Healed & Broken (HP) {Book 4 of the Wild & Free Series}

2. Arriving at the Burrow

Lucy, Dumbledore and I approached the back door of the Burrow, which was surrounded by the familiar litter of old Wellington boots and rusty cauldrons; I could hear the soft clucking of sleepy chickens coming from a distant shed. Dumbledore knocked three times and I saw sudden movement behind the kitchen window.

"Who's there?" said a nervous voice I recognised as Mrs. Weasley's. "Declare yourself!"

"It is I, Dumbledore, bringing Liana and Lucy."

The door opened at once. There stood Mrs. Weasley, short, plump, and wearing an old green dressing gown.

"Liana, Lucy, dears! Gracious, Albus, you gave me a fright, you said not to expect you before morning!"

"Something urgent caused me to pick them up earlier," Dumbledore said serenely and I realised Mrs. Weasley didn't know yet what had happened at the orphanage.

I looked around and saw that Mrs. Weasley was not alone, despite the lateness of the hour. A young witch with a pale, heart-shaped face and mousy brown hair was sitting at the table clutching a large mug between her hands.

"Hello, Professor," she said. "Wotcher, Lucy and Liana."

"Hi, Tonks."

I thought she looked drawn, even ill, and there was something forced in her smile. Certainly her appearance was less colourful than usual without her customary shade of bubble-gum-pink hair.

"I'd better be off," she said quickly, standing up and pulling her cloak around her shoulders. "Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Molly."

"Please don't leave on my account," said Dumbledore courteously, "I cannot stay, I have urgent matters to discuss with Rufus Scrimgeour."

"No, no, I need to get going," said Tonks, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes. " 'Night —"

"Dear, why not come to dinner at the weekend, Remus and Mad-Eye are coming — ?"

"No, really, Molly... thanks anyway... Good night, everyone."

Tonks hurried past Dumbledore, Lucy and me into the yard; a few paces beyond the doorstep, she turned on the spot and vanished into thin air. I noticed that Mrs. Weasley looked troubled.

"Something happened at the orphanage, Molly," Dumbledore said. "The orphanage, unfortunately, was destroyed by Death Eaters."

Mrs. Weasley's hand shot to her mouth.

"How could that happen?" she gasped. "I thought you protected it, Albus."

"I don't know how they knew how to break the spells," Dumbledore said and for the first time, he sounded a little worried. "All we know is, that the Death Eaters thought Liana was still in the orphanage and destroyed it. Luckily, Liana and Lucy were outside, but the other children in the orphanage were less lucky..."

Mrs. Weasly gasped again and shook her head sadly.

"Well, I shall see you at Hogwarts, Lucy and Liana," said Dumbledore. "Take care of yourselves. Molly, your servant."

He made Mrs. Weasley a bow and followed Tonks, vanishing at precisely the same spot.

Mrs. Weasley closed the door on the empty yard and then steered me by the shoulders into the full glow of the lantern on the table to examine my appearance.

"Are you all right, both of you?" she asked, also turning to Lucy.

"We will be," I said, smiling weakly.

"Good. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah, we are," I said, suddenly realising just how hungry I was, despite having eaten dinner already.