The Chaser and the Auror a Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter 13: A Wake Up Call

The next few weeks passed bringing with them harsh winds and frigid temperatures.  Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were up late studying with the increased course load.  Even Harry began to load on the course work requiring a two foot essay on the patronus charm and a second on dementors.  Harry and Ginny's time together became limited as Christmas was on the horizon.  All any of the seventh years thought of was getting a break from the vicious work load.  Even Hermione was beginning to struggle to keep up. 
Finally with only one week left till break the teachers relaxed the work for the seventh years giving them a week to themselves for all their hard work.  This gave Ginny, Ron, and Hermione plenty of time to themselves.  Harry, however, was still teaching sixth years and below and worked well into the evening before calling it a day.  Finally two days before break Harry gave the rest of his classes the last two days off.  Partially because he hadn't really seen his girlfriend in a month aside from class and secondly because he could tell the students weren't paying much attention. As Harry released his last class of the day he wished everyone a Happy Christmas and returned to his office.  He did still have a lot of papers to grade and he wanted to be able to enjoy his holiday rather than spend it grading papers and lesson planning.  However his peace quiet was interrupted by a knock on the door.  Slightly annoyed that he was being interrupted he walked over to the door and yanked it open causing the Ravenclaw third year to jump in surprise.  "Sorry about that Stevens." 
"It's alright Professor, but I do have a message from the headmistress for you.  She has asked you to come to her office for an emergency staff meeting." 
"Thanks Stevens," he replied, sending the boy on his way.  He turned to lock his office before setting off down the corridor using his knowledge of secret passages to arrive quickly outside the gargoyle and muttering the the password under his breath.  He swept up the stairs and knocked twice on the door before entering.
"Good evening headmistress, Kingsley?"  Harry added in surprise.  "I'm sorry to call you here Harry but recent events must be taken seriously and we've just had a threat put on someone you know well.  We figure it's a way to get back at you without actually pursuing you."  Harry stared at Kingsley hoping this to be a joke.  Finally he replied, "who, it's not Ginny is it?"  Both looked at each other then back at Harry before Kingsley answered, "yes, and we think it's best if you notify her personally due to your relationship.  Her family has already been notified and precautions have been taken at the Burrow to ensure her safety.  However, the auror department is counting on yourself, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Weasley to get Ms. Weasley safely to Kings Cross.  We'd rather not start a mass panic right before students go on holiday."  It took Harry a moment to let this information sit in.  "So our job is to protect her at all costs until we meet your Aurors in Kings Cross?"
"Yes I think we should have a code as well just to be safe."  Harry without skipping a beat suggested the muggle candy Mars Bars getting a laugh from a portrait behind him with blue eyes and a long white beard as he left the office in search of Ron and Hermione.

After leaving the office Harry traversed the castle at breakneck speed in search of Ron and Hermione.  He finally found them enjoying an armchair close to the fire in the common room.  After several clears of his throat to gain their attention they jumped apart both of their faces bright red.
"Hey guys," Harry said laughing at their reactions but quickly stopping at the importance of the situation.  He went over and grabbed the couple by hand and dragged them over to the corner.  He quickly filled them in with Hermione gasping and Ron looking absolutely horrified.  "We have to tell Ginny Harry we have to," Ron said standing up.  Harry however put his hand on his shoulder, "I'll do it Ron, you both are welcome to come as you part of her security detail on the ride home which will be moved to tomorrow to attempt to throw anyone off her tail.  All parents have been notified and hopefully it will lead to a slightly safer ride home."
"But..." Ron tried to reply but faltered under his friends' gaze and muttered "alright." 
Harry walked up the stairs to the girls dormitory.  He found Ginny in a deep conversation with two of her fellow seventh years.  He caught several words including his own before he cleared his throat getting their attention causing them to jump in surprise.  After a quick look at Ginny they retreated towards the stairs both looking slightly embarrassed.  "Any chance I could ask what that was about.?"
"Not a chance, but I promise it's nothing bad," she said, sending him a wink confusing him even more.  "Anyway," he said quickly, getting to the point of why he was there.  "I need you to remain calm or at least not flip out like Ron practically did downstairs."  Ginny's attitude changed immediately with the tone of his voice.  "Is everything ok?"
"No, I'm afraid death eaters are still out there.  Except now they're acting in cells.  Currently, as far as we are aware, three of the cells have put you on their hit list for being a blood traitor and and..."
"Dating Harry Potter," she finished for him.  He just nodded in response.  "For now at least I am to accompany you everywhere you go.  I am your protection until we reach Kings Cross Station.  There we, Ron, Hermione and myself, with aurors for the journey to the Burrow.  Kingsley is trying to avoid panic.  He's not denying a problem but he is trying to keep it under wraps so the ministry can take them down before they're in the open again."  Ginny stared at him for a moment before answering.  "So I'm stuck spending extra time with you," she said in mock disgust.  "I'm afraid so," he replied before giving her a small kiss on the cheek,  grabbing her hand, and leading her down the stairs to speak to Ron and Hermione about the protection detail.
The day seemed to go by far too quickly for the group, everyone was extremely nervous for the train ride home.  Ginny was putting on her usual brave face but Harry could tell she was slightly put off.  "Everything ready?" Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione.  They both nodded.  "Kingsley and another auror are at the front of the train in case any situation arises.  But they seem to think it'll happen once we reach the platform." 
"Easier target, harder to duel with lots of students in the way," Ron added.  Harry nodded his understanding.  As the train shuttered and began to head out of Hogsmeade Station.
The journey home was going swimmingly.  Harry managed, for his second time, to beat Ron in wizards chess something Ron was grouchy about until the food cart came.  He seemed to perk up after that.  "Anything from the trolley dears?" the witch asked politely as usual.  Ron, like usual, grabbed three of everything before sitting back down, causing the rest of the group to laugh.  "You never stop eating, do you Rona..." but Hermione never got through her sentence as the car seemed to lurch forward as if hit by something.  The trio quickly grabbed their wands and charged into the corridor where students were screaming and attempting to barricade themselves into their compartments.  Among the chaos three cloaked figures walked into the car each with their wands raised.  Harry immediately threw a shield charm between himself and the students allowing several who were still out in the open to scramble behind them and out of harm's way.  As soon as his shield charm wavered from being up so long they struck, forcing Hermione to reapply the charm.  "On three" he whispered in her ear just loud enough for Ron to hear.  As he shouted three all hell broke loose.  Both Ron and Harry cried out stunning spells while a third voice Harry recognized as Kingsley's shot a curse over his head.  All of which were blocked.  Then it started, all three sent jets of blue and yellow light in the direction causing Ron to jump in front Hermione taking a spell directly to the chest and going down.  Harry and Kingsley both retaliated now shoulder to shoulder protecting Ron and Hermione.  Harry sent a well aimed stinging hex causing the death eater to drop his wand in pain leaving him open to a stunning spell from Kingsley who brought him down. This only seemed to further anger the cloaked figures who sent jets of green light in the direction causing them both to drop to the floor.  "Expelliarmus," Harry roared, nailing the death eater on the right as he fell to the floor.  Kingsley however did not bounce right back up.  Harry quickly raced back to his feet, anger coursing through him that he had only felt twice before.  Harry stepped forward as a curse was sent at his head.  "PROTEGO!" he roared.  Still moving forward.  He held his shield charm in place reflecting curses and hexes alike.  He no longer cared.  All that mattered to him was his friends' safety, Ginny's safety.  How dare anyone try to touch her.  With that power seemed to be building up in hands causing them to tremble slightly.  He looked the death eater directly in the eye causing him to stop for a moment as brown met green.  Then Harry let loose not thinking  about what spell to cast just knowing he had to rid the train of the danger that was the death eaters.  A dark red spell flew from his wand hitting the death eater in the chest causing him to fly backwards into the wall where he moved no more.
Harry took a deep breath before turning and running back towards Kingsley.