(A/N: Here it is, the chapter you've all been waiting for... Harry's here, in present-day storyland!
It was supposed to be Chapter 7, but a few things interfered... like two chapters of Helen's background story. It's a touch longer than the others so far... I'm sure my adoring fans won't mind. ::big grin:: And there are more names here for those of you going name-hunting. Enjoy!)
Chapter 9: At the Den
The fireplace at the Marauders' Den must always be tired, Harry thought whimsically. It certainly handled a high level of traffic. But he had known he was in for a lot of visits when he married into a family with seven children...
The clock in the living room began to chime twelve, and Ginny came hurrying out of the kitchen, dusting off her hands, just as the fire turned green.
Ron emerged from the flames first, carrying Frankie, his youngest son. Brian, Minnie, Art, and the twins Fabian and Gideon followed their father with no trouble. Little Alice, older than Frankie by just a year, had to be caught as she spun out of the fireplace dizzily. Hermione climbed out last, with baby Marlene in her arms.
"Finally outdid your parents, mate," Harry said, watching the children run off in search of their favorite playmates. "Congratulations."
"Oh, shut up," said Hermione, smacking him playfully on the head with the arm that wasn't full of baby. "You're about to equal them, aren't you?"
"Well, you're still ahead of us by one," said Ginny, holding out her arms for Marlene.
"And going to remain that way, I hope?" said Harry, startled.
"Yes, of course." Ginny winked at Ron and Hermione.
"I saw that," said Harry.
"You were supposed to," Hermione snapped.
Behind Hermione's back, Ron rolled his eyes and shrugged, mouthing "Women..." Harry grinned at him.
"Oy, Dad." Sirius strolled into the kitchen, Hedwig on his shoulder and Brian beside him. "Owl from Helen. Do you want to read it now, or should I stick it on your desk?"
"That was quick," Harry said, surprised. He had sent Hedwig off early that morning, and he knew it was around a two hour flight to the Dursleys'. Helen must have sent Hedwig straight back. "Might as well read it now."
He held out his arm. Hedwig flew to him, and he untied the note from her leg and opened it.
Dear Dad and everyone,
Thanks for the letter. As a matter of fact, they have sprung something on me – they're sending me away...
Harry groped for a chair and slowly sat down, still reading.
Please come find me as soon as you can.
Love always, Helen
"No," Harry whispered, his mind racing. No. Not again. Not her. They ruined the first part of my life; they can't ruin Helen's too!
He realized the kitchen had gone silent, and looked up from the letter to find everyone staring at him.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked. Wordlessly, Harry handed her the letter. She passed Marlene to Brian, looked it over carefully, scowled, and gave it to Ron. Hermione read over Ron's shoulder, or rather, around his elbow.
"What's up with Helen?" Brian asked, jiggling his baby sister carefully in his arms.
"The Dursleys are sending her to boarding school somewhere. Now, today." Harry was surprised at how matter-of-fact his voice sounded, when inwardly he felt like a cauldron filled with Perturbing Potion. His sweet little girl, the other half of his twins... how could even Dudley fail to love her as she deserved to be loved?
"They can't do that," said Sirius, and Harry looked up at the outrage in his son's voice. "They can't do that. She belongs here, with us. She's ours." Brian nodded vigorously in agreement.
"She's still theirs by law, Sirius," said Ginny quietly.
"Then the law is stupid," Brian said vehemently. Marlene awoke and began to fuss. Hermione absently took her and began to soothe her.
"Agreed," said Ron, looking up from the letter. "Poor thing... she's putting a brave face on it, though." He looked back down and snorted. "Schools for incurably criminal girls? If Helen's a criminal, I'll eat my wand. Harry, didn't the Dursleys used to claim they were sending you to some school for..."
"Incurably criminal boys. I'm hoping Helen is making a joke on that, rather than being serious about it."
"I'm sure she is," Ginny said, but she didn't sound sure. "Even Dudley couldn't make it look like Helen's ever done anything wrong, except those tantrums when she was little."
"You would be surprised," Harry said grimly. "Dudley is very good at coming up with stories about what other people have done wrong. Always has been."
Ron growled slightly. Ginny hissed low in her throat, much as she did when she was in her Animagus form and wary of something. They looked very much alike at this moment – red-haired, freckled, and incredibly dangerous.
Hermione looked up from Marlene, now sleeping peacefully again. Harry was startled by the look on her face. He hadn't seen her like this since their school days, when Voldemort was alive, the Death Eaters were active, and everyone was in danger, all the time. Her eyes were on fire, her shoulders were set, and Harry wouldn't have cared to be the one to cross her at that moment.
"I believe," she said with elaborate care, "that it may be time to pay the Dursleys a little visit. Who's with me?"
"I," said Ginny and Ron, forcefully, at the same moment.
Harry grinned at her. "You took the words out of my mouth, Hermione."
Brian and Sirius stared at their parents in surprise and admiration.
"But we need to move slowly." Harry looked at his son and felt a flash of the grief that had never entirely faded. "Helen's in no real danger – yet – I hope. We need to find out where she is, first, and for that, we need two things. We need a plan, and we need backup."
-----
Thirty minutes and a lot of Floo Powder later, the backup began to assemble.
Arthur and Molly Weasley were the first to arrive, followed closely by Remus Lupin and Minerva McGonagall. Bill and Fleur were the next, because their children were old enough to be trusted to watch one another. The rest of the Weasley clan, other than Charlie who was still unmarried (he claimed he was married to his work), took a little longer, because they had to find babysitters or round up their children and bring them along.
Arabella Figg came by Floo to baby-sit the fourteen small Weasleys and Potters already at the Marauders' Den. No sooner was she out of the fire than Percy and Penelope appeared in it with their three children, Selene, Dorcas, and Vic, who went off to join the others. Finally, Fred, George, Angelina, and Alicia Apparated in the corner of the kitchen. The twins were wearing their trademark evil grins and carrying bags that bulged interestingly.
"A few old and a few new items," Fred said, placing his carefully on the table.
"Your cousin has a good record as a tester for our products, Harry," said George, "so we thought maybe you wouldn't mind."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what they're supposed to do before you set them off, all right?" He raised his voice. "Everyone?" The room quieted.
"Thank you all for coming, you already know why we're here, let's keep it moving," Ginny said briskly.
Harry pulled the dish towel off her shoulder and swatted her with it. "As my lovely and charming wife has said, we all know why we're here, so let me tell you what I'm thinking of doing. I'm open to suggestions at all points from all comers.
"The first thing I want to try is a polite request. It's just possible that Dudley Dursley has joined the adult world since I last checked, and will respond to a rational argument."
Most of the room looked skeptical. Ron coughed something into his hand that made Harry wonder if he'd taken to watching Muggle comedy movies.
"Yes, well, I think we should at least try it. If that doesn't work, my next idea is to use a little persuasion. Nothing dangerous or troublesome, just annoying." He explained. The twins guffawed, Remus and Arthur laughed aloud, and even Minerva cracked a smile.
"While this is going on, Seamus Finnigan, our man on the spot at the Ministry, is keeping an eye on the underage magic detectors. If we suddenly have a big upsurge in one area of the country, then the list of things we need from the Dursleys is down by one."
"Down by one?" asked Bill. "I thought you just needed to know where she was."
"We do," Ginny said, "but we also want them to make us Helen's legal guardians."
This caused a moment of dead silence.
"Why?" asked George, looking confused. "They don't like her, we all know that. Why not just take her and be done with it?"
Alicia nodded. "They'd be only too happy to see the back of her forever, if half what she says is true."
Harry shook his head. "You don't know the Dursleys like I do. To Dudley's mind, Helen is his property, and he won't take kindly to anyone stealing her, even if he doesn't particularly want her."
"A dog in the manger," said Minerva dryly. "He doesn't need or want what he has, but he can't let anyone else have it."
"So we have to get past his instincts to guard what he has, and help him remember that he doesn't want Helen, and we do," Remus finished for her.
"There's another problem as well, the way I see it," said Arthur. "Harry, isn't Dudley likely to refuse you Helen's guardianship simply because it would make you happy?"
Harry nodded slowly. "More likely than I care to think about. He takes after his father that way. We'll just have to work around that somehow."
"And so we will," said Molly firmly. "No grandchild of mine is staying with nasty people like that one minute longer than she has to!"
"So if we all understand what to do, what are we waiting for?" asked Angelina.
"Nothing, I guess," said Harry, grinning at her. "Does everyone understand? Any suggestions, alterations?"
People shook their heads or murmured "No".
"Good luck, 'Arry," said Fleur, and kissed him on the cheek.
Of course, after that, Angelina and Alicia and Penelope and even Molly insisted on kissing him for luck as well. Even Minerva allowed herself to embrace him. The men confined themselves to handshakes or verbal goodbyes and good wishes.
Hermione hugged him hard and whispered in his ear, "You'll be brilliant. Even if they are stubborn morons." Ron grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up. Ginny kissed him, then rubbed her cheek against his, as she did as a cat.
Wand in hand, Harry Disapparated.