Chapter 7

Still holding Hermione closer than he ever had, Harry whispered, "I'm going to try and stun Wormtail. I want you to run to your parent's house and collect everyone. We're going to portkey to Grimmauld Place. On three." He kissed her once, again, and a third time. Harry pulled his wand out of the wrist holder that Remus had found for him and fired a stunner, squarely hitting the rat. Pettigrew flew back ten feet from the sheer force of the spell. Hermione ran as fast as she could, shouting, "Get over here quick! Mum, Dad, Remus, Ginny. Now!!!" Hermione shut the oven off, as Harry burst into the house.

"We're going to portkey out of here. Everyone hold onto this drumstick. Now!!!" When everyone was touching it, Harry activated the portkey, and in an instant they were in the car park behind the brownstone. "Get in the house, quick."

Remus and Ginny ran a few steps and vanished. "Harry, they can't. Help them," pleaded Hermione.

"What?"

"My parents."

"Oh." Harry pulled the slip of paper that Dumbledore had given him out of his wallet and showed it to the Grangers. "Read this, quick."

They did, and the door magically appeared. Ginny cried, "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry slammed the door shut, and said, "Remus, I got him! Get Bones over here quick."

"Who?" asked Remus, trying to calm everyone down with his mild manor.

"Wormtail. I stunned him in Hermione's back yard." Harry held up the stunned rat and set it in the floor.

Now it was Remus who was over excited. "I'll be back in five minutes. Everyone, keep your wands out, and keep back! Harry, don't hesitate to use anything to keep him from getting away." Remus stepped out the door and vanished.

"Harry, what's going on?" pleaded Mrs. Granger.

"Just five minutes, Mrs. Granger, then I'll tell you everything that you want to know. I promise." Harry kept his eyes focused on the motionless rat with the silver paw. "Dobby?" The little house elf appeared. His eyes never leaving the rat, Harry said, "Remus and some others will be here in a minute. Please let them in when they come. Hermione, please keep your parents away from him." The Doctors truly looked frightened.

A minute later, Amelia, Kingsley, Hestia and Remus burst in. Hestia had a set of anti-apparation manacles and a portkey in her hand. Remus knew the spell to force an Animagus back into human form. He cast it, and immediately Hestia placed the manacles on Peter Pettigrew. Kingsley and Hestia immediately portkeyed the still stunned form of Pettigrew to the holding cell at the Ministry.

Remus took the very shaken Doctors and Ginny into the kitchen. Dobby opened one of the bottles of the Napoleon Brandy and poured three very large glasses for the Grangers and Remus and a butterbeer for Ginny.

Amelia took Hermione and Harry into the library and began asking questions. "Hermione, can you tell me what you saw?"

Hermione was remarkably collected. "Harry and I had gone into the back garden at my parents' home to talk before dinner. After a few minutes, Harry saw the rat. He whispered into my ear to get ready to run into the house, collect everyone and be ready to leave. I ran, and about fifteen seconds later, Harry ran in holding the rat and a portkey. Everyone grabbed it, and we ended up in the back garden here. Harry showed my parents the information about the house and we all ran in. Harry asked Remus to go find you and left. You arrived a few minutes later."

"Thank you Hermione. Harry did you see anyone else?"

"No ma'am. My concern was that there were other Death Eaters getting ready to attack the house."

"Did anyone know that you had been invited to the Grangers for dinner?"

"No. We had gone shopping together in London, and were invited over at the last minute. When I saw Pettigrew, I remembered that I had a vision last night of Voldemort telling Peter to watch the house in advance of an attack."

Amelia was shaken at the words that Harry had just said. Clearly it was the Grangers who had been the target. It was good fortune and remarkably quick thinking on Harry's part that averted a tragedy. She presumed that the capture of Pettigrew would have caused the attack to be called, off, but she would send a dozen Aurors into the home for the evening, and see what happens. She said, "Well done Harry. I think it best that the Grangers do not return home this evening. Harry, could you possibly put the Grangers up for the evening?"

"Certainly, Director. Could you please conjure sleeping bags for everyone? I ordered bedroom furniture today, but it won't come until tomorrow."

She smiled at the young man. He had better reflexes than any of the Hit Wizards, but still needed help with a sleeping bag. She waved her wand and six extra squashy sleeping bags and pillows appeared. "They probably won't be as squashy as Auror Tonks' but they will be good enough for an evening. Harry about choked on the unintended double-entendre. Not noticing Harry's reaction, Bones continued, "Harry, you did a fantastic job tonight, first in thinking of everyone's safety, second in capturing a very elusive criminal."

"You're welcome. Director Bones, you may want to contact Minister Diggory. I was there when Pettigrew murdered his son Cedric."

Amelia shuddered at the thought. "Of course. He will certainly want to know. I'll tell him immediately. Thank you Harry. I need to talk to the Grangers for a moment, and then leave. Can you arrange the sleeping bags?"

"Certainly. Dobby and Winky?"

Pop, Pop. "Yes, Harry Potter sir?"

"Winky, please make three different pizzas and have dinner ready in twenty minutes. Dobby, please put two sleeping bags in the bedroom across from yours, two more in the room next to it, and mine in the study.

Everyone's heart was still racing as they sat down for dinner. Harry had tried to make everyone feel at home, but it wasn't working. The reality of what had been averted was just beginning to sink in with Dan and Emma. Remus left immediately after Director Bones, doubtlessly to talk with Dumbledore. Ginny, who had hoped for a replay of the previous evening, could see her plans dashed. She had been awake most of the night. Harry felt like a lifetime vengeance had been lifted from his shoulders with Pettigrew in custody. Hermione felt a mixture of adrenalin, emotion over Sirius, and an unexplored feeling about Harry. She also sensed that Ginny was hoping to have a relationship with Harry.

The pizza was fantastic. Harry introduced Wink and Dobby to the Grangers, who aside from the goblins had never seen a magical creature before. Averting a possible confrontation, Harry explained that Dobby and Winky had asked Harry if they could come and work for him a few weeks earlier. Emma had asked for a tour of the house. Starting with the entryway, it looked brighter and lighter than it ever had. The additional lights that Harry had added, along with the work that Dobby and Winky had done scrubbing, painting, and refinishing the woodwork had made a fantastic improvement to the house.

Hermione remembered the black curtains hiding Mrs. Black's portrait, and the disgusting troll leg umbrella stand that had been in the entrance. Now she saw a bright, light, inviting room. Many of the rooms had been locked or were off limits to Hermione when she had spent time there last summer. In reality, she had only seen about half of the house. Gone were the Doxy infested curtains, threadbare rugs, peeling wall coverings and soot stained ceilings from the gaslight lamps. Gone were the disgusting elf heads and nosey portraits. In their place were a light finish oak floor, matching woodwork, white walls, bright lights and open, clean windows. Without the worn out or museum furniture, she came to realize the size and beauty of the home.

Dan was amazed when Harry told him that one of the Professors and he had put in all of the electric in one afternoon. There must have been thousands of feet of electrical wires alone. When asked how they had gotten it all done, Harry replied, "Sir, we used hard work and magic to do the wiring." Dan nodded in amazement.

Harry had to pry Hermione out of his library, promising her that she could look at it another day. There wasn't too much to see yet on the second floor. The only room that was furnished and occupied was Dobby and Winky's. Harry respected their privacy and didn't open the door. In fact, he had never been in the room. Glad that he had done as Dumbledore had advised him, Hermione gave Harry an approving nod when he said who the room belonged to.

They reached the third level. Emma was amazed at the size of the open area. Dobby had done a fantastic job. The floor shined like a brand new gymnasium and the white walls gleamed! Hermione mentioned that there was no electricity in the room. Harry replied that this was the room where they would be practicing magic. Hermione was curious at his statement. She interpreted practicing magic to mean practicing dueling and fighting, but didn't understand how he could do that without a license, or who "they" were. Harry sensed her questions, but did not answer either one.

It was the study that Harry believed to be the jewel of the house. The desk and the furniture were the sort that any CEO would be delighted with, commanding respect. They were extremely well crafted, and by any use of the word, elegant. Emma noted the view into the park, and commented that it must be a fantastic view during the day. The electric lights that Flitwick and Harry had added only served to brighten the room, and make it seem bigger.

While everyone enjoyed the tour of Harry's home, their minds were all wondering what was happening at the Granger's home.

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Meanwhile, Amelia had assembled a dozen of the Aurors and Hit Wizards to watch the Granger house. Senior Auror Dawlish and Hit Wizard Michael Wood were leading the operation. They had Straighthand, Woodson, Smithwick, McNair, four first year Aurors and two other Hit Wizards. Wood's younger brother Oliver, knew the Granger girl whose house was expected to be attacked. Wood seriously doubted that anything would happen given that Voldemort's best men were all captured in a single evening a month ago.

For several hours, nothing happened. The hit Wizards standing watch outside were convinced that Bones had just assembled them so she could ask for more budget money and grow her department.

Shortly before midnight, hell was unleashed. Death Eater Travers was silently directing several of the brand new Death Eaters into position in the back garden. Mid-level Death Eaters Draco, Bulstrode, Crabbe, Goyle, Flint, and Goyle Senior were less experienced, but had previously been on operations. Serving as backup were Snape, Bellatrix and Voldemort himself!!!

Snape had been told that Pettigrew had been captured and as such was expecting an empty house. Unknown to him two things had occurred – There were a dozen ministry Aurors and Hit Wizards waiting in or just around the house. Secondly Voldemort had secretly cast anti-apparation wards around the house and surrounding garden.

Unknown to the Death Eaters, the Granger house had a mid-level security system, and a good set of outdoor floodlights. The surprises on either side would prove to be deadly.

The battle that ensued was brief, but brutal. Inside the house, Woodson saw the motion detector flicker several times, and then the yard lights went on. For a moment, the Aurors had an advantage. They hit Bulstrode, Flint, Crabbe and Goyle in the first volley. Seconds later Draco, Travers and Goyle Sr. burst in through the front door, set fire to the house in six places then left to set additional fires to the outside of the home. Bellatrix had seen two of the Hit Wizards who were hiding outside in the back garden, and killed one. Voldemort killed the other.

Sensing that the situation was rapidly getting out of hand, the Aurors inside the house attempted to apparate away, but couldn't. Realizing that option was gone, they re-cursed the fallen Death Eaters with Reducto spells, causing massive tissue damage in each of them. The last thing that Dawlish saw were the evil red eyes of Voldemort as the green light leapt from his wand.

Outside, Wood saw movement, and blew Snape's shoulder off with a well-placed Reducto spell. Bellatrix fired in kind just as Wood pressed his emergency portkey to get back to the Ministry. By the time that the Grangers' security alarm had automatically summoned the fire department, there were seventeen bodies in the house and back garden. The flaming home was illuminating the area as smoke began to fill the sky.

Amelia saw Wood portkey back and immediately knew the worst had happened. She'd had the foresight to have several healers on hand. It did not look good for Wood. The Healers had cauterized his shoulder, but he had lost most of his blood. Not wanting to lose his recollection of the event, she summoned her Solicitor's Pensive and told a convulsing Wood to extract his memory of the event. He handed her his bloody wand holding the gossamer fine strand of his memory. It was the last thing that he ever did.

She immediately called most of the Department Heads. Within minutes there were Photographers, Obliviators, most of the Investigative Aurors and several reporters from The Daily Prophet at the site.

The neighbors within a two block radius were obliviated and stunned. By the time daybreak came, the bodies had all been moved to the Ministry Morgue, the yard swept for wands, cloaks, and Death Eater paraphernalia. The Granger home had been destroyed, but the muggle fire department had attributed it to a gas leak explosion.

It was a dispirited and exhausted Amelia bones that faced Wizengamot Head Albus Dumbledore and Minister Amos Diggory at seven Sunday morning. She briefed them regarding the preparation for the raid, and then played Wood's dying memory for them. Dumbledore watched the memory with a keen eye, stopping and replaying scenes as needed. When it was done Diggory, asked Bones about the tally.

"On our side, we lost two Senior Aurors, seven Aurors and three Hit Wizards. The dark side lost six – Vincent Crabbe, Greg Goyle, Goyle Sr. Marcus Flint, Millicent Bulstrode, and Severus Snape." Amelia continued. "We were outmarshaled and outgunned."

Dumbledore who had much more tactical experience than Diggory silently agreed with her assessment. The Aurors had been as surprised at the size of the attack, the anti-apparation warding, and the presence of Voldemort as the Death Eaters were of finding anyone other than the Grangers home. Severus was obviously not expecting anything other than to see one of his least favorite student's empty home torched. Sensing that a good person was about to offer her resignation, Dumbledore tried to head it off. "Director you have not told the entire story. Please relate the events leading up to the raid."

To Diggory's delight, she told of the capture of his son's killer and the evacuation of the Grangers from their home. He replied, "Excellent news, Director. Who is responsible for those events?"

"Harry Potter Sir." She relayed what Harry and Hermione had told her.

"Where are the Grangers right now? Have you personally have verified their safety?"

"They are at Potter's home sir. I visited them myself." Bones was amazed that he worried so much about Potter and the Grangers, while showing so little grief for the dead. Obviously he had learned to look ahead rather than behind.

"Excellent. Let's get cleaned up and meet back in fifteen minutes. Then we will go see them and make our visits."

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At 8:00 Dobby answered the door. Dumbledore, Bones, and Diggory walked in. Winky had made a large breakfast. Ginny, Hermione, and Emma were wearing different colored pairs of the silk pajamas that Harry had bought for Ginny. Harry and Dan were dressed. Winky was serving sausages, eggs, bacon, pancakes, fruits, coffee, tea, and orange juice. Seeing them, she immediately put out three more place servings.

Ginny was unusually apprehensive seeing the three officials there. She had expected to see Director Bones return and was not surprised to see Professor Dumbledore. Minister Diggory would only be there for one reason – death. Noticing that she had started shaking, Harry held her hand under the table.

Diggory started. "Mr. Potter, I must congratulate you on your actions last night. The capture of Peter Pettigrew brings a lot of closure for my wife Britt and myself, as I'm certain that it does for you. With Pettigrew's capture, all charges against Sirius will be dropped, and a formal public Ministry apology will be issued." For a moment, Harry felt the weight of the world slip from his shoulders.

"On to less fortunate matters, Dr. Granger your home was raided last night as Mr. Potter predicted, with tragic results. Your home was destroyed and eighteen people were killed." Ginny had tears running down her face, convinced that it had been her family that had been killed.

Hermione beat Ginny in asking "who?"

"Nine Aurors, three Hit Wizards, and six Death Eaters were killed."

Ginny who had been saying a prayer that she had not lost her family was now preparing to hear that the Order had been decimated. Dumbledore sensing her apprehension said, "Miss Weasley, the complete list has not been released. I believe the only names that would be familiar to you are: Greg Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Marcus Flint, Millicent Bulstrode, Severus Snape, and Senior Auror Dale Dawlish."

Harry eased what could have been an extremely uncomfortable situation by saying, "Director Bones, I am sorry to hear of the loss of your Aurors and Hit Wizards. If they were anything like the Aurors that I have met, the world will be a lesser place without them. Is there anything that any of us could do to help you?"

Hermione and Ginny were amazed and proud at the grace that their friend had just displayed. Director Bones had a tear in her eye. The lost Aurors were good men and women. She replied, "Harry, you could be of great help. Senior Auror Shacklebolt and Auror Tonks will escort the Grangers back to their home today. If you have a trunk that they could borrow to put their belongings into, that would be fantastic."

Dumbledore added, "Harry, if you would be willing to put the Grangers up for a while, I'm certain that they would appreciate it. I believe Mundungus will be here any minute with your new furnishings. If Miss Weasley would be willing to help you get things organized, I would expect that the Grangers would be back here by mid-afternoon." A moment later he added, "Harry is there anywhere else that you may need a portkey to?"

Harry thought for a moment and asked, "Would it be possible to get a portkey that would take us to Harrods and back Professor?" Harry handed him a ruler. "This would work well."

"Certainly Harry." Dumbledore closed his eyes, placed his wand on the ruler and said, "Portus." The ruler glowed blue for a moment then returned to its normal state.

Bones and Diggory got ready to leave. They had twelve visits to make this morning. Diggory shook Harry's hand. Harry hugged Amelia, softly saying, "I'm sorry Director. I wish I could have done more. I'm glad that you weren't hurt."

She hugged him back and softly replied, "I'm glad that you weren't hurt either Harry." The two officials opened up the back door and vanished.

Dumbledore came back into the kitchen. "Miss Weasley, do you have sufficient clothing that you could loan to the Grangers?"

Ginny nodded. She had a larger wardrobe now than anytime in her life. "Come on, I'll get everything that you need."

Dumbledore said to Dan, "Dr. Granger, I think it would be advisable that you and your family remained here for at least a few weeks. Could you and Dr. Granger take that much time off from your practice?" Dan nodded, realizing that he literally had dodged a bullet last night. Dumbledore said, "Mr. Potter has a mobile telephone that I'm certain that he would loan to you to help you make the appropriate arrangements."

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