Ginny balled up this morning's edition of the Daily Prophet and threw it into the fireplace. A loud scream and curses about Minister Selwyn rattled off the walls of Grimmauld's sitting room. She had just read about the new tax that the Minister had pushed through the Wizengamot. It was a flat tax. The Financial and Commerce Department had done a study and determined that operating the Ministry and providing services to the magical community costs the equivalent of one thousand galleons per magical person per year. The Minister and his pinheaded wisdom have thus demanded that each individual pay their share.
Magical businesses were not forgotten in this mockery. Each business that sold magical goods or operated in any solely magical area had to pay a tax of five thousand galleons a year. They had dropped all the taxes on property owners because these new taxes would be sufficient to operate the Ministry in black ink.
Most of the magical families in Britain would not be able to pay these taxes. The injustice of it was a young family of four while trying to run a shop anywhere in Britain would be liable for nine thousand galleons a year in taxes. That is more gold than many of them make, and even if they could afford it, it would leave them so poor they would have a hard time feeding and clothing their children. What would happen to the families that couldn't afford the taxes, would the Ministry forbid them from using magic, or would they put a lien on their homes and eventually throw them out in the street. The sheer heartlessness of this latest development has her blood boiling. Some of the greatest wizards and witches in the history of Britian have started out poor, and many remained poor because they didn't value money. Unlike these greedy sods that are running things now.
Ginny ran up the stairs to her study. She grabbed a piece of parchment and started writing a letter to the Goblins at Gringotts. She needed to contact them about the Harry Potter Memorial Fund. It had been created to help victims of the war with Voldemort. Many of the people who had received money paid it back after they got back on their feet financially. The fund was not set to be a loan service demanding repayment, but they were so grateful that they did it anyway. The fund was now the largest vault in Gringotts, and she was the trustee over it. Now that the Ministry wants to bankrupt most of magical Britain, she's going to reassign the use of the funds. She has more than enough gold in her personal vault to last her a lifetime, so this will be no hardship for her. Even if she must give all the gold out of her personal vault she would. She grew up poor and finds no shame in it.
After sending the letter to Gringotts, she walked back down to the sitting room. It was a bland overcast day. One that was neither warm nor cold. It wasn't raining, but the sky was a solid layer of pewter coloured clouds. She had thought about flying today, but the lousy weather made her want to do nothing but sit inside and read. She curled up with a textbook in her favorite chair in front of the large window looking out over Grimmauld Square.
The Square had changed dramatically over the past five years. It had once been a forgotten bleak eyesore. Overgrown with old trees, rusting and broken park benches, and the lighting was terrible. It matched the rest of the Muggle dwellings surrounding it. In the past five years, it changed dramatically. It wasn't the most fashionable place to live in London now, but it was much nicer, brighter, and safer for the families living around there.
Four years ago, the Muggles cut down all the trees and took away all the old dilapidated benches and gates in the park. They even hauled in soil and planted grass in the square. They put in a playground, park benches, and good lighting. Now there were no dark sections of the street, and a bobby can be seen patrolling the streets all hours of the day. They even made the residents clean up their gardens and houses. There wasn't trash sitting around and the place was actually a cheery place to live. Ginny at times wondered if the defeat of Voldemort had affected Muggle life, if that was the reason why all this happened after he died.
Ginny sat there and read the textbook. It was the newest version of Standard Book of Spells Level Seven. She wanted to read it and the recommended Defensive Spells Level Seven, in the next two weeks. After spending most of the day reading, she had read a third of the book, and decided to rest her eyes and watch the children play outside on the playground in the fading evening light. She sat there in her chair watching them through the window, knowing that they couldn't see her. The original Fidelius Charm was broken years ago. She had a new one cast with her as the Secret Keeper.
As she watched the children, something caught her eye; a blind man was walking on the sidewalk across the square. She had never seen a blind man here before, so his presence fascinated her. He looked different, out of place in the present day Grimmauld Square, almost as though he might have lived here before the neighborhood was cleaned up. He had long light brown almost blonde hair and beard, and had a cloth of some type tied over his hair. He wore a long sleeved shirt that was unbuttoned and wasn't tucked into his ragged frayed jeans. He walked using a silver cane with a red tip, and he held an object in his other hand. He seemed to be looking for something.
He walked up the other side of the square and across in front of the houses to her left. At times, he seemed to stop and look right at her. It gave her a strange feeling as though he knew she was there, but that was impossible. He walked back the direction that he came from and stopped in front of a house. He walked up and knocked on the front door. After a time, a man came out and they spoke for several minutes. They kept pointing to things around this man's house and various places around the square. The blind man shook the other man's hand and walked back the direction he came from.
He suddenly stopped and looked directly at Ginny. She was positive that he was looking at her. He was directly across the park from her house. He turned and walked across the park on a straight line to her. She pulled her wand out from her robes and held it tight in her hand. She didn't know why she was so nervous, but this man's actions were upsetting her. He walked up to the front of her house and looked straight ahead. Then he did something that puzzled her, he held his hand out with his palm facing her house and moved it back and forth in front of him, as though he was feeling for something. He turned and walked to her left, while holding his hand, nearest to the house, up. He turned and walked from her left to her right while holding his other hand up. After passing by her property line, he stopped and looked directly at her and stared for several seconds. She couldn't positively tell because his long beard and dark glasses hid his face, but he looked like he smiled. He played with a little black box in his hand, before turning and walking away without looking back.
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Ginny checked her hair and makeup in the entrance hall's mirror. She was going to the Malfoy's tonight for a special dinner. Draco invited her yesterday and told her to dress up because there will be a dignitary from America present. This sounded like a perfect opportunity to listen in on conversations and figure out what Draco and his family knows. This was the first time she had been invited to Malfoy Manor, so she needed to make a good first impression.
Looking in the mirror a final time, she checked her hair once again. She had kept it shorter, but she doesn't feel like cutting it this summer, so she was going to leave it grow for now. It was half way down her neck in the back, and her bangs, which she kept brushed to the one side, just touch her eyebrows. She stood there staring at her reflection in the mirror contemplating the possibility of leaving her hair grow long again. Every time she considers this, she gets a sick feeling in her stomach from remembering him.
After brushing unseen wrinkles out of her elegant black Dress Robes, she stepped out onto the stoop and Disapparated. She landed and nearly stumbled on a dirt and gravel road. Draco had given her coordinates so she could Apparate outside of their wards. Pulling out her wand, she illuminated it and checked her robes.
"You look beautiful, Ginevra," said Draco. He was standing several feet away from her, hidden from sight by a clump of evergreens. "Father will be most impressed."
Ginny extinguished her wand and walked over to Draco. He was very handsome in his traditional black dress robes. His white blonde hair had grown long enough to form a short ponytail, like his fathers. Even in the dim light of the night, his pale face and grey eyes shone with confidence. He was very handsome, and could be quite charming when he wanted to be. The problem with him was you never know when he wanted to be charming and when he wanted to cruel.
"You are looking rather dashing yourself," Ginny told him. "I take it that I am on time for this event."
"Your timing is impeccable." Raising his right arm, he asked, "Shall we?"
"Yes, we shall." Ginny wrapped her arm around his and they walked toward his home. The manor was invisible at first, until they walked through the wards. Suddenly, she saw it sitting high on a hill in front of her. It was a magnificent building with several towers. It reminded her of a small version of Hogwarts. It must be four stories high and almost as wide as it is high. All rooms appeared to have torches burning, as the tall windows were all illuminated.
The gardens surrounding the house were impeccably manicured. They seemed to stretch as far as she can see in the nighttime. Rows of neatly trimmed hedges line the gravel lane that they are walking on and various sections of the garden. The summer breeze was scented with a variety of floral fragrances.
Ginny marveled at the elegance of her surrounding and didn't notice where she was until Draco stopped walking. The front door of the manor was emerald green with silver hardware, a true Slytherin's front door. Draco placed his free hand on the front door and took a deep breath before opening it.
Stepping into this grand house was just as breathtaking as the gardens. The foyer was a large open cube, with a staircase in the center of the back wall and carved double oak doors to rooms on three walls. The ceiling reached to the top of the second floor, and it was as wide and deep as it is tall. A roaring fireplace sat on their right hand side. They stepped in on the highly polished tile floor and closed the front door.
Lucius entered from one of the side rooms. He had a wide smile beaming from his face, as though he is extremely happy, until he saw Ginny standing in the entranceway.
"I told you I was bringing a friend, Father," said Draco forcefully.
Lucius looked down his nose at her and turned to Draco. "Yes – you did. I would like word with you," he said with a strained whisper. He turned and walked into the room he had just exited. Draco hurriedly started following him. Ginny still had a hold of his arm, and walked beside him unnoticed, until Lucius turned around in the doorway and noticed her.
"I meant. Alone!" He grabbed Draco's arm, and yanked him into the room and closed the door.
Ginny looked around and couldn't see anyone, but she didn't want to take the risk of getting caught listening to their conversation. She could hear them talking, but she unable to hear exactly what they were saying. After several minutes, they appeared again. Both Draco and his father had identical smirks on their faces.
"I must apologize for my rudeness; Miss – a – Ms. Potter." Ginny could hear the tension in Lucius' voice as he said the name Potter. "I am expecting an important guest tonight, a high ranking official from the United States Magical Government. I was a little surprised that Draco had invited you to an event that could end up being rather dry and boring for you."
"I understand!" replied Ginny, even though she doubted that that was the reason. "I will try to look interested, even during the driest of conversations."
"Yes, they may become that. Now, why don't we all go to the dining room and await our guest of honor?" Lucius raised his arm and indicated the room directly across the foyer from where they were standing.
As Ginny walked into the room on Draco's arm, his mother who was fussing over the table setting, looked at them and froze for a second before going about her business again. The room had a large banquet table that could easily seat twenty people, but there were only four settings around it. Almost on cue, two house elves entered the room carrying a chair and place setting for Ginny. Narcissa stood there and watched as the two House elves ran around the large table cleaning, and double-checking to make sure everything was taken care of.
This room also had a large fireplace with a roaring fire in it. Draco and she walked over next to the fire. There were portraits of ancestral Malfoys with golden frames adorning the walls of the room. The walls themselves were a dark wood and almost seemed to absorb the excess light. The table and chairs were made of the same wood. She was fascinated by this opulent show of wealth. It gave the impression that they are trying to intimidate their guests with their wealth, instead on making them comfortable.
Draco started to tell her about his relatives in the portraits, until a bang of the doorknocker sounded throughout the house. The Malfoys all looked at each other with shocked expressions, before straightening their robes and making sure their appearances were perfect. Lucius left the dining room for the front door. Ginny could feel Draco getting nervous about something. Whoever this guest was, they must be extremely important. The sound of the front door opening echoed into the room through the open doors.
"Good Evening, Mr. Jones. I hope you were able to find my house easily?" asked Lucius with a smooth oily voice.
"Yep, it wasn't any problem. Hell, can't miss a place this big, now can ya'," answered the guest. Ginny noticed he spoke with a funny accent and had a lisp.
Ginny tried to hear more of their conversation, but Narcissa hurried over and asked Draco if the wards were still up. He said that they were when he went out earlier. His mother looked shocked, and turned to await the arrival of this Mr. Jones.
Ginny heard their footsteps in the foyer coming closer to the dining room doors, but there was another sound, a light scraping sound. She tried to get an image of what an American would look like with that type of an accent, and an image of a large fat man with a wide brim cowboy hat and boots came to mind. When this mysterious Mr. Jones appeared in the doorway, Ginny's breath caught in her chest. He was the man that was looking at her from the street two days ago.
He appeared to have trimmed his beard and hair. They were both shorter. He had a beige hand-knit jumper on with hunter green trousers and brown leather shoes. He had the same glasses covering his eyes, and the same covering on his head. He stepped in the doorway and tilted his head to the left and right, before exclaiming, "This place sure sounds big!"
Draco smirked at his remark. His father and mother both leered at this man, who couldn't see them. He might make Ginny nervous, but they didn't need to be rude or mocking, just because he's blind.
"Mr. Jones, I would like you to meet my family," said Lucius, in an overly gracious voice. "This is my lovely wife, Narcissa." She walked forward and extended her hand to him. He moved his arm in a slow sweeping arc and found her hand and bent down barely touching it with his lips.
"A pleasure to meet such a fine British Lady, madam."
"This is my son Draco, who I am sure you have met at the Ministry." Draco then walked forward and shook hands.
"Ah yes, how could I ever forget Barrister Malfoy?"
"Narcissa, dear, is dinner ready to be served?" She nodded yes to him and he turned to the American. "Well, let us all sit down to a fine dinner then."
"What about her?" questioned the American pointing his cane towards Ginny. "Is she a guest or a servant?"
"That is my girlfriend, Ginevra – a – Potter." Ginny didn't miss the fact that he almost couldn't say her last name. She walked forward and raised her hand to Mr. Jones. Inside she was nervous and slightly scared, he gently took her hand and bent over to kiss it, but his lips or beard never touched her hand. When he grasped her hand, she noticed that he wore gloves of a smooth cloth almost the same shade as his skin. A feeling started to creep into her as he held her hand. It was a feeling of dread. There was something about this man that wasn't right.
Ginny walked to her place at the table, beside Draco, and sat across from this Mr. Jones. She looked at him. He appeared to be blind, but he seemed to be able to see or sense things that only a sighted person could. He knew she was standing by the fireplace, and she tried to be as quite as possible. There was a great deal more to this man than what you can see from his outward appearance.
"What is it you do for the American Government, Mr. Jones?" asked Ginny. She didn't think such a question would be inappropriate, but the all Malfoy's looked at her with a look of shock on their faces. The American seemed to hesitate and stare at her. A strange feeling, as though he was looking through her, washed over her. He held the stare for only a second, or at least Ginny thought he had.
"I am in law enforcement, sweety," he replied jovially. "I catch the bad guys." Lucius and Draco both smiled at this comment, but Narcissa glared at him with venom.
"Are you an Auror or a Hit-Wizard?"
"Neither actually…"
"Mr. Jones is one of the highest ranking members of an elite section of American Magical Law Enforcement," stated Draco with a pompous air. "He is presently here in England to help us find ways to improve our own Magical Law Enforcement Department."
By this time, the soup had been served. Draco, Lucius, and J.D. talked as they ate. He had insisted that everyone stop calling him Mr. and refer to him as J. D. While everyone was talking Ginny was watching this man eat. He first touched every utensil sitting around his plate. He then picked up a knife and the soupspoon and used them to feel where his plate, the location of his water glass, and teacup was. He did this without looking down and while he was talking and turning his head towards the person talking. He was able to eat most of his soup without spilling a drop, a feat that she can't always do. The salad was served and again with using his utensils to locate the food he was able to deftly and gracefully eat.
"Draco has repeatedly commented about how diligently you have been studying our Auror records for the report that is due in two days. What type of recommendations are you planning to present?" Lucius' question was direct and blunt. Draco stared at his father and looked shocked that he would say such a thing.
J. D. sat back in his chair and placed his utensils down beside his plate, before speaking. "Lucius, I am grateful that you have invited me into your wonderful home tonight for this delicious dinner, but you are not a member of the Ministry. I will not give you any information about my report; to do that would be a breach of ethics." When he said the word 'ethics', Lucius chuckled. "If that was your goal tonight, to get me to reveal to you my findings, then I will ask to be excused."
"No! That was not my goal. I am very interested though in what you have to say." Lucius leaned back in his chair and looked carefully at his guest. "While you have been in England studying our methods of Law Enforcement, I have been finding out a great deal about your methods." As Lucius spoke, the tension increased around the table. Everyone had forgotten the dinner and was watching the conversation with interest. Narcissa slowly moved her hand off the table and into her robes.
As Ginny observed this, she became torn between wanting to jump to this man's defense if the Malfoys were planning to attack him, and sitting back and letting the events unfold to gain their trust. He seemed to be oblivious to the change in attitude around the table.
"So that is what this dinner was about?" commented J. D. calmly. "I seem to run into to two types of people; one type are morbid admirers of my reputation, and the others want to employ me."
"Your reputation?" asked Ginny, for the second time that night she couldn't stop herself from speaking, but the way he said "reputation" felt ominous.
"Yes, Ginevra. His reputation." Lucius smiled as he spoke. "Mr. Jones is possibly the most powerful wizard to walk on English soil in five years."
Ginny felt a tug on her heart, when he mentioned five years, she knew that he wasn't talking about Harry. "Why do you say that," asked Ginny. Looking at the American, she continued the question, "How many people have you killed?" she asked with loathing in her voice. The American seemed to react slightly to her accusation, but he didn't say anything.
"Over forty-five," said Lucius. His voice was filled with admiration at this fact. Ginny heart sunk slightly at the thoughts of sitting at this table surrounded by people who worshipped the dark arts.
"All in the line of duty," was the American's reply. "I don't get sent out to find someone unless they have already killed someone. Most of the time, it was another officer. So, yeh, I have killed over forty-five people in the line of duty, but I have arrested and brought to justice more. I have stopped close to a hundred dark wizards and witches."
Ginny was shocked to hear that this man had arrested or terminated close to one hundred people. Most Aurors arrest maybe three or four suspects a year. "That is incredible. How many years have you been doing this?"
"Four."
"Only four years, America must have a terrible problem with Dark Wizards," she exclaimed.
"No, I work all over the world," chuckled J. D.
"In fact you don't work only for the United States Magical Government, but you also contract yourself out to other counties and occasionally individuals," said Draco. The statement was both a question and a statement.
"Yes, I do. Many of my assignments are sensitive in nature, and if I am thought of as a mercenary, then the USMG can deny that I am working for them." He was getting irritated by this time. Ginny could see it in his body language. He was sitting up straight with his back pressed against the chair's back. He had his left hand on his cane.
"Is that what happened in Mexico?" Lucius questioned him as though he was on a courtroom stand.
"I see that it is time for me to leave." He pushed the chair back from the table, and stood up. "I was on assignment from the USMG. They cleared me. I am goin' home. I do not find discussin' killin' and arrestin' demented wizards and witches to be fine dinner conversation. I will not satisfy your morbid curiosity."
"I am not the type of person who wants to hear tales of your exploits," said Lucius forcefully, as he also stood up. "I am the other type." The two wizards stood there for several seconds as Draco, Narcissa, and Ginny looked on anxiously. Ginny had truly found some information out, but she needed more specifics before she could say anything. She needed details, dates, times, places, and people.
"Y'all want to talk business, fine, but not here," he responded.
"Why don't we retire to my den for some after dinner conversation and drinks," said Lucius with an oily voice. Ginny and Narcissa sat there and watched as Lucius led Draco and J. D. out of the dining room and across the foyer to his den.
Narcissa pulled her wand out of her robes and laid it beside her dinner plate. Ginny sat there not wanting to eat, but to walk over and listen in on the conversation in the den. She picked at the roast beef on her plate while contemplating what to do.
"They may be in the den for quite some time. I will have Nob show you out," said Narcissa cooly.
Ginny didn't know what to do. She couldn't object without raising suspicion, but she didn't want to leave.
"Nob! Brin!" Narcissa shouted. The two house elves appeared on each side of her. She looked at one of them Ginny supposed it was Nob. "Escort Ms. Potter outside of our wards, and…" She never finished what she was going to say as a loud bang was heard from the den. "Go! Both of you! Help your Masters. GO!" she screamed at the elves. They looked at each other and cringed before disappearing with a pop.
Ginny jumped up, pulled her wand, and ran towards the double doors of the den. As she ran, sounds of curses hitting the walls could still be heard. Several of them rattled the windows of the house. She and Narcissa had nearly reached the doors when all sounds of fighting stopped. They also stopped running and tried to listen to what was happening, but they couldn't hear anything. Reaching out they both grabbed the handle on one of the double doors. They pulled the doors open at the same time and pointed their wands into the room.
What they saw shocked them, it was pitch black. No light from the hall was entering the room. All illumination seemed to stop at the doorway. It reminded Ginny of Peruvian Darkness Powder, but it wouldn't act like this. This darkness stops exactly at the doorway.
"This stunt is gonna cost ya there, Slick!" The voice of J. D. could be heard. "If the entire Mexican Law branch can't kill me, than what did yeh think yeh could do? Huh? Y'all are too full of yerselves. You ain't that good."
"But will you take the job?" asked the unmistakable voice of Lucius.
"Yeah, but it will cost ya four million galleons."
"I don't have that type of money!"
"Maybe not, but you can get it."
Ginny probed into the darkness with her wand, and watched as the tip of it disappeared into the inky blackness. "Hold it, Slick. Your ladies are joining the fight now." She suddenly realized that she was detected.
Lucius and Draco yelled at the same time that Narcissa sent a Stunner in the general direction of J. D.'s voice. Ginny also tried to shout Stupefy, but she felt her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth. Suddenly, the wands popped out of their hands and flew into the darkness, and a second later, her tongue became unstuck.
"I will be done with the report in two days. If ya want me to do yer dirty work, than yeh will have my gold by that time. If ya don't, then yeh can do it on yer own."
"I can't possibly…"
"Four days, Slick!"
Suddenly the darkness lifted, the light streaming from the room hurt Ginny's eyes. She couldn't tell if it was from staring into the complete blackness, or the light retained by a spell had built up and escaped all at once, but she was temporarily blinded. When her sight returned, what she saw in the room surprised her. Lucius and Draco were wrapped in some type of magical rope that shimmered as though it was made of diamonds. They lay in front of the desk on the floor, and J. D. was standing above them. He had no wand in his hand just his cane. Around the rest of the room lay ten other wizards and the two house elves. They were also wrapped with the magical bindings, but they had been affixed to the walls and, in some cases, the ceiling, as though a giant spider had wrapped them up and stuck them there.
"You two sweeties aren't gonna try and fight me? Are ya now?" questioned J. D. He was now walking towards them. "I have yer wands." He patted his front pocket of his trousers. "If ya let me pass, I'll return all yer wands to ya'."
Ginny stepped back and let him walk past. As she did, she looked at Narcissa. She had a look of fear on her face. This man had just walked into a trap and fought off twelve wizards and two House Elves in a couple of minutes, and he doesn't even look harmed in any way.
As he walked through the foyer and to the front door, Ginny was still rooted to the same spot. She couldn't comprehend what had happened. He should have been the one bound and lying on the floor, not Lucius and his henchmen.
"The wands will be in the front yard," said J. D. He pulled a clump of wands out of his front pocket, which had to have been magically enlarged. "Y'all have yerself a good night, now."
Even after he closed the door behind him, Ginny still didn't move. When she first saw him at home, she felt something. She wasn't sure if it was fear then, but now it is. This man was a hired killer, who masquerades as an Auror. If the Malfoy's can come up with the gold to buy his loyalty, who was he going to kill? Who would Lucius want killed bad enough to pay four million galleons? She needs to warn the Order. What will she tell them? It could possibly be the remaining Order members. Would they believe her without more proof?
Two loud thuds to her left shocked her out of her thoughts as the magical ropes disappeared suddenly. The two wizards who were attached to the ceiling fell to the floor. Two of the other wizards ran past her towards the front door. Lucius was standing there in the middle of the room giving orders to everyone.
One of the wizards returned from outside. "He is gone. Our wands are scattered across the garden. Sir."
Lucius stopped giving orders and stared for a second before smiling and walking behind his desk to pick up a piece of parchment and a quill. He looked up at Ginny and spoke, "Draco, you may escort your guest to the border of the wards." He sat down and started to write on the parchment.
"Let's go find our wands," said Draco gently, as he offered his arm to her. "I had no idea that my Father was going to do something like this tonight," he said in his cool confident manner. "However, it would be best…" he said forcefully, "…if you not tell anyone about what you saw or heard tonight. Mr. Jones is a very dangerous and cruel person. Aunt Bella told us that he tortured her in America."
"He tortured her? Are you sure?" she asked, as they started walking around the Manor's garden.
"Yes," he spat. "She was barely able to talk and was incoherent for the first week she was back. Ah, I think this is my wand." Draco bent over and picked up a wand off the ground. He held it in his hand and red sparks flew out of the end. "Yes, it is."
He summoned Ginny's wand for her and walked her to the edge of the wards. As they stepped through the wards, the large manor house disappeared behind them. Ginny looked at the protective wards wondering how someone could find this estate without help. "How did he find your house?"
"I don't know, but he meant us no harm."
"How do you get that?"
"The wards also don't let anyone in or out if they are ill intentioned. So once he left without setting of the alarms, then Father knew he was safe."
Ginny stood there and thought about what he had said. It sounds like this J. D. Jones is an ally of the Malfoys. He seems just as cruel. A flash of light in the distance brought her out of her thoughts. In the distance, she could see fireworks. Not any ordinary type either, she could tell that these were wizard's fireworks.
"Merlin, when are they going to stop celebrating," groused Draco, who turned and walked through the wards without a backward glance at Ginny.
A tear started to form in Ginny's eyes. She suddenly realized what Draco was talking about. It was 31st of July; Harry's birthday. It was never made official, but all over the British Isles magical celebrations popped up. As she stood there and watched the distant fireworks move through the night sky, she realized whose they were. Fred and George were setting off their special fireworks designed especially for Harry's birthday. For a second, she thought about Apparating to the valley and watching them, but she didn't feel like seeing the rest of her family and Order members now. Therefore, she turned on the spot and returned to London.
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In a secluded valley, hundreds of wizards and witches stood watching fireworks in honor of their hero, Harry Potter. Every year on his birthday, Weasley Wizard Wheezes sets off hundreds of special fireworks to celebrate the life of their dead friend. Many of them are enchanted to form sparkling images of Harry. There are fireworks that look like him as he first stepped onto the Hogwarts Express, ones that showed him flying on a broom chasing the golden snitch, some were charmed to show him standing with Ron and Hermione, him and Dumbledore, and even holding Ginny.
The valley had been warded so that only magical people would be able to see the fireworks display. Order members and DA mingle among the throng to ensure safety from attacks. There are many celebrations throughout the land this day, but this one is probably the most noteworthy of them all.
Standing amongst a clump of redheads was Ron and Hermione. They had their arms around each other holding and supporting each other. The pain and grief for them was still present. They both still cry at this event. It seemed so cruel that Harry had died after he had finally defeated Voldemort. He was supposed to have been safe when everyone left him.
Outside of the wards on a hill overlooking the valley a man suddenly appeared. He was wearing dark glasses and was carrying a cane with a red tip. He stood there for a second facing the valley. It was almost as though he could see the fireworks lighting up the sky. He slowly lifted his left hand and held it up with his palm facing the valley. He moved it in a slow arc from side to side, until he stopped. Directly in front of his hand was a clump of redheads. With a smile, he raised his cane and drew a shimmering line down the wards in front of him. Stepping through the wards as though they were a closed curtain, he started walking directly towards this clump of redheads, the Weasley's