Part Six
"No! Arthur!"
Shouted Molly shrilly grabbing her husband's outstretched arm.
At the same time Ron finally regained movement and grabbed Ginny's arm as his sister swooned as a result of the sudden way in which Mr Weasley released his embrace of her.
Sirius froze. Staring at the wand tip in something of a daze, a shaking but now silent Harry still in his arms.
"Arthur. Put down your wand. You remember what I told you at the start of the summer!"
Mr Weasley seemed frozen. His wand arm shook just slightly and his eyes glazed over slightly.
He seemed to regard the man in front of him with a sharply critical eye before blinking forcefully and dropping his wand with a clatter. Then he sank, shakingly, into one of the chairs by the table.
"Of course. I remember, I… It's just a shock. Caught me off guard. All that time, hunting him. Fearing him…"
Molly grabbed his hand as everyone else took a breath of relief.
"Sirius." said Ron breathing deeply.
"Is Harry alright?"
Sirius soon overcame his daze and turned his eyes to the quivering boy in his arms.
Blood was running freely down Harry's forearm, over his hand, which hung lifelessly by his side, and dripping to the floor.
His face was buried in Sirius' robes and he was trembling with suppressed sobs.
Ron grabbed a teacloth off the sideboard and quickly bandaged up Harry's arm whilst Sirius whispered soothing words of encouragement into Harry's ear.
Meanwhile Ginny, the twins and a still shell-shocked Arthur were shooed out of the kitchen by Molly who kept sending concerned glances their way.
***
Perhaps surprisingly it was Ron who took control of the situation.
"Harry? Can you hear me?"
He whispered gently in the shaking boy's ear.
Harry coughed trying not to choke and prised open his eyes.
"R-Ron?"
He asked disbelievingly
"Yeah mate. It's me. Glad to know you're still with us there."
Ron muttered, putting a firm hand on Harry's shoulder and trying to look into his best friend's face.
When he finally managed to catch Harry's eyes Ron almost wished he hadn't.
They were red and puffy from his tears… And so very full of hopelessness and inwardly-directed disgust.
Ron broke the gaze feeling uncomfortable. He could feel the damp stickiness of blood on his hands, Harry's blood…
"Harry… I'm so sorry."
Ron was acutely aware of the sudden wave of silence, of the absence of Harry's ragged breathing.
His eyes were transfixed on his bloodstained hands.
Another hand suddenly became intertwined with his.
It was a strong hand, with slightly stumpy fingers whose knuckles looked weathered.
It was Harry's hand…
"I can't believe what happened to you. I'm sorry."
Ron repeated, fighting down the choking feeling.
Harry's hand tightened on his own and he looked up.
"I will make it up to you Ron. To you and Hermione. If it's the last thing I do."
Harry's voice so full of determination sent a shiver down Ron's spine.
"But, you already have… You came back."
***
Molly had finally managed to calm the other Weasley contingent.
She once again berated Dumbledore for the sketchy information she'd been permitted after the Third Task pertaining to Sirius Black.
Ginny had been hardest to convince.
The girl had been deathly afraid of Sirius Black since her brother had been attacked by the man in her second year.
But now their minds had all turned back to Harry.
***
Dumbledore, McGonagall and Lupin all fixed their eyes on the wand before them.
"I wonder just what we will learn from it."
Mused Minerva pensively.
"I almost don't want to know."
Said Remus dourly eyeing the wand with disgust.
"We must wait for Cornelius. Much as it pains me to have to involve the man, Sirius' freedom may just depend on his presence."
Said Dumbledore.
The Minister arrived shortly looking singularly unimpressed.
"What madness of yours has commandeered my time today Dumbledore?"
He muttered shortly.
"A simple matter of the recovery of a Mr Peter Pettigrew's wand."
Dumbledore replied, gesturing calmly towards the wand in question, which lay innocently on his desk.
Fudge took a seat and huffed.
"I shall indulge you Dumbledore, simply as I do not have the strength to oppose you right now."
"Why Thankyou Cornelius… If you would Minerva?"
McGonagall stood stiffly and drew her wand.
"Priori Incantatem!"
The audience sat back and watched as spell after spell was spewed from the traitor's wand…
***
Harry couldn't help but marvel at the Weasleys.
He could barely comprehend their understanding and their acceptance. He wondered briefly if it was simply a symptom of shock, but quickly brushed aside that thought.
Glancing around he smiled as the familiarity of Ron's ridiculously orange room offered him relaxing calm.
"I'm home again."
He sighed, gently embracing sleep.
***
"Where's Harry?"
Asked Molly on finding Ron and Sirius alone in the kitchen.
"He's up in my room… sleeping."
Replied Ron as he continued to scrub the floor clean.
Molly sighed in relief and relaxed slightly, she was surprised when Sirius spoke.
"Thankyou for your actions earlier Mrs Weasley. I… Well, your husband is certainly quick on the draw and I was in no fit state… well, what with Harry…"
"Sirius Black, you stop that at once, and it's Molly to you. Now… Dumbledore is vague at the best of times and right now I need to make positively certain that I am right to be trusting you… Explain."
Sirius felt a smile creep onto his face and slowly began to explain everything to the Weasley mother with occasional asides from Ron who continued his self-appointed task to cleanse the kitchen… and his hands, of Harry's blood.
***
Remus just stared blankly at Snape, infinitely glad of the numbing alcohol and potion in his system.
Severus' contact had divulged nothing but bad news, and now Remus understood why the potion's master had wanted to dose himself so heavily.
"It's true then."
He muttered.
Snape snorted unkindly.
"Yes, it's bloody true. Voldemort isn't going anywhere, and now Potter's given him even more power than before."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
*ducks the barrage of abuse from readers*… Yes yes I SAID I was sorry! Sheesh.
I wanted this chapter to be RIGHT before I posted it. I'm SORRY that it took so long and that it was an EVIL cliffhanger… But you LIKE cliffhangers really… right?
*Ducks for cover*
Okay, okay! I get it! No more cliffies… (*chortles at the very idea*)
Aaaaaand, the thanks section…
Elucreh – Thanks! I'm glad you liked LYW as well… (It's a fave of mine) I didn't forget, I'm pleased that lots of readers picked up on it though!
padfoot1979 – It was rather evil of me I'll admit!
Narcissa (dracos_gurl@msn.com) - Yes I agree! I apologise for the wait.
Joanna (RoxyGirly180@aol.com) - You lost me? Well…I'm glad you found me again! I'm trying to update all of my WIP's at the moment… (Ah, the joys of study leave! lol)
Narcissa Malfoy – I am sorry about the delay… My Mum insists that my life should come before HP, but she doesn't understand that my life IS HP, hehehe.
Ady – It may just be conjecture but I believe that you always seem to delight in my description of despair! Lol, I'm blushing madly here, but Thankyou all the same. You know what your praise means to me.
Amanda – Once again I humbly ask for forgiveness for the delay.
draco – I've updated… Okay, it took forever… But I did it!
*Grins*…
Well, that's topped the 80 mark for reviews!
Thanks to you all.
*tips hat*
I'll try and get this thing finished before 21st June, otherwise I'd probably never finish, and I'd hate to do that!
Luv you all!
jona
xxx
