Disclaimer: This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. No ships. Bashing around everyone.
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17 Quick DeparturesMolly huffed seeing the trio of Hogwarts professors lying piled in one corner of the shattered kitchen. She turned around and found a group of people behind multiple shields and wards, their wands out and pointed at her.
Shacklebolt spoke up, "Mrs Weasley, lower your wand!"
No one moved or spoke. Then Remus pulled himself up off the floor and moved to sit in chair at the table but said nothing. The silence of those few moments allowed Molly to take a few breaths and blink as she thought about what had just occurred.
"Where's Arthur?" asked Molly as her wand lowered from the fighting position.
Alastor Moody answered, "Arthur and your boy William went toward the stairs to find you. They haven't come back."
"Bill? Is Bill here? Is he with his father?" Molly asked as she turned and exited the kitchen in search of her husband and son.
As soon as the witch left the kitchen, Shacklebolt, Moody, and Padmore moved to check on Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. While the two Aurors performed field triage, Sirius giggled and caught the attention of his cousin. Andromeda was shocked and confused by what she'd seen and experienced – her nude daughter raced through the kitchen and barely escaped an overpowered bombard spell from a middle-aged witch ranting about her little boy.
Turning toward Sirius, Andromeda found her cousin struggling not to laugh out loud about the situation while the teenage boy stood close to him with a hand on the older man's arm. Her eyes observed everything and later she would review the sights and sounds but for the moment, she retreated into silence. From her side, Ted whispered, "We need to get home and check on Dora. Her destination was home."
Nodding in understanding, Andromeda said nothing to Sirius as Ted led her back through the kitchen door, across the splintered and smashed entry hallway, and out the front door. Ted made no effort to close the door but led his wife to a dark corner of the street where they apparated away, rushing home to check on their daughter.
In the kitchen, Alastor cast multiple spells on Albus Dumbledore while Auror Shacklebolt cared for McGonagall and Padmore checked on Snape. The three injured wizards and witch were all concussed with at least one broken bone and bruising over large parts of their body.
"What do we do now?" Sturgis asked.
Moody smirked, "The floo is out of commission, that's for certain. But because Dumbledore is unconscious, we can seek proper medical care for the injured."
"What do you mean, Moody?" asked Shacklebolt.
"If Albus was conscious, he'd call his phoenix to bring the mediwitch from Hogwarts here to treat concussions and broken bones on the kitchen floor. And he'd assure everyone that the injuries were minor and of no consequence."
Frowning Shacklebolt replied, "McGonagall's got broken bones in her spine. She has to go to Saint Mungo's."
"First, put her in a stasis spell, then levitate her out the front door and apparate her to Casualty at the hospital," Moody commanded.
"How about using a portkey to move her?" Padmore asked as Shacklebolt levitated McGonagall from the floor after placing her in stasis.
Glancing toward Sirius Black and Harry Potter, Moody replied, "The wards around the house won't let us exit by portkey – only ways out of Grimmauld Place are the floo or stepping out the front door."
Glancing behind him, Alastor said, "And the fireplace is in pieces!"
Snape had a mild concussion and a broken wand arm. Dumbledore had a broken jaw, and mild concussion; he was also missing the right quarter of his long beard. Padmore levitated Snape out of the kitchen while Moody followed with Dumbledore. They would head out the front door and apparate to Casualty at Saint Mungo's. Moody pretended that he didn't see the portion of Dumbledore's beard vanish; the retired Auror didn't assume that someone used Deletrius to banish the hair.
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When Molly returned to the entry hall, she noticed the splintered furniture but didn't give it a second thought when she saw Arthur sitting on the bottom steps, holding his head with a lost look on his face.
"Arthur! Are you okay?" she asked hurrying to his side and checking his head.
He was slow to answer but finally said, "No, I don't think I am."
"Why? What's wrong? Are you wounded?"
"I think…I think I'm just shaken up."
Satisfied with the answer, Molly asked, "Where's Bill?
"He went up the stairs to check on the children."
As she suddenly remembered what happened to her youngest son, Molly shouted, "RON!"
She didn't notice her husband flinch and cover his head for a moment to protect his skull and eardrums. Leaving Arthur behind, Molly climbed the stairs, stepping around the pieces of walls that lay on the risers.
At the top of the stairs, she called out, Ron! Where are you?"
"Bill! Are you here?" she yelled, her voice once again growing louder.
Seeing her eldest son in the doorway for her daughter's room, Molly hurried forward and asked her son, "Where are the kids?"
"They're all in here."
Embracing his mother for a moment, Bill stepped aside and allowed the witch to enter the room. Fred, George, Ginny and Ron all sat on the bed with the mattress returned.
"Are you in one piece?" Molly asked Ron. The boy sighed and nodded, while his mother checked him over – the boy was dressed in dirty robes, but he was in one piece.
Then Molly's anger flared up again, but before she could draw her wand and cast hexes at Ron, Bill snatched the wand from his mother's hand.
Turning on her eldest son, Molly shouted, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
"You are out of control! That's your son and he's scared to death!"
"Why is he scared?" Molly asked. "When I get through with him, he'll have plenty to be scared of!"
Bill pushed his magic into his aura to force his mother to listen and hear his words this time. "Mum, you could have killed Ron with the spells you were throwing in the small bedroom! He has bruises over most of his body! Your spells could have smashed into the wall and killed the twins and Ginny!"
Molly frowned and glanced at her children – they were scared.
"And if I hadn't been there with Dad, your spells would have splattered him across that room just like you did the chairs and table," Bill continued. "I had trouble holding the shields that kept us both from being bludgeoned to death."
Denying her son's words, Molly replied, "Nonsense…"
Bill frowned and cast the spell on his mother's wand to reveal the last dozen spells cast. He caught the created parchment and forced his mother to read the list. There were eight instances of a single spell – Bombard++++++.
"This can't be right," Molly protested.
"If this house didn't have powerful wards in place, you'd have brought the whole building down and killed everyone," Bill informed his mother.
"But that woman…Ron was…"
Arthur appeared at the door before he stepped into the room and hugged each of his children beginning with Ron, then Ginny, Fred, George, and finally Bill. Then he wrapped his arms around Molly and said, "This is not how our family lives. As soon as the sun rises, we are going home to the Burrow."
Molly protested, "But the headmaster says the Death Eaters…"
"Hush!" Arthur growled. "The only people who have disappeared this summer are the muddy ones. The Fidelius charm here doesn't protect us from the people in Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. With help from all of us, Bill can cast the charm on the Burrow, and we'll be safe there – safer than we are in this bloody house cursed by the Black family for a thousand years."
They were all silent for a moment, but then Ginny's stomach growled.
"The kids need to eat," Bill said.
Arthur and Molly were flummoxed for a moment but then, Fred called out, "Help! Can an elf help us?"
There was a pop, and an unfamiliar elf appeared. She curtseyed and asked, "Can Winky help Terror Twin?"
"We're starving. Did the food survive the fight between the witches?"
"It be no fight between witches," the talkative elf explained. "Naked-nudie Pinkie runs fast faster than broom flies to stay away from housewitch. Nudie-naked Pinkie gets hot and jumps into fire before flames be full green to escape. Then fireplace go boom into tiny pieces. Be no fight! Just race to the fireplace!"
Wisely, Fred and George didn't make any comments about the state of undress for Tonks during the chase through the house, but Ron appeared pale. Ginny sat still, listening to everything.
"Thanks for telling us, Winky," George said. "But the food…"
"Food be goods, but kitchen closed," the elf replied. "Can youse be eating here?"
"Yes, please bring us some food," Bill replied.
The elf popped away and almost immediately, a few small tables appeared with platters of finger foods. The elves had prepared for a long Order of the Phoenix meeting where the table would not be available for a regular meal. Drinks appeared and the Weasley family tucked into the food.
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KitchenHarry was pleased that the only people left in the kitchen were Sirius, Remus and himself. The elves were busy sweeping up and banishing the bits and pieces of bricks that were once part of the fireplace.
Kreacher popped beside the young wizard and said, "Fireplace be too busted broken to repairs with elf magic, Mr Harry Potters. Must have new bricks, cements mud, and then full day to dries before connexions to floosy networks again. Just be fires until floosy network joined."
"Was anyone hurt?" Harry asked. "Who's left in the house?"
Dobby popped up and answered the question, "No bodies dead or bleeding. Many nerves shattered but elves got no calming potions…none for Weasleys!"
Kreacher added, "The wild Weasleys and Howler-Bombard witch are in bedroom for Little Howler. They all be togethers and quiet for one second."
Sirius spoke up, "Shall I throw them out of the house?
From his seat at the table, Remus spoke up, "Throw them out? Sirius, you can't do that."
"Why not?" Black asked. "They practically destroyed the house in five minutes!"
"Because it's not safe out there!"
"And exactly how safe was it here this evening? Molly threw bombards that were so powerful if she'd hit anyone, that person would be in bits smaller than the bricks that used to be a fireplace."
"She was distraught," the werewolf replied.
Coughing and staring at Remus, Sirius stated, "Distraught? She was berserk!"
Remus looked away but had to add, "Dumbledore said they could be here. That's all that matters."
"Moony, my pup was here. He could have been smashed and splattered by that witch! Remember she attacked him with a welt hex the other day!"
"It's all been a series of misunderstandings," Remus tried to say.
Sirius frowned and concentrated very hard to find a reply that wasn't too angry or outrageous. He finally said, "So Nymphadora being naked in Ron Weasley's bed was a misunderstanding? And Ron being in the bed with her and naked…that was a misunderstanding?"
Remus opened his mouth to reply but couldn't. Sirius continued, "Did she confuse Ron's bed and his equipment for your bed and equipment?"
"Next time we see Albus Dumbledore, we'll have to ask him to compare your equipment with Ron's and see if there's reason for Dora's confusion. Of course, I bet old Albus would appreciate the chance to compare a couple…"
"ENOUGH!" shouted Remus. "I'm leaving!"
Dobby popped into the kitchen with the trunk that belonged to Remus Lupin. He shrank the trunk but then forced it into the hand of the werewolf.
"Don't let the door hit you…" Sirius said as Lupin departed, "…as you leave."
"Dobby, make certain the front door is closed and locked," Harry asked just before Winky popped into the room and asked permission to feed the Weasleys.
"So long as they stay in that room," Harry replied. "They can use the loo, but let's not have them wandering around the house tonight."
"Yes, Mr Harry Potters."
Sirius asked, "Who is the new elf?"
Harry leaned closer and confided, "Her name is Winky, and I think Dobby is sweet on her. She was very unhappy at Hogwarts and Dobby asked if she could come help us here."
He glanced at the ruined kitchen and continued, "I think we need an entire pod of elves to repair this place."
"I'm hungry!" Sirius announced before Kreacher appeared and escorted Sirius and Harry to the table where a feast was laid out for them.
After ten minutes of eating and some small talk, Sirius commented, "I can't wait to hear Alastor's evaluation of Dora's performance under fire…while naked."
Harry covered his eyes with one hand for a moment to try and remove the image of the naked witch scrambling across the kitchen floor, but he didn't chide his godfather. Instead, he asked, "What do you think Moody will say about Molly's performance."
Sirius snorted, "He'd dismiss her completely! She fired off all those bombards and never hit her target a single time. Nymphie knew she had to keep moving or get splattered on the walls."
Taking a sip of his ale, Sirius continued, "Molly caused a lot of structural damage to the house but didn't draw a single drop of blood. That's the same reason we were losing the battle with the Death Eaters back in the 70s and 80s."
"What do you mean?"
"While I was relaxing in Chez Azkaban for ten years, my cousin Bellatrix educated me on Dumbledore being a complete fool. He never permitted anyone – Aurors or Order of Phoenix – to put any Death Eater down. We had to use stupefy and sleep spells while they ripped off our heads and arms. They learned to keep one Death Eater in reserve with the single job of firing off reviving spells to put their fighters back into the battle."
With a faraway look in his eyes, Sirius continued, "That got Molly's twin brothers murdered by the Lestrange brothers, and cost Alastor his leg when Bellatrix was revived behind him."
"Moody left an armed enemy behind him?" asked Harry, the surprise evident in his voice.
"During the fight, Bellatrix got revived and grabbed Alice Longbottom's wand out of her hand after knocking her to the ground. Trixie forced the wand to cast the cutting spell with a nasty fire spell following to cauterise the stump."
"Wow!"
"It wasn't that impressive…Trixie was aiming for Alastor's head and missed when Alice kicked Bellatrix in the…well… sensitive area."
"I'll have to tell Neville about his mum being a kick ass Auror when we get back to school."
The pair ate in silence for a few minutes before a lone figure appeared at the kitchen door – Bill Weasley.
Clearing his throat, Bill asked, "Mr Black, can I speak to you for a minute?"
Checking with Harry who nodded once, Sirius motioned the Cursebreaker forward. Sirius didn't rise from his chair, offer his hand or a chair for the wizard standing beside the table. Bill Weasley was aware of the earlier insult offered by his father not introducing his eldest son to the host and his heir.
"Well? What else can House Black do for House Weasley tonight? The house is still standing but just barely."
"Sir, as the eldest son, I offer my heartfelt apologies for the part my family played in tonight's events."
Locking eyes with his godson to keep from uttering any of a dozen insults, Sirius managed to ask, "What do you want Weasley?"
"My father has decided that our family will leave when the sun rises in the morning."
Sirius snorted and mumbled out loud, "Before I suggest they leave!"
Harry moved his gaze to watch the Cursebreaker who was pale but in control of his emotions. He interrupted Sirius and said, "Godfather, Mr William Weasley came to offer his personal apologies and tell us something about his intentions for tonight."
"Yes, thank you Mr Potter," Bill said. "I am going out and shall return at dawn to escort my parents and siblings back to our home. Tonight, I must go to my employer and discuss my options."
"Options?" asked Harry.
"Merlin, you're not thinking of joining Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix…are you?" asked Sirius.
"No," Bill replied immediately. "I think the Order of the Phoenix just had a burning day. I returned to England to work on a few tombs in Ireland and help with some excavation in an underground chamber until Yule. But I may need to be here longer to help my father…my family."
Harry interrupted to ask, "Mr Weasley, do you use the charm Defodio for excavation?"
"Yes, that's correct. Mr Potter," Bill replied. "It takes training to be able to use that charm several times in a row."
Sirius smirked, "Maybe you should see if your mother wants to work for the goblins. I think she's got the raw power to cast that spell. She might need some help with shaping the cavern she excavates…"
Harry and Bill both turned bright red hearing the backhanded compliment for Mrs Weasley, but Sirius waved away their embarrassment.
"Weasley, my mother tried to kill me multiple times…Molly's aim is as bad as Walburga Black's."
"Then, I shall bid you gentlemen goodnight and depart," Bill said before he turned and left the kitchen.
"Dobby, make certain Mr Weasley leaves and the door is locked after him."
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HospitalIn Casualty at Saint Mungo's Hospital, Sturgis Padmore, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor Moody waited patiently for confirmation that the victims of the terrible accident would survive. As an Auror who had to report crimes, Kingsley was torn how to handle the incident. With a strange look on his mangled face, Alastor advised the Auror to not write anything tonight unless he was willing to change it after Albus woke up.
Frowning, Kingsley asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean Albus will take twenty minutes to decide how to twist this incident into something he can use to control Arthur, Black or even Potter and he'll order you to change your incident report to fit the scenario he wants."
"Wait…I thought we were the good guys," said Sturgis. "It was creepy to guard the Potter kid all summer, because he didn't need guarding. But tonight, that fight in the house was just like the Death Eater attacks you described – but it was our people fighting each other."
"Well, everyone is tense. Yeah?" Moody replied.
Sturgis Padmore nodded while he made some decision. "Kingsley, it was a matter of serendipity that I happened upon you and Alastor after you found the accident victims tonight. I helped you transport them to the hospital but never got their names."
Then the wizard bid the other two wizards a good evening, left the hospital to head for his home.
"What was that all about?" asked Kingsley.
Moody smirked and said, "When you figure it out, you'll begin to see the truth of the matter."
"Now you sound like Dumbledore!"
"Hey, there's no need to be insulting"
A healer appeared soon after and assured the two good citizens that the three accident victims would recover. He said, "Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape will be released in morning. Professor McGonagall will remain for a few days, and we have sent for her son."
Despite raised eyebrows, the healer insisted that was all the information he could share. Then he paused and asked, "Unless the accident was something else. Auror Shacklebolt, do you need more details?"
"No. There's no need. As we said, they were victims of some strange accident and there wasn't a crime involved."
"Could have been accidental magic with a child even," offered Alastor.
"Well, we'll say goodnight healer," Shacklebolt said. "Thank you."
The two wizards went their separate ways with Alastor returning to Grimmauld Place. He came through the front door to find the entry hall cleaned but bare of the antiques that were there earlier in the morning. He made his way into the kitchen where the elves provided the retired Auror with ample food and drink at the kitchen table where Black and Potter still sat, arguing about strategies for a battle versus a duel.
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Home of Ted and Andromeda TonksThe moment they entered their home, Andromeda knew where her daughter was hiding. "She's in her old room."
"I'll get your healer's bag and my housecoat and meet you there," Ted assured his wife. Andromeda was already up the staircase, calling out to Dora.
Hiding under the covers of her old bed, Dora allowed her mum to gather into her arms but then cried out from the pain of burns. Ted arrived with the bag of salves and potions and his housecoat that he lay across the foot of the bed.
After triaging her daughter for hidden injuries, Andromeda allowed Dora to drink a pain potion. Then she said, "You made the right choice to not wait for the flames to turn full green. The second after you vanished, Molly's bombard destroyed the fireplace completely. The elves will never be able to repair it with their magic. They'll have to bring in new bricks and mortar."
Her mouth agape with surprise, Dora stammered, "What? How do you…"
"We were there for Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix meeting and saw everything," Andromeda informed her daughter.
"Well, we didn't see 'everything' Dora. You were moving too fast," Ted assured his daughter.
"There are burns across your back and on your head. Roll over and don't try to change anything. Your magic may be hurting too."
"I'll go get a drink," Ted said while his wife treated their daughter's burns.
With burn paste everywhere – including on her burnt scalp, Dora stood up and let her mother help her into her father's house coat.
Her mother continued, "Now, I'll give you a dreamless sleep if you promise not to change anything in your form tonight."
"Why?"
"Don't try any changes until tomorrow," Andromeda advised. "Your skin and magic must heal tonight if you want to avoid scars."
In their bedroom, Andromeda was quiet while Ted watched her prepare her hair and face for the night. He smiled and said, "I love you more each day, Princess Andy."
Catching his eye in the mirror of her vanity, Andromeda smiled back but then turned serious. She asked, "Do you still want to join Dumbledore's…"
"No!" Andromeda replied. "And Dora will resign."
"Is the Dark Lord back?"
"Probably," his wife admitted. "The ministry is denying it too vociferously for there not to be some truth in the matter."
"So, what do we do?" he asked.
"Gringotts Paris? Gringotts Boston?" Andromeda replied immediately. She did so appreciate a husband who valued her opinion and ideas so willingly.
"How about Gringotts Rome? The eternal city?"
Nodding happily, Andromeda added, "We can find a nice safe house and Dora can work as a runway model with the muggles."
"Rome it is then," Ted said. "And I'll send a letter to Albus declining his invitation to join, and we can include Dora's resignation too."
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