Harry Potter: The Last Exodus

Ron and Hermione's Revelation

The Burrow was as lively as ever, filled with the smell of Molly's cooking and the usual warm, homely chaos. But as Ron lounged on the couch, absentmindedly flipping through an old Quidditch magazine, the conversation from earlier meetings kept gnawing at the back of his mind. He wasn't the only one feeling restless. Hermione, sitting by the window with a thick book on her lap, couldn't shake her growing unease either.

They had heard Harry's warnings about magic fading, and though the message had spread like wildfire, both Ron and Hermione were skeptical. They'd grown up surrounded by magic—it didn't just "disappear" like that. Surely, this was just another one of Harry's well-meaning but overly dramatic ideas.

"I mean, it's just Harry being Harry, right?" Ron muttered, tossing his magazine aside. "Magic fading away... no way."

Hermione bit her lip, staring out the window. "I don't know, Ron. Everyone seems to be taking this seriously, except us. But it just sounds... impossible."

Molly bustled in from the kitchen, interrupting their thoughts. "Hermione, dear, weren't you saying you needed a few more books for your studies?" Molly asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

Hermione blinked, then nodded. "Yes, I've been meaning to stop by Flourish and Blotts to restock. I could also use some potion ingredients."

Molly smiled. "Why don't you and Ron head down to Diagon Alley? It's always good to get a break from the house."

Ron shrugged. "Might as well. Maybe we'll see someone who hasn't gone completely mental about all this 'magic fading' nonsense."

A Ghostly Diagon Alley

The familiar crack of apparition brought them to the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, but as soon as Ron and Hermione landed, something felt off. The bustling energy of the wizarding shopping district had vanished. They walked down the streets, and what they saw unsettled them both. Shops that were usually buzzing with activity stood dark and silent. Doors were shut, windows were boarded up, and the streets were eerily empty.

Hermione glanced around, her brow furrowing. "Where is everyone?"

Ron felt a knot of discomfort tighten in his stomach. "This is weird. Maybe... maybe it's just a slow day?"

But the further they walked, the clearer it became that this wasn't just a quiet day. Even the Leaky Cauldron, normally filled with the hum of conversation, was dark and silent. It was like Diagon Alley had become a ghost town overnight.

They walked past closed shops and deserted stalls until, finally, they spotted a lone figure—a hunched wizard making his way down the street.

"Hey!" Ron called out, hurrying over to the man. "Where is everyone? Why's the Alley so empty?"

The wizard, looking tired and worn, glanced at them with a faint look of surprise. "Haven't you heard?" he asked. "Everyone's at Stonehenge for the Big Move. Potter's leading the lot of them to that new world he's been going on about."

Both Ron and Hermione were stunned into silence.

"Wait," Hermione said slowly, trying to make sense of what she'd just heard. "Everyone's at Stonehenge? They actually listened to Harry?"

The wizard shrugged. "All of them. Nearly every witch and wizard in the country's headed that way. If you ask me, it's a load of nonsense, but... well, you can't say no to Potter, can you?" With that, the wizard continued down the street, leaving Ron and Hermione staring after him.

Returning to the Burrow

When they returned to the Burrow, the atmosphere had shifted. Molly was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she prepared lunch, completely unaware of the empty streets of Diagon Alley and the world outside. Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance before Hermione spoke.

"Molly, something strange is happening," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "We just came from Diagon Alley, and it's completely deserted. Every shop is closed, and no one's there. We spoke to someone who said everyone's gone to Stonehenge for... for the Big Move."

Molly stopped in her tracks, turning to them with wide eyes. "Stonehenge? For that business Harry's been on about?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah, and apparently, it's not just a few people. Everyone's gone."

Molly's face paled. "But... that's impossible. Arthur didn't mention anything. Neither did the rest of the family." Her voice was growing more frantic as she grabbed a nearby enchanted mirror, calling for Arthur.

There was no response.

"Arthur?" Molly called again, her voice trembling. Still, nothing. A growing sense of panic spread across her face. "Why isn't he answering?"

Molly then called her other children—Bill, Charlie, Percy, and even the twins—but one by one, the mirrors remained silent. Finally, she tried Ginny. To her relief, Ginny's face appeared in the mirror, looking confused.

"Mum? What's going on?"

"Ginny!" Molly cried, her voice shaking. "Are you at Stonehenge? Is everyone really going there for this... this move?"

Ginny blinked in surprise. "Yeah, Mum. Harry's been preparing for weeks. Everyone's going. I just stayed behind to pack my last few things. Why? You're not coming?"

Molly felt her heart skip a beat. "Ginny, come home immediately and start packing. We're going to Stonehenge too."

As soon as Ginny agreed to come home, Molly turned to Ron and Hermione, her voice now firm and decisive. "We're not going to sit here and wait for the world to pass us by. If everyone's going, we're going too."

Ron, still processing everything, watched as Molly rushed up to the attic, her steps quick and determined. A moment later, she emerged with five very old, dust-covered trunks in tow.

"Start packing," Molly instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We're taking everything. Hermione, pack your things too. We're not being left behind."

Hermione nodded, heading upstairs to gather her belongings while Ron and Molly worked to pack up the rest of the Burrow. There was a flurry of activity—old family heirlooms, photographs, magical artifacts—everything that made the Burrow home was carefully packed into the trunks.

When Ginny arrived, they all shrank their trunks, slipping them into their pockets. It was a surreal moment for Ron. An hour ago, he hadn't believed any of this was real, and now they were about to leave for Stonehenge.

"Are we really doing this?" Ron asked quietly, glancing at Hermione, who was fastening the last of her bags.

She nodded, her expression uncertain but resolute. "If everyone's going... we can't stay behind."

Arrival at Stonehenge

The Weasley family, along with Hermione, apparated to Stonehenge just as dusk began to fall. The sight that greeted them took their breath away. Practically every magical being in the world was gathered there—wizards, witches, and magical creatures of all kinds, surrounding the ancient stones. The air thrummed with anticipation, and there was a strange, electric energy in the air.

As they stood there, staring at the sheer number of people and creatures gathered, Ron shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it... they all actually listened to Harry."

Hermione, equally stunned, was at a loss for words. Even Molly, who had been frantic minutes earlier, stood in awe of the sight.

Not wanting to draw attention to themselves, they quickly blended into a group of wizards nearby, standing among the crowd as they waited for the ritual to begin. The stone circle of Stonehenge stood tall and imposing in the center of the crowd, humming with ancient magic.

And then, it began. The air crackled with magic as Harry stepped into the center of the stone circle, his wand raised.

The ritual had started.

Cliffhanger.