This may be the longest chapter I've written so far on FF. *dies* Sorry if it's absolutely dreadfully long and boring to read - I've written out the plot to this story and am trying to follow it religiously, which means that some chapters might be a bit long and boring. Hopefully you'll forgive me? Haha.
Disclaimer-o-Doom: I'm not JK Rowling. If I was, do you really think I would be writing fanfiction about my own series? That'd be weird, concider then it would have to be like, authorfiction instead? Um, well, anyway, enjoy!
Amour de la Lune - Chapter 2 - Owls and Floo Powder
Molly and Arthur Weasley had just settled down for their final cup of tea before bed when someone began knocking ear-splittingly loud at their door. Arthur, who had just been leaning in to take his first sip of tea, spilt the hot liquid all down his front in fright, while Molly simply glanced towards the front door in surprise.
"Who would be calling this late at night?" She wondered aloud as her husband danced around in his pyjama's, trying to stop the burning down his front. Setting down her tea, Molly made her way to the front door, shocked to find her daughter and granddaughter standing behind it, both looking quite pale and shaky.
"Ginny! Lily!" Molly exclaimed, her words carrying back to Arthur in the lounge room who immediately halted his hot-tea-two-step. "What's happened? Are you alright?"
Ginny quickly made her way past the still flabbergasted Molly, seating Lily at one of the mismatched chairs situated around the large dining room table, and with a wave of her wand had the various utensils around the kitchen making the young girl some hot chocolate in mere seconds. She then turned back her mother, who had begun to close the front door.
"Wait! Harry will be here any minute!" Ginny said, catching the door before it fully closed. Seconds later there was a small pop and Harry appeared just outside the door, looking just as pale if not less shaky then his wife and daughter.
"It left," He said grimly as he came inside and Ginny closed the door, "Just as I apparated out. Howled something awful as it ran out too. But I think we're too far away for it to reach us here, so we should be fine –"
"What's going on here?" Arthur cut in loudly, having finally appeared from the lounge room; his pyjama's now free from any tea stains. Lily, who had been silently drinking her hot chocolate while her father talked, took one look at her grandfather and burst into tears.
"T-t-there was a w-wolf outside my window!" She sobbed, her hands shaking around her mug. "It came inside and tried to get up into my room! L-l-like it knew w-where we w-w-were!" That final sentence seemed to be Lily's undoing – she pushed her mug away and laid her head on the table, crying loudly. Molly reached her granddaughter first, hugging the girl tightly as her fear flooded out of her in hot tears.
"Ginerva." Molly said sternly, tears glistening in her own eyes now. "Explain everything. Now."
Harry and Ginny both took a place at the kitchen table nearest the door, while Arthur sat directly across from them with Molly who had pulled Lily into her lap and was quietly trying to calm her down.
"A werewolf attacked the house." Harry said, leaning forwards onto the table and gently massaging his temples. Arthur looked absolutely stunned; Molly even more so. Lily's tears dried slightly as she looked at her father in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"It literally came out of no where." Ginny continued for her husband. "We were up in Lily's room, talking, when suddenly there was this horrible howl and –"
Lily started to cry again, if not more softly than before, and Ginny stopped talking with a pained expression on her face. The little girl jumped off her grandma's lap, running to her mother who waited with arms opened wide, and sat in the warmth of her mother's arms as she started to sob once more. Ginny held her close as Harry informed her parents about the rest of the attack.
"It's true, werewolves do often attack humans – how else would they continue to grow in number?" Arthur mused when Harry had finished, leaning back in his chair. "But to target one house, whose family just happens to be magical and also include Harry Potter?" Arthur looked grimly at his son-in-law. "Something doesn't seem right there."
Harry nodded in agreement, and Ginny who had been quietly trying to sooth her daughter, looked up at her father with concern.
"You don't think – I mean, someone can't – they aren't going after Harry again, are they?" She asked. Her voice was calm but her eyes were wide with fright.
A silence descended on the kitchen, broken only by Lily's soft sobs.
"I think perhaps we should send Lily off to bed." Molly said softly, standing and beckoning the young girl to follow her. "We can let her sleep in your old room Ginny, and then we'll...then we'll talk more."
The silence remained as Lily gave her mother and father two tight hugs and then left with her grandmother, holding Molly's hand tightly as they walked up the staircase. Watching them go, Ginny reached out blindly to Harry, grabbing his hand and squeezing it tightly once, to which he replied with his own firm grip. A minute or two after this exchange, in which Arthur made Harry and Ginny strong cups of tea, Molly returned and the four adults moved into the living room to continue their discussion.
"Tell us more of this wolf." Arthur said, taking his tea into his hands and taking a sip from the cup. Ginny remembered how she thought the wolf was only new, because of its lack of scars and injuries. Arthur nodded at this information, his expression slightly brighter than before.
"I think that puts the attack back into the category of random coincidence." Arthur reasoned, Ginny immediately relaxing from her father's reassurance. "A new wolf would never be put up to an attack on its first few moons – the odds of it attacking someone else apart from the intended target would be too great."
"I haven't heard of any werewolf attacks near our house from the surrounding Wizarding families...that must mean a muggle has been bitten and has no idea what they just did, or what they'll continue to do from now on." Harry said, looking up at Ginny.
"We'll have to keep an eye out for anyone who starts to act suspiciously around town, just in case." She suggested, and Harry agreed. The four adults continued to discuss the wolf while they finished their drinks, until the cups were empty and Molly left to prepare a room for Harry and Ginny to use for the night. Arthur bid them goodnight, giving Ginny a tight hug before he disappeared to his and Molly room – the action repeated by Molly when she came to say goodnight as well.
"Are you sure you're both alright?" She asked concerned as Harry and Ginny made their way towards Percy's old room, which Molly had set up for them both. Ginny looked towards Harry, who smiled reassuringly, and then back to her mother.
"We're fine." She promised, and then they went to bed.
***
The next morning found Ginny waking up in a daze. It took her a moment or two to remember where she was, and another moment to remember why she was back at her childhood home. We were attacked last night she remembered, panic seising her as she shot up from bed and quickly turned to her right. Harry laid there, his body curled towards Ginny and one arm draped across her stomach. Her quick movements had woken him, and he slowly opened his eyes and squinted at Ginny.
"Gin, are you alright?" He asked soothingly.
Her panic faded, and Ginny lay back down, immediately pulled into the circle of Harry's arms. Taking a calming breath, Ginny snuggled into Harry's chest and sighed.
"I'm fine; I just forgot where I was for a moment." She laughed.
The couple lay together for a few moments, enjoying each others warmth. A few minutes later however, a gentle knock came from the door.
"Mum? Dad? Can I come in please?" Lily whispered from outside the door. Ginny pulled herself out of Harry's embrace and turned towards the door with a smile.
"Of course you can Lily, come in."
Lily's slipped quietly into the room, closing the door with a snap and then running to her parent's side. In no time at all she had snuck into their bed, and lay between her mother and father, who both gave her a tight hug between them.
"How are you feeling this morning sweetie?" Ginny asked softly, running her hand through her daughters long red hair.
"Better." Lily mumbled into Harry's pillow. "I kept waking up though, thinking the werewolf had found us again..."
The young girl shivered, clutching both of her parents tightly. Harry, who had put on his glasses as Lily had entered the room, looked his daughter straight in the eye and gave her a bright smile.
"Even if we do see it again, you'll be safe Lily. I promise I won't let anything hurt you."
Lily looked up at father gratefully, giving him another tight hug. A knock then came from the door.
"Ginny? Harry? Breakfast is downstairs when you're ready." Molly called from the landing outside, and then continued on her way downstairs, her feet echoing up the empty staircase.
"What do you think Lil?" Harry asked, smiling brightly at his daughter once more. "Do you feel like grandma's special breakfast?"
Lily giggled and nodded, jumping out from her parent's bed and speeding from the room. Harry and Ginny laughed at their daughter's enthusiasm, following her at a more casual pace after they had both dressed for the day in clothes Molly had left for them the night before. In the kitchen they found Arthur in deep conversation about the techniques of syrup pouring with Lily, who was hanging on to his every word with wonderment. Molly was moving around the kitchen, preparing food of all kinds from bacon and eggs to waffles and toast. Ginny and Harry had been seated for only a few seconds when Molly suddenly thrust plates of sausages and eggs in front of them, telling them not to be afraid to ask for second or third helpings. As Ginny ate, she couldn't help but smile as she remembered breakfasts just like this one from her childhood with all her brothers and family.
"Oh!" Exclaimed Arthur suddenly as he helped Lily make a smiley face with her bacon and eggs. "I forgot, you have a letter."
Harry took the letter Arthur offered to them, opening it and skimming over it quickly. Smiling, he passed it to Ginny who immediately recognised her youngest son's neat handwriting.
Dear Mum, Dad and Lily,
How are you all? I've only been at Hogwarts for a week and it already feels like forever since I saw you. Things are going really great here – Hogwarts is so much better than I ever thought! James has started talking to me again, though he refuses to come and sit with me at the Slytherin table at breakfast. I don't mind though, I've made some good friends already. I don't know why James hates Slytherin so much, it isn't really that bad.
I'm really enjoying all my classes – or well, almost all of them. Transfiguration is probably my least favourite, since the teacher doesn't like me very much. He got upset because when we were trying to turn matches into needles, I messed up the wording of the spell and accidently sent my needle flying into his arm. He was alright, but he always seems to make sure he stays at least three tables away from me now. But Potions definitely makes up for it, because it's my favourite class next to flying. ("That's my boy." Harry chuckled beside Ginny, reading over her shoulder.) The teacher is really nice and helpful. All the teachers are actually.
Anyway, I hope everything is okay at home! I can't wait for holidays so I can see you all again. Give Lily a hug for me mum, and give mum a hug for me dad.
Love, Albus.
Ps. Hagrid says hello!
Pps. Professor Longbottom also says hello.
Ppps. Rose also also says hello.
Ginny smiled at the last few lines, folding the letter back up and placing it back in its envelope.
"Sounds like he's having fun." She laughed, and Harry nodded.
"It's impossible not to have fun at Hogwarts though, remember?" He grinned.
The Potter's returned to their breakfast, both finishing third helpings just to keep Molly happy. They had just sent Lily up to get changed before they ventured back home to inspect the damage when there was a loud bang from the lounge room.
"Mum! Dad!" A worried voice called. "Where are you?"
"In here Ron! In the kitchen!" Molly called back; Ron appeared in the doorway in mere seconds, his robes looking scrunched and un-pressed, and his hair sticking up at odd angles like he'd just awoken.
"I just went to Harry's place, and it's absolutely destroyed! Have you heard from them and –" Ron started, and then stopped suddenly as he noticed Harry and Ginny sitting quietly at the kitchen table. In two bounds he had rushed at them, grabbing both his sister and best friend in tight hugs that smashed the air out of their lungs.
"Harry! Ginny! Your okay! I was so worried when I flooed into the lounge room and found everything torn to shreds!" He said hysterically. "I thought you'd been attacked or something!"
"Ron, we were attacked, but we're fine, honestly mate." Harry said, pushing the man off of him. "Just calm down okay? Sit down and have some tea."
Ron did sit down, but refused any food. He demanded Harry explained why his house was ruined, which Harry did as quickly as possible.
"So we stayed here for the night." Harry concluded to an opened mouthed Ron, who was still slowly digesting the news. "But we were just about to go back to see how bad the damage is."
"It's bad, trust me." Ron said grimly, crossing his arms over his chest. "There are scratches all up and down the walls, most of the furniture is torn to shreds. The worst places were your room and the entrance to Lily's room."
"That'd make sense. It scratched at it when we were hiding up there." Ginny reasoned. "But why our room...?"
Harry shrugged just as Lily came back down the stairs, dressed and ready to go.
"Uncle Ron!" She cried happily, running across the kitchen and flinging herself into her uncle's arms. Ron smiled at his young niece, rubbing her head affectionately.
"I could have sworn you were at least 5 inches shorter when I last saw you Lil. You're growing up too fast!" He joked, making Lily smile with glee. While she started asking him how Rose was doing at Hogwarts, Harry and Ginny finished up their goodbyes with Molly and Arthur, promising to keep them informed on there mysterious werewolf.
"We'll see you later!" Ginny promised as she, Ron, Lily and Harry prepared to floo back to the Potter residence. Lily went first, and Ginny followed right after to make sure Lily made it home alright. Her last vision before spinning into the emerald green flames was her parents side by side, worried expressions still etched into their faces.
***
Ron's description of the damage made by the wolf was less than accurate. The walls were scratched, the sofa's ruined, and the entrance to Lily's room almost destroyed just as he had said - but he never mentioned the chunks of wood missing from the stairs banister, or the bundle of sticks in the kitchen that had once been Ginny's kitchen table. Lily clutched onto Ginny's hand tightly as she made her way around the house, becoming more and more upset as she found more things destroyed. It could all be repaired easily enough with a reparo charm, but the fact that something had so viciously destroyed everything in Ginny's home made her heart ache with sadness and anger.
While Ginny looked around, Harry and Ron had started to repairing process. When Ginny returned to her kitchen with Lily, it looked back to normal for which Ginny was thankful. Harry and Ron joined her in the kitchen after about 20 minutes, both looking grim and worn out.
"Every room in the house!" Harry exclaimed as he sat down, thanking Ginny as she pushed a sandwich in front of him for lunch. "It looks like it went to every room, one by one and destroyed everything. It's lucky James isn't here – he wouldn't have enjoyed seeing what it did to his quidditch posters..."
"I didn't enjoy seeing what it did to those posters." Ron blurted, also thanking Ginny for a sandwich. "Have either of you walked under ladders lately? You must have the worst luck in the whole of England..."
Ginny gave her brother a look.
"You know that superstitious stuff is a load of hippogriff dung, Ron." She said sharply.
"Maybe it's because Albus got sorted into Slytherin. That house is full of bad luck..."
"Oh don't bring old house rivalry into this." Ginny retorted. "It doesn't matter anymore, and anyway, you can't talk. Rose didn't even get into Gryffindor, she's in Ravenclaw."
Ron let his head fall forward onto the table and groaned. "Hermione was ecstatic but I don't know if I can bare the shame. At least she isn't a Hufflepuff..."
The three adults laughed while Lily watched them all curiously, completely oblivious to what they were talking about. The rest of lunch was spent talking about cheerful subjects, as the Potters tried to forget the events of the night before and move on. It was only when lunch was over and Ron remembered he had to meet Hermione for an appointment with Hugo that the subject came back up, if only briefly.
"Just keep an eye out okay?" He made Harry and Ginny promise as he prepared to floo home. "I'd hate to have to come back again next month and find the house ruined again."
Ginny gave her brother a hug and then pushed him towards the fireplace, laughing.
"You won't find the house in ruin again. Promise." She told him, and with that Ron left in a flare of green flames. When he had fully disappeared, Harry glanced at Ginny, his face grim.
"At least, we hope he won't find the house in ruin again."
Ginny couldn't help but nod in agreement, hoping exactly the same thing.