Chapter 10- Cancellations

Arthur and Molly arrived at the Burrow in silence. Molly went to her knitting basket and started on her Christmas sweaters. Arthur felt very down. He felt he disappointed Molly and the rest of the family. He wished he had more in savings. Why didn't he save more? Arthur sighed sadly. When he married Molly, he had promised he could give her a life rich in love if not with Galleons. But was her life happy? He thought that he could make her happy with affection, but he could not deny the struggles they had. He never wanted to burden her with money worries. It shouldn't be right that they were not going to be evicted from their home before the weekend.

Arthur walked over to the couch. Molly was sitting there knitting Charlie's sweater.

Arthur knew Molly was very distressed because she was knitting without magic.

"Hello, dear." Arthur said to his wife.

"Hello, Arthur." Molly said very quietly.

"Knitting Christmas sweaters?" Arthur said with a casual air, trying to make conversation. He mentally smacked himself for asking the obvious.

"Yes." Molly answered, her needles clicking steadily.

"Oh."

Silence.

Arthur smiled affectionately at Molly's work. It was a comforting scene, to watch his wife knit the annual sweaters for their children and Harry. Then Arthur took a deep breath and spoke again, "Molly, I'm very sorry about what happened at the Ministry today."

Molly put down her knitting and allowed Arthur to put a hand on her shoulder. Earlier, she snapped at him for coming near her.

"What are we supposed to do?" Molly asked. Gone was the anger from her eyes and replaced by worry and sadness, which made Arthur's heart feel even more vulnerable. What he would do to have her smile, light and carefree as the days of their youth. The first war was heavy on their hearts, but they were young! And freshly married, they awoke each morning thanking the world that they were alive for another day. More so, they became lost within each other, not thinking of anyone else, just holding each other's hands and lightly giving each other kisses.

"We could always go on that second honeymoon you've always wanted. I mean, we could take the savings and----"

"Arthur, those are the very last of our savings. Those are for emergencies! And we cannot just leave everyone alone!" A sudden image of seven helpless Weasleys and the orphan Harry flashed into Molly's mind.

"Dear, this is an emergency." Arthur said gently, patting Molly on the back. "We don't have a house." He attempted to grin at the joke.

Molly looked into Arthur's eyes in hopelessness. "Everything isn't r-right! Fred and George were sent to Azkaban and they've lost their business…P-Percy is still not speaking to us and now w-we're h-homeless!"

"Don't worry, dear. We'll think of something. We always do." Arthur picked up the knitting that had fallen to the floor. "I promise by the time you're finished with Charlie's sweater, we'll have a solution."

At that precise moment, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger noisily Apparated into the Burrow.

"Mum! Dad!" Ron called. "We have news!"

He ran around the Burrow until he spotted his parents in the living room. Hermione was blushing and Ron was looking very excited.

"Guess what?" Ron said breathlessly. "Hermione an---" Ron stopped. He looked at his weeping mother and his somber father. "What's going on?"

Fred and George suddenly Apparated.

"Well, we've been given back our shop." Fred began.

"Great! So you're off, then? I knew it!" Ron said, whooping.

"Not so fast, little bro." said George. He looked gloomy. "Mum and Dad are going to be evicted."

"Evicted!" Hermione asked, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley with a shocked expression on her face. "Oh…oh, please don't tell me the Ministry has succeeded in taking over the Burrow…please, oh don't."

Fred and George nodded, looking very depressed.

"We've come by to tell Mum and Dad that they could stay at our shop. It'll be a bit cramped, but we should have the mess cleaned up by this weekend."

"Not necessary." Another voice said. Bill Weasley had Apparated. "I just spoke to Kingsley Shacklebolt. He heard of Mum and Dad's situation and offered them to stay at his house."

Molly smiled through her tears. "Don't worry about your father and I, dears. We'll be sure to think of something."

She turned to Ron and Hermione. "What were your saying?"

"Oh." Ron looked awkward. He didn't realize what an inconvenient time it was to announce his engagement to Hermione. Instead, he cleared his throat and asked, "Anyone seen Ginny lately?"

They all shook their heads.

"I haven't seen her since she stopped by for dinner last week." Mrs. Weasley said. "She must be busy at work."

"I'll stop by Flourish and Blotts and see how she's doing." Fred announced. "It's funny, she usually stops by every day."

The conversation was interrupted as a burst of flames arose in the fireplace and Amos Diggery's head appeared.

"Weasley!" Amos cried urgently. "There's been another attack! Come quickly!"

"Another attack?" Arthur repeated, disbelieving his ears. "So soon?"

"The Quiddich players have been taken! We need you and Bill at the Ministry, immediately! Granger," Amos turned to Hermione who looked paler. "We need you to contact Von Trappe and Sevestre immediately." Amo's head disappeared with a pop.

Molly got up immediately. "Arthur, be careful. Bill…" she turned to her son.

"An attack?" Fred interrupted. "Where?"

"We're coming!"

"No you're not!" Mrs. Weasley protested. "The Ministry called for your father and Bill. There's no need for you to get involved. Sit down, George. You've just been released from Azkaban and I daresay you need time to rest."

Hermione rushed forward the floo fireplace and threw a pinch of powder in.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked jumping out of his chair.

"To France." Hermione answered quickly before putting a foot into the fireplace. Ron held her back. "But you could just owl them or pop your head in…"

"I can't Ron. Amos obviously wants me to contact them because they know something. I'll need to see them in person."

"I'm coming too!' Ron declared, stepping into the fireplace with her.

"Ron, don't be ridiculous. It's not safe---"

"You're wasting the fire! Better say it now before we waste the floo powder---"

"Oh, for heaven's sake…. Le Ministère Français de Magie!"

With a whoosh, they both disappeared.

--------------------

Harry couldn't believe Dumbledore asked him to do this. Scowling, he walked down Spinner's End, feeling extremely wary of the suspicious houses and dark alleys.

Finally, he arrived in front of a glum looking house and took out a slip of paper from his pocket. Yes, this was the right address.

Harry raised his fist to knock on the door and then stopped. Maybe he should just leave. This wasn't a good idea. He had the shrewdest suspicion that what he was going to do might end up in a duel and then----- Harry erased those thoughts and raised his fist again. He knocked the door three times.

The door opened a crack and a figure emerged from the dark. Seeing Harry, the eyes of the figure widened and a sharp voice demanded, "What are you doing here, Potter?"

"I was sent by Dumbledore, sir." Harry answered, trying very hard to keep his voice polite.

"What is it?" Snape barked.

"Could I come in sir?" Harry asked.

Snape frowned but opened the door wider. Harry was surprised to see Snape wearing an apron and holding a feather duster.

"What are---?" Harry began but Snape interrupted him.

"Get on with it, Potter!"

"Dumbledore would like to extend his sincerest wishes for your return to Hogwarts." Harry recited. He had taken about twenty minutes to come up with that line.

"Well, tell him I am not interested." Snape said curtly, pushing Harry towards the door.

"We need a Potions teacher this year and there's no one---"

"That is too bad! Not my problem is it? Now would you leave me alone?"

"Sorry, sir. Dumbledore requests your return to Hogwarts-----"

"I haven't time to discuss that with you! That is not your business. Whatever came into Dumbledore's head to allow you to come into my house is beyond me, but get out! I am expecting company!"

A light bulb just went off of Harry's head. He looked at Snape's attire and the duster.

"Professor…were you…cleaning?" Harry asked, trying to be casual.

"No, I was holding the duster for fun." Snape answered sarcastically. "The door is that way, Potter."

Harry looked behind Snape and noticed two glasses and a bottle of wine on the coffee table.

Harry made no move to leave. Inside, he asked, "So…who are you expecting?"

"That is none of your business."

"Matilda Madlock?"

Snape gave Harry a look of absolute loath, fuming that his secret had been discovered. He opened the door. "Out, Potter!"

Harry stayed rooted on the spot.

"Matilda would not be impressed to know that you are unemployed," Harry cleared his throat. "If you plan on courting her, it may be in your benefit to have a job."

"And what right do you have, Potter," Snape snarled. "to lecture me?"

"Just looking out." Harry said. "But if you want your job back you should speak to Dumbledore before he hires another Potions teacher." Another idea suddenly came to Harry. "Or else I'll have to teach double classes."

Harry stepped outside.

Snape slammed the door in Harry's face.