Hello bored people of internetland!

Here is where I say "I do not own Harry and his buddies."

I also do not own: Nintendo (N64) and Duke Nukem.

Chapter Shi * * *

Tuesday and Wednesday passed surprisingly quickly for the three friends, even though they were anticipating a party. They left for the Burrow at eight o' clock in the morning on Thursday - giving Mr.Weasley more than enough time to get to work.

They spent the whole morning decorating the house, ( Hermione then placed an invisibility charm on the decorations ) the afternoon helping Mrs. Weasley cook and the early evening getting the guests together.

Amos Diggory was coming home with Mr. Weasley and Percy on the pretext of wanting to eat some of Mrs. Weasley's famous chicken pot pie, which she had told Arthur was to be for dinner that night. Fred was watching the grandfather clock in the living room in order to warn everyone to run upstairs and be quiet as mice when the arm moved to "traveling".

While they were waiting for Fred's warning call, the three friends, Ron's sister, Ginny, and his brother George were in his room playing Duke Nukem on Nintendo 64. ( Well, Hermione was there but she wasn't playing )

Harry had gotten Ron the N64 for his last birthday as it was an entertaining muggle creation. George was laughing at the top of his lungs because he was kicking the pants off everyone else.

"MUHUHAHAHAHA! Oh, there you go, Ron! PEACE!" George continued to shoot Ron's character even though he'd been dead for twenty seconds already.

"Damn it." Ron said as he threw the controller on the floor.

"I told you videogames are not good for you. Look at yourself, Ron. You're all worked up over nothing. For once I wish you would play Quidditch instead. At least you'd be getting exercise." Hermione said.

"We can't play Quidditch or Dad would see us. He should be on his way by now." Ron said. They didn't hear Fred's warning cry until 9:00, and it was quickly followed by the sound of those people who were downstairs rushing up.

"Okay, Herbs, NO screaming, stomping, whining or other loud noises. We need to listen for Charlie tapping on the ceiling - code for headin' downstairs."

The afore said code was heard within ten minutes and the Weasley children filed into the kitchen, much to their father's surprise, one by one, in order from youngest to oldest.

The other guests followed. Hermione then removed the invisibility charm from the decorations and when everyone was downstairs they said

"Congratulations, Deputy Minister of Magic!" in unison. Fred and George magicked a drum and tuba and played "Hail the Conquering Hero"

"Now what is this all about?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"We've all come to ask you for money, Dad." Ron said. Everyone laughed.

Ginny went up to Mr. Weasley, kissed him and said "I knew they would recognize your skills at the ministry one day, Dad."

"Yeah, I knew we couldn't be the only ones who realized how great you are." Ron said.

"We all want to thank you, Dad, for putting up with us pests and struggling to support us all these years." George said.

"We appreciate you very much!" Fred said.

"Thank you for not kicking me out!" Percy said.

"You were always my role model, Dad." Bill said.

"You're the best!' Charlie said.

"And we all love you!" Everyone said.

"Thank you! Thank you very much everyone. I enjoy being here for you kids." Mr. Weasley laughed with a tear in his eye and then everyone went out back to eat.

Mrs. Weasley was an excellent cook and she had made all the sorts of dishes that she would make on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. The merrymaking went on well into the night. The party was a success and Mr. Weasley was truly touched.

Unfortunately his whole day did not go so well. They had a very bad fright at the ministry around one or so in the afternoon. After the kids had gone upstairs and only Mr. and Mrs. Weasley remained in the kitchen, did he talk about it.

"Molly, thank you for setting this all up. After what happened today, I needed cheering up." He said.

"What?" Mrs. Weasley asked with a slight trace of fear in her voice, for the look on her husband's face told her that something horrible had happened better than any words could have.

"You won't believe it, but all of a sudden, while Amos and I were going through some files together, in the middle of the room adjoining my office.......the dark mark appeared." He said. Mrs. Weasley gasped.

"At first we thought we were seeing things, but it was real. Percy didn't see it and I didn't tell him because I don't want him worrying. Amos and I, we just did not know what to do.

We thought about it for a while and decided not to get too bent out of shape. Voldemort ...he just can't be alive. It could have been some jack ass just playing a nasty little trick, who made the mark."

As he said this Harry and Ron were coming downstairs to get something to drink. They had heard Mr. Weasley say Voldemort and they froze.

"Oh, Arthur, take it more seriously than that. That mark can mean anything..." Mrs. Weasley stopped talking.

Harry and Ron were standing at the foot of the staircase, staring at her blankly. Mr. Weasley turned and saw them. Harry broke the silence.

"Voldemort can't be back. He can't . Sirius and Dumbledore and me...we all killed him. It just couldn't be him." He said quietly.

"I know it's disturbing, Harry, but you just have to keep thinking along those lines. It could not have been Voldemort. It was probably somebody's idea of a practical joke. Mr. Diggory and I are going to look into things.

In the meantime try not to worry too much about it. And please, boys...since we're not yet sure what it's all about don't go telling people. I'm not scolding you or anything...it's just that we don't need everybody getting worked up for something which just may be meaningless." Mr. Weasley said softly.

"I understand, Sir." Harry said.

"But don't you hesitate to tell us if anything strange happens to you, Dear." Mrs. Weasley said.

"That's right. Tell us as soon as possible. I guess it would be wise for you to tell Professor Dumbledore. He'll look out for you just in case and he won't go putting the news all over town." Mr. Weasley said.

"Are you going to be alright, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yeah...I'll be alright." Harry said. Mrs. Weasley gave him a comforting hug. Mr. Weasley once again told them to report anything strange and they got their drinks then went upstairs.

Neither Ron nor Harry spoke about what they had just heard. They went to sleep pushing thoughts of Voldemort and Death Eaters out of their minds.

* * *