Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Eight

At almost two, Harry and Remus were playing a game of chess in the drawing room. Dobby had arrived and was down in the kitchen checking out the pantry. The flames in the fireplace roared green and Ron stumbled out with his bags, coughing apparently from the ashes swirling around him. Harry went over to thump him on the back.

"I hope its"-cough-"okay that"-cough- Ron tried to speak as the flames roared again and Ginny strode out of the fireplace.

"Ginny!" Harry said as she walked to him and gave him a hug.

"I hope it's all right that I came with Ron," she said smiling at Harry and dusting the soot off.

"Of course…good to see you." Harry smiled back.

"How are you, Harry?" She asked softly.

"Better," He replied, feeling the urge to sigh because he really just wanted to have a fun time this afternoon-not rehash everything about Sirius.

Ginny noticed her surroundings for the first time. "Hi, Remus! Wow…look at this place! It's even better than Ron described. I never thought it could look like this when we were working on it. Remember all the Doxies and the nasty stuff in the cabinets? Who did this?"

"Dumbledore." Harry smiled slightly. "He surprised me with it."

Just then, a thud sounded and they turned to see Hermione drop her bags and the Portkey and use the wall to steady herself. "Only one year and two more months `til I can Apparate," she said through her teeth. Then she noticed the others in the room.

"Ginny!" She said hurrying over to give a hug. "How are you?"

"Fine," Ginny smiled. "Good to see you Hermione. I hope it's okay that I've invited myself to join you this afternoon?"

"It'll be nice to have some female company for a change. It's been quite a hardship…" Hermione grinned around at the men in the room.

"Aw, you loved it and you know it," Ron retaliated with a smirk.

Harry smiled but wondered if Hermione really did miss having girl friends…that thought hadn't occurred to him before. She had always just been a part of `them' in his mind. An expected part of most everything Ron and he did. Harry shook off this strange thought. "Everyone `bout ready?"

Remus nodded but said, "Hang on." He walked over to the door and leaned out. "Dobby?" he called.

Dobby soon trotted up the stairs to the landing.

"We're getting ready to go to Diagon Alley to visit Fred and George's shop. We're not expecting anyone right now but that's where we'll be if we need to be reached." Remus said. "We are expecting guests later for dinner but we'll be back by then."

Dobby nodded. "Have a good time. You are feeling good today, Harry?" The elf peered around Remus, his large green eyes surveying Harry.

Harry nodded. "Thanks." He hoped that no one would ask him that again for the rest of the day. He knew everyone meant well but he was getting tired of being checked on all the time.

Dobby grinned happily and headed back down the stairs.

"I'll go first," Remus took some floo powder from the pewter jar and tossed it into the flames. He stepped in and said "Diagon Alley!"

Ron and Hermione followed. Ginny was next but to Harry's surprise, she turned to him instead of tossing her handful of powder into the flames.

"I'm glad you're doing better…" Ginny said searching his eyes. "It was scary watching you at Sirius' memorial service and then Dumbledore wouldn't let anyone but Ron, Hermione, and Remus see you." Ginny frowned slightly. "Mum was going spare but she wouldn't go against Dumbledore. She's really looking forward to seeing you tonight."

"I'll be glad to see her, too." Harry was a little embarrassed at the thought of what had happened to him in front of everyone at Sirius' service and changed the subject. "We'd probably better go on. They'll be waiting for us." He glanced quickly toward the fireplace.

"Oh…yeah," Ginny nodded and tossed her powder into the flames. "Diagon Alley!" Harry waited for a moment and then did the same.

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

"It's this way," Ron tugged on Harry's arm when he had emerged from one of the public fireplaces.

Harry began to see some familiar places that he hadn't seen in a long time as Mrs. Weasley had gone to get their school supplies for them last summer.

"Help me remember to stop back by Eeylops and get some food and treats for Hedwig," Harry said quietly to Hermione as they walked past the Emporium. She nodded.

"There it is…" Ginny pointed in front of her.

Harry looked ahead to see a purple awning with `Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes' in sparkling gold script.

"Wow," Harry said, his face lighting up, and hurried to the door which had the name of the store on it in the same gold script along with a smaller line that read, "For the serious prankster…"

As Harry pushed the door open, a horrible sound like someone doing something suspicious to a cat rang out. "Aaagghh!" Harry jumped and howls of laughter came from inside the store.

"Sorry `bout that!" said Fred trying to catch his breath while not looking the least bit apologetic.

"Yeah, we really shouldn't treat our financial backer that way," George smirked.

Harry laughed and shook the hands Fred and George held out enjoying the fact that the twins weren't treating him like fine crystal.

"C'mon, we'll show you `round. It's a slow Saturday." The twins lead the way past the sales counter and into the delightfully chaotic shop. They showed Harry an extensive display of Skiving Snackboxes ("Our best sellers!") and other sweets that weren't what they seemed. The other side of the store held the more sneaky inventions like the Extendable Ears. Harry got a package of those to buy ("No way-on the house," said George).

"Want to see what we're working on now?" Asked Fred, leading them to the room they called "The Lab". He opened the door grinning proudly back at the group and Harry saw a long wooden table and rows of shelves. The shelves were filled with jars of all kinds of substances and colors and on the table were cauldrons of different sizes, some smoking and bubbling. On a smaller table nearby were what looked to be sweets of various colors that had yet to be packaged. To his left he saw a large unattached wall in the middle of the room that didn't go all the way up to the ceiling. It had some strange black marks on it and chunks about the size of Bludgers were missing from it.

"What's that for?" asked Harry pointing at the wall.

George shrugged. "Sometimes we can make it around behind there before something explodes."

Remus, Hermione and Ginny, who had been looking into the cauldrons, raised their eyebrows at each other and quickly stepped back from the table.

"So what are you working on now?" Ron asked.

George grinned and looked to Fred. "Shall I do the honors?"

"Please." Fred said with a formal tilt of his head.

"We give you Mop Modifiers!" George picked up what looked like a yellow sweet from the smaller table and popped it into his mouth, chewing quickly.

Everyone except Fred gasped as George's hair suddenly turned blond. Fred popped a black one in his mouth and his hair became the same color as Harry's.

Harry looked at George and said, "Here, give me a yellow one." Harry chewed it and felt his scalp warm as he went blond, too. "So what d'you think?" he said turning to Hermione.

She giggled. "You could pass for a Malfoy."

Harry grimaced at her. "Okay…can I try a red one?" Soon Harry and Ron were standing each with an arm around the other's shoulders pulling faces, their red heads almost matching.

"How long do those last?" Ginny asked eyeing a yellow sweet.

"'Bout an hour," Fred replied. "Like to try one?"

"No…not this time." Ginny said hesitantly.

"Do you have one that'll straighten hair?" Hermione smiled as she held out some strands of her own hair.

"No…but that's an idea. Hey, maybe one that'll curl your hair, too!" George looked at Fred who nodded thoughtfully.

"Anyway, here's another new thing we've just completed testing on," George handed a green sweet to Fred. "Why don't you show them this one?"

Fred chewed the sweet in his mouth, swallowed and smiled, "Twinkle Tweakers, everyone!"

"I don't see anything different," Remus said staring at Fred.

Fred widened his eyes at Remus. "Really?"

Remus began to laugh. "Harry look at Fred's eyes."

Harry looked at Fred and gasped as he saw emerald green eyes staring back at him. With Fred's black hair and now green eyes, he could pass easily for Harry's brother.

"That's weird! I've got to get some of these-how much are they?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you're not buying anything in here today-I told you it's on the house. The house that you paid for, mind you…we can't thank you enough…" Fred said earnestly and George nodded beside him.

"Look…you're welcome, but enough of that. You've done great things here and I…aagghhh!" Harry's scar, which had been mercifully quiet for the past few weeks, now burst into pain. He clasped his hands to his forehead as he fell to his knees.

"Harry!" gasped Remus and Hermione together. They knelt on either side of him holding his arms to keep him from hitting the floor. Then Hermione sat down on the floor beside Harry and guided his head into her lap as Remus helped him lie down.

"He's happy," Harry managed to gasp out. "Just like…" he had to stop as a fresh wave of pain streaked across his forehead.

Ron's face had gone white. "…just like when the Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban in the spring…" he finished and Harry nodded.

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

"We need to get back to Grimmauld Place now." Remus said, looking around nervously. "Harry let me know as soon as you can walk and we'll go."

Harry felt the pain subsiding a little and sat up rubbing a hand on his forehead. "Just a second…"

"You can use our fireplace but it's not very big," George said hurriedly. "We just got the room where it is cleaned out. Let me check the shop for customers." He went quickly through the door and came back. "It's clear…can you get up, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "I think so…" Remus and Ron helped him to his feet and supported him as they walked to a door near the corner of the store.

"This is going to be the break room when we're done," Fred said opening the door for them and then gestured, "There it is on the back wall."

"I'll go first, Ron, then you send Harry and follow right after," Remus said taking the floo powder that Fred gave him.

"Right," said Ron quickly.

Remus folded himself into the fireplace, threw the powder at his feet then said, "Grimmauld Place!"

After Remus had gone, Ron took Harry's glasses, helped him into the fireplace and soon he felt himself spinning. He stopped suddenly and nearly fell out on his face but Remus was waiting for him and caught him before he could hit the granite hearth.

"Thanks," Harry muttered as Remus helped him stagger over to the couch and lie down. "Damn, I hate this…"

Ron and the girls followed quickly. And as they gathered around Harry, the firebox filled with green flames once again and Dumbledore appeared wearing scarlet robes.

"Are you all right, Harry?" he said quietly and then looked at him strangely.

Harry nodded, wondering at Dumbledore's odd expression and then realized his hair was still red.

"As you may have already guessed, there have been several escapes from Azkaban today." Dumbledore went on heavily. "Two Aurors lost their lives and four Death Eaters were able to get away."

`Oh, no…" Hermione said, tears gathering in her eyes.

"Who were the Aurors?" Remus asked tensely.

"I don't think you've ever met them." Dumbledore responded quickly and Harry heard Remus let out the breath he'd been holding.

Dumbledore turned and said quietly to Harry. "Does Voldemort know of this?"

"Yes…I'm almost sure of it."

"Well, then, we need to contact the Order." Dumbledore took some floo powder, knelt and tossed it in the firebox. He put his head into the green flames. "Hogwarts! Headmaster's Office!" Harry heard him say. "Fawkes, we will need an alert. Have the members of the Order come to Grimmauld Place as quickly as possible, please."

Dobby had heard the commotion and popped his head in the door. Remus asked him to be ready to answer the front door quickly for the members of the Order.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny hurried to the window to watch for people to arrive. They saw Moody and Mr. Weasley Apparate into the square and hurry to the door. Next, was Mundungus. In less than a minute, they saw Tonks appear and begin to quickly make her way to the door. Suddenly a man in torn and dirty robes appeared several feet behind her and drew his wand. Harry and the others gasped as they recognized Macnair. A red jet of light issued from the Death Eater's wand and hit Tonks squarely in the back.

"TONKS!" Harry yelled and then suddenly he was standing on the grass in the square. "Hey!" Harry shouted, drawing the Death Eater's attention away from the prostrate Auror before he could do more damage. He heard Macnair bellow "Stupefy!" and Harry dove to the ground and rolled. He saw the red light laser just inches above him as he flipped over to point his wand at the Death Eater. "Stupefy!" Harry shouted and saw Macnair fall to the ground.

Remus and Dumbledore appeared suddenly. Remus fell to his knees and caught Tonks' limp body up in his arms. "Ennervate!" He said quickly waving his wand over her and she began to stir. "Are you all right?" he asked hoarsely.

"Yes…" Tonks said shakily over Remus' shoulder looking at Macnair. "I-I don't know how he followed me here. What are we going to do with him?"

Dumbledore spoke quickly to Remus. "Get these two inside and let me take care of this. I'll be back soon." He bound Macnair's hands and feet, and then with a sweep of his wand, both of them disappeared.

Remus lifted Tonks and overruling her protests hurriedly carried her into the house as Harry followed close behind.

"Thanks, Remus…" Tonks said weakly. "I didn't know he was there until I heard him…"

"You should thank Harry, not me," Remus said looking at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "He's the one that stunned Macnair."

"Thanks, Harry…" Tonks smile faded to confusion. "What's wrong with your hair?"

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