Chaos on Privet Drive

Chaos Irrupted in the ballroom. There was no other word for it. Witches and wizards were running franticly and hysterically every which way while Ministry wizards were pouring out of the woodwork, running against the stampede. Ron and Hermione were clutching at each other, terror playing on both their faces. Harry looked around with growing dread, trying to find someone he knew that would know what to do, but any adult wizard was either off fighting or reduced to uselessness in their fright. The Dursley's had lost it altogether. Aunt Petunia and Dudley were sobbing, Petunia trying to shield her mammoth son from any harm that might be coming their way. Uncle Vernon was in a rage, shaking terrified wizards who happened to cross his path and demanding to know what was going on.

"He's coming! He's coming!" was all any of them managed to squeak out before promptly disapperating out of his grasp. Harry didn't need to ask who he was. He was Voldemort and he was coming to finish what was started at the beginning of summer.

"Kids!" The three looked up to see Arthur Weasley, Ron's father, run past, "Kids, get to a safe place, I'll come back for you." Then he was off to join the fray, Harry could see the glossy white masks of Death Eaters now at the far end of the ballroom. Amongst members of the Order and the Ministry wizards, Harry could see the telltale colour of Andreya's curls.

"Andreya!" he shouted, but both Ron and Hermione yanked him backwards.

"Harry she can take care of herself," Hermione said urgently, "Right now we have to get your family out." Harry was about to ask just how Hermione knew Andreya but there were more important tasks at hand, like trying to convince Uncle Vernon to take the help of three underage wizards.

"What the ruddy hell is going on!" He bellowed at Harry as the trio approached. Ron had his wand out and Uncle Vernon was eyeing it savagely.

"I don't have time to explain!" Harry shouted, explosions erupting close at hand. "We have to get to a safe place fast," and as an afterthought he added, "as well as undetected." A strange look crossed uncle Vernon's face. It wasn't acceptance by any means but a strange sort of understanding passed between him and Harry. They both knew there were bigger issues at hand than who was Wizard and who was Muggle; they had a duty to each other to make it out of this situation alive. Hermione had produced her wand from the folds of her skirts and she and Ron flanked the Dursley family while Harry steered them out of the ballroom. There was no where to hide, The thought of Death Eaters on Privet Drive was almost laughable, but now that they were here and Harry had seen them, he knew nowhere on this street would be safe, maybe nowhere in both worlds was safe anymore.

"Where too, boy?" Uncle Vernon asked indignantly. Harry just shook his head, until he caught something peculiar on the edge of his vision. He saw Mrs. Norris slink by, the cat that belonged to Filtch the Hogwarts caretaker. He stopped and so did the cat, her eyes which had a knack for spotting trouble fixed on his for a moment before suddenly running off, presumably to find her master. That was it.

"Mrs. Figg…" Harry said, almost inaudible over the uproar of wizard to wizard combat. "Mrs. Figg!" He shouted excitedly. No one would ever think to look for them with batty old Mrs. Figg; she was a squibb and couldn't possibly protect any of them from the Death Eaters, which was exactly why they would never look there. Aunt Petunia pursed her lips, Dudley wailed, Hermione had taken on a Professor McGonagall level look of disapproval while Uncle Vernon and Ron were looking at him as if he's just taken off all of his clothes and started to do the mambo.

"What are you on about boy?" Uncle Vernon roared as the battle drew ever closer. Spells were beginning to rain down upon them and Ron and Hermione began desperately performing shielding charms.

"Do something Harry!" Hermione cried.

"Just trust me for once," Harry shouted, "Get everyone to Mrs. Figg's!" Uncle Vernon looked like he would rather run towards the wizards trying to kill them than take an order from Harry, his face was starting to turn purple with exasperation until finally he started to usher his family in the direction of the exit without a word. Seconds later they were out of sight and Harry no longer had a moment to spare for them, he turned his attention instead to his friends who were battling desperately.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled disarming the closest Death Eater. "We have to get out of here."

"Working on it mate," Ron replied glancing around. Harry looked with him and felt his heart sink. Any way out of the ball room had been clogged with Voldemort's supporters.

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry swallowed thickly as a jet of green light barely missed Hermione. This was getting bad. He was starting to sink into despair as his wand arm began to get tired and his dodges were becoming slower and slower when he saw her burst through the crowd of black robes. One of the straps of her gown had ripped and she was bleeding from a gash in her forehead, but Andreya was running towards them firing jinxes over her shoulder.

"Harry!" she said breathlessly, "This way!" She grabbed Ron's arm and began to pull him in the direction of the giant stained glass window.

"Wha…"

"Jump!" She demanded, shattering the window with a wave of her wand.

"Are you insane?" Harry cried, but Hermione was diving out the window. Ron hesitated about going after her but another jet of green light whizzed past his ear and he fallowed quickly.

"Go!" Andreya shouted, hitting one Death Eater with the body bind curse.

"But…" Then she pushed him, just as he heard a deep male voice yell stupefy, and she fell unconscious out of his line of sight. Not that he could see her for very long as he sailed out the window backwards, seeing nothing but confusing sky before landing hard on his back. He coughed feeling for a moment like every bone in his body was broken until he realized that he was okay. Sucking in a deep breath he opened his eyes which had wrenched themselves shut during the fall only to gasp as he took in the grotesque sight of the Dark Mark hanging over the McCoy house. He wanted to gagged, and shut his eyes again but the image of the snake protruding horribly from the empty eye sockets of the skull seemed to have burned itself onto the backs of his eyelids.

"Oh, Harry! Are you alright?" he heard Hermione call somewhere to his right, and Ron groaned somewhere to his left. They were both okay. He felt a small hand grasp his and opened his eyes to see Hermione trying to help him up. He submitted to her tugging and stood slowly, sucking in air to keep from moaning in pain. Ron pulled himself up looking about as battered as Harry felt. Ron must have landed on his face, because his nose was gushing blood.

"Let's get out of here," Ron groaned, starting to limp towards number four.

"No," Harry hissed, trying to keep his voice down in case more Death Eaters were outside, "Mrs. Figg's is this way." Ron veered course immediately, stumbling into Hermione who was picking grass out of her hair.

"Ouch! Ron!"

"Shhh!" Harry insisted, trying to creep as stealthily as possible up Mrs. Figg's lawn. He paused on the front stoop and Ron walked right into him.

"Ouch!"

"Shhh Ron!" That time it was Hermione. She knew too that something wasn't right. All the lights were off and the front door lay open a crack. Harry couldn't even hear the telltale mewing of one of the cats. "Wands out?" She whispered uncertainly. Harry nodded, producing his own wand from his pocket and tiptoed up to the door. They all paused and looked at each other counting a silent 1…2…3 then Ron kicked the door open.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" There was a kamikaze yell from the darkness then someone was rushing at them, waving something that glinted dangerously in the moon light. Everyone screamed, even their attacker; then Ron fell unconscious to the lawn.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione shouted and a second form landed on the grass next to Ron.

"Lumos!" Harry whispered hastily and lowered his wand to see who their assailant was. "Mrs. Figg?"