Skull swung his wand, breaking the anti-Apparition charm within ten meters of the Burrow. As soon as one person Disapparated, more began leaving the wedding site through Apparition.
"Tenfold Protection!" Skull cast a spell to reinforce the protective enchantments placed around the Burrow by the Order of the Phoenix. Several other members of the Order quickly followed suit with similar spells.
"Protego Maxima!"
"Protego Maxima!"
Cloaked and masked figures began appearing around the tent, unleashing a barrage of spells against the Burrow's defenses.
"Moody!" Skull called out, spotting the limping Auror. "Activate the Emergency Double Plan. Now!"
Moody slammed his staff against the ground and Disapparated instantly. At the same time, the Burrow's protective barrier finally shattered.
About a dozen Death Eaters surrounded the white tent, casting an Anti-Apparition Charm to trap everyone inside.
"We're only here for Harry Potter!" one of the cloaked figures shouted, amplifying his voice with magic. "No harm will come to anyone else."
"We didn't invite Harry Potter!" Mr. Weasley bellowed. "This is the home of the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office! Crashing a wizard wedding like this, illegally, is appalling, "
"Perfect." A cloaked figure removed his hood and raised a parchment. "This is a new search and arrest warrant signed by the new Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse."
"Richie? When did we get a new Minister?" Diana's cold voice rang out from inside the tent.
Richie froze at the sight of Diana, then quickly put on a sycophantic smile. "Ah, Director Roland, I didn't expect to see you here. Look," he held out the parchment, "it bears the Minister's signature and seal. Surely that's official enough?"
Diana frowned.
"Once the seal's on, it's in effect." Richie lifted his chin and gestured. "Whether Harry Potter is here or not isn't for you to decide, Arthur. Search everyone. Interrogate each guest."
When the Death Eaters reached the fourth floor of the Burrow, none dared to go any further. A nauseating stench wafted from one of the rooms.
"Oh, the fourth floor is where my poor youngest son, Ron Weasley, is staying," Mrs. Weasley sobbed. "He used to be such a sweet, wonderful boy. But unfortunately, he caught Blossom Pox."
All four cloaked Death Eaters shuddered.
"Would any of you brave souls like to go check on him?" Mrs. Weasley added, dabbing her eyes. "The only one who's visited recently is the Healer, "
The four exchanged uneasy glances and promptly retreated downstairs. Blossom Pox was a viciously contagious disease, after all.
The questioning of the remaining guests dragged on for three hours. The only question asked: Had anyone seen Harry Potter?
Halfway through, the interrogations abruptly stopped when news arrived, Harry had been spotted on Privet Drive. More than half the cloaked intruders Disapparated immediately.
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In the night sky, stars glittered above a shabby, grimy square surrounded by towering, crumbling buildings.
With a crack, Harry, Ron, and Hermione Apparated into the center of the square.
All three could see Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the Fidelius Charm had been entrusted to them by Dumbledore. They sprinted toward the house, pausing every few meters to check for pursuers. Up the stone steps they went. Harry tapped the front door with his wand. A loud series of metallic clanks echoed, followed by the clatter of chains, and then the door creaked open. They hurried inside.
Harry shut the door behind them. The old-fashioned gas lamps flickered to life, casting unsteady light along the long hallway. It looked exactly as Harry remembered, eerie, cobwebbed, and dark. Shadows danced across the staircase from the mounted heads of house-elves. The long velvet curtains still concealed the portrait of Sirius' mother. The only thing out of place was the oversized umbrella stand made from a troll leg, it lay toppled on the floor, as if Tonks had bumped into it again.
"Why's this place such a mess?" Ron asked. "Why did Anne tell us to come here?"
"Anne said this might be the only safe place left," Hermione answered, gripping her wand tightly as she stepped forward. "I believe her. But we should still be cautious, Moody did mention there were some 'interesting' enchantments here during the meeting."
They passed the entry hall and climbed the creaky stairs to the second-floor drawing room. Nothing happened.
"What happened to those 'interesting' spells?" Harry asked.
"Maybe they only trigger when Snape shows up?" Ron guessed, glancing around. The room was in disarray, as if it had been ransacked.
"Why's everything a mess?" Ron kicked a piece of broken wood. Dust billowed up, making him cough uncontrollably.
Hermione glared at him while lighting the gas lamps.
Suddenly, Harry let out a cry of pain and clutched his scar.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Hermione rushed to his side, helping him sit.
"What did you see?" Ron asked, covering his nose and joining them. "Was he at my house?"
Hermione's hand trembled, nearly dropping her wand.
"No, I just felt... rage. He's furious."
"But it could mean he's still at the Burrow," Ron said nervously. "What else? Did you see anything? Is he cursing someone?"
Hermione paled.
"No, just anger, I couldn't see anything..."
Ron opened his mouth to press further, but Hermione cut him off.
"Enough, Ron!" she said sharply. "There are plenty of Order members there."
Ron fell silent, but his eyes darted anxiously. That was his home the Death Eaters had invaded.
Hermione stood and lit another gas lamp.
"Oh, Harry," she said, glancing down at her bag. "Do you want something for the pain?"
"No, I'm fine," Harry shook his head.
Just then, Ron gasped and pointed toward the window.
Hermione and Harry spun around with wands raised, only to see a silver Patronus fly through the glass and land in front of them, forming a small silver fox no bigger than a hand. It rolled once, landed on all fours, and then spoke in Anne's voice:
"The Burrow is safe. No casualties. Don't reply. Wait for me."
The Patronus vanished without a trace.
Relief flooded Hermione's face as she collapsed onto the sofa. Ron's reaction was much the same, knowing his family was safe meant everything. Harry exhaled, too, though the throbbing pain in his scar lingered. He couldn't stop thinking about Ginny, especially what she'd said, and done, the night before the wedding. He missed her terribly.
Hermione sat down beside Harry. "How are you feeling now?"
"Better." He lowered his hand. The worst had passed.
Ron checked his watch. "It's still early, only half past eight. You two want to sleep?"
Both shook their heads.
"Then let's play chess." Ron said. "Hermione, didn't Anne ask you to bring the wizard chess set?"
"She did." Hermione opened her bag, tapped it with her wand, and a brand-new box of magical chess floated out. She handed it to Ron.
"Whoa, 'Knight's Brand'?! Do you guys know how much I wanted one of these as a kid? They've got the coolest pieces! Bill got a set in fifth year after he became a prefect." Ron opened the box excitedly. "Anne's loaded. But she's so thoughtful, too. Who would've thought we'd be playing 'Knight's' during all this chaos?"
Hearing that, Hermione remembered how seriously Anne had placed the chess set into her bag. "balance work and rest. You have to relax sometimes, you know?"
"Are you playing?" Ron asked Hermione, dragging over a stool and setting up the pieces.
She shook her head. "No, I haven't finished the book Dumbledore gave me yet."
"Alright." Ron shrugged. "Old rules then, Harry, you and me."
Hermione took out her book and a dictionary of Ancient Runes and sat in a well-lit armchair. As Harry and Ron commanded their chess pieces back and forth, she was struck with a strange sense of familiarity. It felt like being back in the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron playing games while she read nearby.
Ron was right, in a way. Despite the chaos, the murder of the Minister, the rising coup, they were here, safe and quiet.
Thanks, largely, to,
Anne.
Her girlfriend.
Hermione smiled.
Just two hours ago, the two of them had,
She shook her head, scolding herself to focus on her book.
But after barely scanning three words, her thoughts drifted again. Anne's Patronus is a fox? She'd have to ask her about that later, when did she learn how to cast one?
Hermione sighed. Looks like I won't sleep tonight either.
For someone so lazy and indulgent, Anne could go a whole day and night without rest when it mattered.
Hermione's smile faded.
She hadn't told any Order members about her plan. She must've done it for Jill, for the Muggles she saved.
Hermione had imagined many scenarios when she hugged Anne that day. But she hadn't expected her to break down crying.
Anne definitely held a lot of secrets. But she'd promised, if Hermione wanted, she'd tell her every one of them. That little toy in the box...
Hermione had done some digging. Anne grew up in an orphanage. Who would've made a toy like that for her as a child?
Anne as a child...
Hermione still remembered the first time she saw her. Anne was short, even shorter than herself. She couldn't have been eleven. Holding a massive copy of A Modern History of Magic at Flourish and Blotts, smiling.
Hermione had been so curious, What could be so funny in that book? Was this girl a witch?
She'd worked up the courage to approach her, smiling but nervous.
After getting the book, she didn't even dare look her in the eye, those amber eyes. Bright and clear.
She hadn't read a single word of the book. When she looked up again, the girl was gone. It was her first trip to Diagon Alley, the first shop she entered, the first person she greeted, yet she hadn't even caught her name.
Hermione smiled at the memory.
She thought of that train ride on the Hogwarts Express. Anne had been curled in the corner of the compartment. Hermione had walked in and introduced herself. Thinking back now, that introduction was so awkward.
"The bad ones are the ones who do bad things..."
Anne's words, her serious little face, Hermione remembered it all.
Once the memories started flowing, Hermione couldn't stop. The book in her hands remained unread.
Until Ron's voice pulled her back.
"Hermione?"
"Mm?" She looked up calmly. "What is it?"
"Could you grab us some food?" Ron rubbed his stomach. "Didn't really eat tonight. Neither did Harry."
On the chessboard, the pieces were shouting at each other.
"Oh, right." Hermione rummaged through her bag. She pulled out two bottles of orange juice, a bottle of water, some biscuits, dried fruit, and chocolate...
Ron let out a cheer and piled the food on the floor. Harry opened a box of chocolate balls.
"If we had a telly right now, this would feel just like Privet Drive," Harry said.
"A telly? What's that?" Ron asked, popping a chocolate ball into his mouth. "Muggle snacks aren't half bad..."
Hermione pulled out a box of opened candies Anne had given them to her. She unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth.
Cool. Sweet.
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