The Attack in Diagon Alley
On the morning of the seventeenth of June, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George sat in the Charms classroom with Bill and Percy. Bill was shaking his head. He turned to Percy and asked, "Once again, Perce. Are you sure?" I mean, the second of July is so close! You and Audrey…"
"Are completely fine!" Percy continued. "Really, Bill. Just tell them the news. There is no change to the plan. On the day of the attack, I personally wanted to tell everybody here, but unfortunately, that dratted attack happened. Then, we were all busy recovering and attending funerals."
Bill sighed, "Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Harry. You see, Percy here is getting married on July second. The wedding will be at the Burrow just like mine, and there won't be too many guests since Audrey has only one family member and two friends who will be attending from her side."
As expected, everybody congratulated Percy, and Percy thanked them. "Well, gotta go. Need to make arrangements!"
"We can help!" Fred started, and George grunted his approval. But Percy cut in, "No, your term gets over on the thirtieth of June. That's almost a fortnight from now. Enjoy your recess at Hogwarts and come to the wedding happily."
Percy and Bill left the room afterwards.
"Blimey! That's three weddings this year!" Ron said to the room's general happy nodding.
Since the attack on the evening of the twelfth of June, none of them had gotten the chance to speak to Draco. The chance, however, presented itself when Draco entered the room shortly after Bill had followed Percy out.
"Percy told me he's getting married! He's invited me! Oh, I'm so grateful and happy for him."
"Yeah, Draco." Harry smiled. Draco's eyes filled with tears, though.
"I-I miss M-Mum already! I'm such a crybaby! I am not strong enough for this!" He cried into his hands.
"Draco!" Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George related thoroughly to Draco's predicament. Hermione looked at Draco sympathetically. Harry patted Draco's back. Ron told Draco to be strong. Just then, something happened that none of them had expected.
None other than Tonks walked in and went straight to Draco. "Draco, come here."
Draco looked up, his grey eyes now red. "My father saw my mother and your mother exchange words and duel. Before… before…" Tonks hugged him and broke down. The two cousins cried real hard, and Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George also found themselves tearing up. Each of them hugged Tonks and Draco and offered their condolences to Mrs. Tonks and Mrs. Malfoy.
Tonks seemed to get a grip on herself. "Right, as the eldest of you lot, I need to be strong. C-Cheer up, guys. I-It's Audrey and Percy's wedding in a fortnight!" Everybody gave her watery smiles.
Ron, Fred, and George followed Tonks, Hermione, and Ginny out of the classroom. Harry, however, waited for Draco.
"What happened, Harry?" Draco asked, concerned.
"I was wondering where Caitrin is going to stay, now that her guardian is dead," Harry told Draco. He had increasingly been worried that she would be an easy target for Death Eaters.
"Oh, Harry, I can't bring her to Potter Manor and bring more trouble to you," Draco said.
"Nonsense! Trust me. Potter Manor has a lot of ancient charms, spells, and counter curses protecting the vicinity. That's the reason I suggest my house as the hideout for lots of people."
"Harry, how is it that you care so much for everybody, even strangers and arch-rivals?" Draco wondered. Harry shrugged.
"Thank you so much, Harry. I'll talk to Caitrin right away." Draco turned left and went to the upper floors.
Lucius Malfoy sat all alone in Malfoy Manor that night. His son had left home, and his wife was dead. One day after his son's birthday, he had even discovered that as soon as Draco turned sixteen, he had gone and canceled his betrothal contract with Pansy Parkinson. In Bellatrix's own words, Draco Malfoy was smitten "by that filthy little Mudblood from Gryffindor!" Lucius and Bellatrix didn't know the girls' name, but once they found out about her and Draco, Bellatrix had gone into a fury and shot the Avada Kedavra at one old witch who claimed to be the girl's guardian.
He had seen his wife confront her sister. No, not Bellatrix, but Andromeda. Narcissa had stared at Andromeda, who had glared back but with a pained expression. Narcissa had raised her wand, so Andromeda raised hers in self-defense.
"Who is that girl Draco hangs around with instead of his soul mate?" Narcissa had demanded. She and Lucius believed Pansy Parkinson to be Draco's soul mate.
Andromeda had laughed, "Draco's soul mate isn't even in Slytherin but in Gryffindor! Pansy isn't his soul mate! Besides, Draco has already canceled his betrothal contract with Parkinson!"
After that, Lucius couldn't focus on the conversation as a furious Minerva McGonagall had confronted him. She was a tough and fierce fighter, exactly how she had been when Lucius was a student himself, if not lesser.
By the time Lucius had got a chance to sneak a look at his wife, she lay sprawled on the cold, stone floor. Andromeda, too lay dead.
Lucius opened his eyes. It was midnight, and he dragged himself to bed.
Caitrin thanked Harry profusely the next day, "T-Thanks so much!" she sobbed.
"It's fine, really." Harry shrugged.
On the morning of 23 June, Harry was particularly excited as he woke up. It was Dudley's birthday, and he was coming to Hogwarts to celebrate! It would be his first time at Hogwarts, and Harry couldn't wait to show Dudley the parts of the school he could see.
Headmistress McGonagall had assured Harry that Dudley, having magical blood from his ancestors but not quite enough to do magic, should still be able to see the school.
Sure enough, after breakfast, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Hagrid, and Headmistress McGonagall stood near the Hogwarts gates. Remus, Dudley, Aimee, Audrey walked into an enthusiastic greeting.
"Happy Birthday, Dudley!" Harry said happily. Everybody wished Dudley. Dudley smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Harry! Thank you, guys!"
"Mr. Dursley. What do you see in front of you? And Miss…?" Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Jones, Professor." Aimee supplied.
As did Aimee, Dudley could see the Black lake, Black Forest, and the Hogwarts Grounds. So, Harry took the two of them into the Entrance Hall.
"This hall can fit in the entire Number Four, Privet Drive, Dud." Harry said, opening his arms widely at the Hall. Aimee and Dudley could see the Entrance Hall, Great Hall, the classroom where Firenze, the centaur taught Divination, and the marble staircase leading up. But when they tried to climb, they found nothing but a broken down sign saying, "Abandoned. Said to be haunted."
Dudley and Aimee turned to Harry, "There's this sign that says the place is haunted. We can't go forward. In fact, the Entrance and Great Halls are the only places open for us."
"Haunted, it is!" Harry told the two about the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin ghosts, about Peeves the Poltergeist, and Moaning Myrtle.
"Helena Ravenclaw, the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower, is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the founders of Hogwarts. The four founders were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin." Harry stopped, then. He didn't like it, and he would rather avoid it. Explaining further meant the Chamber would sooner or later have to come into question, which would upset a cheerful Ginny standing amidst them. Harry didn't like sending Ginny away and keeping things from her either.
Ginny, however, sensed Harry's dilemma. "Thanks for your concern, Harry. You're right. I don't want to listen about that Chamber. I'll go to the Common Room or something and keep my mind away. You don't have to feel guilty or upset."
Hermione said, "I'll come along! Come to my room in the girls' dormitories." The two girls set off, and Harry, taking a breath of relief, explained the story of Salazar Slytherin, his fanatical views on Pureblood, the secret Chamber and the monster within, Moaning Myrtle and her death, Tom Riddle falsely accusing Hagrid and this resulting in Hagrid's expulsion, the opening of the Chamber in 1992 and the events of Harry's second year at Hogwarts.
Dudley was shocked, and Aimee looked sad. They understood why the matter was a sensitive issue to Ginny. Both were angered at the fanatical blood purist views that continued to this day.
Dudley, however, wanted more. "Your first year at Hogwarts, Harry?"
Harry smiled. The first time he ever saw the love of his life and met his two best friends! The very first time, he found love, acceptance, and caring. However, he blurted out, "So Uncle Vernon dropped me with my trunk at the station and went off with you and Aunt Petunia to the hospital to…." Harry stopped. Dudley was red in the face. Hagrid looked confused as he certainly didn't remember.
"C-Can we skip that part, please?" Dudley asked. He didn't want to remember the pig's tail, much less on the occasion of his sixteenth birthday. Harry, too, wasn't keen to bring up that subject, so he continued, "Well, I met the Weasleys for the first time. Mrs. Weasley, a fifth-year Percy, a third-year Fred and George, a first-year Ron, and…." Harry blushed, "Ginny".
Hermione and Ginny returned when Harry was describing to Dudley how the Philosopher's Stone had ended up in his pocket.
Dudley wanted details of Harry's third and fourth years at Hogwarts then. "Brilliant, Harry! Now, the third year. What happened after you blew up Aunt Marge spectacularly?"
"W-What?" Audrey and Aimee were shocked, "You mean Harry used underage magic? And it wasn't that house-elf this time?"
"Yes, I was convinced I would either be expelled and banished or expelled and sent to Azkaban. The wizard prison." Harry laughed. Remus stared at Harry. Harry had seemed like an innocent boy that day on the train when Remus had first seen Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Later, Ginny and Neville had joined them during that Dementor attack. Little had Remus known then that Harry was there after blowing up his aunt.
Harry was serious, "You know, Dud. That bitch spoke the worst of my parents! She insulted Lily and James Potter time and again. She called them names and behaved so horribly towards my parents and me. Don't tell me otherwise. I have seen you getting paid to tolerate her."
"Yeah, I know. She insulted Aunt Lily and Uncle James and compared them to dogs and bitches. She compared you to a pup. She gave you things like dog biscuits, let her dogs bully you, and constantly made life hell for you. She was horrible."
"She did that to James and Lily?! She tormented you?!" Remus looked every bit the werewolf now, albeit a more dangerous one.
The next five minutes were spent abusing Marjorie Dursley with all the slangs Harry, Dudley, and Remus knew. They enjoyed cursing the woman for her terrible nature.
"When Aunt Marge left that day," Dudley told Harry, "Mum actually punched the air happily in the kitchen when she thought I wasn't looking. I even heard her mutter that she might not be in a position to say anything to Aunt Marge, but you, Harry, certainly can and not just say anything, but do anything! Oh, you haven't seen the hurt and angry look on Mum's face whenever Aunt Marge berated Aunt Lily and Uncle James."
Harry was surprised at this information. The two cousins stared, and Remus and the others had the grace to give the cousins some time to get a grip.
Only after that did Harry start telling Dudley about his third year, Aimee finally removing her hands from her ears to listen.
As Harry explained the events of his third year, "Remember, Dud, we saw on T.V. about a certain criminal called Black? That was Sirius Black, my godfather, and he was innocent. Wrongly imprisoned in Azkaban, he had broken out of the prison to get back at Peter Pettigrew, the actual culprit. Pettigrew was the traitor." Harry also remembered the Dementor attacks that year. He remembered his Patronus Charm lessons with Remus, Professor Lupin, back then.
Harry's mind worked back to that day they had all met Remus for the first time. After Remus had expelled the Dementor, Harry had fainted after hearing his mother's voice. That day, there was only one other person who was as badly shaken as Harry, if not more, Ginny Weasley.
When everybody had calmed down a bit, Ginny had been asking them something. Ron had become irritated, partly due to Crookshanks trying to grab Scabbers, aka Peter Pettigrew. Ron had snapped at Ginny, asking her to go and hang out with her friends and not his friends. Ginny had run away from the compartment crying while Harry and Hermione admonished Ron for his behavior. Harry had then gone looking for Ginny and found her crying in a luggage room. He had sat next to her and comforted her in his arms that day. After that, Ginny went in search of her friends. Harry came out of his memory and saw Ginny smiling fondly at him.
As Harry spoke about the final Quidditch match, Audrey suddenly chuckled, "That match won Gryffindor the lead and was the end of Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater's relationship!"
"W-What?" Harry was taken aback. Percy and Penelope had broken up that day?
"Yes, Penelope was in Ravenclaw, and Percy, Gryffindor. Ravenclaw lost that match, so Penelope was upset. When Percy was celebrating Gryffindor's victory, he wanted to speak to Penelope."
"Penelope Clearwater and Percy Weasley had a big argument. I don't remember what it is, but I remember them getting embarrassed whenever they saw each other after that."
"People break up over Quidditch matches?" Dudley asked incredulously.
"Well, loads of people do. It's like breaking up over basketball." Harry shrugged.
At lunch, Harry began talking of his fourth year at Hogwarts. Finally, Harry was exhausted, "With Cedric Diggory dead and Voldemort back, I returned to Privet Drive for the summer."
"Then, Professor Dumbledore told you that you're Lord Potter, is that so, My Lord?" Dudley asked in a mock tone.
Harry laughed. Just then, Draco Malfoy came. "No kidding, that's what everyone calls the Dark Lord. 'My Lord'. I'm sure Potter would be the Light Lord."
"L-Light Lord? What are you on about, Malfoy?" Harry laughed. "Anyway, we'll celebrate Dudley's birthday in the Great Hall this evening. You and Caitrin are invited."
"Ah, cool!" Draco said happily.
"Can I see the four Common Rooms?" Dudley asked.
"Am afraid not, Dudley. But you can ask for the description of the common rooms." Harry said.
Harry took Dudley to the Gryffindor Tower. "This is the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, the Fat Lady's portrait. You need a password to get in."
Luna took Dudley to the Ravenclaw Tower. "You need to answer a riddle in order to get into the Ravenclaw Tower."
With Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones' help, Dudley saw the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room, "Right next to the kitchen." Hannah told him. "You'll get doused in vinegar should you tap the wrong combination of bricks."
Finally, Draco took Dudley to the Dungeons, where the Slytherin Common Room was. "Again, a password is required."
As five o clock approached, Bill and Fleur joined in, and Dobby brought a large Pista flavored cake with the help of Winky (Oh, Winky! How are you? Hermione had asked, and she had replied, "Master Barty and his son are gone. I has to move on Dobby tells me.) and Hope, who Harry had summoned from Potter Manor for the occasion.
"What's Winky talking about?" Dudley wondered aloud.
Harry explained what a Dementor's kiss (soul-sucking) is and told Dudley about the Crouch family (Barty Sr. killed by Barty Jr. Mrs. Crouch replaced her son in Azkaban and died there. Barty Jr. was given the Dementors Kiss).
"There, Colin! Us both!" Aimee excitedly asked Colin Creevey as she stood beside Dudley. Colin grinned and took a few snaps. "I'll get them developed and have them delivered to you! Do you want them Muggle style or wizarding style?"
"M-Meaning?" Dudley asked. In response, Harry showed Dudley the photograph Wormtail had given him the evening he died. Dudley's jaw dropped open as he saw the inhabitants (the Marauders, Lily, and Severus) move in the photo.
"Colin, show me the best photo and make that a wizarding photo. I'd like the rest to be muggle ones, please." Dudley said.
He selected an adorable and bright photo of him and Aimee standing close with his arm around her waist and hers on his back. "Make this one a wizarding photo."
"Right, oh!" Colin chirped as he hopped off to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry knew.
"That's one of my students. He has such amazing potential to become a professional photographer!" Headmistress McGonagall beamed with pride.
Ron, with his brothers and sister beside him, came up to Dudley. "Dudley, we would like you to have this."
He gave Dudley a clock which had a hand, "Dudley", and a hand, "Aimee" on it. Instead of numbers, there were things like "School", "Work", etc. "More can be added later on." Ginny smiled at Dudley. It was a collective gift from the Weasleys, which included Fleur and Audrey, to Dudley and Aimee. It wasn't any secret that Aimee and Dudley were now seeing each other.
"Thanks!" Dudley grinned. Aimee beamed at everybody.
Harry had given Dudley a set of lime green robes so he could dress as a wizard. Dudley found it amusing and thanked Harry.
There was fun and frolic, ending with Fred and George shooting fireworks at the sky. The other Hogwarts students were delighted to meet Dudley. The purebloods were curious about this muggle, while the Halfbloods and Muggleborns asked Dudley various questions about the happenings in the muggle world now. Dudley could only answer a few such questions. He, too, hadn't been involved in the happenings in the muggle world for a while now.
"H-happy Birthday, Harry Potter's cousin." It was Cho, looking more teary-eyed than usual. Harry remembered with a jolt that the next day would be Cedric's first Death Anniversary. This made Harry drastically upset and sullen, so much so that Ginny stopped drinking her pumpkin juice midway and stared at him with concern.
Dudley politely thanked Cho, and Cho looked at Harry and Fleur with a sad smile before leaving. Fleur, too had a solemn look by then as she too realized it.
Dudley, however, looked down as well. He told Harry, "Last year, Mum and Dad took me to this restaurant in Surrey for my birthday. It was midnight when we returned. Mum kept glancing at the sky all of a sudden, muttering about something, and I couldn't place what it is."
Harry stared at Dudley with wide eyes. Even Aunt Petunia had noticed something was wrong and that Voldemort would be returning in 24 hours. Why was it so hard for Cornelius Fudge to see this then?
But Dudley continued, "I miss them so much!"
Harry gave a sad smile. At eight, Remus took Dudley with him back to Potter Manor. Audrey had already left with Aimee.
Harry lay on his four-poster bed that night. So much had changed over the last year. People had died, some people had married, some others had changed residences and statuses. Voldemort and his Death Eaters were at large again. He needed to bring an end to the terror. Slowly he drifted off to sleep.
On the thirtieth of June, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, George, Neville, Luna, Draco, and Caitrin were all at the entrance waiting for the Thestral carriages with their trunks when Colin came running, "Harry, wait! Here are the photos! I have developed them!" He handed over a neatly packaged brown envelope.
"Thanks, Colin. Hang on." Harry took out a hundred Galleons. "This is for you."
"What? No! I can't accept money from you! Not for this!" Colin protested.
"I insist, Colin. Use this money and build up your career in photography." Harry insisted. Fred and George smiled at him, remembering how Harry had given them his Triwizard Winnings for the Joke Shop.
As Harry opened the photos, with the others peering over their necks for a look, Harry saw the muggle photos of Dudley, some with Aimee as well, and the one wizarding photograph. In the wizarding photograph, Dudley had his arm around Aimee's waist and kept glancing at her with a smile, and Aimee kept looking up at him. It was a cute photo.
The Weasley twins left with Lee Jordan, Angelina, and Alicia (seventh years went by the lake to the Hogsmeade station), and Harry looked up, "Dud will love this!"
The wedding was as good as Bill's and Remus' weddings earlier that year. Harry couldn't take his eyes off Ginny, who wore a red gown for the occasion.
As Harry ate his sandwiches, he overheard an excited Minerva McGonagall, "Mr. Weasley. We have an opening for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, and I was only wondering whether you'd love to take up this opportunity!"
Bill beamed as though he had never met Greyback when he nodded happily. Charlie was the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and Percy had joined the Board of Directors for Hogwarts. Fred and George were already popular names at Hogwarts. Harry loved how Hogwarts was brimming with the Weasley presence. He was sure Hogwarts needed the Weasleys, especially during these times of despair.
The wedding was held at the Burrow, and everybody remembered with a pang Molly and Arthur Weasley. They felt Arthur and Molly Weasley's absence hollow, getting quite emotional. When Percy and Audrey were declared man and wife, the dance began. Harry held Ginny close in his arms and danced. The couple saw Ron and Hermione kiss, Neville and Luna snuggle into each other, Dudley and Aimee swaying across the dance floor happily, Draco holding Caitrin while her head was on his shoulder, and the Weasley twins dancing with Angelina and Alicia, respectively.
The day after the wedding, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy, Audrey, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Dudley, and Draco visited the graves of Molly and Arthur. Yet again, it was a tearful journey.
Dudley wiped his eyes as he looked at Ginny, her head buried into Harry's shoulder. Harry wasn't doing any better, and he, too, was crying. Percy and Audrey declared in front of the graves that they were married and wished Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could have been alive to see it.
On their way back from the funeral, something happened that broke their reverie. Lucius Malfoy confronted the group, "Draco! What's this rubbish? Why won't you marry Pansy?"
To Harry's, Hermione's, the Weasleys', and Draco's horror, Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson came out of nowhere, "You marry our daughter right now, Draco Malfoy!"
"I am sixteen, and I can legally decide who I want to marry, Father! I do not want to marry Pansy whatsoever!"
"You brute! She is pregnant!" Mr. Parkinson roared. Everybody stood shocked.
"So what? I've never been anywhere near her, so it's definitely not me! Perhaps, you should check elsewhere who the father is!" Draco retorted, still shocked.
"Draco! Either marry Pansy and accept that child as yours, or you will not be getting a single Knut in your inheritance!" Lucius roared.
"Why should I agree with you when I've done no wrong? I have always been and will always be loyal to Caitrin!" Draco retaliated. Lucius and Mr. Parkinson glared at Draco, and Mrs. Parkinson broke into tears, "This brute has ruined my daughter's life!"
"You will not inherit any of the Malfoy property!" Lucius snapped and led the Parkinsons away. It was Draco's turn to cry now. "I swear I haven't done anything wrong, and I don't want that stupid inheritance! Just let me live my life in peace with Caitrin!"
Back in Potter Manor, Caitrin was inconsolable, "Lucius Malfoy says Pansy is pregnant with Dra…"
"No!" Draco shouted so loudly that Caitrin froze. Draco held Caitrin with both hands and looked at her straight in the eyes swearing that he never had sex, much less with Pansy Parkinson.
Caitrin looked down, "If so, I'm sorry for suspecting you, Draco." Draco was so relieved he embraced her and promised her that she would never have to worry about him cheating on her.
Fred and George, however, had been occupied with something. They had advanced their Extendable Ears, which could now follow people up to longer distances. As Draco pulled Caitrin closer, the twins said, "Ah! Here it is!"
From the speaker, Harry heard the voices as though the speakers were right here.
Lucius Malfoy was saying, "Not even that worked out!"
Mrs. Parkinson said, "I hate lying, and you dolts made me lie. Not any simple lie, but a big one! And that too, about my daughter! Even then, it was a failure!"
Pansy said, "I don't mind actually getting pregnant. Maybe then, we can convince Draco."
"No!" Mrs. Parkinson said. "I'm not having my daughter become an experiment for psychological manipulation!"
Mr. Parkinson's oily voice came next, "In any case, all those…. Potters, are they? They live with Potter, right? They trust Draco, so they'll know Draco is telling the truth. In any case, Pansy, Draco and the others will know Draco is not your child's father even if you do get pregnant. I've seen Draco, and he can get stubborn. He won't fall for these tricks."
"W-What about the betrothal?" Lucius roared, and everybody in the hall jumped.
"That has already been nullified back in June. Pansy is sixteen, and she hasn't even been asked her opinion on the matter. This clearly shows that Draco wants nothing to do with the Parkinsons. I'm afraid this will be the last time we speak on first name terms, Mr. Malfoy." Mr. Parkinson declared with an air of finality.
"No! I want our family to be related to yours! The Parkinsons are known to be some of the purest bloods out there. Not to mention the most fertile!"
Draco spat in disgust, and everybody else glared at the speaker (at Lucius) when Lucius spoke. Caitrin was sobbing harder than ever.
"Goodbye, Mr. Malfoy."
"No, I can…"
"No, thank you, Mr. Malfoy!"
Pansy seemed hesitant when she said, "Mr. Malfoy, umm…" but it was evident that she had left because Lucius suddenly shouted, "Pansy! Mrs. Parkinson! Mr. Parkinson! No!"
Draco's name was cleared, Caitrin apologized via sobs, and Draco heaved a sigh of relief.
Fred and George had been all for moving into their joke shop in Diagon Alley, but Harry, Bill, Charlie, Percy, and Remus stopped them. Since then, the twins had been delivering orders via owl, and they had to go down to Diagon Alley about once a week or so to get the joke products from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Most of the summer passed by in resemblance to the earlier, Voldemort-free days for Harry at least. They practiced charms and defensive spells, ate good food cooked by Hope, played a variety of games not excluding Quidditch, and had a good time. Luna and Neville joined them about four or five times a week. Mrs. Longbottom showed up a few times as well, albeit a lesser number of times than her grandson. Angelina and Alicia dropped by on many days to spend time with Fred and George. Audrey and Percy, Fleur and Bill, and Tonks and Remus were always seen hand in hand, laughing and chatting.
As for the younger couples, life was full of passionate kissing in secluded areas of Potter Manor. Ron and Hermione wouldn't take their eyes off each other. Neville and Luna always held hands whenever they were seen. Dudley would never stop glancing at Aimee, who would immediately blush and steal glances at Dudley. Draco always had a hand around Caitrin. As for Harry, Ginny was always in his arms or on his lap, and the two of them chatted, laughed, and spoke late into the night often.
The Grangers were having a good time as well. Plus, they also had work a couple of times during the two months. Thanks to the sweets and chocolates, many people would have dental complaints. Hermione shook her head, grinning, whenever she saw her parents attending to the inhabitants of Potter Manor, checking their gums and teeth.
This time, for Neville's birthday, a couple of people from Potter Manor went to St. Mungos to meet Neville's parents in the days leading to Neville's birthday. Neville had requested that, instead of a birthday party, he wanted to introduce them to his parents. On Neville's birthday, it was finally Harry's turn to go. Everybody else had visited the Longbottoms in the last few days. Harry felt honored that Neville wanted Harry to come alone and meet Alice Longbottom and Frank Longbottom on Neville's birthday.
"You have come, Harry!" Neville said brightly. "This is my mother, Alice Longbottom. This is my father, Frank Longbottom. Dad, Mum, meet an excellent friend of mine, the Potters' son, Harry Potter."
Harry dearly wished he could introduce Neville to some form of James and Lily. Neville knew what Harry was thinking and patted his arm with a knowing smile.
Just as Harry was about to leave, he said, "Neville, why don't you halt at Potter Manor tonight? You can finish my birthday party tomorrow and go."
Neville considered it, "But, Harry…"
Just then, although she had no idea what was going on or where she was, Alice Longbottom said aloud, "Go and enjoy… Friends… Very important."
Neville seemed to take this as his mother's sane permission to go to Potter Manor tonight and agreed. Harry smiled, feeling helpless for Neville.
Harry's birthday party was in some ways similar, and in some ways different from last year. There was a vast chocolate cake with his name in green icing. The party went on till midnight, after which, everybody retired to bed. Harry didn't want to let Ginny off. He held a giggling Ginny in his arms and carried her all the way to his own chambers instead of Lady Euphemia Potter's chambers. That night, the couple kissed each other and slept cuddled close.
When Ginny's birthday approached, Harry gifted her an expensive gold bracelet, "This is for you, Gin! I love you!" He told her, making her tear up in joy. She kissed him for five whole minutes after that.
This year, two Weasleys and Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Caitrin from Potter Manor would be studying at Hogwarts. So, Harry, Ron, and Draco decided to go to Diagon Alley. But George went with them because he had to get the week's joke products as well. Neville and Luna met them in the Leaky Cauldron.
Just when everything was going fine, Bellatrix and a few Death Eaters showed up and created a ruckus.
"Oh, no!" Luna said.
George suddenly pulled Luna inside his joke shop and urged the boys to follow. But Harry, Ron, Neville, and Draco tore off in different directions to catch the Death Eaters before they wreaked havoc. George bellowed, "NO! Come back here!"
Draco came face to face with his father again. This time, no words were exchanged. There was a fierce duel for a long time. Lucius didn't want to waste any more time or effort. He kept shooting the Killing Curse while Draco kept defending himself and shooting spells at Lucius.
Ron came face to face with Antonin Dolohov, the man responsible for his uncles, Fabian and Gideon Prewett's deaths. Fury erupting within him, he was engaged in a powerful duel with Dolohov. He was fighting not only on his own behalf but on the behalf of his parents, his two uncles, his sister, and all his brothers.
Neville came face to face with Bellatrix. "Ah, Neville! How are Mum and Dad?" She sneered. Anger hissing within him, Neville said, "Better now that they're going to be avenged!"
"Ah! Looks like your grandmother is used to losing people to our cause! You'll soon join your parents in that stupid ward!" Bellatrix jeered at Neville maliciously. Neville gave a roar of fury and got engaged in a fierce duel with the woman responsible for his parent's sufferings.
Harry didn't understand where the Death Eaters had gone. But there was panic everywhere. He helped everybody get into the nearest shop, bank, house, or whichever building they could find. As he ushered two frightened first-year girls into Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, he heard a blast at the nearest alleyway.
Amidst the debris lay George Weasley with one ear completely sliced off! He was there to help prevent Pyrites the Death Eater from violating a young girl. Pyrites had grown furious and shot a Dark Curse at George, resulting in his ear being sliced off. George was unconscious now and Pyrites had escaped. Harry got the girl safely into the ice cream parlor and called for help for George.
Together, he and Luna managed to get George to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. They were joined by Ron (a severe leg injury and a bleeding head), Draco (with multiple injuries across his chest and arms), and a badly injured but white and shaking Neville. Neville's wand had broken in the fierce battle between him and Bellatrix.
Ron and Draco had found Neville staring at Bellatrix's dead body. "I-I h-have k-kil…" Neville broke down in terror. Draco and Ron had comforted him and brought him along. Neville was still in shock. Ron had given a good fight to Dolohov. Badly injured in the head, arms, across his belly, and one of his legs, Dolohov had caused the nearest shop to go up in flames to distract Ron and had escaped. Ron had cast the Auguamenti Charm and brought down the fire. Draco, on the other hand, had successfully brought down Lucius. Lying on the stone pavement, Lucius had looked Draco in the eyes, "Kill me, Draco!" But Draco just stepped back and ran away. When Draco, Ron, and Neville finally went to the joke shop, Luna was there and she was the one who told them about George's fate.
It was the morning after next when George finally returned to Potter Manor, head still covered in bandages. While everyone was in tears, the Weasleys were especially shaken. The Diagon Alley incident was still shocking to everybody.
Neville was still shaken up about killing Bellatrix although even George had praised him, "You finally got your revenge, Nev! You're a hero for fighting that Dark Witch!" Augusta Longbottom was proud of her grandson and had even bought him a new wand.
Ron kept fuming about Dolohov, "Wait till I get my hands on Dolohov again!" He growled, despite even his biggest critics, George and Fred being full of praise for him, "He fought Antonin Dolohov, our Ickle Ronniekins! He's so grown up and powerful!"
Draco, on the other hand, was sullen. Everybody congratulated Draco for being so powerful that he could defeat his father. Lucius was one of the most powerful Dark Wizards and Draco had outsmarted him. But Draco wasn't too happy. It was understandable. No one liked the idea of fighting against their parents in battle. Draco, however, didn't cry for Bellatrix the way he had for Andromeda. Narcissa was his mother so he had cried the most for her naturally.
The summer holidays finally drew to a close, and Harry, Ron, Neville, Draco, and George had recovered from their injuries. Bill and Fleur, like Charlie, would be moving to Hogwarts. Hope cooked a sumptuous meal on the last night of the holidays.
