Chapter 106: Burn
No one spoke inside the common room as the house continued to burn over and over again. They just watched in silent terror as the photo replayed yet again. Movement drew Harry's attention as Ron moved to the portrait hole only to be intercepted by the twins.
"Let me go!" Ron screamed.
"Where will you go?" Fred asked.
"Home," he shouted.
"Home is gone," George said as they both used all their strength to hold him back.
"Then I'm going to the dungeons," Ron said. "I'm going to find Malfoy and wring his neck. He's the only one who has an eagle owl like that."
"You're not going to help things," George said.
"I don't care, let me go!" Ron shouted again.
At that point, the portrait hole swung open and McGonagall stormed inside.
"Mr. Weasley!" She scolded. "What is the meaning of this?"
"W-w-we g-g-got a letter," Ginny said from the corner of the common room, tears falling freely from her eyes as Luna held her up. "T-t-the Death Eaters attacked our h-h-h-home!"
Ginny collapsed into a series of sobs.
"Then a letter was delivered to the common room," Dean added. "It was black and when I touched it, it spoke. Like a Howler. It told us to pick a side between them and Potter which, by the way, I'm picking Potter. Not like the monsters would actually let me join them but I won't side with someone who burns a house to send a message."
Dean nodded at Harry who nodded solemnly. Harry knew what Dean had already lost to those monsters.
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas," McGonagall said. She took out her wand and vanished the moving photo of the Burrow succumbing to the flames. "As much as I know you're hurting, Mr. Weasley, it is after curfew. I will send someone to the house and report back."
"Not good enough," Ron said. "I want to find the people who did this. I want to kill them."
"And that's exactly why you will not be leaving," McGonagall said. "I cannot risk you harming others… or yourself."
"I don't care, let me go!" Ron struggled in futility against his older brothers.
Before McGonagall could respond, Bill appeared in the portrait hole.
"Ron, Fred, George, Ginny," he said with a haggard voice, his eyes red. "I just got back from the house... what's left of it."
"Mum…" Ginny asked in a small voice. "Daddy?"
"Mother is fine," Bill said. "She's at Muriel's."
"Dad…" George asked again.
"Perhaps we should give them some privacy," McGonagall said. Harry, Hermione and the other prefects stood and got the rest of the house moving toward their respective dorms.
"Tell me what happened to Dad," Ron demanded.
Harry tried not to overhear but as he heralded the last students up the stairs, Bill's voice followed him.
"He's gone," Bill said in a warbling voice. "They sealed the doors and put up anti-apparition wards. He… he conjured a small stone room and put mum under a bubblehead charm so she could breathe and the fire wouldn't touch her. He used all his magic to protect her."
The last thing Harry heard was Ginny's wail of sorrow. He trudged up the stairs to his dorm and sat down heavily on his bed.
"This isn't your fault," Neville said as he sat down next to him. "Whatever the Tom and his forces do, it's not your fault. You know that right?"
"Kind of feels like it's my fault," Harry said.
"That's a load of tripe," Seamus said. "They want everyone to blame you for what they've done. This is them; only them, aye?"
"It's true, mate," Dean said. "I hate what happened to my parents but I never once thought it was your fault. Be sympathetic but don't take any blame for this."
"I'm sure I'll have a letter from me mam," Seamus said. "She didn't want me to come back, told me I'd only get hurt. I told her to sod off. I'd already abandoned my friends once. I'm not doing that again. Told her I had a lot to make up for and I intended to do it."
Seamus nodded at Dean, getting a nod in return.
"They're making this about you, Harry," Neville said. "Never forget this is about them; what they didn't finish the last time."
Harry thanked the three of them for their support just as Dobby popped in.
"I have a sleeping potion for everyone," Dobby said. "You have a big day tomorrow and I know you'll have trouble getting to sleep."
"Thank you, Dobby," Seamus said as he downed his. Before Dobby popped back out all four boys were yawning and slipping into bed.
Harry closed his eyes and the next thing he knew, Dobby was poking him awake.
"I'm up, Dobby," Harry moaned when Dobby poked him for the fifth time. "I'm up."
A half-hour later Harry stumbled into the common room where Hermione waited, looking about as haggard as Harry felt.
"Ready for today?" Harry asked through a yawn.
"Not really," Hermione replied. "Ginny never made it to her dorm. Demelza told me this morning."
"Demelza was up before you?" Harry was shocked since Hermione was notoriously the first up.
"She said she wanted to try and fly this morning," Hermione said. "She's trying to convince Angelina to create a reserve team since she and Alicia will be graduating this year."
"Ah," Harry said. "Ron wasn't in the dorm either this morning. They're probably with their family."
"So tragic," Hermione said as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
"Did you hear what happened to Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked to which Hermione nodded.
"Almost wish I didn't," she said. "I can't imagine what they're going through, what Mrs. Weasley must be feeling. Their house, their father, all gone."
Hermione wiped her eyes and then straightened up.
"Okay well we will have to keep up appearances," Hermione said. "The first years will be down any minute."
As if on cue, the first years all spilled down the stairs like a river during runoff. Harry caught little bits of conversation but mostly the excited chatter of children was a wonderful balm of the wounds from last night. He noticed one boy was soaked.
"Is everyone here?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Wilson said. "We had to get a bucket of water to get Anthony up."
"You did not!" The blonde boy, apparently named Anthony said as he flicked his drenched hair out of his eyes.
"That's not so bad," a redheaded girl with a long braid running down her back said. "We had to tip Angela's bed to get her out."
"I can't wait to learn magic," Angela, a brunette with emerald eyes said. "Can't wait to transfigure you into the cockroaches you are."
"That would break about a dozen school rules," Harry said. "So don't get caught."
"Harry!?" Hermione shouted in exasperation. "We don't need more of the Weasley Twins."
"Hey, what can I say?" Harry shrugged. "Life is more entertaining with people like them around. Who is ready for breakfast?"
The first years all cheered at that.
"Come on," Harry waved them forward. "I'll show you the way."
Hermione chuckled as she watched Harry lead the first years out of the portrait hole. On the way down, Harry amused them with details about the portraits around them.
"That's Wendell the Bald," Harry pointed out a bald man in black robes standing over a cauldron. "He was the first to create a potion but his potion was supposed to grow hair. Except, it went bad and he lost all of his."
"That's not my name!" The painting shouted in protest. "Do not listen to this boy. I am Horace the Great."
"Wendell gets touchy when you bring up his lack of hair," Harry stage whispered, making the first years laugh.
"And this is Garry," Harry pointed out a rail-thin blonde man. "No one really knows what he did."
"He's Gerald the Great," Hermione corrected. "He made the first staffs used by wizards to channel their magic."
"And here we have Betty Crocker," Harry pointed out a witch in a bonnet poring over a book. "She's so famous, she even published cookbooks for muggles to use."
"I beg your pardon!" The witch said with affront.
"That's Gail Winthrope!" Hermione shouted to which the first years laughed. "She's one of the founders of St. Mungo's!"
"Too right," Gail said back as the other first-years laughed.
"And here we have the Dawn Treader," Harry pointed at a portrait of a ship on the seas. "Be careful: two Ravenclaws looked at it too long and they got sucked in. We didn't see them again for two months."
"Harry, be serious," Hermione chided even though she couldn't keep the amused smile off her face.
"That's my Godfather," Harry said, making Sirius' favorite joke. "Anyway, down on the second floor, we have Wendell the Wanderer. The man tried to apparate from Scotland to France and ended up in Ireland. Spent the next six months wandering through the countryside before he found the next town."
"That's true, actually," Hermione added. "Take it from me, kids. Harry Potter can be trusted but double check his stories."
"Oh, what's the fun of that?" Luna said as she appeared from one of the tapestries that hid a shortcut. She held the latest issue of the Quibbler in front of her as she walked. "What's the fun of life if you can't imagine a good story or two."
"First years, this is Luna Lovegood," Hermione introduced the blonde girl who waved lazily from behind the Quibbler. "She's always good for a laugh but make no doubt about it: she's trouble."
"Trouble is fun," Luna shouted back, never looking up from her paper.
"So here we are on the first floor," Hermione turned back to the first years. "This is where the Great Hall is. Everything you will need for classes is on floors two through four, except for Potions, which is held in the dungeons and Herbology which is in the greenhouses. There's also Care of Magical Creatures, which you may take as an elective starting third year, that is held behind the castle."
"If you ever get lost, find a prefect or ask one of the portraits," Hermione said. "Now, breakfast will be held every morning from 7 until 9. It's already 7:30 because of Mister Potter here so I suggest you all get started on breakfast."
The first years split off from Harry and Hermione, adding to the Hall's background chatter as they hurried toward the Gryffindor table. Once Hermione knew they were out of earshot, she smacked Harry on the arm and bent over laughing.
"You. Are. The. Worst, Potter!" Hermione wheezed. "Do you know how hard it is to look prefectish when you're making up a story on every floor? I'd be more furious if you weren't so funny."
"Or cute," Harry said with a self-satisfied smile.
"Wouldn't go that far, Potter," Daphne said as she led the Slytherin first years into the Hall with Tracey. "You're something akin to a lost Crup. You pity them but they're not as cute as they like to think they are."
"Who's a Crup, now?" Susan entered the conversation dragging a yawning Hannah behind her.
"Potter," Daphne said. "He's getting a little too big for his robes. Gotta keep that head from getting too big."
"You get called 'the Chosen One' all summer and suddenly you're as arrogant as Snape says you are," Hermione made the joke that only those in the group could make. If anyone else said it, she knew Harry's reaction.
"Speaking of which," Harry cut across. "Did either of you have a letter arrive in your common room last night?"
"The black one?" Daphne replied. "The one that talked like a Howler?"
"We got one, yes," Susan said. "Told us not to follow you, yadda yadda yadda. Typical drivel."
"Did it show you a picture?" Hermione asked. "Of a burning house?"
"No," Daphne's eyes widened. "We just had it end with the letter telling us to think on it. Why? Did you guys get one?"
"Yes," Harry said. "It was the Weasley's house being burned to the ground."
Susan and Hannah gasped.
"They've started going after our families?" Daphne whispered urgently as she grabbed Harry be the elbow. "That's too soon, we're not prepared!"
"Is everyone…" Susan's voice died before she finished her question.
"Mr. Weasley is dead," Harry said. "Gave his life to protect Mrs. Weasley. I think all the kids are out for the day. Percy sent a letter this morning when I woke up, saying he doesn't blame me but he's trying to find who did this. Said he's personally motivated. Think he needs to have a session with Moody before he gets himself killed."
"We need to move up our schedules," Daphne said as her brow furrowed. "Our families- my family- will be on the list of those to hit."
Harry quickly drew his wand from the holster at his belt and raised privacy wards around them.
"They have the emergency Portkey to Potter Manor," Harry said. "Gripclaw took care of the last arrangements yesterday. For your mother, it is a necklace and for your father, it's his signet ring. The same has been done for Amelia, Augusta, the Abbott family, the Tonkses and anyone else who is part of the alliance. All the irreplaceable items have been housed in Gringotts vaults. We can't guarantee anything but we're doing the best we can."
"I don't want to hear about the best," Daphne said. "I love you, Harry. I knew it was a risk standing with you years ago and yet we did because there was a real benefit. With Voldemort back, that risk has tripled. I need to be sure they're protected."
"We've done all we can," Hermione said with a little heat. She calmed herself with a. breath and continued. "I know you're worried, I am too, especially after Dean's family was murdered. But we've all been over the plans and contingencies. Trust the work we've put in."
Daphne physically stepped back and took a deep breath.
"You're right, I'm sorry," she said. "What do we do next?"
"We train," Harry said. "First meeting of the D.A. is coming up. I'll want everyone who trained this summer to help teach them how to defend themselves and others. Those of us who trained will meet in the Room before that meeting."
"See you then," Tracey said. "Now if you're all done; I'm hungry."
"Agreed," Hermione said. "Plus I see Luna, Seamus and Dean around the first years."
"Oh lord," Harry groaned. "That's just asking for trouble."
"Harry!" Anthony waved them over. "Have you seen what Dean can do?"
"Oh good," Harry said. "I was worried you'd say Seamus."
"Hey!" Seamus protested.
"You set your bed on fire in your sleep last year, Seamus," Harry said.
"That's why the curtains are now flame-proofed," Seamus said.
"Can you show us what you did?" Wilson asked.
"Maybe later," Hermione said with a chuckle. "What did Mr. Thomas do? I want to see this."
"He made a moving picture… on a napkin!"
Hermione looked over at the table where a napkin played a scene from a Quidditch match.
"That's incredible," Hermione said. "There's no one better at drawing than Mr. Thomas."
"So what's everyone else good at?" Angela asked her blonde curls bobbing excitedly.
"Well Miss Brown and Miss Patil are good at potions," Hermione said. "They run their own cosmetics company. Mr. Finnegan is good at lighting things on fire. Mr. Weasley is really good at chess. Then Miss Dunbar is really good at transfiguration. Best in the class."
"Second best," Harry said. "Miss Granger here is the top of our year in everything but Potions where Miss Greengrass in Slytherin has her beat, Herbology where Mr. Longbottom is best-"
"And defense," Hemione interjected. "Mr. Potter is top in the class in defense but he'll try to deny it. He rivals me for Charms too. But Miss Dunbar does better at Transfiguration than either of us. She's great with putting creative touches on her items."
"So that's what Mr. Potter is best at?" Another girl, a brunette with hazel eyes who Harry remembered was called Rebecca, asked.
"Oh Mr. Potter is best at finding trouble," Hermione said. "If it is dangerous, he'll find his way to get into it."
"And Miss Granger usually has to get him out of it," Luna said from behind her paper. "They're a true pair. What one struggles with, the other helps them. If you want to set your star on any couple, set it on them."
"Thanks, Luna," Harry muttered through a blush.
"You are welcome, Harry," Luna said brightly as everyone dug into their breakfast.
As breakfast ended, Hermione escorted the first years back to their dorm, promising to meet Harry at Transfiguration for their first class. Following her at a sedate pace, Harry exited the Great Hall when he noticed something was different.
"Hey Alfred," Harry addressed the caretaker who was dusting some of the paintings. "What happened to the cabinet that was here?"
"Good observation, Master Potter," Alfred said as he resumed his usual posture with both hands clasped behind his back. "I'm afraid a stray spell hit it last term and we had to move it. As of now, I do not know where it is. I know that every time we do something to it, the cabinet resets itself back to how it was beforehand."
"Well, the Entrance Hall looks so different without it," Harry said. "Hope it is fixed too."
"Me too," one of the suits of armor said. "It was nice to lean on. What? You think it's fun to stand like this all day, every day when no one is here?"
"At least you're still shiny," Harry quipped.
"Don't you have a class to attend where you can bother someone else?" the suit returned.
"I do," Harry said. "But this is more fun. I think I'll stay here all day instead."
"That's enough of that, Master Potter," Alfred said. "You go on; I'll take care of this."
"See you later, Alfred," Harry smiled as he turned away, the brief banter a balm for his wounded soul. With renewed spirit, he turned and headed toward his classes, taking two stairs at a time unaware of anyone who was watching him.
Back at Malfoy Manor, Voldemort paced around his fledgling inner circle. Something he vowed to address at his earliest convenience. He knew they were simply too weak to strike at any target.
"Nott, report," Voldemort ordered.
"We attacked the house," Nott said. "Our intelligence was good. The house itself burned and we kept anyone from escaping. Did a full scan of the house before we started unlike Lucius. We stayed to watch it burn and recorded the whole thing. Then we put the photo into your letter and apparated to Hogsmeade to deliver your message. We can confirm the blood traitor Arthur is dead and the mother traumatized.
"We also set a trail of the Thomas parents to a dead end; they won't find anything useful," Yaxley said. "We are trying to get the rest of the addresses for the muggleborns but the Bones bitch is stalling things. She's taken that list and stored it deep inside the DMLE. Only she, Scrimmegeor, Shaklebolt and Robbards have access. Those four we can neither turn nor coerce through magic, money or force."
"That is... unfortunate," Voldemort said. "But not unexpected. We cannot move on Bones until we are stronger. On that topic: how is recruitment going?"
"The werewolves are gone so far as we can tell," another Death Eater said. He was one of the newer recruits.
"What is your name," Voldemort asked. The boy was much too young to be one of his former Eaters.
"Cormac McLaggen," the boy threw back his hood to reveal his blonde hair. "I am glad to serve you, my Lord."
Voldemort looked into his mind and saw what he expected. Lust for girls, greed for more coin and power, and lamentation for the changes in the world that did not favor him. A simple creature, a hateful creature with most of his hate focused on Potter. In short: everything he sought in recruits.
"Well Cormac," Voldemort said. "We will see if that remains to be certain. You will have every opportunity to prove yourself. What were you saying on recruitment?"
"Knockturn Alley is proving fruitful but not as fruitful as we hoped; the Aurors are vigilant in the district," Cormac said. "Everyone is scared to go after Dumbledore even if they see him slowing down. To make matters worse, the Great Alliance has everyone scared. They exert a lot of power on the streets and in the government. With everyone believing Potter's lies, they have barred Nott and the others from their seats. However, we still have enough influence to keep them from passing anything too radical. Everyone in and out of the Ministry is being searched for the mark and signs of Imperius. Even with Fudge slowing things, Bones has enough leeway for security in the building that she has stalled us. But in doing so, she is creating a lot of waves and making a lot of enemies. Enemies we can use. It's slow going but my father assures me, it is helping us to recruit."
"As expected," Voldemort said. "The more they fight, the more they lose their grip and the more allies we gain. Tell your father to keep up the work and work the Wizengamut. One day he and you will be rewarded. How are things at the school?"
"We have everything in place," Nott said. "I am told the castle is being secured but that does not make it impregnable. It will take time but we will have our way in."
"I am pleased," Voldemort said. "You will be rewarded. Once the ministry is ours and Dumbledore is dead, you will all be rewarded but make it plain to everyone: Potter is mine. I will make an example of him so that everyone knows of their choices. Either they follow me or they follow him into the grave. Our victory crawls closer every day. Keep up the hard work."
Understanding the dismissal, everyone flooded out of the room. As he watched them go, Voldemort reached his hand out and then grimaced. He still found himself reaching for Nagini and lamented her absence every day, not that he would say that aloud.
(A/N: I am back. Couldn't figure out the way to end this chapter but it finally struck me yesterday. Upside: the two chapters beyond this one are written so I can hopefully get back to regular updates.)