Harry glances about. a door opens in a crooked house. two solhouettes appear, dashing forward--Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
"oh thank god!" Mrs Weasley exclaims engulfing me in a tight hug as Ginny embraces Harry. my appearance must have changed back our else Mrs. Weasley would not have recognized me. "what happened? have you seen the others?"
i pull back from Mrs. Weasley "is no one back yet?" i ask
Ginny shakes her head
"they were on us from the star' Molly--the Death Eaters. and You-Know-Who as well." Hagrid says brushing himself off
Mrs. Weasley's face betrays panic, but she fights it back "well, thank goodness you three are alright."
"haven't go' any brandy, have yeh, Molly? for medical purposes?" Hagrid asks
he nods, leading him towards the house. once out of earshot, Ginny and Harry walk over to me.
"Ron and Tonks should have already been back. Dad and Fred as well" Ginny says frightened
suddenly, several yards away, a blue light burns in the darkness. we rush towards it just as Lupin materializes, cradling an unconscious 'Harry', clothes torn, head awash in blood. i watch 'Harry' transform into George, who bears the true damage.
"oh my! George!" i exclaim
"the house! quickly!" Lupin yells
Lupin and Harry drop George onto the sofa, where his head rolls into the lamplight, the blood more shocking here. Molly screams. George's ear is gone.
"my boy! my darling boy! what've they done to you?!" Molly exclaims
i look on miserably, anger and guilt clashing within me. suddenly, Lupin grabs a handful of Harry's shirt and hurls him against the wall
"Remus! what're you doing?!" i yell
"what creature sat in the corner the first time Harry Potter visited my office at Hogwarts?" Lupin yells
"are you mad..?!" Harry yells
"WHAT CREATURE?!" Lupin screams
"a grindylow!" Harry yells
Lupin releases Harry and turns to us "we've been betrayed. Voldemort knew you were being moved tonight. i had to make sure you weren't an imposter."
"who did this to him?" i ask crouching down next to George and running my hand down his cheek. George smiles at me weakly.
"Snape" Lupin turns to Mrs. Weasley "he'll be fine, Molly. but that's Dark Magic. the damage is done."
she simply nods, weeping, dabbing at George's face. a blue glow glimmers against the window, where Hagrid stands.
i run out with Harry and Lupin by my side. Hermione and Kingsley stand, looking shaken
i sprint over to Hermione, almost knocking her down with my hug "I'm so glad you're okay, Mione."
"im glad your okay too, Nessa." she says smiling
i turn around and realize Lupin and Kingsley have their wands pointed at each other
"the last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?" Kingsley asks
"Harry is the best hope we have. trust him." Lupin answers
Kingsley lowers his wand and turns to Harry "what gave you away?"
"Hedwig--i think. she was trying to protect me-" Harry says
just then the yard glows with blue light and one pair after another materialize: Fred and Mr. Weasley, Bill and Fleur, Ron and Tonks. Ron is still 'Harry' but Hermione doesn't hesitate, enveloping him in a fierce hug. as he transforms back into his own battle-weary self, he looks mildly abashed to be in such a close priximity to Hermione.
"deserve that. brilliant, he was. wouldn't be standing here without him." Tonks says walking past the pair
"really?" Hermione questions
"always the tone of surprise?" Ron asks with a smirk
i take this as my chance to engulf both of them in a hug and i feel Harry hug around me as well.
"are we the last? where's George?" Mr. Weasley asks
suddenly..silence. Mr. Weasley eyes all then turns to me "Vanessa. where's my son?"
Mr. Weasley, trailed by everyone else, stops dead. Mrs. Weasley looks up, her face saying it all. Fred comes up on his father's shoulder, eyes stinging with tears as he sees his brother. as if sensing us, George stirs.
"how do you feel, Georgie?" Fred asks crouching down
"saint-like." George says
"come again?" Fred asks
George opens his eyes, lifts a blood-crusted finger, and points to the dark cavity in the side of his skull "saint-like...you see, I'm holy. Holey, Fred, get it?"
"with the whole wide world of ear-related humor at your disposal, you go for Holey, pathetic." Fred chuckles
"reckon I'm still better-looking than you. better-looking than Bill, for sure." George says
Bill doesn't smile "Mad Eye's dead."
the room goes still
"Mundungus took one look at Voldemort and disapparated." Bill says
"Mad Eye reckoned You-Know-Who would expect the real Harry to be with the most skilled Auror. he know he'd be in the most danger." Lupin says
"it doesn't explain how they knew we were moving Harry tonight." i say
the room goes quiet. eyes shift from one person to the other.
"wha'? one of us? tha's mad. i'd wager me life it wasn' none of you lot. an' if it was me i'd kno' wouldn't i? talk in me sleep on occasion, i'll admit, but there's only Fang, aroun' ter' hear an' mostly its gibberish an' besides i'd cut me tongue out 'fore 'd betray 'arry e'en in me dreams-" Hagrid rambles
Hagrid stops, blinking miserably. suddenly, all smile.
"wha's so funny?" Hagrid asks
"i trust you with my life, Hagrid. i trust everyone in this room. understood?" Harry asks
"understood." Lupin says
"'ear 'ear" George yells
"better" Fred nods approvingly
YOU ARE READING
True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)
Fanfictionsequel to Loving You the last installment of the Draco Malfoy Love Story Series the one thing that i will always remember about my father is the story he would tell me every night before bed of a forbidden love between two people. a man and a woman...
