Chapter 15 – George
A loud crack echoed from outside. Someone had Apparated here. I dragged myself from the floor and rushed outside, drawing my wand. If the Death Eaters could breach our protective boundary, they could do it again. My stomach throbbed, but my anxiety out-did it. When I got outside, Hermione, Mum and Dad were standing together, looking over the non-existent boundary. A tall thin figure was striding towards the house, their cloak hooked over their arm. As they came closer, I recognised his distinguished features.
Remus Lupin opened the rusty gate, and jogged up to the house. "Dumbledore…sent an owl… I came to see the…damage." He said breathlessly. The lines stood out in his face, and his clothes were tattered. Grey hairs spotter his brown hair and his face was unshaven. He stopped when he reached us, and, despite his breathlessness, he gasped. "Oh dear," he said sadly, "They really left their mark." As I looked around, I noticed the damage was much worse than when I walked out first. Mud was thrown around the grass. The chickens were huddled in a corner, the roof on their coop destroyed. The windows in the dining room were smashed. Even the gnomes had finally disappeared. Dad was shaking his head and sighing. "We should have seen this coming. It's been over a month. If we caught them, that would have been the last of the Death Eaters." He said glumly, plucking a feather off his coat. "No, it wouldn't have. It would have been the last of the old Death Eaters." corrected Remus. "I'm sure they would have taught the younger members of their family the tricks of the trade. More followers will emerge in a decade when these ones fade." As they got into a hushed discussion, not-so-subtly leaving me out, I went back into the house.
Fred was trying to repair the window. Hermione was watching him, commenting every once in a while. Ron was in his chair beside her, wrapping a bandage around his hand. Hermione noticed him, and tutted, bending down beside him and redoing his bandage. He watched her, his eyes glazed. She looked up, and blushed, smiling. It was a really slushy and gooey moment. I had to resist the urge to vomit. Ginny was stirring tea in a mug, and Harry was tidying the living room one-handed. I went over to him. He looked tired, and worried. I couldn't blame him. He was blaming himself, because that's what he does. "Hey, Harry" I said, waving my wand and murmuring a spell. The cushions were repaired and returned to their respectful chairs. The old radio jumped back onto the shelf, and the table flipped back up. "Thanks," said Harry, sitting on the now repaired couch, "I'm sorry." He added, messing with his bandage. "For what?" I said, "Did you steal the last Cauldron Cake?" Harry smiled half-heartedly but sighed. "I know this is mainly my fault" he said, gesturing towards Fred fixing the window. "After what happened at the Ministry… "his voice caught and he took a deep breath, "They are trying to get back, for us putting those Death Eaters in Azkaban. They-" "Harry," I said, " Don't be self-centred. They came because they need a target. Ron, Hermione and Ginny were in the Ministry as well. They could have been coming for them as well. Stop trying to take the blame." With that, I stood up and left. Harry was a good guy, and a good friend, but sometimes his attempts at being the hero and taking the blame irked me. It wasn't his fault You-Know-Who had zoned in on his family. I felt bad for him, really, but there was a line between humble and trying to be a hero.
As I passed the kitchen window on the way into the dining room, I looked out the window. Mum, Dad and Lupin were casting spells over the garden. The soil zoomed back into the ground and the pots. The flowers slid into their spots. The watering can and tools returned to the shed. Ginny had finished her tea, and was pulling two bottles of Butterbeer from the cupboard. She winked when she saw me, and sauntered into the living room. I rolled my eyes, and continued to the dining table. Fred, Hermione and Ron were all sitting around the table. Hermione met my stare. Something bubbled inside me. Although I was long over her, the special night we spent together was still imprinted in my mind. Her chocolate eyes swivelled to Fred, who was giving his theory on the possible entry to the Burrow. How did these people move so fast?! "I think we missed a loophole in the making of the shield. Maybe they got underneath?" "They couldn't have," I stepped in, pulling up a seat beside Fred. He looked at me weirdly. "Dad made a point of making sure that couldn't happen. He even had Aurors from the Ministry come in to seal it off. No, this isn't our wrong-doing, it's THEIR right-doing. They must have something, or even someone on their side, who could break through our shield." As I finished my sentence, Hermione, Ron and Fred all looked at each other. Hermione looked shocked, and very scared. Ron wrapped an arm around her. Fred glanced at them and, as expected, he frowned.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Ginny walked in, grinning from ear to ear. Harry followed, his face flushed. He looked at Ron guiltily. Ron nodded, and sighed. They must have talked it out, I decided. Harry's face lit up. Fred continued to frown at Ron. Hermione looked at him and the corners of her mouth turned up. He returned the favour. I rolled my eyes, and left. Hermione was seriously pissing me off right now. She really couldn't make up her mind.
(A/N PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME I AM SO SO SO SORRY :'( Between a HUMONGOUS writers block, school, volleyball, two musicals, 3 fanpages and a social life, I REALLY haven't had the time :L Please forgive me! Are my loyal followers still here?!
Signing off,
Lexie)