In a small village in Scotland, Cho and Sun Chang huddled behind a upturned kitchen table as Micheal McGonagall and Lee Chang threw curses at each other. The duo clungto each other crying and shouting at the men to stop, but theirpleas were ignored. In the midst of the chaos, Oliver, Percy, Fred and George all apperated into the small parlor outside the kitchen. Fred peered around the entry door and into the dining area, ducking as a poorly aimed curse hit the wall above him. George pulled him back into the parlor by the scruff of his neck.
"Bloody Hell!" George shouted.
"That was close!" Fred laughed.
Percy paled. "This is not something to laugh about Fred!" he scolded as the twin continued to chuckle.
Oliver shushed the group. "Listen guys, just stay in here for a minute and I'll let them know we've arrived." Oliver pointed his want at his throat. "Sonorus!" His voice grew instantly louder as he shouted. "Dad! Lee! It's Oliver! Stop throwin' hexes! I've got the Weasley boy's and we're 'ere to stop you before someone gets hurt!"
The dueling men continued to fight, but Mrs. Chang replied to Oliver's call. "Thank goodness Oliver! I've called the Ministry, but no one has arrived yet! Cho and I are stuck behind a table in the kitchen, we've got a shield up, but it won't last for long. Please do something!"
George waved his wand at the kitchen table, muttering a charm as Oliver turned to Percy. "What should I do?" he asked after taking off the Sonorus charm.
"Hurry, Oli!" Cho screamed as a nasty hex bounced off the pan hanging on the wall above her head.
Oliver turned grey as he focused on Percy. "Silence them and then stun them," the red-head answered matter-of-factly.
Oliver nodded at the logical plan. "I"ll take Mr. Chang," George offered.
"I'll take me Da," Oliver said firmly.
"I've got a shield on Cho and Mrs. Chang," George said nonchalantly.
"And I'll put a shield on us," Percy shrugged.
Oliver nodded. "On my count then. One... two... three..." he said as the four jumped forward. Fred and Oliver both began Silenco charms, but were cut off by Mr. Chang as his tripping jinx bounced off Mr. McGonagall and hit Fred who fell onto Oliver, causing him to silence George insted of his father before Percy could get a proper shield up.
"Shit!" Fred yelled as George's shield on the table faded and the table before them burst into a million pieces after one of Lee's hexes strayed. The force knocked Percy face first into a wall. Splinters flew and stabed everyone all over their bodies. Cho and Mrs. Chang screamed as a particularly large, sharp, hunk of wood came spiralling across the room toward George and before he could jump out of the way, it flew straight into his left shin, shattering the bone, causing the mutetwin to silently scream in pain.
Seeing this, Percy sprang into action, casting a strong summoning spell over Cho and Sun Chang. When the two women were in the parlor, he quickly began to throw up shields around them. In the mean time, Oliver cast binding spells on George's leg to prevent bleeding and Fred took off the silencing charm.
"Sorry George," Oliver apologised as he stood to assess Percy's shields.
"No worries," George said between gritted teeth. "It's, but a scratch..."
Fred grinned, "Mearly a flesh wound..." he joked.
Percy threw a disgusted look at his joking siblings, but said nothing, except the spells that were keeping them safe. He chanted continuously to keep the hexes at bay.
"Thanks for coming," Cho said with relief. "It took you long enough."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Gee, your welcome, Cho, next time I won't come at all!"
"She didn't mean that," Sun said apologetically as she pulled Cho's bangs back to reveal a particularly nasty gash to her forehead. "Really, we're glad you're here. But I wish the Aurors would show up. Kingsley is the only person I know that can get Micheal to stop fighting once he's started."
At that, the doorbell rang and Cho opened the door to find Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Aurther Weasley on the doorstep.
"Good evening, Sun," Kingsley said in a resolute mannor as he entered the house.
"Kingsley," she greeted sternly. "Thank you for being so prompt."
"How bad is it?" Tonks interrupted as she walked into the parlor and stumbled into George. "Bloody Hell!" she shouted as she saw his mangled leg. "What happened?"
"Exploding table," Fred supplied as George winced in pain. Aurther ran to his son. "George, are you alright?" he asked with concern as he knealt.
"I'll live," George quipped. "But you'd better deal with the dueling idiots in the kitchen or my prognosis may change..."
Aurther nodded and kissed his son's crown as he stood. "So, what should we do?" he asked Kingsley.
Kingsley assessed the duel in the other room. "Percy's shields will hold. There is a back door that takes you directly into the kitchen. If Tonks and I apperate in, we can catch them by surprise and stun them. I don't think we can risk silencing them first, Micheal's too fast. We'll just have to duck and shout. You should take George and Cho to St. Mungo's to be looked at. Find Healer Wood and have her attend them. Cho can stay with her sister until we've got this mess figured out. Oliver and Fred can help us with Micheal after he's subdued."
Aurther nodded nervously and grasped Cho and George's hands and apparated them out of the house. Mrs. Chang stood next to Oliver and cried as she watched her former and current lover fight. Oliver stared at Percy with awe as the young man continued to chant the sheilding charms. Fred, however, inched close to the sheild for a 'bird's eye view' of the fight. Then, Kingsley and Tonks apperated into the corner of the kitchen. Kingsley stunned Micheal while Tonks stunned Lee. Both men fell to the ground in a blink of an eye. The chaos around them halting with their incapacitated states.
Oliver touched Percy's arm and the young man released the shielding spells. Percy sighed with exhaustion and Oliver kissed his cheek that was begining to bruise from slamming into the wall. Mrs. Chang ran over to Lee and began to scold him. Fred eagerly watched as Tonks placed magical cuffs on Micheal McGonagall and Lee Chang, pocketing the wizard's wands.
"Good work Tonks," Kingsley praised as he wiped some blood from Micheal's forehead. The wizard looked very much like Minerva McGonagall, with salt and pepper hair and a tall stature. His features were somewhat marred by blood, dust, and wood particles. He however, at least resembled a person. Lee Chang, did not. His face was transformed into a mixture of beedy rabbit eyes, a pug's nose and a rat's mouth. He had blisters and boils covering his skin and his hands had thick fur on them. He was also bruised and beaton, looking far worse than his rival from the fight.
"Of all the immature anticks!" Sun screamed. "This was the worst. You could have killed Cho or myself, let alone that Weasley boy!" she ranted.
Kingsley shook his head. "I'm going to have to take them in, Sun," he said softly.
Sun paled. "Kingsley, no!" she said with shock as she collapsed onto her husband.
"They've done too much damage and there were too many witnesses..." he continued.
"But no one was killed and we can repair the house. The witnesses won't report us," Sun said quickly as she raised herself off Lee.
"No, Sun. They need to have some consequences for these fights. I'm sick of cleaning up after them. It's over. I'm taking them in for unsightly conduct in a duel and for risking lives over something trivial," Kingsley said with an air of finality.
"Oh Kingsley, please don't..." Sun cried as she took Lee's cuffed hands and held them.
"I'm sorry Sun," the tall man sighed as he summoned Lee and Micheal's bodies. "Go to the hospital with Tonks and get yourself checked out. Oliver can help me with these two." Sun nodded, wiping tears from her eyes,and did as she was told. The group apperated to St. Mungo's for treatment and then sentencing.
Tedious hours went by slowly for those remaining in the Weasley's tower. Ron and Harry attempted chess, while Hermione and Ginny did homework. Molly knit, Minerva paced, Hannah read from a book and Charlie prepared lesson plans. After midnight, Fred and Percy arrived with Cho and her belongings. Molly sat in her rocking chair, but was up in a flash at the sight of her boys.
Cho's coat was ripped and dirty. Her hair hung limply in her face and covered a healed scrape to her head. Harry swallowed his discomfort at seeing her and shirked into the shadows of the living room as Ginny glared at him. Fred collapsed next to Charlie, whiping his forehead and revealing an abrasion to his eyebrow. Percy sat next to him and tried to hide his black eye.
"Merlin!" Minerva cried as she stood and took her niece in her arms. "What on Earth happened?"
Cho gave a choked sob. "They fought," was all she mumbled as she burried her face in her aunt's chest.
"It was bloody fantastic!" Fred laughed as he turned to Charlie. "You should've been there!"
"Fred," Molly scolded.
"Mr. McGonagall was attacking Mr. Chang when we arrived at the Chang's house. The kitchen was in shambles and they were throwing curses left and right at each other," Percy said shakily. "Mrs. Chang called the Ministry and Dad arrived with Tonks and Kingsley. It took three of us to stop their duel. It was very ugly. Mr. Chang is still at St. Mungos now getting patched up. Kingsley said that Cho should stay with family."
"So you'll stay with me?" Minerva asked as the young girl continued to sob.
"No Ma'am," Percy said uncomfortably. "Kingsley said she should stay with her older sister. I guess she was planning to move in with 'Livie anyways..."
"Then what is she doing here now?" Charlie asked with irritation.
"Olivia sent me to Aunt Mini. She's patching up Mum and Dad. Said she'd collect me after work," Cho sighed.
Minerva smiled and kissed Cho's head. "So you'll stay at her flat?" McGonagall asked. Cho nodded in affirmation.
"Where are George and Aurther?" Molly asked with worry.
"At St. Mungos," Fred quipped. "George's leg is a mess..."
"What!" Molly screamed. "Are they alright?"
"Yes Mother," Percy said reassuringly. "They're in good hands. Oliver stayed behind to keep his father in check. The Auror's are taking both he and Mr. Chang into custody for unsightly conduct."
Charlie chuckled. "Is THAT what they call it these days?"
"All that from two middle aged wizards?" Ron asked with astonishment.
"At least that was all that happened," Minerva sighed as she kissed Cho's cheek. "It could have been so much worse."
"True," Percy said as he fell onto the couch with a sly smile. "Olivia could have been there."
Minerva laughed wryly. "That WOULD have been a disaster."
"I don't understand," Charlie said flatly.
"Livie can't help, but heal when she's sees injuries. If she's too close to a battle or a fight or any violence, it puts her skills into overdrive," Oliver explained.
"NATURAL Healer," Hannah said with emphasis. "She can't always control it. It's a part of her magic. It's not learned Healing, like what I'm doing as a Medi-Witch. She doesn't require a wand or a spell to fix things, but if there is too much happening at once, it can deplete her magical stores and harm her and or others..."
"Speaking of harm," Molly said as she shook her head. "Ginny, go get my medi-kit." The teenager jumped up and followed her mother's instructions.
Hannah stood and began to clean and heal a cut to Fred's hand as Molly worked on Percy's bruised eye. Hermione and Ginny went to the kitchen to retrieve tea things and Ron and Harry stood uncomforterbly with Charlie in the dining area while McGonagall sat with Cho rocking and comforting the shaken teen.
After an hour, Molly sent a protesting Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny to bed. Hagrid and Fred silently followed. Cho had fallen asleep on the couch in her aunt's lap as Hannah and Charlie cleaned up from tending to the wounded. Molly sat in her rocking chair drinking tea as Percy paced in front of the fireplace.
It was early morning when Aurther returned with Oliver. The duo were dirty, but had no wounds or bruises to speak of. They crossed the threshold and sat, exhausted, at the kitchen table. Charlie quickly disappeared and reappeared from the kitchen with two glasses and poured them shots of Fire Whiskey.
"Where is George?" Molly asked with concern as she walked to her spouse.
"Still at St. Mungos," Aurther replied gravely. "They said that he had to remain over the night. We should be able to pick him up tomorrow afternoon."
"Was it really that bad?" Molly asked with concern.
"His leg was pretty terrible looking," Oliver sighed. "The Healers said he had to have some bones re-grown."
"Why didn't he just come here then?" Minerva said softly. "Poppy could have fixed the leg easily enough."
Aurther shook his head. "It was beyond Poppy's abilities, Minerva. He needed a Healer, not a Medi-Witch."
"Oh my," Molly cried as she let out a shakey breath.
"Don't worry Molly," Aurther smiled weakly. "Miss Wood assured me that the leg would fully heal and that she would keep George from feeling much of the pain."
"So you met Olivia?" Percy said with a sly smile.
"Yes," Aurther nodded. "Lovely girl, excellent Healer."
Percy's eyebrows rose in astonishment. Oliver smiled. "She was too busy tending to the sick to fuss over father and his outburst with Lee. By tomorrow, she'll be her old self again," he chuckled.
"What did George think of her?" Percy asked Oliver with curiosity.
"He was asleep, Percy. He can meet her tomorrow," Aurther explained solmnly.
"So she isn't going to take Cho tonight?" Minerva asked as she smoothed her niece's hair.
"No," Oliver sighed. "She's tending to George tonight. Agreed to take him on herself, so that none of the other Healers would have to be bothered."
"Ah, guilty consciounce?" Minerva quipped.
"Something like that," Oliver shrugged. "I guess she feels like Dad's made less of a mess if she can easily clean it up."
"Hum..." Minerva sounded as she wrinkled her nose with disgust. "You children have got to stop feeling responsible for all of your father's mishaps."
Oliver weakly smiled. "We're trying Aunt Mini, promise."
Minerva smiled and turned her attention back to Cho. "I won't move her tonight. She's finally asleep. I think we'll just stay on your sofa, if that's alright Molly?"
Molly nodded. "Of course. I'll just go fetch you some more blankets." The redheaded woman quickly found some linens and gave them to the Headmistress as Aurther stood.
"Well, we've all had a long night, so we should have a nice lie in tomorrow," the patriarch said with a tired expression.
"Yes," Molly agreed. "Goodnight everyone," she said softly as she led her husband upstairs.
They were soon followed by Hannah and Charlie and Oliver and Percy, with Minerva and Cho resting on the sofa.
Once upstairs, Aurther revealed the news that the teenagers would be returning to Gryffindore tower in the fall and that he and his wife would be returning to their home. He half expected his wife to throw a temper tantrum, but the woman was eerily calm.
"I'm not surprised," was all that Molly said as she coldly crawled into bed and under the sheets.
"You're not angry?" Aurther asked with curiosity.
Molly turned to face him. "I'm too tired to be angry. I'm scared and worried about our children's safety, but I understand Minerva's reasoning. Harry looks worse now than he did that first summer. The isolation is wearing down on him."
"Yes," Aurther agreed.
"And I think it's high time our son wasn't sleeping in the same room as his girlfriend," Molly said with a shutter. "I know they claim that nothing is going on, but I can nearly hear the patter of little footsteps everytime they look at each other these days."
Aurther chuckled. "And to think Charlie was afraid you'd be furious..."
Molly cocked her eyebrow. "I am, Aurther, I'm just too tired to show it."
With that, the couple snuggled up to each other and fell into a deep sleep.