Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and the characters are the property of J.K. Rowling. I will never make money off of the true genius' work. Blanche Nouveau and the plot are all mine though.
Chapter 3-The Unexpected Guests
Fred and George looked at each other, worry obvious in the creases of their identical foreheads. Ginny shook her head and said, "Mum's at Diagon Alley visiting with friends and Ron . . . I don't know where Ron is." Ginny's face went pale and here eyes lightened to an ice blue.
"Do any of you remember seeing him at all today?" Harry asked calmly trying to mask his anger at the three Weasleys.
"I know he was at breakfast, because he threw some sausage at me when I teased him about liking 'Mione. But I don't know . . . After that he just sulked and went away by himself."
"Well, we have to find him before those six do," Harry pointed to the group of hooded Death Eaters. Suddenly, the whereabouts of Ron Weasley were evident to everyone—Death Eaters and all.
"What's going on here?" Ron shouted toward the house coming from the garden. "Where is everyone? Ginny . . . Mum . . . Fred . . . George! Where are you guys?"
The hooded figures on the lawn turned toward Ron. One of them shrieked with cruel laughter as they said, "Mr. Weasley, how grand of you to join us here." Before Ron could pull out his wand, Bellatrix Lestrange exclaimed,
"Stupefy!" The pink light hit Ron squarely on the chest and he fell to the grassy ground beneath him. A snobbish voice looked toward Ron his nose in the air,
"Finally, a Weasley put in their rightful place." Lucius Malfoy snickered at the thought. He went to Ron and cast a Mobilicorpus spell. Ron's body floated in the air toward the Death Eater. "Windgardium Leviosa," Malfoy raised his wand and Ron's body went flying 20 feet above them. Malfoy shouted, "Let's see if this won't inspire our friends from the Order to come here now."
Harry and the three Weasley's faces turned red with anger. Harry determined to save his friend was ready to walk out to them, when Ginny held him back,
"Harry, no. We have to plan something. There's six of them and only four of us. Think Harry." Ginny held Harry's shoulders.
"We need a distraction." Harry nodded toward the twins.
"How about fire works?" George grinned pulling out an infamous set of Weasley crackers from his pocket.
"Great. George, take the fireworks out towards the woods. Light them. Then, come back here. Do any of you have a broom?"
"Yeah." Fred pulled out a shrunken Clean Sweep 1050 and enlarged it to regular size. "I also have a port key to the shop." Fred grinned.
"Damn, even better. Here's what we do . . . George fireworks. Then back here to help with defenses until we have Ron. Then, you appartate with Ginny to the shop. Fred and Ginny will help protect Ron and I. When the fireworks go off and Malfoy sends a couple of his thugs to check it out, I will go out and distract him while you three protect me from here and one of you casts Accio to get Ron over here, preferably Fred or George. If possible neither Ginny nor I should cast a spell. If all goes well, Fred will appartate with Ron, George with Ginny, and I'll have the port key on me the whole time. If I'm in trouble I'll just use the port key."
"Sounds good to me," George said quite impressed.
"Let's do it," Fred whispered with enthusiasm.
"Okay. George you've got 20 seconds to get back here."
"Engorgio!" The fireworks grew to normal size.
"1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .go!" With a pop George disappeared. Less than ten seconds later another pop was heard and George reappeared. Harry took the port key from Fred.
"Just a couple seconds. 5 . . 4 . . 3 . . 2 . . 1," George whispered.
At just the right moment red and gold sparks, that looked like flare fire, shot up from the other side of the Burrow. Malfoy's attention on Ron was distracted enough for Ron's body to fall. Malfoy noticed just as Ron's feet touched the ground. Malfoy pointed at two of the larger wizards and then towards the fireworks. Harry looked at the other three with him and nodded. The three Weasley's took cover at the stone wall to defend Harry. Harry crept to the edge of the wall. While Malfoy's back was turned watching the other wizards go toward the commotion, Harry straightened up and walked out into the yard as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Harry looked almost regal, as if he was meeting the host of a party he was invited to. When Harry got 50 feet away from the last four Death Eaters, he cleared his throat and shouted,
"Mr. Malfoy, I see you are up to your old haunts, sir."
"Mr. Potter. What a pleasure to see you with both socks on. Why ever are you here? Shouldn't you be with your Muggle family during the summer?"
"That is none of you concern, sir. I don't suppose there would be a way to talk you into letting me take Mr. Weasley off your hands."
"Interesting that you ask. In fact, the very reason we are here is to find you, Mr. Potter. We visited the Dursley's earlier today. Very charming person your uncle. I think if he weren't a Muggle he and I would get on quite well. Seems you hurt your poor cousin and were forced to run. So we came here immediately to visit your surrogate family. You are quite predictable Mr. Potter."
"Of course, you would see it that way." Harry said sarcastically. "So what is your proposal?"
"You, for Mr. Weasley."
"And how am I to know Mr. Weasley isn't just dead and if he is alive you wouldn't just kill him after you are finished with me?"
"Well, seeing as trust is lacking, you won't."
"I see. Well, no deal then. I think I'll just be off . . ."
"Not so fast Mr. Potter. You have three wands on you right now. There is no way for you to walk out of here alive."
"Sure about that are you?"
"Quite."
"Well, then it seems I'll just have to do something about that." Harry drew his wand and pointed it toward Malfoy.
"Willing to risk expulsion for Mr. Weasley hum?"
"I think the Ministry would forgive me if I caught a Death Eater that should be in Azkaban."
"Touché, Mr. Potter."
"Enough of this ravel . . . Stupefy!" Bellatrix shot her pink light at Harry. Beams of pink and green lights shot out in Harry's direction, as Harry dived toward the wall. Fred aimed his wand toward Ron and shouted,
"Accio Ron!" Before Malfoy knew what happened, Ron was on the other side of the wall and with a pop George took Ron to safety. Fred and Ginny watched as Harry struggled to the wall. Harry nodded and Fred and Ginny were gone with another pop. Harry touched the port key in his pocket and with a green whoosh was pulled to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes Shop.
"Wow! Now that was some excitement! Ennervate!" Ron shook as he woke up.
"What the bloody hell happened?"
"He did what?" Ron Weasley shouted with both awe and fright.
"Yeah, Malfoy had you 50 feet in the air and Harry walked out like he was meeting someone at the Three Broomsticks," one of the twins continued.
"No way! Harry that took guts!" Ron sat back in shock at his best friend's daring. Ron finally realized how important he was to his best friend in that moment. The second task of the Triwizard Tournament hadn't come close to proving what this did.
"Harry was disturbingly polite. The sarcasm was heavy. I don't think Lucius realized Harry was mocking him. It would have been funny if the stakes weren't so . . . high."
"Oh George, I didn't know you cared," Ron teased.
"God, Ron. We were all really lucky," Fred said.
"Let's hope our luck doesn't run out. In the mean time, Ron do you think you could use more tact when approaching an emergency. You never know who you'll bump into."
"Sure Mum . . . I mean Ginny."
"So what do we do now? We can't very well hide out here they will guess as much," Ginny asked the boys. They all looked to Harry for the answer.
"I suppose we could go to Headquarters, since you two can appartate," Harry decided.
"Okay. Hopefully no one will follow us," George agreed.
"We could go right from here. No one knows we're here," Fred added.
Ginny exasperated that they hadn't left yet urged them to actually follow through. "Let's go. We need to tell someone in the Order to find Mum."
Fred and George grabbed some of their tricks, while Harry, Ginny, and Ron packed as much food as they could. Fred held on to Ginny, George to Ron, and then they looked at Harry realizing they were one person short.
"One of us will come back for you, or we'll send someone to you." Harry nodded. About five minutes later Tonks appeared in the Weasley twins' office.
"Harry? Harry where are you? We have to hurry. Big trouble at headquarters. Death Eaters everywhere. The Ministry Aurors are being held by them. I think the Underage Magic Ban is going to need lifting. We need you Harry. Come on!" Tonks grabbed Harry and they appartated to Grimmauld Place.
The scene looked pretty familiar. Not three hours before, the same Death Eaters were at the Burrow terrorizing Ron Weasley. The aurors were held in the air this time by Lucius Malfoy's thugs, Crabbe and Goyle, while Bellatrix, Lucius and Macnair fought Order members that had just shown up for a meeting. Remus Lupin was dodging pink lights from Bellatrix Lestrange's wand.
"Harry get down!" Remus shouted as he threw Stupefy out at Bellatrix. Three blue beams of light shot her way. Bellatrix dove beneath the first two, but the third one hit her in the shoulder as she fell face first into the sidewalk. Remus glanced back toward her and as he approached her she motioned toward her wand. With his wand already drawn Remus shouted, "Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalis!" and then he bound the wicked witch. Behind him Lucius Malfoy was approaching.
"Crucio!" Remus fell to the ground completely taken by surprise.
"Lupin! No!" Tonks screamed. Harry looked toward where Lucius held Lupin under Crucio. Anger filled Harry, knowing how the spell felt, and seeing that Lucius had hit Lupin from behind. Harry didn't know why he expected fair play from a Death Eater, but he was still surprised by Malfoy's tactics. Harry got out of his hiding place and shouted at Lucius,
"I know what you're here for. No one will tell you what you want! It doesn't matter what you do to us!"
"Mr. Potter, how nice to see you again. So what do I want to know? I didn't know you were a Legilimens. Tell me what do you see."
"I see a pompous nobody who sucks up to his Dark Lord thinking maybe he might grab some of his limelight. You probably believe you can take over when he dies. But for now you are doing his biddings. You're nothing more than a glorified thug."
"Amazing assessment, Mr. Potter. You are quite right after all. The Dark Lord will fall and you are the one we need to off him. Then, afterward I'll get rid of you and be the most powerful wizard."
"No. You'll still have to fight off Dumbledore. No mater how many evil wizards there are, there will always be good wizards to equalize you. Neuton's First Law of Physics. But that's muggle science, so I understand your ignorance."
"Muggle science. Ha! What philosophy, Potter. Enough of this! Crucio!" Harry was expecting the spell, so he was able to dodge the first set of green beams. Malfoy's second attempt did hit him though. Harry fought as hard as he had in the fourth year Defense Against the Dark Arts class, when the fake Professor Moody taught him what it felt like. Lucius Malfoy stood stunned when Harry almost immediately came out of his Crustatius spell so soon.
The pause was all Harry needed. Within Lucius's few seconds of shock Harry, a bit more for wear, stood up wand raised and shouted, "Stupefy!' The stunner Harry shot at Malfoy hit Malfoy directly in the chest. Harry approached the senior Malfoy, his wand still at the ready.
"Petrificus Totalis." Lupin called from behind Harry, aiming at Lucius Malfoy. Lupin stood up his wand still pointed at Malfoy.
"Avada ke. . . "
"Stupefy!" Tonks exclaimed, saving Lupin from a creeping Macnair. Lupin jumped, just then, seeing Macnair fall behind him and shouted to Tonks, "Thanks Babe!"
Tonks blushed as she approached. "Don't mention it. So how about the other Ministry Aurors."
"We're fine thanks to you lot and the Weasley's over there." Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared behind Tonks with the senior Crabbe and Goyle floating behind him. He came up to Lupin and gave him a huge hug, "Thanks Remus. I owe you." Lupin just shrugged his shoulders at Shacklebolt's heart felt words.
Tonks broke up the deep moment before Remus had to speak, "Great! So I suppose you two can explain what happened to the Ministry. Harry could be in big trouble. I'll come with to explain my part in what happened. Let's take them directly to Azkaban." Then she motioned to Remus with a smirk, "Think you two can handle the two thugs until we send someone?"
"I think we can manage Tonks," Lupin said with a blushing smile. With that the three aurors transported Lucius, Bellatrix, and Macnair. Ten minutes later the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, came with another Ministry Auror.
"Harry, Harry. Dear boy. Thank you!" Fudge patted Harry on the head. "Don't worry I'm not here to expel or break your wand. The Underage Magic Ban has been lifted, so students can protect themselves in these dark times."
"Er. Okay."
"You should be proud of yourself, Harry. Catching the Terrible Trio plus two is quite an accomplishment. Perhaps you are Auror material after all." Harry suspiciously rose an eyebrow. "Yes. Yes. Well, in the mean time just take me to Dumbledore's Headquarters will you? I can only assume you are here under Albus's orders."
"I'm sorry Minister, but it's really not my place."
"Oh, Harry. I thought we had an understanding."
"Understanding?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Auror. Harry. Tell me where Dumbledore is and you don't even need training to be an auror for the Ministry. You can begin fresh out of Hogwarts, since your experiences have given you adequate training already."
"Umm. I'm sorry but that doesn't sound like a legal understanding sir."
"How could I do anything illegal, Harry? I am the law." Harry looked to the ground.
"I'm sorry sir but I don't have any idea where Professor Dumbledore is." Harry began to pull out his wand still suspicious of this Fudge. He could be under Imperious, thought Harry.
"Cornelius why do you need to see Dumbledore?" Remus asked wand at the ready, apparently thinking the same thoughts as Harry.
"Oh hello, Remus. Congratulations by the way. Why were you here anyway? I don't suppose you would be here on Dumbledore's orders, would you?"
"No. Tonks found me and asked for my help. She said Shacklebolt and Figg were in trouble. I came immediately."
"What's going on Harry?" Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron came up to the commotion. They all had their wands ready for action.
"Well, the aurors are safe thanks to you guys, you'll have to tell me about that by the way, we caught Malfoy, Lestrange, and Macnair, and they are on their way to Azkaban. But Mr. Fudge doesn't understand why we were here to begin with and wants to know where Dumbledore is and I don't know," Harry said calmly.
"Oh. I wonder if we shouldn't be going Harry. I'm sure Mum is looking for the lot of us. We should go find her."
"Mr. Fudge, sir, we really do need to leave."
"Harry I'm sorry but I won't let you leave without the whereabouts of Albus Dumbledore." Fudge pulled out his wand and pointed it at Harry.
"Cornelius what is the meaning of this?" asked Lupin. "Harry has done nothing wrong. You said yourself the Underage Magic Ban was lifted and that you were grateful that the Terrible Trio was caught.
"No he hasn't done anything wrong, but I still do not see why he is here. Only my aurors were meant to be here. Why would Harry Potter and his surrogate siblings appartate to this street of all streets at the exact moment Death Eaters were attacking Ministry Aurors. I can only assume they knew about the attack, or Dumbledore has something to do with it. Either you lot are Death Eaters yourselves or part of the Order of the Phoenix, in which case the headquarters must be nearby. Where is it?" Fudge spat.
"Ah. Cornelius," Dumbledore materialized beside Harry. "I trust everyone is alright? The Fab Five are caught again and in Azkaban are they not?"
"All but Crabbe and Goyle here," motioned Ginny.
"And they soon will be, Albus. Where did you come from?" the Minister asked.
"I don't think that is any of your concern, Cornelius. Why do you have your wand pointed at Mr. Potter?"
"I . . . umm. . . I was looking for you and . . . that is ," Fudge stammered.
"He wanted to know where you were Professor, but I didn't know," Harry enlightened.
"So Cornelius do you normally distrust the people who help save your precious aurors in this way?"
"Umm . . . I."
"I trust extra precautions will be taken at Azkaban this time to assure the people that the Fab Five won't be going out on murdering excursions again."
"No. The Dementors are plenty to keep them in prison. They were just lucky last time. It won't happen again," said Fudge clearly in denial about what happened.
Dumbledore continued without his usual cheery voice, "That's what I thought. Cornelius, make no mistake, this is the last of you. You will not win the next Ministry election. I have had enough. It is appalling how you arrogance blinds you to the truth."
"You realize that your Order of the Phoenix is a renegade organization. I have the authority to shut you down and intend to do so before elections begin," Fudge spat.
"Actually Cornelius, the Order is not under any jurisdiction, as it does not exist. If it did exist, I do not think the people who vote would appreciate your crazy notions of trying to dismiss that which protects them. No, quite the contrary. I believe they would be more concerned with why Death Eaters are able to break free from Azkaban so easily and why their children have to fight to save their lives on a daily basis. The people want to be safe not regulated so they cannot protect themselves." After that heavy scolding, Dumbledore proceeded to dismiss the Minister, "Now I think it is time for us all to get to safety before something else happens."
Fudge was red from head to foot with either embarrassment or anger, but rather than try to match wits with Albus Dumbledore he passively ended the conversation, "Yes. Yes . . . I suppose. Good day Albus,"
"Good day Cornelius." Cornelius and the other Ministry Auror appartated with Crabbe and Goyle in two pops. Dumbledore shook his head and moved over to Harry.
Dumbledore patted Harry on the back. "Never a dull moment for you is there Harry? Well done." He looked around to everyone still present and cheerily asked, "Shall we be off?"
The seven heroes walked over to the space between 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place. Within seconds they were inside Headquarters in a meeting of the Order. Not 30 seconds later Tonks appeared with an exasperated shout, "Damn Fudge! I'd like to just pummel the idiot!" Tonks walked into the meeting, red haired spikes blazing and continued,
"He threatened to fire me the next time I ask for help outside the Ministry. He said I should have taken the five Death Eaters easily and possible death was no excuse to recruit a werewolf and five teenagers for help. Damn him! Albus I should just quit! I can't take much more of this!" Remus stood up and comforted Tonks. Tonks pounded on Remus' broad shoulders. Remus grabbed Tonks' arms and mumbled soothing words. Tonks' hair changed to long violet waves and laid her face on Remus' chest sobbing angry tears.
"Nymphadora, I'm sorry dear, but if you quit now Fudge will know where your sympathies lie and you would be in greater danger than you know," Dumbledore explained as he came toward the embracing friends. "Remus perhaps you could take Tonks to the drawing room and help her calm down."
"Of course, Albus." Lupin held Tonks at his side while they left the meeting in the direction of the drawing room.
"Harry, I don't suppose you could tell us what transpired to get you here two months early?"
The members of the Order present listened intently, as Harry described the past 24 hours to the Order beginning with the moment he began to run. The parts Harry couldn't fill the Weasleys put in their two knuts. Ron stood perfectly still not saying a word as Ginny, Fred, and George told the professor how the four of them managed to bring Shacklebolt and Figg down from the air and put Crabbe and Goyle out of commission.
"It was pretty easy really. We just sent Ron out for bait. Granted, Ron wasn't as dashing as Harry for bait, but the two thugs knew him from our earlier rendezvous."
"With their attention off their hostages, Ginny and I slowly brought down the aurors to the ground and cast Enervate to bring them to and Ron and George stunned both Death Eaters. When Shacklebolt and Figg got up, they petrified Crabbe and Goyle and floated their bodies behind them in the direction we saw Tonks running. It was no big deal really."
The four Weasley's grinned at each other and then at Harry. Harry finished the story at this point telling Dumbledore about Fudge's appearance on the scene. Harry included everything, suspicions, emotions, and all. By now Harry knew it all could mean something, even if he didn't realize what that something was.
After the debriefing was over Ron finally spoke in awe of the whole day, "If Hermione could see us now."