Chapter eighteen

While one group was together talking things out, Arthur had taken his wife to explain that she could end up in Azkaban if she tried to cause trouble for Harry and his wife. He had to tell her that Connie Potter was an auror and a damn good one. Attacking an auror, even verbally could get a person a short stay in Azkaban with the dementors. Arthur knew his wife had the information about couples who fell in love at first sight. She always said Ginny did with Harry. She was wrong. If Ginny did then Harry would have felt the same. He never did. His wife just didn't want to accept it. Arthur also had to make sure his wife didn't say anything to or about Kingsley and Marcus. If they ended up killing Voldemort and capturing the death eaters, Kingsley would be one of the top runners for minister. Molly could again get into trouble for saying something derogatory about his relationship with another man. It was legal in the wizarding world and has been for hundred's of years. Molly was a very strict witch with very old fashioned idea's, especially when it came to relationships.

'In case you make a noise during, Tonks is going to be standing right at the door with a silencing charm around her and the door. She will hear what is going on inside the room if it's needed and I'll be outside the charm, just keeping watch.'

'You've seen the looks as well,' Bill said, 'My mother will not listen. Dad is trying, not sure if he can get through to her. But this cannot be disrupted, not after I start. Only my mother, Griselda and you two are staying so it should be fine.'

'I think your mum is trying to make Ron remain here,' Harry said gesturing to Ron who looked angry, but he was staring at his mother.

'If Ron speaks to dad he will make sure Ron goes, if he wants to.'

'He will want to,' Harry said, 'not only to help but because Hermione will go.'

'So are they officially together?' Bill asked.

'No, Ron just can't get up the nerve to say anything. Hermione knows, she was brought up with old fashion beliefs. The man approaches the woman.'

'With what is happening, they shouldn't hold back, not when it's so dangerous.'

'No, but both can be stubborn.'

'Why do you think she's not keen on me?' Connie asked.

'I think because Hermione was the one I counted on. She was the only girl in my life, that's how she would see it. Now you are the most important person in my life, so she's jealous. I noticed when Remus told me what my grandparent's names were. You wrapped your arms around me and I could see the look on Hermione's face that she didn't like that.'

'She will have to get used to it. I've been putting up with the looks from Molly and Ginny since I met Bill.' Fleur said.

'I know, Ginny has some nasty names for you. She refuses to listen to anyone who sticks up for you. She actually got really angry with me when I took your side and not hers. I wasn't going to change my mind about how I felt. She was being unreasonable.'

'It was bound to happen sooner or later though. We're not always going to like who our brothers or sister is dating. But she was the first girl in seven generations, so she's been spoilt, not just by mum and dad, we all gave into Ginny, a lot as well. She's almost an adult, she will realise sooner or later she's acting like a spoilt child. Its why we don't go to the Burrow to often. I won't let them put my wife down and fleur should not put up with those looks. Since we get on, mum and Ginny will blame Fleur and Connie for keeping me and Harry away. Let's forget about all that, it's time we get started by the look of Kingsley.'

Kingsley stood and called everyone together. Remus and Tonks stood with Bill, Fleur, Harry and Connie. They all listened to Kingsley and knew the plan. The twins handed out pellet's along with some darkness powder. The moment everyone left, Bill, Tonks, Connie and Harry headed up to the attic. When Molly asked where they were going, Tonks explained they had their own plans and it was classified, aurors and curse breakers, but Harry was involved because of the prophecy. That's all she said before they headed up the stairs.

Molly was fuming, but when she went to follow, Griselda stood in her way. Anyone that knew the old woman knew she was a formidable witch, even though she was over a hundred, she could still hold her own. Molly knew she would not be able to find out what was going on. She decided to bring her daughter to the hotel in the hope Harry would realise he had been wrong to go near that other woman.

Connie watched the stairs, but she also couldn't help glancing at Tonks. She couldn't hear anything and in one way she was glad. She didn't want to hear Harry in pain, but she also wanted to make sure he was okay. Tonks decided it was better all round for her to stay at the door and listen to what was going on in the room with Bill and Harry. It would be too hard on Connie to hear Harry in pain and not be able to help him. Tonks had the mirror in hand, the moment she heard Bill knock she knew to inform Remus it was a go. That happened only a few minutes later so Tonks spoke to her husband.

It took only a short amount of time before the door opened. Connie had turned as Harry walked towards her. He had blood on his face and he looked exhausted.

'He needs rest Connie.'

'You look like you could sleep as well Bill,' Tonks said.

'I will, I'm just going to get rid of the runes. It could be dangerous if someone went in there and didn't know what they were.'

'Go look after Harry Connie, I'll stay with Bill then make sure he rests,' Tonks said.

'Come on love,' Connie kept her arms around Harry and helped him down the stairs and straight into their room. They ignored Molly who called to them, also the other voice, which was Ginny calling to Harry. Connie sealed the room the moment she helped Harry to the bed. Once the door was sealed, she cast some cleaning charms over her husband, who was already asleep.

'Dobby,' Connie called.

Dobby appeared before her, 'Yes Mistress Connie?'

'Could you bring me a beer from the kitchen along with a sandwich please?'

'Dobby be right back.'

Connie kept watching Harry sleep until Dobby returned, 'Let me know when the others arrive back.'

'Dobby do Mistress Connie.'

'Thank you Dobby, you can go.'

At the ministry many people were shocked. The group lead by Kingsley realised what had happened. When Voldemort died, it seems his link to the dark mark caused all his death eaters to die as well. But what did surprise the group was some of the ones that died. Arthur, Charlie and the twins were upset that their brother, Percy died, then Charlie and the twins were not just upset, they were angry that their brother had joined Voldemort. Kingsley wasn't surprised when Dolores Umbridge had died. He always had a feeling about that woman, she acted too much like those purebloods that became death eaters. If she wanted to join Voldemort, he would make her take the dark mark and due to her death, proved she did take the mark.

Kingsley organised people in his group to help at the ministry, but he told the staff of Hogwarts to return to the school and make sure there were no bodies left, before the students could return. He sent Remus and Fleur back to the hotel to see their partner's, but also to explain to Bill, Harry, Tonks and Connie what had happened. He did not need to say not to tell Molly everything. They knew it meant the deaths, but also about Percy. That would be up to Arthur to tell his wife about their son.

Remus and Fleur hurried into the hotel. They saw Tonks sitting with Griselda, 'Where are they?' Remus asked.

'Exhausted, so they are sleeping. How did it go?'

'Better than we hoped. Fleur, go to your husband, I'll fill in my wife and Madam Marchbanks,' Remus said.

'So, what happened?' Tonks asked.

Remus cast a silencing charm around them, 'Every marked death eater dropped dead. But there were a few that surprised us. Percy was one. Arthur is going to tell Molly when he returns.'

'We found out you have to take the mark willingly, also commit a murder, so we know he wasn't under the imperius curse,' Tonks said.

'No, he wasn't, but many of the workers were, a lot of them. Kingsley was organising healers to see them. He sent Minerva and the others back to Hogwarts. The students could return soon, he didn't want any bodies being found by some children.'

'So I can return to work,' Griselda said.

'Any time you want and Kingsley is going to need help from good people. He already used his senior auror status to take the job of interim minister since the last one dropped dead as well.'

'Then I will go see what our minister needs,' the old woman went to her room, packed her things and left the hotel.

Remus and Tonks stayed where they are, which happened to be the closest seats to the room Harry and Connie were in.

'You know we can go home now love,' Tonks said.

'I know. But I was wondering where Harry and Connie will go,' Remus said.

'Connie has a house, a big one.'

'Oh, I just figured since she was younger than you she would be in a small flat. Did her parent's leave her the house?'

'No, her parent's are still alive. She was able to talk them into leaving the country for now. But see she is their only child and they happen to be very rich. Connie is independent, so she didn't want to take money from them. They gave her the house as a gift when she was accepted into the aurors. I can tell you now that her parent's are going to love Harry. Because I've told Connie a lot about him, you, Sirius, everyone, she's mentioned a lot to her parent's. They have nothing against werewolves who take the potion and don't attack anyone. They heard about Sirius and how he didn't receive a trial, they instantly said he must be innocent. They never believed anything the Daily Prophet wrote about Harry. When they read the Quibbler, they instantly cancelled their Daily Prophet subscription. I only met them once, but they are great people. We'll work on getting together once everything settles down. But about Harry, work, or school, what do you think he will do?'

'Right now, nothing. He's been tense for years. He will want to take some time, then he will work on what he wants to do and it won't be an auror or working for the ministry. After the way he has been treated, there is no way he would work for them, any of them. I can't blame him and I plan to tell him he has my support, whatever he decides. But it's not like he needs to hurry and find work, Sirius left him almost everything. He knew I didn't want any but he made sure to leave me a lot because he knew I couldn't argue with him.'

'He wanted you to have it Moony, you were his family, then you married into his blood family. He's just looking after family since he can't be here.'

'I know, but I'm glad he gave most to Harry. He will need time to figure out what he wants to do.'

'I know one thing he might do,' Tonks smirked.

'I know that look, what do you know?'

'He will want to finish his education but he won't return to Hogwarts and not just because he's married. I believe he may ask you to tutor him, but he will feel that he should pay you for doing the job that would normally be done by teachers at Hogwarts. He doesn't like to feel in debt to anyone, so even though your family, he will see it as you doing a job, so you should be paid for it.'

Remus knew his wife was right, if Harry did ask him to tutor him, then he will want to pay Remus. It did give Remus an idea though. Maybe after he finished tutoring Harry, he might tutor others. The full moon wouldn't be a concern as he would only work during the rest of the time. He would discuss that with Tonks later. For now, he just wanted to relax now that the war with Voldemort was over. This time though, it was thanks to many even if Harry was once again involved.