Chapter 151

23rd June

Arriving back to the apartment in the region of 2am, I tried my best to sneak up through the shop undetected, but managed to scare Fred and George out of bed, wands raised and threatening to hurt me.

"Woah, you guys. You're really scary when you want to be." I stumbled over a fixed display and knocked the contents of the adjacent onto the floor with my overnight bag, "Ooops." I flicked my wand and restored natural order again.

"Katy?"

I raised my hands in the air, dropping my bag, "Guilty as charged. Are you going to arrest me? I've been a very naughty girl."

The boys shared confused glances before slowly approaching me.

"Kathryn, you smell like a brewery." Fred chuckled, "How much have you had to drink exactly?"

I placed my hand on his cheek and smiled toothily, before giggling, "Well… I'm still conscious."

"Barely." George bent over and picked me up, flinging me over his shoulder, his hand firmly on my arse ensuring my modesty, "Let's get you to bed before you cause any more damage."

"Aw, no…" I moaned like a three-year-old, "You guys reeeeaaaaally want to hear what I've got to say! Why do you think I came here, at this time? I couldn't wait until morning!" George gently lowered me onto the sofa. "I don't plan on ending up in the wrong bed, if that's what you're worried about? I know my twin." I affectionately tapped George on the nose.

I hiccoughed loudly and was handed a cup of strong coffee by Fred who wore a bemused expression on his face as he sat on the coffee table waiting expectantly for the story that seemingly couldn't wait.

"Freddie." I said, "I know you love all the gossip and I couldn't risk you finding out from anybody else."

He leaned forwards in anticipation, "The suspense is killing me."

"Tonks and Remus got married today."

"Shut the front door." He gasped.

I felt around my person for my handbag, "Accio handbag." I said, opening the black clutch, I took out a selection of photographs from today, "They only got a cancellation this morning, so it was all hands on deck when I arrived and the next thing they were married."

"I'm surprised you two haven't eloped already!" Fred said, elbowing George, "I mean, with everything going on, and it's going to happen eventually." He paused, "Of course, you'd both invite me."

I pinched his cheek between my thumb and forefinger, "You'd be the prettiest bridesmaid there ever was."

Fred looked to George, "She really is drunk." Then he turned back to me, "I think Tonks, Ginny and Hermione are already competing for the honour. I'm quite content with my spot beside George."

I placed a hand on George's thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze, "See that subtle rejection?" I cuddled into him, "You're gonna need him on your side when you realise what you're getting yourself into by marrying me."

George sniggered, "Let's get you to bed!"

"No!" I spluttered my rejection, sloshing the coffee around in the cup precariously, "I didn't get to tell you the rest of my story."

The twins blinked and apologised for their rude interruptions and stated that they didn't really want to go back to sleep anyway. I sensed their sarcasm, but let me continue nonetheless. I told them about the gazebo and how we went to the small apartment the two of them will share together afterwards for drinks and hor d'oeuvres. They seemed rather impressed with my grasp of the French language whilst having a drink or five in my system. "Their apartment is adorable and neutral and perfect for the two of them. Anyways, afterwards, we hit the town, having a beautiful three course meal at Quaglino's before I managed to talk myself into a few extra backstage tickets to the Weird Sister's concert." George naturally had some questions at this stage about what I did to obtain these tickets. I informed him that I was only two drinks in by that stage of the night and Myron didn't take too much persuasion at all. Fred was simply amazed that Myron and I were on a first name basis. "The five of us headed to the Weird Sister's After Party in some private club where I may have drunk a few too many cocktails." No shit they said. What? They were free! Was my response. "Then the newly-weds managed to sneak off and I wasn't for sleeping on anyone's sofa, so I asked Ted and Andy to drop me off at the doors and..."

I performed the 'Jazz hands' movements and said to George, "Now, we can go to bed."

"Oh, Katy, I love you, but my goodness, you could have cut that speech down by at least half." George kissed my forehead, "Night Fred."

"Night you two."

George gently nudged me awake several hours later, handing me a glass of water and a rejuvenation potion. He stood prepared for most eventualities including the obligatory basin on the floor. I sat up unassisted and gulped down both liquids, "Morning!" I smiled.

"You're … alright?"

I put both feet on the floor, "Fresh as a daisy." I looked in the mirror, seeing my mascara down my cheeks and my hair sticking out in every which way, "Though, I'll admit I look like shit." I pulled the bobby pins out of my hair, laughing after smelling myself, "How did you sleep beside me?"

He smiled, "The things you do for love…" he sighed sarcastically, "I'm glad you see the funny side of you waking Fred and me up at 2am." he stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders, looking at me, looking at him in the mirror, "How are you not incredibly hungover right now?"

"I was surrounded by family, who insisted I eat a good meal and drink plenty of water." I giggled, "That was until I kept being offered incredibly strong cocktails that tasted so fruity and delicious and went straight to my head. That's when I called it a night."

"Good choice," he said as I walked into the bathroom, "Fancy a fry to soak up the rest of the alcohol in your system?"

I glanced over my shoulder at him with nothing but love, "I'd kiss you, but even I wouldn't kiss me right now. You can bank it for later, okay?"

"Do I get interest?"

"Or even a cheeky upgrade." I winked from the shower cubical.

George instinctively bit his lower lip, "VIP treatment please."

"Coming right up."

24th June

"We need to come up with a plan on how best to extract Potter from Privet Drive," Mad-Eye commenced the Order of the Phoenix meeting this evening in his usual structured and succinct manner, "The boy turns seventeen on the 31st of July, and so the protective enchantments will cease to remain effective as the clock strikes midnight. And our second concern for this meeting are the Muggles – Potter's Aunt, Uncle and their son."

Around the Weasley's kitchen table sat the majority of the Order of the Phoenix, with Ginny quietly sitting in the corner, hoping her mother doesn't notice her presence. Moody was the only person standing, like a teacher instructing a class, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

"If there are no objections, I believe the safest option is to transport Potter here by side-along apparition using his invisibility cloak?" Moody's blue eye whizzed around in his head, watching the reactions of those in the room, "I am willing to complete the task." He said.

"That sounds like the most natural plan," Bill awaited the agreement to resound around the room before asking, "So… what exactly do we need to do with the Dursleys then?"

Moody answered, "We need to get them to a safe house."

"Hide them a hundred or so miles away, give them new identities, a new life?" Tonks suggested.

"I'm sure that'll go down well…" I said sceptically, "They already hate Harry enough, never mind us asking them to leave behind their perfect littlelife and maybe go into some form of quarantine. They're too scared to hurt him anymore, but that fear doesn't extend to treating him halfway decently." I paused, knowing all too well the how living in a home where you are not loved, respected or appreciated can affect you, "We need to persuade the Dursleys to leave, make them think it's their idea. Last thing we need is them being taken by the Death Eaters due to our complacency."

"Exactly," Kingsley said, "with my experience in dealing with Muggles, I am happy to put myself forward to speak with them."

There was a general consensus in the room, "Best man fer the job." Hagrid said.

"I'm happy to accompany," Arthur said, "I have spoken with the family before, so I'll be a familiar face."

Fred laughed, "I'm sure they'll be delighted to see the man who blew apart their fireplace and -"

"Didn't you guys give Dudley tonne-tongue-toffee, then too?" I asked.

George grinned, Arthur grimaced with embarrassment at the memory and Moody shook his head, unconvinced of the appropriateness.

"Perhaps a female face may be more appropriate?" Tonks asked.

Remus cleared his throat, looking at his wife, who currently had turquoise hair and was wearing several black items of clothing with rips and an edginess that the Dursleys would run a mile from. Eyes started wondering around the room. Moody couldn't go, for obvious reasons. Then Bill and Remus are scarred, Fred and George – no. Eyes, one by one, started landing on me.

"Looks like it's going to be me," I said, "If you're okay with that, Kingsley? Promise I'll be on my best behaviour."

He gave the smallest of laughs, "I look forward to working with you, Miss Pink."

"So, what am I allowed to offer them?"

"Kingsley will be doing all of the talking." Moody said as though his opinion was final.

I raised my eyebrows, "And what am I going to do when I get there? And don't you say anything sexist or ageist, because I am more than capable of talking to Muggles, having grown up in a Muggle household and I'm proficient in -"

"She's right, Alastor." Kingsley spoke in my defence, much to my surprise, though a bit of me thought he said it to prevent an argument, "I'll be able to brief you tomorrow evening before we go."

"Tomorrow?" I blinked.

He nodded, "The sooner the Dursleys leave, the sooner we can extract Harry."

After the meeting had finished, the three of us promptly headed back to the apartment and I made a pot of tea. It was only then that I had the opportunity to think about the task ahead of me tomorrow evening and what it meant for Harry, Hermione, Ron and me. Getting the Dursleys to leave Privet Drive, would be us one step closer to leaving. I can't see Harry waiting around long after getting to The Burrow. His only barrier would be awaiting the trace lifting.

"Katy?" George called me.

"Yeah?" I zoned back into reality again.

"Tea's ready." He said. He was right; the pot was hissing loudly on the heat. In a series of wand movements, I had the tea poured into mugs with a dollop of milk in each and delivered to the recipients.

Taking a seat on the sofa, I cuddled into George and got comfortable, "Am I mad? Going to the Dursleys?"

Fred was the first to answer, "Are you planning on murdering them all?"

I sat up, "What sort of question is that?"

"You didn't say no." He smirked, "How're you going to do it?"

I looked to George, "I'm not going to murder them."

"I believe you," he said, "you don't need to justify yourself to me. I think what Fred is trying to say is that he can imagine that you'll find it tough being civil to people who have been so cruel."

"But I'm doing it for Harry," I said for myself more than for the twins. I didn't know how I would react to them, and that worried me, "Maybe Moody was right and I should sit there in silence."

Fred and George both snorted, "You'd never be able to do it."

The fire in front of us turned green, and within seconds, Angelina Johnson was standing in front of us, taking off her travelling cloak, "Hey!" she smiled before reaching over to Fred and kissing him.

I quickly placed my hand in George's and using my Invisibilia powers I asked, "I thought they were broken up?"

"Apparently not." George said, without looking at me, instead he was eyeing up the situation unfolding in front of me. He did not look particularly amused. In fact, he placed an arm around me and pulled me closer as Angelina Johnson made it perfectly clear what she wanted. Within minutes, the two of them had made up some excuse and had left.

George hadn't moved a muscle, he merely blinked in the direction of the fireplace, "That girl, I swear she is in and out of Fred's life like a yoyo." He shook his head before looking to me, "I replayed that in my mind and I realise I sounded just like you." he pulled me in closer to tickle me.

"Does she make him happy?" I asked after momentarily fending him off.

He breathed, "I don't know… I just feel like he could do better than someone who shows up on a whim, but isn't around for everything else. I guess I only have us to compare to and -"

I kissed him, "Can you please inform me as to why are we talking about Fred and Angelina when we've got a free apartment?" I straddled him, kissing him again, "Do you think I might be able to take your mind off them?"

"I'm not sure… Kiss me again!"

I pulled him onto his feet and kissed him, "Maybe I could take you into the bedroom and make you forget everything but my name…?"

George followed me into the bedroom as I took off one garment of clothing at a time as I walked, dropping them onto the floor. He made sure the door was locked behind us before we succumbed to our desires.

25th June

"Hello, Mr and Mrs Dursley?" I waited for a hint of cooperation to appear on the faces of the residents of 4 Privet Drive, "My name is Kathryn and this is my colleague Kingsley. We're here to talk about Harry, to arrange how best to get him out from under your hair and discuss a suitable plan to ensure your safety going forward."

Vernon Dursley's facial expression contorted, "Safety?"

"Perhaps it might be best to discuss inside?" Kingsley requested, following my advice, he added, "So as to not arise suspicion amongst the neighbours?"

"Right, right…" he shifted his large frame to the side to admit us, his eyes roaming up and down the street, checking for prying eyes.

Petunia Dursley stood at the door into the front room to direct me, looking me up and down. Dudley watched me intently from behind her, a very inquisitive look on his face. I get the impression he must have been trying to hide, because when I smiled at him, he blushed, but his considerably larger frame was like hiding an elephant behind a sapling tree. Petunia's perfectly straight blond hair, long face, accompanied by an exceptionally long neck saw me question how Harry could possibly be related to her as I sat down in their spotlessly clean living room.

"What a beautiful home, Mrs Dursley," I said, taking a look around. The house was not to my taste in the slightest, but I needed this woman to like me, and right now she was judging me every second I sat here, "I apologise that we turned up unannounced, I would have telephoned, but I didn't have your number."

My sweetness was not enough for Vernon, but Petunia certainly relaxed a little bit of her stiff frame.

"Would it be appropriate for Harry to join us?" Kingsley asked, "After all, this meeting is about him and your safety."

"Later." Vernon said shortly, "Why are you lot threatening my family's safety?"

Kingsley sat forwards and began, "Mr and Mrs Dursley, Kathryn and I wish to be nothing but honest with you about the ongoing situation. I am sure you have noticed strange things happening in society reported in the news?"

"Caused by your lot, have they?"

I needed to diffuse the tension growing in Vernon Dursley's face, "Please let me explain if there any gaps in your understanding from the night that Harry came to live with you. Lily and James were murdered by a man called Tom Riddle, who is more commonly known as Voldemort, Lord Voldemort or He Who Must Not Be Named. Voldemort, in some ways is like Adolf Hitler, wanting to cleanse the population of certain people groups and rule with terror. The night that Lily and James died, something happened that meant Harry survived, and only a handful of people know the reason why and, as you can imagine causes Voldemort a great deal of concern that such a boy could cause him his downfall. It has taken him many years to build himself up again, and now has an army, which he intends to use to take over in a form of dictatorship. These anomalies on the news, that's been caused by the ongoing war, on our side if that's how you want to refer to it, of us trying to stop him." I paused.

Vernon didn't speak, nor did he urge me to continue. Petunia looked terrified. Dudley still hadn't taken his eyes off me; it was seriously off-putting. Between Kingsley and I, we explained the roll of Death Eaters, Dementors, one of which had attacked Dudley, so there was an added shock factor there and the possibility of Inferi. We then explained the risk of the Dursleys staying put…

"Harry has been staying here as he is being protected by the familial link you share," I tried to glaze over that fact quickly to protect against aggravation, "and when he reaches 17, that protection ends, and by extension, it also causes your protection to end, meaning that those who wish to hurt Harry will be able to enter this house and cease him."

"That's why we are here today," Kingsley seamlessly continued, "to offer you protection, because, forgive me for being so blunt, but there are people out there who wouldn't hesitate to torture and kill the three of you. And we don't want that to happen. We can offer you real protection, a safe place to stay, an opportunity to escape this." He proceeded to hand over a series of documents, outlining the plan of action, the safe house, the job opportunities, the schools for Dudley, the impeccably ordinary community they will be living in. Kingsley had thought of everything, even the perfectly pruned bushes in the front garden.

Vernon sat in silence for several seconds, unmoving. Petunia sat flicking between the pages in the booklet, before Vernon finally spoke, "Do you take me for a fool?" he stared at Kingsley, there was no part of his demeanour that suggested he was joking. Vernon Dursley did not believe us, "What is it you want? The house? Do you think you're going to trick me into leaving this house?"

"No…" I said quietly.

Petunia Dursley's eyes met mine as I said it.

"We're just trying to give you an opportunity to protect your family." I said.

"I work for the Prime Minister." This certainly perked up the ears of Mr Dursley, "He is aware of the ongoing situation and we work in partnership. I am completely honest with him and I with you."

"So will you be protecting us then?" Vernon questioned.

I knew that was a risky strategy to take… Kingsley paused to consider his next move carefully, "I have two people in mind that would be a more suitable fit for your needs."

"So you're telling me, that this Hitler man who is one of your lot wants to kill him," Harry chose this moment to enter the room,"and you're asking us to leave our home for our own protection?" he said it so bluntly and with a load of scepticism.

Harry answered, "What they've told you is the truth. Voldemort is after me and because of your connection to me, he and his followers will not hesitate in attacking you if they believe that you have information about me."

"We didn't ask for any of this." Petunia spoke up at last, causing Dudley's eyes to fall upon his mother.

Kingsley looked over his shoulder to me. This next bit required a women's touch.

"I know," I said calmly, "and I understand that the two of us showing up here can be upsetting, but if we didn't have to be here, we wouldn't be bothering you. This is serious, Mrs Dursley. I know you didn't ask to be related to who you're related to, and I can relate to that a whole lot more than you will ever know, but this is your lot and despite how much you try to ignore it, you're related to Harry, and though no fault of your own you've been stuck with him," I briefly looked to Harry apologetically before continuing, "but before the 31st July when the protection ceases, we need to get you all to safety. Harry will never see you again if that is what you come to decide. It is now up to yourselves how you want to manage the situation. Kingsley has given you all the information, take some time to read over it, we just need a decision once you're ready." I said, "And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We can arrange to come back again at a later date or we can talk on the phone? Just let Harry know and he can contact us."

"Harry, may I have a quick word?"

Kingsley left me in the sitting room with the three Dursleys. I didn't know what I did to deserve this torture as Vernon clearly wasn't amused at my speech, Petunia sat still, her eyes continuing to look me up and down. I had tried to dress as plainly as possible, with my hair straight and as natural a face as possible so as not to offend or give off an uninviting vibe. Not one of them attempted to make conversation with me. At least they weren't entirely like the Pinks, I would have gotten screamed at for daring to speak to them and chased up the stairs with the threat of a beating for looking at them the wrong way.

"I know it's not ideal, this situation, but you've only got Harry for a few more weeks and then you'll never have to see him again. You'll have all the protection you need from highly trained personnel and a safe place to live together until we get everything back under control again." I concluded, "And if you don't have any immediate questions, I'll take my leave. Thanks for hearing us out." I stood and straightened out my outfit before heading towards the door into the hallway where I saw Harry and Kingsley in intense conversation.

Harry reached out and took my hand, I knew what he wanted me to do, "You were a lot nicer to them than you should have." He smiled, "I'll see you at The Burrow once these lot decide to leave."

"If you want me to come back and not be as nice, let me know." I smirked, "I can be a real bitch when I want to be."

He rolled his eyes, "You? Never."

"See you!" I announced to anyone who'd listen as Kingsley and I let ourselves out.

"Not bad at all, Miss Pink," he said as we walked the length of Privet Drive together, "You could certainly come in handy in future."

"I've been dealing with people like them all my life…"

Kingsley nodded, "Now I'm beginning to understand how you've survived so long."

"Cheers."