So what did you guys think so far? Like it? Hate it? The suspense is kinda killing me.

Disclaimer: Only MC belongs to me. The rest belong to JK who is the queen and I just her humble servant.

Enjoy! :)


A Surprise Guest

"Hagrid!"

"Bethany! Hey! An' Charlie!"

Charlie and I managed to squeeze into the kitchen beside him.

"Hi, Hagrid, how's it going?" I grinned.

"Oh pretty good. Bin meanin' ter write fer ages. How's Norbert doin'?

"Norbert?" Charlie and I exchanged a glance before he laughed, "The Norwegian Ridgeback? We call her Norberta now."

"Wha? Norbert's a girl?"

"Oh yeah," Charlie replied.

"How can you tell?" Hermione asked curiously.

"They're a lot more vicious," Charlie said as he showed her the various bite marks that he'd received on his arm before he dropped his voice, "Wish Dad would hurry up and get here – Mum's getting edgy."

He ran another hand through his hair as if to prove his point.

We all looked towards her. She was trying to talk to Madame Delacour while repeatedly glancing at the gate.

"I think we'd better start without Arthur," she called to the garden at large after a moment or two.

"He must have been held up at oh!"

Just then a streak of light came flying across the yard and onto the table where it resolved itself to be a bright silver weasel, which stood on its hind legs and spoke with Mr Weasley's voice.

"Minister of Magic coming with me."

Tension filled the room as the Patronus dissolved.

"We shouldn't be here," Lupin said, getting to his feet at once.

"Harry, I'm sorry. I'll explain some other time."

He seized Tonks' wrist and pulled her away; they reached the fence, climbed over it and vanished from sight. Mrs Weasley looked bewildered.

"The Minister? But why: I don't understand …"

"We probably shouldn't be here either," I said as I exchanged an anxious look with Charlie.

"I'll show you upstairs," he replied, ignoring his mother's confused expression as he took my hand and quickly led me up the stairs.


We made it just in time as Mr Weasley appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognisable by his mane of grizzled hair.

He had the appearance of a lion cornering a pack of frightened deer. I thought about the recent prison breaking that he'd covered up and my wand hand shook.

"You think they'll be okay?" I wondered out loud as I watched the Minister hound Hermione, Ron and Harry into the sitting room.

"You worry too much – they'll be fine," Charlie murmured, catching my hand in his before giving it a tiny squeeze, though he too frowned.

He pressed his lips to my forehead, causing me to smile slightly.

"You're probably right."

Still I couldn't help but feel something churn in my stomach.

"Hullo lovebirds," Bill grinned as he leaned against the bannister.

How long had he been standing there?

"Speaking of lovebirds, where's yours?" Charlie asked in his attempt of changing the subject.

"Probably with Mum," he shrugged before his lips quirked into a smirk, "And what are you two doing up here? Hiding?"

"Kinda," I admitted.

"Minister's here," Charlie explained.

Bill's expression darkened considerably, making his scars more pronounced.

"That makes his second appearance at the Burrow," he frowned, "Was Perce with him this time?"

Charlie shook his head.

Bill sighed.

"I invited him to the wedding you know," he grunted quietly, "Git sent back the invitation saying that he didn't want anything to do with us or the wedding. Broke Mum's heart all over again …"

He trailed off; shoulders slumped in resignation as Charlie and I exchanged glances.

We'd recently tried to convince Percy to come to his senses, which had ended up with both Weasleys hurling insults at one another.

"Percy's always acted like he has his wand stuck up his arse," Charlie muttered, shuddering slightly from the memory.

"Always been too stubborn for his own good," agreed Bill, "Remember that time when you first decided to go to Romania to be a dragon-keeper Charlie?"

"How could I forget?" Charlie's voice was particularly bitter as he nodded. "What was it that he called me again? A 'no-good-Quidditch-boy' that 'was wasting his talent on some scaly lizard'?"

"Something along those lines."

Tension sizzled in the air before Bill cleared his throat.

"Anyway, I'm glad that you two could make it."

I smiled, "Are you kidding me? We wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Bill grinned, "Well I'll let you two lovebirds get back to it then," he said smoothly before he slipped passed us and down the stairs.