He he! I think I've finished writing the end of the story! Shame I haven't done the middle bit, ah well never mind. It will come eventually. In the meantime I hope you enjoy this one, please tell me what you think :)

Cheers!

Sarah XxXxX ;)


Chapter 16

Six o'clock came around very quickly for the young witch and wizard. They were both dressed casually but with a look that they had both made an effort, except Harry with his hair; there really was no point, especially when the twins greeted him by ruffling it. After locking up the house they apparated to Hermione's house to find her parents nearly ready to go.

Charles was arranging his tie as he opened the door to Hermione and Harry, and Jan was tying a piece of red ribbon around the neck of her bottle of wine she had bought for the evening.

'Mum! Now ours looks boring next to yours!' Hermione exclaimed as she stood the bottles next to each other on the dining room table. Harry laughed at Hermione, she turned to look at him.

'Well it does!'

'Yes Hermione.'

Wise words Harry, wise words,' said Charles as he looked into the dining room, 'sometimes it's just easier to nod and agree!'

Harry grinned at Charles.

'Don't I know it, I caught on quickly when I started being friends with Hermione and then again when I started going out with Ginny, and when they're together I generally don't say a lot.'

Charles laughed as he pulled his shoes on.

'That is such a lie!' argued Hermione.

'Yes Hermione,' said Harry before laughing at the look on the witch's face. Hermione started to laugh too, but mainly at the look on her dad's face as he tried to conceal his laughter.

'Anyway!' Hermione said to calm the laughter, 'are we ready to go?'

'I think so, have you locked the front door Charles?' her mum replied.

'Yes dear,'

'And is the bathroom window shut?'

'Yes dear,'

'Then yes Hermione, we are ready to go,' Jan finally replied to her daughter's question.

'Good. Harry would you apparate with mum and I'll go with dad.'

Harry walked next to Jan and held out his arm. She took it with an apprehensive smile.

'Don't worry Mrs Granger, you're in safe hands,' Harry said with a reassuring smile. She relaxed and smiled at him, 'just make sure you hold on tight!'

'Ready dad?' Hermione asked, she could see the excitement in his face as he nodded, 'good, just do what Harry said and hold on tight ok?'

'Yes Hermione!'

Harry chuckled.

'On three?' she asked Harry. Harry nodded.

'One…two…three.'

Harry and Hermione turned on the spot and the four of them vanished.

They reappeared instantly in the front yard of the Burrow to the sound of the chickens clucking and the occasional waft of food smells coming from the house.

'Is it over?' Jan asked in a slightly higher voice than usual.

'Yes Mrs Granger, I got you here safe and sound, and more importantly in one piece!'

'Thank you Harry, don't think I was questioning your ability to apparate I just don't particularly like the experience, and how many times have I told you? Call me Jan please!'

Harry smiled.

The four started walking towards the door. It was ajar when Harry went to knock, letting out the hot air that the stove was making.

'Mrs Weas- Molly?' he called.

'Harry! Hermione! How are you?' Molly said as she bustled over to the door, giving them each a hug in turn.

'Charles, Jan! So good to see you again, it's been far too long since we saw you last.

'I know, we are sorry, but thank you ever so much for inviting us tonight,' Jan replied.

'Oh not at all, not at all.'

'We brought wine Molly,' Hermione called from the other side of the kitchen after she had hung her coat on the coat stand. She held up the bottle and gestured to the one that Jan was holding.

'Really you shouldn't have, but thank you all the same.'

'Is there anything I can do to help?' asked Jan.

'Oh no dear, everything is cooking away, I insist the four of you go into the lounge and have a drink with Arthur, if he hasn't fallen asleep on the sofa.

'I heard that Molly!' Arthur shouted from the lounge. A moment later he appeared in the doorway and strode through the kitchen to give both Charles and Jan quite a violent handshake. Hermione giggled at the sight.

'What would we all like to drink? Ah, I see we have wine! Personally I prefer Firewhiskey but all the same, and of course we have the muggle beer, which Harry gave me for my birthday.'

'You still haven't finished that?' asked Harry amazed, it had been well over two months since Arthur's birthday.

'Dad likes to keep it for special occasions, don't you dad?' Ginny had just appeared from the lounge and walked over to Harry who wrapped his arm around her waist.

'Well I think this counts as a special occasion doesn't it? Would you care to join me in having a beer Charles?'

'I would love one thanks Arthur.'

He followed Arthur through to the room adjoining the kitchen where Arthur kept his stash of muggle beer. When they emerged Charles was explaining to Arthur what a widget was and how it worked. Hermione and Harry giggled as they overheard the conversation.

'When's everyone else arriving mum?' Ginny asked Molly, 'I know Fred and George won't be here 'til seven but what about the rest?'

'Well, Bill and Fleur are coming straight from Gringotts so they should be here about half past six. Charlie and Amy could appear at anytime seeing as though they've taken the week off from work which is why they both can come tonight.'

'Is Percy showing his sorry face?'

'Ginny don't be rude about your brother!'

'Well is he?'

'He said he would pop in after dinner as he's working late at the Ministry.'

'My arse he is!' Ginny mumbled, meaning only for Harry and Hermione to hear. Unfortunately Molly heard as well.

'Ginny! Percy may have made mistakes in the past but he is sorry.'

'I haven't had an apology! Neither has Harry for when he tried to turn Ron against him! The only reason he's not coming is because he's scared to be in a confined space with me, Fred and George!'

Hermione had noticed through Ginny's little rant that Molly was turning a dangerous shade of red. She had gently stood on Harry's foot to get his attention, and when he looked at her she glanced at Molly with wide eyes to get her point across. He realised the danger and decided to step in.

'Gin, why don't we finish setting the table, are we eating in the lounge Molly?'

Molly seemed to calm slightly at the sound of Harry's voice and she turned towards him.

'No dear, there are too many of us and we decided it was a shame to sit inside on such a lovely evening.'

'I suppose it is,' he replied.

'Oh, and we were going to show Charles what wizard duels were like weren't we? We can do that after tea, or beforehand if everyone gets here early enough.'

'What's that Ginny?' Arthur asked from the other side of the kitchen, him and Charles having been oblivious to the previous conversation between the young witch and her mother, 'Duelling?'

'Well, not for real, we were going to show Charles how wizards duels went.'

'I was telling mum and dad about duelling practice at work and it's a bit hard to explain, so we said we'd demonstrate tonight.' Hermione explained.

'Sounds like excellent fun!' Arthur exclaimed, but seeing Molly's look of concern, added, 'as long as everyone's careful of course!'

Chatter fell into happy and lengthy conversations. The next to arrive at the Burrow were Charlie and Amy. Strangely, Charles and Jan had already met Amy but not Charlie. On the one occasion Charles and Jan had visited Ron in hospital, Amy had done the same on behalf of his elder brother. After the introductions were over the eight of them went into the garden to start setting up the tables for dinner, leaving Molly in the kitchen to tend to the food. Bill and Fleur were the next to arrive, and again, Charles and Jan were introduced to the eldest of the Weasley children and his wife.

Twenty minutes later Fred and George arrived and the volume level greatly increased and so did the amount of laughter ringing through the house. It was probably a bad idea, Harry thought, to tell them about the duelling with enough time for them to come up with some huge practical joke. If anything was going to happen then they were hardly going to let on before the event.

At five to seven everyone was sat around the table except for Molly and Jan – who had insisted on helping serve the food. They were to-ing and fro-ing, carrying (and levitating) food out into the garden but at seven on the dot everyone was sat at the table.

Mr Weasley walked round the table pouring those who didn't have a drink, a glass of wine from the bottle Jan had brought with her. When he got back to his seat he remained standing. Hermione stood and picked up her glass and then the rest followed. Hermione had forgotten to tell her parents that they did this, but luckily they followed suit and stood, picking up their glasses as they did so. Mr Weasley cleared his throat.

'We remember those who died fighting the noble fight, who fought selflessly to keep our world from darkness and suffering, and those who stopped at nothing, doing not what was easy, but what was right. They are remembered.'

He raised his glass and everyone followed.

'They are remembered,' the rest of the people around the table said proudly.

It was a small gesture, but one that was performed before every meal in the Weasley household, and many others throughout the wizarding community. Although it was those who had fallen who were the subject of the gesture, every one of the Weasleys, Fleur, Amy, Charles, Jan, Harry and Hermione said a silent prayer that Ron would be returned to them soon.