A/N: Well, not much to say. I have more chapters coming soon, I just have to type them up. Oh, I am thinking of changing my pen name, but I won't if you think it is too much of a bother. I will notify you before I do if its ok.
Chapter Ten: Prediction or Reality?
Harry stirred as the train came to a halt at platform nine and three quarters. "Come on Harry, get up," said Ron unenthusiastically. The station was quite crowded considering that the train was not scheduled to arrive in until tomorrow afternoon. A chill ran down Harry's spine as he caught sight of Hermione's parents, waiting anxiously for their daughter. The Dursley's were nowhere in sight.
"Up!" said McGonagall in a sharp voice as the compartment door flew open.
"Professor!"
"Hurry up. We have no time for dawdling."
"Where am I to go?"
"You will stay with the Weasleys for the time being. Molly will look after-"
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall," Snape hissed as he strode out of a nearby compartment, "but I must ask. Do you really think that it is wise to send Potter into the Weasley household at such a time?"
"Severus, he cannot go back into that muggle home right now. He just cannot."
" Indeed, but-"
"Where else do you suggest he go?" She said, obviously flustered. Snape was speechless. "I am the head of his house and it is my decision to make. Now, if you will please proceed to complete the task I have asked you to do." She turned her back to him and briskly stomped her way down the corridor, heels clicking on the wooden floor. "Follow me." She led the way over to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley who were already greeting Ginny. Fred and George stood alongside them.
"Oh, Harry! Ron!" Mrs. Weasley squealed as she pulled each of them into a motherly hug. Harry's eyes met Ginny's over Molly's shoulder. When she finally pulled away Harry stood facing Ginny. She flew up into his arms without a word, but gasping as she silently cried, and left Ron standing awkwardly alone. Taking advantage of the moment Mrs. Weasley looked up to her son and asked "Dear, Where's Hermione?" He didn't answer. "Ron?" He looked over to where Mr. And Mrs. Granger stood. He knew what the task McGonagall wanted Snape to do was, now. Snape was talking to Hermione's father as her mother cried on his shoulder. "Oh my." Molly whispered as she was enveloped in an air of realization.
"Molly, dear. Portkey's waiting."
"Yes, I suppose. Come along now." The six Weasleys and Harry made their way through King's Cross, heads bowed like a funeral procession.
When they reached the parking lot, Arthur lead the way to a nearby dumpster. He reached beneath it and pulled out a Styrofoam coffee cup. "Everybody grab on." He instructed. After thirty seconds of complete silence they took off. Harry felt the usual pull behind his naval but was not surprised considering that he was now quite experienced with traveling by portkeys. With a thud they all landed in the lettuce patch behind the burrow.
"Everyone in the house now. We all need some sleep. Harry you can sleep in the spare bed in Ron's room. Ron, will you please lend Harry something else to wear. Now scoot." Molly shooed them into the house. Even though Harry was plenty happy to be at the burrow rather then at the Dursley's, It did not have the same warmth it usually did. He noticed as he climbed it, the staircase was quite a bit shabbier, if possible, then the last time he had seen it. Ron flicked on a gas lamp in the corner of his room. He handed Harry a faded pair of navy blue pajamas, patterned with the logo for the Cannons Quidditch team.
"Thanks," They silently changed out of their clothes.
"G'night." Ron said, and flicked off the lamp before Harry was even in bed.
"Night." He got into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin even though it was eighty degrees out. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw Ron lying completely still facing the opposite wall but doubted he was asleep. He knew even though he could not see Ron's face that he was crying. Harry closed his eyes hoping for sleep to come but it didn't. He was terrified of what he might see if he did fall asleep, but he did not need to be unconscious to see such things. He kept thinking of how he had dreamt of Ginny that one night, of how he might see Hermione if he slept, of Quinn's words: Remember Harry, he will take everyone you love and when you are all alone he will kill you. There will be no one left to save you, not even Dumbledore." He heard it over and over again intermixed with the screams he had heard just hours ago. It all seamed so far away.
//Quinn couldn't have been right could he?// Even so, his prediction had been right. Dumbledore was gone. Hermione was gone and Ginny was almost there along with them.
Chapter Ten: Prediction or Reality?
Harry stirred as the train came to a halt at platform nine and three quarters. "Come on Harry, get up," said Ron unenthusiastically. The station was quite crowded considering that the train was not scheduled to arrive in until tomorrow afternoon. A chill ran down Harry's spine as he caught sight of Hermione's parents, waiting anxiously for their daughter. The Dursley's were nowhere in sight.
"Up!" said McGonagall in a sharp voice as the compartment door flew open.
"Professor!"
"Hurry up. We have no time for dawdling."
"Where am I to go?"
"You will stay with the Weasleys for the time being. Molly will look after-"
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall," Snape hissed as he strode out of a nearby compartment, "but I must ask. Do you really think that it is wise to send Potter into the Weasley household at such a time?"
"Severus, he cannot go back into that muggle home right now. He just cannot."
" Indeed, but-"
"Where else do you suggest he go?" She said, obviously flustered. Snape was speechless. "I am the head of his house and it is my decision to make. Now, if you will please proceed to complete the task I have asked you to do." She turned her back to him and briskly stomped her way down the corridor, heels clicking on the wooden floor. "Follow me." She led the way over to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley who were already greeting Ginny. Fred and George stood alongside them.
"Oh, Harry! Ron!" Mrs. Weasley squealed as she pulled each of them into a motherly hug. Harry's eyes met Ginny's over Molly's shoulder. When she finally pulled away Harry stood facing Ginny. She flew up into his arms without a word, but gasping as she silently cried, and left Ron standing awkwardly alone. Taking advantage of the moment Mrs. Weasley looked up to her son and asked "Dear, Where's Hermione?" He didn't answer. "Ron?" He looked over to where Mr. And Mrs. Granger stood. He knew what the task McGonagall wanted Snape to do was, now. Snape was talking to Hermione's father as her mother cried on his shoulder. "Oh my." Molly whispered as she was enveloped in an air of realization.
"Molly, dear. Portkey's waiting."
"Yes, I suppose. Come along now." The six Weasleys and Harry made their way through King's Cross, heads bowed like a funeral procession.
When they reached the parking lot, Arthur lead the way to a nearby dumpster. He reached beneath it and pulled out a Styrofoam coffee cup. "Everybody grab on." He instructed. After thirty seconds of complete silence they took off. Harry felt the usual pull behind his naval but was not surprised considering that he was now quite experienced with traveling by portkeys. With a thud they all landed in the lettuce patch behind the burrow.
"Everyone in the house now. We all need some sleep. Harry you can sleep in the spare bed in Ron's room. Ron, will you please lend Harry something else to wear. Now scoot." Molly shooed them into the house. Even though Harry was plenty happy to be at the burrow rather then at the Dursley's, It did not have the same warmth it usually did. He noticed as he climbed it, the staircase was quite a bit shabbier, if possible, then the last time he had seen it. Ron flicked on a gas lamp in the corner of his room. He handed Harry a faded pair of navy blue pajamas, patterned with the logo for the Cannons Quidditch team.
"Thanks," They silently changed out of their clothes.
"G'night." Ron said, and flicked off the lamp before Harry was even in bed.
"Night." He got into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin even though it was eighty degrees out. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw Ron lying completely still facing the opposite wall but doubted he was asleep. He knew even though he could not see Ron's face that he was crying. Harry closed his eyes hoping for sleep to come but it didn't. He was terrified of what he might see if he did fall asleep, but he did not need to be unconscious to see such things. He kept thinking of how he had dreamt of Ginny that one night, of how he might see Hermione if he slept, of Quinn's words: Remember Harry, he will take everyone you love and when you are all alone he will kill you. There will be no one left to save you, not even Dumbledore." He heard it over and over again intermixed with the screams he had heard just hours ago. It all seamed so far away.
//Quinn couldn't have been right could he?// Even so, his prediction had been right. Dumbledore was gone. Hermione was gone and Ginny was almost there along with them.