CHAPTER SIX

BACK TO HOGWARTS

The entire entryway of Grimmauld Place didn't look like an inhabitable place anymore. There were several parts of the floor that had completely disappeared. There was no piece of furniture that was not overturned or completely smashed. The walls were completely covered in charred marks, craters and blood. Fenrir Greyback, Amycus, Alecto and Dolohov appeared to be dead. Lupin lay crumpled on the floor. Lucius was unconscious. Moody was sitting on the floor, panting. Tonks was lying on the floor, doing the same. Hermione, McGonagall and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were fighting Rodolphus, appearing to be overtaking him. Harry did not care. Ron was gone. Kreacher was still unconscious, as was Dobby.

BANG!

Rodolphus hit the wall, landed on the banister, and slipped off the staircase onto the floor. He was dead.

"My son!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley, falling to the ground in hysteria. "MY DEAR SON!"

Mr. Weasley sniffed as a tear rolled down his cheek.

McGonagall dabbed at her eyes furiously.

Hermione fell to the floor by Harry, shaking.

"Harry, I'm sorry. I can't believe I couldn't stop it. I"

"Don't, Hermione!" said Harry sternly. "I don't want to hear you blaming yourself for Ron! You hear me? I don't want to hear it!"

"I'm sorry" she said to Harry, laying her head on Ginny and stroking her hair comfortingly. "I just… c-c-can't believe it."

Harry choked.

"Oh!"

Luna stared at Ron.

"He's not?"
"Y-y-yes, he is."

Neville fell to his knees beside Harry. He put his head in his hands, shaking tremendously.

Harry put his hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

Luna began to wail and joined Hermione and Ginny, who were still dazed and puffy-eyed.

Harry didn't know that he could take much more sorrow.

"Harry" began Mrs. Weasley, her eyes sparkling with tears as she embraced him. She suddenly began to sob onto his shoulder. "Harry, you did more for him than you know! Thank you so much!"

A tear spilled from his eye and fell on her shoulder.

"Don't cry" said Harry in vain, as more tears continued to spill out of Mrs. Weasley's eyes and his own.

It was never easy to control your emotions when Mrs. Weasley was crying on your shoulder, but now it was even harder than ever.

After several moments, they broke apart, Mrs. Weasley still shaking.

McGonagall wiped her eyes again.

Harry sniffed.

Suddenly he remembered what he wanted to ask McGonagall.

"Professor?"

"Potter, I owe you an apology for suggesting this place to live. This is my fault; if I had sug"

"Don't, Professor" said Harry sternly. "We shouldn't put the blame on anyone."

McGonagall blinked.

"I just wanted to ask you…" said Harry quietly "…if you would take me to Hogwarts for something" said Harry.

"What?" asked McGonagall. "What do you want to go to Hogwarts for?"

Harry leaned in a little closer. "I want to find out where Draco Malfoy is."

"But how is that going to h"
"And to find out where the other horcruxes are" said Harry. "But I need some Veritaserum. Is there some is Snape's personal stores?"

"What?" said a shocked McGonagall. "Well… I suppose"
"We need to take Narcissa Malfoy with us so we can find out where Draco is."

"Well, I" suddenly McGonagall lit up. "I must say, Potter, I have never been more proud of a student in my house than I am of you; a wonderful plan. Of course I will take you. Will your friends come with you?"

"Yes" said Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville at the same time, wiping their eyes once more and sniffing a bit.

Harry smiled.

"Very well" said McGonagall anxiously. "I suppose we had best leave now. We shouldn't linger here anymore."

"I want them to come too" said Harry, motioning to Lupin, Tonks and Moody, who were still sprawled on the floor.

McGonagall looked for a moment as though she thought this idea a bit nasty, but then nodded.

Harry looked at Ron's parents. Mrs. Weasley was sobbing on Mr. Weasley's shoulder. Mr. Weasley was silent, but his eyes were bloodshot and misty. He didn't want to ask them to help him, not after this.

"I'll go and see if they're alright" said Hermione, walking away from the group towards Lupin, Moody and Tonks. Ginny and Luna followed her.

Harry looked at Neville.

"Thanks, mate" he said. "You've really been a great friend."

Neville smiled nervously.

"No problem, Harry… Really, no problem at all…"

"Good Lord!" Lupin and was being helped to walk by Hermione and Luna, and had just seen the damage of the house. Ginny was still seeing to Tonks and Moody's wounds. Lupin looked at Ron.

"NO!" he forgot his wounds as he ran to Ron's side. "He can't be."

"He is…" said Harry quietly.

Lupin covered his eyes in his hand.

Harry was sick of talking about Ron's death, and instead said,

"Professor, would you go to Hogwarts with me?"

Lupin looked up at him.

"What?"

"I want to get some Veritaserum from Snape's stores so I can interrogate Narcissa Malfoy about the horcruxes and Draco."

"But do you know there is any left?"

Harry didn't reply right away.

"Well, McGonagall said there might be."

Lupin didn't answer at first. After a moment, he sighed.

"Well, Harry, I won't pretend there aren't dangers; but you're James' son. It would be insulting to him not to help you. I will go."

Harry smiled.

"Thanks, sir" he said.

Lupin nodded, smiling faintly.

"Alastor…Tonks…" said Lupin wearily, "I think Harry wants to ask you something."

Tonks and Moody, who were now standing right behind Lupin, turned their eyes to Harry intently.

Harry smiled. They seemed more than willing to help.

"Um" Harry began, "Would you like to"
"Of course we'll come, Harry" interrupted Tonks. "I like a good adventure once in a while."

"Your ears are attuned, dear Nymphadora" muttered Moody, whose magical eye was turned back in his head, no doubt looking for any sign of danger outside the house. "Now, let's be off. I, like Tonks, wouldn't mind a good adventure. I don't doubt it will be the last great one I take. My leg has been acting up lately."

"Thank you" said Harry. "Well, I suppose we should leave. How do you think we should travel, sir?"

"Well, we have no brooms" said Lupin. "The Knight Bus is out of commission. I suppose we'd be best with Floo Powder or Apparition."

"Floo Powder will do" said McGonagall curtly, reaching up on the mantel and pulling off a jar of what looked like ash. She took out a handful and threw into the fireplace, which instantly erupted with bright emerald flames. She turned around. "After you, Potter" she said.

Harry nodded.

Mrs. Weasley ran towards Harry.

"Good luck, dear" she said, her eyes almost puffed shut. "I hope we will see you again. Remember, you are always welcome at The Burrow."

Harry smiled, and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley" he said. "You've been the closest thing to family I've ever known."

Mrs. Weasley choked a bit. They broke apart.

Mr. Weasley came forward.

"Harry Potter, you have been more of a blessing than you know. I thank you."

"Thanks, sir" said Harry, grasping Mr. Weasley's hand tightly and shaking it.

After he fare-welled the Weasley's, he turned to Hermione, Neville, Luna and Ginny, who were beaming at him, their eyes sparkling.

"After you, Harry" said Hermione.

Harry looked at her, smiled, and turned back to the fireplace. With a deep breath, he walked right into the warm flames.

"HOGWARTS!" he shouted.

Suddenly he felt that similar sensation: spinning, spinning, his stomach churning, his eyes watering, his mouth filled with ash.

He was thrown out of a fireplace and onto the floor. Coughing and sputtering, he got to his feet. He was in McGonagall's office.