Chapter 3
Everything Changes
The evening was finished in typical Weasley fashion with, food and fellowship. The ending may have lacked the privacy that Harry's 16th ended with, but all things considered it was still a good day. Far too soon it felt, Molly played mother hen and started shooting people off to bed. Ron and Harry retreated to Harry's room. Taking a look through his gifts, Harry noticed that Hagrids moleskin pouch had and interior expansion charm on it. It only took him a moment to figure out he could simply tie it to his tactical belt and he didn't even have to worry about his backpack again. "I love magic." he chuckled as he started to transfer the contents.
Once done, he finally laid down to bed while Ron was still flipping through a magazine on the Canons. "Hey Harry, did you mean it?"
"Mean what mate?" Harry asked.
"Not waiting to break up the band? I mean if you were just trying to keep Mum happy I get it. But like, you're of age, got the vault, if the the Minister is willing to give you the bad-"
"There's a bit more to the job than just the badge, Ron." Harry smiled. "I suspect there are still a few things Sarge can teach us. Sides'..." Harry trailed off.
"Sides what?" Ron asked, seeming actually curious.
"What the hell, still my birthday. I've done the alone thing. Safe to say that sucks. So you know, if this last year proves anything. Quartet, Eighth Weasley, Marauders, take your pic. Things do better when you don't go it alone. Early badge, I dunno, feels like I'd be breaking something that works. No sense to it."
Ron nodded and smiled, then started to grin. "And I 'spose Ginny has nothing to do staying in school?"
Harry full on smiled and nodded. "I never said that. And I will be man enough to admit she is top of the list of good things of this last year I would like to see keep going. But I would also like it on record that I have done right by her." Harry looked at Ron with a mildly surly expression.
Ron chucked. "Nah man, no complaints. You've done right by Ginny and the four of us have all figured out … being. We're good."
"Cool, 'Night Ron."
"Night… Master Potter."
"Shut up you idiot." Harry laughed.
Friday, 01 August 1997
With a lack of things like hair and makeup to fuss about, the Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Charlie and Arthur were drafted to assist with Millamant's Magic Marquees to assist with setting up the tent, and the chairs, and floating lanterns and candles… and every other item on Molly's list. The chanting mantra of 'Bill and Fleur are worth it.' began again in earnest. In honesty, Harry smiled a little bit. It was nice just being one of the Weasley boys.
Finally, they too were released to get dressed themselves. Ron had treated himself to new dress robes at the Alley that he quickly put on in Harry's room. Harry pulled out a jet black suit and shirt, and emerald tie. He took a moment to look in the mirror. His hair, styled and trimmed, a year's worth of eating right and working out had shaped a new body under a sharp suit. His shield bracelet and the Headmasters ring rested on his left hand. Ginny's hair bracelet, his grandmother's bracelet, and his signet ring were on his right. His tactical belt around his waist with his wand holstered at his side. Just for fun he tapped the sun shade charm for his glasses on. He was a far cry from the boy who had fled his bastard uncle a year previous. Harry looked at the reflection… and grinned with an extra dash of cockiness.
He followed Ron up the stairs to the sitting room. Molly glowed over Ron. "You have grown up so much." She said as she hugged him. Ron more or less surrendered and allowed his mum to have her moment. Then she set her sights on Harry… and looked cross. "Harry, you again look like you could out charm the devil, but are you truly going to wear that to a wedding?"
""You've seen me in suits several times, Molly." Harry said, confused.
"Not the suit, you're dashing in the suit, your… what do you call it, wand belt. You look almost American with your holster hanging off the side like that."
"Oh," Harry said, "Well as a wizard in a wizard wedding, yeah, I planned on caring like I have every day for years."
"It just … makes you look like you are looking for a fight." Molly said with equal parts concern and disappointment.
"I'm never looking for one Molly, I promise." Harry tried with his biggest grin. "But how many 'keep an eye on Ginny's can you give me and expect me not to develop the habit?"
Molly was wavering but not sold; she sought back up. "Arthur, tell Harry he doesn't need to carry a wand belt at a wedding."
Arthur sipped his tea. He looked at Harry, then looked at his wife, again he looked to Harry, then Molly. Then Arthur smiled and said. "I could have sworn Harry had his 17th Birthday yesterday."
Molly was not amused, but not about to waste time. "Bill, it's your wedding. Tell Harry he doesn't need to wear his wand belt."
Bill was fixing his collar. "Harry? You mean the battlemage that's saved most of the family at least once? I mean I'm up to two. Ron you're up to what? Two?" Ron nodded. Bill called up the stairs. "Ginny!"
"Little busy!" she called back down.
"This is quick. How many times do you think Harry's saved your life?"
"Four… minimum," came the reply.
Bill turned back to Molly, "Mum, I love you. But I'd be honored to see Harry be himself at my wedding."
Point made, Molly fought the smile her kids had created. "I love that my children are growing up… I hate that my children are growing up," she sighed as she finally relented and left to attend other affairs with Arthur in tow. Arthur however did give a cheeky grin to Harry before the door.
Hermione descended the stairs wearing a floaty, lilac-colored dress with matching high heels; her hair was sleek and shiny.. "Wow… Ron said, blinking rather rapidly. "You look great!"
"Always the tone of surprise," said Hermione, though she smiled.
"No," Ron smiled. "Not surprise, appreciation."
"Good save." Hermione laughed and kissed Ron's cheek. Then she turned to Harry and smiled. She turned back around and yelled upstairs. "Ginny, you better get down here. There's someone claiming to be your boyfriend but he's way too handsome to be the Harry I remember."
"Just stun 'em and I'll sort it out in a minute." came the reply.
"I swear Mione," Harry said as he shook his head. "We both may be only children, but can not imagine a sis would tease me more."
"Meh," Hermione shrugged. "You deserve it." Then her attention turned to Ron. "Let's get to our places. The last thing I want is your mum cross at us."
"Right," Ron nodded. "Harry, catch you in a few."
Harry waved goodbye casually till he heard a creek on the steps. He looked up to see Ginny casually coming down the stairs… and Harry forgot most of the English language. Her hair was in her crimson curls and her makeup and cheshire grin matched. She was wearing a sleeveless golden dress and her shiftweave gloves charmed to match. Harry was particularly pleased to see her promise necklace on full display, apparently proudly so.
To say Ginny looked radiant would be to say the summer sun was mildly bright. "Merlin have mercy," he managed to mutter. But he had the good sense to know an opportunity when he saw one. He very quickly opened his pocketwatch and his wand. With a tap he captured a image of her on the inside of the watch cover.
"See something you like, Harry?" Ginny asked brightly.
"Put it to you this way. Fleur is going to be pissed when she sees someone outshine the veela bride."
"Good answer," she grinned. Then she turned around and lifted her hair up. "Help a girl out?" she asked as she turned her back to Harry an unzipped dress, but more important, beautifully copper colored freckled soft skin. And even though it felt like a crime, Harry kept his protest to a sigh and helped his girlfriend by zipping her up.
"If anything Gin, I am surprised you're wearing the necklace. I don't know Fleur's design aesthetics.
Ginny turned around, and took advantage of the fact she was one step off the floor Harry was standing on and slipped her arms around his neck as she shrugged. "Meh, last I knew this is mine. So wherever I go, I damn well am going to wear it."
Harry warmly smiled, as he wrapped around her waist. "Good answer."
"By the way, You look absolutely lethal today. And I like your wand belt on you too." Ginny smiled as she finally got to kiss him.
Fred gave them a moment as he grabbed a cup of tea. Then gave a courtesy cough. Both of them flashed him the V sign. Fred laughed so hard he quickly headed to the sink to contain his spit take. "Bloody hell you two. I didn't expect it would embarrass you. But I didn't expect both of you to flip me off."
"Oh, and what have you and Angelina been up to as of late." Ginny asked with her arm still on Harry's shoulder.
"Oi, that's none of your business." Fred replied, trying not to release his laugh.
"Agreed," Ginny said, "so don't give me any grief over my boyfriend then, okay?"
"You two." Fred snickered as he headed outside too.
Three o'clock on the following afternoon found Harry, Ron, Fred, and George standing outside the great white marquee in the orchard, awaiting the arrival of the wedding guests. All four of them were issued seating plans so that they could help show people to the right seats. A host of white-robed waiters had arrived an hour earlier, along with a golden jacketed band, and all of these wizards were currently sitting a short distance away under a tree. Harry could see a blue haze of pipe smoke issuing from the spot.
Behind Harry, the entrance to the marquee revealed rows and rows of fragile golden hairs set on either side of a long purple carpet they had now set.. The supporting poles were entwined with white and gold flowers. Fred and George had fastened an enormous bunch of golden balloons over the exact point where Bill and Fleur would shortly become husband and wife. Outside, butterflies and bees were hovering lazily over the grass and hedgerow. Harry found it quite peaceful.
"When I get married," said Fred, tugging at the collar of his own robes, "I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear what you like, and I'll put a full Body Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over."
"Does Angelina know of your plans already?" Ron teased.
"Don't you even make that joke about it." Fred said with a flash of extra red in his face. The other three all laughed.
"Mum wasn't too bad this morning, considering," said George. "Cried a bit about Percy not being here, but who wants him? Oh blimey, brace yourselves—here they come, look."
Brightly colored figures were appearing, one by one, out of nowhere at the distant boundary of the yard. Within minutes a procession had formed, which began to snake its way up through the garden toward the marquee. Exotic flowers and bewitched birds fluttered on the witches' hats, while precious gems glittered from man of the wizards' cravats; a hum of excited chatter grew louder and louder, drowning the sound of the bees as the crowd approached the tent. "Excellent, I think I see a few veela cousins," said George, craning his neck for a better look. "They'll need help understanding our English customs, I'll look after them..."
"Not so fast," said Fred, then he felt Harry's hand on shoulder.
"Bro, don't get yourself in trouble." Harry said with a grin.
Fred was about to say something when George seized the opportunity, darting past the gaggle of middle-aged witches heading the procession, he said, "Here—permettez-moi to assiter vous," to a pair of pretty French girls, who giggled and allowed him to escort them inside. George was left to deal with the middle-aged witches and Ron took charge of Mr. Weasley's old Ministry colleague Perkins, while a rather deaf old couple fell to Harry's lot.
Harry hurried back to the entrance to find Ron face-to-face with a most eccentric-looking wizard. Slightly cross-eyed, with shoulder-length white hair the texture of candyfloss, he wore a cap whose tassel dangled in front of his nose and robes of an eye-watering shade of egg-yolk yellow. Ron gestured. "Harry, this is Luna's father."
"Xenophilius Lovegood," he said, extending a hand to Harry, "my daughter and I live just over the hill, so kind of the good Weasleys to invite us. But I think you know my Luna?"
"I am lucky that way, yes sir." Harry said, accepting the hand. "I like to think we look out for each other."
"You have no idea how comforting that is to hear Harry. Thank you."
Ron looked around. "I know Colin is working photographs. Isn't she with you?"
Xenophilius shook his head. "She lingered in that charming little garden to say hello to the gnomes, such a glorious infestation! How few wizards realize just how much we can learn from the wise little gnomes—or, to give them their correct name, the Gernumbli gardensi."
"Ours do know a lot of excellent swear words," said Ron, "but I think Fred and George taught them those." He led a party of warlocks into the marquee as Luna rushed up.
"Hello, Harry!" she said. Like her father, Luna was wearing bright yellow robes, which she had accessorized with a large sunflower in her hair. The general effect was quite pleasant, like summer personified.
Xenophilius, who was deep in conversation with an acquaintance, had missed the exchange between Luna and Harry. Bidding the wizards farewell, he turned to his daughter, who held up her finger and said, "Daddy, look—one of the gnomes actually bit me!"
"How wonderful! Gnome saliva is enormously beneficial!" said Mr. Lovegood, seizing Luna's outstretched finger and examining the bleeding puncture marks. "Luna, my love, if you should feel any burgeoning talent today—perhaps an unexpected urge to sing opera or to declaim in Mermish—do not repress it! You may have been gifted by the Gernumblies!"
Ron, passing them in the opposite direction, let out a loud snort. "Ron can laugh," said Luna serenely as Harry led her and Xenophilius toward their seats, "but my father has done a lot of research on Gernumbli magic."
"You don't have to convince me Luna. My trust in you skyrocketed this year." said Harry, who had long since decided not to challenge Luna or her father's peculiar views. "Are you sure you don't want to put anything on that bite, though?"
"Thank you Harry, that's very sweet. My finger is fine though. I've gone through the same training as you." Luna teased, sucking her finger in a dreamy fashion and looking Harry up and down. "You look smart. I told Daddy most people would probably wear dress robes, but he believes you ought to wear sun colors to a wedding, for luck, you know."
"I did not know, but couldn't agree more. You look lovely Luna."
She looked around. "I know Colin is technically working, but… do you think I'd ruin it if I found him just to say hello."
Harry smiled. "Unless you jumped in front of the camera, I am sure you'd be fine sis."
Smiling and encouraged, Luna drifted off after her boyfriend, Ron reappeared with an elderly witch clutching her arm. Her beaky nose, red-trimmed eyes, and feathery pink hat gave her the look of a bad-tempered flamingo. " … Merlin's beard, what is Xenophilius Lovegood wearing? He looks like an omelet. And who are you?" she barked at Harry.
"Oh yeah, Auntie Muriel, this is Harry Potter." Ron shot Harry the most apologetic look he had ever seen.
"I was hoping to meet you. Ronald keeps saying he's a friend of yours, but then again has been known to boast."
Harry smiled and delicately shook her hand. "Yeah, Ron's my best mate. Many a tale and he's helped me out more than once."
"Ronald?" she asked, pointing at the Weasley guiding her arm.
"This very one, yes ma'am." Harry nodded.
She turned to Ron."He's not as gormless as he looks in press photographs, then. Well, well, find me a good seat, Ronald, I am a hundred and seven and I ought not to be on my feet too long." Ron gave Harry a meaningful look as he passed.
Ron didn't reappear for some time. When next they met at the entrance, Harry had shown a dozen more people to their places. The marquee was nearly full now, and for the first time there was no queue outside. "Nightmare, Muriel is," said Ron, mopping his forehead on his sleeve. "She used to come for Christmas every year, then, thank God, she took offense because Fred and George set off a Dungbomb under her chair at dinner. Dad always says she'll have written them out of her will—like they care, they're going to end up richer than anyone in the family, rate they're going."
"Room for one more?" Hemione asked as she joined them, slipping an arm around Ron's waist.
"Always," both lads said and Ron greeted her with a hug.
"I just met your Great Aunt Muriel upstairs while she was giving Fleur the tiara. She welcomed me with, 'Oh dear, is this the Muggle-born?' and then, 'Bad posture and skinny ankles.'"
"How in the name of all of magic could she complain about your posture?" Harry asked.
"Don't take it personally, she's rude to everyone," said Ron.
"Talking about Muriel?" inquired George, reemerging from the marquee with Fred.
"Yeah, Old bat. I wish old Uncle Bilius was still with us, though; he was a right laugh at weddings."
"Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours later?" asked Hermione.
"Well, yeah, he went a bit odd toward the end," conceded George.
"But before he went loopy he was the life and soul of the party." said Fred. "He used to down an entire bottle of firewhisky, then run onto the dance floor, hoist up his robes, and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his—"
"Yes, he sounds a real charmer," said Hermione, while Harry roared with laughter.
"Never married, for some reason," said Ron.
"You amaze me," said Hermione. They were all laughing so much that none of them noticed the latecomer, a dark-haired young man with a large, curved nose and thick black eyebrows, until he held out his invitation to Ron and said, with his eyes on Hermione,
"You look vunderful."
"Viktor!" she welcomed, "I didn't know you were coming. Goodness—it's lovely to see—how are you again?"
Ron took a breath, held it for a moment, and released it. "Welcome to the Burrow," he said with his hand out.
"Thank you. I was surprised but appreciated Fleur's invitation," Krum said.
Harry shook hands. "Harry! Look at you my fellow champion. You are not the boy I met years ago!"
"I've had a few years, Viktor. Things change. For all of us." Harry said with a nod and smile to his friends.
"Ah yes, Herminee wrote! Ronald, thank you for taking care of her. Very special, no?"
Hermione blushed, as Ron nodded with a dumb grin. "Very special, yes."
Remembering their actual job Harry finally led Krum to his seat. "Those two seem happy together." said Krum as he entered the now packed marquee.
"They are," Harry muttered, but Krum was not really listening. His appearance was causing a stir, particularly amongst the veela cousins: He was, after all, a famous Quidditch player. While people were still craning their necks to get a good look at him, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George came hurrying down the aisle.
"Time to sit down," Fred told Harry, "or we're going to get run over by the bride."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats in the second row behind Fred and George. Hermione looked rather pink and Ron's ears were still scarlet.
A sense of jittery anticipation had filled the warm tent, the general murmuring broken by occasional spurts of excited laughter. Arthur and Molly strolled up the aisle, smiling and waving at relatives: Molly was wearing a brand-new set of amethyst colored robes with a matching hat.
A moment later Bill and Charlie stood up at the front of the marquee, both wearing dress robes, with large white roses in their buttonholes; George wolf-whistled and there was an outbreak of giggling from the veela cousins. Then the crowd fell silent as music swelled from what seemed to be the golden balloons.
"Ooooh!" said Hermione, swivelling around in her seat to look at the entrance. A great collective sigh issued from the assembled witches and wizards as Philippe and Fleur came walking up the aisle, Fleur gliding, Philippe bouncing and beaming. Fleur was wearing a very simple white dress and seemed to be emitting a strong, silvery glow. While her radiance usually dimmed everyone else by comparison, today it beautified everyone it fell upon. Ginny and Gabrielle looked even prettier than usual, and once Fleur had reached him, Bill looked as though he had never met Fenrir Greyback.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said a slightly singsong voice, and with a slight shock, Harry saw the same small, tufty-haired wizard who had presided at Dumbledore's funeral, now standing in front of Bill and Fleur. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls ..."
"Yes, my tiara sets off the whole thing nicely," said Auntie Muriel in a rather carrying whisper. "But I must say, Ginevra's dress is far too low cut." Ginny glanced around, grinning, winked at Harry, then quickly faced the front again. Harry let himself have a grin that Ginny definitely caught, but considering the time and place didn't let his mind wander too far away.
Hermione leaned over and whispered. "I saw that."
"We don't care." Harry replied.
"Do you, William Arthur, take Fleur Isabelle...?" In the front row, Molly and Apolline were both sobbing quietly into scraps of lace. Trumpetl ike sounds from the back of the marquee told everyone that Hagrid had taken out one of his own tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs. Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder; Harry noticed her eyes too were full of tears. " ... then I declare you bonded for life."
The tufty-haired wizard waved his wand high over the heads of Bill and Fleur and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling around their now entwined figures. As Fred and George led a round of applause, the golden balloons overhead burst: Birds of paradise and tiny golden bells flew and floated out of them, adding their songs and chimes to the din.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" called the tuft-haired wizard. "If you would please stand up!" They all did so, Auntie Muriel grumbling audibly; he waved his wand again. The seats on which they had been sitting rose gracefully into the air as the canvas walls of the marquee vanished, so that they stood beneath a canopy supported by golden poles, with a glorious view of the sunlit orchard and surrounding , a pool of molten gold spread from the center of the tent to form a gleaming dance floor; the hovering chairs groped themselves around small white-clothed tables, which all floated gracefully back to earth around it, and the golden-jacketed hand trooped toward a podium.
"Smooth," said Ron approvingly as the waiters popped up on all sides, some bearing silver trays of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and firewhisky, other tottering piles of tarts and sandwiches. "We should go and congratulate them!" said Hermione, standing on tiptoe to see the place where Bill and Fleur had vanished amid a crowd of well-wishers. "We'll have time later," shrugged Ron, snatching four butterbeers from a passing tray and handing two to Harry.
"I'm going to catch Gin." Harry said as he accepted them.
Ron nodded as he took Hermione's free hand."Let's grab a table... Not there! Nowhere near Muriel—" Ron led the way across the empty dance floor. The band had begun to play. Bill and Fleur took to the dance floor first, to great applause; after a while, Arthur led Apolline onto the floor, followed by Molly and Philippe.
Harry didn't need a further invitation. He looked and quickly found Ginny. "I come bearing gifts," he said as he offered a butter beer to Ginny.
"Oh then I bloody love you. Thank you," she replied with a kiss then taking the drink.
Harry slipped behind her and let Ginny lean back against his chest as he comfortably slipped an arm across her belly that she met and laced her fingers with his. Harry poked his head over her shoulder as he gestured out to the dance floor. "Have you been released from your bridesmaid duties now?"
Ginny nodded. "Fleur's all his, and I'm all yours." She took a welcome drink.
"My understanding is that there are a few traditional dances and such to do. But once it's open, may I have this dance?" Harry asked.
Ginny reached up and scratched the underside of Harry's chin. "So cute. You say that like you thought you had a choice."
They finished their drinks just as the floor opened up for the guests. They both were quite happy to see Colin putting the camera down and taking Luna to the floor. Ron and Hermione soon joined them. For a moment, it seemed the peace and warmth and comfort of the Burrow was open to all.
As the evening drew in, and moths began to swoop under the canopy, now lit with floating golden lanterns, the revelry became more and more uncontained. George, Charlie, and Viktor, had long since disappeared into the darkness with some of Fleur's cousins; Fred, Hagrid, and a squat wizard in a purple pork pie hat singing 'Odo the Hero" in a corner.
Ginny had long curled up into her partner's arms, her head resting on Harry's shoulder, expression of contentment on her face. Harry felt warm and as content as he ever had before. He didn't know if he was being very brave or very stupid, but in any case he knew he needed to try this. "Still with me, Gin?"
She nodded and squeezed… and smiled. "I'm comfortable, not sleeping."
"So… I'm of age now." he began. Ginny nodded. "And you know, everything wrapped up with that. Without question, this has been the best year of my life. Without question you have been the best part of that."
Ginny's smile beamed. "Thank you, Harry. I feel the same."
"Good. I was hoping so." Harry replied with a kiss into her hair as he reached into his pocket. "So… I am overdue for doing something stupid. And I can't think of a better thing to risk this on. Now I know, traditionally, I should be on one knee…"
That got Ginny's attention. She raised her head and looked very intently at Harry, who never looked cockier… and she loved it.
He continued. "... but when has tradition ever mattered to us? We'll figure out N.E.W.T.s, and school and all of that later. But, tonight, right now, all I really care about is: Ginevra Weasley, will you marry me?"
Ginny's hands had been resting on Harry's chest. Her eyes welled with happy tears she was holding back. Technically, Harry didn't wait for an answer. From his pocket he pulled out a simple gold ring with a singular but beautiful diamond, that he took the initiative and head nodding of near crying Ginny followed his hand as he slid the ring over her finger. Afraid in her excitement she might knock it out and lose it, she waited as patiently as she could until it was secure on her finger. The moment though, the fraction of a second it was safe on her hand she pounced. By some miracle she kept her voice low as she leapt tightly around Harry's neck. "YES! Yes, of course, yes. Gods, yes. I agree. Sod the rest we'll figure it out, yes! I don't care if I'm the only engaged Sixth year. As long as it's you, that's all that matters. I love you."
Harry took the liberty to turn Ginny slightly from the crowd. She hated people seeing cry, even happy tears. But she was overjoyed, a dream for longer than she cared to admit, coming true better than she dared to hope. Harry, for the briefest of moments, dared to forget who he was.
Then reality came crashing in again. The moment was ruined by voices of surprise. Harry and Ginny looked over to see the crowd parting as a panicked and disheveled Weasley bluntly pushed his way through the crowd. What once was a nice suit was now ripped and covered with soot and ash, Streaks of charcoal mixed with streaks of blood on his face and his hair was disheveled. Then he locked eyes with Harry. It was Percy! He pounced to Harry like a drowning man would reach for a life line. He looked, and smelled, as if he had just gone through an explosion. "They're coming! They are attacking the Ministry! You're next!"
"What?! They're taking on the Ministry itself!" Harry couldn't fathom it.
"That's insane!" Ginny agreed.
"Not when they've been taking it over for the last year! I'm not here to debate this! I'm here to warn you to run. NOW!"
The crowd took the hint and soon guests started heading to the apparition point. Thirty years of the Wizard Wars had taught many of them better safe than sorry. Tonks and Remus soon fell in with Ron and Hermione.
"Percy, who? How many?" Tonks asked, trying to assess the situation.
"We beat'em before." Ron replied with confidence, "And we're even better now."
"NO!" Percy tried to explain. "This isn't like last year! They're not sending Death Eaters. They're sending the Ministry. D.M.L.E.! The Auoror's Office!" They all fell silent as the size and scope of what was. In a truly rare moment of indecision, or rather not wanting to admit the reality they were facing. Harry looked up across the floor empting guests running in all directions away. Arthur stood tall and firm, with his arm around Molly like Harry was holding Ginny. Arthur looked Harry square in the eyes, man to man. No words needed to be said. They each knew. Arthur simply nodded.
Harry closed his eyes in frustration as time slowed down. His hand slid from Ginny's back but she quickly grabbed hold of him too. That touch, that act, that reminder he wasn't alone focused him… and they had planned for this.
"This is too big. Too many civis. We can't fight this. We run." A quick look in everyone's eyes showed agreement. Once the decision was made everything else was easier. "Burrow, portkey." The other three nodded in agreement as they all ran out of the canopy into the night air. But as they left they still saw the wave of people fleeing outward like a ripple sent out like a stone thrown in the pond. "Damn it… I need a visual." Harry said through gritted teeth.
"I can summon a broon." Ginny offered.
"They'll expect that," Ron objected. "That would be like a signal flair right to us."
Hermione's mind calculated. "Ron, first date, the trees!"
None of them needed it spelled out. Quickly they took their wants and levitated upwards to the tallest in the area, roughly three stories up. They swayed lightly but all found purchase in the upper limbs. Once out of sight, Harry ran the checklist. "Dissilussment charms! We're not going to make this easy for them. Gin, are those your anniversary earrings?"
"Gotcha," Ginny replied, charging them and creating an invisible shell of silence to their actions.
At that moment, something large and silver came sailing in from the western sky and falling through the canopy over the dance floor. Graceful and gleaming, the lynx landed lightly. Then the Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in the loud, deep, slow voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt. "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
All four of them felt like the wind had been knocked out of them. But Harry wouldn't let them lose focus. He scanned the perimeter and in the distance he could see movement. Harry took his binoculars out and looked at the horizon. As the guests made for the stone wall, the edge of the warding, Harry could see a personnel apparating and stopping them. Judging from outfits some were Death Eaters, but some were Aurors. He quickly looked to the other edge of the Burrow property, and saw the same. Very quickly hexes started to fly and several soldiers worked their way into the orchard. On all sides they could hear cries of 'Protego!'.
"We're getting boxed in." Harry realized.
"Okay, so if we're not taking brooms," Ginny summarized, "Then we stick to the trees."
"The grass is lava?" Ron asked. "Are you serious?"
"We used to do it as kids! Now our lives just depend on it." Ginny reminded.
"Are you seriously talking tree top to tree top?" Hermione asked. Ron and Ginny nodded. "This is not what I planned to be doing in this dress." Hermione muttered, taking off her shoes.
"Live tonight, I'll buy you a new one tomorrow." Harry snapped as he reached for her and Ginny's shoes and slipped them into his moleskin. Surveying the situation, Harry realized he needed to do something, then he noticed the floating lanterns from the wedding. He grabbed his wand. "We're not making this easy for anyone. 'Fumigant nubes!' Thick black smoke spread out twenty feet outward from each lantern.
"Another trick from Sirius?" Ginny asked with a grin.
"Yep," Harry nodded, "but this one is from your dad. 'Scopum impetum!'" Like the target cans they had used over the last year the smoking lanterns shot out from the dance floor in all directions. They flew between the trees leaving trails of smoke behind them obscuring the view for everyone. As the frustrated grumbles became audible, Harry grinned. "Move!" Harry whisper yelled.
Ginny took the lead, seeming to almost effortlessly be able to leap from tree to tree. Ron would quickly follow, not as gracefully as his sister but with his reach and experience, not with difficulty. With a lad on both tree then Hermione was third to have Harry help her with send off and Ron to catch her on the new tree. Harry finally followed last. He also lacked Ginny's grace but had the most muscle of the four, as well as the least fear. The year's worth of pull ups and boxing were paying off.
Beneath them they heard the spell boosted warnings of invaders. "This is the D.M.L.E. All parties will be questioned as persons of interest. Do not resist. If you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear. Do not resist."
The announcement was chilling to all of them. Ginny smiled first. "I don't know about you, but I feel like resisting even more."
"You and I are on the same bloody page sis." Ron agreed.
"Eyes on the prize everyone." Harry reminded. "Escape today, fight tomorrow. Gin, lead the way."
The frustration of the officers in the smoke shroud was clear and they continued to swear trying to capture people in the fog. From treetop to treetop they continued to hop, keeping out of the limited level line of sight, with their disillusionment camouflage and silence field hiding them further. It took several minutes a tree, but all of them were aware they could take their time slowly and carefully or the rest of their lives would be a much shorter time.
Finally they got to the edge of the orchard, but that still left a 1oo yard dash between the last tree and the Burrow proper. Harry scouted ahead with his binoculars. "I count six guarding the house."
"You don't think they know about the portkey, do you?" Hermione asked worried.
"More like they're guarding the floo." Ron clarified. "Unfortunately the portkey is on the floo mantle."
"We can take six." Ginny voted as she peaked between the branches.
"But can we before one of them calls the other sixty? That's the question." Hermione clarified.
"We need a distraction. Lure some of them away. " Ron suggested.
"I can do that." Harry said, twirling his wand out of his hoster again. "All those smoking lanterns, I can swap them for fireworks. By now, it would make it seem like shots fired all over the whole damn orchard. That ought to draw at least two of them away, make it a fair fight."
They all nodded in agreement.
"Harry, the floo, we should use it." Ron suggested.
"Why when we have the-" Harry asked.
"No, not for travel." Ron clarified. "A false trail. Gotta figure they will check the floo charms to see where people flamed to."
Ginny smiled. "Harry, your Moody training, what was the roughest, shadiest, place that you would be least happy I went alone too?"
"House of Cards," Harry said without hesitation. "I get you. Make a quick flame to it, before I actually use the portkey. Right. Last thoughts before I light this?" A round of nods showed they were all on the same page. Harry took his wand to the orchard behind him and cast, 'Ignis pompa!'
All across the orchard the smoking lanterns exploded with a dazzling display of colors, and showers of sparks. Dozens of groans came from soldiers in the smoke, now finally starting to dissipate. "I'm blind!" more than one man cried.
But blessedly the building guards took the bait. "You two, watch that damn floo! The rest of you. Let's see what the hell is going on!"
The Quartet sat and waited patiently as the house guard reduced from six to two. Once the guards quickly ran past them. They quickly leapt back down to the ground and sprinted like their lives depended on it. Their training kicked in as they approached the building. They all knew the layout of the kitchen and knew exactly every stick of furniture and where the guards would be.
"I got right!" Harry claimed.
"Left!" Ginny confirmed.
"Rear!" Ron covered.
"Alohomora!" Hermione cast, throwing open the door. Which was followed with a pair of stunners from Harry and Ginny. Both guards were out and down before they knew what hit them.
"Clear! Run!" Harry barked as they all found extra speed to their steps. Ginny made it to the mantle first but hesitated only a moment until she saw the expression on Harry's face as he stopped to secure the entrance. "Stick to the plan, I am following!" She nodded and quickly popped away. Ron's body being half legs gave him a quicker pace then Hermoine so he very quickly snatched Hermione up and threw her over his shoulder. He simply nodded to Harry as he passed through the door and then slid over the kitchen tables to the floo. He slapped the framed news article of the Weasley Warrior and quickly teleported away. Harry wasted no time. He dashed to the floo, grabbed a handful of powder, and threw it in shouting "House of Cards!" The green flames lit the room as Harry ignored them and portkeyed away.
In a whir and twist and pop, Harry soon was back in the comfortable surrounding of the Emergency Bunker. "Everyone?" he asked, assessing they were all there. A look showed all three of them nodding. Quickly, he pulled the ladies shoes out of his belt pouch. Then he marched to the far wall where a dark wood cabinet stood. With both hands he tore open the doors revealing the packs prepared months earlier. From the color taped handles he recognized and quickly started handing packs out. "Ron, Mione, Gin," he assigned. Each of them threw them on immediately. His pack with the white handle he took and laid on the floor by his feet on the base of the cabinet where two smaller bags sat. Once looked like a black leather doctors bag and the second a smaller brown canvas backpack. Harry reached into his mole skin pouch. He grabbed his DA Galleon, the Master Galleon, and put that in the pack, next he summoned Rosmerta's Knut. Finally, he swore as he did it, but he summoned his invisibility cloak and packed that in. From the pack's exterior pocket he pulled out an envelope and safety pin and pinned the letter to the top of the pack. Finally, venting more frustration that he may have wanted he called out. "Dobby! Kreacher!"
The pair of house elves popped into existence. It was clear Dobby was about to begin with usual cheer, but Kreacher read the room faster and quickly placed his had over Dobby's mouth. "Master Potter clearly upset. What is wrong? How elves help?"
Harry took a knee and rested a hand on each of the elves. "Look I don't have time to explain, but everything has just changed with the war, and not in a good way. Neville Longbottom, do you know him?"
Bothe elves nodded. Dobby emphatically replied, "Master Longbottom is Master Harry Potter's friend."
"Do you know where Longbottom Estates are? Can you apparate there?" Harry demanded.
Kreacher nodded. "Longbottom proud pureblood family. Good potion supplies. I have gone several times."
"Good!" Harry said, giving Kreacher the pack. "Both of you. Get this to Neville, ONLY Neville! Until you see me again, you listened to him or Bill Weasley. But especially at Hogwarts, you listen for Neville, you listen to Neville. You follow his orders and wishes like mine. Do you understand?"
Both the elves looked at each other and nodded then looked back to Harry unsure.
"Go!" Harry ordered. As they popped away, Harry turned his attention to his backpack. He opened it, grabbed the doctor's bag, tossed it in then latched it closed. He threw his pack over his shoulder and marched back the group by the mantle, surrounding the picture of Fleur's family. Finally, here, he looked at his friends and hesitated. "Before we go. Just promise me, we're coming back. This isn't quitting. That we're… regrouping. We're coming back and we're going to make 'em pay. "
"Absolutely," Hermione reassured.
"With a vengeance," Ron nodded.
"Raining fire." Ginny agreed, taking his hand.
Finally they all grasped the portkey, Harry charged it, and in another whirl and a pop, they were gone.
COMING SOON
"So what's our next move?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded slowly. "We stick to the plan. We're here."
"'Here'," Ron repeated. "You realized we're locked up, right?"
"Are you being hexed at?" Ginny snapped. "Because you could be."