If Wishes Were Snitches


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Chapter Two Starry Night


Lupin moved further into the room. "Harry, what was that?" He looked around at the stunned faces looking at him. "What just happened? We were meeting in Dumbledore's office and the sensors we placed around the Burrow to detect any high levels of magical activity went off the walls. Is everyone all right?"


Harry stammered "We're fine, it was nothing . . . "


Molly and Arthur Weasley pushed through the doorway past Professor Snape and Tonks who stood with wands still raised in the doorway to the dining room. Tonks now sported bushy white hair, and wore a T-shirt saying 'Ravenclaw rules. Slytherins' drool.' Snape stood tense in his usual black robes, cooly sweeping the room with his dark eyes.


"What happened? Ron? Are you all right? Did anyone get hurt?"Asked Molly looking at her youngest son with alarm. His face was still red and his eyes wide with shock.


"I'm fine, Mum. We're all fine. It was just . . . " He trailed off embarrassed. It was just what?


Luna spoke up. "I'm so sorry . . . it was me. It was just a spell I thought I'd try. No harm meant."


Lupin, Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick moved further into the room exchanging glances.


"What kind of spell Miss Lovegood?" asked Professor Flitwick.


Before she could formulate an answer Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogworts, swept into the room. His face was blank but his blue eyes bright with mirth.


"Well, that was a jolly stroll. Why don't we reconvene our meeting in my office? I believe I have a lovely lemon tart waiting. Professor Snape? If you would lead our happy band back to my office? I believe I'll have a word with Miss Lovegood in the garden."


Slowly, continuing their curious glances around, the members of The Order of the Phoenix silently filed out the door. Mad Eye Moody's magical eye spinning wildly as he left. Snape swept out last after a piercing glare at Luna.


"Well. Welcome back Harry. I hope you will enjoy your visit with your friends before it is back to school. I hope to have a few moments of your time this week."He moved to the door. "Miss Lovegood . . . "


Luna followed him out the door, quietly closing it behind her. Chaos again broke out. Mrs. Weasley rounding on her children "What happened?" Ginny and Fred hurried to the window to peak out on the garden. Neville sat back heavily in his chair. It was Charlie who answered his mother."Luna did an impression of a Veela. She said it was a spell she got from an ad in her father's paper. She did a very good job with it."


"A good job?" Exclaimed George "It was dead on!"


"Well, I'm glad that was all it was! My heart stopped when they burst through the door. I thought Voldemort had dropped in through the roof." Molly took a deep breath in and sighed.

"Ginny, Fred, what's happening in the garden?"


Ginny pulled at the curtain and called back."It looks like they're looking at the stars. OK, they're talking again-oh, I wish we had some extendable ears! Now Luna is pulling up her sleeves and showing him her arm."


"Her arm! He can't think she has the dark mark!"gasped Harry moving toward the window.


"Now he's showing her his knee."Giggled Fred.


"His knee! Oh, don't let's look any more."Moaned Ron.


"Oh! They're coming back. Quick, everyone sit somewhere."Ginny shuffled away from the curtain and plopped down in her seat next to Hermione. Fred and Harry leaned against the hearth in a casual way, while Molly and Arthur stood near the kitchen door again.


Dumbledore lead Luna back into the room, his hand at her back. He gave her a gentle push into the room. "I'll say good night to you all. Molly, Arthur, Charlie if I may ask you to join us in my office first. The rest of you, I trust you have beds to go to?"


When the door clicked shut again Luna sighed and said "So sorry everyone for the big fuss. Well . . . I'm off to bed."


"I guess a repeat performance is out of the question, eh what?" Said Fred rolling back and forth on the balls of his feet and winking.


Ginny and Hermione shot him dark looks. "I'd say not, you great git."Said Ginny swotting at him. "Wait, Luna, don't go yet. What was Dumbledore looking at? On your arm?"


Harry cringed. Bludger it, Ginny was blunt.


"When? Tonight?"asked Luna coming back down the first step and turning to face Ginny.


"Well. Yes tonight. Gads girl, how many times has he inspected your arm?" Ron nearly shouted.


Harry cringed again. Ron . . . blunt and loud.


"Oh, well . . . we were just looking up at the stars and I told him I had the constellation Ursa Major on my forearm in freckles . . . He said he had a scar shaped like the London Underground on his knee."


"Ah."Said Fred nodding. "Thus the knee flash."


"Right . . . Professor Dumbledore is an amazing man. The map was in perfect scale . . . Well, again, goodnight to all." She quietly slipped up the stairs and out of sight.


Ron continued to look toward the now empty stairway. He muttered "They're both nutters. Amazing . . . but nutters."