Harry felt the familiar sensation stop as his feet hit solid ground and he was spat from the fireplace at Number 12 Grimmauld place. He rolled out and hit the edge of the staircase with a loud thud that must have woken Kreacher up. He patrolled though the door mumbling to himself. "The blood traitor is in master's house, what poor old mistress would think" he stumbled over Harry and walked up the staircase. He tended to a photo of what Harry could only assume to be Sirius's mother. Then the realization hit Harry, Sirius was dead. His only family torn away again by the same people his mother and father died too.
Harry felt a tear drizzle down his cheek as he stood up, he quickly swiped it away. Harry walked into the kitchen and felt his gaze fall on the table. There laid the Daily Prophet. He picked it up and read the headlines.
LORD VOLEMORT HAS NOT RETURNED- "What you have heard from the so called Albus Dumbledore is a lie" Writes Rita Skeeta.
Harry threw the paper to the side and sat down at a chair and ran his hands through his head. Hadn't Hermione captured Rita? I thought she was trapped inside a jar. She must have escaped the jar thought Harry. Then another realization hit him. Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny were still trapped in the Department of mysteries. Harry stood up as if he was zapped and shoved his chair out of the way.
What happened to them? All the Auror's are dead. Are they alright? Did they escape? Right at that moment a knock on the door down the hall echoed through the house.
"Don't they know not to knock, oh how my Mistress would be disappointed" mumbled Kreacher as he walked to the front door to open it. Harry leaped forward and grabbed Kreacher by his rag, or what was left of it anyway and pulled him behind him.
"Stay here Kreacher" Said Harry, almost in a hush whisper.
"Yes master" He replied huddling away silently. Did Kreacher call him Master? A thought for another time as another knock came from the door. Harry groped his wand and aimed it at the door, "Alohamora" he said in a hush voice. The door creaked open and someone stepped inside, he had bright red hair and a lot of freckles, it was Ron.
Harry rushed forward to embrace him, Ron had a smile on his face but a look of grave concern followed. "Were are the others?" Said Harry, not bothering to hide the worry in his voice.
"Right here" Said another voice behind Ron. Hermione, Luna, Neville and thankfully Ginny all came in and closed the door.
"Jeez mate we thought you died when you didn't answer the door." Said Ron as Harry finished greeting the others. Harry couldn't contain his smile as he asked how they got back.
Ginny piped up from behind them all as they walked into the lounge room and sat down.
"Lupin and Tonks stayed behind and escorted us out the back way of the Ministry. They're both going to be her soon, and what about you, all we heard was you were with Dumbledore. What happened?" The tone in her voice sounded harsh. Harry was sure it was his imagination. He explained about Sirius and how he chased and supposedly killed Bellatrix, Neville seemed exceptionally happy after Harry said that. He explained about Voldemort and how he killed all the Order as well.
"So where is Dumbledore and Kingsley then, Harry?" Said Hermione from the kitchen. She returned moments later clutching a plate of sandwiches, with a look or sorrow on her face.
"I...I don't know, they said that they we're going back to help the Ministry deal with Voldemort" replied Harry grabbing a few sandwiches and sitting back down clutching his aching thigh.
"The ministry has a collection of Nargales they would have used" Said Luna, sounding quite serious in what she was saying. Everyone became un-naturally quiet after that.
"We had to deal with a few death-eaters who we're coming through the back entrance, we feared there may be more on the way" Said Neville standing up and checking the window for what Harry hoped was Dumbledore's return.
"I hope their all right, we should do something to help them" replied Ron who was sitting very quiet through all of it.
"We've done enough, we'd only get in their way. It's Dumbledore we're talking about here, he's the only one Voldemort feared" Said Harry. They all flinched as he said Voldemort's name.
There was a sudden gush of heat as two people emerged from the fireplace, everyone was on their feet, wands pointed at the fireplace. Remus Lupin emerged carrying Tonks, Hermione rushed over to help but the second Tonks was out of Lupin's grasp he leaped at harry and pinned him against the wall. "ARE YOU MAD?" Harry screamed.
"What creature sat in the corner of my office when Harry Potter first entered my office?" replied Lupin, his tone harsh but cold. Harry struggled and Lupin said again, "What Kreacher!"
"Grindylow!" Harry replied struggling free of Lupin's grip. Relief washed over Lupin as he sat exhausted into a couch near Hermione. "I'm sorry about that Harry, we we're ambushed, I had to check if you weren't a death eater"
"What happened to her?" Said Hermione, raising her wand to calm Tonks.
"We we're ambushed, there was so many death-eaters there. The entire ministry was dead when we just escaped. Voldemort has killed any of the remaining captives inside the Ministry, he rules over any order now." He took a moment to relax and gazed around at everyone. "Tonks was hit with an Impendia jinx, she should be alright if you know what you're doing Hermione"
"What…What about Dumbledore?" Asked Ron, his voice sounded shaky.
Lupin looked up and around everyone and centered on Harry. "He's dead"