Back to The Burrow

It was just starting to get dark. The clouds, which had been around all day, were starting to break up and the westering sun, sent golden beams through the breaks. At last the garden of The Burrow was quietening down and faint pops in the background told that the crowds were leaving. Harry was standing with his back to a tree, quietly drawing breath and watching Crookshanks in his ongoing fruitless pursuit of the gnomes. Harry was convinced that Crookshanks would be more surprised than the gnome if he ever caught one.

The afternoon had been slightly surreal. First there had been the funeral, but then, as they all went to the meal, George had pulled off the most amazing prank ever. Just as they were sitting down, there had been a loud bang and a cloud of smoke had rolled in to the awning. Fred had apparently walked out of it saying, "You didn't think I would miss out on my own funeral, did you?" and disappeared. It had taken at least ten minutes to revive Auntie Muriel. Percy had tried to sit down, only to find out there was no chair behind him and Molly Weasley had gone white. George and Ginny had watched, and both had been laughing and crying at the same time. Ron had spent quite a while trying to massage some feeling back into his hand where Hermione had gripped it so hard. If George had been trying to change the mood, he could not have succeeded better. From then on, a slightly lighter mood prevailed, and the meal turned into much more of a celebration for Fred than a sombre wake. Then as everyone was rising from the tables, there had been another bang and cloud of smoke, and a dragon had come hurtling out of it, chasing a woman in a shocking pink dress. There could be no doubt at all about which event this represented, and Kingsley Shacklebolt had almost choked on his last slice of apple pie. Everybody had spent the next half hour trying to prise the secret of how it was done out of George, but all he would say was that Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes would produce special made-to-measure illusions, and a range of standard illusions, commencing at Christmas.

The popping of people Disapparating and the swish of brooms overhead had subsided. A few bats were flitting in and out of the trees, competing with the swallows for flies as the breeze dropped away. Harry closed his eyes. He was deeply tired. The last week had taken its toll and he was almost out of emotions. It was as if he couldn't feel any more than he had felt. He opened his eyes and saw Professor McGonagall coming towards him.

"I will take my leave of you now, Mr. Potter. I assume you will stay here tonight, and return on Sunday evening. Try to relax a little. You… we… both need to do so. It has been a very trying week. You have done exceptionally well."

"Thank you, Professor. Are you all right though? I think that no-one has been making sure how you were feeling and I think that it has been hard on both of us."

"Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Potter. It would be true to say that I have felt the emotion of the week and the loss; however, I have been through this before after the first war. It will pass, and I have the support of the staff at Hogwarts. I will ensure that a fire is available for you to Floo into. I will see you on Monday. Make sure you are not late."

With that final admonition, she Disapparated.

Harry stayed where he was. He was feeling alone and bitter, inadequate and ashamed. He had done so much and gone through so much over the last year. No one understood that. They had only seen the end. Everyone wanted to thank him, yet no-one seemed to understand his sense of loss, or the feeling he had that he should have done more. He knew that it was too late to change anything, but he bitterly resented people expecting so much of him and just… not understanding. Suddenly, he looked at what he was thinking, and mentally withdrew part of that. There was only one person who could understand. He smiled softly and sadly to himself. She too had undergone a really traumatic year too. He hadn't been much help to her either. She had suffered and lost friends and family too.

The losses and the funerals of the last week kept intruding into his mind. He sank down against the tree, eyes hot and prickling with tears. He really felt for all those people and their families, especially the Weasleys. He had known them for long enough to really understand how devastated they were, and it coloured his feelings for the other families. He sat there, hating what the war had done to everyone… and to him.

The stars were just starting to prickle the sky when a voice called, "Harry… Harry?"

"I'm here," he called back.

Footsteps approached him. He didn't have to look up to know it was Arthur Weasley.

"I wondered where you'd gone," he said. "Come in and have a cup of tea. That's what everyone else is doing."

He looked at Harry. "Why is it that those that do the most feel the greatest pain? Why is it that everyone has suffered yet only a few are recognised? Why couldn't we all have done things better, or differently?"

Harry looked up at him, his eyes misty still, yet seeing something of Mr. Weasley he hadn't seen before. "I know… hardly anybody seems to get that," he said.

"And now you're wondering how I get it?" Arthur Weasley asked.

Harry nodded.

Mr. Weasley sat down beside Harry. "Well… there are several reasons. Firstly, I felt much as you do now after the first war. We all wished we had done so much…differently. We all felt as though we didn't deserve to be alive when others were dead. We didn't deserve a chance of happiness when others had loss. In that respect nothing has changed. You were recognised then, even though no-one had ever met you, for something that I know is still incredibly painful to you and which you can barely remember."

"Dementors can bring it back," Harry interrupted.

Mr. Weasley nodded and went on, "You've been fighting battles for years. You've saved Ginny, Ron and me as well as many others. You're wondering why you couldn't save Fred too. After the first war, there was a feeling of both euphoria and anticlimax. There was no battle to bring things to a close, and there was no massive loss of life in one place and one time. Everyone mourned their losses over a longer space of time, and separately. But for a lot of people, particularly for the Order, the first war never really ended… there was just a gap in the middle. Now there has been one climactic struggle, and a real closure. He-Who-Must-Not… er… Voldemort is dead, and there's a body to prove it. You and Dumbledore brought this about… oh yes, I know you had a lot of help… you needed all the help you could get and any right-thinking wizard or witch knows that and would have done all they could. You however, alone in the wizarding world, never had any choice, and your path was laid out for you almost before you were born. You were just thrown into the front line, like it or not. It would be surprising if you didn't feel the strain of that, or feel the losses very personally. And you would feel that no-one understands, because in truth very few people do, or ever will. How could they? All they see is the person that finally got rid of… er… Voldemort. They can never know what this has cost you. All they can see is what it's cost them, and what you've given them. That's not entirely their fault, though they could get some idea if they thought about it for long enough. They haven't known you for the years we have."

"What makes you say all this?" Harry asked.

Mr. Weasley grinned. "Well, if you think about it, we talk a lot in our family. Ron and Hermione have told us a good bit of what last year was like. George and Percy… and Fred, rest him well, used to talk a lot about you. I learnt a lot from what they said, and probably more from what they ididn't/i say. Lastly, you may remember that I have a daughter, who has hardly stopped talking about you this last week—oh, don't look so worried. She's been mostly talking about the things you had done over the last year. She said that you were feeling really badly about the battle, and what went on, all the things you had to do. She also privately told me and her mother about the forest. We haven't told anyone else though, and I suspect she hasn't told us the full story, either. We won't tell anyone else unless you ask us to either."

"So you think…"

"No. Before you say it, I don't think you could have done any more than you did. I don't blame you at all for Fred's death. And I'm also happy if Ginny wants to go out with you, before you say anything. You're a good person, Harry. You're honest, trustworthy, a true friend, brave… and no, I'm not trying to embarrass you. I am truly aware that if it wasn't for you, neither Ginny nor I would be alive at all. A lot of others would also certainly have died. And I think I can understand a bit about what you feel."

Mr. Weasley got to his feet and stretched out a hand to Harry. "Now what do you say to that cup of tea?"

Harry took Mr. Weasley's hand and was pulled to his feet. He didn't let go for a second. He swallowed an uncomfortable lump in his throat.

"Mr. Weasley… thanks… for everything," he gulped.

Mr. Weasley grinned at him slightly, and then pulled him into an awkward, but nonetheless strong hug for a second.

"C'mon, lad, lets get indoors."

They went into The Burrow and found Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen. She went into full motherly mode almost instantly.

"Harry dear, where have you been? We've been a little worried…"

"Now, Molly," Mr. Weasley interrupted. "Why don't you pass Harry a cup of tea? We'll let him tell us what he wants, when he wants to. He and I have been having a nice chat and the most important thing for him is just to be allowed to come to terms with this last week, don't you think?"

"Of course… Harry, here's your tea. Sit down and drink it while it's hot."

Harry sat down at the table next to Ginny, who looked at him.

"You're doing it again," she said, very quietly.

"What?"

"Shutting everyone out."

"Yes. I know I am a bit. I'm sorry. I don't want to shut you out. I know I've got to try to start sharing. It's hard though. I don't really know how."

Ginny put an arm round his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Well, you could try telling me how you feel… not this second, but when you can work it out," she whispered.

Harry nodded and slipped his arm around her waist.

"Thanks… for understanding," he whispered back. He leaned back on the sofa, picked up his tea with his free hand and sipped it.

"I'm still trying to get used to the idea that I can decide what to do tomorrow for myself," he went on. "I've sort of got used to having my choices made for me… or rather, to having no choice. I need to have something to go on for. Part of me just wants to go and hide, part of me just doesn't want to be bothered with anything and part of me is a bit frightened of the future."

"What do you want to do tomorrow, anyway?" Ginny asked. "And what do you mean 'go on for'?"

"Well, I'm feeling really down. Your Dad and I had a chat about it, and what he said made lots of sense, but it still doesn't get me past how I feel. I felt really bad today, too."

"We all did… still do," Ginny acknowledged. "I still find I want to cry a bit every so often. I still seem to catch Fred out of the corner of my eye, then when I turn…" She sniffed a little, and rapidly rubbed her hands over her face. "So… what shall we do tomorrow?"

"Well… I don't know," Harry said, frowning. "I want to do something completely different."

"Didn't you say that Kreacher had told you that Grimmauld Place was a bit of a mess?" Ginny asked. "Why don't we go and see what needs doing?"

Harry pondered this for a minute. "We'll need some help. Death Eaters are bound to have set some traps for me last year in case I came back. They may still be working."

"Bill?" asked Ginny. "He's specialised in curse breaking, so he should be able to help. He'd never have walked away from Silbury Hill if he couldn't spot a trap."

"Bill would do, yes," Harry replied. "What did he do at Silbury Hill?"

"It was one of the first jobs he did for Gringotts," Ginny answered. "I remember him coming home and telling Dad all about it. He had to find the source of the charm that was keeping the grave sealed. It had been trapped all over the place. The Muggles still don't know that it was even a grave, and they've dug all over it. There were dozens of anti-Muggle charms that he just left in place, as they weren't going to harm anyone."

"Okay, then," Harry said. Then loudly enough to be heard, "Bill, will you be able to spare an hour or two tomorrow? I want to go over to Grimmauld Place and I think I may need help if the Death Eaters left any traps there."

Bill looked up from the conversation he was having with Charlie. "I think so," he replied. "Fleur and I had no plans. We were probably going to be here anyway. I think you're right about the traps, too."

"Can I tag along too?" asked George.

Harry looked at him in surprise. It was the first thing George had said all evening. "Of course," he said.

"Good," George responded. "I've got a bit of an eye for traps too. We… Fr… in the shop, we designed several trigger hexes and detection charms to go with some of the stuff, so I've an idea what we might find. We… I… learnt a lot about Muggle traps too… just for background, you know. Might pick up an idea or two as well. Besides, it could be fun. Never knowing what you're going to find next…"

"Hermione and I'll come too," Ron interjected, looking up from the game of Wizard chess that he was playing with Hermione.

"Okay, six should be more than enough," Bill said. "Too many people means too many chances of someone setting off a hex."

"So six of us then," said Harry. "Leaving here, what, about ten?"

Everyone agreed to that, and Harry leaned back into the sofa again. He spent the rest of the evening just enjoying the comforting weight of Ginny's head on his shoulder and … just being with her. Ginny showed no sign of moving either until at about eleven, she said, "Harry, I think I'm going to go to bed. I'm exhausted."

Harry nodded, and moved so that she could disentangle her arm from his. He kissed her goodnight and watched her head for the stairs. Everyone else seemed to take this as a cue to go on, and Harry himself headed up to the room he and Ron shared.

Harry thought he had only just fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door. Ginny poked her head round just as Harry was reaching for his glasses.

"Get up, dopey. It's nearly nine," she called. "Even Ron's up."

Harry looked across at Ron's empty bed to see this astonishing truth. "Wha'? Uh… okay. I'll be down as soon as I shower."

Ginny came and sat on his bed. "Don't I even get a good morning kiss?" she asked, chirpily. She leaned over and kissed Harry thoroughly. "Now you should be properly awake."

"You could say that, yes," replied Harry, who had indeed become very awake at this point. "See you in a few minutes."

Ginny got up and left, turning round to wiggle her fingers at Harry from the door. As soon as she had gone, Harry got out of bed and headed for the shower.

Fifteen minutes later, and properly awake, Harry got to the breakfast table to find everyone who was still at home tucking into their breakfast. Ron was halfway through a large plate of egg, bacon and sausage.

"'Ornig, 'ate," Ron acknowledged.

"Morning to you too," Harry replied. "Is that your second or my first that you're ploughing through?"

Ron looked hurt and swallowed hugely, "Like I'd nick your breakfast… and it's my first actually. I wasn't going to let it go cold."

Harry looked across at the clock on the wall. He hadn't really looked at it yesterday, but now saw that all the hands were either at 'Work' or 'Home'. He breathed out slowly. The last time he had checked that clock, every hand had been pointing at 'Mortal Danger'.

"Here you are, dear. Don't let it get cold."

Harry started as Mrs Weasley thrust a plate of food nearly as large as Ron's under his nose.

"Thanks."

Breakfast was soon over. Everybody had been discussing what they might find at Grimmauld Place. They had come to no conclusions other than that it would be necessary to be very careful. Bill had been reminding them of some of the safety charms they would need, including Protego and Revelio Homenum. Hermione had wanted to bring along a couple of books, "just in case", but had been discouraged by Bill pointing out that there would probably not be enough time to check a reference. Ginny was sitting and watching Harry, looking as though she was enjoying herself. Harry had to remind himself that most of the charms and anti-jinxes that Bill was going over had been ones that Harry himself had taught the DA, so Ginny was probably looking forward to a chance to show off what she had learned. They all agreed that it was likely that the Fidelius charm on the place had probably been broken, so they were going to Apparate to a nearby alley.

Shortly afterwards, there were six faint pops in the alley, and a scavenging cat looked round at the startling appearance of six people. All of them were dressed in Muggle clothes, though Bill had insisted on keeping his dragon-hide jacket and Hermione had brought her beaded bag. The cat tore off over some dustbins. One of them toppled over, making a deafening crash.

Harry led them out into the road and to Grimmauld Place. They walked into the tree-lined park opposite number twelve and looked over at the front door. They could all see it immediately, so the Fidelius charm was definitely broken.

"There's likely to be a curse on the door," Bill said. "This is when we start being careful."

They walked across the road, wands drawn and Bill went up the steps. With his back to the wall beside the door, he leant down, reached round and tapped the lowest corner of the door with his wand.

The door creaked open slowly. No curse came from the door. Nothing happened.

From the pavement, Hermione pointed her wand at the door and called out, "Aperio magia."

Still nothing.

"What was that?" asked Ron.

"Let the magic appear," she replied. "If there had been a curse there, the Aperio charm would have lit up. You must remember that. It's one of the few useful things we got from Fifth Year defence classes." She shook her head as if in despair.

Bill cautiously peered around the door. "Okay so far, I think," he called. "Come on up, but don't cross the threshold."

"We need to get inside as soon as we can," Harry said. "We're a bit obvious, hanging around on the doorstep and waving wands about." He went up to the door and looked down the hall. A cold draught filtered along the floor and bit into his ankles. The house had been empty for a long time, so he reasoned that this was not a surprise.

Bill stood beside him looking in. "The threshold isn't trapped or cursed. I thought it would be," he muttered.

"Okay, we'll go in," Harry replied. "Remember not to wake everything up. Talk quietly."

They all trooped into the hall. Ginny closed the door. "It's cold in here," she said.

The others looked round. "It's not too bad really," Ron commented. "Not as cosy as the last time we were here though."

"Let's see what we find," Ginny said. She started walking past Harry down the hall, looking round carefully. She looked back at him. "I want to find the first one," she said.

A slight movement on the wall panelling caught Harry's eye, and he heard a click. He reached forward and grabbed the back of Ginny's shirt, pulling with all his strength and taking her completely off her feet. As he did so, a heavy thump shook the hall as a long shining spike of metal flew across the room and embedded itself deeply into the panelling opposite at waist level.

"You get your wish. Just be careful, okay?" Harry said

Ginny was too shocked at what had happened to remonstrate with Harry for pulling her over.

Bill looked at the spike. "Silver," he said. "That would have killed anyone, wizard or not. How did you know, Harry?"

"I think I saw movement in the panel it came from. There's always been a hole there, and I thought something might be in it.

"So this isn't a new trap. It must have been here for ages. It's a wonder we never tripped it before, unless it was tied to the Fidelius charm, or something. More probably, it was re-armed by someone who knew the mechanism was here."

Ginny shivered. "Thanks, Harry. I'll be more careful," she murmured.

Harry said, "The dust curse has gone, too—the one that was primed for Snape. Someone's definitely been setting things up."

They went into the lounge and found nothing but a horde of Doxies back in the curtains. Harry grinned as he watched George looking covetously at the doxy eggs on the floor. Even George knew that this wasn't the time, though.

Back in the hall, Harry thought the draught was getting stronger. There must be a door open somewhere, he thought.

As they looked into the remaining ground floor rooms, they still found nothing amiss. The furniture had been moved or overturned and there wasn't a single drawer in the writing bureau that had not been emptied out. All the rooms were fearsomely messy but not dangerous. They started up the stairs and had just reached the first landing when Bill stopped them.

"I know what this reminds me of," he said. "This is like the Temple at Petra. It's safe while you keep going forward, but watch out if you try to turn back. I think we're going to come across something that will try to force us back. Doing that could trip other curses."

"There's another one just ahead of you, Bill," George said. "Muggle tripwire – look." He bent down and indicated a dull thread of wire crossing the landing. He carefully followed it and found the trigger. Unhooking the wire disarmed it. "Better find out what it's attached to," he said. He opened the door to the nearest room and another trickle of cold air ran along the floor.

Suddenly, Harry knew what the draught was.

"There's a Dementor somewhere about, I think," he called out. "Everyone think of their Patronus memory."

Ron cautiously poked his head around the door.

"Nothing here, just more mess," he commented.

George also looked round. "Tsk, Ronniekins. Look what you missed." He reached round and picked up a small egg-shaped object. "Muggle explosive, though it wouldn't have done much good where it was planted," he commented. "This is what was attached to that wire. Harry, why do you think we've only found Muggle-type traps so far?"

Hermione looked round. "How many wizards would even recognise a Muggle trap?" she asked.

George raised an eyebrow. "Fair point," he conceded. "I only know myself because of the reading I did in a Muggle book. We… I… felt it was stuff worth learning, even if it couldn't be used that often. I'm still surprised Death Eaters would consider them though. Think it was beneath them, probably."

"I think it's an indication of how much they wanted me, though," Harry added. "They've gone to a lot of trouble."

"Just keep your eyes open everyone," Bill said.

They walked on through the first floor, checking each room, but found nothing else. They were just about to go up to the second floor when Bill stopped them.

"Careful," he said. "There's a trigger charm on the second step… and the fifth. If you look carefully, the dust hasn't settled there like it has on the other steps."

"What's it going to do?" asked Ginny.

"Don't know, yet. Hang on while I check."

George stepped forward, looking at the second step. "Don't bother," he said, a large grin spreading over his face. "This is a Weasley product… watch."

He picked up a small piece of paper from the floor, pointed his wand at it, screwed it up and tossed it onto the step. Instantly a small black whirlwind appeared, and the paper vanished. The whirlwind stayed visible for a few seconds and then faded away.

"Allow me to introduce you to the Weasley Whirlwind variable portkey," he said. "This is unlike any portkey ever made. With this portkey you can set it for a specific location or set it totally at random and it's completely re-useable. Confuse your friends and lose your enemies. Eighteen galleons a pop. Bargain."

"But where is the charmed key?" Hermione asked. "Surely with a portkey you need an object to act as the key?"

"Ah, that's the major selling point. This version is potion-based. Pour it over any object – in this case a stair carpet, and there you go. Almost undetectable too. It doesn't respond to the normal portkey revealing charms. Comes with a reversal potion too, so that you can bring back the person or object you portkeyed remotely."

"Okay," Bill said. "Enough of the sales talk. How do you get rid of it and also, can you tell where it was set for?"

"Can't tell where it was set for. Only the person that sets it knows that. It has to be inside mainland Britain though, as it won't cross seawater. Safety feature. Probably some Death Eater's place, I should guess. They wanted Harry pretty badly," George replied. "Getting rid of it is easy."

He drew his wand, pointed it at the step and said, Voto meari"

George screwed up another piece of paper and tossed it onto the step. Nothing happened. "There you go, simplicity itself," he said. "Also, it can't be reactivated now." He stepped onto the second tread to prove his point.

"Still leaves the other one though," Ron said.

"Not one I recognise," George replied. He stepped back.

"The step's just a trigger," Bill said. "The actual trap's at the top of the staircase." He waved his wand in a complicated series of passes and twirls, muttering quietly. Steely-grey sparkling light flickered briefly around the staircase and a silver dagger appeared. It was hovering three feet above the top step, the point moving slightly from side to side. From the handle, a snake's head emerged, and the head was moving, watching them with glittering black eyes.

"Don't, for Goodness' sake, trip it. It's a Poison Assassin, a really deadly Dark object. It's a venomous snake that has been partially transfigured. It carries a pursuit curse too, so that it will chase anyone who sets it off until it stabs them. If the blade doesn't kill, the venom will."

"So how do we stop it?" Harry asked.

For answer, Bill took off his jacket. "Dragon hide's stab-proof, and bite-proof," he said, grinning. He started up the stairs, carefully avoiding the fifth and tossed his jacket over the dagger. Instantly, the dagger started shaking, trying to throw off the jacket, but Bill quickly bundled it up and brought it back down the stairs.

"Help me hold it down," he said. "It's worse than a Bludger."

Harry was immediately on top of it, and they wrestled in to the floor.

"We've got to kill the snake," Bill panted. "Find the head."

They both started feeling for the head of the snake through the jacket, while trying not to let it go. The snake dagger twisted and turned under the jacket, trying to find a way out, vainly jabbing at the jacket.

Suddenly, Harry cried "Got it!" and started wriggling his fingers around the neck of the snake. After a struggle, he got both hands round it and twisted them sharply. The struggling eased and turned into fitful twitches. Eventually, they too stopped.

Bill carefully unwrapped the bundle of dragon hide, and they found the dagger with a limp snake's head. As they watched, the dagger dissolved, revealing a small green snake.

"Krait," Bill said. "I've seen them used for this before. Well done, Harry."

Harry nodded. "We'd better see if there's anything else up there," he said.

Before he could stand up or even move, a cold draught hit him, and he looked up to see two hooded figures floating towards him.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Ginny's Patronus exploded from her wand, hurling the Dementors back. He stood up, his own wand in his hand and glanced round at the others. They were all looking up, watching Ginny's Patronus as it chased the Dementors into a bedroom. Behind them were four more Dementors.

"Behind you!" he yelled. Then he added, "Expecto Patronum!"

Harry's stag burst from his wand, filling the room with clear silver light as it charged the Dementors down, hurling them down the stairs to the ground floor. Harry set his Patronus to follow them up as more cries of "Expecto Patronum" filled the landing. Four more Patronus animals chased the Dementors clear.

From behind them, Ginny yelled "I've trapped one!"

Harry spun round to find Ginny, a steely glare of concentration filling her face, holding her wand in a tightly clenched fist and fixing it on a point at the head of the stairs. In the angle of the landing, a Dementor had been cornered, unable to pass her Patronus to escape. Harry swung his wand round and hurled his Patronus to join hers.

"Ron, cover the stairs," he called. "Everyone else, pile them on."

Three other Patronuses joined his and Ginny's in pressing forward onto the trapped Dementor. It twisted and turned, unable to escape the rising pressure and started a high pitched wailing.

"We'll kill it!" Hermione protested.

"Pile it on. Don't weaken." Harry snarled venomously, his face hard with concentration. "Ron, you too."

Ron's Patronus joined the others, and all six of them were concentrating hard, though Harry was occasionally glancing round in case any of the other Dementors should return. The trapped Dementor was still squealing, its tones rising. Suddenly, it slumped down and the Patronuses were all over it. They all relaxed. The Patronuses vanished.

"Hermione, Ron, cover the stairs," Harry ordered. "Ginny, George, cover us."

Harry looked at Bill, "Should we check it?"

Bill nodded, but looked at the fallen Dementor with revulsion. He walked up the stairs with Harry, but as they got near to it, the Dementor seemed to somehow diminish under its stinking rags, the flesh from the one visible clawed hand shrivelling as though years of decay had suddenly been revealed.

Harry lifted a corner of the hood, revealing the ghastly head of the Dementor. It was grey, wasted and skull-like with a horny, lipless mouth. Harry folded the corner of the hood back, feeling sick.

"Dementors can't stand happiness," Bill said. "I've never even heard of one being killed before though. We might have found out something really important. None of our individual memories could do this, but six together… I don't think it's ever been tried. I've never known a Dementor to be trapped before either."

"That's partly this house," Harry explained. "Sirius once told me that even the walls were charmed to prevent anything entering or leaving. That's why you have to Apparate to the step. You can't Apparate inside any more than you can at Hogwarts. It's also down to Ginny's Patronus being strong enough to hold it… nice one, Ginny."

Ginny nodded briefly, but looked disgustedly at the remains of the Dementor. "What are you going to do with it?" she asked.

"I think we should leave it in the sun," Hermione interjected. "I read in Practical Applications of Defence that the sun destroys dead Dementors in less than an hour. That's why they are almost never found dead. There was no mention of how to kill one, though. There was only a discussion on Patronus charms and the life of a Dementor."

Bill levitated the body of the Dementor out through a window into the back garden of the house, and then turned back to Harry.

"I suppose we should check the rest of the house then," he said.

Harry nodded, and the search went on. They found nothing else but a series of Hurling Hexes in the beds and these appeared designed to annoy and injure rather than kill. Then they carefully made their way back down through the house. Bill had been mistaken in thinking that there would be several traps on retreat. Ron did find one, though: a Flesh-Stripping curse had been left in the kitchen lobby, designed to harm anyone leaving the kitchen. Bill laughed at it, and it took him less than a second to break it.

"They used these all over the Pyramids in Egypt," he commented. "I've seen dozens. They're uncommon over here though. Whoever planted this must have done some travelling."

"I don't think we've any realistic chance of finding out who it was," Harry said. "I don't really care as long as we make sure this place is safe. Do you think we could reinstate the Fidelius Charm and the Unplottable Charm, Bill?"

"The Unplottable Charm, yes," Bill replied. "I can set that up when I leave. I don't think we can use the Fidelius Charm though. Too many Death Eaters know of the existence of this place now. We'd have to find them and make them forget."

"If we can't do that, Harry's never going to be really safe until all the Death Eaters are rounded up, is he?" Ginny asked.

"Give me a week or so," George said, chuckling. "I think I've an idea or three."

"Ron and I can help you with the research," Hermione said eagerly. "It might mean inventing a new version of the Fidelius, or something. That would be brilliant."

Ron and George looked at each other. They both knew that Hermione would do anything to get involved in a new research project. This was meat and drink to her. They grinned and nodded at each other.

"All right, then," George rejoined. "The three of us can start in the morning. I think we've probably got everything we're likely to need at the shop."

"Books too?" Hermione asked sceptically.

"We may need Hogwarts' library for that," George replied. "I believe that if Harry, in his role as Saviour of the Known Universe, were to ask Professor McGonagall very nicely, she would let you use the library. At least we'll always know where to look for you. I can wangle a connection to the fire there from the shop."

Harry grinned. "I'll ask," he said. Hermione just huffed at George.

"So, what's next?" Ron asked.

"We clean the place up a bit," Harry replied. "George, you can have those Doxy eggs in the lounge… if you sort out the Doxies. There's Doxicide in the scullery cupboard. That fair?"

George nodded.

"Ron and I can start on the kitchen," Hermione said. "We should be able to repair enough crockery by lunchtime to be able to produce a meal."

"What from?" Ron asked curiously. "There's no food that's fit to eat in the house at all."

Hermione held up her beaded bag. "I had a chat with your Mum. She agreed with me that you'd get too grumpy to know if I left you without a meal until dinner. We packed a picnic."

"What do you mean, 'grumpy'? You have this habit of chewing my ears off if you don't get regular meals too, remember?"

"I'm allowed self-defence."

"So we'll leave the kitchen to you, then," Harry interjected, sensing a classic Ron-Hermione bickering match starting.

"What are you going to do?" Ron asked.

"I want to start on one or two of the bedrooms. This place won't be habitable unless there's somewhere fit to sleep in. By the way, Hermione, do you still have the portrait of Phineas Nigellus in that bag? I can re-hang the old blighter. Should make him happy."

Hermione looked into the bag, turning it this way and that to admit some light, eventually drawing out the portrait. It was still blindfolded. Phineas Nigellus had his arms folded and made no comment. He was clearly sulking. Harry put the portrait down facing the wall, and said with a slight grin, "When I feel like it…"

"What are you going to do, Ginny?" Bill asked.

"I'll be in the bedroom with Harry… I mean…" She flushed a brilliant scarlet that clashed horribly with her hair.

Everyone else was grinning broadly except Harry, who looked nervous. He was sure Bill was about to explode.

George looked at her. "I know what you meant to say. Did you know that when you blush, it clashes with your hair?"

"Why, you…" Ginny pulled out her wand, but Bill intervened even before Harry could react.

"Okay, okay… everyone relax." He pushed Ginny's wand arm down. "We don't need another war."

Harry said, "Let's get on with it. We only have a few hours. Bill, can you stay too, or do you need to get back?"

"I really ought to get back. I told Fleur that it wouldn't take long. Now that the place is fairly safe, you don't really need me."

Harry clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks for helping. I'm glad you were here."

Bill just shook his head. "I'll get back to that alley before I Disapparate. Don't want to scare the pigeons." He walked out of the door, turning to set the Unplottable Charm, and then waved as he passed out of sight.

"Let's get stuck in," Harry said. They all went off to the various rooms, George going with Ron and Hermione to collect the Doxicide. Harry and Ginny headed up the stairs to start on the other rooms. By the time Hermione called them for lunch, George had finished off the Doxies, Ron and Hermione had got the kitchen at least part tidy and Harry and Ginny had managed to sort out one room and make it habitable.

Hermione had brought enough food to feed them all well. Harry was sure that Mrs. Weasley had had a hand in that. There were pork pies, three sorts of sandwiches, chicken legs, biscuits and plenty of pumpkin juice. Hermione had managed to repair enough plates and mugs for far more people, and they had to share the table with an enormous stack of crockery.

"This is going to take a while," George observed. "It's not as bad as last time, with years of filth to wade through and Dark objects everywhere though."

"Kreacher had really got the place properly sorted out," Harry commented. "It was sparkling. This is all just surface stuff, though I think you're right. We'll be standing furniture up and moving papers for a while yet. It won't get finished tonight, but at least we'll have a good start. What we really need to do is to make sure no-one can get in again."

"I can put up all the charms we used to use around the tent," Hermione said. "That kept us safe. I know a locking charm for the door, too. It should be enough as a temporary measure."

"Better than what we have at the moment," Harry said.

"I can do an alarm charm if you like," George added. "We… I… there's one on the shop. Had to do that after the first raid. I can set it to make a noise here or wherever you want. At least we'll be alerted if anyone does get in."

"Good idea," Harry said. "Just make sure I know the counter-charm so that I can get in without having to ask you first, though!"

The five of them spent the afternoon clearing up. By six, they were all hot, tired and ready to call it a day. Harry called a halt and they trooped outside while Hermione set all the safety charms and the locking charm. George had established the alarm charm and set it as the final task. They turned and headed for the alley. "Back to the Burrow. Bags I the first shower!" Ginny said.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were waiting for them when they Apparated into the garden of The Burrow.

"Did you have a good time, dears?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Bill came by to let us know you were all safe and that the house was safe too."

Everyone went into the house, Ginny running on ahead to grab the shower. Harry moved to follow them, but Arthur Weasley touched his arm. Harry slowed down.

"I gather you had an encounter with some Dementors," he said quietly.

"Six," Harry replied. "They weren't any trouble. We did kill one though."

"Hmm, yes. That's what I wanted to talk about. You do know that some people in the Ministry could try to use that to stir trouble up, don't you? They could try to accuse you of brutality."

"Brutality to something that lives for fear and feeds off emotions, that wanted my soul? I'd want to know why they were there in the first place. They were there to kiss, if they could. Their hoods were all slightly drawn back. I saw them like that when a load of them attacked Sirius the year he escaped."

"Why did you think you could kill it?"

"Out of all of them, it was the only one we trapped. You know how slippery they are when they're faced with a Patronus. I wasn't sure it could be done, but we have to find some way of stopping Dementors permanently, not just chasing them off. You've told me how much their numbers have increased over the last year or so. So I thought I'd give it a try."

"Well I think you've actually found out something very useful. I'll mention it to Kingsley on Monday. I'll make sure that word of this is kept quiet until we know a bit more. Tell the others to keep it to themselves for a while."

Harry nodded, and they followed the others indoors.

Mrs. Weasley handed Harry a cup of tea when he got into the kitchen. "There you are, dear. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. I think the others are all lining up for the shower already. You've plenty of time. Did you get much done, and how is the place?"

"Well, it's better now," he replied. "There was an awful lot of mess, but we've made a good start on clearing up. There's still quite a bit to be done, but at least you could live there now. I expect I will some time."

Harry was rather startled by this thought. He had never had a place of his own. Everything he owned had always gone into his Hogwarts trunk, and he had never thought of anywhere particular as 'home'. Of course, Privet Drive had been a sort of home, but never really his. Hogwarts had been his true home over the last few years, but that was something he knew wouldn't last forever. He wondered what a proper home felt like. He hoped it felt like the Burrow always felt, but he had to acknowledge that, however much the Weasleys made him welcome, he still felt like a visitor. His mind wandered into thoughts and visions of what a true home would be like. There seemed to be a part of that vision missing.

He came back to reality with a bump, as fingers snapped in front of his nose.

"A Knut for your thoughts?" Ginny asked. "You're miles away."

Harry swallowed hard. "I was wondering what a home felt like. I'm probably going to end up living in Grimmauld Place. I just haven't had my own home before… just places to be, really. It's a bit scary."

Ginny was startled at his openness. Then she realised what he had implied. He was afraid of being alone again. She ached for him, knowing that a family and a home had been something she had been able to take for granted, but was something Harry had never experienced. She remembered what Hermione had said just after the battle. iHe's never had anyone to feel love for before. /i She turned and sat in his lap, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him.

"Don't worry about it just now," she said. "Wait and see what time brings."

"Yeah, well I think time's already bringing it. Suppose I don't go back to Hogwarts to re-do the final year? Suppose I go to Auror training? Where will I live? What will I live on? I don't even know anything about how to do that. I've only ever known the Muggle way. I don't have a clue where wizards buy food or anything. There are too many questions that I don't know the answer to. Like I said—scary." Harry shuddered slightly.

Ginny couldn't think of an answer to this. So much of this was something that she had always known. She thought this must be like asking her to go and live as a Muggle. She wouldn't know where to start.

"You know you can always ask me, don't you?" she said. "You could ask Dad or Mum too. They wouldn't think it was silly, or anything."

Harry nodded.

"I'm lucky to have your family to help me, I know that," Harry replied. "I'd be stuck without them. I'm lucky to have a girlfriend to help me too."

Ginny changed the subject suddenly.

"How long can you stay for?" she asked.

"I've got to be back tonight. I'll have to sort out my robes for tomorrow, and everything. I ought to let Professor McGonagall know I'm back, too. I suppose I ought to leave at eight or half past."

"Can I come with you for some of next week?"

"Please. As much as you want. Did your Mum and Dad say you could or not?"

"They haven't yet. I know Mum will want me for tomorrow, but I hope that she'll let me come for the rest of the week. I want to be with you. I missed you, last week."

"I missed you, too."

Ginny snuggled closer. Harry felt a deep surge of happiness that Ginny wanted to be close to him. That she wanted to be with him at all was something like a miracle to him. He tightened his arm round her.

Ron turned round and winced. "Oy, you'll put us all off our supper."

Mrs. Weasley glanced round at them and turned away. Harry was sure he had seen a slight twinkle in her eye. Still facing the sink, she said, "Ginny, do you think you or Ron should lay the table?"

Ginny grinned at Harry and kissed him lightly on the nose, before sliding off his lap and going over to fetch a tablecloth and cutlery. She passed them to Ron and said, "Off you go, then." She sat back down on Harry's lap. Ron shrugged and started laying the table, muttering under his breath.

George looked up from a book he was looking at and said, "Now, now, Ronniekins. Is that a nice thing to say? You're right, though. Harry may well be the Saviour of the Known Universe, but we still have to make sure we look after our little sister properly, don't we?"

Harry winced internally. He had been afraid of the brothers' reactions. He was also waiting for the explosion from Ginny.

It never came. Ginny just looked at Harry and whispered, "I'll deal with them later, in my own way. They just need to learn that I'm a big girl now. They also need to learn that interfering is uncomfortable."

The corners of her eyes crinkled slightly. It was a look Harry knew and loved. She was plotting something.

Supper came and went, and time with it. Before Harry knew it, eight o'clock had passed. Harry hated the clock for reminding him that he had to leave Ginny again. Harry went over to the fireplace to see if there was any Floo powder. He had been half-hoping that Mrs. Weasley had run out.

As he stood there, Ginny went over to her father.

"Dad, when can I join Harry at Hogwarts and keep him company at the funerals?" she asked.

Mr. Weasley looked up. "I did say you could do that this week, didn't I?" he replied. "I would like you to spend one more day here to help your mother, but unless Mum disagrees, I think you could go on Tuesday afternoon. I know we will be seeing you on the Thursday anyway." He looked at his wife. "Do you want to add anything, Molly?"

"Where will you be able to stay, with Hogwarts in such a mess?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Well, technically, it's still term time, so I can still use my dorm in the girl's wing. It was pretty much untouched." Ginny replied.

"Very well, then. You can leave for Hogwarts on Tuesday afternoon." She looked up at Harry. "You'll make sure she's all right?"

"Of course," Harry replied. "Thank you. I'm very pleased she can come. I… er… I'll be glad… um… to have the company."

Molly Weasley looked at Harry. Apparently she was pleased with what she saw, as she smiled slightly. Given all that had happened recently, Harry was surprised that Mrs. Weasley had allowed Ginny to come. Molly was still very protective of her family.

Harry went and said his goodbyes to everyone, kissed Ginny thoroughly and then Flooed back to Hogwarts.

Walking into his dorm, Harry was greeted by Tinka, who dropped her usual curtsey, then bowed.

"Tinka has just put Master Harry's clothes ready for tomorrow. Did Master Harry enjoy his visit? Did Master Harry see his Kreacher?"

"Thank you, Tinka. Yes, I did enjoy my day off, and no, I didn't see Kreacher. I expect he's doing really well. If there had been a problem, I'm sure Mistress Tonks would have let me know."

"Tinka hopes he is doing well."

"I think you miss him, Tinka. I know I do, but I'm glad he can help Mistress Tonks just for now."

Tinka looked at Harry shyly. "Tinka does miss Kreacher. Kreacher is a good elf and does his Master's bidding. Tinka is proud to help look after Master Harry."

Harry didn't know quite what to make of all of that, so he just nodded. Tinka finished hanging up the clothes and bowed herself out. Harry sat down on his bed. There was no-one else in the room. Neville was apparently still at his Gran's. He went over to the window and looked out. There was no-one in sight. All he could see was a coil of smoke drifting from Hagrid's chimney. He sat on the window sill, watching the dusk draw the colour from the trees and leave everything a purple gray.