Come Back

Chapter Ten

The Party

00000000000000000000000000000000000

"Ginny…something's wrong, get your wand out." Harry said as they stepped out of the fireplace in the kitchen of Number Twelve.

The house was way to quite and there was a stale smell on the air. Harry was straining his ears listening for any faint sounds coming from upstairs or the hallway. He had expected the kitchen to be full of friendly faces when he entered but it was empty. The house felt strange to him, as if something bad was going on.

"Harry it's okay, remember It's a surprise party, I'm sure their just going to pop out or something. Maybe there in the living room." Ginny said while putting her wand back into her pocket.

"No Ginny, something is wrong. I don't think anyone is here. I can't hear anything." Harry said as he took Ginny's wand out of her pocket and shoved it into her hand.

"Alright Harry, let's at least look around before we jump to conclusions." Ginny said, almost humoring Harry.

They headed out of the kitchen and into the landing that lead to the living room. Not a single sound could be heard in the house, Harry would have been happy with a few shrieks from Mrs. Black's portrait, but nothing, not even the sound of creaking floorboards. To Harry's right he could feel Ginny tighten her grip on his arm as they entered the living room and looked around.

The living room had been completely destroyed. Ripped carpet, torn curtains, and stuffing from chairs were tossed everywhere. The remaining Black heirlooms were shattered and smashed. A few red pools of blood where hear and there, Harry felt his heart sink.

"What happened here? Where is everyone?" Harry said breathlessly.

Ginny suddenly let go of Harry and ran out of the living room, down the hall and out the front door. Harry followed instinctively, and saw that Ginny had run out into the street and was now looking up into the sky. He could see a look of relief spread across her face.

Ginny came back inside and shut the door. "Well, no one died here. There would have been the dark mark above the house and there isn't."

"Well, the savior has returned home." Came a cold, malicious voice from the second floor landing.

Harry jumped and turned so fast it's amazing that he didn't fall over. Ginny instinctively grabbed Harry's arm with her left hand while raising her wand in her right. The landing was so dark that neither of them could see who had spoken.

"Oh, and look, you snagged yourself a Weasley, how touching." The stranger said as he moved down the stairs, creaking the floorboards as he did so. The glow from the outside window was pouring into the room, and as soon as the stranger stepped into the light both Harry and Ginny gasped. Standing, looking as smug as ever was Snape.

"You! What have you done to them, where are they." Harry said with immediate anger in his voice.

"Don't worry Potter, I didn't want those blood traitors, I only came for you." Snape snarled.

"Yeah, well here I am." Harry said as he pushed Ginny away from him.

"Harry no!" Ginny whispered urgently. "You don't have to do this alone."

"Oh yes I do Ginny!" Harry said while not moving his eyes from Snape. "Go find your family."

"How heroic of you Potter. Now if you don't mind I have some unfinished business to attend to." Snape said as he raised his wand.

Harry reacted before Snape even had a chance to think of a spell. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Snape's body instantly froze and he fell forward with a strange crunch onto the ground. Harry took his foot and rolled him over onto his back and took his wand from him. "And you thought I never had any talent Snape." Harry said as he raised his wand once more at his victim. "Incarcerous!" Ropes shot out of Harry's wand and twisted themselves around Snape's already limp body. "I'd like to see you try anything now."

"Ginny, I bet your family is upstairs. I'll stay here to watch this creep and you go find them. Be on the ready incase there are more Death Eaters."

Ginny made a point to walk on top of Snape as hard as she couldthen headed upstairs. Harry stood watch over Snape, laughing as Snape's eyes started to water because he couldn't blink. A few moments later, sounds of people talking could be heard from upstairs. Ginny came down first, closely followed by Ron and Hermione.

"He silenced them and tied them up. There all ok, just a little shook up." Ginny said.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasly, Fred, George, Tonks, and MadEye came down stairs rubbing the different spots where the ropes had bound them.

MadEye took one look at Snape and roared with laughter. "Good job Harry, the filthy slime ball. He came in from behind us and stunned us all, then dragged us upstairs. Dirty coward, he wouldn't have gotten away with that to our faces."

"It's alright MadEye, I'll just pop into work, alert the right people and we will get this scum off to Azkaban." Mr. Weasly said. "I'll be back in a few, all of you keep on guard. Sorry your party got ruined Harry."

"Mr. Weasly, this is the best party ever, the day I see Snape hauled of to Prison is the best day of my life!" Harry said while kicking Snape hard in the ribs.

Mr. Weasly left for the Ministry while the others stayed behind and had fun taunting an immobile Snape. His eyes darted back and forth watching each one of them in turn. They all seemed thoroughly disappointed when Mr. Weasly returned with two security wizards in tow. They wanted to keep taunting Snape but the prospect that he would spend the rest of his days in Azkaban was more appealing.

The Weasly's and Harry made their way back to the burrow sometime later, all chatting happily about the nights events.

"I can't believe that he even tried that!" Ginny exclaimed to Harry when they had finally got a moment alone in the living room. "I mean, a house full of Order members, he must have lost his marbles."

"I think the prospect of hunting me down deluded his senses." Harry said as he put his arm around Ginny while they were sitting on the couch. "But he is one less death eater to worry about, I wonder how many more will try to hunt me down. I must say, I'm going to rather enjoy being bait. Maybe we should pay Hogsmead a Visit tomorrow."

"Sounds like fun, but you have to do one thing Harry." Ginny said.

"What's that Ginny?"

"Take me out on our first official date." Ginny giggled.