A Young Wizard's Journey - Rising Phoenix

Chores

The shock of losing Mad-Eye hung over the house in the days that followed.

Y/N and Hermione doubled down, researching everything they could on Horcruxes, how to destroy them, how to identify them, how to possibly even access them if necessary. Though it was hard to find out more than they knew already.

Y/N also took Bill aside once he and Remus had returned from searching for Mad-Eye.

They had unfortunately been unsuccessful in recovering his body, but Y/N had a request to make anyway.

'Hey Bill, can I have a word?' he asked after dinner the night after they'd all arrived back.

Bill nodded and followed Y/N away, the two of them ignoring Mrs Weasley and Fleur's questioning gazes. Hermione kept her eyes locked on her plate. This had been her idea, and she felt awful about it.

'Before you ask me whatever you're about to ask me,' said Bill, the moment they were out of earshot, 'How are you?'

'Coping,' said Y/N. 'About as well as everyone else is. But to lose another so soon...'

'I know,' said Bill. 'I heard stories about last time but actually sitting here and living it. It's something else...'

The two stood in silence for a few moments.

'Anyway, what do you need?' asked Bill, seemingly trying to compose himself.

'I'm... I'm sorry to have to ask this but... I need Mad-Eye's Polyjuice potion supply.'

Bill raised an eyebrow at him.

'And if I ask why, are you going to hit me with the same thing you told mum?'

'Yes. It's private business for Dumbledore, I'm sorry Bill.'

Bill sighed.

'Look, I can't promise anything, but I don't see why anyone else would want it. I'll see what I can do.'

It didn't take long for Bill to come through on this promise, however. Later that day, Y/N was out in the garden, positioning chairs and tables for use at the wedding in easy-to-move positions for the day when Bill came walking up behind him and pressed a pouch into his hand.

'It's enlarged on the inside. There's the equivalent of about thirty six hours worth in there.'

'You're the best Bill, thank you.'

'Don't thank me. Dad spotted me taking it and asked who it was for.' Bill put on his best impression of his father. 'The boy will need it more than we will. If it'll help him, Harry, and the others then take it. But please don't let Molly see.'

And so, Y/N added the Polyjuice potion to the collection of books, clothes, and items they'd need for their trip, all of which Hermione was keeping in her Crookshanks bag. However, before Hermione put it all away, she separated some of the potion and passed it back to Y/N.

'Should be about 8 hours worth in there. In case you desperately need it. Please.'

Y/N did not argue. Better to have and not need.

Hermione had already packed away most of his belongings within her handbag. Some of his jewellery, his quidditch robes, the loose gifts from friends and family over the years like his books from his mum and Hagrid or Neville's rememberall and his journals, leaving him only with the things he used daily. His holster, the gyroscope necklace and Ginny's bracelet.

Following this, Y/N focused all of his attention on ensuring the Burrow was ready for the incoming double stack of events.

Admittedly, Harry's birthday happened to be an extension of what they were already planning for the wedding, but this was entirely at Harry's request. He too had gotten swept up in the wedding preparations and was not prepared to force extra effort to be taken for him.