Chapter 51

The broach of the wedding planning subject had the desired effect. There were no more comments made that evening about Harry and Ron becoming Aurors. Hermione's eyes lit up and she seemed to have a sudden surge of energy poured into her. Ron and Harry exchanged looks. This was not a topic that they looked forward to. Dates and times and places for their weddings were one thing. The food that was supposed to be there and who would wear what or sit next to whom was another thing entirely. And then there was all of the preparation leading up to the wedding. The cleaning, scrubbing, and fittings and everything else that went into that.

Harry remembered very well all of the work that went into preparing for Bill and Fleur's wedding. There was a lot of it, and it wasn't something he looked forward to doing again. However he had proposed to Ginny, and Ginny accepted. That meant that their was work to be done. Harry didn't mind the work. He just wasn't especially looking forward to it. From the look on his face, Ron's thoughts mirrored Harry's.

"You're right, Ginny! We need to talk about that. What do you think of a double wedding?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"I love the idea! I think Mom will too. Think of all the time and money she could save. And the idea of having one wedding instead of two to plan for should appeal to her." Ginny answered.

"Has she asked you anything about wedding plans yet?" Hermione wanted to know.

"Not really. When I sent her the owl to tell her Harry proposed she was really excited though. Dad was too. I guess Dad was so happy he spent the whole next day at work talking about it. Mom says he drove poor Perkins crazy."

The girls had a laugh over the story. Harry smiled as he felt his face grow warm. Ginny took his arm and cuddled up closer to him. "What about you Hermione, how did your parents react?"

It struck Harry as a little odd that he couldn't remember Hermione discussing this much when they announced the proposal. He thought back and tried to remember. He didn't think the subject had really ever come up. Seeing the look she exchanged with Ron made Harry quite curious to know what that reaction was himself.

"Well..." Hermione began.

"It was better than it could have been, I'll give them that." Ron encouraged.

"What do you mean?" Asked Harry, "You never really talked about this. What happened?"

Ron reached up and held Hermione's hand which was placed upon his shoulder.

"Before I begin, you have to remember that my parents are muggles..." Hermione said,

"I remember," Said Harry.

"Well, you remember that muggle laws are sometimes different than laws in the wizarding world, right?"

"Sure, like in the wizarding world we reach adulthood at seventeen. In the muggle world, at least what I remember of it, that age is eighteen." Harry replied.

"My point exactly," Hermione nodded, "They think that Ron and I are too young to get married. My dad especially."

"Oh no," Ginny said quietly.

Ron grinned like he had just escaped from something dangerous. Something that still had him feeling a little nervous. "Yeah, it gets better. He got mad. Real mad. I thought only mum could build up to something like that..."

"But Ronald was amazing!" Hermione interjected proudly, "I've never seen my dad like that. Never. And Ron just sat there quietly until he calmed down. Then when dad sat down again, Ron talked to him. Ron didn't raise his voice or anything. He listened to what my dad had to say, and then he said...he said..." Hermione's cheeks flushed and she blinked her eyes rapidly and turned her face away for a moment trying to regain her composure.

"...I said that I love her," Ron finished giving Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze, "And then he asked what I'm going to do for a living, and where we're going to live. And what about when or if we have kids? What then?"

Hermione picked up again at this point, "And Ron told him that we don't know about all of that yet, but we'll figure it out. That we will make it work."

They looked at each other. It was obvious to anyone that there was a deep and committed love shared between the two of them. Then Ron looked over at Harry and grinned, "And now we're on our way to making those things happen."

Harry smiled back at Ron. "Too right you are!"

Later that same week, Hermione announced at dinner that she was going to go home for a while and spend some time with her parents. Ron offered to go with her, but she refused on the grounds that he had his meeting to attend with Harry and the Minister about becoming Aurors. She would only be gone a few days and then would come back to Grimmauld Place.

She left early in the afternoon the next day. It was hard for Harry to watch his best mate say good-bye to his fiancé. They had all been through so much together over the years, the last two especially. He tried to imagine what it would be like to have to say good-bye to Ginny like that. Then he realized he would experience it soon enough if she was able to get on with the Hollyhead Harpies playing Quidditch.

When Hermione was finally gone, Ron went up to the attic to be alone for a little while. Harry and Ginny helped Mrs. Weasley around the house doing various chores. When Ron came down from the attic he seemed to be feeling alright and so the three of them spent time doing mundane things like playing Exploding Snap, Wizarding Chess, and Gobstones.

Those days that Hermione was gone passed slowly. Due to the dangers of going out into the community they couldn't go outside. The Burrow was still off limits and when Harry hinted that he'd like to visit Godric's Hollow for a day, that idea didn't meet with much enthusiasm due to those same dangers.

The feeling of being cooped up and not able to go out was beginning to become overwhelming. People started becoming more snippy and short with one another. Ginny and Harry started spatting over little things that at any other time would have been inconsequential. When once the group had been inseparable, they now craved a little time alone. Ron would often go up to the room he shared with Harry. Ginny would retreat to her room to be alone, and Harry would either find himself in the attic or sometimes in Sirius's old bedroom.

It occurred to Harry one afternoon that Atticus Lestrange was doing exactly what he said he would do that day before Christmas when he cornered Harry and Ron at the turnstile outside of Hogsmeade Village. He was hurting Harry. Through Lestrange and the Death Eaters, Harry's life had become miserable. He couldn't go outside when he wanted, the school he loved so much was closed, the job he had enjoyed as a teacher had been stopped, the Burrow was not accessible, and the people who had put so much faith in Harry were starting to doubt him.

He got Ron and Ginny together in the living room and outlined his thoughts for them. They listened quietly and carefully and both were nodding in agreement before he was through.

"You're right," said Ron, "Do you think he planned things to work out this way?"

"Don't be stupid," Ginny said to Ron, "How could he have planned for all of this?"

"You'd be surprised," Harry said in defense of his friend, "You-Know-Who was given to elaborate plans and schemes. Lestrange must have been part of that. Whether it was teaching him or learning from him know one will ever know. But I'd reckon that a big part of this fits right in with his plans."

Ginny nodded but didn't say any more. Ron however had a question, one that had been keeping Harry himself up nights. "What do you think his next move will be?"

"I don't know," Harry answered truthfully, "With Hogwarts just closed down he might want to take his time. On the other hand, closing the school was a big accomplishment. Not even You-Know-Who did anything that got the school closed. Maybe he'll do something now that no one is there."

"Up at Hogwarts you mean?" Ron asked with a mixture of fear and anger.

"Maybe. I think it depends on whether or not there is anything at Hogwarts he wants."

"Harry," Ginny said looking at him curiously, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?" He replied.

"How come you never use You-Know-Who's name anymore? You used to use it all the time, but not lately. Why is that?"

"Don't you remember what happened last time I did?" Harry asked by way of reply, "Those Death Eaters showed up and we nearly got killed. They put the taboo back on his name."

"Do you think it's still there?" Ron asked looking around, "Do you think if you say it now they'll come?"

"There's only one way to find out, but I'm not trying it here." Harry answered. "If the Death Eaters don't know where Grimmauld Place is now, then I think we can keep it that way. The last thing I want is to have a bunch of Death Eaters show up and come in wrecking the place."

"But wouldn't that be a good way to bring them out of hiding?" Ginny asked.

"I'm sure it would, but I don't want to try it without a few more Aurors around to help out if they did show up."

"I see your point." Ginny replied reaching out and caressing Harry's cheek. "I don't need you trying to fight them again all by yourself. It was scary enough last time I think."

Harry nodded his agreement. However in the back of his mind, Ginny's idea had taken root. Would saying Voldemort's name out loud bring the Death Eaters? If it did, would Lestrange come with them? He wanted more than anything to put an end to this thing with Lestrange. Then he and Ginny could get married and live their life in peace. Hermione wouldn't have to worry any more, and neither would Ron. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't have to live in fear, and the entire Weasley family could return to the Burrow if they wanted.

The Burrow. That was Harry's favorite place in the whole world, next to Hogwarts. It had been the only real home he'd ever known. The Weasley's had done a great job of turning Grimmauld Place into a home, and Harry was glad he'd invited them to use it. It just wasn't the same.

Harry looked at Ginny. He wondered if he and she would do as good a job turning the place in Godric's Hollow into a home. He thought they would. Ginny had a great wit and was a fearsome protector of what she loved. She would be a great wife and a wonderful mother. Harry was convinced that together they could turn the house in Godric's Hollow into the kind of home the Burrow had been. It would be a great place to raise their kids. He happened to glace down at the ring he wore. The one that was identical to one of the rings on Ginny's hand. He noted that they both had a soft glow about them and wondered if her thoughts were going in the same direction as his.

At that moment those thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of an owl. Harry didn't recognize it and from the looks on their faces neither did Ron or Ginny. Ron got up and pulled the note off its leg. It then turned around and flew out the open window. Ron opened the note.

"It's from Hermione!" He said with some surprise. "She's coming back tomorrow. She says she wants to be here when we go meet with Kingsley about becoming Aurors." Ron exclaimed happily.

Then his ears turned a little red and Harry suspected there was more to the letter. Things that Ron wasn't reading out loud. Ginny and Harry smiled knowingly at each other. Then Ron took the letter and left the room. "I'm going to read the rest of this upstairs." He said as he walked past.

When Ron left the room, Harry took advantage of an opportunity to pull Ginny into his arms. She seemed to know what he wanted and complied willingly. Soon enough they were engaged in a deep, fulfilling kiss. One that would leave Harry's head spinning for some time after they were through. He marveled at how the moment that their lips met, it was as exciting and as exhilarating as it had been kissing her that first time.

The afternoon before Harry and Ron's scheduled meeting with the Minister of Magic, Hermione came back to Grimmauld Place. She was happy to be back with her friends. Her hair, which had always been brown and bushy, had been cut. Nothing severe, just a few inches. She had tanned arms and cheeks from spending time outside, and some new clothes from shopping with her parents while she was away.

The discussions about the wedding and becoming Aurors resumed, but didn't really get anywhere. Harry and Ron were excited for their meeting and the girls were happily talking about guest lists and who they'd love to have come to their wedding.

Ron and Harry went to their room and went to bed early. They were anxious for their meeting with the Minister. Hermione and Ginny stayed up late continuing their wedding discussion. The two best mates took the opportunity for a discussion of their own. One that wasn't about weddings.

"So," Ron began, "What do you reckon Kingsley wants to talk to us about?"

"I'm not sure. I think it's what he wants us to do as Aurors. He didn't sound like he was going to make us go through any training or anything. But I could be wrong about that." Harry said as he climbed into his pajamas and then into bed.

Ron blew out the candle next to his bed. The two lay their in the dark, in their respective beds. Both were tired. Both were too excited to just roll over and go to sleep. They talked about what it would be like to be Aurors. The things they would do, the places they might go. Finally the time came when the discussion wore itself out and the two young men were able to get to sleep.

The next morning the two were awake early. They dressed, then went down and ate a light breakfast in the kitchen with Mr. Weasley. The girls came into the room and talked to them briefly. It was clear that they had stayed up late the night before. They both looked very tired. They were still in their nightclothes with a bathrobe tied over them. When it was time to go they stood up, wished them well, gave them a kiss, and then the men were off.

They apparated into the Ministry entry area. All over there were wizards coming in through the Floo Network, Apparating into the building, or arriving via elevator from the visitor's entrance. They quickly made their way to the security gate where Harry and Ron had their wands weighed and then they were rushed to the elevators. Mr. Wesley got off on his floor while Harry and Ron continued up to the floor of the Minister of Magic.

Together they walked out of the elevator, down a short corridor to a large ornate door that had Minister of Magic stenciled in gold lettering on the door. They stopped in front of the door and looked at each other. Ron smiled at Harry who smiled back at him. "Shall we?" Ron asked.

"Yes." Harry said, reaching up and tapping twice on the door.

"Come in." Said a voice Harry did not recognize.

He looked over at Ron who looked back and only shrugged. Harry opened the door and found that they were in an outer office. There was a middle aged wizard sitting behind a desk covered with parchment, pictures, quills, a bottle of ink, and other things you would expect to find in an office. The wizard looked up as Harry and Ron entered the room.

"Ah yes, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley. Go right in please, the Minister is expecting you." Said the wizard with a very businesslike tone.

"Uh...thanks." Ron said.

The two stepped forward to the next door. It wasn't quite as ornate, but there was a large letter "M" stenciled in gold on the door with filigree around it. Again Harry and Ron stepped up to the door and this time Harry was the one who knocked.

"Come in gentlemen." Kingsley said in his deep voice.

They opened the door and entered the Minister's office. The office was not what Harry expected. He wasn't quite sure what to expect, but he was sure it wasn't the scene that lay before his eyes. The office was large. The first third of the room was given over to wooden paneling of a light honey colored wood. On the walls hung various portraits, a few mementos, and a lot of books. Kingsley's desk, and a few comfortable looking chairs where gathered here. There was a small wooden bar with a few decanters of different beverages and a handful of crystal goblets in front of them. The remaining two thirds of the office were occupied by a large table of the kind where meetings were held, and along the walls in the back were some very cushy looking seats and a large sofa. What struck Harry the most though was the view.

The walls weren't wooden paneling, they looked to be windows. And the view was breathtaking. It looked to be all of London from up on a high platform overlooking the city. You could see far into the distance. Then, abruptly the view changed to one overlooking the ocean. A few small islands were visible way off near the horizon. Clouds scattered in wisps across the bright blue sky. The ocean was rolling in gentle swells, and Harry could almost imagine hearing the gulls that must be near.

At that point a chuckle came from Kingsley, who was now standing behind his desk. He came forward and shook hands with Harry and Ron.

"Welcome Gentlemen, Welcome." Kingsley said in a friendly voice. "Like the view?"

"It's magnificent!" Ron said in awe.

"It's something that was done a couple ministers back. Kind of like the ceiling of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, you know how it reflects the sky above? These walls have been bewitched the same way. Only instead of reflecting the sky, I can change the view to whatever suits my fancy, see?" And with that, Kingsley flicked his wand again.

This time the view was of a deep green forest covered with thick shrubs, grasses, and trees. Movement to the left drew Harry's attention to a stag that was standing there nibbling at some leaves. Its antlers were still covered in spring velvet. Another flick and the view changed to a mountain seen. Rocky peaks and deep valleys overlooking what looked to Harry like Highland moors.

"That's some bit of magic," Ron said giving a low whistle. "Wow."

"I think Hermione would be impressed," Added Harry. "Who did this? Professor Dumbledore?"

"You might think so, wouldn't you? But no, this bit of magic was done by Hogwart's own Professor Flitwick. Though I think Dumbledore may have helped." Kingsley replied.

"Is it? You know, what's happening right now?" Harry asked.

"Yes, for example," Kingsley flicked his wand yet again. This time the view changed to one of Hogwarts, only from outside the castle grounds. "This is the view from the castle gates. Hogwarts is just over that crest. The same magic that makes it unplottable is what makes it so we can't see any further in then we are now. The same would go for Azkaban, Grimmauld Place, and a few other locations around Britain."

"That's really impressive." Harry said in amazement.

"Come, why don't we sit down?" Kingsley said gesturing towards the table.

He, Harry, and Ron all went to the large, wooden, rectangular table. Its color matched the paneling on the walls. There was a chair on each end and three chairs down each of the longer sides. There were some rolled bits of parchment, quills, an ink bottle, and pitcher with three glasses standing next to it. There was also a plate of buns, jam, and marmalade next to a bowl of fruit.

Gesturing towards the table, Kingsley said, "Please, help yourself."

Ron poured them all some pumpkin juice from the pitcher. Harry took a bun and spread some marmalade over it. They all were sitting now. Kingsley cleared his throat and began. "Thanks for coming in today, guys. I know that it was short notice closing the school. I hope you understand why I had to do it."

Harry nodded along with Ron. "Yes, sir. We understand. It was the only thing you could do really."

"Indeed it was. I was receiving letters to close the school when that young first year was attacked. I know Professor McGonagall was as well. However, since there were no deaths it was easier to justify keeping the school open. Now there have been three, four if you count McQuarrie. I just couldn't keep the school open any longer until the Death Eater threat has been nullified."

"Yes, sir." Ron said, glancing at Harry.

"This brings me to you two. I understand you want to be Aurors, am I correct?" Kingsley asked.

"Yes, sir." Ron and Harry said together, "Very much, sir."

"Excellent. The fact of the matter is that I need you. Right now I need you both. So, it is by special order of myself, Kingsley Shacklebolt, acting as Minister of Magic that I am declaring you both, as of right now, Aurors in the employ with the Ministry of Magic. You are hereby granted all rights, privileges, and authority to act upon that title. Now, before we sign the contractual agreements I must ask; you are both aware of the dangers involved in being an Auror?"

"Yes, sir. I believe we are," Harry stated. Ron nodded solemnly in agreement.

"And you are both aware of exactly what it is that an Auror does? What is expected of them? And that your actions taken will be representative of the Ministry as a whole?"

"Yes, sir." Again in tandem from the two young men.

"Very well then, the contracts," Kingsley said taking two rolled bits of parchment and sliding one each to Harry and Ron.

The two opened the rolled parchment. They were written in a deft hand and outlined their duties and expectations as Aurors. Ron's eyes widened considerably when they came to the line regarding compensation for an Auror.

"Is that correct?" Ron asked in wonder, "Is that really what an Auror makes?"

Harry, who had read past that part went back and looked it over. He knew that wizards were paid for their jobs just like any other job in the muggle world. It was another mark of Harry's upbringing as a muggle that he couldn't put heads to tails about what the average wizarding income was for the jobs that wizards did.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley. That's correct. That is what the starting wages are for an entry level Auror. Is there something there that you didn't expect?"

"No sir, it's just that...well...it's quite a lot." Ron said in awe.

"As you're well aware; being an Auror is a dangerous job. It's to be expected that you would be well compensated for the job that you do." Kingsley said patiently.

"Yes, sir. It's just that, its...its...its more than my dad makes."

Kingsley's smile was one of kindness. He seemed to understand Ron's sense of discomfort and the reasons behind it. "Don't let that bother you, Weasley. Your father is a good man and he has never asked for a raise. In fact I'd pay him more if I could. He's turned me down for an increase in his wages. He says he's happy where he's at and he's afraid that having too much money will make him into someone he doesn't want to be."

Harry was reminded of the Malfoy family. They had loads of money. Enough to have a house elf, a manor house, and be able to give to one thing or another as Mr. Malfoy saw fit. But Harry didn't think that they were truly happy. Even with all that money, and all the things that they could buy, Draco had never struck Harry as the type who was happy with himself.

"Wow," Ron said. He carefully signed the contract with one of the quills that was on the table. "I can't wait to tell Hermione. This will be great to help pay for the wedding."

"Yes, that reminds me," Kingsley said with a smile. "I heard that you and Miss Granger were engaged," Turning to Harry he added, "And you and Miss Weasley are getting married as well. Congratulations to both of you."

"Thanks," Said Ron as he rerolled the parchment and handed it back to the Minister.

Harry finished signing his contract and gave it back to the Minister as well. "Thank you, sir."

"Have you set a date yet?" Kingsley asked, sitting back and smiling hugely. His white teeth stood out against his dark skin. There was joy in his features, and a twinkle in his eye.

"Not yet, we just started tossing ideas around last night. You know, trying to figure out the best date and place."

"It will happen, it just takes time." Kingsley said genially.

A thought crept into Harry's head. It was one he was reluctant to say in front of Ron, but he decided to chance it. "Sir, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Potter. What's on your mind?" Kingsley asked turning his eyes towards Harry.

"Well, when we get married we're going to need a place to live. And just starting out I'm sure it could be rough if we have to fix a place up. I know Hogwarts was rebuilt really fast after that last battle with You-Know-Who. How did they do that? Are there special wizards for that job?"

Kingsley looked at Ron then back at Harry. "Sure, just like there are construction crews in the muggle world, there are wizards who specialize in the same thing. Building, rebuilding, renovating, remodeling all of that. Did you have some place in mind?"

"Not just yet, sir. But there's the Burrow too. When all of this is over, won't the Burrow need fixing up?"

Ron looked up at the mention of his home. "The Burrow? Yeah, it'd be nice to be able to go back home again." He said longingly.

Looking pointedly at Harry, Kingsley added; "Yes, sometimes being able to go home is a good thing."

Harry nodded and knew that Kingsley understood.

Then the Minister took the rolls of parchment and waved his wand over them. A seal with the Minister's "M" on it appeared over the edge, thereby sealing the contract.

Kingsley then flicked his wand casually and the two rolls of parchment flew across the room, out a little opening in the door and out into the receptionist wizard's office.

Harry, Ron, and the Minister were making a bit of small talk and finishing up their pumpkin juice in preparation to leave when suddenly the door banged open. All three men jumped up and looked at the door. There in the doorway was the wizard Harry and Ron had seen coming into the Minister's office, Mr. Weasley, and two people Harry recognized as Aurors who had been stationed at the school.

It was the look on Mr. Weasley's face that Harry saw and noted first. Then the panic and dread on the faces of Mr. Weasley and the two Aurors. The expressions of fear, anger, and confusion were evident on all of them. And if that wasn't enough to turn Harry's blood to ice, then their statement to the Minister was.

"Sir, there's been an attack! On Grimmauld Place. It's the Death Eaters." Said one of the Aurors.

"What?" Exclaimed the Minister moving forward quickly.

"Hermione!" Cried Ron.

"Ginny!" Harry said, echoing Ron's fearful tone.

The look on Mr. Weasley's face was fearful and frantic. Harry was sure it mirrored his own.

The Auror who had been reporting to Kingsley looked first at Ron then at Harry before he looked back at the Minister and said;

"I'm sorry to tell you this, sir. But the People inside, they're not there anymore. They're gone."