Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Moody's Home, Scotland, Near Strontium Village, 7/31/1997, 12:00
"So let me get this straight Nymphadora, you went looking for Potter and came back with Brown and Finnigan." Moody said testify when Tonks showed up at the order side of the camp with a ruffled pair of blushing teens.
"I have to take these two to see their parents, apparently they played a game of hide the wand last night in the boys tent, and don't call me Nymphadora!" Tonks answered testily.
"So Potter wasn't at the camp then?" Moody asked.
"No, him and Bones are both missing, all I know is they wandered off about three this morning, and nobody has seen them since." Tonks answered and marched the redfaced teens over to the parents tents, 'this was going to be entertaining.' Tonks thought with a grin.
Moody was feeling entirely different emotions right now, 'If Potter knocks little Suzie up I'll kill him.' Moody thought. viciously, he had known her since she was a babe and felt as if she was his own granddaughter, and always felt protective of her.
Moody waited a few minutes until he heard a lot of shouting coming from the Browns tent before he hollered "Tonks, front and Center."
Tonks appeared in front of him "I wanted to see how it ended."she said in a petulant tone.
"We don't have time for you to be standing around gawping at teenage drama, find Potter and Bones immediately." Moody ordered.
"Sure, but they could be in the middle of a nooner, I would hate to interrupt them." Tonks smirked.
"Shut it, why are you still here." Moody barked his question out sounding very irritable.
Tonks scowled, and marched back over to the teen camp, and started making inquiries about Bones and Potter, she wouldn't be suprised if they had hooked up, they were definitely attracted to each other. It was only a matter of time until something happened between those two, 'Maybe I should start a betting pool.' Tonks thought to herself with a grin.
It wasn't until she found a very hungover Bill Weasley who was sitting by the fire receiving angry glares from his fiancée and drinking large gulps from a water bottle, that she found a lead to the whereabouts of the missing teens.
"He has a spot a little to the north of camp he likes to go there to get away from everyone and practice his occlumency, If he's there Bones will almost certainly be with him. I've caught them sneaking off together before." Bill said tiredly.
"Thanks Bill, I'll give it a look." she said before walking in the direction of the place he described.
Walking over a small hill she found them easily, the hill wasn't very big but it kept them from being seen by the camp. Harry was asleep on his back sprawled on the grass, and Bones was cuddled up against his side her head on his shoulder sleeping peacefully.
Thankfully they were fully clothed and it looked like they had just fallen asleep laying out here probably stargazing.
With a grin Tonks removed her camera from her pocket and quickly snapped a few pictures, this could be excellent blackmail material in the future.
"Oi, Potter, wake up!" Tonks said loudly.
Harry groaned at hearing his name, he didn't want to move, he felt really comfortable and didn't even open his eyes when he responded.
"Wasat?" Harry mumbled unitelligeably.
"Moody's has me out looking for you two.
"Five more minutes." Susan mumbled before she snuggled into her pillow.
Harry's eyes shot open at hearing Susan's sleepy voice so close to his ear, and he felt her warm soft body snuggle in closer to him.
At seeing Harry wake up very suddenly Tonks smirked. " Come on hurry up, I don't have time to watch you two cuddle." Tonks said loudly.
Susan's eyes snapped open and she realized her pillow was actually Harry's chest, well it is comfortable she defended to herself. She quickly got off of him and staggered to her feet, but as soon as she stood upright a dull pain in her forehead seemed to overwhelm her and she had the sudden urge to throw up.
Harry looked over Susan's appearance as he was preparing to get up himself, her white summer dress was stained green on the back and sides from sleeping on the grass, her auburn hair was a complete mess and she had lost her sandals sometime last night she had dirt smudged on her bare calves and she was currently holding her forehead in pain, in short she looked a mess.
Minus the headache part he couldn't deny he found the look very attractive, weirdly enough. Shaking these thoughts from his mind and pulling his gaze from her body, before his own body reacted, he stood up as well and felt like he was going to vomit, Harry also felt a dull ache in his head that pulsed in time with his heartbeat, his vision seemed to blur, and he groaned holding his own head.
He decided then and there, alcohol wasn't for him.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, 7/31/1997, 13:14
Harry felt better after chugging down a quart of water and a taking nice warm shower, He changed into some clean clothes and cast a shaving spell on his jaw which was starting to stubble, finally after brushing his teeth he felt almost human again.
He met up with Tonks in front of the tent and Susan came out of the girls tent not long after, having showered and changed into a pair of denim shorts and a black tank top, she seemed to be feeling a lot better as well, and gave Harry a soft smile.
"Alright, Moody's waiting on you two. We already caught Brown and Finnigan in bed together this morning, so naturally he assumed the worst of your disappearance." Tonks informed them grinning
"Aren't they of age asked Harry?" Confused.
"Dosen't matter, Moody's old school. So if you ever jump her Bones Potter, Don't get caught, he'll probably kill you." Tonks said seriously, and smirked when both Harry and Susan blushed.
"Wait, you caught them, why did you turn them in?" Susan asked shocked.
"Because they got caught in the boys barracks, and I thought it would really embarrass them if the whole camp found out, and most importantly I don't like Brown." Tonks answered unashamedly.
Harry was at a loss for what to say and Susan seemed just as shocked, Tonks could be a real bitch when she wanted to be.
Seeing the teens had went quiet Tonks started leading them towards the order side of the camp. Moody was already stomping towards them with a scowl on his face, when they got within a hundred yards of the mess tent.
"So had a good night did we?" Moody asked sarcastically.
Harry and Susan looked at each other confused, and were at a loss for how to handle this conversation, Moody looked to be on the verge of blowing his top.
"They were passed out on the otherside of the camp Moody, and they were fully clothed when I found them." Tonks said in exasperation.
Moody's glare dimmed a bit but he still asked. "Why the hell would you two take off and not tell anyone where you were?"
"Everyone in camp was starting to pass out and I wanted some quiet time." Harry answered easily.
"I didn't want to watch Brown molest Finnigan by the campfire, so I went to the spot Harry performed his animagus transformation at. He was already there when I got there." Susan answered.
"Right, Bill told me you had Susan supervise your transformation last week, you should have had an adult there." Moody rebuked him.
"Susan was the first person I thought of, and she was able to get me to transform back easily enough." Harry said unconcerned.
"Yeah, after your animal thought I looked tasty." Susan grumbled.
"Tasty?" Tonks asked with a grin.
"Yeah, he said his animals instincts were telling him I was prey." Susan said.
"I wouldn't have let my animal self eat you Susan." Harry said in a tone rhat said this wasn't the first time they had this conversation before.
"Alright enough chit chat, just what the hell is your form?" Moody asked impatiently.
Harry was half tempted to say he was a rabbit animagus, but judging by the mood the man was in he took the safer path and said. "I'm an African leopard."
"Well that's useless for spying in the day time, but that could prove very useful on night missions." Moody said more to himself than anyone else, Before speaking directly to Harry and Susan. "I have decided not to induct either of you in the order, you have your own group to run, so we will be keeping the D.A and the Order separate." Moody told them firmly.
"I've got to run Moody." Tonks said and started hurrying back towards the teen camp.
Moody nodded at Tonks and then looked at the teens waiting to hear their response, he half expected one of them to throw a tantrum.
Harry who had been thinking along the same lines for weeks now was not bothered at all by Moody's statement and said. "I was just talking to Susan about that very idea not long ago, my camp is improving quite well and I'm still in the process of trying to sort them into teams, they will probably be ready to go into battle in two months time give or take."
"You've got one month if that, the ministry will fall any day now." Moody answered back.
Harry looked surprised he had hoped for more time, but he should have guessed Voldemort would move soon. Once muggleborns started going into hiding Voldemort would know the order was preparing for a coup. If that's the case he would be pushing his people Harder than ever, starting Saturday morning.
Pushing those thoughts back for the time being he asked Moody. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"
"You and Susan will be going to the wedding under disguise, you are to assist if the event is interrupted by an attack, I'll be giving you each a bag of twenty portkeys. You are to protect the guests and to get everyone here safely, the portkeys will take them to a spot fifty yards outside of the wards where they will be checked out by medical and sent through if they pass the screening process." Moody explained.
"What if they fail the screening process?"Susan asked curiously.
"Then we'll pump them full of veritaserum and depending on their threat level, either obliviate them or cut their fucking throats." Moody answered.
"How will we be disguised?" Harry asked, since Susan seemed shocked into silence at Moody's statement.
"Polyjuice. You two are on Voldemorts capture list, so I'm not taking any chances, you will be taking the form of a muggle couple whose hair I acquired in Strontian village this morning." Moody explained.
"Okay I'm in. "Harry agreed.
"Yeah, me too." Susan said with much less confidence.
Harry looked over at Susan and smiled "You'll do fine Bones, just stick with me and everything will work out." Harry told her encouragingly.
"Thanks, this while be my first time doing something like this." She said smiling gratefully.
Moody rolled his eyes. "Flirt later, pay attention now. We have quite a few members of the order that will be there. If there is going to be an attack it will happen after sundown. So no drinking At the reception. You two are to cover the west side, if confronted curse to kill." Moody instructed them.
"Yeah, I won't be drinking again anytime soon." Susan said with a shiver.
"What she said." Harry replied pointing his thumb in Susan direction.
"Good meet me here in the morning at nine, get some rest tonight you're probably going to need it." Moody said.
They both nodded and headed back to their camp thinking about what tomorrow would bring.
That is until they arrived at camp and saw Tonks had a small table set up in the middle of the camp, which she was sitting behind, there was a large pyramid of rolled up posters on top of the table next to a box that was rapidly filling with sickles, and a long line of girls from their camp as well as women of all ages from the order side of camp , all qued up in front of her table.
On the front side of the table was a poster, it appeared to be two feet by three feet, it looked as if it was once the picture Tonks had taken last night of Harry in his boxers being lifted from his bunk, but she had somehow removed Fred and George from the background, so it was just him flexing his arms and chest were he had been held up before Tonks altered it, and thanks to all the P.T his muscles were very defined now.
He was standing in front of a large bed, she had altered the Background to look like a candle lit bedroom. There was a text over the very top of the poster that read 'I'm of age Now, will you make me a man?'
Harry wasn't moving in the poster like most wizard photos he had seen, he just stared out from the photo, the only movement were his eyes blinking.
There was a placard above the display poster which read "Posters two sickles'.
"Oh my", gasped Susan breathlessly, she started digging in her pockets frantically.
"What do you think your doing Bones?" Harry asked blushing furiously in embarrassment.
"They're only two sickles, I thought I would buy one for Hannah." Susan said quickly, and smiled when she dug out some coins.
"Don't bother, she already bought one." Neville said grumpily coming up behind them.
"Really?" Harry asked with a rather smug smirk, which was completely ruined by his blushing face, he didn't notice noticing Susan sneak off and jump into line with the others as he turned to see Neville.
"Don't push it Potter, I'm not in the mood for it today." Neville said warningly.
Harry nodded, he wasn't in a very good mood either right about now, Tonks was going to pay for this.
"Is that your Gran?" Harry asked noticing an older woman wearing a vulture hat towards the middle of the line.
"Yes, and Griselda Marchbanks and Professor McGonagall already bought one earlier before you got here." Neville said smirking at Harry's look of horror as Neville listed off names, "I think I even saw a couple of blokes buying one earlier as well". Neville added gleefully.
'Yes Tonks was really going to pay for this!' Harry thought vengefully.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, Scotland, 8/1/1997, 09:00
The rest of the day yesterday was a nightmare, he had been approached numerous times by girls in the camp asking him to sign their posters, why they each needed one when the we're sleeping in a barrack was beyond him. Though he still got a kick out of some of the people that approached him, his favorite had been when Fleur asked him to sign her poster as a wedding gift, he saw Bill ten feet away his arms crossed over his chest scowling at him. That look alone was worth him signing the poster, and the one she had bought for Gabrielle as well.
Then after the girls had finally left him alone he got the business from the boys staying in his tent, since many of their girlfriends had purchased a poster and they weren't pleased about it, he tried to explain it was Tonks doing, but that didn't help.
He was so going to get Tonks for this, she had scampered as soon as the last poster was sold, but she couldn't hide forever.
"Good morning Harry." Susan said cheerfully.
"Why are you so chipper?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"We get to leave for a bit, I have been here since June. And I finally get to go somewhere else." She explained.
"Oh." Harry said flatly.
"Why are you so grumpy?" Susan asked.
"Tonks." Harry answered simply.
"Oh because she made the posters?" Susan asked with a grin.
"Yep, I was hounded for autographs all day yesterday. And half the boys in my tent are blaming me because their girlfriends bought one." Harry ranted.
"Yeah, Lavender hung hers up in the shower room and cast a impervius charm on it to make it water proof. Did you know you blush in the photo when someone takes a shower?" Susan said with a grin.
"So you've seen that first hand I take it?" Harry asked shrewdly.
Susan blushed scarlet but was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Moody and a grinning Tonks.
Harry glared at Tonks and was about to lay into her when Moody spoke.
"First of all Potter I'm ashamed of you for making poor Nymphadora sell your pornography." Moody said disapprovingly.
"I did no such thing she-"
Moody cut across him. "I don't want to hear about it. Here is your dose of poyjuice. There is about eight hours worth here. You will arrive at the wedding at one o' clock. And for God's sake Potter keep your shirt on at the wedding." Moody said handing him and Susan a flask before stomping away.
"You are going to pay for this Tonks." Harry said menacingly.
Tonks smirked at him. "Just try it Potter ,I've got another picture Moody would love to see. You and Bones cuddled up yesterday morning ." She said warningly, before she too left.
"Just let it go Potter, it's not that bad." Susan said comfortingly hoping he wouldn't do something stupid and have that picture made into a poster.
Harry sighed and nodded, he wouldn't forget about this, but he needed to be on his A game today.
"Right lets start going over the layout of the Burrow, I guess you have never been there before?" Harry asked.
"No, my aunt had to go there during our second year because of that flying car, She said it was an open area and they had an apple orchard but not much else." Susan answered.
Harry then explained the rough layout of the Burrow the gardens the pitch they used to play quidditch during the summer and so on. The land around the Weasley's home was very open with rolling hills and large meadows, so there wasn't much cover to be had.
Then he explained the rough Idea of where the wedding would be held. He assumed it would take place in or near the back garden overlooking the orchard, which is where they would take up watch when night started falling.
...So the apple orchard side is the part we are going to have to cover." Harry finished explaining.
Susan nodded and checked her watch which read ten til ten.
"Want to go spar a bit to get warmed up? Susan asked.
"Maybe if your sure you can handle losing this early in the day." Harry taunted.
"Sure, nothing starts the day better than kicking the chosen ones ass in the dueling ring." Susan fired back.
"Dream on Bones." Harry said with a grin as he led her toward the training grounds.
/A/D/W/F/
The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England, 8/1/1997. 13:10
Harry and Susan arrived at the Burrow disguised as a heavyset ginger couple in their mid forties, nobody at the Burrow knew who they really were, all Moody said was they were part of the protection detail in disguise of Arthur's fifth cousin once removed Nathan Weasley and his wife Laura.
They sat on the grooms side towards the back and had been guided to their seat by Ron of all people.
The setting of the wedding did look amazing, the garden and back of the house had been straightened up a lot, not a single chicken or garden gnome could be seen running about, and there was a large purple marque that had been set up over row upon row of golden chairs that sat on either side of an aisle that was covered by purple carpet, the aisle led down the center of the marque to a slightly raised platform where the service would be performed within the hour.
Susan looked to be bursting with excitement and her smile shone clearly through a face that wasn't her own. "I just love weddings." she said happily.
Harry grinned at her and said. "I can tell."
"Don't you?" She asked.
"I've never been to one." harry answered.
Susan shook her head, "I guess this will be your first one then."
"Yep, look there comes the relatives of the bride. Whoa that can't be her mother can it?" Harry said looking at a tall slender woman that could pass for Fleur's sister, she looked to be about thirty and was obviously of 'veela' descent. She was leading little Gabrielle Delacour to a seat in the front row and attracting at lot of male attention in the process.
Susan elbowed him and glared when he looked at her curiously.
"Your supposed to be acting as my husband and here you are gawking at another woman right in front of me." Susan said dramatically, a slight hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Well I am not the only husband here with wondering eyes now am I?" Harry questioned..
Susan scowled at him. "Keep your eyes in your head Potter, we got work to do." she said grumpily.
Harry watched as Gabrielle darted back up the aisle and not long after music begin to sound all around them, a few minutes later Gabrielle and Ginny Weasley started slowly walking down the aisle side by side heading towards Bill and Charlie Weasley who harry hadn't noticed were standing on the platform now.
Fleur soon started the procession guided by a short heavy set man with a pointy goatee and a warm smile on his face as he led hid daughter to her future husband.
Bill looked to be a bundle of nerves, but his whole face lit up seeing Fleur come down the aisle wearing a simple white wedding dress, her Veela heritage couldn't be more obvious today as her hair and skin seemed to glow in happiness, Bill seemed to relax upon seeing his bride and smiled back at Fleur as she approached.
When Fleur and her father made it to the platform Harry noticed another wizard standing behind a podium that was set into the platform, he wore regal purple robes and was clearly here to officiate the wedding, Harry couldn't make out his features but he seemed room be quite ancient.
The ceremony soon began and Harry kind of tuned out the words and just watched, the couple as they spoke their vows, this could be him someday if he survived the war.
Bill and Fleur clasped hands, the official cast a spell over their clasped hands and a bright flash of silver surrounded them and the official proclaimed I now present Mr. and Mrs. William Weasley!"
Harry heard sniffing beside him and saw that Susan was sobbing into her hands, Harry smiled and conjured a handkerchief and gently patted Susan's shoulder and handed it to her.
She gave him a watery smile in thanks that he could easily identify as Susan even though she looked like a fourty year old ginger woman.
The official called for everyone to stand and Harry offered Susan his hand and helped her stand, as the all chairs magically disappeared and reappeared around tables that seemed to materialize out of thin air all around the perimeter of the marque, then the officiate cast another spell and a smooth wooden dance floor seemed to flow outward from the point his wand was directed at like water and filled the direct center of the marque so there was now a large dance area. A band quickly made their way up to the now vacated platform, where the marriage had just been performed, and set up their instruments.
Fleur and Bill were lead out of the tent for wedding photos and everyone else took a seat around a table, Harry had the great fortune to be seated with Tonks and some bloke she was holding hands with. On closer inspection Harry recognized the man as Viktor Krum, he had grown a goatee and looked to have put on quite a bit of muscle since Harry had last seen him, but those eyebrows and eyes were unmistakable.
Harry shook his head and smiled mischievously, it was time for some payback.
"Why Nymphadora I see you've finally brought a boy to see us, your aunt Laura and I were getting worried you would become a witches witch, you know your dear mother is dying for a few grandchildren. Maybe this strapping lad can get that started for you." Harry said in a kindly tone a batty old person would use.
Tonks eyes bulged in anger and embarrassment. "Po... I mean uncle Nathan what an inappropriate thing to say, I was asked to escort Viktor since he just recently joined our group, I am not dating him." She said in a barely controlled voice.
Susan snorted and had to try very hard not burst into giggles.
"I'm sorry that I got your hopes up Laura." harry said disappointedly.
"That's fine dear I'm sure she'll be happy with her many, many cats, and live out her days as a spinster just like your cousin Agatha." Susan soothed him.
Tonks hair was shifting colors in her attempt to control her annoyance and she stood up and said. "Come along Viktor let's leave my batty old relatives alone." She had started trying to pull Viktor away, but the man seemed reluctant to go with her.
"Nonsense Nymphadora, we don't see you nearly enough, and here you are escorting a international quidditch star around. Has he at least tried to sample the goods yet? There is a lovely outhouse not far from here, I'm sure the two of you could make an attempt at giving your mother a grandchild." Harry said cheerfully.
Tonks eye twitched and Viktor seemed to be searching for an escape route frantically.
"Uncle Nathan, if you don't stop I will get very... moody do you get the picture?" Tonks asked emphasizing the words Moody and picture which was clearly a threat.
Harry smiled at her warmly ."Ah, your experiencing your monthlies again, say no more I'll have the mop ready just in case, I remember what happened last time dear girl." Harry said as if trying to reassure her.
Viktor who had been listening freed himself from her grasp and made his escape as far away from Tonks and her insane relatives as he could, almost barreling over Luna Love good in the process.
"You are so dead Potter!" Tonks whisper screamed. "When we return I will be showing Moody those pictures after I edit them a bit of course." Tonks threatened before storming off.
Susan lost control and started laughing uncontrollably, when she finally caught her breath she weezed out. "That was hilarious,...did you..see the look on her face." Susan choked out and started laughing again.
"Yes, it was priceless, I think she was trying to hook up with poor Viktor." Harry beamed at her.
" But now she will definitely show Moody those pictures." Susan said, sobering up as she thought about it.
"Ah, but I have a solution to that problem." Harry said before casting a 'mufliato' spell and calling out "Dobby."
With a small 'crack' sound Dobby appeared. Susan thought he looked like the strangest elf she had ever seen wearing mismatched clothes and five hats stacked on top of each other.
"The great Harry Potter calls for Dobby?" The hyper active elf asked.
"Yes, my friend Nymphadora Tonks took pictures of me and Susan in a compromising position, would you please get them for me?" Harry asked kindly.
Dobby took on a look of deep concentration, before he grinned and snapped his fingers, instantly a small stack of pictures appeared in the elfs hand.
Dobby handed them to Harry and asked. "Will that be all Harry Potter sir?"
Harry looked through the pictures, they were as Tonks had said, of him and Susan cuddled up on the ground the other morning. There wasn't anything inappropriate about them at all,they were both sleeping peacefully, but he knew Tonks had edited the other photo, and knew she could alter these to become very scandalous if she wished.
"Yes Dobby thank you." Harry said greatfully.
Harry passed the pictures to Susan who looked through them and smiled before placing them in her inner robe pocket.
Dobby disappeared with another 'crack' and Harry canceled the privacy ward.
Susan beamed at him before saying. "Well played Nathan."
"Yes Laura I had an epiphany on how to take away her leverage, I can't wait to see the look on Tonks face when she realizes their gone." Harry said smugly.
"Yes, she will be furious." Susan agreed.
Harry's wand buzzed and he checked the time, he then reached into his inner pocket and removed a flask and took a measured sip to recharge his polyjuice. Susan had to do the same and she made the same disgusted face he did upon drinking it.
"Attention, I would now ask that everyone stand as the bride and groom share their first dance." Said Arthur Weasley his voice magically magnified to carry throughout the tent.
Harry and Susan rose and watched the couple twirl around the dance floor completely oblivious to their audience, soon the parents of the bride and groom joined in: Arthur was dancing with Apolline Delacour, and Molly was dancing with Sabastian Delacour, both pairs were looking very pleased, their families were now united and their children were happy.
Soon others joined them on the dance floor and Susan tapped her fingers on the table top giving Harry a pointed stare.
Sighing Harry asked "Laura would you care to dance." Harry asked reluctantly.
Susan beamed and answered "Yes, I thought you would never ask." and drug him onto the dance floor.
Luckily it was a waltz, he had to perform the same dance in his fourth year, even more luckily he still remembered the steps. It felt weird though, the man he was posing as had a larger stomach and his legs were a bit shorter so he had to compensate a bit, bur he got the hang of it pretty quickly.
Gazing around he saw Ron dancing with Luna Lovegood, Ron looked lost but Luna was smiling dreamily and leading him around the dance floor.
The Twins were dancing with two of Fleurs cousins. Harry caught sight of Viktor Krum dancing with Ginny Weasley and saw Tonks sitting at a table by herself glaring daggers at him and Susan.
When the song ended Susan kept him on the dance floor. "Your not pulling that stunt on me like you did on Patil in fourth year, We are dancing tonight." Susan said firmly.
Harry nodded reluctantly and ended up leading her around the dance floor for quite a long time, they both had recharge their disguise twice while dancing, but Susan seemed to be enjoying herself so Harry didn't complain.
They both were getting sweaty and thirsty and Susan finally said she needed a break, theysat down at an empty table , and snagged a couple of butter beers from a passing tray.
Harry checked his watch and saw it was after six now. "We should probably get into position soon, I don't want to be caught unawares if we're attacked tonight." Harry said seriously.
"Right, I need to change out of this dress, will you walk me up to the house?" Susan asked.
"Sure" Harry said and he led her inside the house to the first floor bathroom, that guest were allowed to use and waited as she changed into a set of everyday robes, then when she came out Harry quickly stepped in the bathroom and changed out of his own dress robes. They really impeded his mobility so he changed into a pair of black pants a black hooded sweater but kept on his dragon hide boots.
Once he exited the bathroom he walked her down past the wedding reception to the edge of the orchard and they began their vigil hoping that nothing happened tonight.
/A/D/W/F/
Wedding, The Burrow, 8/1/1997, 21:13
All had been quiet for the past few hours, Harry and Susan had taken seets on the ground and listened for anything out of the ordinary, so far nothing had happened.
"Maybe nothing will happen tonight Susan said optimistically.
"Don't say that you'll-
Harry stopped talking as he saw a silver silver lynx patronus enter from the North and it annouced in Kingsley Shackelbolt's voice.
'Voldemort has taken the ministry, The Lion has fallen, evac code green.'
The patronus faded away and Order members sprang into action, the Delacours were portkeyed away before the wards had even fallen and Harry and Susan were passing out port keys to everyone in reach and saying "Safety" to activate the little coat buttons that had been turned to portkeys sending people away to safety.
The wards fell with a crash and some of the guests a parted away on their own.
By the time the tell tale 'pops' of incoming apparition was heard most of the guests portkeys had been activated and Harry only had four buttons left.
Seeing a figure aparate thirty feet to his left dressed in black robes and a bone white mask Harry cast a silent 'defodio' spell and pierced a hole through the nameless man's chest, Harry had to quickly side step a Killing curse to his right and flicked his wand in the direction the spell came from, the spell hit the ground in front of the caster exploding the earth underneath his feet and ripping his right leg clean off as the death eater was hurled through the air by the force of the explosion.
Harry finished him off with a piercing hex to the chest and turned to his right where the sound of more fighting could be heard, seeing Susan becoming overwhelmed by two robed men, who were attacking her from either side and all she was able to do was dodge their incoming spells.
Harry fired a 'sectumsempra' into the flank of one of the men casting spells at her which gave her the chance to hit the other man in the face with a bludgeoner so powerful his neck snapped backwards at a ninety degree angle and he collapsed. The man Harry had hit was laying screaming on the ground and Harry hit him with a piercer to the face to finish him off.
Harry heard a moan behind him and saw one of the order members clutching his abdomen and bleeding heavily, Sturgis Podmore if Harry remembered correctly, Harry placed a button on Podmore's hand that was pressed to his stomach and called out "Safety". Podmore disappeared but Harry had to hastily dodge a cruciatus curse fired at his back.
Harry started casting again at the source of the spell fire coming at them, the battle became a blur he had to portkey two more Order members who appeared to be in critical condition away to safety.
Harry had taken a nasty gash to his leg and a burn to his right shoulder but he could still fight pretty well the adrenaline was over riding his pain right now, he had lost count of how many he had killed and he was starting to feel fatigued.
Harry fell a rather large man that had burst out of the apple trees with a 'decapitare' spell and watched the mans head roll back towards the orchard, it seemed like for everyman he fought two more joined the fray.
He saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and turned to see saw Ron locked in combat with the woman he hated most in the world.
Bellatrix was clearly just toying the red headed teen, and just as Harry thought that, he heard her cackle madly as she screeched "Crucio."
The spell hit Ron before he even had a chance to dodge and he collapsed screaming his throat raw while Bella giggled and said "Bad blood traitor." and giggled some more holding the spell, watching Ron convulsed and thrash around.
Harry saw red and remembered her mocking voice from a year ago in the ministry atrium 'You have to mean them, you have to want to cause me pain, Potter.
He wanted her to feel pain he wanted her to hurt and scream, he wanted her to beg for death, and he held that intent in his mind as he whispered 'Crucio' and aimed at her back, and he definitely meant it this time.
The spell struck true and Bellatrix collapsed screaming a high pitched shriek as her body spasmed on the ground, they way her muscles locked up and her jaw locked shut could be closely compared to high voltage electric shock, sounds of agony were coming out of her closed mouth mouth as he held the curse and forced all his hatred for her into the spell as he slowly approached her writhing form, when he was close enough he started kicking her in the face face repeatedly, he heard her nose shatter and blood poured from her mouth, he most likely ruptured her tongue when he kicked her jaw from under her chin.
Harry was forced to release the curse and stop kicking her when a killing curse came flying straight at him and he was forced to roll out of the way.
Harry sprang to his feet as a large death eater started advancing on him casting spells at blinding speed, Harry was forced to dodge and fall back, this man was better than anyone he had fought tonight and he could not find an opening to strike back. He was forced to back away further and defend as the man advanced toward his fallen comrade. When the man was standing over Bellatrix he dropped sickle on her unconscious body and said "Purity."
Bellatrix vanished in a flash of blue light but it gave Harry his opening and Harry's piercer nailed the man in the chest, he collapsed coughing up blood and his breathing became very rapid, before it quickly ceased.
Harry was beyond pissed the bitch had escaped but he pushed those feelings aside aside and quickly went to Ron's prone form, he had fallen unconscious and his muscles were twitching erratically, Harry moved over him and placed his last portkey on Ron's forehead and activated it, Ron disappeared in a flash of blue, transported to safety of the order.
The death eaters were coming in heavily from the orchard now, they must have aparated in from that side of the property, The order was taking heavy losses, no deaths that he saw but they were taking heavy injuries. Harry had used up all of his portkeys and only him Susan and few other order members were holding back this side of the property.
"Wedding Party is Clear" Tonks called out loudly, over the sound of the fighting.
Harry moved to Susan's side and told her "It's time to fall back, we need to to go."
"I'm out of portkeys" she said while ducking a blue spell and sending an exploding curse in return.
The explosion lit up the orchard and showed at least two dozen figures advancing on them.
Harry grabbed Susan's shoulder and tried to spin on the spot but there seemed to be something solid preventing them from aparating away, Harry took a bone breaker to his left arm during his second of distraction, he screamed in agony and rage, he channeled that as he cast a ribbon cutter spell into the area he knew the death eaters were coming from. Harry heard several screams and thought he even heard bodies hitting the ground but payed it no mind as he started firing a chain of exploding hexes into the orchard. The screams and sounds of explosions melded together to create an deafening roar of destruction, every time a spell would strike it would illuminate the area showing Harry a split second of the devestation he was causing his enemies.
"Harry we need to go, we're going to be overrun if we don't leave soon." Tonks said as she started firing into the orchard as well and came up on his left side.
"I know but we're out of portkeys and they have put up anti-aparition wards." Harry yelled over the sound of spellfire.
"I know we're going to have to leg it." She said.
Harry looked around there was only three other people from the order here, Bill Weasley, Hestia Jones and one of the Weasley twins.
"Alright, but we need to move to their location first." Harry said pointing to the group a hundred yards across from them.
"No, I'll send them a message to fall back to the marque." Tonks told him.
"Right, do it." Harry said as he cast another chain of exploding spells into the orchard.
Harry heard Susan scream as a cutting spell struck her. "Susan are you okay Harry asked not letting up on his spells but fanning them out wider and he was rewarded by screams of pain in between explosive spells detonating into the orchard.
"She's fine fall back" Tonks commanded.
Harry started backing away towards the marque but continued to send spells towards the orchard, it took an eternity but they finally made it to the rendezvous point.
They had to wait five minutes before the other three could be spotted approaching twenty yards out, George was supporting Hestia, whose leg looked badly broken, Bill was providing cover and Harry assisted him and covered them as they made it the rest of the way to the marque.
"George, how many brooms are in the shed? Harry asked as soon as he was within earshot..
"Accio Weasley brooms" George called out and four brooms came sailing to them.
"Four." George said.
"Okay Susan with me, George you got Hestia. Bill You and Tonks cover us were heading for the main road, we'll aparate from thete." Harry ordered, and nobody questioned him as they all mounted a broom and prepared to kick off.
"On three" Tonks said as she cast a large barrage of spells toward the orchard and screamed out "Three."
All four brooms kicked off and made a beeline for the southern edge of the property, spell fire came wizzing past them but they we're well out of range, within thirty seconds they had reached their destination and touched down on the main road.
"Everyone pair up and aparate somewhere random wait thirty minutes before returning to headquarters." Bill ordered.
Harry dropped the broom he had flown and grabbed Susan's arm and spun them away into the suffocating rubber hose like feeling of disapparition.
/A/D/W/F/
Tottenham Court Road, London, 8/1/1997, 22:1997
Harry and Susan appeared on a busy London street and he gently steered her forward down the street looking for the entrance to the tube station, which had aparated close to.
Where are we exactly?" Susan asked as she kept pace with Harry.
"Muggle London, we're headied to the going underground trainstation to catch a train to Highbury Islington station." Harry told her as he spotted the entrance to the tube station not far ahead, glancing around Harry spotted a man wearing an expensive suit walking out of a computer store across the street, Harry carefully drew his wand and silently summoned the man's wallet out of his back pocket and Harry caught it easily as it flew towards him. He didn't normally condone stein but Harry didn't have an pounds and from the look of that suit, the man had plenty to spare.
Harry pulled the pound notes out before tossing the wallet in a bin beside the entrance to the underground, he steered Susan down the staircase and approached the attendant and purchased two tickets to Highbury, they had twelve minutes to kill before the next train arrived, so Harry led Susan over to a bench and they took a seat.
They were the only ones here at the moment so they had some privacy, and Susan asked. What happened tonight do you think?"
"Voldemort took the ministry, I'm guessing the minister is dead and now we have to worry about fighting two sides at once, the ministry and the death eaters." Harry said.
He felt his stomach contract and grimaced as the polyjuice had started to wear off, his skin bubbled like hot wax and his body seemed to stretch in length and shrink in width, his skin became smoother and his eye color changed from light blue to his famous emerald green.
Susan had a similar experience except the woman she was posing as was about her same height, but she lost a lot of the fat that the other woman had around her midsection and her hair color went from almost bright orange to her dark auburn color, in less than thirty seconds both teens had their original appearince again, however they couldn't celebrate on that for to long, because two loud 'pops' echoed around the tube station and a pair of men wearing black hooded robes and white masks appeared on the othe other side of the station.
"Oh shit!" Harry exclaimed as his wand dropped into his hand, his night wasn't finished yet apparently.
AN: Sorry about the cliffhanger but this chapter was getting a bit long. The next chapter should be up by Wednesday or Thursday.