Chapter 3: Return to Grimmauld Place
Harry awoke early the next morning, dressed and went down to the common room; he was surprised to find Hermione sitting by the fire. "Good morning, heard about you and Ron spending the entire evening alone." He said teasingly.
"Yes, well… I saw you dancing with Ginny last night," she said looking at him slyly. "I've only seen you look at Cho that way."
Harry's jaw dropped, "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Turning away to try to hide his blush, he couldn't believe she had seen that.
"Don't look so surprised, Harry, I know you to well not to notice."
"Ron didn't notice," he mumbled.
"Yes, well Ron is not exactly the brightest now is he." She laughed at the smirk on Harry's face. She blushed a little before she continued, "It's true, or at least he would never notice something like that, but that doesn't matter, what are you going to do about her?"
"There is nothing to do about it, she is with Dean, I mean, come on he's my friend. Besides, she's my best friend's baby sister; I can't date her that would be weird."
"What you mean is Ron would be ready to kill you, and probably his brothers as well."
"Well, yeah, but…" he let the thought trail off. "Anyway, I have enough people trying to kill me."
"Okay then, fair enough, but keep in mind that Ginny would be worth the fight."
"I know, I know. So tell me did anything happen with you and Ron last night? I know perfectly well, that he likes you."
"No," she answered a bit dismayed, "I had hoped that he would ask me out but he didn't. I really thought that he liked me, I am such a fool." She looked like she was on the verge of tears and Harry had an overwhelming desire to kick Ron's ass, then shake him senseless and tell him to wake up, and see how wonderful Hermione really was.
"No, Hermione, your not a fool, Ron's just a git, that's all. You'll see soon enough it will get through his thick skull and he will ask you out."
Hermione looked up at him gratefully and blinked away her tears, but before she could say anything they were joined by the twins, and Mrs. Weasley coming through the portrait hole from the sound of the lecture that Molly was giving them, they had spent the night in Hogsmeade drinking the entire supply of firewhiskey in the village. Her screaming brought the rest of the Weasley clan pouring down the stairs. Harry gave Hermione a quick hug and felt her wipe away her tears, before the others lost interest in the battle between the twins and their mother and asked what was wrong.
"Drunk, how could you, out all night, I was worried sick, sent your father to find you," Mrs. Weasley was fully into her rant now there would be no stopping her. "Just because you are of age does not mean that I stopped worrying about your safety, in times like these, you're out and unable to protect yourselves." She continued to yell at them for what seemed like hours, but was really only about twenty minutes and then turned to the assembled crowd and snapped for them to get ready to leave. No one stayed still long enough to she what would happen if they disobeyed, and within two minutes they were gathered around the portkey home.
When they arrived in Grimmauld Place Mrs. Weasley sent them all to put away their things while she prepared the breakfast that they had missed while at the castle. Ginny and Hermione hurried up the stairs to gossip about what had happened at the reception, Harry, Ron and the twins lagged behind, Harry and Ron stared up at the door that had just closed behind the girls trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Girls," said Fred shaking his head, "they all think that they have to tell each other everything, it's like they will die if they keep a secret to themselves."
The boys did not notice the door moving as it eased back open and Ginny step back out into the hall, she picked up the potion bottle that Snape had left after the last Order meeting and whipped it at George. Before anyone knew what was happening George disappeared in a puff of smoke, and a small fluorescent blue newt with neon green spots was left in his place. They all stared at it dumbfounded for several seconds, until he turned back into a human, although his freckles were still green.
"Damn it, man! That's the second time I've gotten blamed for you making fun of them! Do you want them to kill me!" and Ginny disappeared with a swish of her hair. While the others stared at the now closed door Harry broke into hysterical laughter, lost his balance and fell down the stairs taking the Weasley boys with him, the loud thump that they caused as they landed in a heap, set Mrs. Black to screaming and brought the other occupants of the house into the hall. Then Ron's trunk the only one still partially on the stairs began to slide down the steps as to boys dove out of the way, they tackled Remus who was coming in the door carrying a large jug of pumpkin juice, the impact forced the jug out of his hands and it shattered on the plaque of Kreacher's mother, showering the crowd in the hall. The boys jumped up in a panic and scrambled up the stairs, while Mrs. Weasley was still too shocked to begin yelling, in a fashion to rival Mrs. Black.
Later the entire group was gathered around the table eating breakfast in an awkward silence, still concerned that Molly would be upset about the incident in the entryway. Mr. Weasley was the first to break the silence, "Dumbledore feels that the Burrow is no longer safe, we will need to go after breakfast and gather the rest of our things." Mrs. Weasley visible paled, but said nothing. "Harry and Hermione you can stay here and relax of the day." He continued, the silence moved from awkward to tense. Several people pushed away their plates and those who did not weren't really eating just picking at the food in front of them.
Mrs. Weasley stood and began to gather the dishes to wash them, but she was shaking so badly that she nearly dropped them, Harry jumped to his feet and took the dishes. "Let me do that Mrs. Weasley, you go and take care of your house, I'll clean up here." She smiled at him, gave his shoulder a squeeze and nodded. She walked over to the fireplace and took down the silver box of Floo Powder and she was off in a surge off green flames, the rest of them followed in a somber train. Harry quietly cleaned the breakfast dishes the muggle way, while Hermione and Remus sat at the table discussing S.P.E.W.
The day dragged on slowly, they played several games of exploding snap not really worried about the outcome of the games, as the war loomed heavy in their minds, hit home by the morning's announcement about the Burrow. Harry and Hermione had always considered the Burrow to be as safe as Grimmauld Place, nearly as safe as Hogwarts, and Remus felt crushed by the weight that had suddenly been placed on the children's shoulders. Oh, he knew that they weren't really children anymore; they had seen too much for that to be true, but the only made the situation seem sadder.
Harry and Hermione move to the stove intending to cook lunch not because they were hungry, mostly so they would have something to do. However it was this decision which would prevent Tonks from seeing them as she ran into the room, panting frantic, Harry would regret that bitterly in the next few moments. "Remus…" the metamorphagus puffed, "where is Dumbledore? Attack…the Grangers…both dead."