Twenty-one years had now passed since Harry Potter had first triumphed over the Dark Lord Voldemort. The world had changed much within the time span from when first young Harry discovered his true identity. Not only had the wizarding world of Britain gained a new Minister, but also they had lost many loyal workers.

Now, on the thirty-first of July, at what remained of the old Burrow, a rather young fully trained wizard nervously looked outside of the house. "Is it finished?" he asked in a raspy voice, his clothing dusted with dirt and his face with bloodstains on it. Two other red headed young men, a few years younger then the previous, poked their heads outside warily. One waved a wand around, and then suddenly felt a large thud on his head.

"What was that for?" he whined.

"Idiot George, that's one of our old fake wands, remember? We stored them in the cupboard just round the corner so Mum couldn't find them," the other responded. "It wouldn't do us any good in a real situation, 'cept for practical magic and jokes!"

The eldest of the three grinned mischievously. "Or for bluffing and tricking people into getting what we want..."

The one called George reluctantly stowed away the fake wand, taking out his real one. "Now you're thinking, Perce," he complimented with a smile. They were what remained of the Weasleys; well, what we remained free, at least. Ronald Weasley had been taken prisoner since his acquaintance with Harry Potter meant that he knew lots about the enemy. Their parents had perished in the war against giants not long ago. Charlie and Bill had died as well, the two eldest Weasley children. Charlie's dragon was captured by the enemy and he was forced to surrender, and they didn't know if he was dead or still in prison. Bill had gone wrong with the bank a few years back and was attacked by a mob of Muggles, surprisingly enough. After that, Arthur Weasley's love for Muggles slowly declined until he'd do anything to get revenge for his son's death. Ginny Weasley had been forced into marriage, with the wrong side. She was well considered dead by most of the wizarding world who'd known her. Molly Weasley thankfully only passed away because of old age. That left Fred and George, the twins, now in their early twenties, and Percy Weasley...currently Minister of Magic for Britain, in his mid-twenties.

Fighting had been occurring at the Burrow, many displeased at the fact that their own Minister was hiding at a place he could no longer call safe or home. Going through hardships, many of them involving loosing his entire family except for the two who used to get on his nerves, he'd evolved into something almost inhuman, but with a great sadness lurking in his heart. The twins were not the same people they'd once been either. Their pranks had gone to forming military ideas, tricking the enemy into doing things ordinary generals would never have come up with. For once, Muggles had joined with wizards after discovering their reality.

That as a story all to its own, one to be told later. The world had been reversed: those once known as evil were deemed heroes, and those who had been heroes were now detested and hated. Lucius Malfoy constantly was trying to contact Percy, forcing him out of his position of Minister. But those few who remained loyal would die to back him up, for he was what remained from the Old World, as it was now being called.

Limping on a wounded leg, Percy sighed miserably. "That's it! I can't sit around here hiding all day!" Being stubborn as usual, he started towards the city on foot. Fred immediately grabbed his arm, frowning.

"Perce, be reasonable! You won't make it like that alive. If you're gonna go at least go by broomstick," he commented, rushing to get out his old Firebolt. In their final year at Hogwarts, Percy had been generous enough to give both Fred and George a brand new broom as a Christmas present, and they've treasured it since. "We'll come with you. There's no way we'll miss out on the fun."

Percy smiled, his dark eyes watering slightly. "You two haven't changed a bit...but alright. If that's how it's got to be." He grasped the broomstick, glancing over to notice that George had taken up his own broomstick. "You can ride with me, I guess, Fred. We haven't another broom in the house I'm afraid. Ron's broom's gone...stolen I'd imagine, wouldn't be surprised."

"Alright then," Fred stated, getting on the broom easily. The three left the Burrow, headed for downtown Muggle London.

Arriving some hour later, Fred ended up having to shake Percy awake. "Sorry, dozed off...must be the weather," he lied easily, having gotten into the habit due to the war. Lately however, it seemed his own health had been failing...and his magic less powerful. He was wondering if he should bring this up to the twins, when a hand touched his shoulder, bringing him back to reality.

"You alright there, Percy?" George inquired, looking around to a near empty street. He nodded slowly, sighing. "Let's see if anyone's in this abandoned place." Walking a few blocks, he started talking mainly to fill the deathly silence. "I can't believe that only three years ago or so we were going to Hogwarts and this place was swarming with wizards and witches! It seems like a dream..."

"Or a nightmare, I guess," added Fred. "If we were to head back in time like we are now, people'd stare at us oddly." Percy smiled weakly, glancing around uneasily. "Or better yet, Muggles wouldn't know what the hell we were. I mean, they only found out about us once damned Lucius brought it up."

"Yea, curse that bastard to hell I say," George agreed. The twins weren't as enthusiastic as they'd once been, however. The times had caused them both to become as serious as they probably ever would get. They wandered up and down the streets, searching for anyone or anybody who could help. "Oy there!" The other two looked forward, shocked actually to see a man probably in his late forties wandering aimlessly down the streets, a loaf of bread in one hand. "Hey, sir!"

"Which side are you three on?" grumbled the man. They looked at each other, sighing, ready to fight if they had to. Three to one wouldn't be a problem.

"The, um, side everyone else is mostly against," Fred explained, or attempted to.

"The Old World thing?" the man inquired. Here it came. After they affirmed it, he'd try to shoot them dead with the strange weapons that Muggles had, that or knock them over the head with something, or yell useless curses at them until he'd attract some attention. But, reluctantly, they all nodded. "Well you've met a rare comrade, lads! I'm Rich, you can call me. It's what me friends used to call me, way back when, before they all turned for the worse. I've been fending here for my family, gathering what I can. Where are you boys from?"

"It's a ways outside of London," Percy spoke up now, causing the man to peer at him curiously.

"Well I'll be darned. Say, ain't you that Minister of Magic or whatever you wizarding folk call it?" Rich asked in a wondrous tone. Percy nodded, tensing, still expecting him to attack them or something. "Jeebus! I finally get to meet you! I can see rightly why you're wantin' to hide an' all, with them scavengers out on the road. What brings you boys to London?"

"Fighting's seemed to stop by our place for now at least," interrupted Fred. He held his broomstick proudly in the open now. "We just wanted to see if someone would be willing to help." Rich nodded with complete understanding.

"You're welcome to stay at our place. Not much, but then whose got stuff these days anyway? C'mon, only a short distance. My wife will tend to whatever wounds you've gotten," Rich stated, noticing the wound on Percy's leg. He led the three down a dark alleyway, and explained: "It's best to keep things secret. Darkness seems to do the trick. Them popular fighters might sport darkness, but they sure as hell won't be seen round it." He pulled back a rug that served as a door, and the three gaped around. It reminded them a lot of the old Burrow...minus the magic. Couches that served as beds, a fire in the center of the house. The floor wasn't dirt, but in fact a fine carpet that was soft to the touch. A table resided at the far side of the house, and what seemed to be a bathroom off to another side. The kitchen sink and a storage cupboard were across from the couches. "Not much," repeated Rich, smiling as they stared.

A woman wearing a pale green dress came forward with a baby in her arms. "Rich, dear, who are these people? Not those bandits I hope!" she said with hatred, seeing the blood and dirt stains on their once clean black robes.

"No dear! This here's that Minister of Magic kid, remember hearing about him? Best damned wizard of the lot, I'd say. And these two twins here are..." Rich paused, never having asked the twins their names.

"Fred and George Weasley at your service!" Fred interrupted helpfully, playfully bowing. The woman blushed, laughing.

"It feels good to laugh," she said wistfully. "I'm Rosette. You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like." She studied the three of them for a moment longer, before handing her baby to Rich. "Now, come here, you've been wounded. I won't have an argument. If it doesn't get healed it'll just get worse." She snaked an arm out, grabbing Percy and dragging him into the back part of the room, pulling curtains around them. The twins exchanged a wary glance.

"Please, make yourselves at home," Rich offered to the twins, who immediately lay back on the couches.

"So I finally get to meet you, eh?" the woman stated as she sat Percy down on a soft chair.

"Yes, though with unfortunate circumstances," he returned with an effort. The chair was the softest thing he'd been in for a long while, and he easily felt himself becoming drowsy. He didn't notice when she pulled back the hem of his robes and started to clean the wound on his leg.

"You musta been through some rough times, I'd imagine. In a way I feel sorry for you wizards. It's hardest on you, isn't it? Well, it's your people who are the enemies, I suppose. Your folk started this whole thing, but I'm not blaming you at all," Rosette stated quickly, fearing that he'd say something back. But Percy was beginning to doze. It'd been a long while since he'd had a comfortable, relaxing place to sleep in, and he wasn't about to surrender this place so soon. "There, all set," Rosette said in what seemed like a minute later. Percy opened his eyes with an effort. The woman was smiling. "Of course you must be exhausted!" she exclaimed with a gasp. "Come here, lad!" She took his hand, leading him out of the curtained off area. The twins were lounging on their own couches, sipping at glasses of refreshing water when they came out. She set him down on a third couch gently, rushing off to fetch a blanket. Covering him with mother-like affection, Percy fell asleep almost as soon as the blanket had touched him.

The twins exchanged a worried glance. "Ah, not to worry boys! Your brother will be perfectly fine," Rich assured. "With my wife handling things, nothing can go wrong, I'd like to think."

"Oh," yawned George. Rosette came with blankets for them as well.

"Get some rest while you can," she ordered with motherly tones. "I'll have food cooking for you three when you waken!" The twins grinned at the thought of food, and were soon asleep themselves.

Percy woke to a sleeping house. Sitting up, he smiled as he noticed that the twins were sound asleep. It'd been a while since any of them had gotten a good night's rest. Refreshed as it was, he stood and stretched, heading to the door to get a bit of fresh air to help wake him up. "Up a bit early, aren't you?" He turned round abruptly, his hand moving with inhuman speed for his wand. He smiled however as he saw Rosette with her baby. "What? I said I'd have breakfast for you when you get up. I'm planning a large meal," she added. "You boys look like you could definitely use it. Why don't you get some rest, eh? There's still time."

He smiled gratefully, nodding. "Alright, I guess I will." And he headed back to the couch, where he almost immediately fell asleep once more.

Rosette bent over the twins first, shaking them lightly, about two hours later. "Rise and shine boys! Breakfast's on the table," she stated loudly. Percy, overhearing her voice, woke sleepily, blinking around. The twins reacted in much the same way, though once they saw food they were wide awake. Eagerly sitting down at the table, they started piling food onto their plates. Percy actually laughed as he took a little of everything available.

"I'd make another helping for all of us, just for those two," he commented with a grin. It was the first time he'd felt truly happy since his time at Hogwarts. Rosette grinned back. After she finished her meal, she gave the three of them seconds.

"And don't worry about paying me back for any of this, boys. What you're doing for our kind's enough!" she said happily, in high joy. It was an hour before the twins finally sat back, stuffed, having not eaten like that since their last feast at Hogwarts.

"I'm up for a round of Quidditch, aren't you, Fred?" George stated merrily, forgetting where he was momentarily. Fred grinned back.

"Sure am. It's been a long time since that sport's even been mentioned," commented Fred, heading to get his broom. Percy stopped, staring at the two of them warily. "What's gotten to you, Perce? You look like someone just ran over your toad."

Percy frowned. "I've never had a toad, I'm pleased to say, but have you two completely lost your minds?" The twins stared at each other, before they both broke out with laughter. He managed to smile weakly.

"Oh yea, nearly forgot....we're not at Hogwarts any more," stated George, laughing again. Rosette and Rich were soon curious, and the twins and Percy found themselves telling them everything about Hogwarts.