Chapter 11: Wanted and Unwanted

Harry awoke and groaned quietly as one last shock of pain raced through his upper-left thigh. He reached for his glasses, which were sitting on a bedside table, and grabbed them. He placed them over his eyes and slowly gained a clear view of where he was. He was back in Ron's room at the Burrow and was tucked into his bed. There were several bruises on his body but most were either mostly healed or covered by bandages. The room was dark and the only source of light in the room came from the light creeping in through the cracks in Ron's bedroom door. Harry looked at the other side of the room and saw Ron, who was also bruised and bandaged, sleeping soundly in his bed. His hand immediately flew up to his forehead and felt his scar. His hand remained there for several seconds before he chuckled and lowered his hand. He had to get out of this habit. Voldemort was gone. The scar would never hurt again. Harry took a deep breath and pulled his way out of bed. He felt a few minor shocks of pain travel through the muscles in his legs but it wasn't bad enough to prevent him from walking. He edged his way to the door, taking care to not wake up Ron, and opened it. He then slipped through the doorway, took one last look at Ron, and closed the door.

The house was quiet except for the sound of murmurs and creaks from downstairs. Harry arrived at the bottom of the staircase to find Artemis and Ginny sitting in the living room, sipping cups of coffee.

"Can I have some?" Harry asked with a smirk. Ginny instantly placed her cup on the coffee table, stood up, and ran towards Harry. The bear hug she proceeded to give him hurt like hell but Harry didn't mind. He wrapped his arms around her and patted her on the back. "I'm fine, Ginny. See? I'm perfectly fine."

Ginny eventually let go of Harry and smiled at him. Her eyes were slightly puffy and glistened in the light like diamonds covered in water. She had been crying. Harry felt guilty for he knew why she had been crying and he also felt somewhat embarrassed for having been so easily defeated by Venom.

"I'm really glad that you're okay," Ginny coughed. Harry gave an awkward smile and began making his way to a chair in the den. "I'll make you a cup."

Ginny then vanished into the nearby kitchen and Harry found a seat across from Artemis. Artemis continued to sip his coffee calmly and stare at Harry. Who would speak first? It seemed childish to play such feeble mental games as who would be the first to speak but the teenage genius and the boy who lived continued this until Ginny returned with Harry's coffee.

"Nice and hot," she said.

"Thank you," said Harry. He took the cup and began to take casual, long sips. It was delicious and Harry savored every drop that touched his taste buds.

"Feeling better, I see," said Artemis, who had now placed his empty cup on the coffee table. "You healed faster than I expected. I was sure that you'd be out for at least a couple more hours."

"You know me. Always full of surprises."

"Yes."

"So where's Hermione?"

"She's off checking up on the other members of the League with Holly, Mulch, No1, and Juliet."

"Okay...wait...WHAT?"

"What's wrong?"

"Hermione's gone to check on the others?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"I...maybe...well...no...it's just...kind of...unexpected news."

"I assumed that you'd be used to unexpected news by now, Harry Potter."

"I'm never used to it."

"Shame. You should since you're in league with me."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. How long ago did they leave?"

"Not long. Maybe around an hour or so. You don't doubt Ms. Granger's abilities do you?"

"What? No!"

"Good...because the last person who underestimated her got the Confringo spell shot into the back of their skull."

"Hermione took down Venom?"

"Why yes, indeed. It was quite a sight."

Harry chucked as he took another sip of coffee. He felt relaxed now. He knew that if there was anyone who could take care of a task like this, it was Hermione. It was also comforting that she didn't go it alone and had help from Holly and the others.

"How are Holly and the others?" asked Harry.

"They were in tip top shape when I saw them," replied Artemis. "I do wish Butler was here but I need someone to look after the twins while Mother and Father are out."

"Where are they, your parents?"

"They're attending the wedding of an old colleague of my father's. I don't have much interest in weddings."

"Have you attended any?"

"A few. None really worth mentioning. Mostly just colleagues of my parents. How many have you been to, Harry?"

"One. Bill and Fleur's."

"Such an exciting one that was, eh?"

Artemis chuckled and Harry did the same. It was at this moment that, for some reason, both Harry and Artemis turned to Ginny, who was quietly sipping some coffee.

"You've been quiet," said Artemis.

"Not much to say," Ginny cooed.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry.

"Nothing."

"I know there's something eating away at you. What is it?"

"I...it's just that...I worry about you and Ron sometimes."

"Why?"

"Why? Why? Shouldn't it be obvious? Only two years ago your life was in danger because of Voldemort! And now you're in danger, again, because you've become part of a group that draws the attention of several different villains and criminals! I don't want to keep worrying about you and our friends all the time."

"Ginny...are you saying that you want me to drop out of the League?"

"I...I didn't say that."

"But that's what you want. Isn't it?"

"Not fully...but I have thought that way at times, mostly tonight."

"I understand if you decide to drop out, Harry," said Artemis. Harry and Ginny turned to Artemis and fell silent.

"You...you would be completely fine if I decided to drop out?" asked Harry in shock.

"It would be very disappointing because you are a very valuable asset to the League and were a big help when that last dispute occurred, but if you feel that your connections with me are putting you and your friends into too much danger then I will understand if you decide to leave the League."

"Wow, Artemis. I didn't know that you'd be so accepting to something like that."

"I'm not the selfish 12-year-old mastermind that you've heard so much about from Holly. I'm a highly mature and gifted 16-year-old genius who wants what's best for all of our universes."

"Don't drop out because of me, Harry," Ginny pleaded. "I may sometimes think that it would be best for our safety for you to leave the League but, mostly, I think about just how much of a help you are to the others and I don't want my conflicted feelings to affect you."

"Why don't we just get this crisis out the way first?" said Harry. "And then we can sit down and discuss this."

"Agreed," said Artemis.

"Agreed," said Ginny.

Suddenly, a loud screeching sound began echoing throughout the house. Artemis covered his ears and Ginny instantly stood up, drawing her wand.

"What is that?" Artemis asked as he squinted his eyes in pain.

"Caterwauling Charm. I cast it around the perimeter of the Burrow just in case someone came looking for us," replied Ginny.

The screeching stopped and for a few seconds the house was quiet. Harry and Artemis remained seated, their eyes darting all over the interior of the house, while Ginny remained standing up, her wand pointed at the front door. Then the door was blasted off of its hinges and Ginny ran into action.

"Stupefy!" she yelled. A streak of red light shot from her wand and hit a dark figure standing in the doorway. The figure fell back and it was as soon as the figure fell back that Ginny realized that there were more than one. She prepared her wand for another attack.

"Drop your weapons or the girl gets it!" ordered a demanding voice. Ginny's feet turned to jello and she turned to Harry and Artemis nervously. Artemis was now standing up and was wielding his Neutrino. Harry was still sitting in his chair and was frantically searching through his pajamas. He realized that he had left his wand upstairs in Ron's room and let out an annoyed groan. "Drop your weapons!"

"How do we know that you're not bluffing?" snapped Ginny. Ginny aimed her wand as a group of seven Death Eaters entered through the front door. One of them was holding a familiar blonde-haired girl in a headlock. "Luna?"

"Hi Ginny. Hello Harry. Was I kidnapped at a bad time?" cooed Luna Lovegood. Artemis had an incredible urge to chuckle at her odd comment but resisted it due to the seriousness of the current situation.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" teased the Death Eater holding Luna. "Drop your weapons or the girl gets a deep fried skull!"

Artemis then realized that the Death Eater had a Neutrino 3000 pointed at Luna's head, and it was set at maximum power.

"Got that from Ms. Koboi, didn't you?" Artemis snapped as he threw his Neutrino on the floor. Ginny dropped her wand and raised her hands.

"Don't worry, Fowl, you'll find out soon enough," laughed the Death Eater. He tightened his grip on Luna's head and waved his hand. The other Death Eaters pulled out their own Neutrinos and aimed them at Harry and Artemis. "Fowl. Potter. You're coming with me. I'm sure that Ms. Sparkle will be happy to see you in the Crystal Caverns!"

Meanwhile, upstairs, Ron Weasley woke with a start and began looking around his room blindly. His vision soon became clear and a few last strokes of pain shot through his right arm. He turned to Harry's bed and noticed Harry's wand sitting comfortably on the bedside table next to Harry's bed. Ron heard a strange shaking sound and grabbed his own wand. He pointed the wand at the source of the sound, which was his closet. The closet door was shaking slightly with an odd light emanating from the cracks.