Chapter VIII
Up, Up and Away
Daylight crept up over the trees and into the open windows of The Burrow. A morning symphony was filling the air. Frogs were the bass, mixed with a few tenors. Crickets, cicada, katydids and grasshoppers played the strings as the birds sang the soprano section.
The first to arise was Molly. She made her way down the stairs and began stirring about in the kitchen. If they were going to fly to Romania, then they would need a proper send off in their tummies. It would be a long time until their next meal.
Fleur walked in a few minutes later. "Good morning, Molly," she said in her French accent. Molly and Ginny had hated the way she talked for the longest of times. They considered her shallow and superficial. But times can change hearts. Seeing the way she took care of Bill and watching her fight with the best of them during the battle had won her the love of Molly and all of the Weasley's. Now, her accent gave Molly a warm feeling. It was like she had gained a second daughter.
"Please allow me to help with zee breakfast."
"Thank you, dear. We must get them fed if they are going to fly off. No one likes to fly on an empty stomach."
Arthur appeared a few moments later carrying his backpack. "Good morning, ladies," he said.
Molly turned and saw the backpack in his hands. "Where are you going, dear?" she inquired.
"I'm going with them to Romania."
"What!" she exclaimed. "We never discussed that."
"I'm sorry, dear," said Arthur. Just decided to do it. I'm only going to go as far as Romania. I want to talk to Charlie. I'll come back as soon as we see them off to Japan."
"This is kind of sudden," Molly said with a hint of annoyance. "But don't be too long. And try to be a little more considerate next time. I have enough to worry about without you gallivanting all over the place"
"Yes, dear," he replied averting his eyes, properly chastised.
Hermione and Ginny were the next to arrive in the kitchen. They were all dressed and ready. From appearances, they probably had been up for a while getting ready. You have got to look your best if you are going to fly across Europe with an open-air portkey.
Portkeys were not the most pleasant, enjoyable mode of transportation. They had their drawbacks. But, at times, they were the only choice available. Hermione, bless her, had learned a spell to deal with the possible nausea and discombobulation common to them. It was destined to get a great deal of use in the upcoming weeks. Travel was mostly an endurance thing of staying attached to the portkey for extended times. Fortunately, Mr. Weasley had sorted that out a bit, as they would soon see.
"Good morning, dears," said Molly. "I'll have you some food in a few minutes. "Sit down. There is juice and fruit on the table."
"Thanks, mom," said Ginny.
"Yes, thanks," echoed Hermione. "Where are you going, Mr. Weasley?" she then asked, noticing his clothes and backpack.
"I'm going with you, kids," he said cheerfully. "I want to see Charlie before you go. I want to be sure everything is on the up and up. Can't have you going into a hornet's nest in Japan, now, can we?"
Harry showed up just as Molly was serving up plates full of scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, biscuits and sausages to Arthur and the girls. He was dressed and ready.
He sat down, perhaps a little closer than one might think appropriate for eating breakfast, next to Ginny. They looked at each other and smiled, a definite sparkle in the eyes betraying the growing affection share between them.
"Good morning, Harry," said Molly as he sat down next to Ginny. "I'll have your plate fixed in a second." Fleur smiled at him, sensing the young love in them that still lingered between her and Bill.
"Where's Ronald?" asked Hermione sounding annoyed. Whenever she said Ronald, it generally meant she was either annoyed or mad at him.
"He'll be along. Had to use a reviving charm on him," Harry chuckled. "He is up, now."
Ginny and Hermione gave each other a knowing smile. Ron was always the hardest of th group to get moving in the morning.
Harry thanked Molly as she sat down a plate loaded with food in front of him. Ron finally showed up a moment later still looking a bit disheveled. "Bloody hell, Harry. Why'd you do that?"
"He's only looks half awake, Harry," Ginny snided. 'You better charm him again."
"C'mon, Ronald, it's almost time to leave," scolded Hermione. He knew by her tone it was best to be quiet and eat the food his mother was handing him.
Fleur and Molly joined the group. They didn't expect Bill, Percy or George anytime soon. They had been up late talking, and they had nothing pressing on their schedules. Everyone sat, enjoying their last breakfast together for who knows how long. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been gone for over six months. Now, they had only been back a short while, and they are already leaving again for an indeterminable time. It cast a pall of melancholy over the room.
"Well, family. And that means all of us," said Arthur, slapping the table with both hands. "It's is time to be off."
"Where are you going, Dad?" asked Ron.
"With you. I decided to go with you and visit a bit with Charlie," he replied.
"We're grown up, Dad," said Ginny. "We don't need a chaperone."
"Just let Daddy go," said Molly, having accepted the fact he was intent on doing so. "He works hard enough. A little fresh mountain air might do him some good. I'd go too if I thought I could trust Percy, George and Bill not to burn down our house while we were gone."
Everyone chuckled and they all got up to leave. Arthur led them out behind the house where a dilapidated, old sofa was sitting in the middle of the yard. "Okay, kids, climb aboard. Harry and Ginny squeezed together on one end. Ron and Hermione did the same on the other. This left Arthur a generous section in the middle to stretch out.
"Take care, dears," said Molly.
Yes, be careful," said Fleur as Hermione waved her wand over them, extending her comfort spell.
"Get ready, now," announced Arthur. "3, 2, 1…" There was a whooshing blur as they disappeared.
Fleur gave Molly a hug. Then the two of them went back inside to hope and wait for the safe return of all.
