Written In The Stars IV -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Nine: Calm before the Storm.

Mel woke up slightly sad about leaving; despite their scary moment during the Quidditch Final, that summer had been her favourite. The Weasleys were wonderful and she always felt quite at home at the Burrow, but it was time to leave.

As she made her way down the stairs she heard urgent voices coming from the kitchen.

"— it's a real stroke of luck I heard about it, I had to come into the office early to send a couple of owls, and I found the Improper Use of Magic lot all setting off — if Rita Skeeter gets hold of this one, Arthur —"

"What's going on?" She asked groggily.

"An emergency back at Dad's work..." George yawned.

"What does Mad-Eye say happened?" asked Mr. Weasley.

"Says he heard an intruder in his yard. Says he was creeping toward the house, but was ambushed by his dustbins."

"Is Mr. Diggory's head in the fireplace or am I still dreaming?" She mumbled.

"Shhh!" The boys said at the same time.

"What did the dustbins do?"

"Made one hell of a noise and fired rubbish everywhere, as far as I can tell. Apparently one of them was still rocketing around when the please-men turned up —"

"And what about the intruder?"

"Arthur, you know Mad-Eye. Someone creeping into his yard in the dead of night? More likely there's a very shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, covered in potato peelings. But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye, he's had it — think of his record — we've got to get him off on a minor charge, something in your department — what are exploding dustbins worth?"

"Might be a caution," said Mr. Weasley, still writing very fast, his brow furrowed. "Mad-Eye didn't use his wand? He didn't actually attack anyone?"

"I'll bet he leapt out of bed and started jinxing everything he could reach through the window, but they'll have a job proving it, there aren't any casualties."

"All right, I'm off..."

"Sorry about this, Molly," Mr. Diggory said, "bothering you so early and everything... but Arthur's the only one who can get Mad-Eye off, and Mad-Eye's supposed to be starting his new job today. Why he had to choose last night..."

"Never mind, Amos. Sure you won't have a bit of toast or anything before you go?"

Mel walked past the boys and sat next to Harry, then Bill walked in.

"Did someone say Mad-Eye? What's he been up to now?

"He says someone tried to break into his house last night."

"Mad-Eye Moody? Isn't he that nutter —"

"Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye Moody," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Yeah, well, Dad collects plugs, doesn't he?" Fred mumbled. "Birds of a feather..."

"I'm not a fan of calling people nutters," Mel frowned. "Can you at least explain why do you think he's not right in the head?"

"Moody was a great wizard in his time," said Bill.

"He's an old friend of Dumbledore's, isn't he?" said Charlie.

"Dumbledore's not what you'd call normal, though, is he?" said Fred. "I mean, I know he's a genius and everything..."

"You're on thin ice, Frederick," She warned him with a pointed look.