that it was truly my brother you met?" he asked, holding the letter so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"Yes, " I replied, staring right back at him.

"What did he look like?" Dad asked quickly after my response, edging farther out of his seat as he talked.

"He looks extremely similar to you. The same color hair, the same color eyes. His hair is shorter than yours and you can tell that he is younger than you. He only wears Slytherin colors and his living quarters are like the Slytherin common room and the Great Hall."

Dad looked back down to the letter in his hands. His brows were furrowed in confusion.

"I suppose you all would like me to read this letter aloud?" Dad muttered, not looking up from the letter.

I noticed Molly and Arthur exchange a glance out of the corner of my eye. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. You could vaguely hear the crickets outside. It's odd; the quiet in a house normally filled with noise. It sent chills through me, causing me to shiver and rub my arms with my hands.

"Only if you feel comfortable sharing it, dear," came Molly's motherly voice.

Dad nodded. "I... I do," he said, still staring at the letter clutched in his hands. He was silent for a minute or so before he took a deep breath and started reading.

"My dearest brother..."