Sanctuary at last.
After the events of that night send a letter to his godfather and to Dumbledore, describing what had happened. While Dumbledore stayed auspiciously silent Sirius did send him an answer.
Harry,
I don't like the idea of those death eaters laying their hands on you and we can only praise our luck that this Marus was friendly. However don't trust him again should the two of you meet. I don't trust unknown saviors who know whatever you're doing wherever you are.
Send me another owl should you find out more about him. I will be relocating soon and be unable to send any messages your way. Good luck at Hogwarts. And remember don't trust Marus again.
Yours sincerely,
Snuffles.
The remaining days of the vacation rolled by slowly. Filled with annoying chores(He did have to repair the lawn) but nothing eventful happened until 2 days before Harry had to go to back to Hogwarts.
It was around one o'clock that the doorbell rang. Harry was cleaning the floor in front of the fridge, because Dudley was trying to nick something edible when Harry caught him and he dropped a jar of mayonnaise. Of course Harry was blamed for this.
Uncle Vernon had been scrutinizing Harry's work and pointed out every spot he had missed. Slightly reluctant to let Harry out of his sight slowly walked towards the door. There was a click and squeak as the uncle Vernon opened the front door.
'Yes.' He said loudly to the man at the door. Harry was listening with minor interest at what was happening until he heard the voice of the second man.
'Good day, sir. My name is Marus Clammens. I'm from ministry security.' He paused a moment to look at a note. 'I've orders to take a mister H. Potter to a safehouse.'
Harry had stopped scrubbing the floor and tip-toed slowly towards the door.
'Really?' Uncle Vernon continued 'Exactly which ministry are you working for then?'
'What's it to you? Muggle.'
At that last comment uncle Vernon turned bright red and began to splutter something which sounded English but was completely incomprehensible. Harry could barely see beyond his uncle but he did manage to make out that the man had flat blond hair.
'Get of my property! NOW.' Uncle Vernon bellowed at Marus. 'Get of now or I'll call the police for trespassing.' He added while pointing out in the street.
'I am not leaving without him. Sir. And your please-men can't lay a finger on me.'
It wasn't everyday that uncle Vernon met with someone as determined as this man. As a result he was at a loss for words but still not ready to give up this battle of will.
'Get lost now! Do you know who I am? You wizard… wizard… You wizard!!' Was all he could think of.
'Right now I really wish I didn't. But make no mistake… Mr. Dursley. The only reason I don't kill you, is because I promised to keep the body count to a minimum.' Marus looked Uncle Vernon straight into the eyes, put on an evil grin and reached to somewhere at his belt.
'Then again. I doubt the world would really miss you. He he he.'
Uncle Vernon now completely terrified scrambled as fast as he could into the living room, looking for a phone. Harry had watched the entire scene in awe. Although he was amused that Marus had given his uncle a good scare, he knew that the anti-wizard policy would be enforced even stronger than before.
'Harry.' Marus called out to him. 'Get your things together. I would like to leave before those muggle police-men arrive.'
Harry stood up and walked into the hallway and took a good look at Marus. He was wearing blue jeans topped with a plain white shirt completely buttoned up with a name tag in his right shirt pocket and a god awful brown tie which was way too crooked to have been done by a muggle.
'Why should I go with you? My godfather told my not to trust you.' Harry eyed him suspiciously but he did want to leave the Dursley's as fast as possible.
'Did he now. Listen Harry I don't care whether god had told you not to trust me. Your going with me, the easy way or my way. It's your choice to make.'
A loud banging was coming from the living room, uncle Vernon was trying to dial a number with his fist rather than his fingers.
'You can mistrust me later. We have to leave ASAP.'
Harry quickly made his mind up and ran upstairs to gather his belongings. On the overpass he crashed into Dudley who, was trying to sneak back into the kitchen during the chaos.
'Watch where you're going cousin. You blew something up again, didn't you? You're in so much trouble.' Dudley said to Harry. 'I think I'll go and see what you did.' And he wobbled of down the stairs.
A few minutes later Harry had packed everything and was dragging his trunk with Hedwig's cage on top down the stairs.
'Keep him away from me daddy. Don't let him hurt me.' Dudley shrieked. Downstairs Marus was leaning against an invisible barrier where the door usually was, across the hallway uncle Vernon stood with a shotgun pointing towards him. Dudley was hiding behind his father.
'The police are coming. Don't come any closer or I'll shoot you, I swear I will.' Uncle Vernon yelled and he pumped the shotgun trying to impress Marus into leaving.
'Ready to go?' Marus said to Harry completely ignoring the threat.
'Yeah, could you give me a hand with this.'
'I'd love to, but I can't get inside.' Marus pushed the barrier which rippled like water under the pressure.
'That's alright I'll manage. Goodbye uncle, see you next summer.' Harry waved goodbye, then picked up one end of his trunk and dragged it out the door. Once outside Marus picked up the other end and pointed towards a car parked on the sidewalk.
The car was similar to the ministry vehicles Harry had been in before except it was an older model and was definitely less maintained. Several patches of paint indicated that the car had been green at some point. Together they pushed Harry's trunk into the cars trunk. As Marus slammed it shut the car seemed to moan.
Then he walked to the right side of the car opened the door and sat down. This situation needed a good comment.
'As much as I appreciate the confidence you have in me, I really think you should drive.'
'Huh?..' Marus said as he noticed the steering wheel missing. 'Oh. Right. I'm still not used to the English configuration yet. It'll come to me. Eventually.' This made Harry reconsider his decision to go with him.
Once they were finally properly seated Marus seemed to be hesitating about what to do. Then he took out a key which looked even older then the car and put it in the ignition. The engine coughed a few times hummed for a while then spluttered into silence again. Three times later it finally stayed on with an awful noise. With a loud creak Marus put it into a forward gear and they were finally off.
After about five minutes his curiosity got the better of him. Harry wanted answers.
'So Marus where are we going?' No answer. 'Answer me.'
'Huh? Oh, sorry about that Harry. Driving takes a lot of concentration, especially in this… thing. Anyway, it's up to you where we're going.'
'Huh?' Harry replied.
'We can go to Diagon Alley first and then to the Burrow. Or I can drop you of at the Weasleys and they can take you shopping.' With another creak he shifted gear again. This decision didn't take Harry very long.
'Onto the Weasleys it is.'
'Good, I didn't really fancy taking you shopping anyway.' The car groaned to a halt for a red light.
'I just hope this thing survives until we arrive.' More questions came to mind.
'Why couldn't you get in the house. Are you a vampire?'
'Ha. No. I am not a vampire. Consider the burning sunlight.' And he held his arm out of window which he didn't open but as it appeared didn't have a window in it.
'Then why couldn't you get in?'
'That's one of the wards on your house. Wizards cannot get in unless you invite them in, with the exception of a few people of course.'
'Like who?'
'Uhm… People who handle magical mishaps.' The incident with his Aunt Marge came to mind, Harry turned a shade of red. 'a few defense specialists and some vips.' Marus continued.
'Vips, what are vips?'
'V.I.P.'s Harry Very Important Persons.'
'Oh, like who?'
'Dumbledore and Fudge for instance.'
A sharp turn to the right ended the conversation because Harry didn't buckle his seatbelt. About twenty minutes later they stopped in a forest. In front of the car there was a long stretch of road which ended in dead-end lined with thick trees.
'Why are we here?' Harry asked in complete innocence. Marus turned to him and looked straight into his eyes, Harry suddenly realized the Marus had a blue and a green eye.
'What's with your eyes?' Harry asked.
'I tried to give a color to my contacts but they ended up like this before I could undo it. And to answer your other question. This car has special abilities magicked into it, including an instant translocation device.'
Marus pulled a panel forward from beneath the glove compartment revealing a number of buttons which read: .urb., .merg.nc. brok.s, .ran.loca.ion ..vice. Underneath that was a keyboard, made out of an old typewriter.
'The trick with this device is that the car has to move at a speed of 90 mph before it engages. If it holds together long enough. I need you to type the destination, and set the range at five miles. When I say so, you have to press the turbo button…'
'TURBO?!?!' Harry exclaimed. 'This thing has a turbo?'
'I know, I didn't find out until I drove off in this thing. I should leave a thank you note for those ministry pricks when they find it.'
'What do you mean? You're from the ministry, right?' A malicious grin appeared on Marus' face.
'Sorry, Harry. I had to s… borrow this unique vehicle from the ministry. In fact I believe they are already looking for it.'
'I'm getting out right now.' Harry said and tried to undo his seatbelt.
'Captivea.' Marus muttered, Harry didn't even see him pulling his wand. 'Sorry, about that but neither one of us is getting out.' And he repeated the spell on his seatbelt as well, then throwing it onto dashboard out of his reach.
'You're nuts.' Harry exclaimed, and he tried to reach for his own wand.
'Nope, just committed to this assignment.' And with that he started the car and shifted it into first gear. 'Oh, Harry. Will you activate the ITD. Just press that button.'
It didn't seem to be a good idea to refuse. The windscreen now doubled as a computer screen, displaying the word: Destination?.
'Go ahead type it.'
'Type what?'
'Our destination of course. What else… The Burrow, in case you forgot.'
His first attempt ended up being: Ther Biurtow.
'For someone raised by muggles your not very computer oriented.'
Harry's second attempt was correct. Now the screen asked for a range.
'What does it mean by that?' Harry asked.
'If you enter 0 we'll appear in their living room.' Marus simply answered flatly, since he was focusing on keeping the engine running. 'Make the range 5 miles.'
As soon as he entered the range the words disappeared.
'Okay. Are you ready?'
'If I say no will you let me out.'
'No.'
'Then no, I am not ready.'
'Good. Now do you see that yellow line over there?' Marus pointed somewhere in the distance. Harry could faintly make out something yellow. 'That is the point of no return, if I slow down before that line we wont crash into those trees.'
This didn't reassure Harry at all.
'There we go.' Marus said as he kicked the gas and the car slowly pulled away from it's starting position.
As car began to increase its speed, Harry kept looking at the speedometer and back at the yellow line which kept coming closer. 10… 20… 30… 40… 50…, at 55 mph the car began to show serious trouble with the speed.
Harry quickly glanced at Marus who was struggling to get the car into the highest gear.
'COME on you, KLOTEDING.' With a hard push and a loud crunch he shoved it into 5th gear. The speed began to increase again, 60… 70… It finally topped off at 75 mph. The yellow line had come a lot closer now.
'Harry now.' No reaction. 'Harry. NOW.'
'Now what?'
'Turbo'
Just then they passed the yellow line.
'Now Harry, press turbo.'
'Huh, what… oh, Yeah' And Harry pushed the button. Instantly the speed rose. 80… 85… 89… and barely 3 feet before the trees it hit 90. The entire world disappeared in a blur.
For a moment everything turned black, then the world came back into focus. With a loud thud the car (crash)landed on a small dirt road in a hillside landscape, Harry faintly recognized it.
After landing the car rolled forward a few meters, then ground to a halt and released white smoke from beneath the hood.
Still too stunned to talk Harry just sat there gazing forward with his mouth open. He had intended to scream but he got so scared he forgot.
Marus on the other hand was completely unaffected by the near death experience. Instead he tried to reach for the wand he, a little bit absentminded, threw out of his reach.
'Drat, Harry could you pass me my wand?' Harry didn't even hear the question. He still just sat there, his life flashing before him. Kind of looked like a weird child abuse commercial.
'Now is not the time to have a nerve breakdown.' Marus snapped his fingers in front of Harry's face.
This broke Harry's trance. 'AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH' Was the first word that came to mind.
'Good boy, did that make you feel better?' Marus said while plugging his ears with his fingers.
'Yeah. Yes, it did.' Harry answered.
'Good. You can pass me my wand then.'
Harry still to dazed to protest threw him the wand. Marus released the seatbelts and got out to check to engine. As he opened the hood he completely disappeared in the billowing white cloud.
A few moments later he came out, loudly coughing.
'*cough* I think… *cough * It needs too… *hack * Cool down a moment. *cough *'
Harry then got out of the car as well, pointing his wand directly at Marus.
'ENOUGH. I will not go any further with you.' Harry, now totally back to his senses, thinking with the adrenaline in his system. 'I'd rather face Voldemort than go anywhere with you.'
Harry expected Marus to cringe at hearing the dark lord's name, instead he just stared blankly back at Harry and sat down lazily against one of the back wheels of the car.
'You don't mean that.' He replied calmly, followed by a loud cough.
'Like hell I do.' Harry spat at Marus, who still didn't seem to be alarmed by the fact that a young, pissed off wizard in training was threatening him with a wand.
'Maybe I'll just practice my unforgivables on you!'
'No, you wont.' Harry twitched. 'Because you're hero Harry, and a Gryffindor. You wouldn't curse a man who can't defend himself.' And with that Marus threw his wand towards Harry.
For a moment Harry just stood there, thinking hard about what he was doing. Why was he so mad at this man. It's not like he hadn't been in greater danger before. He recalled the countless times he had been closer to death. This was just a minor event compared to what he had been through before.
On the other hand if Marus was supposed to be protecting him, he was taking an awful amount of risk.
'Well?' Marus asked as he stood up and stepped in front of Harry. 'Are you gonna curse me or not.' He added.
'Don't tempt me!' Harry bit back.
'If the situation was reversed, I wouldn't have hesitated.' Marus crossed his arms across his chest.
'You have a funny way of pleading for your life.'
'I honestly don't care for my life, I only need to make sure you don't die.'
'…'
Then Marus continued in softer tone of voice.
'If you want to go on without me, well, that's entirely up to you. However right now I am your best hope for survival.'
'After what you just did?! Unlikely.' Harry's anger flared up a bit.
'Fine. I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?' Marus fumbled around in his pockets. 'It's a good thing, I took precautions.'
He took out a wand which looked exactly like Harry's wand.
'You're not going to curse anyone with that stick.' Marus was pointing at the wand Harry was holding.
Harry was looking dumbfounded from the wand he was holding to the one Marus was holding.
He couldn't have switched them, he never had the opportunity. Or perhaps…No, no one is that fast.
'This is my wand. You're the one holding the useless stick.'
'How can you be sure? What logic would merit such an conclusion. Muggle logic?' Marus slowly started to walk around Harry. 'In the five years, you have spend in the wizard world. Has there been a single thing you could explain with muggle logic?' Marus had almost completed the circle when something came to mind.
'You may have my wand but I still have yours.' But as Harry stooped to pick it up, not taking his eyes of Marus as he did so, he noticed that there was nothing on the ground.
Marus laughed. 'Did you really think I would let you disarm me that easily?! There isn't, anything in the world, that could truly separate me from this.' Marus pulled out another wand.
'How'd you do it?' Harry asked, lowering his wand.
'It's a kind of magic.' Marus replied, pocketing Harry's wand but still holding his own. 'Now, this is what I propose…'
'Yes?'
'You come with me, quietly, and as soon as we reach the Burrow, I give you your wand back.'
Harry silently debated the proposal in his mind. And then submitted with a muffled 'Very well'.
Marus sat down again against the back wheel. Harry just stood there feeling slightly defeated. He just kept looking at the wand he was holding, still not quite believing that it wasn't his.
How could he have switched them? Surely he didn't have time to… But he did snatch his own wand back from under my nose, I suppose nothing is truly impossible with magic.
'Stupid thing.' Harry said as he wanted to throw the fake wand away. But before he could Marus intervened.
'Keep it Harry. We can exchange them at the Burrow. I might still have use for it.' He said quickly.
Harry put the wand in his pocket, arguing didn't seem to have a point at this point. Marus motioned Harry to sit down next to him. At this Harry hesitated, but since they weren't going anywhere and he was the only person to talk to, he sat down keeping a slight distance between them.
'I wont bite you know.' Marus said with a smile. 'Jesus it's hot today.' He began to pry his tie a little looser and opened up a couple of buttons. Though this wasn't the most interesting action to watch, but Harry watched anyway. As he did he noticed a mark on Marus' neck like something had stung him in that place. Then he saw another just above the collar. The way they were placed wasn't accidental.
If those marks belong together, then that can only be a bite mark. A vampire bite mark!
'You know Harry. It's rude to stare.' Marus turned his head to face him.
'Where did you get that?' Harry pointed at Marus' neck.
'Slight accident with a barbecue fork. Nothing to concern yourself with.'
'Right, like I should believe that.' Harry said in a sarcastic voice. 'That is a vampire bite on your neck.'
'How would you know? How you ever seen one before? I don't even think you've covered vampires yet.'
'Still… But…' Harry muttered to no avail. Once again Marus had a stronger point.
The car stopped smoking as badly as it did before, Harry hoped it would soon be ready to go again. Due to lack of anything better to do he turned to Marus again.
Surely there must be something we can talk about without arguing.
'So Marus. What do you do for a living?' Harry asked innocently. Marus sighed, then turned to face him.
'It's not relevant for you to know Harry.' Marus said coldly.
'Why not?'
'It's best for all parties concerned that you know as little as possible about me.'
'So? I'm only asking what kind of job you have.'
This began to agitate Marus. 'You want know then. All right. I am a mercenary Harry. A wand for hire, a wizard of fortune. That's how I make my living. As for my job. You are my job.' He bit at Harry.
'Well that explains… nothing.' Harry sneered at the remark.
'Don't anger me Harry. Don't ever push me.' Marus turned away again.
It's strange that whenever people say they should not be angered, they always end up being pissed off.
'You know, you're the lousiest protector in existence!' Harry spat at Marus, who in turn became even more pissed off.
'HOW do you figure THAT?!?!' Marus yelled back.
'Well since I've met you my life has been in constant peril. Not to mention the four years at Hogwarts where you never showed up when you were needed.'
A slight itch started to build up behind Harry's scar although he didn't notice it.
'WELL YOUR JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO PROTECT. THE LENGHTS YOU GO THROUGH TO PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER. I'M AMAZED YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY LIMBS.'
'SO NOW IT'S MY FAULT. YOU'RE…' Then Harry felt like his scar was on fire, the world blacked out for a moment then came back into focus. Marus had disappeared but some sort of noise was coming from behind the car.
THUD. ~~CRAAAACK~~. WUMP.
Harry then walked around the car to see Marus standing over a small tree he had knocked over. Marus was cradling his right hand. In this short burst of anger Marus' appearance changed rather fast. Instead of flat blond hair, he had somewhat curly dark blond hair, his face had instantaneously grown 2 day old stubble and a inkblot like stain had appeared on the back of his right hand.
'What happened to you?' Harry asked cautiously but still a bit pissed.
'What do you mean.' Marus replied. Suddenly he noticed the stain on his hand, instinctively he ran his hand through his hair and felt the stubble. 'Damn. The illusion is wearing off.'
He then moved his wand over his hair as if he was combing it and did something similar with his beard. His previous looks return again.
However when he tried to conceal the stain it didn't go away.
'Oh well, it's not that important.' He pocketed his wand.
Harry had been watching in awe at this. Not just at the make-over Marus performed but to the tree as well. It had been a foot thick and Marus had brought it down with one punch.
'Let's see if we can get going again.' Marus said in a much calmer voice. Harry was still staring at the tree when he was brought out of his trance after he heard a cry.
'GODDAMMIT!!!' Marus had burned his hand on the engine when he tried to check if it had cooled down. In anger he kicked against the front wheel of the car causing it to wobble from side to side.
Hedwig who had been asleep in her cage in the backseat until now woke up and shrieked angrily because of this.
'Let her out Harry. She can follow us to the Burrow.' Marus said while nursing his hand with cold water he conjured out of the tip of his wand.
Harry opened the back door of car pulling it clear of it's hinges, then dropped it on the ground and opened the cage. Hedwig flew out fast narrowly missing Marus as she flew up to a tree to get some peace.
'I'm sorry about that.' Marus yelled after her.
'You apologize for waken her up, but not for almost killing me.' Harry asked incredulously.
'Frankly, I'm more afraid of your owl then of you. But if it is any consolation this whole pick-up plan wasn't mine.' Marus picked up the door, put it back in it's frame and welded it into place with a heat spell.
'Then whose was it?' They both walked to the engine. It had stopped smoking but was still too hot to be of any use.
'My superior thought this was the best way to get you to safety without attracting attention.'
'Your people have some strange ideas about safety.'
Marus put a chilling charm on the engine. As it hit, the engine seemed to start shivering.
'I would've done it differently but I was outranked in the decision.'
This ought to be good.
'How would you have done it?' Harry asked. Marus closed the hood.
'Well. Actually. I would've gone in under complete darkness. Then broken through the house defenses. Quickly have gone to your room, collect you and your luggage. Then apparate with that to the Burrow and apparate out again before anyone could react.'
'That plan sounds safer. Why was it rejected?'
'Breaking the house defenses would set of every alarm in the ministry. Apparating with that much extra mass would slow me down and make me easier to detect. And I was not to count on your cooperation in this abduction like disaster plan.' He seemed to recite this literally from the source. He walked to left side of the car, remembered it was an English car and walked back to the other side. After he got in, he put the key in the ignition turned it and… the car wouldn't start. Too cold.
'YOU PIECE OF SCRAP!!!' Marus got out and kicked it again, this time the other back door fell out. 'Next time I steal a car, I'm getting a newer type.'
'Why didn't you?' Harry said as he put the door back in it's frame. Marus came around and welded it into place.
'This was the only one on the parking lot without tracking devices in it.' After he was finished Marus got back into the drivers seat and Harry sat down next to him. 'Alright. If it doesn't start I'm going to push it.'
'For five miles?' Harry had to stifle a laugh as he pictured this actually taking place.
'It would go faster then standing still, waiting for the triple A to show up, asking them to fix our magical scrap heap.' Marus said rather matter-of-factly.
Again he turned the ignition. For a moment the engine didn't want to go, but as Marus kept pushing it, it eventually sprung back to live.
'OKAY! Next stop, the Burrow.' And they were underway again.
Although not very fast. The car had suffered more trauma then expected and refused to go into fourth gear. After trying, for the umpteenth time, to get it into fourth gear, Marus gave in. So they went slowly entering the village where the Weasleys lived, where Ron lived.
It would be such a pleasure to see Ron again after such a dreadful summer. After (barely) making another turn, his house could be seen at the end of the road. Then the engine quit again. Just a few hundred meters from safety it simply stopped. With a last splutter and crunch it blew some black smoke out of the exhaust pipe.
After that happened Marus put his right hand on his heart and said 'My heart joins thousands because my friend doesn't run anymore… USELESS WRECK.'
'Looks like we're still gonna walk.' Harry snorted. 'You know, I seem to vaguely remember that you called it something I didn't understand.'
'When?'
'When you nearly drove us to our deaths and the car wouldn't shift gear. It sounded like er… "kloatthin". What does that mean?'
Marus stared at him for a moment before saying. 'I don't remember saying anything like that. Doesn't matter. I am sure no one would really want you to expand your bad English vocabulary.'
'So now what?' Harry asked.
'Now, I push. You steer. Any questions? No? OK.' The he got out and started to push. Harry shifted seats and watched the Burrow slowly coming closer.
'Harry could you please remove the hand break?' Marus yelled to him. Harry laughed to himself and removed it. Now it was coming slightly faster than before.
Before long they stopped at the and of the driveway leading up to the Burrow.
After pushing the car for a few hundred meters up a slight incline, Marus collapsed from exhaustion. Harry didn't notice it, he was just glad he could finally see someone he liked and who liked him in return.
He got out to find Marus lying on his back behind the car panting heavily.
'Need help?' Harry asked indifferently not rightly caring about him.
'No. I'm - fine. Go - on - Harry - go see - your - friend. * swallow * * gasp * I'll bring your luggage after you.' Marus answered while picking himself off the road. Harry made his way towards the house. 'I didn't tell them you were coming.' Marus yelled after him.
Harry decided to go around the back to completely take them by surprise. As soon as he got there he could see Ron standing there with his back towards him. He thought it would be fun to play a game of "Guess who?". However as Harry put his hands in front of Ron's eyes, Ron greeted him with an elbow in the stomach.
'Oy, sorry about that Harry. I thought you were Fred or George. They have been pulling pranks on all of us constantly this summer.' Ron helped Harry get up. Harry, who was rubbing his stomach, couldn't be happier to see him.
'That's alright, just don't make it our regular greeting.'
'Why didn't you tell us you were coming?'
'I didn't know I was coming until an hour ago.' From the other side of the house came a loud noise like something was tearing metal.
'What was that?' Ron asked looking bewildered.
'Probably nothing.' Harry lied, he didn't want to spoil the moment by mentioning Marus.
'How did you get here? Ron asked him.
'I was picked up by a ministry agent. He is bringing my luggage to the house right now.' Damn. Why did he have ask about that?
They talked for a moment catching up on the things that happened. Harry was about to mention what happened between him and the death eaters and Marus, when Mrs. Weasley hollered: 'RON, GET THE DOOR.'
'We can finish this later.' Ron said, he quickly went inside with Harry right behind him.
Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen slaving over a pile of sandwiches. She was too busy to notice Harry when he ran right by her. A loud ringing was clearly audible when they reached the front door. When Ron opened the door they were greeted by Harry's trunk with Hedwig's cage on top, Marus' face was barely visible through the bars of the cage.
'Could one of you boys give me a hand with this?' Marus asked calmly. Ron was staring in awe at this, so far he had only seen Hagrid carry such a weight without problems and Marus was only half his size. 'Eh? I was wondering if one of you could help me. I can't carry this through the door by myself.' Ron snapped out of his trance.
'Oh. Right. Sure I'll help.' He answered. Ron grabbed the other end of the trunk and together they carried it into the living room. 'Why didn't you just levitate it.' Ron thought out loud.
'Didn't feel like using magic for such a menial task.'
Harry, in the meantime was standing in the doorway looking out at the car that had got them (almost) here. Apparently Marus had torn one of back doors of again so he could get Hedwig's cage of the backseat.
Harry closed the door and went back into the living room. While he had been watching the car a slight disturbance had begun in the kitchen.
The voice of Mrs. Weasley carried all the way through the house. 'You could have told me you'd come home early!'
'Molly, dear. I didn't realize I had forgotten my lunch until I got to the office.' Mr. Weasley's voice sounded rather embarrassed and apologetic.
Harry met up with Ron and Marus in the living room and they went silently to the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley had gone red in the face from the surprise arrival of her husband and went even redder when she saw Harry entering the kitchen.
'Harry! Where did you come from. We wanted to invite you but with all that's been going on lately… Why didn't you owl us that you were coming. And… er. Who are you?' She said in rapid succession. Harry wanted to answer but before he could Marus stepped forward.
'My name is Marus Clammens, Ministry security. I was assigned to bring Harry here with discretion. I wasn't allowed to let a message about this become airborne in case it was intercepted.' He made himself sound like an overzealous newcomer to his job who just completed his first real assignment.
'So. You work for the ministry as well, huh.' Mr. Weasley ask slyly while picking up a cheese sandwich form the pile on the table. 'How come I've never seen you before?'
'I graduated from Hogwarts 2 year ago, after that I applied for specialist security training. I am currently running an internship at the security office.'
Well that's a lie. I never saw him at Hogwarts before. Harry thought, and from the look on Ron's face it was clear he was thinking the same thing.
Harry wanted to set this straight when Marus made a gesture behind his back telling him to shut up. Harry made the motion to speak but then lost the words he wanted to use.
A silence compulsion. He is smarter then I thought.
'Still sounds strange that the head of your department would sent you for such a sensitive job.' Mr. Weasley continued, taking firm bites out of his sandwich.
'He felt I was ready for an easy assignment.' Marus quickly added.
Mr. Weasley almost choked. 'Jerry "Cursehappy". Thinking someone as green as you ready to bring Harry here. Unlikely!' He coughed hard, Mrs. Weasley got behind him and slapped him firmly on his back.
'Well. Too be honest. I was the only he could spare at the moment. With all those ops going on right now.' Marus silently cursed himself for forgetting who was leading the security office.
After recovering from his coughing fit Mr. Weasley continued 'What ops?'
Marus moved closer to him, and in an almost whispering voice said. 'I'm not supposed to talk about this but you have the necessary clearance. Perhaps we could talk somewhere more privately?'
Mr. Weasley briefly thought about this, then said 'Very well, follow me.' And they both went to the backyard.
'What do you suppose they'll be talking about?' Ron asked Harry.
'There's one way to find out.' Harry replied. They both went to the door which led into the backyard so they could eavesdrop on the conversation. However Mrs. Weasley quickly intervened by stepping in front of them.
'Oh no you don't.' She said angrily. Slightly upset they couldn't listen in they sat down at the table, both of them taking a sandwich of the pile. Although they couldn't catch the entire conversation, they could distinguish Marus' murmuring occasionally interrupted by Mr. Weasley's exclamations.
Murmur… Murmur… Murmur… 'REALLY?' Murmur… Murmur… 'YOU DON'T SAY' Murmur… SNEEZE… 'Bless you' Murmur… Murmur… Murmur… 'IMPOSSIBLE' 'I swear it's true.' Murmur… Murmur… Murmur… Murmur… 'I understand.'
They both came back into the kitchen. Mr. Weasley had a slightly darker look on his face.
'Thank you for hearing me out. No one else at the office would listen to me.'
'I'm glad you confided this with me. I couldn't get a straight answer for weeks.'
'Well, I should be going. Mr. "Cu..", Mr. Shell expects me back with a report within the hour. I'd appreciate it if you could put in a good word for me back at the Ministry.' Marus held his hand out to Mr. Weasley.
'Rest assured. Your career is set.' Mr. Weasley shook it firmly. Marus broke the handshake, turned around, giving a final glance at Harry, and walked straight towards the front door.
'What was that all about Arthur?' Mrs. Weasley asked. Ron picked another sandwich out of the pile.
'Ministry business, Molly. Not something the children should hear.' He replied in a gloomy voice.
Ron took a bite out of his sandwich. 'Yuck. Corned beef.' The tension dropped immediately after this remark.
Just then Harry remembered something important and he ran after Marus.
Marus was standing against the car writing something on a piece a paper.
'Give me my wand back.' Harry asked somewhat angry at Marus for forgetting and of himself for not remembering.
'I can't Harry.' Marus replied coolly. He put the piece of paper on the drivers seat.
'What do you mean you can't?! Just give it back.' Harry said angrily. And he took out the fake wand that was in his pocket. 'You told me you would exchange them when we got here.'
'No, Harry, you misunderstand. I can't give it back because I don't have it. You were right when you said I was the one holding the useless stick.' Marus explained.
'You mean I had my own wand on me the whole time?' Harry just couldn't believe he had been suckered like that.
'You do catch on quick don't you.' Marus sneered. 'Know this. I never disarm a potential ally to my cause. I only had to make you believe you couldn't do me any harm. You see, any spell you might have used, would have removed my illusions and I couldn't risk you seeing my real face.' Harry simply stared at him. 'Don't feel bad Harry, perhaps they will teach you how to penetrate illusions by means of divination this year.' Marus gave him smile and a curt nod and then dissapparated.
Harry just stood there finally safe at the Burrow, but completely in the dark about the reasons why everything had to be so secretive.
'At least it's over now' He said to himself. Knowing full well that this had only begun. He walked over to the car and read the note Marus had left on the drivers seat.
It said: "Thanks for the car. Ministry Pricks."
Harry chuckled to himself. At least he has a sense of humor.