"That should be it," Andromeda said, putting her wand away. She kissed her daughter on the head, turning to face Molly. "He'll need to rest it and have the spell recast every six hours, but his arm is put back together."
"Andromeda," Molly cried, wrapping the women in a big hug. "Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you for saving my son?"
"I am a mother myself, Molly." Andromeda smiled. "I understand what it's like. Just take care of him for the next few days, and that will be repayment enough."
Harry, Neville, and Hermione sat beside the blushing Ron, checking over him themselves.
"I'm fine, promise!" The redhead said. "You're stressing about nothing."
"Right, and I'm a goose," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, we're just worried about you. You'd do the exact same if it was one of us."
Ron didn't have a good response to that, so he just sat there, blushing. Harry patted his friend's shoulder before moving to give Tonks a hug.
"Harry! Good to see you!" The woman said, hair flashing between pink and green as she turned, clutching her stomach.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Yeah, just morning sickness."
"It's the afternoon though?"
"Harry…" Neville shook his head, smiling at Tonks. "Congratulations! Yours and Remus'?"
"Yep! Where is the man?" Tonks asked, looking up at her father. "I haven't seen him since we went separate ways at the house."
"Still can't believe he'd do that."
"I'm the one who suggested it, Edward," Andromeda said, giving her husband a look. "Though I have no issue with him being a werewolf, precautions still need to be taken, especially with-"
A loud crash interrupted her, Remus running through the door like a madman.
"Remus!" Tonks called out, standing up.
"No time! Death Eaters!"
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon when the first Death Eaters arrived at The Burrow. They had followed Remus, the new werewolf pack following his scent. The man was crushed, rushing out to fight regardless. Molly ushered Ron deeper into the house, passing Bill as he ran out to help. Neville and Harry were thrown back there as well, not being able to fight with wands.
"This is bullshit," Ron cursed, pacing the room. "What are we supposed to do trapped in here?"
A few minutes passed, the fighting growing louder. It was like they were trying to enter the house. And maybe they were. The sound of shouting and the clang of metal echoed outside, then a loud thud.
"We have to help," Neville said, peering out the window. Harry nodded, picking up a small trophy and chucking it out the window. The panes shattered enough, letting Ron use a little magic to vanish the glass. They climbed out carefully, running and avoiding spells as they headed to the front of the house.
They heard a pop, Neville and Harry turning around, ready to fight. However, it wasn't Death Eaters, but Fred and George.
"Perfect timing, Gred."
"I agree, Forge. Let's kick some arse!"
The three teens paid them no mind, instead rushing into the house, where three Death Eaters stood, fighting Molly, Bill, and Fleur. Neville grabbed some dirt from outside, growing a vine from it thick enough to grab the closest one by the throat. Harry jumped on the back of another, holding her still long enough for Fleur to hit him with a curse. Ron was casting with his left hand, and although he wasn't used to it, it was effective.
"What are you doing- well, thank you all, but what are you doing out here?" Molly demanded.
"We can help. Bill, we need to put up wards."
"I agree, but…"
"Don't worry, we've got you covered," Neville said, Harry, nodding along. "Between my plants and Harry's illusions, we won't be an easy target."
"I will go with them," Fleur said, tying her hair up. "I can cast."
The three ran out of the house before Molly could say anything. Bill and Ron nodded at each other, moving to other sides of the house.
"Protection runes, obviously,"
"And a few to obscure."
"Anti-apparition, in and out."
"And portkey, just to be safe."
"Good idea, should we cancel the floo?"
The two worked in tandem with each other, knives carving into various materials as they discussed ideas. After a few minutes, they were mostly done, but Bill had to stop Ron.
"What's this?" He asked, pointing at a collection of runes.
"Somebody's hell, I just need help with it from Harry. It's a rune sequence we worked on together once, and it's a great time to try it out.
"What does it do?" Bill asked. He knew two of the runes, but the others were lost to him.
"Illusion, trap, mind, and…"
"Eternity…" Bill finished. Ron nodded.
The door slammed open, Arthur Weasly rushing in an injured George, Fred not far behind. Molly shrieked, rushing over to her son. All of the family fighting outside came back in.
"No one's left, they've taken their injured and left," Neville said, wiping his bloody cheek.
"We managed to see the face of one, but it was just Lucius Malfoy."
"Of bloody course it was."
"NO FRED DO NOT CUT OFF YOUR EAR!"
"DIFFINDO!"
It was quiet uptown. No one said anything for a few moments, before an enraged Andromeda jumped to action, cursing as she wrapped his head in the same stuff she had just wrapped George's head in.
Neville, Ron, and Harry just stared at each other. They were going to ignore this.
"Harry, will you come help me? It's about that sequence."
"Sure, do you think it'll work?"
"Guess we won't know unless it's brought down," Ron said, pulling out his knife again. He pricked the tip of his thumb, as well as Harry's, and the two rubbed their blood on the rune sequence.
"What the hell!" Bill said. "That's dangerous!"
"It can be," Ron said. "That's why I added the Rune for detachment in that other sequence we did. Nothing will come back to us."
"When did you do that?"
"When your back was turned, I wanted it to be a surprise." Ron rubbed his head with his functional arm. "So, uh, surprise! I'm great with runes!"
"A genius, really." Harry nodded. "Hey, since everything has calmed down now, can I go clean up? I have Death Eater blood on me."
"Probably a good idea." Ron noted before turning back to Bill. Harry headed into the back of the house, running into Neville on his way out of the bathroom.
"Hey, Harry." Neville said, grabbing his elbow. "Are you actually thinking of doing it?"
"Doing wha- oh, yes. I am. Do you have the box?" Neville nodded.
"You know you have to get their middle names for that, right? It can't be a secret if you need to ask them about it."
"I'll find a way. I always do."
Harry headed to the bathroom, wiping the blood off his face and hands. He hadn't been crazy. He had seen Neville's face for a second time, in the midst of battle. It was like Neville became a whole new person. He'd need to speak to him about it, but that could come later. Harry was no saint himself.
A hand landed on his shoulder, and Harry instantly became defensive, poking his wand into the stomach of the person behind him.
"Harrison."
Harry could have screamed.
"Severus! Oh- how are you-"
"Shh," the man hissed. "No one can know I am here. It's just- are you alright?"
"Yes, of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"The Dark Lord had been following you for a while now, and all I heard was a male lost his ear." He raised both hands up, cupping Harry's head. "It seems my worries were for nought."
Harry leaned in, wrapping Severus in a tight hug. He paused, but eventually gave in, hugging the teenager who was almost his exact height.
"You've grown, Harrison."
"When is this going to be over?"
"Soon, my son. Soon."
When Harry arrived back in the living room, he had the feeling that everything was going to be okay.
"Lucius, I am disappointed." Voldemort hissed, rising from his chair. Lucius paled, sinking deeper into his grovelling form, body shaking.
"I'm sorry, My Lord! It won't happen again! We were just under prepared, and they had two warders in the family!"
"Two, you say?" he questioned.
"Yes, my lord! The eldest son, and the youngest. We knew of the first, but we hadn't expected the youngest male to be so powerful."
"What a shame his family is as dirty as they are," Voldemort mused. "A proficient warder at, say, seventeen? Ah, or maybe you are just weak."
"My Lord!" Lucius did not cry out, but it was close.
"Not only was your son humiliated by a student supposedly less than him, but you as well? Perhaps the Malfoy family's strength stopped at Abraxas. A shame really, but who needs extravagant weaklings in the midst of a war?"
"My Lord, please! Allow me the chance to make it up to you!"
"Hm," Was all Voldemort answered him with. "Severus, step forward."
"My Lord," Severus did so, face perfectly neutral.
"You will be the one who delivers the punishment to Lucius, your… dearest friend." Voldemort turned, looking at the rest of his followers. "As it was Severus' spawn that harmed Lucius', it's only fitting that it is the same way with them!"
A round of murmurs filled the hall, but at a stray Crucio from Voldemort, it returned to silence. Lucius and Severus stared at each other, one unnaturally still, the other scared for his life. Lucius knew what had happened to his son, but by the look in Severus' eyes, he hadn't.
"What did that brat do, My Lord?" Severus bravely asked. When Severus had seen Harry, he had been covered in blood, sure, but that was Greybacks. Had he harmed Draco as well?
"That brat…yes, a fitting name!" He let out a hissing laugh. "Like the muggle-lover he is, he attacked Young Draco with a tenacity that would put me to shame. He wasn't letting up. He would have killed the boy, had Draco not used his brain for once."
"My Lord?"
"Be grateful that I have a use for you, Lucius. It is not wise to push me, lest you end up like that mutt."
Lucius paled, slapping his forehead to the ground.
"Yes, My Lord!"
"Stand." Voldemort commanded. Lucius followed, legs shaky. "Severus, I would like you to attack him in the same way as Potter did."
"As you say, My Lord." Severus pushed a thought to the front of his mind, apologising. Lucius stood still, barely gasping as long fingers found their way around his neck.
"Good, Severus. Now, squeeze."
Severus followed the will of a madman.
"My followers, my most loyal and the traitorous rats that slip between, this is what happens when you displease your Lord!" Voldemort spoke to the rest of the room, not paying any mind to the choking sounds beside him. Lucius is being humiliated due to his actions against me. Failure is direct opposition!"
"Severus," Lucuius clawed at Severus' hands, but the man wasn't letting up.
"Young Draco himself experienced the same fit of anger out of Potter. I have learned, dear followers, that Potter is not above killing those he hates! An interesting turn, but no matter. I am sure you all are more than capable enough to take on a mere seventeen year old boy."
A chorus of "Yes, My Lord!"'s rang out. Voldemort sat back down, not even looking at the two men. Severus' heart was beating in his chest, thumping against his ribcage. He didn't want to do this, least of all to Lucius, no matter what he felt for the man. It's different, with magic, than it is trying to kill someone with your own two hands.
Harrison had done this? To another boy? All on his own.
"Severus, release." He did so, dropping a gasping Lucius Malfoy to the ground. His whole body felt clammy, his hands shook. Lucius peered up at him, scratching his throat, gasping for air. Severus looked up, his eyes meeting Narcissa's. He didn't need to read her mind to know what she was thinking, though he did anyway. The words hurt.
He deserved them. With a deep breath, Severus forced his blood to calm, for his face to remain passive. It was hard, with a coughing Lucius three feet away from him.
"Evan Rosier, you are to go back to the Weasley house and break down their wards secretly. I do not care for any but Harry Potter and the Youngest Weasley boy. The rest can be dealt with after."
Severus truly hoped the wards would be strong enough to keep Rosier out. He didn't want to doubt his son, though. Harrison would take the needed precautions.