Chapter 3: Meeting Harry
How they got out of that little predicament Harry couldn't be sure. He had gone into to a state of shock and simply watched what was happening before him without really hearing or feeling anything.
Tonks stared wide eyed at the real Lucius Malfoy who stared rather confusedly back. Harry's heart pounded against his rib-cage. They were going to be caught! There was a gasp from behind and Harry looked back. There was his aunt, unconscious, laying against Moody who was a bit ruffled by her suddenly falling over him. Dudley was white faced and sucked in his cheeks nervously. Uncle Vernon's face was bright red and his lips were pursed in both anger and confusion.
"Who is this?" Lucius asked poking Tonks in the shoulder.
"Excuse me?" Tonks asked raising her eyebrows shoving Lucius back, "I think the real question is who you are?" There was a heck of a lot of confused murmuring from the other death-eaters and Harry couldn't help be a bit confused himself.
"Get your hands off me!" Lucius ordered whipping his wand out, pointing it directly at Tonks, "Now you'll tell me who you are and how you look like me in three seconds or I'll use this!" he shook his wand and Harry was more than amused.
Tonks rolled her eyes as the death-eaters behind Lucius brought there wands out unsure as to who to aim them at.
"Please," she sighed pushing Lucius's wand out of the way and then looking at the other death-eaters said: "I can assure that I am the real Lucius Malfoy! Now if you don't mind I am going to follow my orders and deliver these prisoners to my master."
"How do we know He spoke to you?" a young American witch asked pulling her hood off coming up to stand beside Lucius.
"How do you know he didn't?" Tonks asked.
"`ow do we know yer the real Lucius?" an old Scottish wizard ask showing his face.
"Yes, how do we?" Lucius wrinkled his nose, "For all we know you used Polly-Juice potion for this." He said pointedly and Tonks didn't say a thing. Harry knew they would be caught.
"Speechless are you?" Lucius smirked, "Yes, than I believe I am right. You and these fools used a Polly-Juice potion to appear like me. And then you would use that advantage to escape! Well, I've found you out! Ha!"
"Good work," Tonks said calmly and Harry felt faint as a few more death-eaters advanced, "but not correct." He started to breath again and the death-eaters stopped.
Tonks continued just as calmly as ever, "You see if that were my plan wouldn't I have left by now? And if that were my plan I wouldn't have made it that obvious. So I believe that you used Polly-Juice potion to appear like me so that you could use that advantage to escape."
Lucius blinked stunned, "Wha-
"So you see that your clever idea back fired, badly and instead of convicting me, you ended up telling all these dear people your plan, Dumbledore," Tonks finished confidently and the death-eaters gasped, astonished. Harry wanted to kiss her. After a second or two the American witch cast a binding curse upon Lucius, stopping him from going anywhere.
Tonks turned to the old, Scottish wizard that spoke before and ordered stiffly, "bring six of our fastest brooms, the Dark Lord waits." The man literally hopped to it and appeared seconds later with six Firebolts. Tonks motioned for him to hand everyone except the unconscious Petunia a broom. When Harry received his he had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. The broom sent an electric shock through his fingers and throughout his entire body, warming his whole being, inside and out.
"Mount your brooms," Tonks ordered briskly, everyone was too frightened to do anything else and pointing at Lupin she said: "You there take that wench with you!" Lupin obeyed and Harry could see him struggling to conceal a smile at Tonks's cleverness as he awkwardly helped Aunt Petunia onto a broom.
"We're o-
"What shall we do with him?" A middle-aged wizard asked shaking Lucius vigorously. Tonks thought for a moment and decided on mercy.
"I'll take him," Harry's eyes bulged. What was she playing at? They couldn't take him to Grimmauld Place! That was like surrendering entirely! No, he wanted to yell no but bit his tongue to restrain himself.
"Bubbulous!" she said pointing her wand at Lucius. A bubble formed around him and soared in the air just behind Tonks.
"We're off!" Tonks yelled and they all pressed off the ground. Harry was surprised that both Dudley and Uncle Vernon managed to get off of the ground, both nervous but determined to leave that street littered with maniacs.
They were soaring in the air. A heavy weight lifted from Harry's heart and the wind blowing in his face was sweeter than ever.
*
Bill and Charlie had put out as many fires as you can count and they had either scared or killed about five hundred evil goblins. The small town was ruined and there was smoke billowing out of every building in sight. The survivors were little and at the moment they were trying to fix up as many as they could.
"Mister," a brunette, girl of about five tugged on the sleeve of Charlie's robe just as he finished bandaging the arm of a fifteen year old boy and he looked down. Her blue eyes were filled with tears and her lips trembled as she said, "I can't find my mum."
"Come with me, we'll find her." He started to look for a woman in her late twenties.
"What does she look like?" he asked smiling at her.
"Like me, ecept she gots brown eyes," the tiny girl sobbed. Charlie hugged her to him in what he hoped was a comforting way. They continued to search and Charlie never thought he'd get sick of the girl's babbling. It was endless.
"Charlie!" Bill sighed coming around the corner, "I've been looking everywhere for you! Hello," he added smiling at the little girl, "What's your name?"
"Millie!" a woman yelled from behind and all three of them spun around. A very pretty woman in her early twenty was running towards them. Twenty-one was Charlie's guess.
"Mummy!" Mille squealed rushing towards her what appeared to be her mother. Charlie's heart leapt. Who would have guessed that Millie's mum would have been that young and beautiful.
"Hi," the woman sighed when she reached them scooping Millie up into her arms, "Annie Banks." She held out her hand and Charlie readily shook it.
"Charlie Weasley," he grinned goofily and Bill raised an eyebrow. Annie then held her hand out to Bill and he shook it.
"Bill Weasley," Bill nodded, "I'm going to go see if I can do anything else." He said as he left.
Annie turned to Charlie, "It's so nice to meet you. The way you just appeared out of nowhere and started putting the fires out. Those little green creatures ran like hell," she giggled, "And now the way you're helping all of these people out. It's just like magic!"
"Yeah," Charlie smiled nervously, "magic."
"I've never seen you before, where are you from?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"Ottery St. Catchpole," Charlie sighed.
"Never heard of it," she announced placing her daughter on the ground that immediately ran off to follow Bill, she winced a little.
"It's a small village, normally you don't hear of it," he sighed.
"Oh well then," she smiled and winced again, "Do you think you could fix this? I got it caught under a burning beam."
She held her arm out to him. It was red, and scorched. He had never seen such burns, not even in the desert with the dragons.
"Ouch," he winced gently grabbing her wrist and pushing the sleeve of her shirt off. If he was going to fix this he would have to do it magically, but not here, "I'm not sure."
"Please," she groaned tears suddenly pouring down her rosy cheeks, "It hurts."
Charlie gave in, Annie seemed so brave. Not giving into her tears while her daughter was around. He immediately knew how Millie had been able to babble while there were people in pain. Her mother was so brave. There was no other choice.
"Alright then," he sighed, "You and Millie can come with Bill and me to our place. I can't fix this here. For now all I can do is give you this," he held out a purple flower, "It'll sooth your arm."
"What do I do," she bit back a sob.
"I'll do it," Charlie reassured her. He rubbed the flower in between his palms until it was mush and then he continued to roll it around until it was a thick green liquid. Then using both his arms, he propped her arm on his lap and rubbed the liquid into the burn.
"Mmm, that feels better. What is that? Some kind of herb?"
"Yes it's an herb; I'm not sure what it is. My mum always used to put it on my scrapes and bruises when I was small so now I carry a few with me just in case."
"Good thing you did," she smiled, "Or all these people would be in extreme pain.
He continued to work the liquid into the burn all the while wondering, what his mother would say when he brought two muggles back to Grimmauld Place.
*
Bill was looking for that skinny, blonde haired boy he'd met earlier. He couldn't be sure but he thought the boy's name was Devin. The boy's house had been the one on fire the longest and Devin had escaped with a few minor burns but his mother, step father; step-sister and half brother were no where in sight. Was that him? No, to short.
"Bill," somebody tapped him on the shoulder and he spun around. There he was, "its Devin."
"Right; did you find your family?" Bill asked, he had a soft spot for the boy. Millie held his hand as he spoke to the teenager. Devin was sixteen and exactly like Bill had been at that age. His blonde hair was a mess and he wore earrings that Mrs. Weasley never would have aloud in her house and his clothes were baggy and town.
"No, I think they're dead," Devin's tone was empty and seemed to echo.
"Oh," Bill didn't feel that it was right to say: 'I'm sorry'. That never seemed to make somebody feel better anyways.
"It doesn't matter," Devin shrugged, "They didn't care about me anyways. Ironic isn't it? How the one nobody really seems to care about is always the one surviving?"
"Somebody cares about you," Bill assured him, "Where's your real dad?"
"I'm not sure. He's an alcoholic, probably off drinking," Devin really didn't care and Bill frowned.
"Alright then, any other family?" Bill would make sure that Devin had some place to go before leaving him there.
"Yes, but I don't want to go see them," Devin said in a childish tone and Bill's frown increased.
"Then what will I do with you?"
"Who cares?" Devin's voice was cold and bit into Bill.
"I do. How about you come and stay with Charlie, me and my family?" Bill wasn't sure if it was such a good idea. What would his mother say about a muggle staying at Grimmauld place?
"Whatever," the boy sighed shrugging.
*
The locks on the door clanged as they unlocked and Ginny groaned. They were back. She rolled over and flopped off of the couch. Sleepily, she dragged herself to the door repeating the brilliant telling off she was about to give her eldest brother when she bumped into something soft and blubbery. She looked up too see a pudgy face staring down at her, stunned.
"Oi, Dudley, would you move?" the familiar voice of Harry Potter asked rather annoyed and Ginny let a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding out. Dudley moved not taking his eyes off of her and Ginny felt like squirming but didn't because her attention was averted to a rather thin but muscular boy before her and if not for his deep emerald pools she wouldn't have recognized him.
"Hi," she smiled. She was in shock. Last year Harry was skinny and the same height as her and now he was at least three inches taller, thin but muscular and tanned. His emerald eyes glimmered with mystery but his hair was the same as always; messy and unmanageable.
"Hi," he said returning the smile but failing to look her up and down, the way she had looked at him. She mentally smacked herself; he's forbidden and she was over him. What did she think she was doing? Checking him out? No way!
"Harry, get out of the way!" the familiar voice of Tonks came from somewhere behind Harry. Harry moved and there were five more figures belonging to Tonks, Lupin, Moody and two other figures she didn't recognize.
"Hi, Ginny!" Tonks smiled walking by. There was a skinny, brown haired, pale faced woman by her side who frowned at Ginny even though Ginny could tell she was frightened out of her mind. Harry's aunt.
"Ginny, please get out of the way," Moody growled and Ginny jumped to the side, avoiding Dudley. She couldn't see much there was one more form and she guessed he was Lupin.
"Where's Bill and Char-
Before anybody could answer her question the many locks on the door began to clang and unlock.
"Hurry up; get in!" Charlie ordered and Bill staggered in a cute blonde boy at his side. Right behind them came Charlie with a very pretty young woman and a child of five.
"Out of the way!" Charlie ordered brushing past everyone in order to get to the living room. Ginny understood why, she had seen the burn on that woman's arm.
"Bill! What is all this?" Moody asked Bill who just finished locking the doors again.
"Well, Charlie and me saved a burning village and couldn't help but get attached to a few of the folks," Bill shrugged. Muggles! Dad was going to have field day!
Bill left the entrance to go help Charlie. The new boy looked Ginny up and down. She fought a blush and held out her hand, very aware of the fact that she was still in her pajama t-shirt and pants.
"Ginny Weasley and you?"
"Devin Saunders," he smiled shaking her hand. She caught his eye and was overwhelmed by the chocolate color of them. She liked chocolate.
"Harry Potter," Ginny felt Harry break their hands and frowned at him. Couldn't he see that they were bonding?
"What are we going to do?" Moody groaned from the living room and the four remaining people hurriedly left the porch and ran to the sitting room.
"Not now, Moody. We ought to explain, but first let's heal Annie's arm!" Charlie sighed pressing his wand tip to her burnt arm. The burn vanished and her arm was just like new. Devin gasped and Ginny cringed. How much fun was this going to be?
"How?" Annie was speechless.
"Sit down everyone and we'll explain," Lupin sighed heavily and every single muggle sat down on a sofa. Even of three did know what was going on, "You see we aren't ordinary people."
"That's obvious!" Annie groaned, "What are you?" she looked at Charlie and he sighed.
"Wizards," he wouldn't meat her gaze. This was a very awkward moment.
"Ahem!" Ginny frowned.
"Oh, and witches," Charlie added hurriedly.
"That's better," Ginny smiled.
"So, what you're saying is that the way you two just appeared out of nowhere was magic after all?" Annie was clearly stunned.
"Yes," Bill sighed.
"And all of you are magical?" Devin asked sheepishly staring at Ginny.
"Yes," Ginny smiled and there was a moment of stunned silence and then:
"Wow! I've always believed in magic but I didn't think there were such things as witches and wizards!" Annie giggled excitedly.
"What can you do?" Devin asked dryly, "Pull a rabbit out of your hat?"
"Impossible," Ginny grinned, "As you can see none of us are wearing the proper hat to do so!"
"But we can do this," Moody smiled pointing his wand at a rose that lay in a vase on the little coffee table, "Wingardium Leviosa!" the rose lifted and flew into the little one's lap.
"Wow!" she grinned picking it up gently.
"Well now that that's all cleared up. I think I'll get some shut eye." Moody yawned leaving the room and hobbling up the steps.
"That's a good idea," Bill smiled, "Ginny, Millie and Annie can share a room with you. Harry, Devin can stay with you and Ron and we'll give your family a room to them selves."
"Come on then!" Ginny smiled lifting Millie up, "Follow me." Annie got stood up and followed Ginny.
Harry and Devin came up right behind Harry watching Devin, for any sign of 'unwanted' movement.
"She's a pretty one," Devin whispered to Harry nodding at Ginny.
"She's got six brother's all bigger than you, not to mention she could probably pack a hell of a punch herself," Harry added dryly and nodded when Ginny turned and said good-night as she entered her room.
"I take it you know this from experience?" Devin smirked, "She's pretty and six brothers aren't going to scare me."
"I've never thought of her that way," Harry said pointedly, "She's my best friends little sister. It would almost be wrong to think of her that way."
"Yeah right," Devin rolled his eyes, "She's hot, smart and she has a nice sense of humor and all you can do is think of her in a brotherly fashion? I guess I get first bite."
"You'll change your mind once you meet all of her brother's," Harry wanted to hurt this guy. Who did he thinks he was? What made him think he could just talk about Ginny like that?
"This is our room," Harry sighed opening the door to reveal a sleeping Ron, taller than ever with his feet hanging over the edge of his bed.
"Is that one of her brothers?"
"Yes, and you see how tall he is? She's got another one just as tall and two eighteen year old brothers who wouldn't care what they put in your cake," he smirked. The twins were a sure fire way of making Devin forget about ever having Ginny.
"I guess I'll just have to watch what I eat. Her brothers can't all be that tough," Devin smirked laying down on Harry's bed. For some odd reason Harry felt the need to really scare Devin away from Ginny. It wasn't right for him to have these feelings for her in just one hour.
"Oh, there all pretty tough. You know Charlie? He works with dragons," he fought a smirk knowing that now Devin would shut up.
"Oh really? Now wonder he was able to put out all those fires," Devin said as casually as ever and Harry really wanted to hurt him.
"You know what I think mate?" Devin asked Harry, pulling off his shoes, "I think you fancy her and are too scared of her brothers to admit it to yourself."
"I don't fancy her!" Harry groaned.
"Oh, right," Devin said in taunting way as he crawled into bed, "Good night."
"Good night!" Harry spat angrily. He didn't like Ginny! No, of course he didn't! Sure she may have been pretty but she was still just like a little sister to him! Right?
*
Charlie sat while Bill paced back and forth. Where were there parents? It was lunch time after all almost twelve hours after they'd separated at the Burrow. What was taking them so long? What were they going to say about the muggles? So many questions and so little time!
How they got out of that little predicament Harry couldn't be sure. He had gone into to a state of shock and simply watched what was happening before him without really hearing or feeling anything.
Tonks stared wide eyed at the real Lucius Malfoy who stared rather confusedly back. Harry's heart pounded against his rib-cage. They were going to be caught! There was a gasp from behind and Harry looked back. There was his aunt, unconscious, laying against Moody who was a bit ruffled by her suddenly falling over him. Dudley was white faced and sucked in his cheeks nervously. Uncle Vernon's face was bright red and his lips were pursed in both anger and confusion.
"Who is this?" Lucius asked poking Tonks in the shoulder.
"Excuse me?" Tonks asked raising her eyebrows shoving Lucius back, "I think the real question is who you are?" There was a heck of a lot of confused murmuring from the other death-eaters and Harry couldn't help be a bit confused himself.
"Get your hands off me!" Lucius ordered whipping his wand out, pointing it directly at Tonks, "Now you'll tell me who you are and how you look like me in three seconds or I'll use this!" he shook his wand and Harry was more than amused.
Tonks rolled her eyes as the death-eaters behind Lucius brought there wands out unsure as to who to aim them at.
"Please," she sighed pushing Lucius's wand out of the way and then looking at the other death-eaters said: "I can assure that I am the real Lucius Malfoy! Now if you don't mind I am going to follow my orders and deliver these prisoners to my master."
"How do we know He spoke to you?" a young American witch asked pulling her hood off coming up to stand beside Lucius.
"How do you know he didn't?" Tonks asked.
"`ow do we know yer the real Lucius?" an old Scottish wizard ask showing his face.
"Yes, how do we?" Lucius wrinkled his nose, "For all we know you used Polly-Juice potion for this." He said pointedly and Tonks didn't say a thing. Harry knew they would be caught.
"Speechless are you?" Lucius smirked, "Yes, than I believe I am right. You and these fools used a Polly-Juice potion to appear like me. And then you would use that advantage to escape! Well, I've found you out! Ha!"
"Good work," Tonks said calmly and Harry felt faint as a few more death-eaters advanced, "but not correct." He started to breath again and the death-eaters stopped.
Tonks continued just as calmly as ever, "You see if that were my plan wouldn't I have left by now? And if that were my plan I wouldn't have made it that obvious. So I believe that you used Polly-Juice potion to appear like me so that you could use that advantage to escape."
Lucius blinked stunned, "Wha-
"So you see that your clever idea back fired, badly and instead of convicting me, you ended up telling all these dear people your plan, Dumbledore," Tonks finished confidently and the death-eaters gasped, astonished. Harry wanted to kiss her. After a second or two the American witch cast a binding curse upon Lucius, stopping him from going anywhere.
Tonks turned to the old, Scottish wizard that spoke before and ordered stiffly, "bring six of our fastest brooms, the Dark Lord waits." The man literally hopped to it and appeared seconds later with six Firebolts. Tonks motioned for him to hand everyone except the unconscious Petunia a broom. When Harry received his he had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. The broom sent an electric shock through his fingers and throughout his entire body, warming his whole being, inside and out.
"Mount your brooms," Tonks ordered briskly, everyone was too frightened to do anything else and pointing at Lupin she said: "You there take that wench with you!" Lupin obeyed and Harry could see him struggling to conceal a smile at Tonks's cleverness as he awkwardly helped Aunt Petunia onto a broom.
"We're o-
"What shall we do with him?" A middle-aged wizard asked shaking Lucius vigorously. Tonks thought for a moment and decided on mercy.
"I'll take him," Harry's eyes bulged. What was she playing at? They couldn't take him to Grimmauld Place! That was like surrendering entirely! No, he wanted to yell no but bit his tongue to restrain himself.
"Bubbulous!" she said pointing her wand at Lucius. A bubble formed around him and soared in the air just behind Tonks.
"We're off!" Tonks yelled and they all pressed off the ground. Harry was surprised that both Dudley and Uncle Vernon managed to get off of the ground, both nervous but determined to leave that street littered with maniacs.
They were soaring in the air. A heavy weight lifted from Harry's heart and the wind blowing in his face was sweeter than ever.
*
Bill and Charlie had put out as many fires as you can count and they had either scared or killed about five hundred evil goblins. The small town was ruined and there was smoke billowing out of every building in sight. The survivors were little and at the moment they were trying to fix up as many as they could.
"Mister," a brunette, girl of about five tugged on the sleeve of Charlie's robe just as he finished bandaging the arm of a fifteen year old boy and he looked down. Her blue eyes were filled with tears and her lips trembled as she said, "I can't find my mum."
"Come with me, we'll find her." He started to look for a woman in her late twenties.
"What does she look like?" he asked smiling at her.
"Like me, ecept she gots brown eyes," the tiny girl sobbed. Charlie hugged her to him in what he hoped was a comforting way. They continued to search and Charlie never thought he'd get sick of the girl's babbling. It was endless.
"Charlie!" Bill sighed coming around the corner, "I've been looking everywhere for you! Hello," he added smiling at the little girl, "What's your name?"
"Millie!" a woman yelled from behind and all three of them spun around. A very pretty woman in her early twenty was running towards them. Twenty-one was Charlie's guess.
"Mummy!" Mille squealed rushing towards her what appeared to be her mother. Charlie's heart leapt. Who would have guessed that Millie's mum would have been that young and beautiful.
"Hi," the woman sighed when she reached them scooping Millie up into her arms, "Annie Banks." She held out her hand and Charlie readily shook it.
"Charlie Weasley," he grinned goofily and Bill raised an eyebrow. Annie then held her hand out to Bill and he shook it.
"Bill Weasley," Bill nodded, "I'm going to go see if I can do anything else." He said as he left.
Annie turned to Charlie, "It's so nice to meet you. The way you just appeared out of nowhere and started putting the fires out. Those little green creatures ran like hell," she giggled, "And now the way you're helping all of these people out. It's just like magic!"
"Yeah," Charlie smiled nervously, "magic."
"I've never seen you before, where are you from?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"Ottery St. Catchpole," Charlie sighed.
"Never heard of it," she announced placing her daughter on the ground that immediately ran off to follow Bill, she winced a little.
"It's a small village, normally you don't hear of it," he sighed.
"Oh well then," she smiled and winced again, "Do you think you could fix this? I got it caught under a burning beam."
She held her arm out to him. It was red, and scorched. He had never seen such burns, not even in the desert with the dragons.
"Ouch," he winced gently grabbing her wrist and pushing the sleeve of her shirt off. If he was going to fix this he would have to do it magically, but not here, "I'm not sure."
"Please," she groaned tears suddenly pouring down her rosy cheeks, "It hurts."
Charlie gave in, Annie seemed so brave. Not giving into her tears while her daughter was around. He immediately knew how Millie had been able to babble while there were people in pain. Her mother was so brave. There was no other choice.
"Alright then," he sighed, "You and Millie can come with Bill and me to our place. I can't fix this here. For now all I can do is give you this," he held out a purple flower, "It'll sooth your arm."
"What do I do," she bit back a sob.
"I'll do it," Charlie reassured her. He rubbed the flower in between his palms until it was mush and then he continued to roll it around until it was a thick green liquid. Then using both his arms, he propped her arm on his lap and rubbed the liquid into the burn.
"Mmm, that feels better. What is that? Some kind of herb?"
"Yes it's an herb; I'm not sure what it is. My mum always used to put it on my scrapes and bruises when I was small so now I carry a few with me just in case."
"Good thing you did," she smiled, "Or all these people would be in extreme pain.
He continued to work the liquid into the burn all the while wondering, what his mother would say when he brought two muggles back to Grimmauld Place.
*
Bill was looking for that skinny, blonde haired boy he'd met earlier. He couldn't be sure but he thought the boy's name was Devin. The boy's house had been the one on fire the longest and Devin had escaped with a few minor burns but his mother, step father; step-sister and half brother were no where in sight. Was that him? No, to short.
"Bill," somebody tapped him on the shoulder and he spun around. There he was, "its Devin."
"Right; did you find your family?" Bill asked, he had a soft spot for the boy. Millie held his hand as he spoke to the teenager. Devin was sixteen and exactly like Bill had been at that age. His blonde hair was a mess and he wore earrings that Mrs. Weasley never would have aloud in her house and his clothes were baggy and town.
"No, I think they're dead," Devin's tone was empty and seemed to echo.
"Oh," Bill didn't feel that it was right to say: 'I'm sorry'. That never seemed to make somebody feel better anyways.
"It doesn't matter," Devin shrugged, "They didn't care about me anyways. Ironic isn't it? How the one nobody really seems to care about is always the one surviving?"
"Somebody cares about you," Bill assured him, "Where's your real dad?"
"I'm not sure. He's an alcoholic, probably off drinking," Devin really didn't care and Bill frowned.
"Alright then, any other family?" Bill would make sure that Devin had some place to go before leaving him there.
"Yes, but I don't want to go see them," Devin said in a childish tone and Bill's frown increased.
"Then what will I do with you?"
"Who cares?" Devin's voice was cold and bit into Bill.
"I do. How about you come and stay with Charlie, me and my family?" Bill wasn't sure if it was such a good idea. What would his mother say about a muggle staying at Grimmauld place?
"Whatever," the boy sighed shrugging.
*
The locks on the door clanged as they unlocked and Ginny groaned. They were back. She rolled over and flopped off of the couch. Sleepily, she dragged herself to the door repeating the brilliant telling off she was about to give her eldest brother when she bumped into something soft and blubbery. She looked up too see a pudgy face staring down at her, stunned.
"Oi, Dudley, would you move?" the familiar voice of Harry Potter asked rather annoyed and Ginny let a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding out. Dudley moved not taking his eyes off of her and Ginny felt like squirming but didn't because her attention was averted to a rather thin but muscular boy before her and if not for his deep emerald pools she wouldn't have recognized him.
"Hi," she smiled. She was in shock. Last year Harry was skinny and the same height as her and now he was at least three inches taller, thin but muscular and tanned. His emerald eyes glimmered with mystery but his hair was the same as always; messy and unmanageable.
"Hi," he said returning the smile but failing to look her up and down, the way she had looked at him. She mentally smacked herself; he's forbidden and she was over him. What did she think she was doing? Checking him out? No way!
"Harry, get out of the way!" the familiar voice of Tonks came from somewhere behind Harry. Harry moved and there were five more figures belonging to Tonks, Lupin, Moody and two other figures she didn't recognize.
"Hi, Ginny!" Tonks smiled walking by. There was a skinny, brown haired, pale faced woman by her side who frowned at Ginny even though Ginny could tell she was frightened out of her mind. Harry's aunt.
"Ginny, please get out of the way," Moody growled and Ginny jumped to the side, avoiding Dudley. She couldn't see much there was one more form and she guessed he was Lupin.
"Where's Bill and Char-
Before anybody could answer her question the many locks on the door began to clang and unlock.
"Hurry up; get in!" Charlie ordered and Bill staggered in a cute blonde boy at his side. Right behind them came Charlie with a very pretty young woman and a child of five.
"Out of the way!" Charlie ordered brushing past everyone in order to get to the living room. Ginny understood why, she had seen the burn on that woman's arm.
"Bill! What is all this?" Moody asked Bill who just finished locking the doors again.
"Well, Charlie and me saved a burning village and couldn't help but get attached to a few of the folks," Bill shrugged. Muggles! Dad was going to have field day!
Bill left the entrance to go help Charlie. The new boy looked Ginny up and down. She fought a blush and held out her hand, very aware of the fact that she was still in her pajama t-shirt and pants.
"Ginny Weasley and you?"
"Devin Saunders," he smiled shaking her hand. She caught his eye and was overwhelmed by the chocolate color of them. She liked chocolate.
"Harry Potter," Ginny felt Harry break their hands and frowned at him. Couldn't he see that they were bonding?
"What are we going to do?" Moody groaned from the living room and the four remaining people hurriedly left the porch and ran to the sitting room.
"Not now, Moody. We ought to explain, but first let's heal Annie's arm!" Charlie sighed pressing his wand tip to her burnt arm. The burn vanished and her arm was just like new. Devin gasped and Ginny cringed. How much fun was this going to be?
"How?" Annie was speechless.
"Sit down everyone and we'll explain," Lupin sighed heavily and every single muggle sat down on a sofa. Even of three did know what was going on, "You see we aren't ordinary people."
"That's obvious!" Annie groaned, "What are you?" she looked at Charlie and he sighed.
"Wizards," he wouldn't meat her gaze. This was a very awkward moment.
"Ahem!" Ginny frowned.
"Oh, and witches," Charlie added hurriedly.
"That's better," Ginny smiled.
"So, what you're saying is that the way you two just appeared out of nowhere was magic after all?" Annie was clearly stunned.
"Yes," Bill sighed.
"And all of you are magical?" Devin asked sheepishly staring at Ginny.
"Yes," Ginny smiled and there was a moment of stunned silence and then:
"Wow! I've always believed in magic but I didn't think there were such things as witches and wizards!" Annie giggled excitedly.
"What can you do?" Devin asked dryly, "Pull a rabbit out of your hat?"
"Impossible," Ginny grinned, "As you can see none of us are wearing the proper hat to do so!"
"But we can do this," Moody smiled pointing his wand at a rose that lay in a vase on the little coffee table, "Wingardium Leviosa!" the rose lifted and flew into the little one's lap.
"Wow!" she grinned picking it up gently.
"Well now that that's all cleared up. I think I'll get some shut eye." Moody yawned leaving the room and hobbling up the steps.
"That's a good idea," Bill smiled, "Ginny, Millie and Annie can share a room with you. Harry, Devin can stay with you and Ron and we'll give your family a room to them selves."
"Come on then!" Ginny smiled lifting Millie up, "Follow me." Annie got stood up and followed Ginny.
Harry and Devin came up right behind Harry watching Devin, for any sign of 'unwanted' movement.
"She's a pretty one," Devin whispered to Harry nodding at Ginny.
"She's got six brother's all bigger than you, not to mention she could probably pack a hell of a punch herself," Harry added dryly and nodded when Ginny turned and said good-night as she entered her room.
"I take it you know this from experience?" Devin smirked, "She's pretty and six brothers aren't going to scare me."
"I've never thought of her that way," Harry said pointedly, "She's my best friends little sister. It would almost be wrong to think of her that way."
"Yeah right," Devin rolled his eyes, "She's hot, smart and she has a nice sense of humor and all you can do is think of her in a brotherly fashion? I guess I get first bite."
"You'll change your mind once you meet all of her brother's," Harry wanted to hurt this guy. Who did he thinks he was? What made him think he could just talk about Ginny like that?
"This is our room," Harry sighed opening the door to reveal a sleeping Ron, taller than ever with his feet hanging over the edge of his bed.
"Is that one of her brothers?"
"Yes, and you see how tall he is? She's got another one just as tall and two eighteen year old brothers who wouldn't care what they put in your cake," he smirked. The twins were a sure fire way of making Devin forget about ever having Ginny.
"I guess I'll just have to watch what I eat. Her brothers can't all be that tough," Devin smirked laying down on Harry's bed. For some odd reason Harry felt the need to really scare Devin away from Ginny. It wasn't right for him to have these feelings for her in just one hour.
"Oh, there all pretty tough. You know Charlie? He works with dragons," he fought a smirk knowing that now Devin would shut up.
"Oh really? Now wonder he was able to put out all those fires," Devin said as casually as ever and Harry really wanted to hurt him.
"You know what I think mate?" Devin asked Harry, pulling off his shoes, "I think you fancy her and are too scared of her brothers to admit it to yourself."
"I don't fancy her!" Harry groaned.
"Oh, right," Devin said in taunting way as he crawled into bed, "Good night."
"Good night!" Harry spat angrily. He didn't like Ginny! No, of course he didn't! Sure she may have been pretty but she was still just like a little sister to him! Right?
*
Charlie sat while Bill paced back and forth. Where were there parents? It was lunch time after all almost twelve hours after they'd separated at the Burrow. What was taking them so long? What were they going to say about the muggles? So many questions and so little time!