Harry could not believe this was happening. Six people were going to take Polyjuice potion and become him for the moving of him to the safe house. Harry watched as Fred drank first, then George. They already started to change into him. Next was Mundungus, then Fleur, Ron, and Hermione. Harry could only stare as he saw them all become him.
"Wow, we're identical." Fred and George said together. Ironic because they were already identical twins.
"Not yet, you're not." Alastor dumped out a bag of clothes.
"Haven't got anything a bit more sporting, do you?" George asked, picking up a pair of jeans.
"Yeah, I don't really fancy this color," Fred added.
"Well, fancy this…You're not you. So shut it and strip," Alastor remarked.
"Alright, alright," Mundungus replied.
"You need to change too, Potter," Alastor mentioned to Harry, who was beside him.
"Bill, look away…I'm hideous…" Fleur told her fiancé.
"I knew Ginny was lying about that tattoo," Ron snickered about Harry, who had been told Harry had a tattoo.
"Harry, your eye-sight really is awful." Hermione put on a pair of glasses.
Hermione was already done dressing and the rest were getting there. "Right then, we'll be pairing off. Each Potter will have a protector." Alastor informed. "Mundungus, stick tight to me. I wanna keep an eye on ya. And Harry…"
"Yes?" All of them answered.
"The real Harry. Where the devil are you anyway?" Alastor asked.
"Here," Harry put his hand up as he was pulling on his pants and setting the buckle.
"You'll ride with Hagrid." Alastor told him.
"No way." Draco protested.
"You're not in this, Malfoy." Ron remarked firmly.
"I should be. No offense to you, Hagrid…" Draco paused. "But he doesn't have any magic to protect Harry with. And if there's trouble, Harry can't use his wand without them realizing its him. I will go with Harry, I offer the best protection because if Severus is with them and I imagine he will be as one of Voldemort's inner circle…He won't hurt me to get to Harry."
"So sure of that? He killed Albus without a second thought," Alastor commented.
"He won't hurt me, no matter who he works for. He's already reached out once and told me to stay in his house at Spinner's End for my own safety…If I'm out there and right beside Harry; he won't attack me. And if he sees others about to, he'll step in." Draco informed.
"Hate to agree," Hermione said. "But Draco is right."
"I second that," Arthur added.
"Me too." Remus nodded.
"Very well." Alastor agreed. "Potter, you go with Malfoy. We're headed to the Burrow…" He added.
"I know." Draco replied. "I'll protect you with my life, Harry," He promised.
"I know you will, but don't go dying on me." Harry smiled.
"All very touching, now let's go!" Alastor urged. Soon, they were outside. Harry was with Draco on a broomstick; it was their best way to move as they were accomplished seekers, knowing how to evade. Harry sent Hedwig off as he held onto Draco tightly. "We rendezvous at the Burrow. On three…One. Two…"
Before he got to three, everyone was taking to the sky whether it was broom, or by Threstals.
. . .
Harry should have known it wouldn't be so easy. Right away, death eaters were on them. Draco focused on the flying, evading death eaters the best they could.
"Do not raise your wand; that's how they'll track you." Draco reminded. Harry nodded as they went faster to escape the madness. Draco's mission was to get Harry to the Burrow safely, so if they didn't have to fight; they wouldn't.
It didn't matter. Once Draco and Harry were far away; two death eaters were on them. And so was Hedwig, throwing herself at one to knock them off. Harry saw a flash of green and Hedwig fell. "No…Hedwig…" Harry just lost his owl to the death eater on their trail. "Oh, forget this!" Harry pulled his wand. "Stupefy!" He shot backward, knocking the death eater away.
"What did I say about the wand?!" Draco sighed.
"They killed Hedwig…" Harry said. "They knew I was the real one because of her trying to protect me."
Draco stayed silent and they continued on. It wasn't long until Harry's scar burned and he yelled out. "Harry? What's wrong?" Draco asked quickly. Harry lost consciousness for a moment or two.
"Harry…" Voldemort's voice was heard.
Harry lifted his wand up just in time to meet Voldemort's blast in the middle. "Oh, no you don't!" Harry glared. "I won't lose anyone else to you." Their wands fought blasts back and forth, but ultimately, Harry's overpowered Voldemort's and caused an explosion. "High-tail it!" Harry told Draco, who sped away while Voldemort got caught in some powerlines.
In moments, they were through the protective barrier over the Burrow and crash-landed in the river together. Sopping wet now. The two got up and started their walk for the Burrow.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked.
"Fine…" Harry sighed.
"I'm sorry about Hedwig…" Draco gave him a one-armed hug.
"Harry!" Molly exclaimed. "Draco. Thank heavens." She hugged them both. Alastor obviously got word of Harry being with Draco, so it didn't surprise her when they showed up together. "Are you both alright?"
"Yeah…" Harry replied softly.
"Where are the others?" Ginny asked.
Harry looked around. "We're the first back?" Harry asked as the women nodded.
"They were on us right from the start, Mrs. Weasley. We didn't stand a chance." Draco informed.
The next back were Remus and George, who was injured. "Oh, my goodness," Molly urged Remus to bring George inside quickly.
Inside, George was laying down as Molly tended to him. Immediately, Remus turned on Harry, wand drawn, and holding him against the wall. "Have you gone mad!?" Draco yelled.
"What creature was in my office the first time Harry Potter entered my office?" Remus asked.
"Remus, it's me!" Harry argued.
"What creature?!" Remus demanded.
"Grindelow." Harry said quickly.
Remus panted, lowering his wand. "Sorry, I had to make sure…We were betrayed, Voldemort knew you were being moved tonight." He said and Harry nodded.
"I'm aware…" Harry remarked.
"We ran into him," Draco added.
"What?" Ginny squealed. "Voldemort himself?"
"Yes…Harry fought him." Draco informed.
"Are you alright?" Remus asked Harry.
"Still alive." Harry replied.
"I'm sorry, cub," Remus hugged him.
More noise outside as the group ran out, but Molly stayed with George inside.
Kingsley arrived with Hermione as Remus held Harry back, their wands drawn. "The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?" Kingsley asked.
"Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him." Remus replied calmly. Their wands lowered.
"What gave you away?" Kingsley asked Harry.
"Hedwig, I think. She was trying to protect me…And died because of it." Harry looked down.
Next to arrive was Bill and Fleur, then Ron with Nymphadora, who rushed right to Remus for a hug. "Brilliant, he was. I wouldn't be standing here without him," Tonks told her husband.
Hermione looked at Ron surprised as he was returning back to his normal form. Hermione hugged Ron tightly. "Really?" Hermione asked.
"Always sound so surprised," Ron said. Harry rushed right to his best friends and hugged them tightly, grateful they were alright.
The last to come was Arthur and Fred. "Are we last to get here?" Arthur asked. "Where's George?"
Everyone was quiet, then Arthur and Fred rushed into the home to see George on the couch, bloodied ear. "Georgie…" Fred knelt down. "How are you feeling?"
"Saint-like," George smiled. "I'm holy…"
"All the ear jokes in the world and you chose I'm holy," Fred laughed. "That's pathetic,"
"How was he hurt?" Arthur asked Remus.
"A death eater on us, grabbed hold of George believing he was Harry. And then Snape showed up, he sent off a curse that took out the death eater…But it hit George too." Remus explained.
"Severus…Saved you two?" Harry questioned.
"Yes…I believe he did." Remus stated. "We were the closest to you and Draco. I almost want to say he knew who the real one was because you were with Draco, Harry. And Severus was following to ensure you two were safe. But got held up with George and I."
It continued to make no sense to Harry. Severus showed what side he was on, didn't he? Was Severus protecting them? Harry looked at Draco. Bill stepped up. "Mad-Eye is dead. Mundungus took one look at Voldemort and ran."
Silence fell over the room. Two were killed tonight, and one escaped. George was hurt, but from the sounds of it, not intentionally. And Harry's brain was going to explode with all the things it wondered.
. . .
In preparation for the wedding, everyone was outside getting the large tent ready. It was to be an outdoor wedding. It was also Harry's seventeenth birthday, today was July 31st, 1997. Draco was still there, so was Hagrid. George was doing well too. It seemed that the Burrow had become a hotspot for many people. Remus and Tonks had left, but would be back for the wedding tomorrow. Harry learned that Nymphadora was pregnant and Remus had asked Harry to be their child's god parent. Harry, of course, agreed. While everyone was working, there was the crack of apparition and a man walked up.
"What's the bloody minister of magic doing here?" George asked.
"Minister," Harry greeted. "To what do we owe the pleasure?" He wondered.
"I think we both know the answer to that, Mr. Potter…" Rufus Scrimgeour replied. Harry already knew what it meant and wasn't ready. "I only require you three for this." He pointed to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Use the inside of the house." Arthur offered.
"Thank you, Arthur," Rufus said. "Come along." He urged.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione went inside with Scrimgeour and they took a seat on the couch, with Rufus across from them. Rufus laid something on the table between them and brought out a paper. "This is the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. First, to Ronald Billius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator. A device of my own creation in hopes that when things seem most dark; it will show him the light." Rufus pulled an object out and gave it to Ron, who eyed it and pressed something to pull the lights from the lamps around, and he smiled, then sent them back.
"Wicked," Ron said.
"To Hermione Jean Granger. I leave my copy of the Tales of Beedle Bard in hopes that she find it entertaining and instructive," Rufus gave the book to Hermione.
"Mum used to read those to us," Ron said.
"And last to Harry James Potter…" Rufus started again. "I leave the first snitch he caught at Hogwarts to remind him of the rewards of perseverance and skill." The man unwrapped it and gave it to Harry. "Albus bequeathed a second item to you, Harry. The sword of Godric Gryffindor, but it's whereabouts are currently unknown and it was also not his to give away." Rufus added. "I do not know what you're up to, Mr. Potter…But you cannot fight this war alone. He's too strong."
"I'm marked as his equal, Minister…It's my destiny to rid the world of Voldemort, and I will. Besides…I'm never alone." Harry replied. "Is this it then?"
"Yes." Rufus said.
. . .
Later that night, Remus and Tonks had returned and Remus seemed focused on outside.
"The first night of the cycle is always the worst," Tonks said. "Sweetheart, come inside." She tried with her husband.
Upstairs, Harry was heading to bed when he passed Draco. "Tomorrow, after the wedding, return to Spinner's End and stay there until school starts." Harry instructed.
"I will. Promise me you'll be careful, Harry…" Draco held his hand.
"I can only promise to try, but I will come back to you and we'll fight the final battle together." Harry said. "Mind yourself at school. You and Blaise are my eyes and ears in those walls, we can use our Occlumency link or Patronus's to talk. Just be careful when you use it…"
"I will." Draco nodded. "Harry…I'm scared."
"I know," Harry hugged him tightly. "I am too."
"Harry?" Draco looked at him.
"Yes?" Harry replied.
"I l-," Draco never got to finish the words because there was an explosion outside. "What's happening?!"
"Death Eaters!" Someone in the house yelled.
"It's Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, along with Greyback and some others." Another shouted.
Draco saw Harry's eyes ignite with fury. Rodolphus been the one to kill Sirius. "Harry…" Draco said. Too late. Harry ran downstairs and to the door where Rodolphus smirked at Harry.
"Harry Potter…All your allies around you," Rodolphus said. "But wait…Where's your godfather?" Harry's hands clenched to fists as he was breathing heavily.
"Harry…Don't. He's baiting you!" Remus warned.
"Oh, right…I killed him, didn't I?" Rodolphus grinned with a laugh.
"Harry, no!" Draco yelled.
That did it. Harry pushed past Remus and rushed outside, immediately flicking his wand to fire at Rodolphus, and make him have to step back. "You shut your mouth!" Harry glared. Bellatrix had sent blasts to the house and surrounded it in fire. Harry managed to block them with a shield and then put a barrier up. He shot his wand forward and sent Rodolphus flying backwards. "You made a mistake coming here tonight…" He seethed. Rodolphus struggled to get up, staring at Harry with surprise. That last hit had quite the punch to it. "This is your one chance to leave quietly, if you do not…I will not hold back."
"I think not, Mr. Potter…" That was Severus's voice.
"Sev…" Draco whispered. "Why are you doing this?!" He yelled. Severus stared. "It's not you, Severus…It's not the real you, I know you…Please?" He pleaded.
"You are wrong…" Severus replied.
"I'm not! You've practically raised me! I know you, Severus. Please, I'm begging you…Don't do this." Draco asked.
Severus raised his wand to Draco and Harry moved in, firing a wordless Stupefy to knock Severus back. "Keep away from him," Harry threatened. Severus could sense Harry's power; he was pissed.
"Uncle Sev…Please? We can help you. We can protect you…" Draco had tears in his eyes as he got and pushed past Harry to hug Severus tightly, surprising the man. "Please?"
"This is how it has to be for all involved." Severus told him. "It's all I can do for now." He said quietly as Draco stared at him. "You'll understand one day. Until then…Know that I'm sorry." Severus shoved Draco back towards Harry, who held Draco in place. "Retreat," Severus told the other two.
"What, but we-," Bellatrix started.
"We're outnumbered and there are several in this group that can do damage. Retreat," Severus told her. "Not yet."
The three retreated back, disappearing. Harry lowered his wand and dropped next to Draco to hold him. The others put out the fires and Harry guided Draco back inside the home and got him into bed. Everyone was confused and bothered by things. Why would Severus show up, then say what he did before calling it off. Perhaps he really couldn't bear to hurt Draco and Harry. The night ended with everyone going to bed and hoping tomorrow would be better. It was Bill and Fleur's wedding, hopefully that would be a good event.
