Chapter 8

"I just don't understand why you feel you need to be out on your own. Especially at a time like this." Molly was referring to the rumours of Draco Malfoy wanting to exact his revenge on Harry.

"Mum, I know this is difficult for you to understand, but we'll be right near Fred and George," Ginny protested.

Harry looked at Molly, pleadingly. "Mrs. Weasley … Mum … I need to be able to stand on my own two feet. With Ginny, I can. Together, she and I will support and protect each other. Draco will not get to me."

"Molly, I've already had the Floo Regulation Panel limit their fireplace to the Burrow, the twins' shop, and their flat, and McGonagall's office." Arthur was surprised at the confidence in his own voice.

"So you're all right with this? You WANT them to go?"

"Molly, I'm not saying that I won't miss them, but I think it's time we let them go … after all, we DO want grandchildren someday, don't we?" With a twinkle in his eye, he glanced at Ginny and Harry, smiling.

Harry breathed a bit easier, drawing his wife a little closer to him. Arthur had always felt that he, Harry, could handle more than Molly, with her maternal instincts, believed he could.

* * *

"Keep up, Ron!" exclaimed Hermione.

Ron trailed after Hermione, wondering what her hurry was. The streets of Muggle London were quite crowded this time of day, with people heading to the Tube to go home at the end of their long work day.

"Hermione, can we eat?" Ron pointed to The Stout Yard. The thought of fish and chips made his mouth water and only exacerbated his hunger.

She nodded, as they made their way up the street. "It will give us a chance to observe the street. I could have sworn there was a bit of magic used last time we were here."

* * *

Harry and Ginny were walking the grounds of the Burrow one last time before they moved. The sun was setting, and the golden glow it cast over the yard was oddly disquieting. It was almost as if time were about to stand still.

"Are you having second thoughts, Harry?" Ginny asked, trying to look into his eyes. "You seem deep in thought."

"What's that?" Harry seemed very distracted. "Oh. I suppose I am. Deep in thought."

"Well, are you, then?"

"Am I what?"

"Are you having second thoughts? About the move, I mean."

"Absolutely not, Ginny." Harry replied. "I couldn't be happier about moving into our own place. We're all ready to go, aren't we?"

Their stroll through the garden had led them back to the house, and Harry was now anxious for them to be on their way. But before Ginny could answer, they felt a pop, indicating the arrival of an Apparated wizard. Or in this case, two.

Harry looked up into the smiling faces of Fred and George. "What are you two doing here?"

"We came to escort you to your new flat, of course." The grins on their faces belied the worry that sat on their minds.

Ginny grimaced. "Escort us?"

"Well," George started, "Mum wanted us to meet you at your flat, but –"

"– but we thought you wouldn't like THAT surprise, so we decided to meet you here," finished Fred.

Harry glanced at Ginny, and she nodded to him, indicating that she was okay with this. Then he took her hand and followed Fred and George, who had already gone into the house.

* * *

Stepping out of The Stout Yard, Ron glanced up and down the street. He and Hermione had decided they would go for a walk to see if they could find any remnants of magic use. His skill at seeing magical auras, or even traces of magical energy, was quite lacking when compared with Hermione.

He felt Hermione grab his hand and they started up the street. "I'm positive I felt something this way last time."

Ron just shook his head. "I don't know, Hermione. I just don't know. You know I can't judge these things."

Suddenly, Hermione pointed. "What's that?"

* * *

Harry had packed all his belongings in his old school trunk, and then cast a Reducing Charm on the whole lot. After all these years as a wizard, he still found it amazing that he could fit all his things in the palm of his hand, and now in his pocket. He assumed Ginny had cast the same charm on the things she was taking with her to the flat, as she came out empty handed.

"Ready, lovebirds?" Fred teased. He was standing by the fireplace, and Harry could see his fingers itching to toss the Floo Powder into the fire.

"Where's George?" he asked.

"Oh, he's gone ahead to make sure the flat is ready for you."

"Wait!" came a shout from the kitchen. A few moments later, Molly and Arthur came running through the door. "I need to give my baby a hug and a kiss." And then turning to Harry she said, "And take this stew. I'm sure you'll be hungry before long." She handed Harry a bowl, which seemed cool to the touch. He hoped Ginny knew the best way to heat it up, because he was quite sure he would be hungry later.

Ginny was rolling her eyes as her mother embraced her tightly, but Harry could see relief in her posture. He knew she was glad to be connected by fireplace. "Do you think I can carry Ginny over a Floo threshold?"

Arthur shook his head. "It's too dangerous. I'm sorry, Harry."

After endless hugs from Molly, and shaking of hands with his father-in-law, Harry nodded to Fred to toss the powder. Ginny stepped forward into the fireplace and said resolutely, "Potter Place." And with that, she was gone.

"You next, Harry," said Fred with a grin. "Don't want to leave your bride waiting, do you?"

Harry waved, and disappeared into the fire, followed by Fred.

* * *

With a few tears in her eyes, Molly looked up at Arthur. "Do you really think they will be all right?"

* * *

George was waiting anxiously, unsure how much longer it would be before his sister and brother-in-law arrived. He looked around the flat, put the last few finishing touches in place, and sat in front of the fireplace.

Whoosh!

Ginny tumbled out of the fireplace, calm and cool as always, and stepped aside to make way for Harry and Fred.

Once Harry and Fred had followed Ginny out of the fireplace, the four stood around; apparently they were all at a loss for words.

"Well, uh …" Harry started.

"You've done what Mum's asked. Can we be alone now?" Ginny was feeling a bit restive, anxious to have her husband to herself.

Exchanging knowing glances, Fred and George tossed some powder in the fireplace and left the couple to themselves.

* * *

Ron looked up, wondering what Hermione could possibly be pointing at. There was a building ahead, and the air around it seemed to shimmer, like the air around a fire. It was clearly magical, and Ron tensed as Hermione walked towards it.

"Just where do you think you're going?" he demanded, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from moving forward.

"Ron, I just want to see …" she replied, wrenching her arm away. "There's never been a history of magic in this part of the city. I've read all about it in The Secret Underground: London's Wizarding History. Someone's here, and I'm determined to find out who."

Ron followed. "Do you think … do you think it's Malfoy?"

"I'm not sure what I think. He's certainly in hiding, and who would expect to find him in Muggle London?"

As the pair neared the building, the air around them seemed to pulse with energy. Looking up and down the street to be sure no one was around, Hermione pulled out her wand. Before it cleared her pocket, sparks escaped the tip, and she shoved it right back. "There is definitely magic here. I wonder," she mused, looking at the list of residents at the buzzer, "who exactly lives here."

Ron glanced at the list. "Peters, Smith, Croam, Forsyth … I don't recognize any of these names, Hermione."

"Nor do I, Ron," she replied, "nor do I. But it has to be ONE of these people. The center of the energy is definitely this building.

"Floyd A. Croam. There's something odd about that name."

As usual, Ron looked at Hermione as if she were loopy. "Oh. Right. Like we have ever known someone named Croam."

"But, Ron, don't you see? It's an anagram."

"A what?"

"An anagram. It's when you rearrange letters in a word, or group of words, to create another word or group of words."

"You mean like Riddle did?"

"Exactly!"

"So what's Croam?"

"Draco Malfoy!"