AN- I am so sorry I've been such a fickle, fickle author. You see, I decided to change Court's identity, but then I realized that she wouldn't be as liked if I made her who I was gonna make her. I would have had this chapter up sooner, but there was a close death in my family. Also, school has had me stressing out lately. I hope this chapter and the next one, coming soon, will make up for the delay.
In other news, Saturday, June 7, is my…. BIRTHDAY!!!! Yay!!! Yes, good readers, I am turning 15. Oh, I also changed the format so that there are spaces between the paragraphs. I think it looks nicer and is easier to read.
Disclaimer:
I do not own the names.
But I do own the plot.
No, I'm not J.K.
And no I'm not on pot.
Chapter 10
Change Sucks
Albus Dumbledore stood on the main steps of Hogwarts, his blue eyes scanning the clear sky. On a bright, warm, breezy day like today, the Headmaster would be admiring the clouds: the different kinds, different sizes, and the different shapes they form. A large genuine smile would be reaching up to his eyes. But today, things were different. The smile was not there, replaced by a grim thin line and a bleak expression.
He watched as the sun began to create flashes in the sky. Silver, purple, turquoise, and other colors were shimmering in the air. Dumbledore brought a hand to his brow. Vehicles of every size and shape began to hover over the Hogwarts grounds, some lowering sooner than the others. Soon the lush grass was covered in vehicles, the skies not clearing at all.
Most of the vehicles were required to land in the area surrounding the grounds, and some even landed on the edge of the Forest. Dumbledore remained still, surveying the behavior of the witches and wizards as far as he could see as they filed from their vehicles and began to lead their families toward him. Time to face the music, the old wizard thought solemnly. Before he could step into the masses, a hysterical Molly Weasley rushed up to him.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, Arthur's missing!" she cried. "He was at work, and he never came home. The list of dead Ministry officials didn't include his name in the Prophet. Is he here? Is he here? Is my husband here?" she cried, bursting into tears as she finished her last sentence. Dumbledore drew Molly to him, embracing her in a warm hug. He smiled half-heartedly at the large family approaching him rapidly. Molly lifted her heads and began to apologize for being hysterical, but she stopped as her sons, daughter-in-laws, daughter, and son-in-law stopped, surrounding her with themselves and her grandchildren. Dumbledore nodded at the family and stepped away, escaping into the castle as several Professors came out to greet the crowds of people.
Just as Molly regained her composure, she looked into the eyes of her daughter. Betrayed by her eyes, she began to bawl once more. Fred stepped up and took his mother in his arms. Sobs shook her body gently as he led her into castle. Before Ginny could move, she began to cry, unable to bear it any longer. She knew that her mother had begun crying again because she could see her father in her. Molly always told her how she was the most like her father. Her husband took her in his muscular arms, showering her with gentle kisses as he lifted her off the ground and carried her into the building, with two little redheaded boys and a little blonde girl trailing behind them.
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"I am glad to see so many of you safe with us today," Dumbledore began, taking in the many sobs and worried faces of the people in the Great Hall. "And I am sorry that it had to be these circumstances that brought so many of you back to what was your home away from home for seven years. As we all know, Lord Voldemort has indeed gained power of our world. Cornelius Fudge is deceased, along with many other Ministry employees. I am deeply sorry for the losses we have all suffered." At this point, his eyes flew to Molly Weasley, who was shaking silently in the arms of Ron, her voice too hoarse to cry out.
"I realize that many of you wish to mourn now. But I can not let you go with out a few living details and a certain knowledge. That knowledge? We are not slaves. We are not evil. We will not let Voldemort simply take our world, and rule us as if we were slaves. Those of you who will fight, there shall be sign-up rosters around the castle. For we will fight. I do not know about everyone in this room, but I refuse to let go of the rights, the world, and the very life that I possess because one man thinks that everything is his for the pickings. Do not let your losses be in vain. We will not remember them as victims. We will remember every man and woman lost today as martyrs in a battle against the ultimate evil of our times. Thank you. Now I will leave you to Professors Minerva McGonagall and Jeremiah Sinistra so that they may deliver living arrangements and all instructions necessary for your safety. Thank you." Dumbledore stepped out through a door in the back as McGonagall stepped up to the microphone.
"Good day. My deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones today. I myself lost a niece in the attack. Before I get started, I must warn you that we will be playing host to any muggles related to wizards or witches who seek sanctuary from Voldemort. Now, pertaining to the living conditions: every dormitory house except for Hufflepuff shall be home to most of you. All of the class rooms on the western half of the castle shall also be made into small apartments. The muggles who are coming here shall be living in Slytherin house, and the dungeons shall be accommodated to their needs.
"The larger families shall be accommodated with classrooms-turned-apartments. Small families shall live in the dormitories and smaller classrooms. After this assembly, you may turn to the back of the Great Hall, where Professors Snape, Court, Sprout, Flitwick, and Vector are waiting to give you your living assignment. Last names A through E shall see Snape, F through K to Court, L through P to Sprout, Q through U to Flitwick, and V through Z to Vector. If you possess a different last name than the rest of your family but would like to stay with them, simply remain with them in their line and report the name difference to the Professor of you line. Thank you." McGonagall stepped away from the podium and nodded at Professor Sinistra.
"Good evening. I am very sorry for the losses suffered today. This attack has required us to use extra safety measures around the castle. However, it is still possible for a Death Eater to find their way onto the campus. I must ask each and every one of you to listen carefully to these instructions now. Should you see a Death Eater coming your way, and they are alone, hide. If you get the chance, Stun them without letting your position be known. However, if this is not possible, find a good hiding spot and perform this spell. Point your wand at the sky and whisper 'Air Alert!' A black light shall shoot from your wand and letters will form in the sky that read 'Death Eater on Grounds.'
"This will only work on Hogwarts grounds. Also, if you can not find a hiding space in time, point at yourself and whisper 'Inviso.' This will make you invisible for about ten minutes and will only work on the grounds. In those ten minutes, you must run to alert someone. We have a special group who you must alert. In this case, find Mr. Sirius Black, Ms. Arabella Figg, Mr. Harry Potter, and any of the Professors wearing dark blue robes. If you see someone wearing a robe of this color," he said, holding up a navy robe, "then they are someone you should alert.
"If you have any questions, please ask the Professor who assigns you your living quarters. The hospital wing shall be a center for questions, complaints, requests, and other information when everyone is settled. The infirmary shall be in the Great Hall after that. For there is a battle coming, and we will be in need of the space. Now I will ask you all to calmly file to the back of the room to learn of your living assignments. Thank you." Professor Sinistra stepped back from the podium. A worried McGonagall rushed from speaking to Dumbledore, who had reappeared in the back. She quickly swerved around Sinistra and stepped up to the podium.
"Would the Weasley family please report to the hospital wing immediately?"
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Molly Weasley was running as fast as she could, surprisingly leaving the rest of the running Weasleys in the dust. The infirmary was on the second floor. Right after the announcement had been made, Molly had sprinted from Ron's arms and out of the Hall, taking stairs two at time and sprinting in the infirmary's direction. She could hear the footsteps of her family behind her as she can to a screeching halt in front of the door.
She shoved through the door and ran smack-dab into Dumbledore. "Oh, Albus, what is it? Is it Arthur?" she asked, bursting into tears. Dumbledore looked sympathetically at the bawling witch before him and took her in his arms.
"I'm afraid not, Molly. It's Charlie and Percy." Molly suddenly whipped from his arms and looked at the family behind her. Ginny, George, Bill, Ron, Fred, and… Molly began to wail again, collapsing into the nearest set of arms. "It seems that Charlie Apparated to Percy's office to help him and Arthur, but they were attacked. They barely managed to Disapparate before a Death Eater could use the Killing curse on them both. They were found halfway from Hogsmeade."
"Can we see them?" Ginny asked, crying less than her mother. Dumbledore nodded. As they all rushed to the bedsides of the unconscious Weasley men, Madame Pomfrey raised her finger to her lips to shush them.
"I just got them to sleep. They should be unconscious for a bit. But they'll be fine. I think they were both put under the Cruciatus curse. If you'd like, you can all sleep in here tonight. Dumbledore has said that would be the best, as they aren't done with your rooms yet. It's hard to house such a large family without taking up so much space and taking away personal privacy." With that, the Mediwitch bustled away, leaving the Weasleys to cry. Molly was grateful that the beds had been placed so closely together. She sat in between them, taking their hands in her own.
Molly was also grateful that Bill had pulled a chair up behind her. She leaned her head onto his should her wept silently, her throat sore from all the crying she had done. They Weasley men all gathered around their brothers, each failing to not cry. Their wives took them in their arms, sharing in their pain as tears glistened on their cheeks. Ginny took to her own bed, and she lay their wrapped in her husbands arm as all the young children tried to comfort their parents and relatives, still unsure of why there was so much sadness in the room.
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*Harry's POV*
As I walked down to the lake, I stumbled more than I ever did on nervous dates. And that was a lot of stumbling. Dumbledore had sent me down to tell them this. But how was a bloke to tell two of his best mates that everything they ever believed in was wrong? She had told them all these things to expect when they had the baby. Now all that had changed. Maybe I could just get Dumbledore to tell them. Or Fleur! She's the one who made the prophecy, shouldn't she tell them?
But no, I have to. I owe both Dumbledore and Fleur a lot. Dumbledore has done more for me in seven years than the Dursleys could in twenty. And Fleur, well, she's responsible for Sirius being able to walk around Hogwarts without fear sparkling in everyone's eyes. She's the reason he was able to come to my bachelor party in Hogsmeade. Why I can talk about Sirius Black, my godfather, and not Snuffles, the lovable stray pooch.
Amidst my thoughts, a small child appeared. Fleur had been able to show me her vision of their child in the Pensieve I'd given her last Christmas. Their child was going to be beautiful. At least I can tell them that. And at least I can tell them that they'll all survive. But I wish I could tell them that every Weasley would survive. But that, we don't know.
Finally, I reached the lake. There they were, George holding Hermione in his arms as they watched Hagrid play with the kids. It was amazing. They were so in love, just like I was so in love with Katie. We only had dates and such, not magical dreams like them, but it was love. And now I was approaching them, about to tell them news they would hate.
"Hey Harry. How you my dear chum?" George said. He was startlingly chipper for a man whose brothers were in comas and father was missing. I guess that's what watching your children does to you.
"Not well. I actually come as the bearer of bad news." They looked up at me. Hagrid was frozen now, watching us with eyes full of concern. I looked at him, into his big loving eyes, and he knew. He led the children away to play with Fang near the hut. Hermione and George both turned their full attention to me.
"Is it Percy and Charlie?" George asked, his voice trembling. I shook my head.
"Fleur sent me down here, to talk to you about the prophecy thing. You see, it seems that while your child, this one, is the one in her prophecy vision thing, she-"
"Wait! She as in Fleur or she as in our child?"
"Damnit… I'm sorry, I slipped. I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's alright Harry. I had a nagging suspicion that it was girl. It's an only child this time?" I nodded and Hermione seemed a bit relieved. I couldn't help but smile.
"Anyways, you know how you two were expecting your child to be at least a teenager when she faces Voldemort and that all of us would survive?" They nodded. Making it all the harder for me to say. "Well… both are lies. Fleur told me that your daughter is going to be ten at the oldest when she has to face Voldemort. And not all of us are gonna come out alive." Hermione's world shattered. She just collapsed in George's arms, sobbing at this news.
"You mean our daughter has to face her own destiny when she's barely had time to face the world?" she asked me through tears. I couldn't help but let loose a few tears of my own. I felt like a total bastard. I had just ruined my best friend's view on the future.
"Oh, Harry, don't cry! It's not your fault this is happening!" Hermione told me through sobs. George looked at me with sympathy. He flicked his eyes to the castle and mouthed the words 'Go be with Katie.' I smiled weakly at him and nodded. I kissed Hermione on the forehead and headed back, leaving my friend to cry in her husband's arms.
*End Harry's POV*
Hermione was now sitting on the ground, being rocked in George's arms. She had managed to keep everything in, even with Arthur's disappearance and Charlie and Percy. But now, with this added news, it was too much. Her children had to grow up in a castle with no contact to an outside world run by an insane bastard. Now, some of her family may not survive, with three of them already hanging in the balance and two others out in open as they traveled here.
"Hermione, why don't I take you back to the room so you can rest? I know this is stressful for you." George kissed her gently.
"No. I wanna stay here, and watch the sunset. With you. It makes me feel better." George sighed and nodded, hugging her harder and pulling her closer to him. So they sat, watching as the sun set across the horizon. They were just about to go collect the kids from Hagrid when a black blur sprinted along the far edge of the lake, carrying something heavy and limp on its back.
Padfoot was running up to them, carrying the body of Arthur Weasley.
AN – Yes! I told you I wouldn't reveal dead or alive. Haha I am evil. Bwahahaha. *fake evil laughter once more!* LOL. Once again, I apologize for the delay. And if this chapter is too short, then too bad! But don't fret, for hopefully chapter eleven will be longer. Yes, I am going to make the chapters longer so I can wrap it up sooner. I want to be able to focus on my new story Sorry, (yes that was a shameless name-drop) a post Fred/Hermione, which means they're not together. It's very sad and dramatic. It only has one chapter up. Again, I shall drop the name. Sorry. Lol, sounds like I'm apologizing. Anyways, please review, and if you have any small suggestions, their quite welcome. Also, a big thank you to Daine of Queenscove aka Joel's Riot City Record Girl. Your review for chapter 9 really made me laugh. I absolutely cracked up. I don't know why, it just made me laugh. Thank you. Oh yeh!!! Can you guess? Eh? EH??? Who is this mystery husband of Ginny's? I honestly don't think I had anything about her and Harry in this story, and if I did, then that's off. I looked to double check, but I didn't find anything. Can you guess who he is? Eh? EH??? Hehehehehe. *mmm, sugar* Well, I'm so happy to finally get this up. When I finished and realized I was ready to post it, I through my arms up like in a cheer and went "Yes!" Hope it was good. Please review and tell me what you liked, didn't like, and any suggestions you may have!
