"Are you home for dinner?" asked Ginny as she facetimed her husband on her mobile.
"Yes, dear, for the hundredth time," said Harry rubbing the bridge of his nose. Although Ginny and Harry had been married for twenty years, Harry still could not stand it when Ginny repeated the same question continuously. Unfortunately for Harry, he could never argue with Ginny as she gave him seven children.
"Okay, dinner's at six..." said Ginny however she stopped midway as she looked up at the ceiling.
"Gin? You frozen?" asked Harry.
"COLIN AND CEDRIC GET DOWN FROM THE CHANDELIER!" yelled Ginny in a tone that made Harry's spine shiver. "James, Albus! Get your brothers down from chandelier!"
"We got it, Mum," said James as he and Albus came down the stairs with their wands. Just as Ginny collected herself, all three Potter girls bombarded an unsuspecting Ginny. Poor Harry had to turn down the volume on his phone as the three girls talked over each other.
"Mum, have you seen my green jumper?" asked Lily.
"Did my jeans get washed?" asked Iris.
"I can't find my purple bow!" whinged Hazel.
"Merlin, girls, I don't know!" groaned Ginny. "Check your rooms!"
"Is that Daddy?" asked Hazel excitedly as she reached for Ginny's mobile.
"Can we talked to him?" asked Iris. Still needing a moment to breath, Ginny handed the phone to the girls so they could talk to their father. Unfortunately for Harry, none of the girls were willing to wait for the others to speak and Harry felt like his head was about to explode from the chatter.
"Are you coming home tonight, Dad?" asked Lily.
"When are you coming home?" asked Iris.
"Do you know where my purple bow is?" asked Hazel.
"Merlin's beard! It sounds like a bunch of harpies!" said James to Albus as they successful levitated the twins down from the chandelier. This was one of those times where Albus questioned his parents' sanity in having a large family. All of the noise and chaos that filled the home sometimes wore down on Albus. Even Hogwarts offered more tranquility that Grimmauld Place.
"Dad?" said Lily. "Dad, are you there?"
"Daddy?" said Hazel standing tiptoe to see the mobile screen.
"Something's wrong!" cried Iris.
"The screen's probably frozen - " suggested James, however Albus tapped James' arm before James could finish his thought.
"Dad? Dad!" said Lily more frantically now.
"Mum!" called out Iris. Just then, Ginny ran towards the girls and grabbed the mobile out of Lily's hand.
"Harry? Harry! Darling, are you there? HARRY!" yelled Ginny frantically. Hearing his mother' voice trembling broke Albus' heart, especially since his mother was usually his rock during times of stress. Not knowing what else to do, Albus texted Rose and Scorpius.
Emergency - get to Grimmauld. Now.
Ron and Hermione rushed over after Rose bolted down the stairs informing them to go to Grimmauld Place. Since Hermione didn't feel comfortable leaving Hugo in charge, Molly and Arthur watched the younger kids at the Burrow for the night.
It was just after midnight and still no sign of Harry. The younger Potters were asleep while the older Potter children plus Rose and Scorpius congregated in the parlor with the adults.
"Anything yet, Ron?" asked Hermione as she sat next to Ginny and comforted her. Ron shook his head as he looked down at his mobile frantically texting any wizard or witch he knew looking for answers.
Just then, the door opened and the three adults perked up thinking that maybe this was Harry. Instead, it was Tori Weasley, slightly out of breath from all the apparition. Ginny stood up from the couch hoping that if she peered out of the door frame, Harry would be in the hallway.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Ginny," said Tori solemnly."Teddy and I didn't find him."
"We tried all the usual spots, Ron," added Teddy. "Nothing."
As Ginny slowly sat back down, Hermione put her arm around her to comfort her. However, Ron didn't respond as he continued to walk around the room and look down at his mobile. Just then, Ron's mobile pinged which almost made Ron drop his phone.
"Who is it, Ron?" asked Hermione.
"It's George," said Ron. "He just texted me - all it says is PW."
"What does that mean?" asked James. Just then, Hermione's eyes widen.
"Where's the radio?" asked Hermione urgently.
"Um, in the kitchen," said Ginny. Without Hermione asking, Ron ran out of the parlor down to the kitchen and within five minutes returned with the radio. Once Albus was able to help Ron set up the radio, Ron tweaked with the dial to find a particular station.
"What's he looking for?" whispered Scorpius to Rose.
"What's the password, 'Mione?" asked Ron.
"Hedwig," replied Hermione.
"There!" exclaimed Ron as he motioned for everyone to be quiet.
"Hello, this is River," announced Lee Jordan. "Welcome to Potterwatch 2.0. And I'm joined tonight by a special guest, Regulus. Say hello to folks out there, Reggie."