"He kicked you out! He kicked you out? Hermione, I don't believe it." Ginny said in exasperation.
The group finally had time to gather after the hectic day of the wedding. Bill and Fluer's ceremony went on without incident. The day was bright and clear. A light breeze swept over the 50 or so guests as they watched the ceremony. Neville's flowers enveloped the happy couple with twinkling pollen right on clue and Mrs. Weasley cried. Bill and Fluer's love infected their guests and at least for this one afternoon the troubles of the world seemed far away.
Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville sat together to the side of the reception area and their thoughts turned to Harry. His absence from the group was palpable. He should be here with them. They all felt it. They had no time to speak of it till now.
"Kicked me out? Well, not exactly. Maybe sent me away quickly is a better description." Hermione said. She looked beautiful in a white linen dress. Her hair was tried up with flowers.
"What's the difference? Tell me exactly what he said." Ginny implored.
Hermione and Ron had finally gotten their dance together. Without Harry with them they grew closer than ever. Hermione planned to spend the last of the summer with the Wealseys. Hermione looked forward to preparing for another year at Hogwarts with Ron but the thought of Harry not returning to school made her wonder if anything at Hogwarts ever would feel the same.
"I already told you. He said, "He's fine. What was I doing there. I better leave and he sends his love and will see us soon." That's it." Hermione said.
"How did he look?" Ginny asked while picking at her bouquet.
"He looked fine. Maybe a little tried." Hermione said.
"I suppose. He's got a lot on his mind." Ginny said.
Ron added, "Well of course he does. In six days he's on his own. Did he look nervous? Did you ask him what he is going to do?"
"Of course I did. He didn't say anything. He seemed fine." Hermione repeated
Ginny put her head down on the table and looked across it at the last of the guests dancing. "I was crazy to think we could've had something together. He's got Voldemort and the Ministry after him, not to mention the rest of the Wizarding World waiting for him go to out and save them all. Who's Ginny Weasley compared to that."
A crowd gathered around Bill and Fluer to see them off. Ron and the group joined them in the good byes. They looked so happy as they said good bye to their friends and family. Mrs. Weasley cried again. Ron got a huge hug from Bill and a peck on the cheek from Fluer. Fluer and Bill crushed Hermione and Ron together in a group hug and told them to behave themselves. With waves and tears the couple left in the same carried that had brought the Beauxbaton girls to Hogwarts for the Tri-wizard tournament. They were to honeymoon on an island in the Mediterrian. Their vacation would be brief, personal time must be sacrificed by all in the continuing fight against the Blood Loyalists.
Neville also said he good byes. He needed to return home to his grandmother. Everyone thanked him again for the wonderful work he had done with the gardens and he apperated home.
Ginny, Ron and Hermione again collapsed at their table together. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley saw off the last of the guests. They had just begun to relax when Mr. Weasley returned to their table with Mr. Scrimgeour from the Ministry of Magic.
"Hermione I understand you visited Harry recently." Mr. Weasley said.
"Yes, I stopped by to see him before I came here." Hermione answered wondering why the Mr. Scrimgeour was here.
"As you can well image, the Ministry is very interested in Harry Potter's plans after he comes of age and we were hoping that maybe he'd mentioned something to you."
Mr Scrimgeour said, "And Hermione, I urge you to tell us any thing you know about Harry's plans."
"Sir, He didn't tell me anything." Hermoine said and looked to Ron for help.
"I understand your loyalty. You are his best friends but this is a security concern. We all have to think about our service to each other. These are difficult times and Harry Potter is a risk, not only to himself, but everyone around him. If you know anything." Mr. Scrimgeour pressed.
Ron stepped in and said, "Listen, Mr Scrimgeour, Harry has proved he can take care of himself. And I believe he mentioned before he has no plan to join the Ministry."
"Let me put it this way then, Harry Potter will cooperate with the Ministry whether he agrees to it or not." Mr Scrimegeours said his impatience clearly showed now.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat silent.
Mr. Weasley continued for Mr. Scrimgeour, "We all care about Harry. None of us wants to see him hurt for his own protection he should cooperate with the Ministry. Things have changed. I don't think he realizes what he's up against now. Voldemort is no longer alone. Voldemort has recovered his strength and his followers are openly against us. Harry is at great risk."
Ron answered, "Think Harry knows better than anyone what Voldemort is capable of and he knows Voldemort won't rest till he's dead."
"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Sorry, Ginny but it's true." Ron said.
Mr. Weasley and Mr. Scrimgeour paused for a moment to let Ginny collect herself.
Mr. Weasley continued, "The Ministry has new information about Harry I think you should be aware of. See you after Professor Dumbledore died he left vast amounts of information."
Mr. Scrimgeour continued, "After much consolation and discussion about Dumbledore's records we have concluded that Dumbledore didn't not motitor Harry so closely for safety proposes alone. Albus thought there was a possibility Harry could become as powerful as Voldemort and also as evil"
"No!" Hermione shouted, "Harry has fought against him his entire life. He's the reason we had 13 years of peace. And know you think…."
Mr. Weasley said trying to calm her. " It's not something any of us at the Ministry expected but Albus' writing was clear. I'm sorry. We've read his concerns and we believe they are valid."
"You're wrong!" Ron added with disdain.
"Harry will be taken in the Ministry's custody the moment he comes of age." Mr Scrimgeour said.
"Dad, no." Ginny said.
"I'm sorry kids, but it's for his own safety and yours. I can not permit you to see him until his has been delivered safely to in Ministry. That all I have to say about it." Mr Weasley said in a firm voice.
"You can't keep us from seeing Harry!" Ron Said in defiance of his father.
"I can and I will. None of you are of age yet and I still run this family and I will do what ever I think best to keep you safe. All of you." He said to include Hermione.
"This is pure rubbish." Ron said more quietly this time.
Mr. Weasley came closer to them and said. "If you must know Dumbledore thought Harry had too many things in common with Tom Riddle the young Voldemort.
One of which is the fact that at the exact same age both Riddle and Harry learned how to create Patroneses, spoke Parselle tongue and have twin wands acquired on the exact same day 30 years apart. Dumbledore recorded the events of their lives meticulously. They are a parellel."
The group sat in stunned silence.
Finally Ginny spoke, "And we think he might have a horcrux too."
"Ginny, no." Hermione said.
Mr. Scrimegour said, "It's ok your doing the right thing. This is the only way to save Harry. Ginny how do you know this?"
Ginny said. "I read it in one of his notebooks. There're upstairs in his trunk."
"Thank you Ginny." Scrimgeour said reassuringly. "Any information will help us" to the others he said "And if you remember anything anything at all please tell me or Mr. Weasley."
Mr. Weasley and Mr. Scrimgeour headed directly to the house.
The group was left alone. They all thought had they saved or betrayed Harry Potter.