Disclaimer: I am not JKR and will not pretend to own Harry Potter and its characters.
Chapter 7: The Visitor
After breakfast, Harry was seen playing with Ted on the floor of the living room, while Andromeda was working in the greenhouses. The two male occupants of the Nursery were surrounded by toys. There was a mix of magical toys, which Harry was seeing for the first time and muggle toys, which Harry was touching for the first time. It was as much Harry's playtime as it was Ted's. There was a constant stream of gibberish coming out of Ted's mouth and he would often look at Harry, as if to check if he was still there, show him the toy in hand and go back to playing. This whole action always made Harry smile and feel unadulterated love towards his godson. It was easy to see that Ted had Harry wrapped around his finger. It was this beautiful interaction that Andromeda and Kreacher observed from the backdoor. They both were smiling at how easily the two boys had bonded and also felt relieved that Harry was coming out of his depressed state and was finally enjoying himself.
"Keech...Keech...KEECH", a loud screech interrupted the Nursery. Everyone's attention was grabbed by this loud screech. Harry and Andromeda grabbed their wands as Kreacher grabbed Ted in his arms. They all moved towards the front door, ready to fight off any death eater that might have encroached on their territory. Harry opened the door and was ready to duck any spells coming his way and firing at the same time. But there was no spell flying towards them.
"Keech...Keech" the screeching continued.
"Harry! Over there", Andromeda said pointing towards the large tree, where Harry had been one night back. "It seems like the wards are working and have been able to keep unwanted attention out"
Harry, Andromeda and Kreacher started to walk towards the tree on foot, while Ted was hanging onto Kreacher's neck.
As they approached the tree, they still could not see any signs of any unwanted company. There was no order member or any death eater to be seen in miles. What had disturbed the peace of the Nursery and was still screeching.
Andromeda lowered her wand sensing no trouble but Harry, having just gone through an adventure of a lifetime was still being cautious in his approach to the tree.
There was no one in sight and nothing to see when they reached the tree. The source of the screeching was not to be found, leaving the four very confused and paranoid. Harry was thinking that the Nursery wasn't as safe as he thought it to be.
"There, Master Harry" said Kreacher pointing to the tree.
Harry and Andromeda followed Kreacher's finger to the third level of branches on the tree and hidden in the leaves they were able to spot something black, which looked a lot like the end's of a death eater's robe. Spurned into action on the off chance that it was a death eater, Harry decided to act before thinking.
"Stupefy" a red beam met its intended target in the leaves. A whine was heard before there was a thud as the victim now stunned was not able to hold on to its grip on the branch and fell to the ground, hitting the exact spot where Harry had slept last night. The victim lay sprawled on the ground motionless a few feet away from the foursome.
Ted was excited on seeing Harry perform magic and Kreacher was finding it very tough to keep the black-haired and green-eyed boy form bobbing up and down in his arms.
Harry moved to the stunned body and suddenly felt very guilty about firing the stunning spell. On seeing the body on the floor, Andromeda bursted out laughing.
"Harry...u took mad-eye... too...seriously" said Andromeda between laughter. Harry looked embarrassed at his actions. "Harry...u just stunned...
-
Hogwarts
"Minerva, we have done everything we could possibly have done. He's no where to be found. We can't possibly delay everything on the mere hope that Harry will be back. There's a huge chance that he has run away from England or even worse. We all know how emotional he is. He was in the dumps with the deaths of his close ones. Just imagine the hurt when the girl he gives his heart to breaks it in the manner that she has." Said the temporary minister of magic.
"I know that Kingsley, but it just feels wrong to go ahead with the funerals and all the memorials without Harry. He is after all our saviour" replied McGonagall
"But think about the dead and their families. It won't do their sacrifice justice, if we do not perform the last rites soon and just let their bodies rot. I think Harry would understand."
"Okay, you are right. How can I help you with the arrangements?"
"Why don't you write to the families of the Hogwarts student, meanwhile I will take care of the rest? As for the ground arrangements, those can be taken care of by the Order."
"That sounds fair. So any news about the remaining death eaters?"
"We have rounded most of them and are currently in talks with other countries to catch any that have fled from the country. I am planning to ask the french ministry to even look out for Harry, considering he only knows about that country outside of england to have a large magical community."
"Seems like a good idea. What has happened to the Malfoys?"
"Lucius is in with a missing limb. He got hit in the cross-fire. Narcissa and Draco are in the ministry holding cells. Narcissa seems to be of the opinion that she helped bring about the downfall of Voldemort by helping Harry."
"That sounds preposterous at best."
"True. But I still need to talk to Harry and his friends to fill me in about the missing parts."
"Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger will not talk to you without Harry. There loyalty to Mr. Potter while commendable is very infuriating in this matter. Let's just hope you have more luck than me. I'll start off on those letters and invites for the memorial if that is all"
"Yes Minerva, I'll be off. A lot of work to be done at the ministry. Give my regards to the others. Take care. Thank you for your time."
"Always a pleasure Kingsley"
A/N: Well that's one more chapter done. Let me know what u think. I know it was mean of me to divert from the Nursery to Hogwarts. But it gives me an opportunity to ask my readers another question.
Who/What did Harry stun at the Nursery?
Also would like to know what ull thought abt the name Nursery. So till next time. Take Care and Happy Reading.
