Chapter 11

Sending The Kids to Burrow to finish Cleaning

Arthur Weasley found his children in the Gryffindor Common Room, sitting around looking well rested .He approached the group of younger wizards and witches, waving a hand in greeting. "Good Morning All, how are you doing this morning?" The remains of a raid on the kitchens scattered on the tables, bits of biscuits, tarts, cakes, and empty Butterbeer bottles littered the room. "It looks as if you've eaten this morning", gesturing toward the debris in a look of dis-belief. How soon they had been able to come to terms with the life they now faced. The only person in this age group not here was Hermione, he'd just had an encounter with her in the Great Hall, and realized she was not at terms with this new life, like the other young people. It made him wonder why!

Arthur paused a moment, looking at his family. Where was Percy? He hadn't realized his third oldest son was not with the group, after all the time the young man had spent away from the family it wasn't all that unheard of to not miss him immediately. "Where is Percy? He hasn't left without telling your mother and I, has he?" The man felt a bit of anger beginning to build thinking they had been deserted once again.

Bill, head jerking up from Fleur's lap, looked at his distraught father, glancing at the others "No! Not gone , he just had to check on someone in London. He'll be back soon Dad."

Arthur relaxed visibly, with Bill's reassurance that Percy wasn't really gone from the family again, so soon. "I need you lot to go to the Burrow and finish getting it ready for your mother, Harry is your offer of Kreacher still good?" He looked to the young man whose scar was now pale, faded and not paining him.

Harry seemed to shrink down in the rug for just a second before he looked at the tall, balding man,"Yes Sir, but I've sent him to Privet Drive for a couple days to get the house ready for the Dursley's, I'm sorry I didn't realize you wanted to get back to the Burrow so soon." Climbing to his feet, he said "I will go round up some extra help, to get the Burrow finished..........Ginny want to come with me?" He held out a hand to help her to her up from the floor.

Ginny took the proffered hand, hopped up, flung her arms around her bemused father, said" Love you Dad,", took hold of Harry's outstretched hand both of them turned disappearing out the door before Arthur could utter another word.

The remainder of Weasley family began to stir, Ron, stuffing his pockets with all the left-over cauldron cakes on the platter, catching sight of Harry's uneaten stack of chocolate frogs, threw them in his other pocket. As he moved around the room he gathered all the unfinished goodies, hoarding them away. Arthur thinking to himself, realized with great alarm, that the trio had survived on practically nothing for the past year. His son was fearful of not having enough to eat...........again. He told himself he would have to talk to the boy, reassuring him there would always be plenty of everything they would ever need..............now the war was over. Little did Arthur Weasley know his youngest son had deserted Harry and Hermione for weeks last winter. He claimed it was because of the locket Horcrux, that he wanted to return as soon as he had left, but ran into snatchers. However Ron was safe and sound, well fed, and comfortable, while Harry and Hermione were cold, hungry, and faced Nagini at Godric's Hollow. Yes Ron did return, saved Harry and destroyed the Horcrux, but in that act of desertion, altered his relationship with Hermione, forever. Yes she had kissed him, when he said he wanted to save the House Elves, that had been a reaction to her caring for the creatures for years. Hermione would always care about Ronald Weasley, but could she ever love him, like That?"

After a short while, Harry and Ginny returned with Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinet and Dean Thomas, Luna Lovegood following close behind alongside Neville Longbottom. "OK! We are all going to head to the Burrow and get things finished so Mrs. Weasley will be comfortable." Harry said as the group left for the front gates to apparate. Mr. Weasley walked toward Minerva's office, hurrying footsteps resounding against the stones.