Molly and I stepped through the floo to Number 12 Grimmauld Place and we were met with a very happy Sirius. "Gringotts finished moving everything out of the Lestrange vault and into one owned by someone much better looking."
I grinned and shook my head in disbelief. Narcissa had pulled through. Molly asked, "What are your plans with the contents?"
"I'm paying them to have Bill thoroughly check every piece for dark magic and destroy anything suspect. Probably will take him weeks. I've used a number of galleons for war expenses. Once this is all over, I'll try to find the most un-pureblood charities I can think of. I don't need the money and I don't want anyone thinking I'm fighting for profit."
I still felt a little uncomfortable sometimes at Sirius' attitude about money. I guess it was never more than a tool for him since he had it. And he probably would never run out, no matter what he did. Us on the other hand… we never were in danger of missing the necessities, but only because there was long stretches where that's all we bought.
Bill was stopping by in a few minutes after his shift was over. Charlie was keeping his eyes open in Romania and we wouldn't be seeing him until summer at the earliest. Percy was being unhelpful, worried about Crouch more than anything. His superior had been back working regular hours since the new year started, but not following his usual routine. This was odd for a man who specified the temperature of his tea to an exact degree.
This get-together was Sirius' idea. I think he missed Harry more than anything — though sometimes I wondered if it was him or James that he really missed. Harry had been too busy to make the last Hogsmeade weekend, spending most of his free time practicing spellwork. My daughter fortunately didn't hold it against him and joined him in his practice as did Hermione and Ron to a lesser extent. The kids would be arriving…
Now. The floo flashed and out came Fred and George. "Happy Easter, Father."
"Nice place you have here, Sirius."
Then Ron followed by Hermione. Then Harry fell out, ending up on the floor. Finally, my little girl nimbly hopped out. I opened my arms to her, but she stooped down to help Harry. She tousled his hair and then gave him a hand getting up. After that, she turned her attention back to me and gave me a quick squeeze. "Sorry, Dad. He's…"
"Lost without you," Harry finished.
"Definitely!" She laughed. "Happy Easter, Mum."
Molly embraced the both of them and then finished dusting Harry off. "You poor dear. Are you nervous about next month?"
"I'm fine, thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Ginny gave him a glare that she had inherited from her mother. He amended, "Maybe a little. They are turning the Quidditch pitch into a maze with obstacles and the like. Whoever gets to the center wins. I'll be behind after the last task."
Ron said, "If you ask me, the lot of judges would be able to do a better job if they got their heads out of their arses."
"Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed.
"It's true," he said between bites of a shortbread biscuit he had somehow found.
"Anyway," Hermione continued, "unless Harry was entered into the contest by some anonymous admirer…"
"In which case her life is in danger as soon as Ginny fingers the culprit," said George.
"But otherwise… if I can avoid being interrupted… it's the last chance to spring whatever trap they have planned."
Harry said, "Everyone's been helping me practice up on stunning and some other hexes and such. The rules were changed so I can't bring anything but my wand."
"And robes," Fred said. "To the relief of some and chagrin of others," he added with a wink to his sister. "But no chance of using some of our fireworks, which is a shame. We will have to use them afters."
It was good to have a full house again, but it was definitely a quicker pace and louder environment than it was during the school year.
Sirius had ordered his house elf Kreacher to be scarce and quiet, so he took it upon himself to show everyone to their rooms. Not all of them were in a fit state for staying in still. Sirius had little love for the house of his mother and it showed. Due to the lack of rooms, the girls would be sharing, as would the twins and also Harry and Ron. They were all used doubling up at any rate.
As we walked in the stairs, I noticed a gaping hole on the wall that had been recently patched with new plaster. "I couldn't figure out a charm to remove my mother's picture. Harry, your performance at the first task reminded me of your mum. Lily would point out not everything was best solved with magic. A heavy hammer did the work brilliantly."
The children's three bedrooms were on the next floor. Sirius pointed out the assigned ones for the children, who went into their rooms to stow their baggage. Except for Ginny. "I hear something. A voice."
I had to admit nothing reached my older ears. Ginny slowly walked into the room towards an old wooden wardrobe, probably at least a hundred years old, and opened its door. I ran towards her as she found an old brown leather, nondescript pouch. She pulled at the drawstrings and flecks of leather fell off. Before she could reach inside, I rather roughly knocked it out of her hands. "Ginny!"
She seemed to snap out of a trance and then collapsed to the floor, rubbing her temples. Harry was right there and had his arms around her. Sirius closes the pouch up again and said, "I'll hold onto this until Bill can have a look. This used to be my brother's room before he got himself killed as a junior Death Eater so who knows what it is. I thought I told Kreacher to clear everything out of here… Kreacher!"
A wrinkled, graying, stooped house elf appeared. Hermione let out a sharp shriek. With all the commotion, the boys tramped into the room, Harry leading the way. "You called, Master?" Kreacher asked.
"I ordered you to clean out everything here that belonged to Regulus."
"Kreacher did as you commanded, Master Black."
He shoved the bag under Kreacher's face. "Then what's this?"
"That does not belong to Master's younger brother. It was stolen by him. It belongs to the dark lord."
I gasped. "Merlin's beard."
Sirius gingerly put the pouch in his coat pocket. "Kreacher, what is this and why is it here?"
The house elf resisted telling for a moment, looking angry and distraught. Sirius added, "Kreacher, I order you to tell me everything you know about this bag."
He surrendered to the logic he was bound by. "Kreacher does not know what manner of object this is. Very dark and very powerful. One day, young Regulus came to Kreacher and said the dark lord required the service of a house elf and was honoring the Black family by choosing Kreacher. The dark lord was hiding a locket that is now in this bag. He made Kreacher drink a potion that made Kreacher so thirsty… so thirsty it still burns. Kreacher wished to die, but Kreacher had been ordered to return to Mistress Black's house when done. Kreacher told Master Regulus and he ordered Kreacher to take him to the lagoon where the locket was hidden.
"Master Regulus himself drank the potion and ordered me to take the locket and destroy it. Master Regulus was taken by green, nasty slimy things and drowned. Kreacher tried to help him, but green slimy things tried taking the locket so Kreacher had to return home. The locket cannot be destroyed, Kreacher tried for weeks and weeks. Kreacher hid the locker and has punished himself every year on the day of young Regulus' death most severely for failing."
Sirius nodded gravely and dismissed him back to the kitchen.
Hermione was weeping openly and Ginny shivered. She finally said, "It must be like the diary… it was calling to me… to the shadow of Tom still in me." She looked at Harry and he nuzzled reassuringly.
Harry whispered, "I thought I heard something faint too, almost like a whisper in the next room. But I thought it was just me imagining things."
I sighed. "I think we will have to take this to Professor Dumbledore. He probably is the only one who may know what this is."
"Is there anything else that feels off in this room?" Sirius asked.
Ginny shook her head. "It seems safe enough to me now."
Harry insisted, "Ron and I are switching rooms with the girls."
"It's fine.
"You shouldn't be in here. Better for me and Ron."
"Harry, can we talk?" She said it with a smile but I recognized that look from my wife. Not a good one.
I said, "Once Bill gets here, I'll have him check out the room. Boys, how about you unpack."
Hermione added, "I want to check on Kreacher."
Harry looked at me for a moment. I shook my head. He was on his own.
As everyone else left, I decided to break my own rule and shut the door behind us. The young couple needed some time without interruption.
Sirius interrupted my thoughts. "Remus and Tonks are coming by tonight as well after they finish moving him in. I finally wore him down into accepting our plan..." He paused and then chuckled. "After Tonks did, of course."
"Isn't tonight a full moon?" I asked.
"Yes, they'll just be a few minutes. He has a steady supply of potion now and a special cell set up in the new house. I was party to quite the row yesterday. She insisted on being there tonight, but he wouldn't have it."
Molly asked, "Who won that? I would imagine Tonks did, she's much too stubborn, that one."
Sirius smiled, "Yes, she did. As I said, she's worn him down. He's finally realized what's good for him."
*Ginny*
I heard the door latch. My boyfriend had at least caught on quickly that I wasn't happy. "Gin, I was just trying to protect you."
"Harry, you were telling me, not asking me. I don't always need your help. The room's fine. And if it wasn't, why would I feel any better about you staying here instead of me? I'm allowed to want to keep you safe too."
"I'm sorry. Please don't be mad. I didn't mean it that way."
My temper was fading and I realized that this was a rather foolish thing to quarrel over. "I was feeling a little funny. Whatever's in that pouch, it's trying to steal my feelings. That's gone now. I'm sure it was just that locket. Come here?"
He took a cautious couple of steps but then rushed to me and had me tightly in his arms on the bed before I took another breath. "I'm really afraid."
"I am too," I whispered. "People we love are going to die. Mum lost her brothers. You lost… so much."
He nodded quietly. "I have what's most important right here." He gave me a quick peck on the neck and we sat in silence for several minutes. He chuckled.
"What?"
"Just thinking how everyone cleared out of here in a hurry. Your dad looked at me like I was headed off to the gallows."
"Prat." I turned towards him and stretched my body, doing my best to use a little pressure to keep his attention.
He still was a little melancholy, so I firmly told him, "We are going to make it. We will be happy and never argue because the only disagreement will be what to paint the hallways and you know you'll just give in so you won't bother."
"Yes, dear."
I continued. "No matter what we lose, I'm not losing you. I'm not wasting one second on thinking otherwise. I have no backup plan. I'm living my life with you today and tomorrow no matter the fight."
I saw hope return to his eyes and felt it in mine and I knew Harry understood. He always did. I stroked his cheek as he turned his head and then I found his lips. After a few more minutes of not talking, we heard a knock on the door and he jumped up like a shot, neatly spilling me onto the floor. Apparently, Tom was one thing, but Mum was an entirely other story.
I whispered something similar to him as he helped me up and apologized. He grinned at me, inched closer, and quietly said, "Maybe I'm more worried about not being interrupted." With that, he whipped around and headed downstairs. I needed a minute to catch my breath.
Bill, Professor Lupin, and Tonks arrived a few minutes before supper. Harry and I had been helping Mum in the kitchen with getting a shepherd's pie in the oven — he was mashing the taters while I prepared the meat. After everything was in the oven, we came out and saw the new arrivals.
"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said. She and Lupin were holding hands. Dad had said they were dating, but it seemed a little odd at first to see two adults like that. Most adults that I knew were already married by Tonks' age if they ever got married, let alone my old professor's. His jacket had been patched several times and he looked a bit tired. Tonks had decided to go with flaming green hair for the day.
My oldest brother looked better than the last time I had seen him at Christmas, but there was still noticeable scarring that wasn't going to go away.
Bill picked me up, spun me around, and then put me down, making me laugh. "Happy Easter, Shorty. How are you doing? Do I need to hex Harry or anything for you?" He was only mostly joking.
"Not yet, for today. I'll let you know as the night progresses."
Harry smiled and said, "Nice to know my place." He handed Bill a portfolio. "Fleur said she'd rather I hand-deliver this since I was seeing you anyways." Harry had explained that she was applying for a position at Gringotts since she was in her last year.
"Sure, not a problem at all. I think with her marks she'll easily receive an offer. Being a Tri-Wizard champion doesn't hurt, even if they did disqualify her." He shook his head. The goblins wouldn't mark being not fully human against her. Probably was a benefit.
"Oh, we found something that Kreacher said belonged to Voldemort." Bill almost dropped his mug of pumpkin juice Mum had just poured him.
"That can't be good."
Sirius handed Bill the pouch. "Well, depends if it's something he wanted us to find or not. Please take a look at it when you can."
"Understood. Too many people here right now." It was eventually agreed to carry on with the festivities of holiday weekend and worry about it later.
After supper, Fred and George started getting up. Dad said, "Please hold up for a minute. We have something to discuss. We only have a few minutes before Remus will have to leave for the evening." The twins looked at each other and then sat back down.
Sirius cleared his throat and began. "First, thanks for everyone for coming for the weekend. And Molly for the splendid meal." He got up and handed us each a bracelet with three charms on it.
"Please hold onto these," he asked while sitting back down. "The third task is coming up next week and I have to agree with Hermione and assume whatever reason someone had for entering Harry is going to be made clear shortly. So, we've taken some precautions.
"As you know, this house and the Burrow both have had the fidelius charm placed on them. However, there are a number of others with access to those properties. I bought a third house in Wales that Remus is living in and acting as Secret Keeper. This information does not leave this room. We need to be prepared for the worst."
He picked up his own bracelet and showed it to us. "Squeezing any one of these charms will activate them as a portkey. The red goes to the Burrow, the green here, and the silver to Remus' place."
The former professor said, "The location of my home is Number One Oh Five, Fourth Street, Cardiff." The location formed in my head for a moment and then faded into memory as I was given the secret.
Dad spoke up. "I must emphasize that this is serious, kids. Life and death. Don't tell anyone else about this. No one. The bracelets have been charmed with Notice-Me-Not but if someone asks, say they are a gift from Sirius."
We all nodded. I knew he was just being a dad, but I didn't need another reminder that we were beginning a war or how dangerous things were going to be. We all put the bracelets on. They seemed to blend into the skin but I could barely feel the weight and mine came back into view as I concentrated. Professor Lupin and Tonk had to go shortly after that and the adults excused the rest of us as well.
Shortly before I was going to go to bed, Sirius found Harry and I and quietly asked us to come to his room. He has decided to keep sleeping where he had as a boy and not take over the master chambers.
Once we were inside, he closed and locked the door. Harry was a bit alarmed. "What's going on?"
Sirius sighed. "I hate to do this, Harry, but the fact is Peter was one of my best friends. None of us suspected him until it was too late. I won't be making the same mistake when it comes to James and Lily's boy."
He laid down three envelopes. "Don't open these yet. Each envelope contains the picture of a house and a pair of charms. The houses aren't much to look at but they are liveable and off the beaten path. I bought all of them under different aliases. I set these charms as portkeys and then had Remus wipe my memory so I don't know where they are or what they look like.
"Harry, you need to pick a house. I'm leaving the room so if I'm captured, I can't reveal anything."
He slowly breathed and sat down at the bureau. "I understand. Thank you."
Sirius paused. "Harry, no one should know about this. Not Hermione or Ron even. You can have Ginny leave and give her one of the charms to one of the other houses if you want or the match to the one you pick. I want her to be safe too, but this is a decision you will need to make."
He slowly walked out the door and when Harry didn't say anything, I started to follow. "Gin, wait." I turned around. "Stay."
He looked over the houses and picked the second one. "This one ok with you?"
I nodded. He said, "I trust you with my life. If things get so bad… if I have to use this, I will need you with me." We each put the portkeys on our bracelets. I held him tight and wished we were in another time where we could just be a happy young couple and both our families would have been whole.
Harry didn't eat anything at the dinner before the tournament's finale, no matter how much Mum fussed. My parents, Bill, Sirius, and Professor Lupin were all there to cheer him on. I had joined them as soon as I could, my last test having finished at three. At six thirty, we made our way to the Quidditch pitch where the final task would begin at seven.
Most all the students were there to watch as well as the teachers. Minister Bones was even attending, sitting in the very top row. She had tried to keep it a secret, Dad had told me. We were a couple rows underneath them as was Cedric's father Amos Diggory. Fleur joined us after thanking Bill for helping her with getting the job.
Then I realized who wasn't there. Snape, for one. He was probably still in a twist that a Slytherin hadn't been picked. I mentally kicked myself when it finally hit me… I couldn't see Dumbledore. He was a judge, should be here… maybe there was something for the Order that he and Snape had to do?
At last it was seven in the evening. Mr. Bagman gave an introduction with Mr. Crouch looking on. "Welcome staff and students of the host school Hogwarts as well as thanks once again to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons for participating in this contest. Also, I'm happy to welcome all the honored guests in attendance. The champions will enter the maze one by one according to their current point totals. If a champion gets into too much difficulty and wishes to resign and be evacuated, a red spark will soon find them help. Otherwise, the first champion to reach the Tri-Wizard cup will cause the hedges to vanish and he will win honor, glory, and riches for himself. Let the final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament begin!"
Krum went in first as the points leader and Cedric entered a couple minutes later. Harry was five minutes after that. Of course, from the stands, all we saw were the rows and rows of hedges. Every few minutes we'd hear a yell or a scream from the distance. Ron was kind enough to not complain much as my nails used his arm as a pincushion.
I looked over at Hermione who was straining in worry. She had suggested to Harry to send out a red spark immediately. It made some sense, but he was too prideful to just quit. They had a disagreement about it for a good ten minutes yesterday when she learned it was an option. I wasn't going to argue for something he'd never do. Plus, we had no guarantee he'd be any safer doing that than trying to win.
So winning was his goal, as long as he was in it. After over half an hour, still no sparks and no winner. I looked over at the pedestal and saw Ludo looking nervous while Mr. Crouch seemed to have disappeared.
Suddenly, I heard an evil shout in the distance and saw a spell zoom into the sky. The Dark Mark exploded over the sky and hovered over the center of the pitch. The sickly green skull with the snake coming out of its mouth hung their for a second before everyone in the stands went into a frenzied panic. There was screaming everywhere. I was speechless.
My eyes strained for any sign of Harry, but all I could see was the hedges. Suddenly, I was knocked back into concentration as I was almost bowled over by someone making a run for it. Sirius grabbed Dad and shouted, "Arthur, take Fred and George and get the minister to the castle. They know a secret passage nearby. I'll keep an eye on Harry and your kids. Try to be back at my place by midnight.
He hesitated for a second, but then nodded, rounded up the twins and they started pushing their way towards Minister Bones' row.
Mum said excitedly, "Sirius, the bracelets aren't working!"
"They must have put up wards already!"
Bill said, "I'll get Mum out of here. Fleur, if they are after the champions, you may be a target as well."
"Oui, I'll follow you."
Bill then said, "Ron, Ginny, Hermione, come with me."
I crossed my arms. "Like hell I'm leaving before I find out if Harry's ok." Ron and Hermione seconded me.
"Ginny, now's not the time."
Before I could continue the argument, I felt a magical blast from the pitch that almost knocked me on my rear. The maze was gone. All the obstacles also vanished. We were all frozen in place by fear.
In its place was the clear grass field of the Quidditch pitch and three pairs of people. They started walking closer and details came into view.
On the right side and closest to me, Peter Pettigrew had his claws dug into Cedric Diggory's arm. Cedric's face was covered in welts.
A few seconds later, I recognized Viktor Krum hobbling with probably a broken leg in the left side. He was being guarded by… Mr. Crouch?
I would have spent more time wondering about that except then I saw my Harry in the middle. He looked to be in better condition than the others. Several feet behind him was a gigantic snake that surrounded a tall dark figure with a face that looked like melted wax. My heart skipped. There was only one person it could be.
Suddenly, Harry shuddered and collapsed to the ground. His captor spoke through a magically enhanced voice.
"Silence! I am Lord Voldemort and I will be shown the proper respect due me.
"I have been made anew with the help of your late Cornelius Fudge and stronger than ever before. To celebrate my return, I decided to attend this… contest to see the most promising young wizards and test their mettle."
He looked carefully at each of the champions. "I am terribly disappointed. This sad group has only strengthened my resolve to purify magical blood and bring glory back to the wizarding world, to new heights of greatness.
"This purification will not be without sacrifice. To those that serve me well, reward awaits. Those who resist will find only pain and death. For those that have betrayed me, you will beg for death as everything around you is destroyed. And I as a merciful lord, shall ultimately grant it."
He nodded at Mr. Crouch. A green flash came from Crouch's wand and Krum fell to the ground dead.
"Those who are in the ministry… you have a responsibility to true purity that has been failed. Any supporters of the Bones regime will find nothing but suffering." With that, Peter slit the throat of Cedric and dropped the boy to the ground as his life drained out.
Suddenly, I felt a chill in the air. I could see a dark mass at the far side of the field. Hundreds of dementors formed a cloud of despair.
Voldemort let out a slight sinister chuckle as I heard Mr. Diggory wailing for his son. "The dementors have wisely decided to join the cause of the pure. This has also had the convenient effect of leaving Azkaban completely unguarded. Even now, others are releasing my most loyal followers that have been held for these fourteen years. Fourteen years since a twist of fate caused my disappearance. Fourteen years that you have had your hopes pinned on a small insignificant boy.
"Harry Potter… currently under my control. And defenseless." Harry stood up turned around and knelt before him. He had to be under the Imperius. Harry, fight it!
"Crucio!"
Harry fell to the ground, shaking under the pain of the curse. He was held under it for what had to be minutes. Where was Dumbledore? I felt wetness on my cheek and I realized I was crying. "Stay back or you will all die!"
Hermione put her arms around me, trying to give me some comfort. Finally, it stopped as Voldemort drew our attention to Mr. Crouch. His skin bubbled and slowly began to change into what looked like a younger version of himself.
Sirius murmured, "Barty Crouch, junior. Death Eater, was supposed to be in Azkaban."
Voldemort explained. "One of my most loyal servants. He has been impersonating his useless father for several months. Not even the ministry is beyond the reach of Lord Voldemort!" He paused for a moment. "While there, he managed to collect the names and addresses of many ministry employees, especially of the aurors. I'm afraid that any caught resisting me will find their homes destroyed along with their occupants.
"And now, we shall return our attention to Harry Potter, one last time. See your last hope die before your eyes…"
From out of nowhere, a stunning hex soared straight at Voldemort. It was easily deflected, "Who dares… Crucio!"
I heard screaming from the ground immediately below us.
"Ron, no!" Hermione cried. My brother had snuck below for a clean shot, but all it had done was…
Distract him. Suddenly, Voldemort yelled, kneeling in pain. Harry had grabbed onto his wand arm and his mother's blood was cursing the dark lord. Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared and was dueling both Barty and Peter.
Hermione yelled out, "The wards!" Voldemort was using all his power to keep from shattering as when he had possessed Quirrell. Even he wasn't all-powerful.
My roommate leapt off the stands and onto the ground. Crawling on the ground, she reached an unconscious Ron and they disappeared.
Sirius grabbed my shoulder, "Ginny, time to go. Harry won't leave until you're safe." I was about to protest but he added, "I'll wait for him, I promise."
I sighed purposely and then reached for my bracelet. Everyone else seemed to have gone to Grimmauld Place and now didn't seem the time to reveal Harry's secret. I pressed the correct charm and hoped that I would see everyone in my family soon.
*Arthur*
As soon as Sirius sent us, my boys and I started to shove our way through the crowd while trying to not be terribly conspicuous. Leaving the kids behind wasn't easy, but I couldn't hesitate.
I barely saw Minister Bones behind a man that had his back turned to us.
Suddenly, twin stunners whizzed by my ear and knocked the man out. I turned to my left and Fred said, "He had his wand pointed at her."
Finally, I reached the minister. "Minister, it's me, Arthur Weasley."
"Thank Merlin. Selwyn was supposed to be my bodyguard."
I didn't know the man personally, but I recognized the family name. Bloody sacred twenty-eight. "Minister, please come with us. Once he knows you're here…"
She nodded, "Lead the way."
I turned and looked down, realizing we were a good ten yards above the ground. This didn't stop the twins. "Cushioning charm?" George asked.
Fred said, "Brilliant, old boy."
They both jumped then tucked and rolled when they landed, barely missing a step. Amelia went next and I followed.
By this point, Voldemort was well into a long rant. We were all on our feet and Fred asked, "North or south?"
"North. It's a bit further but no one should be out there."
We started on a brisk walk, hard to go faster in the dark. George explained, "There's a passage under a cliff up ahead."
A few minutes later, I heard a wail and then screaming. Someone was being tortured. I could only hope it wasn't… I stopped myself. Everyone there belonged to someone and no one deserved that.
A chime came from Fred. "Wards are down!"
I asked, "Minister, please join us at our safehouse?"
She nodded. "Thank you. I hope this is the extent of the action tonight, but I doubt it."
"Off to the Doghouse," I told my boys, using the codename. Since Sirius made the charms, her having access to the portkey was equivalent to giving her the location. I removed the protections from the bracelet and said, "Touch the bracelet on three." A moment after Fred and George disappeared, we followed.
We arrived in the parlor of the ancestral Black house. There were so many voices, I couldn't make out who was talking. It took aching seconds to do a headcount.
Ron was moaning as Hermione and Bill helped him onto a couch while Molly was beside herself. Miss Delacour was trying to calm her down.
Hermione whispered, "You-Know-Who has Harry. He had him under the cruciatus for minutes. Ron attacked him and got hit with it for a few seconds, long enough for Harry to fight back. He got the wards down and then Dumbledore arrived."
My wife stroked the forehead of our youngest son, trying to calm him. I heard the sound of another portkey. It was Ginny. She ran to me sobbing. "Dad! Harry… he's hurt him so bad. He's still there. Please, I have to back!"
Ginny started pushing away and I had to force my arms around her, locking my hands. "Ginny, he'll be…" She looked at me and dared me to lie.
Time froze for minutes. Remus arrived along with Tonks' mother Andromeda who was a member of the Order and had some skill in healing. She busied herself looking at Ron.
I kept looking at the ancient grandfather clock against the wall. It had only been a few minutes since we arrived. It seemed like all night.
Finally, the last portkey arrived. Sirius was holding Harry in his arms like an infant. He was completely unconscious and his face was covered in bruises.
My friend was shaking in anger as he placed him on a conjured bed in the sunroom. "Dumbledore finally decided to show, right before Voldemort was going to end it. They dueled for several minutes; the pitch is nearly destroyed. A number of students were hurt but I didn't see any killing curses."
Before he has finished speaking, my daughter was holding Harry's hand and her head was leaned against hers. "Why won't he wake up?"
I said, "He has had a terrible shock. His body and mind need time to heal." He didn't seem to have any grave physical injuries requiring attention and it would be risky giving him anything in his current state.
I rubbed circles on my daughter's back. "Daddy, I love him so much." She bent down and buried her face in his chest but there was not reaction from him.
I quietly sighed. "That's why it hurts so much."
She nodded and told me, "I'm going to stay here with him."
I was not about to say otherwise. "You do that. I'll have your mum bring in a cuppa in a bit."
Sirius and I walked out of the room. I left the door cracked open in case either of them called out, but she didn't need everyone staring.
Tonks had brought her mother Andromeda over and I asked her for advice. "Well, most pain potions target physical pain so they don't provide any relief. I do know of one specifically for the cruciatus curse, but it's not commonly available since it's not often needed, thank Merlin."
I feared that demand was going to skyrocket. She added, "Keep him comfortable, surrounded by his loving family and friends, and be patient. I'll stay overnight in case anyone gets worse."
No one really knew how long Frank and Alice Longbottom had been tortured. I didn't know anyone else ever having been subjected to the curse longer than Harry.
Sirius had excused himself as he and Kreacher set out to make up additional rooms for all the unexpected guests. I walked into the parlour and saw Minister Bones sending out a patronus. "It's to Kingsley Shacklebolt, letting him know I'm all right. He has his hands full, shouldn't have to worry about me."
She sat down. "I just hope I have any aurors left tomorrow. And if I do, can I trust them… Merlin, he almost won tonight. And we have no idea of how to stop him."
"Dumbledore may. He has to. He owes everyone a lot of explaining. I'll get him once it's a decent hour tomorrow and hope he has something we can call good news."
"Thank you, Arthur. I think I need a few minutes to myself."
I nodded and wandered the halls. I found Sirius in his room, wearing a hole in his rug. "Sirius…"
"I know… I'm trying to calm down. Right now, I feel like torching Malfoy Manor…"
"Harry needs you here. We'll get them later."
"Yeah, I know. I'm trying to remember what happened last time I went off without a plan. I failed him and we both suffered. It's my greatest shame. I owe you such a debt, Arthur, saving him when I couldn't. I want you and him to be proud of me. And James. He saved me."
"You tell me before you do anything foolish."
He nodded. "That won't be a worry this time. I've grown up a little since then."
It was almost one by the time everything quieted down. Finally, I decided to drag myself to bed. But first, I checked on Harry.
I did my best to open the door without it squeaking. I was not surprised to see Ginny still there. Comfort had overridden any shyness as she lay curled up next to him. Any other circumstances, I'd have had a different reaction, but I just smiled and let them be.
As I turned, I heard a sigh and saw Harry turn his chest ever so slightly towards his girl.
And right there, I knew I should always have hope.