CHAPTER 11 – THE AFTERMATH

Harry's leg gave out as he hit the pavement and he crumpled to the ground. He realized just how much the shield charm had taken out of him. He braced his hands on the ground and made a move to push himself up. Finding that he didn't have the strength, he gave up and laid flat on his stomach.

Two pairs of hands wrapped around him and pulled him to his feet. He tried to stand on his own legs but couldn't so he leaned heavily on the people next to him.

"Harry, are you alright?" Lupin asked him.

"Yeah, I'm just a little weak. I think that shield charm zapped all my energy."

"I'd say it did," Moody said from his other side as they started to walk towards the house. "I've never seen anything like that. Protego is supposed to throw up a shield in front of the caster and that's it. I haven't heard of anyone having that kind of control or that wide of a radius before. How did you do that?"

"I don't know," Harry said. He was listening to Moody but didn't really have the energy to absorb it all. "I just kind of did it. I didn't know what I was doing just that it needed to be done."

When they reached the door it opened and someone gasped. Harry was handed off to another couple and they walked him to the kitchen. He was sat down on a chair and given a glass of water. When he drank it seemed to refresh him slightly to where he opened his eyes and looked around. He was surrounded by the Weasley's and the four order members.

"Harry, you need to rest," Mrs. Weasley said from behind him. She was still unnerved by the experience they just had.

"I know," Harry replied, "but I'll get to that in a moment." He needed to get things sorted out before he rested. "First of all, no one but the Order members can leave this house and that includes you Mrs. Weasley." There were some definite disagreements with his decision but he silenced them with his hands before he continued. "I'm sorry. Fred and George, you'll have to have someone else run the store or close down for a time. It's too dangerous right now. Mrs. Weasley, if you need anything someone from the Order can run out and get it." Mrs. Weasley and the twins were ready to voice their own decisions but Harry interrupted them.

"Voldemort doesn't want me right now he wants you." This seemed to quiet them down a little. "He wants to attack, torture, and kill anyone I care about. He's going to target you because you are the closest thing I have to a family. Hell, you are family." Harry could see that he finally reached them. They gave nods to show their acceptance of the situation.

"Right," Harry continued, "Lupin, I need the protection that was at the Burrow moved to number four, Privet Drive." Lupin looked very confused at this.

"I thought Voldemort knew you hated them?" Ron asked. It was the first time he spoke and Harry thought it was because he still felt sick for apparation.

"He does, but he also knows that I don't want them to get hurt." Lupin nodded at him and was ready to help escort him to the bedroom but Harry kept talking.

"Did anyone notify Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said. "We sent him an owl to tell him to come straight here after work."

"I imagine the Ministry would be safe enough, don't you?" He asked Moody, who gave him a shrug.

"Guess it's the safest place anywhere around here," Moody replied. "I reckon it would be alright for him to keep going to work."

"Good," Harry spoke distantly. "We'll need information he can get through his contacts." He thought for a while about everything that had happened recently. There had been so much in just a short time that he didn't know if he could digest the entire situation.

"Hermione," Harry said. He saw her bushy head snap up as she had been staring at the floor since his arrival. "I need you to use any resources here and find out as much as you can about Godric Gryffindor's life. Also, anything regarding his interaction with Salazar Slytherin." He sat for a minute thinking if there was anything else. He knew he would not have enough strength to continue for much longer.

"I think that's about it," he said turning to Lupin. "Professor, if you could help me up to the bed." He felt Lupin assist him out of the chair. He turned to Mrs. Weasley.

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm sorry about your home." Tears started to form in her eyes as he continued. "I want you to have this one as long as necessary. Consider it yours, please." With that Harry and his father's oldest friend walked away from the kitchen. His body seemed to be weighed down by the amount of thoughts in his head.

"How'd I do Professor?" Harry asked as they started up the stairs.

"To be honest Harry… scary," but Lupin did not at all look concerned. "It's almost as if you were born for this. And from what you said downstairs I think you got your brain working on things other than what happened today."

"Yeah, I do," Harry said as they arrived at his bedroom. "Can you look after the Weasley's while you're here? It's going to be tough on them and I need them to stay strong."

"I can do that," Lupin replied. "Harry, how did you do that back at the Burrow?"

"Like I said, I dunno. I knew what had to be done and I just did it. I have a theory but right now I need to rest." Lupin helped Harry into his bed and smiled at him.

"I'm very proud of you Harry. After today I don't know how anyone in the Order could see you as anything but an equal."

"Thank you…. for everything," Harry said. As he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep he heard a voice on the edge of his consciousness.

"No Harry, thank you."