The List
By: lbfan
A standard (copied and re-copied then paste) Disclaimer: The Characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made off this story and it is being used for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 5 – Battle of the Burrow
Hermione was having the time of her life. Ron Weasley learned how to dance. She did not have to lead, nor did she have to ask. He just offered his hand, and whisked her off her feet. This reception was truly a dream come true for her.
The two of them took a break from the dancing to stroll in the sunny afternoon air. Light clouds littered the sky, giving momentary breaks from the summer sun.
Ron guided Hermione over to one of his favorite spots in the Burrow's property. An ancient maple tree provided plenty of shade from the summer heat. On one of the mammoth limbs a swing hung where they could sit. Well, they could have sat there had it not already been occupied.
Gabrielle tired quickly from all of the grown up activity, and found this spot to spend a quite respite from the music, drinking and annoying relatives. While lazily swinging back and forth, she noticed Hermione and Ron walking towards her peacefully, hand-in-hand.
That was when everything changed. The coolness from the shade of the tree quickly became too cold. Hermione screamed at her to run. Scared, she jumped off the swing and started to run at Hermione and Ron. It was too late. A bony hand grabbed her at the shoulder and swung her around, making her fall to the ground. It was a black hooded creature with bone hands. The last thing she remembered was the ground shaking and two voices screaming "Expecto Patronum."
Actually, Hermione cast her Knight Patronus spell instead (Expecto Patronum Militus). A blazing steel otter bounded towards the Dementor attacking Gabrielle. Close behind it, Hermione ran. The otter did not repel the Dementor. It just physically attacked it causing it to fall to the ground and die. Unfortunately, the whole area was swarming with Dementors. Hermione threw herself over Gabrielle's body to save her from the rest of them. The mere numbers of the Dementors, and the coldness they created caused Hermione to black out as well.
The otter continued to fight off the Dementors, but only took out one at a time. It was like using a cup to bail water out of a sinking boat. Help came in the form of a fully formed bear Patronus. This Patronus did repel the Dementors, and kept them away from Hermione and Gabrielle.
When they heard the scream, Ginny ran to the door, and Harry looked out the window.
As he arrived at the window, the panes of glass started to frost up. The familiar chill in the air could have only meant one thing, Dementors. Harry turned to face the crowd and yelled, "Percy, use the Floo and get help from the ministry." Then Harry addressed the rest of the guest, "Anyone who is not staying to fight, leave immediately! Line up at the fireplace. We have giants, Dementors, and probably some death eaters. We could use you if you can help, but if you can't or you are too young, leave now through the Floo." Seeing the brothers come down the stairs, Harry called out to them, "Charlie, Fred, George, go grab the brooms and report to Ron out front. You have to stop the giants."
Harry went out the front door to find four hundred or more, Dementors surrounding the front of the house. Five Patronus were attempting to hold them back: a horse, wolf, bear, griffin and steel looking otter. The otter was successfully destroying the Dementors one by one. Yet at that rate, it would have taken two hours to kill all of them.
Ginny and Ron were huddled close together with two bodies lying on the ground. It looked like Hermione fell on top of Gabrielle, protecting her.
Harry summoned the happiest thought he could remember, that day with Ginny and his feelings for her. "Expecto Patronum Militus!" Harry cried as he cast his Patronus. An unusually large amount of molten steel vapor shot from his wand. As it traveled away from his wand, it started to form a stag. This stag was different in that it was twice as large. The stag did not have the trouble the otter had. It simply charged through the crowd of Dementors taking ranks of them out at a time.
The Dementors did not back down. They kept up their attack despite their ineffectiveness.
Under the protection of the Patronusses, Harry organized all of the guests who stayed to help into a battle line facing down towards the approaching giants. Harry silently cast a Schizotox Spell to Ron asking him to take up his broom and stop the giants.
When Ron heard Harry's voice in his head, he turned towards Harry and gave him a nod.
Ginny ran up to Harry and took a position right next to him. Her wand was out and ready. She was not going to take her eyes off him.
The first Aurors arrived from the wedding guest Apparation point behind the house. After they added their Patronus to the Dementor defense, Harry motioned them to join the Weasley brothers and take to the air. Without question, they complied. Pulling out shrunken brooms from their pockets, the Aurors restored them to full size. The Aurors joined Charlie, Fred and George as Ron directed them to give him cover.
Ron was using his keeper skills to dodge the swings of the Giants as he tried to ask them, "Who is the Gurg?" Eventually, one of the Giants pointed to a larger one in the back and grunted. Ron summoned a large present from the gift table and enlarged it in his arms. Ron took the present up to the leader and presented it to him.
The Gurg took the present, and unwrapped it. Inside was a beautiful clock.
Ron asked the Gurg, "Why do you attack us? We are Friends. Hagrid and Maxime are with us." He gave the Gurg a sweeping gesture towards two large wedding party guests by the Burrow.
The other Giants halted their approach to see what Gurg instructed them to do. Voices of protest could be heard from death eaters who were approaching them from behind them.
The Aurors and family members, who were helping Ron, immediately took defensive positions to protect the giants from the approaching death eaters.
Gurg said, "Wizards in black command to attack. What is this thing?" The Gurg was still examining the present.
Ron cast a Schizotox spell at Hagrid asking him and Maxime to join him. Ron answered the Gurg, "That is called a clock. It will show the progress of time through the day. We want to take you somewhere safe and give you food. This is not your fight."
The Gurg said, "I don't trust you."
Ron replied, "Has Hagrid ever lied to you? Have wizards in black ever lied to you? Trust us; we will keep you safe and give you rest."
The Gurg did not have time to decide for himself. The restless death eaters behind him started to cast stinging curses at them to herd them forward. Ron's team managed to shield most of the spells, but some of them still hit a few of the giants.
The Gurg was infuriated. He took his club, which was the size of a 10-meter high tree, and swung it low at the approaching death eaters in a sweeping motion. Many of the death eaters fell at this attack.
Hagrid and Maxime guided the giants away from the Burrow and Ottery St. Catchpole to safety.
Ron commanded his team to cast concealment charms and split up into two groups, one for each side of the road. On brooms, they were able to dodge many of curses sent at them.
In the Death Eaters' crowd, Severus Snape was furious at the treasonous giants. He commanded his troops, "Forget the giants for now, attack the Burrow! Kill everyone, but bring me Harry Potter and his red haired whore-girlfriend, Ginny Weasley, to me."
At the Burrow, Severus's command could be heard through the air. Ginny and Harry looked at each other, both to give re-assurance. The death eater force looked like it was well over one hundred and fifty wizards, even after the Gurg took a swing at them. Harry had only thirty wizards and witches to protect the Burrow. That included Ron's team up on brooms.
Luckily, the Dementors had realized their failure and started to leave. Dementor bodies and cloaks were strewn all over the place.
Harry commanded everyone, "Your first responsibility is to protect yourself and the persons next to you. Don't be nice, stun and rope when you can. If an enemy cast an unforgivable, dodge it and incapacitate them at any cost. Don't hold back. Kill if you have to. This is a battle for our lives. Shields up!"
As the Death Eaters approached, they filled the air with a thick mist to allow them to get up close. Unfortunately, for them, this had no effect on Harry. He was able to see right through the mist with his infrared vision.
Harry was stunning the Death Eaters faster than they could react. Twenty of them were on the ground before they were close enough to attack themselves.
In the back of the battle, Ron had sent a small group to stun and bind the wounded death eaters from the giants attack. This would prevent their escape.
Spells were started to be cast by the Death Eaters, many of them were blockable spells, but some were unforgivable. As an unforgivable curse was started to be uttered, Harry or one of the other defenders would quickly cast spell that would cut or blow off the arm.
The Veelas who stayed to fight were especially frightening. They were throwing fireball after fireball at the crowd of Death Eaters.
The battle went on for minutes before it finally turned. Ron's team started to battle the Death Eaters from the air on their right rear and left rear flanks. Harry cast the Muffliato spell into the crowd to add to the confusion.
Harry commanded the ends of his battle line to push forward creating a left and right flank positions.
The Death Eaters felt hopeless and now surrounded. There was an anti-apparition field over the area to prevent everyone from escaping. Their only escape was to leave up the driveway that they came.
As they started to pull back, Harry moved everyone forward.
This caused a panicked retreat of the Death Eaters. Ron's teams easily picked off all of the retreating Death Eaters.
After the battle, Ginny ran up to Harry and congratulated him with a big hug and kiss. She was still holding on to him when Harry called out to all of the Aurors, "Well done everyone. Thank you for coming or our rescue. We couldn't have won without each and every one of you." Harry told, "Senior Auror Dawlish, I relinquish command to you."
Dawlish mumbled something disgruntled under his breath, and then he commanded the Aurors to collect up the prisoners and the dead.
Harry looked around for Ron. When he eventually found him, he felt sick. He was too elated at the success of the battle to remember Hermione. Ron was cradling her unconscious body in his arms, with tears streaming down his cheeks. Fleur gathered up Gabrielle in her arms and headed into the house. Mrs. Delacour was morning over her dead husband.
Harry and Ginny ran over to Ron. Hermione looked as white as a ghost, but she did have some shallow breaths. "Ron," Harry said, "you should get her to St. Mungo's as soon as possible." Ron nodded, and headed into the house to use the Floo.
Harry and Ginny split up and started to look for others who were wounded.
Ginny found her brother, Bill, morning over his friend who served as best man at the wedding. She placed a comforting arm around him.
When Harry walked around this side of the house, he saw Molly Weasley tending to Professor McGonagall's broken arm. Harry asked her, "Professor, would you like a hand."
McGonagall looked at Harry and said, "Harry you did a good thing here. I'll be fixed up in no time. When I get better, I would like you to come and talk to me at the school."
Tonks found Harry and approached him. "Worcher Harry," Tonks said, "Sorry about this, but we must be going."
"What?" Harry questioned.
Hearing Harry becoming enraged, Ginny ran over to see what the problem was.
Tonks replied, "Orders Harry. You are still under-age, and you have just killed twelve Death Eaters. I have to take you in." Tonks really wished she did not have to do this, but she was under strict orders.
Harry asked, "Sure Tonks, what is really going on? We were in a life or death battle, and only 12 died?"
"I'm not sure what they are thinking Harry, but they do want you to come down to the Ministry now," Tonks answered.
Ginny grabbed a tight hold around Harry, and yelled, "He has just saved us all, and you want to arrest him on murder charges?"
Now everyone around was staring at them. No one seemed pleased in the least.
Looking at Tonks' expression of exasperation, Harry relented and told the beauty holding fast to him, "Ginny, I'll be alright. They wouldn't think of charging me with anything right now. The press would eat them alive." He gave her a firm hug and a kiss on her forehead. Extracting himself from her arms, Harry walked over to the apparition area in the back of the burrow. Together, Tonks Apparated Harry and her to the Ministry of Magic.
When they arrived at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement office, there was a party going on. Loud conversations were being held, and stories told by wide-eyed Aurors with wide gestures. When they noticed Harry walking in, a loud applause was given. People whom he has never met were coming up to him to shake his hand.
Tonks guided Harry into a large interrogation room. Most of the Aurors followed him in. Tonks left him there to get them something to drink.
A rather young Auror by the name of Kristen Teller asked Harry, "Would you show us your Patronus?"
Harry shrugged and complied. His stag jumped out of his wand, cantered around the room, and reported back to Harry. It nodded to Harry and jumped up through the ceiling and out of sight.
"No," Kristen explained, "I was expecting the steel looking Patronus that killed the Dementors."
Harry explained what the Knight Patronus was and showed them how to cast it. He was pleased after a few minutes, how some of them were having success. He also took the time to show them how to cast Schizotox spell. Aurors were paired up in the room across from each other practicing, when Gawain Robards walked in looking very annoyed.
This arrogant kid was supposed to be in an interrogation. Instead, he came into the room to see Harry Potter, the pain in his rear, teaching his staff how to cast spells.
Looking ashamed, the Aurors filed out of the room. Tonks came back with two butter beers in her hands. Gawain took one of the butter beers and thanked Tonks.
Tonks gave Mr. Robards an incredulous look.
He looked questioningly at Tonks.
She just shook her head and left the room.
Gawain turned towards Harry. "Potter, the Minister wants to talk with you. Please follow me."
At St. Mungo's Hospital for the Magical Maladies and Injuries, Dan and Emma Granger had just arrived in the ward after hearing what happened to their daughter, Hermione. They hastily walked up to her bed where they found Ron sitting in a chair next to her with red-shot worried eyes. Ron was holding her hand, and she seemed to be still unconscious. Dan placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "How is she doing?" Dan asked. Ron looked up and noticed Hermione's parents. Looking uncomfortable, Ron answered, "She has been the same since I brought her here, no improvement."
The tension in the room was broken when a silvery stag Patronus floated into the room. It cantered up onto Hermione bed; bent down; and kissed her. The Patronus seemed to melt right into her through her mouth.
Hermione's eyes started to flutter as a smile formed across her face. She opened her eyes to gather her bearings. Her eyes softened as she noticed the man who was holding her hand. She smiled at him. It did not take long for her to notice that her mum and dad were in the room too. She was pleased that, even though she was in the hospital, they had not taken her dress off. Her feet hit the floor and she wavered as stood up. Ron supported her by the arm. She hugged her mum and told them, "I'm sorry to worry you, but I have to go."
Ron gave her a questioning look, but gathered up her shoes and wand.
Emma told her, "This is very irregular young lady! You don't just get admitted into the hospital and then run out the door after you regain consciousness. Where do you think you need to go to?"
Hermione held her ground. She told her, "Mum, it's Harry. He needs me. I must go now!"
A healer heard the commotion and came over to investigate.
"Our Harry?" Dan asked.
"What's wrong?" her mum asked.
"Lady, sit down," the healer said.
"They have taken him to the ministry to force him to do something based on false charges," Hermione answered. She looked at her dad, and answered his question, "Yes dad, your Harry."
The Healer was scanning her body with his wand. He requested, "Look into my wand light."
Ron asked, "How did he become their Harry?"
Dan asked, "Can't it wait?"
Emma asked, "What did he do?"
Staring into the wand light, Hermione answered, "Harry doesn't want the Dursleys anymore; Mum and Dad said they would adopt him for Muggle world guardianship; I have to go now; and I have no idea what he got himself into."
The Healer said, "You may go, but eat this chocolate."
Ron said, "Put your shoes on."
Dan asked, "Is there anything I can do?"
Emma asked, "Can I go with you?"
Hermione took her shoes from Ron and put them on. Hermione told the Healer, "Thank you, for discharging me." She told her mum and dad, "We'll be fine, I'll return home when we're done. Plan on having Harry and me over for dinner tomorrow night." She gave both her mum and dad a quick hug and a kiss then headed for the door. As she reached the door, she paused. She turned around and asked Ron, "Are you coming or not?"
Shaken out of his daze, Ron answered, "Yeah, sure. I'm coming. Someone has to look out for you. Besides, you might get side-tracked when you see their library."
Her eyes lit up. "They have a library?" she asked with a tease.
Back at the Ministry of Magic, a solid oak door opened up, and Percy Weasley poked his head in. "Mr. Minister Sir," Percy said, "Mr. Robards is here to see you. He has Harry Potter with him."
"Please show them in Percy." Scrimgeour said.
Gawain Robards entered the spacious office with Harry at his side. He left Harry standing in front of the minister's desk, and he took his place at the Minister's left side.
Scrimgeour started, "Harry Potter, you are being charged for countless accounts of the underage use of magic. Some of these resulted in the untimely death of 12 citizens."
Harry seemed un-fazed by the charges.
Scrimgeour continued, "I am, however, willing to drop these charges if you would be willing to start working full time with our MLE department. They can train you up with the skills to kill Voldemort."
"No thank you, Minister," Harry replied.
"I don't think you understand the depth of your dilemma, my dear boy," Scrimgeour started, "You are underage in the magical world with no guardian. After Dumbledore passed away, no one took his place. You will move into the Auror's training facility; you will break off any romantic entanglements you have; and you will work for us."
"NO!" Harry said. Harry turned his head to look at the door and said, "Hermione Granger is here to see you sir." He turned his head back to face the Minister with a smirk on his face.
Sure enough, Percy Weasley poked his head in and said, "Minister, Miss Granger and my brother Ronald are here to see you. They are very insistent, and say it is urgent they need to talk to you now.
Scrimgeour looked from Harry to Gawain, before telling Percy, "Show them in." He then looked at Harry, and said, "Enjoy their visit. The next time you see them is after you kill off Lord Voldemort."
"No, you are wrong Minister," Hermione said, as she entered the room. "Harry is not your lap dog to do with what you want. Perhaps you don't realize, but I'm his guardian."
Scrimgeour looked at Gawain with a questioning look before telling her, "We don't have any records of your guardianship?"
Hermione explained, "Because your records department is a little slow, I can see why you are surprised. However, Gringotts have all the records up to date, and you do have a law which recognizes all of the goblin nation's records."
Gawain stepped in and emphasized, "Harry is under arrest for the use of underage magic which resulted in the death of 12 citizens today."
Hermione looked down at her feet in thought. Ron was silently casting a Schizotox bringing her up to date with what happened at the battle.
She looked up at Gawain, and said, "Under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, it is stated as an exception that an underage wizard may perform magic to protect himself and his family. I was present at the time, and I permitted the use of magic. No Muggles were in the vicinity as the magic was cast. To accentuate the required use of underage magic to defend himself, his girlfriend, her family and myself, he had to fight 400 Dementors, 6 giants, and 200 Death Eaters in a battle in the state of war. The orders of the Death Eater leader were to kill everyone, but capture Harry and his girlfriend. These 12 'so called' citizens were attacking Death Eaters. Keep that number in contrast to the 25 who he didn't kill, but only disabled. You will release Harry to me now or I will start a Habeas Corpus filing. The press would love this story."
Feeling like he had just been slapped, Scrimgeour sat down in his seat, and looked for a different tact. He invited everyone else to have a seat. He said to Harry, "There is an old saying, 'If you're not with me, you're against me.' Harry, you are on the side that I need to be on. What do you see that I need to do to run this ministry in a way which you would be proud to be apart of it?"
In his deep chair, Harry propped his elbows on the arms and tented his fingers in thought. A minute passed before he answered, "Release Stan Shunpike; Fire Dolores Umbridge, and bring her up on charges; Open up an investigation on Cornelius Fudge; Plug the leaks of Ministry secrets; provide the people with ways of escape in an attack; teach the people home defense; Cut down on libel in the press; Give Rubeus Hagrid the right to cast magic back; Clear Sirius Black's name; Take care of the Giants. That would be a good start."
Gawain said contemptuously, "Look at him, not only does he sound like him, he also looks like him too."
Scrimgeour said in a defeated tone, "Yes Gawain, he's Dumbledore's man through and through."
Ron looked over to Hermione and saw the same bemused expression on her face as well. He did not think that Professor Dumbledore actually pressed the Minister to make the same changes as Harry asked. A feeling of pride poured over him as he considered his former headmaster. It was actually funny; Harry did actually look like him.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, and asked, "Can you think of anything to add?"
With smirks still on their faces, both of them just shook their heads.
Scrimgeour said, "Ok, I will release Stan Shunpike, but he is your responsibility. What do you have against Dolores?"
Anger rushed over Harry. His fist was thrust up for him to see, and he said, "You mean besides this, and the fact that she tried to kill me?"
"What's this symbolism of defiance, with your fist thrust up? You are too young and too British to know of the Black Panthers," Scrimgeour asked.
Instinctively, Harry looked at Hermione for an explanation.
Hermione said, "In the States in the 1960's a civil rights movement leader named Huey Newton lead a group of Muggle citizen activists named the Black Panthers. As a rally cry, they would thrust their fists into the air." She then turned to Rufus Scrimgeour, and explained, "Minister, there is a scar on the back of Harry's hand from the repeated use of a blood quill. Hours and hours of detention with Dolores Umbridge gave him that scar. She made him write 'I will not tell lies' repeatedly. The scar on the back of his hand is a testament of her barbaric discipline. Harry's assumption is that you were fully aware of, and supported this cruel abuse."
Scrimgeour about fell off his chair in shock, as he started to realized the extent of the rift that had formed between him and Harry. He got up out of his chair and threw Floo powder into the fireplace. He called out, "Dolores Umbridge." He placed his head in the flames to talk to her.
Being the undersecretary, Dolores was able to Floo directly to his office. When she entered, she was taken back by the company he had sitting in his office. Taking the immediate defensive measures, she whipped out her wand and pointed it at Harry. At least she tried. Before she had her wand leveled with him, it was whisked out of her hand, and she was blown back a few paces back towards the fireplace.
Hermione cast the Expelliarmus Charm quickly, and caught Umbridge's wand in her hand. Her eyes beamed with fury. She marched forcefully up to Umbridge, and snarled, "Never again will you point a wand at Harry. Last time, you almost cast the Cruciatus Curse on him." Backing away without taking her eyes off her old foe, she placed Umbridge's wand on Rufus Scrimgeour's desk. Hermione told the Minister, "You must decide. Is it going to be us or her?" She forcefully returned her hateful glare at Dolores Umbridge.
The looks in Ron and Harry's eyes echoed the feelings of Hermione's. Ron also had his wand out, but it was not pointed at Umbridge as Hermione's was.
Dolores Umbridge feigned innocence, and asked, "Rufus, what is the meaning of this? You are not actually listening to these children are you?"
Scrimgeour answered her, "Dolores, I need you to answer to charges which these adults are charging you with. The use of blood quills have been outlawed for over 90 years as a form of discipline. Did you, or did you not use them in your detentions with Harry Potter?"
Dolores breathed in relief. She knew this was not a serious charge, but by pleading guilty to this charge, she could be fired. She said, "I never used a blood quill for detentions, for his detentions, he had to use his own quill."
Rufus Scrimgeour looked over to Harry. Harry just shook his head in disagreement. He turned back to Umbridge, and asked her, "Ok. What about the Cruciatus Curse? When and why did you do that?"
Dolores lied by saying, "I wasn't actually going to cast that on him. These hooligans were caught breaking into my Headmistress office, and I was trying to find out about Albus Dumbledore's secret weapon. I started a spell that just sounded like the Cruciatus Curse. As that impertinent girl said, I didn't actually cast the unforgivable."
Scrimgeour looked a little disappointed at Harry, and asked, "Is that all?"
Ron added, "She was the ministry employee who released the Dementors on Harry and his cousin Dudley Dursley. That attack nearly killed them, but instead forced Harry to cast a Patronus. That, in turn, led to the first of the debacle inquiries in his underage use of magic. If the ministry still stands behind that attack, we may as well leave."
Harry just nodded in agreement.
Hermione looked critically at Scrimgeour, expecting his answer.
He knew about the press that the ministry was sponsoring, but never did he ever believed that the ministry would have released two Dementors in the Muggle world to kill people. This was an outrage, yet it made sense. Who else controlled the Dementors at that time? Whose side was he working on all this time? What was worse, this redefined the rift between him and Harry to a near insurmountable size.
Umbridge looked uncomfortable, but answered in a slight panic, "They lie! I did no such thing! You can't seriously believe these children."
Rufus Scrimgeour looked at Gawain Robards who looked like he was in shock. Rufus picked up Dolores Umbridge's wand and handed it to Gawain. He said, "Dolores, you are under the arrest for use of a blood quill for disciplining a student. You are fired, and you cannot work at the ministry anymore. You are also facing an inquiry concerning two accounts of attempted murder with Azkaban guards. As I have just pointed out, these three are not children. They are adults. Harry is the only one who is still underage, but people like you forced him to grow up into an adult role years ago. Since these three are such prominent citizens, your and Former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge's attempted murder charges are looking very solid."
"Just how prominent are they?" Dolores asked with a sneer.
"Prominent enough that I would have fired my Undersecretary at their request, even without just cause," Scrimgeour replied. He turned towards Harry, and added, "Prominent enough that on his word only, the Ministry of Magic is going to issue a decree clearing Sirius Black's name and stating that Peter Pettigrew is alive. Rubeus Hagrid has been cleared as being the cause of the opening of the Chamber of Secrets, and he is allowed to cast magic and take the OWL's."
Scrimgeour commanded, "Take her away Gawain, and lock her up. Come back when you're done. We have other business to cover."
Hermione and Ron looked at each other in shock. They were near certain; they were going to be leaving with Harry.
Harry realized how desperate the Minister must had been to make this 180-degree turn. Still in shock, Harry simply said, "Thank you."
After Gawain and Dolores left, Scrimgeour explained, "Harry, I am so sorry. I had no idea how much persecution you faced from the Ministry in your past. I will do everything I can to correct the wrongs, and work on the other things you wanted. I want to assure you that I'm Harry Potter's man through and through. I would like to extend you an offer. Until we get this Voldemort out of the way, you can be a volunteer Auror Commander. You only need to report to Gawain Robards for three hours of on-going training each week. There would be no pay, but you would have all of the rights and responsibilities of an Auror. When you are on the scene, you will out-rank pretty much any other Auror. I wish to keep this classified to just a few within the ministry. This would also mean that you're position with the Ministry will be kept out of the public eye."
Harry thought about this for a while. He looked at Ron and Hermione for their support.
Ron said, "Just as long as you feel that you're being allowed to set your own terms."
Hermione added, "As a volunteer, you can quit at any time. Besides, if the Minister is really behind you on this, it is better to work with the Ministry than against them."
Harry said to Scrimgeour, "I agree, but understand. Under no circumstances are you going to get between my girlfriend and me. Today, I learned just how much I need her. Love is an important source of strength for me and my magic."
Shortly after, Gawain Robards returned and they worked out the details. Gawain gave Harry his wand back to him. He confiscated it earlier when brought him to the Minister's office.
On their way out, Harry stopped at the desk that Percy was still working at. Harry cleared his throat to get his attention. Percy looked up at him. "Percy, I want to thank you for saving our lives. Only with the help of the Aurors, we were able to fight the Death Eaters." Harry held out his hand to shake.
Percy stiffened up, and stood out of his chair. He walked out from around the desk to face Harry, before saying, "Harry, I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I have treated you over the last two years. It is I who should be thanking you. I never returned to the Burrow after the fight started. You stayed and protected my family. I feel ashamed of my cowardice, and grateful that you stayed and fought. You truly are the brother and son that I never was." Percy's pompousness disappeared as he wrapped his arms around Harry and gave him a manly hug.
Ron approached Percy, and told him, "Percy, you may have not returned, but you did send us the needed help. That was just as important as being there. Thank you Percy."
Percy shook Ron's hand as well.
Harry noticed something sticking out of Percy's pocket, and quietly pointed it out to Hermione, who stifled a giggle.
Hermione straightened up and asked, "Percy, just how much of the conversation did you hear?"
Percy looked at Hermione in shock. His cheeks turned slightly pink, and he said, "What conversation?"
"Come on Percy, or should I tell the twins that you are a fan of their products?" she said, pointing at flesh colored string hanging out of his pocket.
Percy now was looking fully guilty as he said, "I heard everything after you and Ron went in. Well, I have a vested interest in what is said when it involves my own brother. No, don't tell Fred or George anything about this."
Harry was disappointed. He claimed to have considered him as a brother just then, but did not start listening until his real brother was involved. The mere fact that he was listening before he apologized, dilutes the apology even more. Harry figured that Percy knew of his working relationship with the Ministry, that he was just kissing up to him to gain influence. He really should have been a Slytherin. "Percy, I'm not going to tell the Minister, but you have to keep my involvement here a secret."
Percy nodded and replied, "Yes Harry, mums the word."
"Speaking of Mum," Ron said, "You really ought to show up for dinner more often. Are you still seeing Penelope?"
"Yes, Erm… No," Percy started, "I really should finish my report that I started." Percy went back around to the desk, tucking in the extendible ear back into his pocket.
Hermione noticed the discomfort at the mention of Penelope, and dragged Ron and Harry out. They all said "good-bye" and left.
They all Floo'ed to the Burrow to find no one in the house. In the front yard, Mrs. Weasley seemed beyond tears as she struggled with the pile of Dementor bodies.
"What's wrong Mum?" Ron asked.
Hearing Ron's voice, Ginny looked over and saw her man with him. She ran as fast as she could and threw herself at him with a tight embrace.
Neville was outside trying to help as well. He walked up to Hermione.
Molly Weasley told her son, "I think many of them are wounded, but still alive. Each time we start to burn the pile of carcasses, it goes out. I don't want a permanent pile of dead Dementors in my front yard."
"What happened?" Ginny asked, still not loosening her vise like arms.
Neville was making small talk with Hermione over her health and effects of the Dementors.
Ron tried to cast, "Incendio" but the flames quickly died out.
Harry told Ginny, "It was just a ruse to get me to be the Ministry's poster child. Hermione and Ron made it in time to rescue me, which changed the tone of the discussion. The Minister and I seemed to have sorted out our differences for now. It is so good to see you." He leaned down and kissed her.
"Not in front of Mum!" Ginny quietly chided him. "Oh look at you, I bet you three haven't eaten since the reception. I'll go inside and warm you up some food," Ginny said, then left for the kitchen.
Harry walked over to Ron, and suggested, "Ron, try casting it like a Patronus. Stir up a happy thought, and then try from that."
Ron complied, and it did work better. However, the flame burned just a small corner. "It's no use," Ron said.
Harry corrected him, "When you cast the spell did you visualize the flame on the whole pile?"
Ron tried again. This time the flames were all around the pile and seemed to work, but again, they went out.
Harry asked Hermione to give it a try. Her try ended up in the same result.
Harry looked down to the ground, and concentrated. He thought to himself, 'This was just light magic. What could it be?' Harry had one more thought occur to him. Taking Hermione's hand, he walked her over and placed her facing the pile, right in front of Ron. Her back was actually pressed up against him. Harry put Ron's left hand on her waist.
Looking at their questioning faces, Harry continued, "Ron, just hold her as if you were dancing. Now, both of you concentrate on an experience where you felt love. Now cast the spell together. Three… Two… One… " The spell was different. It was a white light with gold accents around it. The fire consumed the whole pile, and continued burning. Harry suggested, "I bet Ginny now has some food warmed up. Let's go inside."
Only Harry, Mrs. Weasley and Neville seemed to be walking inside. Harry turned around, and asked, "Are you two coming?"
Ron and Hermione were still there at the fire. Ron still had his arm around her, and they were looking into each other's eyes with smiles on their faces. Ron answered, "We'll just stay out here and make sure the fire doesn't go out."
Harry shook his head and went inside. He thought, 'Ron has it real bad. He just turned down food.'
Inside the kitchen, Molly asked Harry, "How did you do that? I've been working on them all day."
Harry answered, "It's just the opposite of dark magic, light magic. It is fire conjured by feelings of love. I figure this spell should also work on Inferi as well."
Molly said, "No, not that, even though that was quite impressive. I meant Ron and Hermione. I would see them dancing, and they seem happy. As soon as the music stopped they stopped, as if cold water was thrown on them."
"It is just their mutual inhibitions which are preventing them from making the first move. I couldn't just say 'Hermione, go snuggle up to Ron and try it.' I just had to give them a little shove. It isn't like they don't fancy each other." Harry said with a smirk.
Carrying the food over to the table, Ginny sarcastically remarked, "Yeah, you would know a thing or two about inhibitions wouldn't you."
Harry glared at her with a mischievous glint in his eye. Ginny just smiled back, and started to load his plate with food.
Harry asked Neville about the new place. Neville looked nervously around and asked, "Are you sure now is good time to talk about this?"
Harry nodded, and then added, "Yes, I would like Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Tonks, and Ginny to be added to the visitor list."
Ginny mentioned, "Please add Luna, she is coming to stay the rest of the summer with me. I don't want to leave her behind if I wanted to visit."
Harry agreed.
Neville said, "Let's get everyone here. Then we can all go together to reveal the Fidelius Charm pass-phrase."