"If I die, please bury me with Mrs. Weasleys mashed potatoes," Matilda said. She was lying on the floor in front of the couch in the lounge.
"I'm pretty sure you say that about all potatoes," Rory replied from the couch.
"They are the perfect food," Hermione replied.
"Definitely," Matilda said. She sat up a bit. "Where's Neville?"
"Fred and George said they needed him and Ron for something. Pretty sure Ginny is with them waiting for carnage," Rory replied.
"Should we check on them?" Hermione asked.
"Only if we hear screaming," Rory replied.
"Hello ladies," Tonks said entering the room. "Rory I think your dad was looking for you."
Rory groaned. "I know. I'm hiding from him."
"What's wrong?" Tonks asked.
"He and Sirius both have been wildly overcompensating because I didn't get to hang out with Harry today, and I just need a few minutes where I'm not being bombarded with their constant overbearing dadness," Rory explained.
Tonks chuckled. "Can't imagine what it's like to have two dads. Especially if one of them is Sirius."
"Could be worse," Matilda said, still lying on the floor. "And you know, at least they like Harry."
Rory rolled her eyes. "They love Harry."
"Would… Would you prefer they didn't?" Tonks asked.
"I'd prefer they not be mentally planning our wedding," Rory said. "I mean, I love Harry. But I'm 15. I'm very smart, but I have no idea what's going on half the time. And Harry is so sweet, but he's so clueless sometimes."
"Again, could be worse," Matilda repeated. "He could be as clueless as Ron."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't get me started on him."
"Anyway, everyone likes Harry," Matilda said. "That's why your dads like him. He's very likable."
"I do find it peculiar when people don't like Harry. Although, I am very biased," Rory said. "I just wish my dads were the slightest bit suspect of him."
"Why?" Tonks asked.
"Because he's my boyfriend. And Harry is a perfect gentleman and is probably the boy every father wants their daughter to date, but…" Rory trailed off.
"What is it?" Tonks asked.
"He's a perfect gentleman, but he's still more than happy to make good use of the time they get alone in the dorms," Matilda said.
"Mattie!" Rory scolded her.
"What? You were dancing around it. Besides, it's just snogging. Everyone is snogging," Matilda said. "What use is an empty dorm if you don't let your boyfriend feel you up in it."
"No one said anything about Harry feeling me up," Rory said, her reddening by the second.
"Ah, but he probably will, and you'll probably let him," Matilda said. "And that is the truth your dad is blind to, right? Can they at least pretend to be suspicious that your boyfriend is not so gentlemanly or that you, perhaps, would prefer he not be so gentlemanly?"
"Can you stop talking like that before my dad comes in here?" Rory replied getting to the floor and shaking her friend. Tonks laughed.
"I'll pretend I haven't heard a thing," Tonks said.
"I appreciate that," Rory said, her hands still on Matilda's giggling shoulders.
"I'll just tell him you were too distracted by your company to have a chat right now," Tonks said. "I'll see you ladies later."
They waved goodbye and then Tonks was gone from the room.
"What is wrong with you?" Rory asked Matilda.
"I couldn't help myself," Matilda said. "But anyway, was I wrong about any of it?"
"You could've tried to put it delicately," Hermione said.
"I don't know the meaning of the word," Matilda said. "And usually, Miss Aurora Delphine, you don't either."
Rory sighed. "Yeah, but it's different. I mean, Tonks is cool, but she's still my dads' friend. Don't want her reporting back any misinformation."
"Your 15-year-old daughter getting to second base with her boyfriend is hardly misinformation," Matilda said.
"It is misinformation," Rory said.
Matilda sat up. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that you and Harry have really only kissed? That's it?"
"That's it," Rory said.
"You're lying," Matilda said.
"I'm not," she replied.
"He's never even, like, grabbed your tit or something?" Matilda asked.
"No," Rory said. "Why is that a shock?"
"Seven months and he's never even gone after a boob. That is a gentleman," Matilda said. "You let Viktor get to second didn't you Hermione?"
"I'm not answering that," Hermione replied, her whole face going red.
"That means yes," Matilda said. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I suppose it doesn't matter. If you're happy, you're happy."
"Thank you," Rory replied.
"Dinner was wonderful, Molly," Tonks said, preparing to leave. Stopping by to celebrate Rory's birthday was a nice diversion to end the workday on. But she needed to get to bed so she could be up early the next day.
"Will you stop by tomorrow?" Molly asked.
"Probably not. But I'll be by Thursday for the meeting," she replied.
"Aurora was happy to see you," Remus said. "I'm sure she appreciated you stopping in. And I'm sure she needed the distraction."
Tonks didn't mean to make a face, but she remembered her brief conversation with Aurora.
"What is it?" Sirius asked.
She sighed. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just… I get the feeling that she felt as though you two were overcompensating a bit today."
"I can see that, but I don't think we were all that awful," Remus said.
Tonks sighed. "I'm gonna clue you in, just the tiniest bit, but when I talked to her she said she was hiding from the two of you because she needed a break from your 'overbearing dadness.'"
"Ouch," Sirius said.
"I think she just needs a bit of space," Tonks said. "She's 15 after all. And she's got her friends here. And she's certainly doing much better than she was when she got here at the start of the summer."
Remus sighed. "Teenaged Aurora is not something I anticipated."
"I don't think any of us can accurately anticipate what to expect from the teenagers," Arthur said.
"And it could be worse. You could have Fred and George on your hands," Molly said.
Remus nodded. "I don't know how you do it."
"I'd say it takes a lot of patience, but I've likely run out of it by now," Molly said.
"Any other insights you want to offer?" Sirius asked.
"I don't want to tell you," Tonks said.
"Well, now you have to tell us," Remus said.
Tonks glanced over her shoulder to the dining room door to make sure the girls weren't suddenly coming down the hall.
"She wishes you didn't like Harry so much," she replied. "Her exact words were 'I'd prefer they not be mentally planning our wedding.' So maybe when Harry does eventually get here, you might want to give him a bit of a hard time."
"Aw, but it's Harry," Sirius said.
"Think of it this way. Would you want 15-year-old James dating Aurora?" Molly offered.
"Ugh, don't like that," Sirius said.
"I'm sure Harry is much less of a cad than his father was," Remus said.
Tonks nodded. "Of course he is. I'm sure he has never had an inappropriate thought or intention where your daughter is concerned, and I'm sure she'd be absolutely forthcoming about it."
Remus frowned. "I think you've made your point."
"You asked," Tonks replied with a chuckle.
"Not to worry, Remus. They can't all be perfect," Arthur said.
"Our boys certainly aren't. Charlie and Fred, in particular, are too charming for their own good," Molly said.
Tonks was ready to bid the group goodnight when Rory bursts through the dining-room door. She was frantic, red in the face, tears in her eyes. The only words she could get out were "Harry," "dementors," and "Surrey."
"Calm down, calm down," Remus urged her. She took a deep, shaky breath. "What happened?"
"Dementors in Surrey. Attacked Harry," Rory said, her voice trembled with every word. She was inhaling sharply, struggling to get out every word.
"When?" Remus asked.
"Now! Right now! You have to go right now!" Rory screeched.
Arthur was already on his way out of the door. Hermione and Matilda were in the dining room now as well.
"Are you certain?" Sirius asked.
"Of course I'm certain!" Rory went on. The color had drained from her face and her breathing was ragged.
"You've got to calm down. I need you to breathe," Remus said. "Breathe just through your nose, okay."
Rory complied and for a few moments, her breathing didn't change. But eventually, her breathing began to slow.
"Get her some water," Remus instructed no one in particular, but Sirius was already on it. He put the glass into Rory's trembling hands and she drank it slowly. "Are you all right?"
Rory nodded and handed the empty glass to Remus.
"Can you tell us what you saw?" Sirius asked.
"They were in the park. Harry and his cousin. They were going home," Rory said. "Someone sent them." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "I'm really dizzy."
"I expect so," Remus said.
The door swung open again and Arthur marched in. "Just got word from Kingsley. Arabella Figg was in touch. She was right about the dementors."
"Is Harry all right?" Hermione asked.
"He's fine. His cousin is a bit shaken up, but they'll both be fine," Arthur said. "Arabella said there were just two dementors. Said Harry produced a full corporeal patronus."
"Is that even possible? He's only 15," Tonks said.
"Definitely possible. Witnessed it firsthand when he was 13. Saved my life," Sirius said.
"At thirteen? Merlin," Tonks said. "Probably saved his own life tonight. I can't-."
"'Harry's perfectly safe in Surrey,'" Rory said suddenly, her voice a harsh whisper. "'No harm is going to come to him while he's with his family. You have my word.'"
Tonks remembered those words. A quick glance at the others was proof enough that they all remembered. They were silent as Rory got to her feet.
"When you see Dumbledore, remind him that's what he said to me," Rory said. "And then maybe remind him that this is the second time Harry's almost died after he decided not to listen to me."
No one said a word as Rory left the room, Hermione and Matilda following along. They were silent for a long moment. They could hear the children chattering away upstairs.
"I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I'd bet that Rory's not going to listen to a single word Dumbledore has to say to her, even if it's an apology," Sirius said.
"You are probably right," Remus said.
"Dementors in Surrey of all places though?" Molly asked. "Why?"
"Someone had to have sent them there," Tonks said. "Who was supposed to be watching him tonight? How did he even end up with Arabella?"
"Mundungus," Sirius said. "He'd better have a good excuse or be bleeding out somewhere when he turns up."
"I'm sure Rory will be happy to teach him a lesson," Remus replied.
"I'd be glad to as well," Molly said.
The door opened again, and Moody hobbled into the room.
"Where the hell was Fletcher?" he asked.
"I'm sure we'd all like to know that," Molly said.
"Dumbledore's on his way. And the others," Moody said. He looked over to Tonks. "How the hell did the ministry lose track of its dementors?"
"Don't look at me like I know," Tonks replied.
"I'll make sure the children are all in bed before the others arrive," Molly said.
"I'm going to check on Aurora," Remus said.
They both left the kitchen. A silence fell over the kitchen.
"What the hell is going on?" Sirius asked with a shake of his head.
"I think we'd all like to know that," Kingsley said.
The impromptu meeting was underway 30 minutes later. It was all hands on deck. Excluding Mundungus Fletcher who was still yet to be found.
"Arabella sent us word minutes after Arthur arrived," Kingsley explained.
"At least we know she's a reliable seer," Moody said. "Did she say anything else?"
"She reckons someone sent the dementors after Harry," Tonks said.
"Did she say who?" Moody asked.
"No, but she was rightfully distressed," Sirius said.
"We'll need to talk to her as soon as possible," Moody said.
"No. Not tonight we're not," Remus said firmly, shaking his head.
A week. That's how long Aurora had told him she'd gone without a nightmare waking her in the middle of the night. She was finally able to sleep with her lights off, and close her bedroom door. How much of that was going to be undone after tonight? She'd been hyperventilating in the kitchen, sick with fear. An interrogation was not what she needed.
"Anyway, I don't think it'd be a very constructive conversation," Sirius said. "No offense, Dumbledore, but she's quite angry with you in particular."
"And I don't blame her," Dumbledore said. "But there's no undoing what's been done. We'll have to relocate Harry as soon as possible. We can try to determine what's happened. His aunt and uncle already tried to have him put out since their son was involved."
"They sound like great people," Emmeline said with a roll of her eyes. "We'll need to get them out of the way. I feel like it'll be a hassle if we walk up to the house to get him."
"I've noticed that those muggles are unnaturally clean. And the aunt is always tending to their yard, snooping on all the neighbors," Tonks said.
"Very observant on your patrols I see," Sirius said.
"Constant vigilance," Tonks said with a wink. "Anyway, it'll be easy enough to lure them away. 'Congratulations on winning the best-kept lawn award' or some nonsense. Lure them away with the promise of an award and free food, we pop round and snag Harry."
"Knowing what I do of those muggles, I say it's a fine plan," McGonagall said.
"Very well, Tonks, set to lure them away. Tomorrow evening at seven should suffice," Dumbledore said.
"He'll have to go on a broom since he can't apparate yet," Digg said.
"Is he a good flier?" Kingsley asked.
"Better than good," McGonagall said assuredly. "You'll have trouble getting him to slow down I suspect."
"Alastor, I want you to head up this advance guard of ours," Dumbledore said. "And you as well, Remus. He'll need a familiar face. And Tonks as well."
Emmeline, Sturgis, Digg, Kingsley, Hestia, and Elphias were assigned to go as well. A rearguard was also established in case things went awry.
"We'll meet as planned tomorrow evening," Dumbledore said. He looked to Remus. "If she's up to it, it would be good if we spoke to her tomorrow."
Remus nodded. "I'll talk to her."
Rory's head felt like it was full of rocks when she awoke, and her entire body ached. She was tense like her fight reflex had kicked on last night and never shut off.
Dementors in Surrey. She could still see it in her head clear as day as if she'd been standing on that sidewalk beside Harry.
She sat up and surveyed the empty room and bright light that streamed in through the windows. The day was already well underway.
She made her way to the lounge where her friends were gathered.
"You're up!" Neville said. "How are you doing?"
"Been better," she replied.
"They've got the dining room shut off. Order's been in and out all day," Ginny said.
"All day?" Rory asked.
"It's already one o'clock. Your dad said not to wake you," Matilda said. "He said you're to go to the dining room once you're awake so you can eat."
"I'm not-."
"He said you have to eat, even if you're not hungry," Neville said.
Rory groaned. She wasn't hungry, and she knew the only reason they were going to let her into the dining room while the Order was meeting was that they wanted more information about what she saw now that she was not an incoherent, babbling mess. But she was still exhausted. Worry still sat in her bones.
But she dragged herself to the dining room and knocked on the door. Remus opened it less than a second later.
"Come in. We're in a bit of a lull right now," he said. Rory walked into the room. Along with her dad, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, and Sirius were present. Papers littered the table and chairs were askew. There'd clearly been a meeting she just missed.
"Sit," Mrs. Weasley said. "Do you want something to eat?"
"No," she said at the same as her dad said "Yes."
"You have to eat something," Remus said.
"Okay," she relented. She was too tired to argue. "I feel like I could sleep forever."
"You were very upset last night. That takes a toll on you," Tonks said.
Rory nodded. She'd learned that repeatedly in the last few months. And with the frequent panic attacks she'd been having since her run-in with Not Moody, she was used to this run down feeling by now.
"Are you feeling better?" Sirius asked sitting a mug down in front of her. She could smell the honey and chamomile wafting from the mug of warm milk. She managed a small smile of thanks before wrapping her fingers around it.
"I'll be fine," she said. She would be.
"You'll be happy to know, the reason the dining room is in such a state of chaos is because we're moving Harry tonight," Remus said.
Her body sagged with relief. "Really?"
"Your dad and I are going to get him personally," Tonks said. "A hand full of others will go as well. Not taking any chances."
"Good," Rory said. She brought the mug of tea to her lips, her hands were still shaking. Merlin, she was tired. And the relief of knowing he'd be out of Surrey, knowing that he'd be here. She might fall asleep and actually feel rested for the first time all summer.
They were all silent watching her for a moment. Mrs. Weasley sat a sandwich on a plate in front of her and smiled sweetly. She was waiting for one of them to ask her, but they were still uncertain.
"You want to know what else I saw last night," Rory said.
Remus nodded. "We do. But you don't have to tell us right now. I know you're tired."
"We'll have a quick meeting tonight once the advance guard returns. You can tell us then if you like," Sirius said.
Rory couldn't imagine sitting around the Order talking about what she saw last night while Harry was in another part of the house, but she was still too tired and groggy to make much sense of what she saw and felt right now. Later would be better.
"All right," Rory said. "Tonight then."
