The next morning found Harry, Hermione Tonks, Remus, and Sirius wearing dress robes once more. At the Burrow, Harry, Remus and Sirius joined the twins, Percy, and Ron. Their job was to show guests to their seats.
Bill and Fleur's wedding was much bigger than Remus and Tonks'. The guest list was longer and the decorations more immaculate. And from what Hermione had told him, Fleur's dress was far more detailed than Tonks'. Harry glanced at Remus, who didn't seem bothered by these things one bit. He looked genuinely happy, Harry thought.
Sirius greeted Nigel and his family happily, and led them to their seats on Bill's side. Fred and George each managed to swoop up some of Fleur's cousins and show them their seats. Remus kindly welcomed an elderly couple and helped them onto Remus' side. Percy led Arthur's fellow Ministry wizard, Perkins. Harry showed Luna and her father, Xenophilius Lovegood, to their seats while Ron was stuck with his Auntie Muriel.
By the time Ron returned, Harry and the others had each showed at least six other parties to their seats, and Hagrid had broken a row of five chairs after misinterpreting Fred and George's directions to the large, magically reinforced chair in the back row.
"She's awful…" said Ron.
"Well, we're all grateful that you sacrificed yourself." said Percy. "Imagine if she'd spotted Harry!"
Everyone grimaced at the thought of that and Harry felt lucky the Lovegoods had been standing next to him, making him far less noticeable, when Muriel had walked by.
Hermione came hurrying towards them just then, dressed in a floaty, lilac-colored dress with matching high heels. Her hair was sleek and shiny.
"You look great!" said Ron.
"Always the tone of surprise." said Hermione, with a smile. "Your Great-Aunt Muriel doesn't agree. I just met her upstairs while she was giving Fleur the tiara. She said, 'Oh, dear, is this the Muggle-born?' and then, 'Bad posture and skinny ankles.'"
"Don't take it personally, she's rude to everyone." said Ron.
"You look vunderful."
They turned to see Viktor Krum, his eyes on Hermione and his hand holding out his invitation to Ron.
"Viktor!" cried Hermione. "I didn't know you were - goodness - it's lovely to see - how are you?"
"How come you're here?" Ron asked much too loudly, ignoring the invitation.
"Fleur invited me." said Viktor. He turned to Harry. "It is good to see you again, Harry Potter."
"Yeah, you too. Come on, I'll show you to your seat." Harry led Viktor away from Ron, who was steaming.
"Your friend is not pleased to see me." said Viktor.
"No, I suppose not."
The others hurried down the aisle then.
"Time to sit down." said Fred. "Or we're going to get run over by the bride."
They all took a seat in the second row, Harry between Ron and Sirius, and they watched as the ceremony began.
"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle…?"
In the front row, Mrs. Weasley and Madame Delacour were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace.
"...then I declare you bonded for life."
Ten minutes later, Harry, Ron and Hermione had found a table and were watching Bill and Fleur take the first dance. More couples began to join them on the dance floor. As soon as Viktor sat down with them, Ron invited Hermione for a dance.
"Ah, they are together now?" asked Viktor.
"Sort of." said Harry.
"Who is that man over there?" Viktor pointed at a man garbed in yellow.
"That's Xenophilius Lovegood."
"You know him?"
"Well, no. I'm friends with his daughter, Luna. Why?"
"Because, if he vos not a guest of Fleur's, I vould duel him, here and now, for vearing that filthy sign upon his chest."
Harry looked at Lovegood. A silver, triangular eye gleamed back at him. "Why? What does it mean?"
"Grindelvald. That is the sign of Grindelvald." said Viktor.
"That's the dark wizard Dumbledore defeated."
"Exactly. He carved that sign into the wall of Durmstrang."
"Well, there's a chance that Mr. Lovegood doesn't know what it means. He and his daughter are… unusual. He probably picked it up somewhere and thought it was a cross section of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack or something…"
"The cross-section of a vot?"
"Well, I don't know what they are, but apparently he and his daughter go on holiday looking for them." Harry felt he was doing a bad job of explaining the Lovegoods.
Krum said nothing and for a few minutes they sat and watched the dancers. Harry found Sirius and Nigel waltzing together, and Remus and Tonks nearby, talking with Astrid, Nigel's wife.
"This girl is very nice-looking." said Viktor pointing to Ginny, who was dancing with Luna, both of them waving their arms as though batting away Wrackspurts.
"That's my girlfriend, Ginny." said Harry, protectively.
Viktor glanced at him. "Right… Vot is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the good-looking girls are taken?"
And he strode off. Harry stood up and made his way across the dance floor to Ginny, and danced with her for the next couple songs.
When they grew tired, Harry and Ginny wandered off to find a place to sit. Harry grabbed them both drinks and they sat down to watch the dancers.
"My word, Harry Potter!" said an elderly man with a rather high-pitched, wheezy voice next to them. Harry turned to him, and shook the hand he was offered. "Elphias Doge, at your service. I thought of writing to you… after Dumbledore… the shock… and for you, I am sure…"
Doge's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"Mr. Doge?" Harry recognized him suddenly. "I read the obituary you wrote for the Daily Prophet. I didn't realize you knew Dumbledore so well."
"As well as anyone." said Doge, dabbing his eyes with a napkin. "Certainly I knew him longest, if you don't count Aberforth - and somehow, people never do seem to count Aberforth."
"Speaking of the Daily Prophet… I don't know whether you saw, Mr. Doge, the interview Rita Skeeter gave about Dumbledore?"
"Oh yes, Harry, I saw it." said Doge, an angry color in his eyes. "That woman, or vulture might be a more accurate term, positively pestered me to talk to her. I am ashamed to say I became rather rude, called her an interfering trout, which resulted, as you may have seen, in aspersions cast upon my sanity."
"Rita Skeeter? Oh, I love her, always read her!" said Muriel, who was sitting down next to them. "Ginny, dear, get me a drink. I'm parched."
Ginny gave Harry an apologetic look and jumped up to do as she was told.
"Hello, Muriel," said Doge unenthusiastically. "Yes, we were just discussing-"
"That Rita Skeeter!" said Muriel. "You know she's written a biography about Dumbledore? I can't wait to read it, I must remember to place an order at Flourish and Blotts!"
Ginny returned then with a glass of champagne and handed it to Muriel, who took a large gulp from it. The old woman glanced between Doge and Harry. "There's no need to look like a pair of stuffed frogs! Before he became so respected and respectable and all that tosh, there were some mighty funny rumors about Albus!"
"Ill-informed sniping." said Doge, turning radish-colored.
"You would say that, Elphias." cackled Auntie Muriel. "I noticed how you skated over the sticky patches in that obituary of yours!"
"I'm sorry you think so." said Doge, more coldly still. "I assure you, I was writing from the heart."
"Oh, we all know you worshipped Dumbledore; I daresay you'll still think he was a saint even if it does turn out he did away with his Squib sister!"
"Muriel!" exclaimed Doge.
Harry and Ginny listened to the two of them arguing about Dumbledore and his past for several long minutes, trying to find a way to sneak away without either one noticing.
Hermione appeared out of the crowd and drew up a chair next to Ginny. "I simply can't dance anymore." she panted. "Ron's gone looking to find more butterbeers. It's a bit odd, I've just seen Viktor storming away from Luna's father, it looked like they'd been arguing." She dropped her voice. "Are you two okay?"
Before either of them could answer, something large and silver came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed lightly in the middle of the astonished dancers. Then the Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
For a moment nobody moved, but then people seemed to understand the message and loud cracks were heard as guests began Disapparating on the spot.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny jumped up, wands at the ready. Out of nowhere, Percy and Sirius appeared before them.
"Harry, Hermione, take my hand!" Sirius took hold of both of them.
"But what about-?" Harry glanced at Ginny.
"I've got Ginny!" Percy took Ginny by the hand and pulled her away. "Go! Both of you! We'll be fine."
Just before they Disapparated, Harry saw Percy deflecting a curse. People were screaming, and dark figures had appeared all around them.
Suddenly, Harry was standing on a doorstep of a very familiar place.
"Quick, inside." said Sirius, opening the door and rushing Harry and Hermione through it.
"Grimmauld Place?" asked Hermione. "What are we doing here?"
"And what about the others? The Weasleys and our friends?" asked Harry.
"They'll be fine." said Sirius. "All of the Weasleys are purebloods. The Death Eaters weren't after them. They were after us, particularly you, Harry."
"What about Remus and Tonks? And Nigel? His family?" asked Harry. He didn't need to ask why the Death Eaters were after him - that was obvious.
But Sirius didn't have to answer his first question, for Remus and Tonks appeared just then, carefully stepping over the threshold so as not to wake Sirius' mother.
Remus, Sirius, and Tonks both raised their wands at each other.
"What did you do the first summer you came to my house?" Remus asked Sirius.
"I blew up the toaster." said Sirius. "What were the first four lines of the poem James wrote for Lily our first year?"
"Roses are red, just like your hair, your eyes are green, and your face so fair." Remus replied. "She called it the worst poem ever."
"Well said." said Sirius. He turned to Tonks. "What color is Remus' favorite scarf?"
"Orange." said Tonks. "Although I've no clue why it's his favorite.
"It's warm and soft." said Remus.
Then the three turned to Harry and Hermione.
"Name the colors of the four petals of the Fibblywig." said Sirius to Hermione.
"That's a trick question." said Hermione. "The Fibblywig has five petals, one each of emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, amethyst violet, and golden yellow."
"Yeah, that's Hermione, all right." said Tonks.
"Harry," said Remus. "What creature was in the corner of my office the first time you visited me there?"
Harry thought for a moment. "A grindylow."
Everyone released a sigh of relief. They had decided that morning if anything happened, they had to answer a question to prove who they were. Harry and Hermione had not been told what questions would be asked, but he saw now that only he and Hermione could have answered them.
"Now that's settled, we need to get home." said Sirius.
A weasel Patronus slipped through the door just then, and spoke with Arthur's voice. "Family safe. Do not reply. We are being watched."
"Thank goodness." said Hermione.
"Okay, time to go." Sirius led them to the drawing room. "Kreacher!"
With a pop, Kreacher appeared before them. "Master has summoned me?" He asked much more politely than two years ago.
"I need your help, Kreacher." said Sirius. "We need to Apparate directly to Crystal Cottage, but only elf magic will get past the wards."
Kreacher bowed, his locket nearly touching the floor. "Kreacher will be more than happy to assist."
The five of them took hold of Kreacher and he Disapparated. A moment later, they were in Crystal Cottage's sitting room.
"Thank you, Kreacher." said Sirius, sounding a little surprised the house-elf had helped so easily. "You can go back to Hogwarts now."
"Of course." Kreacher bowed again and Disapparated.
"I'm so glad you and Kreacher are getting along now." said Hermione.
Sirius didn't answer, still unwilling to admit she was right. "I'm going to contact McGonagall."
"I'll get in touch with Nigel and the Willow." said Tonks. "To make sure they're okay."
"I'll get the radio on." said Remus.
"What do we need music for?" asked Sirius.
"It's not music, Sirius." said Remus, pulling an old Muggle radio off the mantle. "I was talking with Lee Jordan the other day. We realized if the Ministry was taken over, they'd also control the Daily Prophet and Wizarding Wireless Network, so we decided to come up with a way for the Order to communicate without interference. All you need is a radio and the correct password. I told him to do his first broadcast only after the Ministry was taken. I've already sent word to him with this coin. Protean Charm. Got the idea from you, Hermione."
Remus sat down and placed the radio in front of him on the coffee table. He pointed his wand at it.
"Fawkes." said Remus.
There was silence for a few moments, and then a crackle.
"Hello, and welcome to the first broadcast Phoenix Watch, the only magical news network that is not under the influence of You-Know-Who." said Lee Jordan's voice. "I'm River, and I bring very grave news to all the listeners out there. The Minister of Magic was killed forty-two minutes ago, and the Ministry has now been taken over by the followers of You-Know-Who. And before any of you start cursing You-Know-Who, we at Phoenix Watch must warn you not to say his name.
"Our sources tell us that You-Know-Who's name has been tabooed, and if you say it, it will reveal your location to You-Know-Who and his followers. Several families have already been attacked by Death Eaters and other followers of You-Know-Who through this method. Thankfully, most of them escaped alive.
"For today, we have nothing more to report. Tune in next time for more stories, tales, updates, and advice."
"Well, that's really useful." said Sirius. "How many people know about this?"
"We've been spreading the word." said Remus. "Most of the Order knows by now."
"And why didn't you tell us?" asked Tonks.
"I wasn't sure it was going to work." said Remus, unconvincingly.
Sirius and Tonks both walked away muttering about lame excuses.
Harry and Hermione sat down, feeling useless.
"Do you two know how to send messages using a Patronus?" asked Remus.
"I've read about it, and I think I understand how it works." said Hermione.
"We'll have to practice that later. For now, we need to think about our next move." said Remus. "Once we hear back from McGonagall, we'll know what's happening."
Tonks returned. "Good news. Willow and Nigel replied. They and their families are fine."
"Wonderful." said Remus.
When Sirius returned, he sat down next to Harry and took a deep breath. "McGonagall didn't say much, but there's an Order meeting in the morning at Hogwarts, which is still under Order control."
"Right, who is going to stay here with Harry and Hermione?" asked Tonks.
"What?" said Harry. "I'm not staying here! I'm going to the meeting. Hogwarts is plenty safe."
"And if Harry goes, I go." said Hermione loyally.
Remus sighed. "He's seventeen, Sirius."
"I know." Sirius turned to Harry. "I told you two years ago that once you're of age, you can join the Order. I'm not going back on my word."
Harry relaxed. He'd been ready to argue that one to the ground.
"And after the meeting, the two of us will go to Godric's Hollow."
Harry looked at him in surprise. Remus, Tonks and Hermione opened their mouths to argue.
"Don't worry, we'll go in disguise. And I'm taking Kreacher and Dobby." Sirius assured them. "They'll be invisible, and if anything goes wrong, they can get us out of there."
Harry could tell Hermione was trying to figure out this task violated the house-elves rights, but fortunately did not find any problems.
Harry went upstairs to his room that night feeling strange. The wizarding world was in chaos at that very moment, but he felt very calm. He wondered how many people were fearing for their lives at that very moment, and how many more would suffer before he defeated Voldemort.
"Get some sleep, Prongslet." said his godfather from the doorway.
Harry looked at him from his chair under the window. "How can I sleep knowing he's out there, hurting people?"
Sirius crossed the room and sat on the bed in front of him. "You've got to stay strong. The weight of the world rest of your shoulders, and if you don't stay rested and strong, you'll crumble beneath it. All those people you're worried about… you can't protect them if you can't even stand up. Go to sleep. You've had a long day, and you'll have an even longer one tomorrow. Be sure to wear your ankh and have your Cloak on you at all times."
Sirius stood, and pulled Harry to his feet and into an embrace. "I love you."
"Love you too, Padfoot."