Chapter 4: Savior in the Sky

Walking through the darkened house Ripper began his nightly patrol, stopping at ever door and window he sniffed making sure everything was secure. Once his routine was over and he was positive that his family was safe until morning he stretched out at the bottom of the stairs. A yawn squeaked from the tiny animal as he closed his eyes to try to get some sleep. He hadn't seen Rachel since she had let him out in the morning, but he had heard her pacing around throughout the day. If he could make a wish… he wished he could make whatever was upsetting his beloved master disappear forever.

His eyes had barely closed when his ears instinctively perked up at the sound of a loud creak. Lifting his head he scanned his surroundings, waiting to be joined by one of his humans so they could search the house together. The longer he laid there listening, the more it was apparent that no one was coming to find out what the noise had been. Taking it upon himself, Ripper stood and trotted up the stairs to where he thought the racket had originated. Reaching the landing of the stairs he heard it again, this time from other end of the hallway.

A low growl rumbled in his little barreled chest as he stalked toward his master's parents' room. Once outside his nose twitched at the crack on the bottom of the door, everything smelled in order in there. Sitting down he began to wrack his little brain at what was going on; he knew he was hearing something, but why couldn't he find it?

CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

This time he acted right away and Ripper's bark filled the silent house as he raced toward Rachel's still closed door. He knew for certain the noise had come from her room; so of course the little terrier's instincts kicked in turning him into a vicious, as he could be, guard dog. High pitched barks had just begun to stir his owners in their bedroom when Rachel's door flew open, and hands grasped the pup. "Ripper, shut up!" Rachel hissed as she quickly shut the door behind her.

Looking around the room nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary, but still Ripper knew he had to keep his guard up. He had heard something that he was sure of, and there was no doubt this time it was coming from this area of the house. Squirming lose from Rachel's arms he jumped up on the bed, whining toward the ceiling.

"What is your problem?" Rachel asked pulling her sweatshirt tighter around her.

Pathetic whines continued as he looked at her with his big saucer sized brown eyes. Sighing heavily, she flopped down on her bed, burying her face in her hands again. "You hear it too, don't you?" she asked as the dog crawled over to her lap. "I was hoping I was just being paranoid."

True, the Wests lived in an older house that did shift and creak, but she knew all of those noises. This one was different and it appeared to be moving around the outside of the house.

He's coming, Rachel silently tried to reassure herself, Harry will be here soon.

The thought had never even accrued to the teen what she would do if Harry didn't make it in time. How would she protect her parents if death eaters appeared before he made it? Standing Rachel retrieved her baseball bat that she had placed in her closet. She had used it to guard her and Hermione as she slept, and now she would use it to defend her parents. Sitting back on the edge of the bed Rachel scanned the room for any out of the ordinary shadows. "Come on," she said through gritted teeth, "I dare you."

Staring at the non-moving shadows, Rachel slipped into a daydream of sorts. In her mind she saw a hooded figure emerge from the very wall itself, its metal mask glass gleaming from the streetlight outside. Without a word she rose from the bed and swung the bat with all the force she could, connecting with the side of the death eater's head. Unfazed by the blow he grasped Rachel by the throat and pinned her roughly to the wall. Struggling to break free as well as breathe, she squirmed and clawed at the hand. Flying from the bed Ripper tried to sink his teeth into the intruder's leg. Before he could reach the death eater, a hard kick sent the dog flying across the room, crashing into the closet door. Upon impact there was the distinct sound of his neck snapping. Tears streamed down Rachel's cheeks as she watched her tiny guardian's murder. "You have been requested to join the Dark Lord for a meeting," his voice seemed to boom throughout the room, as everything began to swirl into black smoke.

A loud bang from across the room snapped Rachel from her daydream and leap off the bed. Her brain began to twitch as her room ounce again fell into silence, she didn't know how much more she could take tonight. Walking toward the outside wall, she placed her ear against it. If there really was something making these noises then it would have to be right outside. Her breathing and heart rate tripled as she neared the window, every nerve in her body screaming at her not to approach the thin pane of glass. Finally, she got up the courage and peered outside.

Her backyard was the same as it always had been since her family had moved into the house when she was six. The only difference was a large tree branch that now lay on the ground outside her window. Laughing at herself for her paranoia she took a step back, and looked at Ripper. "It's just a branch that fell," she said her fear turning into hysterical laugher.

KNOCK KNOCK

Screaming mid chuckle Rachel reeled around swinging the bat toward the noise, but instead connecting with a person she connected with the lamp. The light source crashed to the floor flooding the room into total blackness except for the streetlamps. Ripper began to bark at the top of his lungs as she shut her eyes waiting to be snatched away.

"Well, this isn't exactly the welcome I had imagined."

A relief washed over her body as Rachel slowly opened her eyes and connected with a pair of emerald eyes staring into her room through the window. It was hard to contain the smile that was trying to break through as she looked into the familiar face. But before she could let him into her room, a dark thought crept into her mind as she remembered what Harry had written her in a previous letter.

If I have to come get you, you MUST make sure that it really is me. There are various potions and spells that could be used to change a person's me something only you and I know.

Taking a step back and pointing a bat toward the floating Harry, she thought of a question. "What did we do on my last night in the Burrow?" she called through the glass.

Obviously proud that Rachel remembered to test him, Harry smiled brightly, but he also smiled at the memory. "After a large feast in which Mrs. Weasley cooked all of our favorite foods, we played wizard chess while Hermione, Ron, and Ginny watched, and you beat me… for the first time ever."

Lowering the bat, Rachel finally let her smile take ahold as she relived the memory. It had been a cold night right after the first of the year, and everyone under the age of seventeen was getting ready to depart, the adolescents were headed back to Hogwarts the next day as well. Everyone was normally looking forward to going back to school, but this time they knew once they left the Burrow they all wouldn't be together again for almost a year.

"I am really going to miss your mom's cooking," Rachel said limping into the living room after they all had had their fill of various foods, each one of the teens had gotten to choose an entrée in the feast. "The summer needs to get here now!"

"You haven't even left yet, and you're already complaining about being gone," Hermione teased as she curled up on the couch with her. "Not that I'm looking forward to the months apart myself."

Kissing the back of her hand Rachel smiled sweetly at her girlfriend. The two have been trying to spend as much time as possible together knowing their impending separation grew closer every day. "I hear ya, baby."

"So, last night in the Burrow," Ron said bluntly as he flopped down in the arm chair. "What do we want to do?"

Rachel turned and winked at Hermione who returned a smile, she knew that this was the moment her girlfriend had been looking forward to. "I'd like to challenge, you," she cried and pointed a finger at Harry, "Mr. Harry Potter to a game of wizard's chess!"

Laughter and teasing broke out in the room as Rachel called Harry out. "Do you accept the challenge, good sir?" she asked poorly imitating a British accent.

The board was set up and ready before Harry could even respond, everyone was in on the challenge and wanted to see the almost unbeatable player fall to the amateur. Still laughing and shaking his head, Harry took his place behind the black pieces. Leaving the crutch by the couch Rachel walked over to the board with the assistance of Hermione, and took her seat on the ground. Her leg was the only injury that hadn't completely healed yet.

The other's gathered around to watch the epic battle of muggle versus the famous wizard, Ginny and Hermione on opposite sides of the board, and Ron in the arm chair just above Harry's shoulder. Giving the red headed boy a quick wink she began the game with her opening move. Every move that Harry made, she performed the perfect counter strike by saying every command that Ron mouthed. Poor Harry had no clue that he was being cheated out of a win by his best friends.

"Checkmate!" Rachel cried as she watched the little king crumble to a million pieces.

Cheers rang out as Harry simply stared at the board, most of his chess pieces in small piles. "H-how?" he stammered unable to believe he had lost.

"Oh I have a few tricks up my sleeve," Rachel laughed, high fiving Ron who was smiling and laughing loudest of all.

Smiling at a happier time, she leaned across her desk and unlocked the window to open it to let Harry in. The sound of crickets flooded the room in an instant, as he pulled himself inside. Once inside he reached back outside to grasp his hovering broom to pull it in as well.

Turning back around Rachel smiled looking up at the familiar square jaw and green eyes under round frames glasses. Harry looked exactly the same as he had eight months ago, maybe an inch taller; the only clear difference was the dark circles that clung to the skin under his eyes. It was apparent to her that he also had not been getting the correct amount of rest as well.

"Hi," she whispered as tightly hugged Harry around his torso.

Grinning at the top of her head he retuned her friendly gesture, it was good to see her after all this time. "Thank God you are here; I was starting to think something happened to you," she said taking a step back from him.

"Sorry, I know I'm late," he explained as he released his friend, "I had to be sure I wasn't being followed."

"Hey, whatever, just as long as you came for me, I've been getting a little freaked out here by myself," she chuckled motioning toward the shattered lamp on the ground.

"Obviously," he laughed, as well.

A tiny growl sounded from across the room as Ripper stood on the bed, the hair raised on his back. "Oh stop it," she scolded as she scooped him up in her arms, "this is my friend Harry, be nice to him."

Ripper stared at this person he did not recognize standing in his master's room. The human appeared to be harmless but still he continued to growl. She knew she couldn't get mad at him for acting like this after all she had been on edge for months now.

The room was thick with sadness and both of the teens could feel it very strongly. Both of them knew that once they left it would be a long time before they had any contact with the people they loved the most. Both of them stood in silence for a moment, each one of them not wanting to give the command to start the leaving process. Finally Harry cleared his throat which caused Rachel to look up from the dog. "Um we probably should get going," he said wincing at his own words.

"Yeah," Rachel's voice quavered as she tightly hugged her little loyal friend. "I'll show you to my parents' room."

Setting the still growling Ripper down on the bed they entered the hallway, and gently closed the door behind them. Tiptoeing down the creaky hallway, Harry followed Rachel to a doorway on the other side of the house. Raising a finger to her lips, she motioned for him to silently shadow her. Every noise seemed to be amplified as she clicked the door open and entered the room. Quietly, the pair stood at the end of the bed in the almost still room, Rachel's father's snores prevented the room for being completely silent. In that moment of watching her parents dream, everything that she had wanted to say to her parents all day began to pour out of her.

"I am so sorry," she said softly, as tears began to form in her blue eyes, "I keep telling myself that this is the right thing to do, to keep you safe. But at the same time I hate myself for doing this to you. You both have done so much for me over the years, and you made me who I am today, for that I am eternally grateful. Please know that no matter what I will never stop thinking about you, even if you won't remember me."

A sob was building in her chest, a loud sob, and Rachel knew that she had to keep it under control. Watching his friend say goodbye to her parents was gut wrenching for Harry, and at the same time made him slightly jealous. After all he never got the option of saying goodbye to his parents, when they were ripped from his life on a Halloween night long ago. He had no idea what Rachel was going through, but he would like to think that if he were in the same situation that he would be selfless enough to make sure his parents were safe before he took safety himself.

Leaning over Harry wrapped his arm around her slightly shaking shoulders, and gently kissed the top of her head. At this moment he felt like a big brother, comforting his little sister, even though she was the older of the two. "It will be okay," he comforted holding her tightly.

"You promise this won't hurt them," she whispered sharply as she stared at the sleeping forms of the people that brought her into this world, her eyes glassy with tears.

"Promise," Harry said still holding her.

Inhaling deeply, she stepped away from Harry and wiped her eyes, "do it now."

With a nod, Harry pulled his wand from the pocket of his sweatshirt and pointed it toward the adults. "Obliviate," he stated and almost instantly a misty white light floated from the end of the wand and surrounded the bed. Rachel's dad stopped mid snore as the spell took its effect and immediately erased any and every memory of their daughter.

A sick feeling stirred in the pit of her stomach as the realization that her parents would no longer know her set in. Every birthday, Christmas, or family vacations that the three had ever experienced together all now only exist in one's memory. Even though the mind wipe had just occurred, Rachel already looked forward to the day that all three family member's minds contained the same history of memories again.

"They should be dazed and out of it for a while, so we don't have to be as quiet," he explained as he placed his wand back into his pocket. "So let's get your stuff and we can go, I want to be hidden by morning."

Looking over his shoulder Harry watched as Rachel walked over and gently kissed first her father and then her mother's forehead. "I love you," she said placing her forehead against her mother's temple. "I'll see you again someday, I promise."

Casting one last look at the people who raised her, Rachel stepped out of the room and into the hallway. Shutting the door, the muggle exhaled deeply, it had barely begun but this was already turning into a long night.

"All right, Rachel?" Harry asked as they walked back toward Rachel's room, to grab their supplies and head off into the night.

"Yeah, I will be," she sighed as she opened the door, "It's just hard ya know?"

"Just keep telling yourself that we are keeping them out of harm's way," Harry said as they walked into the dark bedroom.

Upon entering the room, the pair was bombarded with Ripper's frantic barking and growling. "Ripper come on, I already told you to leave Harry alone!" Rachel cried grabbing the dog roughly, hoping to silence him. Even in her arm's his barking continued as he tried to direct her attention toward the other side of the room.

What has gotten into him, she thought squinting into the shadows.

"Um, Rachel," Harry whispered as he stiffened up as an uneasy feeling settled over the room, "I don't want to alarm you, but I believe that shadow just moved."