Chapter 11: Attacked

Having Percy at the Burrow didn't really change things much, and, aside from the occasional tense moment, he was welcomed back graciously.

Three days before the start of school Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in the grass of the paddock near the Burrow. It was a bit strange for them to be, in truth, two couples instead of four friends (although Ron still hadn't mustered up the courage to confess his feelings to Hermione...) Even so, they were very much enjoying their last days of summer. They were just reliving the 'Malfoy the Bouncing Ferret' incident of two years ago when a sharp crack rang out. All four looked up abruptly. They knew that was the sound of someone Apparating or Disaparating.

Harry tensed. This could be nothing, but could also be something, a very dangerous something, and one could never be too careful, especially around the Boy Who Lived. Quietly they crept out of the paddock. Harry looked around to see that all three of his companions, like himself, were gripping their wands tightly in their pockets.

"Impedimenta!" someone bellowed.

Harry whipped around. "Protego!" he shouted, and the spell was reflected back.

"Run!" he heard Ginny yell.

They ran for the shelter of the Burrow.

"Percy! Mum! Dad!" Ron called his family as they entered the house. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hurried into view.

"What is it? What's happened?" Mrs. Weasley asked frantically. All four began talking at once.

"We – we were in the paddock and–"

"Someone Apparated right there!"

"We didn't see them, but they tried to curse us!"

"–an Impediment Jinx!"

"Oh, Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley turned to her husband, "What should we do?"

He seemed to snap into action. "Molly, call the others. Percy and I will see if we can find them."

"Harry sent the curse back at – whoever it was," Hermione offered.

"Good," Mr. Weasley, "maybe they're still there." He quickly called Percy, and the two of them left.

"Now, I want you four to go up to your rooms – no, the kitchen..." Mrs. Weasley instructed as she hurried off to summon the rest of the Order. They sat at the table, waiting tensely in complete silence.

"Who could it have been, though?" Ron jerked them out of their thoughts.

"I'm pretty sure it's safe to say it was a Death Eater," Hermione voiced her opinion.

Harry gasped.

"Don't act so surprised, Harry. It's not like you hadn't already guessed that," Hermione said.

"No, it's not that," a look of horror flickered across his face, "I could've gotten you guys killed out there."

"Don't be stupid," Ron said rather nervously, "You're the one who did the Shield Charm–"

"The Death Eater was after me!" Harry interrupted, "Whoever it was wouldn't have thought twice before killing you three."

Ginny took his hand. "It's not your fault," she said, "We know the risks, and we're going to be there with you. You're a huge part of our lives, Harry. We're not going to push you away to save our own skins."

"'Course not, mate," Ron added, "We'd never leave you to fend for yourself, and we won't let you go it alone."

"You're not solely responsible for the safety of us all, Harry, so don't weigh yourself down with that responsibility," Hermione said, taking his other hand.

Harry actually felt that he was responsible for the safety of them all, but he kept his mouth shut because he knew his friends were trying their best to ease his burden.

Mrs. Weasley came back after dark to check on them.

"What's going on, Mum?" Ginny hastened to help her mother.

"Oh, Ginny," she sighed wearily, "we haven't found them. Now listen, you four. There is a good chance we'll be out all night. We need to find this person...I want you all to sleep down here tonight; make sure you know where everyone is at all times. Do not leave each other, and do not leave the house–" she stopped as countless cracks sounded through the night.