The Safe Wizards

33: The End of the Burrow

Charlie sat in a corner of the living room, watching his family discuss in small groups. Since his arrival the day before, he had been trying his best to hide his pain, but he couldn't quite do it. His heart was hurting so much that at times he wished he was dead. He didn't know if it would be easier once he would have lost his memory and Harry destroyed their bond. All he knew was that he didn't want to live anymore, not even the idea of going to his dragons motivated him.

Every time he had been asked, he had said that he had a heartache, but that he didn't want to talk about it. George had looked at him as if he knew something, and in that moment Charlie had wondered if what he was feeling was similar to what his brother was going through since the loss of his twin. If it was, he wouldn't have the courage to endure it as long as he did. He had only been living with this pain for twenty-four hours and was already beginning to imagine ending his life. His father seemed to want to help him but didn't know how and the others had preferred to leave him in his corner or discuss trivia. Only Hermione had guessed at the root of the problem and was really sorry for him. She had offered to tell her, that his secret was safe with her, but he didn't want to talk about it, anyway in a few hours he would have forgotten. He knew that Harry would wait until he had lost his memories to break their bond. Charlie preferred that, he was already suffering enough. Hermione had offered to do it the next day when he could stay quiet for a few hours afterwards. He had accepted, trusting the young woman who he knew was brilliant. In fact, she had planned to do the spell to herself afterwards. She did not know much, but she did not want to take any risk.

The Christmas evening was well advanced, the presents were in the stockings or at the foot of the tree, they had already finished the turkey and were enjoying a digestive when an owl tapped at the window. Molly opened it, grabbed the paper and lost her colors as she read, she staggered. Her childrens and husband were at her side immediately, guiding her to sit in a chair. She handed the letter to Arthur who read it aloud. The letter began by addressing everyone in the room, causing them to shudder.

"The Minister of Magic summons you to the Ministry's courtroom this very day at 10 p.m. sharp. You will be questioned about the disappearances of Harry Potter, Teddy Lupin, Andromeda Tonks, Bill Weasley, Fleur Weasley and Victoire Weasley.

Your absence will be understood as an act of treason punishable by arrest and confiscation of your wand.

Sincerely."

Charlie and Hermione exchanged a look, both realizing that they couldn't wait to delete their memories, except that the appointment was in less than five minutes. They didn't have time. The dragon rider began to worry, he had promised Harry that he would forget all about him so he could keep him safe and felt that he might not be able to keep that promise.

"Charlie, you have to leave," Molly said in a closed tone, anger grating in her eyes.

The dragon rider looked at her forbiddingly.

"You know where Bill is, you've been to his house several times. I won't let them park him like an animal, or touch Fleur or my little girl..."

The mother's fury reminded everyone of the witch who had killed Bellatrix to save her only daughter, but Charlie didn't have time to do what her mother asked. The aparating alarm sounded. Everyone grabbed their wands. Arthur opened the door as soon as knocks sounded.

"You must all flee," Draco Malfoy told them in a panic as he entered the house. "If you go to the ministry you will all be arrested, if you are not there by exactly 10pm they will blow up your house."

The blond had spoken at full speed, hardly breathing. No one questioned his words, but they had no time to react. They heard the sound of the explosion before they felt the blast, and then the house fell on them. Charlie had the reflex to cast a shield spell, he heard others doing the same, but the spell did not have time to open completely. He screamed in pain as he felt something pierce his leg, but struggled to keep himself from passing out and keep his shield open as much as possible. The weight built up on his shield so much that he had to grab his wand with both hands to hold the spell. The magic he had to send into his wand to keep the spell in place was draining him slowly but surely. He heard more screams of pain amidst the hubbub of his house collapsing on them. Everything was blurred, a world of dust surrounded him, he could see nothing. He closed his eyes and prayed for his family to get out of there, trying not to collapse under the weight of the debris falling on his shield.

In a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity, it was all over. Nothing was moving anymore, there was only pain and sorrow. Charlie opened his eyes and looked around. He saw that he had fallen to his knees and that a wooden stake was sticking through his calf. He winced, not only was it painful, but it immobilized him completely. He looked at his shield, but found that he couldn't fold it without risking them all being buried by the rubble, he couldn't even let go a hand without releasing the spell. He felt empty, tired from the energy he was sending to his wand and his blood loss. However, the adrenaline pulsing through his veins kept him from fainting.

He then looked around for his family members, wincing under the weight he had to carry. Horror and distress gripped him as he looked to his left. Ginny lay on the floor, pierced by a beam, her eyes open, empty of life, blood pouring from her wound and mouth. Tears rolled down the dragon rider's cheeks, but he didn't dwell on his little sister, he couldn't help her anymore and the sight made him sick. He spotted George a little further away. He was obviously injured, at least in the shoulder, but alive. He too looked at Ginny before moving his eyes back up to Charlie.

"Molly! Molly!" came Arthur's panicked voice.

Charlie prayed for his mother to answer, but all he heard was his father's sobs. He turned his eyes to his father, but between the debris and dust he could not see him. He could make out Draco's silhouette, however, as he tried to dislodge some of the debris; Percy was doing the same in front of him. Strange voices were heard in the distance, outside of this nightmare, but Charlie knew it wasn't help coming.

"George, can you move?" he asked his brother with urgency in his voice.

The inventor struggled to get closer to him, dragging a visibly broken leg beneath him.

"Get the keychains from my pocket, the Eiffel Tower. Panda." said the dragon rider, breathless. "Take all the ones that survived."

George looked at the shield that still held above them before turning his gaze back to his elder.

"What about you?"

"If I let go, we all die," the dragonrider said in a tone that would accept no answer as he turned his eyes back to their sister.

George nodded, showing his disagreement though, but they had no time to argue. He grabbed the said key ring and moved to their right. Percy was finishing pulling Ron out of the beams that had buried him, he was injured but alive. The younger man struggled to his feet and turned to his girlfriend. Hermione had been freed by Draco, she was unconscious, bleeding, but still breathing.

"Dad!" George shouted. "Come on! We have to leave."

The man looked around and realized.

"Charlie?"

"Go away Dad, I can't come. Hurry, they're coming."

Arthur wanted to protest, but Draco grabbed his hand and then touched the portkey. Ron and Percy did the same with Hermione. George spoke the activation word, his face ravaged by tears. Charlie watched them disappear, the voices getting closer. He had no choice but to pray that he could keep his secrets, so he deactivated his shield. The remains of the house shook and crashed into him. The pain was immense as the rubble hit him heavily. He welcomed the blackness that engulfed him with relief, hoping not to wake up again.