AN:

Anyone who expected this to be a lighthearted story about the Potters and Weasleys reuniting after the war will have realised in the last chapter that this is only half the truth. Some events of the past remain unchanged despite Sirius remaining the Potters' Secret-Keeper, while others—like the prophecy—have shifted to reflect the fact that the events of Halloween 1981 never took place.

Good news. After accepting the - very ambitious - 20,000 word challenge for February and having almost reached the goal, I can promise weekly updates for the next few weeks.

"Mum, who was that man?" Harry asked, worried as he stepped closer. Ginny, Ron, and Emily shared the same look of alarm as they hurried over.

Lily stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the spot where the man had been moments before, her eyes wide and unblinking. She shook her head slowly, as if trying to make sense of what she'd seen.

"Mum!" Harry called again, louder this time, and finally, she looked up.

"That was… someone I knew when I was young," she said, her voice distant. "A neighbour's boy. We used to play together, before Hogwarts. He was the first who'd told me about magic, and that I am… a witch."

Harry's eyes widened. "Wait, so… he was your boyfriend?"

"No," Lily replied quickly, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "We were just kids. Though… he wanted more, later on."

"Did Dad know him?" Emily asked, a worried frown crossing her face.

Lily gave a dry, bitter laugh. "Oh, yes. James and Severus knew each other all too well. They were sworn enemies. They hated each other."

A chill run down Harry's spine as he recalled the dark, hateful stare the man had fixed on him. "He looked like he wanted to kill me," he muttered, still feeling uneasy. A warm hand slipped into his and Harry glanced at Ginny, grateful for her silent support.

Lily took a deep breath, trying to shake off her stupor. "I need to speak with Dumbledore," she said, suddenly brisk. "All of you - go inside. Now. Seal the door."

"But, Mum, we can't just..." Harry began.

"Do as I say," she cut him off, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Severus is a Death Eater. He's always been loyal to Voldemort, he worshiped him. He's dangerous – never forget that."

Before they could protest, Lily strode off towards the Apparition Point and vanished with a crack.

"What are we going to do?" Emily asked, her face pale.

Harry took a breath. "I don't know about you, but I'm not letting Mum face this alone," he said firmly. "I need to know what's going on. I'm going after her."

"This involves all of us, Harry," Ginny said, looking him straight in the eyes. "You're not going alone."

Harry held her gaze, realising she wasn't going to back down. He gave her a wry smile and nodded briefly. "Then let's go."

When they reached Dumbledore's garden, there was no sign of Lily. They quickly made their way through the back door and into their classroom, where Diara the house-elf appeared, bowing deeply.

"Master Harry, how can Diara be helping yous?" she asked, her voice filled with eagerness.

"We need to find my mother," Harry said. "Can you take us to her?"

Diara nodded, bowing again. "Oh, yes, Master Harry, of course! Diara is knowing where Mistress Lily is. Please to be following Diara!"

Diara led them to the living room, where Lily had just taken a seat next to Dumbledore. She looked up as they entered and frowned, apparently surprised by the intrusion.

"Mum, we want to know what's going on. We are as much affected as you are," Harry said firmly, stepping forward before his mother could send them away.

"The Weasleys won't just stand by if you're in danger," Ginny announced, coming to stand beside Harry.

"And I doubt we're safe either if… if that man was telling the truth," Ron put in, his voice tense.

"Lily," Dumbledore began gently, glancing over his spectacles, "if you wouldn't mind enlightening me as to the nature of all this."

With a serious expression, Lily let her gaze move over those present, gave a brief nod and finally turned to Dumbledore. "Then I think it's best if the Weasleys are here too," she said before addressing Ron, "Ron, could you check if your mother's at home? Please ask her to bring everyone who's at the Burrow right now. I know Dora and Charlie are there - and if possible, she should bring Bill as well."

Ron raised his eyebrows but nodded and hurried outside to Apparate home.

"Donny, Diara," called Dumbledore. "We'll be having more guests. Perhaps you might treat us to some tea and those delightful hot cross buns you prepared earlier?"

"At once, Master Albus!" the two house-elves replied eagerly, darting off towards the kitchen.

Harry sat down at the dining table with Ginny and Emily, positioning himself at the other end from his mother to avoid any potential disagreements.

Only a few minutes later, Ron returned, followed closely by his mother, Charlie, Tonks, and Bill, who, to everyone's surprise, arrived with a striking young woman with silver-blonde hair that reached nearly to her waist.

"What's so important that we had to rush over?" Tonks called as she stepped through the door. With a mischievous grin, she added, "Poor Bill wanted to introduce his girlfriend to his family, and now you've spoiled the surprise."

"It's fine, Dora," Bill said, gesturing to the tall blonde at his side. "This is Fleur Delacour - my fiancée."

"Oh, fiancée. My apologies," Tonks said with a laugh.

Ignoring Tonks' teasing, Bill carried on, "She works for Gringotts in Paris and has been transferred to London for a few months to improve her English."

"Bonsoir," Fleur said warmly with a thick French accent. "Eet eez nice to meet you all."

"And you're brushing up on your French, I bet," Tonks quipped, nudging Charlie with a grin.

Bill led Fleur around, quietly naming each person as he introduced them while Donny and Diara were setting the table.

Once everyone was seated, Lily turned to Dumbledore, her expression grave. "Albus, you won't believe who turned up on our doorstep this afternoon," she began, her gaze wandering around the room to ensure she had everyone's attention. "Severus Snape. He confirmed Voldemort's return - and even had the audacity to offer me 'protection'." She emphasised the word with air quotes, her tone laced with bitterness as she shook her head. "Molly, you may not know Severus Snape, nor the younger ones among us. He was a Slytherin in my year - and he was a Death Eater, and I'm sure he still is."

Mrs Weasley's brow furrowed with worry. "Why would a man like that seek you out?" she asked, visibly uneasy.

Lily offered a faint, apologetic smile. "We knew each other as children from primary school. We were even friends in our first years at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore inclined his head slightly. "Yes, I remember. James and his friends had quite a history with the Slytherin, especially Severus."

Lily let out a small, dry laugh. "They despised each other," she muttered, before turning to Tonks. "Dora, have you told Molly what Rosalind shared with us today?"

Tonks nodded. "Charlie and Bill know, as well does Fleur."

"Thank you!" Lily replied. "As it happens, Severus inadvertently confirmed it all himself. But that's not why I've called you here." She turned to Dumbledore, her voice steady. "Albus, do you by chance know about a prophecy - one that concerns us Potters? Severus claims Voldemort will come after us personally because of some prophecy."

Dumbledore's expression grew pensive. "Yes, there was such a prophecy. However, it does not name the Potters specifically. It could apply to others."

"And we were one those others?" Lily's cheeks flushed slightly with frustration.

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Yes. Another possible family was the Longbottoms."

Lily's face grew pale. "And because Frank and Alice are gone, Voldemort is now targeting me?"

Dumbledore's gaze softened. "It wasn't Frank and Alice he sought," he admitted quietly. "It was their son, Neville…and your son, Lily." His eyes shifted to Harry.

Harry felt a cold, creeping dread spread through him. A prophecy? About him? How could that be? His heart pounded as the room seemed to close in.

Lily's eyes darkened with understanding. "And because no one knows where Neville lives now, Voldemort is after my son."

Ginny's hand found his, squeezing in silent support as she followed the conversation, her expression mirroring Harry's growing alarm.

Dumbledore sighed. "If only I knew what thoughts stir in Tom's mind."

"Who is Tom?" Mrs Weasley asked, bewildered.

"That is Voldemort's real name," Dumbledore explained. "Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Lily's gaze hardened. "And why did you never tell us about the prophecy, Albus? You knew it, didn't you?"

Dumbledore's expression remained calm. "It was never entirely clear to whom it referred," he said. "And I wanted to avoid unnecessary alarm - especially since I believed Voldemort only learned the first half of the prophecy."

Lily leaned forward. "So it's true? Severus Snape overheard it?"

Dumbledore hesitated, his gaze distant. "I suspected he might have. Severus Snape was indeed among those I suspected of eavesdropping when Sybill Trelawney made the prophecy."

"And what exactly does this prophecy say?" Bill Weasley's voice broke the tense silence.

Dumbledore looked around gravely. "It is in everyone's best interest that the prophecy's words remain private." He paused, watching as each person nodded in understanding. "I have reasons to believe Voldemort will target me as well, and in my current condition…" he glanced down at himself, "I would stand little chance against him. So, I shall share with you all I know. However," he raised his hands slightly, "some details must stay within a very small circle."

Lily nodded. "So what does the prophecy say?"

Dumbledore looked at Harry, then back at Lily. "The prophecy states:

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...

Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...

And he shall mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...

And seven shall be the Dark Lord's downfall...

For one shall rise as the other falls,

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."

Harry listened, his mind racing to understand. The words felt like a heavy weight, their meaning dense and ominous. He barely registered Mrs Weasley asking, "What does it all mean, Albus?"

Dumbledore nodded, his expression grave. "'Born as the seventh month dies' - this seems to refer to a child born in late July. Since the prophecy was made in 1980…"

"Then it's either Neville or Harry," Lily murmured, her voice strained.

"That much is clear," Dumbledore agreed. "But 'the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal'... To my knowledge, neither boy has been marked."

"What about the part with 'seven'?" Bill asked, casting a concerned glance at Ginny.

Dumbledore gave Bill an approving look over his half-moon glasses. "An excellent question, Bill. I suspect Voldemort may have taken seven steps to secure his invincibility. However, that's a matter I'd prefer to discuss with a smaller circle."

"Why the secrecy?" Lily pressed. "If we're at risk, we should know what we're up against."

"There are aspects of Voldemort's plans he believes no one knows about," Dumbledore replied gravely. "And it is best he continues to believe so. But for now, our immediate concern must be your safety."

A heavy silence fell, the implications settling uncomfortably around them.

Lily's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "You're right, Albus. Our house isn't safe anymore. Nor is yours." She glanced at Mrs Weasley and then at Bill. "I don't know what protections you have at the Burrow, but it won't be long before they've made the connection to you."

Tonks interjected, her tone urgent. "We should inform the families of the new students as well. They're no longer safe here at school."

Harry nodded, slowly realising that the abstract prophecy about something that was supposed to happen in the far future was already making it hard for them to feel safe in their own beds tonight. He glanced at Ginny, who met his gaze, her eyes troubled as she tried to process it all.

When she noticed he was looking at her, a quick smile flashed across her face. "Who'd have thought that my very first boyfriend was predicted to be a hero?"

Harry eyes grew wide as he realised this stupid prophecy put Ginny in danger, too. He frowned. "If this is too much, Ginny, if you'd rather not be dragged into all this…"

Ginny rolled her eyes, though a grin tugged at her lips. "Now that you're officially becoming interesting? Not a chance."

"So, what options do we have to keep the school open?" Tonks asked, redirecting the focus.

"There's Sirius' house at Grimmauld Place," Lily said thoughtfully. "But I'm not sure of its current state." She gave Harry a pensive glance. "Sirius left the house to you, Harry."

"What house? I've never heard of it," Harry said, looking stunned. "Surprises just keep coming today," he murmured.

Lily continued, "Bill's handling the transfer at Gringotts, with me as trustee until Harry's seventeen. So we could use the house. But we'll probably have to clean it up first."

"Grimmauld Place was once the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said. "It's still protected under the Fidelius Charm. So it should be safe."

"Our cottage here in Godric's Hollow is under the Fidelius Charm as well, but since Sirius was the Secret Keeper, others might now know about the place," said Lily. "Besides, it's far too small for all of us."

"What about Aunt Muriel's house, Mum?" Charlie suggested. "It's empty."

Mrs Weasley looked surprised. "I hadn't thought of Muriel's," she admitted and turned to the others. "Muriel's my great aunt," she explained. "She moved away a few years ago, took all her gold, and vanished without a word. She was probably afraid we'd ask for money after Arthur died. Her house is still standing, though, and perhaps we could try to find accommodation there."

"Neither place is in a condition for us to stay overnight. But we could move back to the cottage for a few nights," Lily said looking at Harry and Emily. "What do you think?"

"You're welcome to stay at the Burrow," Mrs Weasley offered. "Harry can move in with Ron, and Emily can stay with Ginny. We have space."

"And it's safer if we stay together," Harry pointed out. A brief glance at Ginny made him realize this option had other advantages as well.

Bill nodded. "We were going to head back to London tonight, but it's better we stay. What do you think, Fleur?"

The elegant blonde at Bill's side smiled warmly. "We stay, Guillaume. Ze safety of your family eez too important."

"And we could check the wards before bed," Bill added.

Lily raised her hand. "We should also asses Grimmauld Place and Muriel's as soon as possible, both for safety and school needs."

Tonks nodded thoughtfully. "That's assuming the new students want to stay, knowing the risks."

"Quite so," Dumbledore agreed. "Dora, Charlie, might you speak with the students' parents and invite them here tomorrow, while Lily and her children settle in at the Burrow?"

Tonks exchanged a quick look with Charlie, who nodded, and they agreed.

Lily stood up. "In that case, Harry, Emily - let's get packed. We'll be at the Burrow in half an hour."

On the way to the Apparition Point, Harry noticed Bill quietly asking Dumbledore for a moment alone. Harry turned to Ginny with a curious look. "Any idea what your brother's up to?"

Ginny shrugged. "Not a clue. See you soon, though!"

When they arrived at the Burrow, everyone else was already waiting for them in the kitchen – everyone except Ginny and Bill.

"Where's Ginny?" he asked Ron.

"Talking with Bill in the living room," Ron replied. "Bill wanted to discuss something with her."

Peering into the living room, Harry saw Bill leaning toward Ginny with a serious expression. Ginny noticed Harry and waved him off with a small smile. "Be there in a bit," she called.

Harry returned to the kitchen, where his mother was deep in conversation with Mrs Weasley, Charlie and Tonks.

"We should check Grimmauld Place and Aunt Muriel's house today," Tonks was saying. "It's important for security, and we need to be ready to discuss our options on the parents' meeting tomorrow."

"That would make sense," Lily agreed after a moment's thought.

"We could split up," Bill suggested as he stepped into the kitchen with Ginny. "Grimmauld Place is the riskier location, Lily. I'll come with you, and Fleur can join us. Mum, maybe you and Charlie can check Muriel's with Dora."

"I'll go with you to Grimmauld Place," Harry interjected firmly.

"Harry, you…" his mother started, but he interrupted her, shaking his head.

"Mum, this prophecy's about me. I have a right to see the place that'll soon be my responsibility," Harry insisted.

"Harry, please..." Lily tried again.

"No, Mum." Harry shook his head. "I should know where the house is, don't you think? Especially if something were to happen to you - which I hope it won't."

Lily sighed. "You can't know the location because it's under the Fidelius Charm."

"Then Albus will have to tell us all the secret," Tonks said, glancing at Lily. "If it might become our home base, everyone here should know it."

It took a moment before Lily nodded. "Alright, we'll make sure everyone knows."

"I'm going with Harry," Ginny announced resolutely.

"So am I," Ron added immediately.

Mrs Weasley's tone turned sharp. "Ginny, that's -"

"No, Mum," Ginny cut in. "You always say we're in this together. I'm not staying back."

Emily looked around uncertainly. "I'm not staying back alone. I'll go, too."

Lily sighed, exasperated. "Alright, Emily, you'll go to Muriel's with Dora."

"Ginny, you too," said Mrs Weasley firmly.

But Ginny shook her head. "I'm going with Harry. If he's going to Grimmauld Place, so am I," Ginny insisted, and turned to her brother. "Ron, can you go to Aunt Muriel's instead? Please?"

Ron hesitated but nodded. "Alright."

"I'll let Albus know we need access to Grimmauld Place," Lily said, heading toward the Apparition Point.

"Fine," Mrs Weasley sighed, shaking her head. "I'll save the dinner meant to honour Fleur's first visit for later tonight, but at least have some sandwiches for now."

As everyone helped themselves to sandwiches and tea, Ginny leaned over to Harry. "I need to talk to you."

Harry gave her a worried look, recalling her earlier conversation with Bill. "Is it something Bill told you?"

"Not now," Ginny replied, holding up a hand to reassure him. "It looks like we'll live in the same place from now on. We'll have plenty of time to talk later."

Curious and slightly puzzled by her secrecy, Harry nodded. "All right."

They each grabbed a sandwich, only to look up in surprised as his mother reappeared, holding a slip of paper.

"Read this carefully and remember it. All of you," she instructed, handing the paper to Tonks, who nodded in understanding after reading it, then passed it around.

When Emily handed him the note, Harry read:

The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is at 12 Grimmauld Place.

12 Grimmauld Place? Harry's mind spun with questions. He passed the note to Ginny, who read it and handed it back to Lily, who promptly burned it.

"Have you ever been there?" Ginny asked him.

"No," Harry replied, glancing surprised at his mother as the note turned to ashes.

"Let's head out in ten minutes," Bill suggested, and the others murmured their agreement.

Since only Lily and Bill knew the location, they side-along Apparated the others to Grimmauld Place. When Harry arrived with his mother, the others already gathered on the pavement on the opposite side of the street, watching the building.

To Harry's astonishment, a previously invisible house appeared between two others as if sliding into place.

"Wicked", said Ginny, snickering.

"Let's head over." Lily motioned for them to follow.

They approached a heavy oak door with a bronze number 13 and a large knocker. Lily tapped the doorknob with her wand, and after a soft, distinct click, she pushed the door open.

Cautiously, she stepped into the hallway, whispered, '"Lumos" to light the space with her wand, and then motioned for them to follow, pressing a finger to her lips. "Quiet!"

They moved past a thickly draped wall and descended flight of stairs in semi-darkness until they reached a kitchen, a semi-dark room lit by the street lamps shining through the basement windows. In the middle of the room was a huge dining table with chairs around it. The fireplace at the opposite wall had probably been connected to the Floo network, but hadn't been used for a long time.

"Normally, there's a portrait of Sirius's mother behind the curtain we just passed," Lily explained in a low voice. "She had a habit of screaming at unwelcome visitors. I hope someone from the Order finally got rid of it; otherwise, Bill, we might have a job for you."

"Ow did you plan to proceed, Bill?" Fleur asked.

"We should stick together and check each room carefully," Lily suggested.

"But first, let's make sure we're alone," Bill said. Drawing his wand, he murmured, "Homenum revelio!"

His expression grew tense, and he repeated the spell with a slightly different wand movement.

"No other wizards or witches here," he said at last. "Though there should be two house-elves somewhere."

Lily frowned. "Actually, only Kreacher should be here, if he's still alive."

"Can you call him, Mum? Or can I?" Harry asked.

"You should be able to summon the house-elf, Harry," Bill replied. "Gringotts considers you the owner, so he'll obey your call."

Harry nodded and raised his voice, "Kreacher? Are you here?"

With a soft pop, an elderly house-elf appeared before them. His large, bat-like ears flopped slightly as he bowed low, his hooked nose nearly brushing the ground. "Master Harry has called, and Kreacher is here to serve."

"Is there anyone else in the house, Kreacher?" Harry asked.

Kreacher grimaced, his wrinkled face twisting. After a pause, he gave a small nod. "Yes, Master Harry. Dobby is here too. Kreacher has taken him in."

"Dobby? Who is Dobby?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow. "Could you bring him here?"

The door to a small room nearby creaked open, and a second house-elf emerged hesitantly. His enormous green eyes darted nervously around the room, and his thin, fragile frame was covered in bruises and cuts. He bowed deeply to Harry, his long nose nearly touching the floor.

"Kreacher found Dobby injured," Kreacher explained in his quavering voice, glancing protectively at the younger elf. "His old master was cruel and chased him away. Kreacher gave Dobby shelter."

Harry's heart sank as he took in Dobby's battered appearance. "Hello Dobby," Harry said kindly, giving the elf a small smile. "Are you all right? Does anything still hurt?"

"Dobby is fine, Master Harry," the house-elf replied, his ears twitching nervously. "Dobby is glad to serve!"

"You poor thing." Lily stepped forward, her face full of concern. "Who did this to you, Dobby?" she asked gently.

The elf hesitated, his eyes flickering to the floor. In a near whisper, he finally said, "It was Master Lucius."

"Lucius? Lucius Malfoy?" Bill asked, astonished.

Dobby nodded miserably. "Dobby is serving the Malfoy family for many years. Master Lucius is being angry... he is punishing Dobby badly."

Kreacher nodded his head. "Dobby's Master is thinking Dobby is dead and is covering him with a cloth. So now, Dobby is free! Kreacher took him in. He's family."

"That would make sense," Lily said grimly. "Narcissa Malfoy was a Black by birth and spent her childhood here."

"Dobby served Mistress Narcissa when she was a little girl," Dobby confirmed, clearly uncomfortable.

Sensing Dobby's distress, Kreacher stepped forward. "How can Kreacher serve Master Harry?" he asked, his tone eager to shift the focus.

"We need to know if this house is fit to live in," Lily said gently. "How long would it take to prepare for, say, twenty people?"

Kreacher's large eyes brightened at the prospect of work. Bowing low, he croaked, "Kreacher keeps the house in order, Mistress Lily. It would take one or two days for Kreacher to prepare for so many. Kreacher only needs to know which rooms are needed."

"That's perfect, Kreacher," Lily said warmly, indicating to the fireplace. "Before we do a tour of the house, I'd like to know if the Floo connection is still working."

Kreacher looked a little unhappy. "The fireplace is blocked for Floo and hasn't been used for a long time. Kreacher has no way of knowing if it's still safe for wizards to use it."

Lily sighed. "Seems we'll have to Apparate, then." She looked around uncertainly for a moment before making a decision. "Then let's do check which rooms we need."

Lily climbed the stairs to the ground floor and paused briefly by the heavy curtains near the front door. "Is the portrait still here?" she asked, glancing at the dark fabric.

"Yes, Mistress Lily," Kreacher croaked. "Great and wise Headmaster Dumbledore has made Mistress silent forever. No more screaming, no more scolding, no more disturbing Kreacher's work."

"Thank Merlin for small mercies," Lily muttered in relief, brushing the curtains aside to peek behind them. A sullen-looking Walburga Black raised her painted hand in a silent, threatening fist, her eyes full of hatred. Chuckling, Lily stuck her tongue out at the former mistress of the house and let the curtain fall back into place.

She turned briefly to check if everyone had followed her before stepping into the dining room. The double doors stood open, revealing a spacious room dominated by a long table surrounded by a dozen chairs.

"This could work for classes," Lily said, gesturing towards a freestanding double blackboard in the corner. "The Order used this room for meetings. There's plenty of space here for lessons."

Bill nodded, surveying the room. "There's definitely more room here than at Aunt Muriel's."

Harry lingered in the doorway as Ginny slipped her hand into his and led him down the hallway to another room. The door was ajar, and Ginny nudged it open, revealing a cosy space lined with bookshelves and two desks near the window.

"Looks like a study," Ginny said, plucking a book from one of the shelves and thumbing through it. "We could use it for quieter lessons—or as a library."

On the next floor, they stepped into the spacious two-story drawing room. It was larger than the dining room, with three inviting seating areas surrounded by bookshelves lining the walls.

Next to the staircase, a door led into a bedroom.

"Dora and Charlie could stay here," Lily suggested, peering inside. "Not that big, but it's enough, I'd say."

The group climbed the stairs to the second floor, which held two bedrooms and a small alcove with a window overlooking the drawing room below.

"I could share this floor with Emily, Harry and Ron," Ginny offered, "Or would you and Mum prefer these rooms, Mrs Potter?"

"Please, call me Lily, dear," she replied kindly. "I'll talk to Molly about the arrangements. But I believe the rooms upstairs are better suited for you young people."

They continued upward to the third floor, where they found the master bedroom, a bathroom, and two smaller bedrooms.

"These will work for Ron, Ginny, and Emily, and me," Harry decided.

Finally, they reached the fourth floor, where Sirius' and his brother Regulus' old rooms remained untouched. Kreacher hesitated before opening the doors, his gnarled fingers brushing the handles.

"Everything is still as Master Sirius left it," Kreacher murmured, his voice tinged with emotion. "And Kreacher keeps Master Regulus' room clean always, just as Master Regulus liked."

The group peered inside. Sirius' room was cluttered yet charming, with Gryffindor banners still hanging on the walls, while Regulus' was immaculate, the silver and green decor preserved like a shrine.

"These will do for guests," Lily said softly, before glancing at the narrow staircase leading up to the attic. "Shall we take a look up there?"

As they turned toward the attic stairs, Bill shook his head. "No need to climb up there now. I'll take a look later and let you know if it's usable."

"All right, then," Lily agreed, glancing at her watch. "It's almost nine. Let's head back and see what the others found at your Aunt Muriel's."

When they arrived at the Burrow, the others were already waiting, and the smell of a late dinner filled the air as Molly brought dishes to the table.

"How was it?" asked Charlie as they settled in.

"The house is a bit gloomy, but habitable," replied Bill.

"It always looked a bit gloomy, which wasn't surprising, considering Sirius' family," Lily added. "That said, Kreacher, the house-elf, seems to be keeping it reasonably well-maintained. He says we can move in in two days."

"And we had a surprise guest," Emily piped up. "Dobby, the Malfoy house-elf, is staying with Kreacher after the Malfoys tortured him and kicked him out."

"Dobby?" Tonks asked in surprise, frowning thoughtfully. "I'm amazed he survived if they really threw him out. That lot doesn't tend to leave loose ends."

"Kreacher took him in," Lily explained.

"Well, he could be a valuable source of information," said Tonks thoughtfully. "I'll let Albus know right away."

"Yes, do that," Lily agreed. "In the meantime, Molly and Charlie can tell us what you found out. Is your aunt's house an option for us?"

As Tonks hurried to leave, Charlie called after her, "Wait, I'll come with you. No one should be out alone."

Once the two were gone, Molly clucked her tongue, her hands on her hips. "We really should start dinner before it gets cold again. Everyone, help yourselves!"

For a while, the clatter of cutlery and the scraping of plates dominated the room. After a few minutes, Lily turned to Molly. "So, is your aunt's house habitable?"

Molly sighed. "It's very dusty and needs a good clean. Some of the windows were broken, but Charlie managed to fix them. It has four bedrooms, including the master, so it'll be a bit cramped if we all move there."

"There's more space at Grimmauld Place," Lily said, nodding thoughtfully. "But it's good to have another option if we need it."

Ginny covered her mouth as she yawned widely. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I'm knackered."

"It's been a long day," Harry said, catching her eye with a small smile. "You wanted to tell me something."

"Oh, right," Ginny said, glancing around the table. "But not here. Let's talk tomorrow. I'm too tired now."

"Fair enough," Harry replied with a nod.

Just then, Tonks and Charlie returned. "Finally, food!" Charlie exclaimed as they both sat down and began filling their plates.

"Albus wants to speak with Kreacher and Dobby tomorrow," Tonks said between bites of roast beef. "Lily, Molly, he'd like you both to come as well."

"Tomorrow, I'll need to sort out the vegetables for market day," Molly replied. "Bill, can you go in my place?"

Bill hesitated, then nodded. "I can. But if you're going to keep the greenhouses running, I'll need to renew the wards—and maybe put up stronger ones. Fleur, will you give me a hand?"

"Of course, Guillaume," Fleur replied with a warm smile.

After dinner, everyone helped to clear the table. One by one, they drifted off to bed, the day's exhaustion finally catching up with them. Tomorrow promised to be another busy day, filled with planning and preparations.