"And where do you think you're going?"

Harriet froze on the doorstep. Maybe this hadn't been the brightest plan after all. The voice had an accusing tone to it and had come from her boyfriend and he did not sound at all happy. Considering she was in the middle of trying to sneak out of the Burrow, she understood why he wasn't impressed with her.

Harriet turned and shrugged. She had left her plan for leaving until the night before her 17th birthday. Until it had got so close to turning midnight. The moment her birthday would truly begin and she would be able to go where she pleased.

"You should be resting!" She told George in a displeased tone of her own.

"Can't rest. Knew my girlfriend would try and pull a crazy stunt. One which you've not thought through very well." George explained. "Why are you trying to leave anyway."

"You got hurt because of me."

"I got hurt because Snape is a git," George said softly, stepping towards her awkwardly almost toppling over.

Harriet rushed to him, hands held out ready to catch in case he fell. Though George managed to stay upright.


Harriet helped him back to the sofa. Her backpack was placed by her feet. He knew that she would try to leave The Burrow as quickly as she could. George thought she would attempt to leave sooner than now though.

'You're all in danger while I'm here.' Harriet whispered, 'I don't want -'

Oh, so that was her explanation.

"The whole point was to get you here safely."

"If Voldemort finds out I'm here -"

"But, why should he?"

"There are a dozen places you might be now, Harry. He's got no way of knowing which safe house you're in."

"It's not me I'm worried about!" Harry said hotly.

"We know that," George said quietly, "but it would make our efforts seem rather pointless if you left."

Harriet looked away, looking rather upset with herself. George caught the sight of drops of tears.

"Hey, hey -" George pulled Harriet towards him and nestled her head against his chest, holding her close. "No need for that. How long have you been holding it together?"

And then Harriet broke into sobs.

"We're all worried, Harriet. I'm sure I've told you that." George mumbled into Harriet's hair, tightening his grip around her.

George thought he heard someone approach - and he wasn't wrong. His mother had clearly woken and made her way down the stairs. The look of relief on his mother's face told George everything. She had found Harriet's bed empty and had gone searching.

"She's OK." George mouthed. "Just worried."

Harriet began to settle and stir within his arms. George turned his attention to her. Thumb caressing her face.

"I'm sorry-"

George chuckled lightly, "Birthday girl is allowed to feel however she likes. Though she's not going anywhere before the wedding. Mum would kill you."

"Can the birthday girl be held for just a bit longer?"

"Anytime," George mumbled, gathering her towards him again.


"Mum's determined to find out what you're up to," George told Harriet. His mother had long ago returned to bed, deeming that Harriet was safe after all and not going anywhere.

"Keeping me away from Ron and Hermione is not going to stop us from leaving."

"mum is aware of that, deep down, we tried telling her. Dad and Remus both asked Ron and Hermione, what it was that's so important but when they said Dumbledore told you not to tell anyone but them, they dropped it. But I'd brace yourself ... I'm sure she's just waiting -'

"I know what your mum is trying to do," Harry replied. "But someone else is not going to kill off Voldemort while she's holding us here.''

She had spoken without thinking and George saw it written on her face.

"So, that's what you're trying to do," he said. "How? When? What's the plan?"

"I've already said more than I should have," Harriet mumbled softly yawning.


The morning of Fluer's and Bill's wedding. Harriet Potter no longer was a guest, well not officially, His girlfriend had turned into someone else. Someone else who had red hair just like themselves. George found it unsettling. He knew the girl in front of him was his girlfriend, even though she no longer resembled his girlfriend.

"It's only for today Georgie. We need to protect her as much as possible."

"I know dad, that doesn't mean I have to like it. I was hoping to dance with her tonight - you know as my girlfriend - not having to pretend that she means -"

His father chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "It will be over before you know it. And you'll have the real Harriet back."


Harriet, George noticed spent most of her time on the sidelines. George felt a little better. For even as someone else, Harriet was being noticed by other males. Her dress was a pale blue, and cling to her frame. Harriet spoke with Krum, and when George checked on her later, she was speaking with Elphias Doge. George was going to go over and thought better of it when he noticed his aunt Muriel approaching them.

Something large and silver came falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed in the middle of the astonished dancers. The Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

George bounced into action, pulling his wand from his robe.

The protective enchantments around The Burrow had broken. Guests were scrambling in all directions; many Disapparating. Cloaked and masked figures appeared in the crowd.

Soon it became all too apparent that they were outnumbered, George knew all he needed to do was give Harriet enough time - he caught a glance of her speeding through the disappearing guests. She sped towards the podium from which the band had now vanished, Ron and Hermione were also fending off spells being thrown at them. The moment Harry reached them, Hermione held out her hand, she grabbed Ron with the other. Then within a blink, his girlfriend was gone.

George vanished behind her. Harriet was in safe hands. That was all that mattered. Now he would have to go into hiding. Fred appeared a second later.

"Good thing we already packed - huh?"

Lee came running out of his apartment. Two backpacks held out. They had planned for this. Now all they needed to do was gather Angelina.