Chapter Two: The Storm of Black Manor
Harry awoke to a pecking at his window. He woke up, and yawned, and sat up to see Pig, Ron's owl, fluttering outside and ramming its beak into the glass. He put on his glasses, blinked a few times, and opened the window up to let him in. A letter was attached to his leg. Harry untied it and gave Pig some of Hedwig's owl treats. Hedwig did not make a sound but did seem to have a look of disapproval. Harry took the envelope, ripped it open, and read.
"Harry, be at your house at four o'clock. We're coming to get you.
Ron
P.S. Check out the newspaper clipping."
Harry pulled out a second piece of paper from the envelope. It was a cut out article from the daily prophet. Harry read the headlines, and a broad grin spread across his face.
"Ministry Fires Umbridge"
Dolores Umbridge was Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher last year. He, as well as most of the staff (with the exception of Filch), despised her. She was constantly getting letters from Fudge that put her in higher positions.
Harry read on.
Yesterday, Cornelius Fudge fired long time Ministry worker, Dolores
Umbridge, from the Ministry of Magic for endangering the safety of the
wizarding world. Umbridge, who recently taught at Hogwarts last year,
was one of the loudest voices that denied You-Know-Who's return.
There are also many witnesses that claim she used the Cruciatus Curse
on them during certain circumstances. Umbridge was not available for
comment, but her secretary was. 'She was a terrible woman. Bordered on evil. I was not present during her year at Hogwarts, but I must apologize to everybody there. I know exactly what you went through.'
Harry hoped nothing but the worst for Umbridge. He despised her more then she despised him. What he would give to see her one more time and point out all the mistakes she had made.
Harry put the clipping down, with the opposite side up. He glanced at it and something caught his eye.
The top said "Missing Persons" and under it was a list of names in alphabetical order. Harry read over it twice to make sure he was correct. In the 'D' section of the list was none other then Amos Diggory.
Harry hadn't seen Amos Diggory since the night or the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament. It was the night that their son, Cedric, had died at Voldemort's hand. Harry remembered the sadness in his eyes. Harry knew Amos had loved his son. He had seen the two of them while going to see the Quidditch World cup. The loss must have been unbearable. And now his wife had another loss to bear. Harry knew Amos couldn't be alive. If you were missing during these times, you weren't alive. As if to search for proof to this thought, he looked to the B's and, as he suspected, read 'Sirius Black (Murderer).'
Harry was dumbstruck. Amos Diggory and Cedric Diggory; both victims of Voldemort's wand. 'Like father, like son,' Harry thought, with a sickening realization that he could have just described his fate. Just like his fathers. Harry had to kill Voldemort, or Voldemort had to kill Harry. That was what the prophecy said. It was that prophecy that had resulted in Voldemort killing his father; and it might be the prophecy that resulted in Voldemort killing him.
Harry put the paper on his desk and went downstairs. His uncle was gone at work, Dudley was gone with his gang, and Petunia was in the kitchen, making something that smelled grotesque for lunch. Harry wasn't sure how to begin to tell her about leaving. Ever since the night the Death Eaters had been on Privet Drive, Harry had been very uncomfortable around his aunt. He often wondered what else she knew, what else she was hiding. One thing was obvious: she cared more about him and her sister then she had always said.
She had changed in the same way as Harry. She no longer treated him like dirt (although it was obvious she was trying to have him remain lower then Dudley), but talked to him normally, or as normal as a Dursley could get. She fed him regularly (real meals, not cold canned soup), and would even occasionally ask if he needed anything. Harry was never sure why she had warmed up so much to him.
Harry took a deep breath and said, "Erm-Hi, I, uh, I've been asked to go to Ron Weasely's house. He's a friend from school."
Aunt Petunia spun around quickly with a startled look on her face when he began speaking, but relaxed when she realized it was only Harry.
"Is-is something wrong?" Harry asked, seeing that she was scared, and even when she relaxed her eyes seemed wider then usual.
"No, nothing wrong. Is-is it safe to go to this-Weasley's house?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly. "With-with him on the loose?"
Harry knew she meant Voldemort. She was one of the few muggles that comprehended the danger that was lurking during these times.
"Yes," Harry answered, "No doubt I will be constantly watched."
"All right." Petunia said. "When do you leave?"
"Today. I'll be out of here around four." Harry said.
He turned to leave when Petunia stopped him.
"Wait." She said. "Harry, sit down. I'm going to do something I swore to Vernon that I'd never do. I'm going to. talk to you about your mother." Her hollowed, wide eyes slightly watered. Harry, completely shocked, sat down awkwardly in the nearest chair.
"She was. a wonderful girl. She was popular since kindergarten. She had friends, more friends then I ever did, and I seemed to always be second best. Then, when she was eleven, a letter came for her. She was, to everybody's surprise, a witch. She went off to that school of yours and I stayed home. She sent me letters, with those damn owls of course, and she was nice. But I. I never wrote back. For seven years that's how life went. I'd go to a regular school, she'd learn magic. She wrote me weekly." Petunia was crying now. Harry thought that saying this was more benefiting to her.
"And then. After seven years at that school; she left. We didn't hear much from her. She was working on something important, with some schoolmates of hers, one of them being your father. She married him. We went to the wedding. I was. cold to her as usual. I even think I told her I couldn't believe she married into 'that sort.' She didn't say anything cold back. She left again. I married Vernon. I never told him that she still contacted me. Then, one day, she sent a letter."
Tears streamed down Harry's aunt's face. Harry was listening with the greatest of bewilderment. This couldn't be the same person who kept him locked under the stairs. She sniffed, and pulled a folded up piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry unfolded it. The date at the top said 'October 28.' As he read, Petunia recited the words from memory.
"Petunia,
We are in trouble. James and I are in hiding with Harry. We're not sure we can last on our own. We think that he knows. We believe a friend of ours betrayed us. We haven't seen him in a few days. We think he's gone to tell him. Petunia, I need your help. We can't trust anybody now; who knows who he's all ready got to. The danger is too great. Please. Get help. Tell anyone. Tell the police. Tell them the home of James and Lily Potter is about to blow up. We need help, Petunia.
With love,
Your sister."
There was a long pause of silence. This was, Harry knew, the last letter his mother had written. Petunia's eyes were shut, though she was still crying. Harry reread the letter. It was a last desperate effort to save them and.to save him.
"Do you know what I did Harry?" Petunia asked, though he knew the answer. "Nothing. I told nobody. I still believed that I hated my sister. Jealousy blinded me. When I learned that she had died three days after sending that letter, I was stunned. I wasn't sad, I wasn't angry; I was just stunned. I had plenty of time to get help, and I didn't. I blamed myself for her death, though. Though I acted as though I didn't care. I still blame myself. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Harry." She sat silently and bowed her head as she cried.
Harry knew he should be angry with her. It was her fault his parents were dead; Her fault that he had this scar on his head. He realized, however, that it wasn't. This was prophesized, and there's nothing that would have stopped Voldemort. And if things were her fault, it was her fault the wizarding world saw a break of peace from the terror they'd been living in.
Harry was not sure what to say. Here was his aunt, who seemed to despise him, who seemed to hate him, who treated him like dirt. apologizing to him. Coming completely clean with herself. He could not comprehend how she had held this in for fifteen years.
He folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
"Well-er-I guess I'll be going upstairs now." Harry said awkwardly.
Petunia sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Don't tell Vernon." She said sternly, though her eyes were still puffy and red and her voice shook. Harry nodded and went up to his room. He thought about writing a letter to Sirius. It is what he would have done in this situation. The truth came storming back to him. He wished more then anything he could talk to him right now. Sirius was the one who Harry could talk to about his parents.
Another thought came to Harry: Remus. Lupin was his father's friend too. But he'd be too busy with the order. 'Besides' thought Harry, 'what could I say? "Dear Remus, my aunt misses my mom."' So, Harry decided against writing a pointless letter and decided to get his things together.
He opened his closet and pulled out his old school trunk. He unlocked the padlock he'd put on it in the beginning of summer (you could never be to careful with Dudley around) and opened it up to reveal a lot of his old school books and robes, some which were too small for him. He threw these out, and piled the books on his desk. At the very bottom, to Harry's surprise, was a little mirror.
Harry distinctly remembered shattering it violently. Had Sirius put a charm on it? It was possible. He picked the mirror up in awe, looking at it from every angle. It was in perfect shape. Harry stared at it. It couldn't work. It hadn't worked last time.
"Sirius," Harry said into the mirror. Nothing. The same thing that had happened last time he tried this. Discouraged, Harry tossed the mirror onto his bed. He began to open his drawers and get his clothes out when he heard a quiet buzzing. He turned around and saw the mirror was vibrating. He picked it up and stared at it. The reflection swirled. Harry's eyes widened. He might be able to talk to him again. The swirling stopped. Where Harry had expected to see Sirius's head, he saw his own. It hadn't worked.
"But it had come so close," Harry said out loud. "What stopped it?"
He decided he'd take the mirror with him. Some how he was going to reach Sirius; he just wasn't sure how.
He began to pack everything he'd need for Ron's and school, with the exception of some of his shorter robes. He put those that fit in the trunk along with many of his schoolbooks that he would use this year, his notebooks and quills, and finally laying his prefect badge and wand carefully on top. He grabbed his potion's cauldron, his invisibility cloak, and his Firebolt broomstick, safely back from the dungeons where Umbridge had put it, and placed them near the trunk.
He checked his clock. It was only noon. He had four hours until Ron was coming to pick him up. Having no desire to go downstairs and face Aunt Petunia in a most awkward position, he decided he'd sleep.
He was in the Department of Mysteries. Sirius was there, standing by the black archway. He fell through. Harry ran down the stairs. He was about to run through when he stopped.
'NO! You can't do this.' A voice inside his head told him. 'You'll die.'
'Sirius ran in there, go after him!' A different voice spoke. 'Move!'
He took a step.
'No.' His leg pulled back. He was in a war against himself. His leg would move and he'd pull it back. He'd throw himself back so violently he'd land on his side.
'The mirror, use the mirror.' He thought, and as he did, Sirius's mirror appeared in his hands. But it wasn't Sirius's face. It was Voldemort's.
Harry felt his body get pulled headfirst into the mirror. He was standing in an empty field. He was surrounded by death eaters, but they were bowing to him. He took a step back and ran into something solid. He turned and saw a man standing with him in the middle: Voldemort. Voldemort looked at him with his red eyes.
"You like it don't you, Harry? You like being the one they bow to. It could be so. We could rule together. You know we are powerful wizards Harry. We could do it. All I ask is your help." He said shrewdly.
"Never." Harry said. "How are you doing this?" He asked. He was now quite sure this was more then a dream.
"Surely you know I can invade your mind, Harry. I am making you a dream."
"It hurts you. You can't."
"Believe me, I am in the greatest of pain now. My death eaters are keeping me from collapsing and I am shaking violently. I won't be here much longer, and I will be weakened once I exit your mind. But I needed to talk to you Harry. You must join me."
"I won't join you." Harry said Sternly.
"Fine. I will get the weapons by myself. But I must warn you, you and those you love, Potter, are in grave danger." He said with a sneer. And bearing his wand, he drew up a picture of Lupin. He made it disappear and brought up a picture of Dumbledore. It vanished, and he drew up Sirius.
"Oh. That's right. My mistake Potter." Voldemort said smiling crudely. Harry burned with anger. Then, Voldemort brought up a picture of the Weasely family. Harry's eyes widened. Then, he brought up one of only Ron.
"No." Harry said.
Then Hermione.
"Ah, yes, the mudblood. I will be especially happy obtaining her. Don't worry Potter. I won't torture her for too long."
"NO!" Harry screamed.
"Harry, wake up!" Someone shouted.
Harry's eyes opened. Ron was looking over him nervously. It took him a minute to realize he was on the floor.
"Are you all right?" Ron asked.
Harry's scar burned madly, and he could feel a stream of blood coming from it.
"No." Harry said.
"Your scar," Ron said. "It's opened!"
"Yeah, I know. It's been doing that lately."
"What happened Harry?" Some one else said. Harry looked and saw it was Mr. Weasely, who was carrying an old, torn up hat, no doubt the portkey him and Ron had used to get here.
"Voldemort entered my mind." He said, rubbing the blood off his cheek.
Ron gulped and went pale. Mr. Weasley's eyes narrowed.
"He was in my dream. He asked me to join him."
"He couldn't have. It hurts him." Mr. Weasley said.
"I know. He said it was hurting him badly, but that this was important."
Mr. Weasley looked a little frightened, but tried to put on a cheery face.
"Well as long as he wasn't actually here, right?" He said smiling. Harry knew he was worried about this.
"I see you're all set." He said, motioning towards all of Harry's belongings.
"Right, I just need to tell my aunt I'm leaving." Harry replied.
"Your aunt? The one that keeps you locked up?" Ron asked.
"She's been differently lately. I'll have to tell you later." Harry asked.
He opened the door and ran downstairs.
"They're here, Aunt Petunia. I guess I'll be leaving."
She was sitting on the couch, covered with old letters. She turned to Harry. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"Okay. Be careful." She said. Harry nodded and walked back upstairs. As he approached his room he heard Mr. Weasley and Ron talking. He stopped to listen.
"Ron, I don't know what to think." He heard Mr. Weasley say. "It is possible that you-know-who was inside his head, but it could have just been a dream."
"Dad, his scar was bleeding. Can that come from dreams?" Ron asked, sounded a little confused.
"I don't know. That's why I tend to believe him. And if Dumbledore is correct, it sounds like something you-know-who would do at this time."
"If Dumbledore was correct about what?"
"I can't tell you Ron. Besides, I don't know all of it myself. But Dumbledore says it's dangerous. He says innocent lives are at stake."
"By innocent.Does he mean Harry?"
"I don't doubt it. Harry is in constant danger, no matter which plan Voldemort is putting through."
Harry took some silent steps backwards, stopped, and then stomped forward to warn them that he was coming. There was an awkward silence as he walked in. After a few moments, Mr. Weasley said, "All set Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry said, grabbing all of his belongings. Mr. Weasley held out the old hat and pointed his wand at it.
"Portus!" He said. The hay quivered.
"All right Harry. Grab all of your belongings and hold onto the hat." Harry grabbed his trunk, his broom stick, cauldron, and Hedwigs cage all on top, and carefully slid it to the portkey so none of these fell off.
As he touched the hat and felt the familiar feeling in his stomach, he began to think of his dream. Voldemort had drawn up a picture of the Weasleys, and that's just where he was heading now.
They landed in the front lawn of the Burrow with a soft thud as Harry's trunk hit first. It pulled Harry to his knees, and as he stood up, he noticed changes immediately. The Burrow, which used to be small and shabby (though Harry always thought it was spectacular) had been fixed up. It was clean and elegant. It had also been added on to. It would never have looked like a poor family had ever lived there.
"Like it?" Ron asked proudly.
"Love it. But how.?"
But he was interrupted by somebody yelling "Harry!"
Harry turned back to the Burrow to see Hermione running from the house. Harry felt a small lurch in his stomach. Hermione started talking very quickly.
"Harry, how are you? We heard all about the Death Eaters coming to your house but we didn't hear if you were okay. Of course your not okay, I mean Voldemort's on the loose."
"Hermione," Ron said gawking at her, "Shut up and breathe."
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried." She explained.
"I'm all right, Hermione." Harry said laughing. "It's just been an interesting summer."
"I'm sure it has." She replied, somewhat nervously.
Mr. Weasley, who hadn't spoken a word, finally said, "Come along Harry, let's get you all situated." And with a swish from his wand, Harry's trunk and those things around it rose and followed Mr. Weasley into the house.
The four of them went up to Ron's room, the place where Harry knew he'd be staying, and got Harry ready for the time he'd be staying there. This was where Harry got a real first look at Ron. He was like his house. He was cleaner, and his clothes fit better. Harry looked at Mr. Weasley. He was the same. It seemed the Weasley's were making money.
When Mr. Weasley left, Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.
"Voldemort's planning something." He said.
"Shocking." Ron said. "Couldn't have guessed."
"No. It's dangerous. That dream I was having. He asked me to join him. I told him no. He said something about getting the weapons. Then." Harry paused. He couldn't tell them he was putting them in danger.
"Listen. Last year, in the department of Mysteries, Voldemort was looking for a prophecy involving him and me. I.I know what was on that prophecy." Harry said. He hadn't told them about this yet.
"What?! You knew! How? Wasn't it broken?!" Ron asked.
"That was only a record. Who ever heard the prophecy doesn't need it."
"Dumbledore." Hermione said.
"What?!" Ron asked. "Who made it?"
"Well, remember in our third year when I told you Trelawny went into a trance and talked about the servant returning to the Dark Lord?" Harry asked.
"Nooo. No way, not her." Ron said, shocked.
"Yeah. When Dumbledore first met her." Harry said.
"What was the prophecy?" Hermione asked.
"I. I have the power to defeat Voldemort. But. It doesn't actually say I do. It said that neither of us can live while the other survives." Harry said. "One of us has to kill the other." He put his head down.
Ron and Hermione were silent.
"Well. Harry. I mean. We'll help." Hermione said, trying to sound reassuring. "No matter what happens."
"No." Harry said. " I can't let you."
"Why not? We have to Harry." Ron said.
"I can't explain." Harry said. "I just needed to tell you this. To prepare you for whatever's coming, I guess."
They sat in silence for a while.
"Besides thinking about that," Ron said, breaking the quiet, "how has your summer been?"
"Terrible." Harry said. "Although my aunt changed. She. cares now, I guess."
"That's a start." Hermione said.
"I don't know. It was really weird. She. She actually cried over my mum." Harry said. Ginny walked in.
"Hello, Harry." She said smiling.
"Hey Ginny." Harry said. He was taken aback by Ginny the same way she was by Ron and Mr. Weasley. She looked; there was only one word Harry could use here, cute.
"Dinner's ready." She said. She turned and closed the door.
"Is she still going out with Dean?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said, almost glumly.
"Well I think it's sweet." Hermione said smiling.
"You'd think her dating Hagrid would be sweet." Ron said sarcastically.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at Ron, but Harry saw the ends of her lips were curled up.
Ron looked up. "So Harry. What's up with you and Cho?"
Harry rolled his eyes. He knew what Ron was trying to do. "Nothing, Ron."
"Alright, I'm just checking. Come on, let's eat."
They walked downstairs. The table was set up in the kitchen for nine.
"Who else is coming?" Harry asked, noticing the ninth chair.
"Bill. He's working for the order, you know." Ron said.
"What about Percy?"
Ron's shoulders drooped. He pointed at the old magical clock they had in their kitchen. It had the names of all the Weasleys on the hands, and instead of numbers, places around the edges. Right now, Ron, Ginny, and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were at home. Harry looked for Percy. He was pointing to 'lost.' Harry gasped.
"He-he's lost?"
"Yeah. For about a month now."
Harry remembered what he had thought when he had discovered Amos Diggory on the 'missing' list in the Daily Prophet: If you're missing during these times, you weren't alive.
Ron, understanding what Harry was thinking, said, "We think he's okay. We've gotten loads of letters. Mostly were short ones. Just saying he was all right. But his first one went into detail. He explained how he was 'sorry he had abandoned the family' and called them crazy. He apologized about asking me to ditch you, Harry. Mom says he sounded depressed. He quit his job and said he'd be leaving for a while. He's never said exactly where."
Harry still wasn't relieved. The clock started ticking. Fred and George shifted into the 'home' position right as they walked through the door. They were wearing the dragon-skin jackets they had on at the end of last year. Harry started to understand how the Weasleys had gotten their house bigger and all looked cleaner.
"Harry, how've you been?" Fred asked. (Harry knew it was Fred because they had sewn an 'F' and 'G' into their jackets in silvery material).
"I've been pretty good. How's business?" Harry asked, knowing the answer.
"Pretty good." George said modestly. "You should come by when you go to Diagon Alley. I guess we'll give you some items free, having practically paid for the store."
"Dad's got promoted, too." Ron said.
"I thought your dad wouldn't leave his position." Ron said. Mr. Weasley loved muggles, and worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department at the ministry.
"He still works for that, but he's also in the Defense Against Dark Wizards Bureau. Started up again at the beginning of the summer, and since dad was one of the only people who believed you to begin with, they let him in. It pays great, plus his other pay, and not much extra time at the ministry unless something huge happens." Ron said.
"Who's the head of it?" Harry asked.
"Fudge." George said disgustedly. "He wouldn't put Dumbledore in charge. Shocking, really." He said sarcastically.
"But there's still the order, and Dumbledore's still got that." Fred said.
Mr. And Mrs. Weasley walked in.
"Is everybody ready for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she pulled a large meat dish (Harry thought it looked somewhat like chicken, but could never be completely sure here) out of the oven.
"Bill isn't here, mom." Ginny said.
"He's at headquarters, dear, he'll be here a little late." She replied.
Harry tensed up at the mentioning of 'headquarters.' The order's headquarters was Sirius's old house. He wondered if Kreacher was still there, or if he was out working for Bellatrix. He had often thought what he would do to the house elf in the event that he met him again.
Mrs. Weasley placed the dished on the table, using her wand to levitate them into place. When it was all set, Harry and the others sat down.
The first ten minutes were the best of Harry's summer. Fred and George managed to keep everybody laughing and entertained, mostly talking about new products for the store, or old pranks they'd pulled. The food tasted delicious, and Harry enjoyed himself. Then, ten minutes later, Bill burst through the door.
The laughter ceased immediately. He was hunched over, leaning on the doorway. His fang-shaped earring dangled from his ear, and his hair was disheveled and out of its usual ponytail. A large gash spread across his left cheek and blood was running out of it rapidly, and a stain was already growing on the left shoulder of his robes.
Mrs. Weasley gasped, Mr. Weasley dropped his fork, the rest had wide eyes and dropped jaws.
"They. Attacked headquarters." Bill said, taking deep breaths. Mrs. Weasley stood up and rushed over to him and helped him to a chair.
"Is everybody all right? Are you all right?" She asked.
"I'm fine." Bill said. "But Copper's dead." Bill said.
"No." Mr. Weasley said, aghast. "Jeffrey Copper?"
"Children, go upstairs." Mrs. Weasley said hurriedly. "Yes, Fred, George, you too." She finished annoyed, as the twins had not moved. Harry stood up and filed out with the twins, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as they walked up the stairs.
They filed into Ron's room, Fred slamming the door behind him.
"We're eight-teen now. They still won't let us in the order." Fred said in utter disgust. Then, shrugging it off, said, "Aw well, just gives us a good excuse to use these." He pulled what looked like several small pink funnels and half spheres.
"Wireless extendable ears." Said George smiling. "Easier to make, sell it for more, and one ear connects to as many of these as you like." He said, helping Fred hand out the funnels. "The other end of these are stuck under the table."
"And even better," Smiled Fred, "Extendable eyes." He tossed out the round spheres. Harry placed the sphere to his eye. He had a view of the kitchen from the ceiling. Mrs. Weasley, he could tell, was frantic. He then pulled the extendable ear to his own.
"Are you sure you're all right?" He heard Mrs. Weasley ask in an anxious voice.
"Of course I'm all right." Bill replied. "I think everyone else is. We had to scatter with all of our documents. Copper's the only one that ran into serious trouble."
"How could they have gotten in?" Mr. Weasley said. "Dumbledore's still secret-keeper. He'd have had to tell them where it is."
"The elf, Kreacher did it." Bill said. "Dumbledore gave out those peaces of parchment saying the address of headquarters to the newer recruits. After one of them burned there's up, Kreacher sneaked out and did a simple reversing spell. We figure he handed it to the Lestrange woman, being somebody he obeys."
Harry's head boiled at the mention of her.
"Before I dissapparated," Bill continued, "They had gotten in and were ransacking everything."
"What were they looking for?" Asked Mrs. Weasley. Harry noticed she had gone very white.
"We don't know, but we think the s-,"
"Shh." Said Mr. Weasley. "We never know what Fred and George might invent next." And Harry was sure for a moment that he looked right at the extendable eye.
Bill leaned over and whispered something to his mother. She looked disbelieving and said, "Surely not. That's needed at school, surely they didn't think it was there?"
"It can be a more powerful weapon then anybody realizes, Molly." Mr. Weasley said. "They might have thought it would be stored there, brought to Hogwarts briefly, and put back in its safe place."
At that moment the door burst open and slammed into the wall. Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody were dragging in Tonks. She, however, was acting very strangely. Being a metamorphmagus, Tonks could change her appearance at will. Now, it appeared, she had lost the choice of what she changed into, flashing into different styles; her hair changing colors and growing longer and shorter, he skin changes tone and sometimes growing wrinkles, and her nose was shift-shaping at a rapid pace.
"Been hit with one too many Confundus Charms," growled Moody. "Has no idea what's going on, or what she's doing."
"Is she going to be all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
"She'll be fine once they all wear off." Lupin said. They sat her down at one of the chairs around the table and took the seats on either side of her.
"More people are coming." Lupin said.
"Did they get anything, Remus?" Asked Mr. Weasley.
"They found out that it's still at Hogwarts." He replied. "We've sent for several Aurors to guard it until term begins, in which case we'll have many of them remain there under cover."
"They also know we found out about the vampires." Moody said.
Harry shuddered.
"They know that we've discovered almost the exact amount in You-Know- Who's army."
A black wizard walked through the door.
"Kingsley, are you all right?" Asked Bill.
"Yeah, did anybody see if they got the tree?"
Harry wasn't the only person confused by this statement. He looked around at the other's faces, and each wore an expression of misunderstanding. Ron even rubbed his ear to make sure he'd heard right. Harry was the same. He thought the weapon was at Hogwarts. But now Kingsley was worried if they'd stolen a tree from Sirius's house.
"They can't have gotten to that. We hid it in a secure place." Said Lupin.
"They. Did." Uttered Tonks, who was finally talking, but still changing forms at a rapid pace.
"I doubt it matters. They all ready know what they need to. They just wanted to make sure we didn't figure out what they were doing." Said Kingsley. "But they're too late. Dumbledore's known for ages."
"So what are we doing?" Asked Mrs. Weasley, her eyes abnormally wide.
"We reassemble. Make sure everything is okay, and we find new headquarters." Replied Lupin.
"And we take extra care that Potter doesn't go anywhere alone." Growled Moody.
"We all ready do that, Alastor." Said Mr. Weasley.
"Well, even more so now. The kid doesn't know how much he could destroy."
"Voldemort still needs the other two." Said Lupin calmly.
"But Potter's got it worst. His is the most powerful. You-Know-Who gets control of him; it could be the beginning of a dark age." Moody continued, his voice hushed to a harsh whisper.
"You forget about the torch, Moody." Said Lupin. "Even if Harry is caught, which I doubt, he still won't have the torch."
"He as good as has it, though." Replied Moody.
Harry had heard enough. He pulled his extendable ear and through it away. He felt sick. He was tired of this, tired of everything. Constantly being watched, endangering everybody around him, having weapons and powers he didn't know he had, and losing people he loved. He was completely sickened by the thought of what the Death Eaters had done to Sirius's house. It had never been pretty, but it had been his. Now it was destroyed. Every person in the room looked at him as though he were going to explode. He returned the look angrily at first, and then shook his head.
"Well, nothing new." He said, trying to smile.
Harry awoke to a pecking at his window. He woke up, and yawned, and sat up to see Pig, Ron's owl, fluttering outside and ramming its beak into the glass. He put on his glasses, blinked a few times, and opened the window up to let him in. A letter was attached to his leg. Harry untied it and gave Pig some of Hedwig's owl treats. Hedwig did not make a sound but did seem to have a look of disapproval. Harry took the envelope, ripped it open, and read.
"Harry, be at your house at four o'clock. We're coming to get you.
Ron
P.S. Check out the newspaper clipping."
Harry pulled out a second piece of paper from the envelope. It was a cut out article from the daily prophet. Harry read the headlines, and a broad grin spread across his face.
"Ministry Fires Umbridge"
Dolores Umbridge was Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher last year. He, as well as most of the staff (with the exception of Filch), despised her. She was constantly getting letters from Fudge that put her in higher positions.
Harry read on.
Yesterday, Cornelius Fudge fired long time Ministry worker, Dolores
Umbridge, from the Ministry of Magic for endangering the safety of the
wizarding world. Umbridge, who recently taught at Hogwarts last year,
was one of the loudest voices that denied You-Know-Who's return.
There are also many witnesses that claim she used the Cruciatus Curse
on them during certain circumstances. Umbridge was not available for
comment, but her secretary was. 'She was a terrible woman. Bordered on evil. I was not present during her year at Hogwarts, but I must apologize to everybody there. I know exactly what you went through.'
Harry hoped nothing but the worst for Umbridge. He despised her more then she despised him. What he would give to see her one more time and point out all the mistakes she had made.
Harry put the clipping down, with the opposite side up. He glanced at it and something caught his eye.
The top said "Missing Persons" and under it was a list of names in alphabetical order. Harry read over it twice to make sure he was correct. In the 'D' section of the list was none other then Amos Diggory.
Harry hadn't seen Amos Diggory since the night or the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament. It was the night that their son, Cedric, had died at Voldemort's hand. Harry remembered the sadness in his eyes. Harry knew Amos had loved his son. He had seen the two of them while going to see the Quidditch World cup. The loss must have been unbearable. And now his wife had another loss to bear. Harry knew Amos couldn't be alive. If you were missing during these times, you weren't alive. As if to search for proof to this thought, he looked to the B's and, as he suspected, read 'Sirius Black (Murderer).'
Harry was dumbstruck. Amos Diggory and Cedric Diggory; both victims of Voldemort's wand. 'Like father, like son,' Harry thought, with a sickening realization that he could have just described his fate. Just like his fathers. Harry had to kill Voldemort, or Voldemort had to kill Harry. That was what the prophecy said. It was that prophecy that had resulted in Voldemort killing his father; and it might be the prophecy that resulted in Voldemort killing him.
Harry put the paper on his desk and went downstairs. His uncle was gone at work, Dudley was gone with his gang, and Petunia was in the kitchen, making something that smelled grotesque for lunch. Harry wasn't sure how to begin to tell her about leaving. Ever since the night the Death Eaters had been on Privet Drive, Harry had been very uncomfortable around his aunt. He often wondered what else she knew, what else she was hiding. One thing was obvious: she cared more about him and her sister then she had always said.
She had changed in the same way as Harry. She no longer treated him like dirt (although it was obvious she was trying to have him remain lower then Dudley), but talked to him normally, or as normal as a Dursley could get. She fed him regularly (real meals, not cold canned soup), and would even occasionally ask if he needed anything. Harry was never sure why she had warmed up so much to him.
Harry took a deep breath and said, "Erm-Hi, I, uh, I've been asked to go to Ron Weasely's house. He's a friend from school."
Aunt Petunia spun around quickly with a startled look on her face when he began speaking, but relaxed when she realized it was only Harry.
"Is-is something wrong?" Harry asked, seeing that she was scared, and even when she relaxed her eyes seemed wider then usual.
"No, nothing wrong. Is-is it safe to go to this-Weasley's house?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly. "With-with him on the loose?"
Harry knew she meant Voldemort. She was one of the few muggles that comprehended the danger that was lurking during these times.
"Yes," Harry answered, "No doubt I will be constantly watched."
"All right." Petunia said. "When do you leave?"
"Today. I'll be out of here around four." Harry said.
He turned to leave when Petunia stopped him.
"Wait." She said. "Harry, sit down. I'm going to do something I swore to Vernon that I'd never do. I'm going to. talk to you about your mother." Her hollowed, wide eyes slightly watered. Harry, completely shocked, sat down awkwardly in the nearest chair.
"She was. a wonderful girl. She was popular since kindergarten. She had friends, more friends then I ever did, and I seemed to always be second best. Then, when she was eleven, a letter came for her. She was, to everybody's surprise, a witch. She went off to that school of yours and I stayed home. She sent me letters, with those damn owls of course, and she was nice. But I. I never wrote back. For seven years that's how life went. I'd go to a regular school, she'd learn magic. She wrote me weekly." Petunia was crying now. Harry thought that saying this was more benefiting to her.
"And then. After seven years at that school; she left. We didn't hear much from her. She was working on something important, with some schoolmates of hers, one of them being your father. She married him. We went to the wedding. I was. cold to her as usual. I even think I told her I couldn't believe she married into 'that sort.' She didn't say anything cold back. She left again. I married Vernon. I never told him that she still contacted me. Then, one day, she sent a letter."
Tears streamed down Harry's aunt's face. Harry was listening with the greatest of bewilderment. This couldn't be the same person who kept him locked under the stairs. She sniffed, and pulled a folded up piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry unfolded it. The date at the top said 'October 28.' As he read, Petunia recited the words from memory.
"Petunia,
We are in trouble. James and I are in hiding with Harry. We're not sure we can last on our own. We think that he knows. We believe a friend of ours betrayed us. We haven't seen him in a few days. We think he's gone to tell him. Petunia, I need your help. We can't trust anybody now; who knows who he's all ready got to. The danger is too great. Please. Get help. Tell anyone. Tell the police. Tell them the home of James and Lily Potter is about to blow up. We need help, Petunia.
With love,
Your sister."
There was a long pause of silence. This was, Harry knew, the last letter his mother had written. Petunia's eyes were shut, though she was still crying. Harry reread the letter. It was a last desperate effort to save them and.to save him.
"Do you know what I did Harry?" Petunia asked, though he knew the answer. "Nothing. I told nobody. I still believed that I hated my sister. Jealousy blinded me. When I learned that she had died three days after sending that letter, I was stunned. I wasn't sad, I wasn't angry; I was just stunned. I had plenty of time to get help, and I didn't. I blamed myself for her death, though. Though I acted as though I didn't care. I still blame myself. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Harry." She sat silently and bowed her head as she cried.
Harry knew he should be angry with her. It was her fault his parents were dead; Her fault that he had this scar on his head. He realized, however, that it wasn't. This was prophesized, and there's nothing that would have stopped Voldemort. And if things were her fault, it was her fault the wizarding world saw a break of peace from the terror they'd been living in.
Harry was not sure what to say. Here was his aunt, who seemed to despise him, who seemed to hate him, who treated him like dirt. apologizing to him. Coming completely clean with herself. He could not comprehend how she had held this in for fifteen years.
He folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
"Well-er-I guess I'll be going upstairs now." Harry said awkwardly.
Petunia sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Don't tell Vernon." She said sternly, though her eyes were still puffy and red and her voice shook. Harry nodded and went up to his room. He thought about writing a letter to Sirius. It is what he would have done in this situation. The truth came storming back to him. He wished more then anything he could talk to him right now. Sirius was the one who Harry could talk to about his parents.
Another thought came to Harry: Remus. Lupin was his father's friend too. But he'd be too busy with the order. 'Besides' thought Harry, 'what could I say? "Dear Remus, my aunt misses my mom."' So, Harry decided against writing a pointless letter and decided to get his things together.
He opened his closet and pulled out his old school trunk. He unlocked the padlock he'd put on it in the beginning of summer (you could never be to careful with Dudley around) and opened it up to reveal a lot of his old school books and robes, some which were too small for him. He threw these out, and piled the books on his desk. At the very bottom, to Harry's surprise, was a little mirror.
Harry distinctly remembered shattering it violently. Had Sirius put a charm on it? It was possible. He picked the mirror up in awe, looking at it from every angle. It was in perfect shape. Harry stared at it. It couldn't work. It hadn't worked last time.
"Sirius," Harry said into the mirror. Nothing. The same thing that had happened last time he tried this. Discouraged, Harry tossed the mirror onto his bed. He began to open his drawers and get his clothes out when he heard a quiet buzzing. He turned around and saw the mirror was vibrating. He picked it up and stared at it. The reflection swirled. Harry's eyes widened. He might be able to talk to him again. The swirling stopped. Where Harry had expected to see Sirius's head, he saw his own. It hadn't worked.
"But it had come so close," Harry said out loud. "What stopped it?"
He decided he'd take the mirror with him. Some how he was going to reach Sirius; he just wasn't sure how.
He began to pack everything he'd need for Ron's and school, with the exception of some of his shorter robes. He put those that fit in the trunk along with many of his schoolbooks that he would use this year, his notebooks and quills, and finally laying his prefect badge and wand carefully on top. He grabbed his potion's cauldron, his invisibility cloak, and his Firebolt broomstick, safely back from the dungeons where Umbridge had put it, and placed them near the trunk.
He checked his clock. It was only noon. He had four hours until Ron was coming to pick him up. Having no desire to go downstairs and face Aunt Petunia in a most awkward position, he decided he'd sleep.
He was in the Department of Mysteries. Sirius was there, standing by the black archway. He fell through. Harry ran down the stairs. He was about to run through when he stopped.
'NO! You can't do this.' A voice inside his head told him. 'You'll die.'
'Sirius ran in there, go after him!' A different voice spoke. 'Move!'
He took a step.
'No.' His leg pulled back. He was in a war against himself. His leg would move and he'd pull it back. He'd throw himself back so violently he'd land on his side.
'The mirror, use the mirror.' He thought, and as he did, Sirius's mirror appeared in his hands. But it wasn't Sirius's face. It was Voldemort's.
Harry felt his body get pulled headfirst into the mirror. He was standing in an empty field. He was surrounded by death eaters, but they were bowing to him. He took a step back and ran into something solid. He turned and saw a man standing with him in the middle: Voldemort. Voldemort looked at him with his red eyes.
"You like it don't you, Harry? You like being the one they bow to. It could be so. We could rule together. You know we are powerful wizards Harry. We could do it. All I ask is your help." He said shrewdly.
"Never." Harry said. "How are you doing this?" He asked. He was now quite sure this was more then a dream.
"Surely you know I can invade your mind, Harry. I am making you a dream."
"It hurts you. You can't."
"Believe me, I am in the greatest of pain now. My death eaters are keeping me from collapsing and I am shaking violently. I won't be here much longer, and I will be weakened once I exit your mind. But I needed to talk to you Harry. You must join me."
"I won't join you." Harry said Sternly.
"Fine. I will get the weapons by myself. But I must warn you, you and those you love, Potter, are in grave danger." He said with a sneer. And bearing his wand, he drew up a picture of Lupin. He made it disappear and brought up a picture of Dumbledore. It vanished, and he drew up Sirius.
"Oh. That's right. My mistake Potter." Voldemort said smiling crudely. Harry burned with anger. Then, Voldemort brought up a picture of the Weasely family. Harry's eyes widened. Then, he brought up one of only Ron.
"No." Harry said.
Then Hermione.
"Ah, yes, the mudblood. I will be especially happy obtaining her. Don't worry Potter. I won't torture her for too long."
"NO!" Harry screamed.
"Harry, wake up!" Someone shouted.
Harry's eyes opened. Ron was looking over him nervously. It took him a minute to realize he was on the floor.
"Are you all right?" Ron asked.
Harry's scar burned madly, and he could feel a stream of blood coming from it.
"No." Harry said.
"Your scar," Ron said. "It's opened!"
"Yeah, I know. It's been doing that lately."
"What happened Harry?" Some one else said. Harry looked and saw it was Mr. Weasely, who was carrying an old, torn up hat, no doubt the portkey him and Ron had used to get here.
"Voldemort entered my mind." He said, rubbing the blood off his cheek.
Ron gulped and went pale. Mr. Weasley's eyes narrowed.
"He was in my dream. He asked me to join him."
"He couldn't have. It hurts him." Mr. Weasley said.
"I know. He said it was hurting him badly, but that this was important."
Mr. Weasley looked a little frightened, but tried to put on a cheery face.
"Well as long as he wasn't actually here, right?" He said smiling. Harry knew he was worried about this.
"I see you're all set." He said, motioning towards all of Harry's belongings.
"Right, I just need to tell my aunt I'm leaving." Harry replied.
"Your aunt? The one that keeps you locked up?" Ron asked.
"She's been differently lately. I'll have to tell you later." Harry asked.
He opened the door and ran downstairs.
"They're here, Aunt Petunia. I guess I'll be leaving."
She was sitting on the couch, covered with old letters. She turned to Harry. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"Okay. Be careful." She said. Harry nodded and walked back upstairs. As he approached his room he heard Mr. Weasley and Ron talking. He stopped to listen.
"Ron, I don't know what to think." He heard Mr. Weasley say. "It is possible that you-know-who was inside his head, but it could have just been a dream."
"Dad, his scar was bleeding. Can that come from dreams?" Ron asked, sounded a little confused.
"I don't know. That's why I tend to believe him. And if Dumbledore is correct, it sounds like something you-know-who would do at this time."
"If Dumbledore was correct about what?"
"I can't tell you Ron. Besides, I don't know all of it myself. But Dumbledore says it's dangerous. He says innocent lives are at stake."
"By innocent.Does he mean Harry?"
"I don't doubt it. Harry is in constant danger, no matter which plan Voldemort is putting through."
Harry took some silent steps backwards, stopped, and then stomped forward to warn them that he was coming. There was an awkward silence as he walked in. After a few moments, Mr. Weasley said, "All set Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry said, grabbing all of his belongings. Mr. Weasley held out the old hat and pointed his wand at it.
"Portus!" He said. The hay quivered.
"All right Harry. Grab all of your belongings and hold onto the hat." Harry grabbed his trunk, his broom stick, cauldron, and Hedwigs cage all on top, and carefully slid it to the portkey so none of these fell off.
As he touched the hat and felt the familiar feeling in his stomach, he began to think of his dream. Voldemort had drawn up a picture of the Weasleys, and that's just where he was heading now.
They landed in the front lawn of the Burrow with a soft thud as Harry's trunk hit first. It pulled Harry to his knees, and as he stood up, he noticed changes immediately. The Burrow, which used to be small and shabby (though Harry always thought it was spectacular) had been fixed up. It was clean and elegant. It had also been added on to. It would never have looked like a poor family had ever lived there.
"Like it?" Ron asked proudly.
"Love it. But how.?"
But he was interrupted by somebody yelling "Harry!"
Harry turned back to the Burrow to see Hermione running from the house. Harry felt a small lurch in his stomach. Hermione started talking very quickly.
"Harry, how are you? We heard all about the Death Eaters coming to your house but we didn't hear if you were okay. Of course your not okay, I mean Voldemort's on the loose."
"Hermione," Ron said gawking at her, "Shut up and breathe."
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried." She explained.
"I'm all right, Hermione." Harry said laughing. "It's just been an interesting summer."
"I'm sure it has." She replied, somewhat nervously.
Mr. Weasley, who hadn't spoken a word, finally said, "Come along Harry, let's get you all situated." And with a swish from his wand, Harry's trunk and those things around it rose and followed Mr. Weasley into the house.
The four of them went up to Ron's room, the place where Harry knew he'd be staying, and got Harry ready for the time he'd be staying there. This was where Harry got a real first look at Ron. He was like his house. He was cleaner, and his clothes fit better. Harry looked at Mr. Weasley. He was the same. It seemed the Weasley's were making money.
When Mr. Weasley left, Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.
"Voldemort's planning something." He said.
"Shocking." Ron said. "Couldn't have guessed."
"No. It's dangerous. That dream I was having. He asked me to join him. I told him no. He said something about getting the weapons. Then." Harry paused. He couldn't tell them he was putting them in danger.
"Listen. Last year, in the department of Mysteries, Voldemort was looking for a prophecy involving him and me. I.I know what was on that prophecy." Harry said. He hadn't told them about this yet.
"What?! You knew! How? Wasn't it broken?!" Ron asked.
"That was only a record. Who ever heard the prophecy doesn't need it."
"Dumbledore." Hermione said.
"What?!" Ron asked. "Who made it?"
"Well, remember in our third year when I told you Trelawny went into a trance and talked about the servant returning to the Dark Lord?" Harry asked.
"Nooo. No way, not her." Ron said, shocked.
"Yeah. When Dumbledore first met her." Harry said.
"What was the prophecy?" Hermione asked.
"I. I have the power to defeat Voldemort. But. It doesn't actually say I do. It said that neither of us can live while the other survives." Harry said. "One of us has to kill the other." He put his head down.
Ron and Hermione were silent.
"Well. Harry. I mean. We'll help." Hermione said, trying to sound reassuring. "No matter what happens."
"No." Harry said. " I can't let you."
"Why not? We have to Harry." Ron said.
"I can't explain." Harry said. "I just needed to tell you this. To prepare you for whatever's coming, I guess."
They sat in silence for a while.
"Besides thinking about that," Ron said, breaking the quiet, "how has your summer been?"
"Terrible." Harry said. "Although my aunt changed. She. cares now, I guess."
"That's a start." Hermione said.
"I don't know. It was really weird. She. She actually cried over my mum." Harry said. Ginny walked in.
"Hello, Harry." She said smiling.
"Hey Ginny." Harry said. He was taken aback by Ginny the same way she was by Ron and Mr. Weasley. She looked; there was only one word Harry could use here, cute.
"Dinner's ready." She said. She turned and closed the door.
"Is she still going out with Dean?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said, almost glumly.
"Well I think it's sweet." Hermione said smiling.
"You'd think her dating Hagrid would be sweet." Ron said sarcastically.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at Ron, but Harry saw the ends of her lips were curled up.
Ron looked up. "So Harry. What's up with you and Cho?"
Harry rolled his eyes. He knew what Ron was trying to do. "Nothing, Ron."
"Alright, I'm just checking. Come on, let's eat."
They walked downstairs. The table was set up in the kitchen for nine.
"Who else is coming?" Harry asked, noticing the ninth chair.
"Bill. He's working for the order, you know." Ron said.
"What about Percy?"
Ron's shoulders drooped. He pointed at the old magical clock they had in their kitchen. It had the names of all the Weasleys on the hands, and instead of numbers, places around the edges. Right now, Ron, Ginny, and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were at home. Harry looked for Percy. He was pointing to 'lost.' Harry gasped.
"He-he's lost?"
"Yeah. For about a month now."
Harry remembered what he had thought when he had discovered Amos Diggory on the 'missing' list in the Daily Prophet: If you're missing during these times, you weren't alive.
Ron, understanding what Harry was thinking, said, "We think he's okay. We've gotten loads of letters. Mostly were short ones. Just saying he was all right. But his first one went into detail. He explained how he was 'sorry he had abandoned the family' and called them crazy. He apologized about asking me to ditch you, Harry. Mom says he sounded depressed. He quit his job and said he'd be leaving for a while. He's never said exactly where."
Harry still wasn't relieved. The clock started ticking. Fred and George shifted into the 'home' position right as they walked through the door. They were wearing the dragon-skin jackets they had on at the end of last year. Harry started to understand how the Weasleys had gotten their house bigger and all looked cleaner.
"Harry, how've you been?" Fred asked. (Harry knew it was Fred because they had sewn an 'F' and 'G' into their jackets in silvery material).
"I've been pretty good. How's business?" Harry asked, knowing the answer.
"Pretty good." George said modestly. "You should come by when you go to Diagon Alley. I guess we'll give you some items free, having practically paid for the store."
"Dad's got promoted, too." Ron said.
"I thought your dad wouldn't leave his position." Ron said. Mr. Weasley loved muggles, and worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department at the ministry.
"He still works for that, but he's also in the Defense Against Dark Wizards Bureau. Started up again at the beginning of the summer, and since dad was one of the only people who believed you to begin with, they let him in. It pays great, plus his other pay, and not much extra time at the ministry unless something huge happens." Ron said.
"Who's the head of it?" Harry asked.
"Fudge." George said disgustedly. "He wouldn't put Dumbledore in charge. Shocking, really." He said sarcastically.
"But there's still the order, and Dumbledore's still got that." Fred said.
Mr. And Mrs. Weasley walked in.
"Is everybody ready for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she pulled a large meat dish (Harry thought it looked somewhat like chicken, but could never be completely sure here) out of the oven.
"Bill isn't here, mom." Ginny said.
"He's at headquarters, dear, he'll be here a little late." She replied.
Harry tensed up at the mentioning of 'headquarters.' The order's headquarters was Sirius's old house. He wondered if Kreacher was still there, or if he was out working for Bellatrix. He had often thought what he would do to the house elf in the event that he met him again.
Mrs. Weasley placed the dished on the table, using her wand to levitate them into place. When it was all set, Harry and the others sat down.
The first ten minutes were the best of Harry's summer. Fred and George managed to keep everybody laughing and entertained, mostly talking about new products for the store, or old pranks they'd pulled. The food tasted delicious, and Harry enjoyed himself. Then, ten minutes later, Bill burst through the door.
The laughter ceased immediately. He was hunched over, leaning on the doorway. His fang-shaped earring dangled from his ear, and his hair was disheveled and out of its usual ponytail. A large gash spread across his left cheek and blood was running out of it rapidly, and a stain was already growing on the left shoulder of his robes.
Mrs. Weasley gasped, Mr. Weasley dropped his fork, the rest had wide eyes and dropped jaws.
"They. Attacked headquarters." Bill said, taking deep breaths. Mrs. Weasley stood up and rushed over to him and helped him to a chair.
"Is everybody all right? Are you all right?" She asked.
"I'm fine." Bill said. "But Copper's dead." Bill said.
"No." Mr. Weasley said, aghast. "Jeffrey Copper?"
"Children, go upstairs." Mrs. Weasley said hurriedly. "Yes, Fred, George, you too." She finished annoyed, as the twins had not moved. Harry stood up and filed out with the twins, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as they walked up the stairs.
They filed into Ron's room, Fred slamming the door behind him.
"We're eight-teen now. They still won't let us in the order." Fred said in utter disgust. Then, shrugging it off, said, "Aw well, just gives us a good excuse to use these." He pulled what looked like several small pink funnels and half spheres.
"Wireless extendable ears." Said George smiling. "Easier to make, sell it for more, and one ear connects to as many of these as you like." He said, helping Fred hand out the funnels. "The other end of these are stuck under the table."
"And even better," Smiled Fred, "Extendable eyes." He tossed out the round spheres. Harry placed the sphere to his eye. He had a view of the kitchen from the ceiling. Mrs. Weasley, he could tell, was frantic. He then pulled the extendable ear to his own.
"Are you sure you're all right?" He heard Mrs. Weasley ask in an anxious voice.
"Of course I'm all right." Bill replied. "I think everyone else is. We had to scatter with all of our documents. Copper's the only one that ran into serious trouble."
"How could they have gotten in?" Mr. Weasley said. "Dumbledore's still secret-keeper. He'd have had to tell them where it is."
"The elf, Kreacher did it." Bill said. "Dumbledore gave out those peaces of parchment saying the address of headquarters to the newer recruits. After one of them burned there's up, Kreacher sneaked out and did a simple reversing spell. We figure he handed it to the Lestrange woman, being somebody he obeys."
Harry's head boiled at the mention of her.
"Before I dissapparated," Bill continued, "They had gotten in and were ransacking everything."
"What were they looking for?" Asked Mrs. Weasley. Harry noticed she had gone very white.
"We don't know, but we think the s-,"
"Shh." Said Mr. Weasley. "We never know what Fred and George might invent next." And Harry was sure for a moment that he looked right at the extendable eye.
Bill leaned over and whispered something to his mother. She looked disbelieving and said, "Surely not. That's needed at school, surely they didn't think it was there?"
"It can be a more powerful weapon then anybody realizes, Molly." Mr. Weasley said. "They might have thought it would be stored there, brought to Hogwarts briefly, and put back in its safe place."
At that moment the door burst open and slammed into the wall. Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody were dragging in Tonks. She, however, was acting very strangely. Being a metamorphmagus, Tonks could change her appearance at will. Now, it appeared, she had lost the choice of what she changed into, flashing into different styles; her hair changing colors and growing longer and shorter, he skin changes tone and sometimes growing wrinkles, and her nose was shift-shaping at a rapid pace.
"Been hit with one too many Confundus Charms," growled Moody. "Has no idea what's going on, or what she's doing."
"Is she going to be all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
"She'll be fine once they all wear off." Lupin said. They sat her down at one of the chairs around the table and took the seats on either side of her.
"More people are coming." Lupin said.
"Did they get anything, Remus?" Asked Mr. Weasley.
"They found out that it's still at Hogwarts." He replied. "We've sent for several Aurors to guard it until term begins, in which case we'll have many of them remain there under cover."
"They also know we found out about the vampires." Moody said.
Harry shuddered.
"They know that we've discovered almost the exact amount in You-Know- Who's army."
A black wizard walked through the door.
"Kingsley, are you all right?" Asked Bill.
"Yeah, did anybody see if they got the tree?"
Harry wasn't the only person confused by this statement. He looked around at the other's faces, and each wore an expression of misunderstanding. Ron even rubbed his ear to make sure he'd heard right. Harry was the same. He thought the weapon was at Hogwarts. But now Kingsley was worried if they'd stolen a tree from Sirius's house.
"They can't have gotten to that. We hid it in a secure place." Said Lupin.
"They. Did." Uttered Tonks, who was finally talking, but still changing forms at a rapid pace.
"I doubt it matters. They all ready know what they need to. They just wanted to make sure we didn't figure out what they were doing." Said Kingsley. "But they're too late. Dumbledore's known for ages."
"So what are we doing?" Asked Mrs. Weasley, her eyes abnormally wide.
"We reassemble. Make sure everything is okay, and we find new headquarters." Replied Lupin.
"And we take extra care that Potter doesn't go anywhere alone." Growled Moody.
"We all ready do that, Alastor." Said Mr. Weasley.
"Well, even more so now. The kid doesn't know how much he could destroy."
"Voldemort still needs the other two." Said Lupin calmly.
"But Potter's got it worst. His is the most powerful. You-Know-Who gets control of him; it could be the beginning of a dark age." Moody continued, his voice hushed to a harsh whisper.
"You forget about the torch, Moody." Said Lupin. "Even if Harry is caught, which I doubt, he still won't have the torch."
"He as good as has it, though." Replied Moody.
Harry had heard enough. He pulled his extendable ear and through it away. He felt sick. He was tired of this, tired of everything. Constantly being watched, endangering everybody around him, having weapons and powers he didn't know he had, and losing people he loved. He was completely sickened by the thought of what the Death Eaters had done to Sirius's house. It had never been pretty, but it had been his. Now it was destroyed. Every person in the room looked at him as though he were going to explode. He returned the look angrily at first, and then shook his head.
"Well, nothing new." He said, trying to smile.