Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
In Response
The fireplace we stepped out of was as tall as the burrow's front door. But wider. Wide enough that three people could stand comfortably shoulder to shoulder. With Adrian's hand on the small of my back, I entered the room before I got the chance to really take a look at it. But even without time to study my surroundings, I knew the place Adrian had sought refuge in was grand.
"Marcus", Adrian said; his eyes immediately landing on one of the two occupants in the room. It wasn't a greeting. If anything, the urgency in his voice made it more of a plea for help. Though as Adrian led me further into the opulent room, I couldn't help but wonder when did Adrian start to call Flint by his first name.
The two people in the room were seated close together on a green velvet sofa. A piece of furniture that could probably feed my family for a year if pawned off to the right person. Each of them held one side of a book; sharing it between them with their heads bent over the text.
Though at our interruption, the two jumped away from each other. Sending the book to clatter soundlessly to the floor on the thick oriental rug that rested under their feet. The second occupant, the unidentified one, sprang to his feet; taking the added steps to put distance between Flint and himself. Although he didn't remain unidentified for long. "Holly?" Percy asked as he anxiously adjusted his glasses. So anxiously, that he nearly dislodged them from his ears.
It was at that moment, that I forgot about the urgency that brought Adrian and me here. It was at that moment, that my initial panic at seeing my own personal boogie man again came to a screeching halt. And it was all because my brain made a sudden and unplanned connection. Fred, George, and I were wrong. Very, very wrong.
"Beautiful timing, Adrian", Flint said sarcastically as he narrowed his eyes at both Adrian and me. "Really. You couldn't have gotten here at a better time. Especially considering you weren't invited".
Leaving Adrian's side to let him deal with the disgruntled Flint, I took the steps I needed to close the distance between me and Percy. "H-Holly?" He asked again; his tone twinged with fear. It had my hands twitching as I reached for him. Did he really think… Did Percy actually believe that I would… Wrapping my arms around Percy's lower back to keep him close, I buried my face in his chest. "I'm sorry", I mumbled into his sweater. It had been a beautiful normal day. I finally had the chance to do something someone my age should be doing, and then Lockhart/ Riddle had to reappear. And now this… shocking realization that we had not been acting sensitively at all.
"It couldn't be avoided", Adrian said as he defended our presence here. "It is a matter of urgency. Where's your father?"
Unmoved, Flint retorted, "What could be so unavoidable you would have to darken my doorstep?"
As this conversation went on around us, Percy raised his arms and hugged me back. "Holly?" He asked again. This time sounding more like his usual self as he fell into his familiar role of big brother. I wasn't ready to answer him.
Adrian didn't waste his words. "Lockhart is back. Holly caught him lurking. Somehow…." There was a long pause as Adrian took a deep breath. In that pause, Percy's hold on me tightened to my immense gratitude. "Somehow he knew where we would be".
Flint let out a loud and frustrated sigh. "I'll just go find Father, shall I?" Flint said as if it was the last thing he wanted to do. But he stood up and left; as evident by the sound of his footsteps heading away from us.
If it had been Quirrell or Pettigrew I could have handled it. I told myself as I remained pressed into the safety of my older brother. I had faced Pettigrew before and had come out the other side. And Quirrell was a joke. Even with the depleted soul of You-Know-Who living off his life force like a parasite. But Lockhart…. Possessed Lockhart, and my experiences with possessed Lockhart…. That was the stuff of nightmares.
"I'm sorry", I mumbled again as Percy nervously rubbed my back. It was a preemptive apology. One of many, I'm sure. I doubt we'd be able to apologize enough. "Should've paid more attention".
"This wasn't your fault", Percy tried; not understanding why I was sorry. It wouldn't last. But I wouldn't correct him until we had a chance to talk alone. I owed him that privacy. That discretion.
Compartmentalizing for now, I pulled away from Percy and turned towards Adrian. Adrian, who was chewing impatiently on the inside of his cheek and staring in the direction Flint had exited from. "At a sighting of Lockhart, why was your first reaction to go to Flint's house?"
Sighing, Adrian pulled his stare away from the door to look at me. He spent a few seconds studying my face before offering any sort of reason for his actions. Unfortunately for me, his answer didn't tell me anything. "There are things in the works you are unaware of".
Taking a step away from Percy, I moved closer to Adrian. "What things?"
Exhaling a long breath through his nose, Adrian looked away, staring fixatedly at a black oak floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that covered a whole wall. It even had one of those sliding ladders people used to reach the top shelves. Which is more of an accessory than anything else in wizarding homes. Because, you know, magic. When Adrian found the words he was looking for, he returned his gaze to me. "I didn't want to tell you until things were more certain".
Another step. "Were you waiting to tell me? Or were you waiting until things were too certain for me to change anything?"
Annoyed, Adrian bit his lip. And that was telling enough for me. So much had happened, and there were so many new discoveries, that I didn't know what should be taking priority. Closing my eyes and pursing my lips, I bought myself a moment to try to decide where I wanted to start; sort out Percy, berate Adrian, or deal with the Lockhart/Riddle situation to the best of my ability. Of course, I never got to reach a decision.
"What's this I hear about a matter of urgency?" Lord Flint asked as he entered the room. I opened my eyes just in time to see Marcus following behind him. For the sake of minimizing confusion, I'd better start referring to him as Marcus. Just until there were no longer two Flints in the room.
Pivoting to face the lord of the house, Adrian reported his news like a reliable employee. "Holly spotted Lockhart watching us during our outing. I thought it wise to come straight here. If they are truly starting to move, that would change our timeline expeditiously".
Stroking the stubble on his chin, Lord Flint agreed. "Quite right". His eyes washed over Percy and me; seeing things both my brother and I seemed unaware of. It made me grind my teeth. This whole time… Adrian had been making plans without me! "Marcus", Lord Flint addressed as he swung his attention to his son. "Travel to the Weasley household and alert Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to our need for their presence. Tell them they may bring the whole family if they wish".
Not looking happy about it, but not complaining either, Marcus nodded once before moving towards the fireplace.
"Actually", Lord Flint called back his son when he had a thought. Marcus paused and looked over his shoulder at his dad. "Tell them it will be prudent to bring the whole family. Until we know more, assuring everyone's safety will have to be a top priority".
"Um…", Percy broke in stepping around me with his arm outstretched to Marcus. "I can go get them", he offered as his glasses slipped down his nose, revealing wide alarmed pupils.
But Marcus shook his head, shutting Percy down with just a look. A look, I myself have received numerous times from Adrian. Seeing it on Marcus' face threw me off balance. Even though it wasn't directed at me. "Stay here with your sister", he advised Percy. "I'd prefer it".
Percy dropped his arm with a small nod as Marcus continued on his way, brushing past Adrian in the process.
Percy turned back to me with the color in his cheeks refreshed. He refused to look at me as he stepped closer and placed a solid hand on my shoulder. Oh. Fred, George, and I really misread the situation this time around.
Lord Flint watched his son go and waited until Marcus was swept up in a swirl of green flames before turning to Adrian. "Be so kind to summon your parents, Adrian", he directed. "I believe it is time".
Adrian was already moving to the fireplace before Lord Flint finished speaking. Taking a fistful of floo powder, he paused to look in my direction. "Please, try not to do anything rash until we've had the chance to explain everything", Adrian asked of me before stepping into the fireplace and uttering the name of his family home.
Once Adrian had left, Lord Flint turned in the direction of me and my brother. Something calculating flashed behind his eyes. Which was more than enough of a prompt for me to ask, "Time for what?"
Out of all of us, including Marcus and Adrian even though they had left, Lord Flint present himself as the most composed and sturdy presence. "Time to bring the Weasley family into our folds".
Already being in the know and due to the simple fact there are fewer of them, Adrian returns with his parents first. "Marius, are you sure?" Mrs. Pucey asked, not wasting any time with social niceties. With her hand looped around her husband's elbow, Mrs. Pucey led them away from Adrian and the fireplace to stand in front of Lord Flint.
Lord Flint did not seem offended. "I trust your son and Miss Weasley would not have reacted so if there was uncertainty".
The mustache on Mr. Pucey's face twitched as he mulled over the words. Mrs. Pucey's eyes briefly washed over Percy and me before refocusing on Lord Flint. "I was hoping we'd have more time", she shared. Her tone was not as poised as I was used to it being.
Percy's hand never left my shoulder. Even in the time we spent standing in Lord Flint's parlor; waiting for everyone to arrive. Squeezing my shoulder, he communicated his confusion. All I could do was look up at Percy and use my face to express that I didn't have the foggiest of what was going on either.
However… My eyes drifted over to Adrian and narrowed. Adrian had moved further into the room; standing behind his parents with his arms crossed. I do have an idea of someone who does know what's underfoot. Someone who isn't an adult and had not too long ago complained about me withholding information.
Feeling my unhappy gaze on him, Adrian looked away for the conversing adults and sighed; shaking his head at me. Not now, his expression and gesture seemed to say.
Frowning, I made Adrian a nonverbal promise that we would defiantly be talking about this later.
"As things are now, do you think the others will be receptive?" Mr. Pucey asked as he patted the top of his wife's hand.
Before anyone could attempt to answer his question or pose questions of their own, the fireplace erupted in green flames, signaling the arrival of several others. Mum came to the fire first. One of her knitting needles was clenched in her right hand like one might hold a dagger. She made a beeline straight for Percy and me, ignoring the other parents altogether. "Percy, are you alright? Your friend said it was an emergency and everyone should come". Mum's eyes frantically landed on me before Percy could say anything. Not that he didn't try, seeing as he had opened his mouth. "Holly?" Mum sounded surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Behind her, the fireplace flared up again. This time it was Marcus returning. "They'll coming", he informed his father as he walked over to stand by his side; using his wand to rid himself of soot in the process.
"Thank you, son", Lord Flint acknowledged; his eyes on the fireplace.
Mum continued to fret over Percy and me the fireplace lit up in green flames again. This time, Fred and George stepped through. Knowing more were coming they wasted no time in stepping out of the way of the fireplace. A sigh of relief I wasn't aware I was holding fell out of my mouth at the sight of them. Stepping around Mum and leaving Percy to her mercy, I ran a few steps to them, not caring what the other adults would think about my behavior.
Once in front of them, I sprung forward; wrapping an arm over each of them and forcing them to hug me. "We owe Percy a big apology", I whispered to them before they could ask me what was going on.
If they found my admittance puzzling, there was no time for them to react. Behind them came Ron, Dad, and Bill with Ginny. All four of them took in the Flints' parlor with a sort of uneasiness.
"Welcome", Lord Flint greeted; his voice solemn. Approaching Dad, he held out his hand to be shaken before offering the same courtesy to Bill. "I apologize we had to bring our families together under these circumstances. I was hoping to become acquainted with the Weasley heir under more pleasant tidings".
Bill accepted Lord Flint's handshake tentatively. Like he was afraid he'd lose his hand otherwise. He eyed the other man with an obvious amount of caution. Something, I'm sure, Lord Flint picked up on. But he did not react.
"Uh..." Dad started, but he stopped as he completed a full sweep of the room. He swallowed nervously before returning to his starting point. "What's happened?"
Everyone looked expectantly at Lord Flint as my family settled. But Lord Flint waited. He waited for all excess movement to die out. And then, in a calm voice that felt out of context for the tension that hung in the air, Lord Flint said a simple sentence. "Gilderoy Lockhart has made a reappearance".
And that went over just as one would imagine. Ginny gasped and clutched onto a sleeve belonging to Ron's shirt. As the adults, including Bill, all started talking at once, Ron's mouth dropped open. Fred and George began to act like bookends, keeping me stuck in between them. Meanwhile, Percy slowly inched his way closer to the adults. Or rath, to Marcus. And Adrian stood with his head bent, pinching the bridge of his nose.
With both his hands raised and his palms facing out, Lord Flint tried to be heard. "Please, please", he called out.
Some quieted. But not all. "We need to report this to the aurors", Mum said, her voice coming out louder than all the others.
"No", Lord Flint answered. And finally, the room fell under his control once more. "No", he repeated. This time in a voice more suited for the indoors. "We should not go to the aurors without concrete evidence. Anything else and we run the risk of things spiraling out of our control".
"Control?" Bill interrupted; his face scrunched. "When did you ever have control over a situation like this?"
Lord Flint kept going without sparing Bill so much as a look. "Everyone is here and accounted for. The Flint Estate is safe. Thanks to Marcellus' hard work, my security measures are top of the line".
Mr. Pucey nodded his head in agreement. "Some of my best work", he commented before Mrs. Pucey could shush him.
"In the safety of my home, I suggest we plan. Much is at stake here More than is transparent, and I intend to come out ahead". Lord Flint had a way of speaking plainly and yet still held the attention of others. "Please", he moved to the side; gesturing to a door behind him. "Accept my hospitality. The children will be safe to socialize amongst themselves here, while we can adjourn to my study. Where everything will be laid out on the table, so to speak".
A murmured conversation passed between Mum and Dad, with Bill looking towards to lead. But the discussion was sort as the Puceys were already heading for the door.
Fred and George's arms felt heavy around me as I watched, Mum's spine stiffen as she squared her shoulders. She was the first Weasley to take a step forward. Though not before she looked at all redheads in the room (apart from Dad and Bill), and said, "You lot stay together", in her sternest voice.
At the door, Mrs. Pucey turned around. "Adrian", she called. "Come, your input will be of value".
Sighing in an 'if I must' fashion and refusing to look at me, Adrian moved forward to his parents' side.
I half expected some sort of protest to be raised. Something along the lines of complaining about why Adrian got to be in the know while the rest of us were confined to the kiddie table. That is what happened in the Order of Phoenix when the golden trio, Ginny, Fred, and George had been banned from participating in an order meeting. But instead, we stood in silence. Staring at the door all the adults and Adrian had just walked through with different expressions on our faces ranging from befuddled to anxious. It was telling of how strange this situation was. Especially when considering Marcus and Percy accepted this arrangement with no objection, being of age themselves.
Rolling my shoulders in an attempt to let go of some of my nerves and to get Fred and George moving again, I looked toward Marcus. "I'm guessing they're going to be a while. What are the odds of you being able to get your hands on firewhiskey. I could use a drink".
While my comment wasn't enough to pull everyone out of their stupor, it was enough for Percy. "Holly!" he sputtered in his way of telling me that what I said had been inappropriate.
But Marcus shrugged and looked off in a different direction. The direction of where the booze is probably located if I had to take a guess. "That should be manageable".
Agitatedly, Percy waved his arms like an umpire calling a strike. "Absolutely not", he said loudly. The volume of his refusal brought some life back into Ron and Ginny, who started to study the room.
"Why not?" Marcus ask Percy as Fred and George started whispering something to each other over my head. We'd have to figure out how to distract the others before we could have a private meeting of our own. "Think about it", Marcus continued. "A few drops and babysitting them would probably be a lot easier".
Ron appeared to be personally offended by Marcus' wording. While Fred and George bristled from either side of me. Fair enough in their case. We were only two years younger than Flint and our older brother.
Percy stood steadfast. "You are not supplying my underage siblings with alcohol".
Annoyed and yet amused despite himself, Marcus cocked his head in the direction of us triplets. "Sorry, kids", he said; his voice coming out like molasses. If molasses could be sarcastic. "But Daddy said no". The vibrant scarlet color that engulfed Percy's face in response almost made Flint grow on me… Almost.