Chapter Five: Reliving the Diagon Alley Incident
Harry stepped into the kitchen at the Burrow and immediately turned back towards the fire; he was waiting for Kingsley and hopefully everyone that had gone to Diagon Alley with him before it all happened. It was a few moments before Kingsley emerged from a flash in the fireplace. He stepped out looking distressed and worried, but ultimately angry; angry at himself for what had happened.
"What happened?" asked Harry as he looked at Kingsley with sympathetic eyes, he knew that Kingsley was hurting himself inside about the whole incident, but he also knew it was nobodies fault.
"Are you ok Harry?" responded Kingsley, seemingly ignoring Harry's prior question.
"Yea, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" retorted Harry rhetorically, his mind wondering why Kingsley would ask such a thing when he was clearly in worse shape. "But what happened?"
Kingsley sat himself down for a moment before turning towards Harry and looking at him through his experienced eyes. "I don't know Harry, there was a bang and then everyone went wild," said Kingsley as his mind retraced the steps to what happened and tried hard to figure it all out. "I never saw who fired at you or how many there were, I was caught up with getting the Weasley's out of harm's way and then trying to find you,"
Kingsley paused for a brief second as he lowered his head. "I found you and that was it, I should be back out there but someone needs to be here with you, to make sure you don't try and go back," said Kingsley as Harry gazed at him, wondering why it all happened and how they knew he was there. "Now Harry, sit yourself down, we'll wait here together for the rest,"
Harry sat himself down and rested his arms on the dining table, he rested his head on his arms as Kingsley walked over to the battered kettle and filled it with water. Harry didn't turn to watch Kingsley start making two cups of tea; he just had images and questions running through his head like a stampede.
Kingsley placed a steaming hot cup of team in front of Harry, but Harry didn't budge or look-up he was sat worrying about his best friend Ron, Ginny, Mr and Mrs Weasley and most of all Remus. He'd seen Remus get hit by that stunning spell and was hoping that he was still out there fighting valiantly.
"Look, they'll be fine Harry, I'm sure of it," said Kingsley assuredly. "Don't hit yourself up about it all, we knew the risks of going to Diagon Alley, if we didn't then we wouldn't be in the Order doing as we do, just wait, they'll be back in no time… no time at all."
Harry wrapped his right hand around the hot mug and pulled it close towards his lips, as much as he wanted to believe Kingsley that everything would be alright, he could sense that Kingsley didn't even believe his own words. He looked up at Kingsley who was no pacing up and down in front of the fireplace, his left hand holding a cup of tea as he continued pacing. Harry dropped his eyes to the tea and took a small sip. It was nice tea, but nothing compared to what Mrs Weasley would make. A tear accumulated at his eye as thoughts of the Weasleys getting caught within the crossfire escaped into Harry's mind.
The waiting seemed to last an age, the hours seemed like days, the minutes seemed like hours and the seconds seemed like minutes. It was agonising for Harry to wait so long, as each second passed the worry about the others increased. Harry's eyes were straining to stay open when suddenly Kingsley who hadn't stopped pacing for the entire time jumped back as the fireplace flashed and Ginny leapt out from within.
Harry immediately jumped from his seat and barrelled over to Ginny who was stood covered in dirt but was smiling. "Oh you're safe," exclaimed Harry as he reached Ginny. "How is everyone else?"
Ginny hesitated for a moment before replying. "They're fine, they're just coming," she said as she lowered her head, a tear drawing from her eye. Harry didn't spot the tear as Kingsley was stood by the fireplace waiting patiently for others. He'd no reason to speak to Ginny just yet and he knew that if Ginny came through the others wouldn't be far behind.
The fireplace flashed again as Ron walked through into the kitchen, he was holding Harry's large present from the Twins and looked rather excitable. "Harry!" he immediately shouted as his eyes locked on to him. "I managed to save it, it nearly got trampled on," said Ron as he pushed the present towards Harry. Harry took it off him and put it down on the dining table behind him.
"What happened Ron?" asked Harry. "I didn't see much, I was pushed out of there before I could figure anything out."
Ron stepped forward, "I didn't see much either, Mum made sure we were out of the way immediately after the first shot, it was all very exciting," said Ron with a beaming smile. Harry looked away and sighed, he'd figured that at least Ron would know, how hard could it be for someone to see something?
"Dad managed to save your presents too, he gave them to Ginny whilst we were hiding," said Ron as he looked over at Ginny, looking for the pile of presents. "Where are they Ginny?"
Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "I gave them back to Mum when we came back by Floo, I couldn't hold them and throw the powder down at the same time." She retorted as she then turned around and motioned towards the stairs. "I'm going to my room; I have ummm… some things to do."
Both Ron and Harry nodded as Ginny scooted from out of the Kitchen and up the stairs towards her bedroom. Kingsley turned towards the two boys and walked past them and sat himself down at the dining table, his eyes focused on the fireplace as he waited patiently for the adults to return.
"Ron, are you sure you didn't see anything?" asked Harry as he walked towards the Dining Table and sat down once again.
"I'm positive, I only saw a flash and then we were dragged away from the action and hidden from view," said Ron as he looked around the kitchen. Harry nodded in response, whilst Ron may not know something he was sure that Ginny may have seen something, anything maybe.
"What about Ginny?" said Harry as he looked at Ron with that look of 'she knows something.'
Ron stood quiet for a moment as he went over the event in his head, trying to remember what Ginny was doing during it all. "Well, I didn't see her for much of it all, she seemed to get dragged back after I did, but I don't remember much Harry. It happened so fast," said Ron as he let out an exasperated breath.
Harry didn't say anything he just sunk into his seat as he realised that maybe, just maybe everyone wasn't fine and Ginny had seen something she shouldn't have. Suddenly the room was illuminated with a strong green light as Mrs Weasley emerged from the fireplace. She was carrying Harry's presents and looked flustered, she dropped them onto the table and immediately went straight to Harry and gave him a suffocating tight hug that seemed to last an age.
"Oh Harry, I'm so glad to see that you're ok," she said with a beaming smile as Harry just blushed in embarrassment. Mrs Weasley stepped back and looked at Ron as he stood looking at Harry and shaking his head. "Now both of you take Harry's presents and go upstairs, I have to wait for the others and then we have to talk to Kingsley."
Ron stopped in his tracks and turned towards his Mother, "can't we stay and listen?" he asked hoping just hoping that she might remotely say yes.
"No, this is adult business, now both of you, upstairs," she said firmly as Kingsley moved from his seat and walked towards Mrs Weasley. Harry and Ron picked up the pile of presents on the table and grudgingly left for upstairs, as Kingsley quickly shut the Kitchen door behind them.
"What do you think they want to talk about?" Ron asked Harry as they slowly walked up the rickety flight of stairs to their room at the very top of the Burrow.
"What happened at Diagon Alley," Harry responded instantly, the obviousness of his answer hitting Ron immediately.
"Oh yeah!" he said whilst slapping himself in the head with his one free arm. "So why aren't we allowed to listen?"
"Probably because it's important Order business that we're too young to listen on," said Harry sharply his want to be in that meeting shining through.
Both boys entered their bedroom and dumped the presents on the floor in front of the beds, Harry sat himself down and then slowly lowered himself down so that he was lying with his face aimed at the ceiling. Ron followed suit on his bed and both boys lay staring at the ceiling like a pair of hospitalised friends, contemplating life's mysteries.
"What do you reckon Fred and George got you?" asked Ron as he lay staring at the intricate cobwebs on the ceiling.
"It's probably just a selection of their old jokes which they tormented old Umbridge with," replied Harry as he put his hands behind his head.
"Yeah, they've probably put in some catalogue of jokes as well, so you can buy their whole stock," said Ron as Harry laughed in response.
"They'd probably have a Muggle Order form in there all signed with everything in the shop on there," Harry joked.
Ron let out a big cheesy grin as both boys just quietly stared at the ceilings still. "Harry," said Ron.
"Yes," replied Harry.
"You don't think that someone got seriously hurt do you?" said Ron solemnly as Harry sat up slightly and turned towards him.
"I don't know, no-one said anything about it," said Harry as Ron rose to meet him.
"Because when we were on our way back to the Leaky Cauldron I couldn't see Remus or Moody anywhere," said Ron.
Harry's eyes opened in wide-eyed shock. "You don't think they're either seriously hurt or even worse do you?" said Harry as a tinge of panic overwhelmed his voice.
"I bloody well hope not," exclaimed Ron as Harry dropped back to his horizontal position.
Harry stayed quiet for a few seconds as he contemplated whether or not Remus could be seriously hurt, it was a distinct possibility. After all, he had been hit by a stunning spell that sent him flying, anything could've happened after Harry had entered the Leaky Cauldron.
"Some Birthday eh?" said Ron his voice teetering off as he lay staring still.
"It was better than being in Privet Drive, I'd much rather spend my birthday with Snape in Potions than with the Dursley's," said Harry sarcastically.
"It can't be that bad, can it?" asked Ron his head turned towards Harry who was still staring at the ceiling.
"It's like having Umbridge, Snape and Draco in the same lesson, it's absolutely terrible," said Harry clearly exaggerating the extent of being at the Dursley's. "I'm not even allowed to turn Dudley into a pig, even though he already is one."
Ron let out a large chuckle as Harry let slip a smile too. "No, no I'd turn him into an ice cream, he might try to eat himself," said Ron as he struggled to hold back the tears from laughter.
Harry burst out laughing; the bellow of childish laughter filling the room and making both boys turn over in glee. "I haven't laughed this hard in ages Ron," said Harry as he wiped away the tears of joy.
Ron just smiled and rolled back into his former position, "Harry, what do you think Hermione is doing right now?" he asked.
"I don't know, probably reading every book in the known galaxy for all we know," replied Harry as he too returned to his former position. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know, just curious I guess, seems weird to not have her about, being all bossy and acting as if she knows everything," replied Ron as turned over onto his front and turned back to Harry.
"Heh yea, I was half expecting her to be here when I got the letter from your Mum, but we'll see her this summer, I'm sure of it," said Harry as he closed his eyes and tried to envision the room in his head.
"Ron, have you ever tried to see things in your head? Like the room your in and stuff like that?" asked Harry, his mind trying to paint the image of the bedroom in his head.
"No. Why? Should I?" replied Ron confused.
"Well… No, but I have been trying it recently to help with my Occlumency, I guess it might help me in some way," said Harry as he continued trying to envision the room in his head.
"Oh, right, well I'm not that good at imagining things in my head, I'm more a look at things person," said Ron.
"Of course Ron," muttered Harry, Ron's words not actually sinking in much and just acting as a background noise of sorts.
"Harry, when are you going to open the presents? Don't you want to know what I… we got you?" Ron asked as he sat up and stared across as the haphazardly placed pile of wrapped up presents. The shiny wrapping paper gleaming in the light as Harry sat up and looked over at the presents too.
"I don't know, I just sort of umm forgot about them," replied Harry as he inched his way towards the pile. The anticipation for what could be in the presents overwhelming him. "Let's find out Ron."
Ron joined Harry on the floor in front of the pile, both sat with their legs crossed as if they were little children sat in front of the fire as the adults sat in armchairs. Both boys sat with a childish enthusiasm and then Harry plucked a smallish present from the pile. Ron, turned to Harry, "Wait open mine first," said Ron urgently as he pulled out a medium rectangular present from the pile. It was enclosed in a dark red wrapping paper, and had a small white bow on one side.
"When did you get this present?" asked Harry. "I never saw you buy it?"
"Oh, well Mum got it for me whilst we were talking with Fred and George," replied Ron, a sneaky smile hidden within his expressions.
"Right, cool," said Harry as he took the present off Ron and stared at it for a moment.
Harry then started ripping the wrapper to shreds, after a second of intense present opening Harry came to see a book sat in his lap. The book was:
He Flew like a Madman by Kennilworthy Whisp; biography of "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn
It was undoubtedly a Quidditch book, the image on the front of 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn flying around like a madman made Harry smile. "Thanks a lot Ron, I really like it," Harry said as he put the book down and gave a thumbs up to Ron.
"Well you need something decent to read this year, it's bad enough with the books we have to get for lessons, let alone what Hermione forces us to read," chuckled Ron as Harry laughed in unison with Ron.
"Thanks a lot Ron, I'll get you something special for your birthday, I promise it," said Harry.
Both boys began exuberantly working their way through the large selection of presents. The debris of the fallen wrapping paper quickly filled the bedroom floor as Harry went from present to present. A multitude of different items began to accumulate next to Harry, from clothes to books, to strange artefacts to a large mug which says "I love Muggles". Harry's presents were what was to be expected but pleasant considering that he'd get nothing if he was at the Dursley's and that Harry also placed little weight in material things, they were cool and all but having spent 16 years with very little, he considered friends to be much, much more important.
Left in the pile of ripped paper was the final present from the Weasley twins, Harry and Ron both stared at the paper for the moment, it had images of the swap and the crazy fireworks going off, it was definitely a present from Fred and George. Harry dragged to towards him and placed his hands on the end of the box and clenched tightly with his fingertips.
"Harry! Can you come down here please," shouted Mrs Weasley from down the stairs her bellowing voice stopping Harry in his tracks. Harry turned towards Ron, Ron shrugged his shoulders. Harry placed the present back down and stood up, Ron stood up as well and both boys made their way down the stairs.
Mrs Weasley stood in the doorway to the Kitchen at the bottom of the stairs; she looked slightly taken aback, as if someone had told her some things she wasn't quite ready for. Harry reached her first with Ron close behind both boys looked at Mrs Weasley intently.
"There you are Harry," she said nicely, her voice as welcoming as ever. "Remus is in the kitchen, he would like to talk to you."
Harry nodded, as much as verbally answering Mrs Weasley would be the right thing to do, he also realised that she wasn't expecting it and was merely passing on the message. Harry stepped towards the Kitchen door and Ron followed.
"Ronald Weasley," said Mrs Weasley sharply. "This is for Harry's ears only."
Ron let out a frustrated sigh, "But he'll tell me everything anyway," said Ron quickly as he tried his best to be allowed in with Harry. Obviously whether or not he did was another matter, as he had said Harry would tell him later.
"No, no, Ronald, Harry only I'm afraid," she said in response her voice sound like a judge dealing out a sentence.
"Let them both in Molly," came Remus' voice from within the Kitchen. Immediately Ron brightened and quickly followed Ron in as Mrs Weasley stepped out of the way and made her way to the lounge.
Harry and Ron entered the kitchen to see Remus sat at the other end of the Dining Table with a bandage wrapped around his head and his face set in a stony and contemplative expression. "Sit down boys," he said monotonously.
Both boys obliged, sitting themselves at Remus' end of the Dining Table. Ron stared up at Remus as Harry just looked ahead at the wall, his mind knowing exactly what was coming. He wasn't afraid of what was to come, just worried that with it would be bad news. Sure he wanted to know what happened, he'd been wanting to know since he'd stepped back into the kitchen but he like everyone else didn't want their to be bad news with it and from the looks of Remus there was going to be bad news.
"I was only going to tell Harry this, but seeing as you'll no doubt find out anyway Ron, you can listen too," said Remus as he sat nonchalantly. Ron smiled in response as Harry just stared off still, his thoughts confusing and uncontrollable.
"I best start somewhere, well where else other than when it all happened," said Remus as he put his hand on his mouth and considered the first words of what would be the retelling of the incident.
"The attack caught us all by surprise; we'd not expected it to happen in such a public place. When I got hit with that stunning spell," said Remus as his mind whisked back to the attacks and what happened after he was hit.
Remus landed hard on the floor, his chest stinging from the shot, he turned up to see Harry stood like a deer lost in headlights. "Harry, get out of here… NOW!" shouted Remus as he struggled to regain his vertical base. Harry disappeared into the back of the Leaky Cauldron as Remus finally reached his feet and gingerly looked through the crowds for what could possibly be the attacker.
CRACK!
A large explosion happened 100 yards or so back up Diagon Alley, Remus looked over and immediately began making his way in the direction. He side-stepped a stricken couple and then burrowed his way through a large crowd who were running around like a group of headless chickens. "Come on, get out of the way, it's imperative that I get through," muttered Remus desperately at the crowd.
To his left Remus heard Arthur Weasley, "Arthur, where are Ron and Ginny?" Remus said quickly his voice trailing off and he looked in every direction in case of another attack.
"They're with Molly, she's shielding them from any harm," exasperated Arthur, his voice tinged with panic and worry.
"Arthur, get them out of here, let us deal with it, your family is more important right now" said Remus as he continued on his way towards the most recent explosion. Arthur complied and quickly ran off to be with his family.
The crowds were becoming increasingly harder to penetrate it seemed with every passing second that they had become denser and even more wild, as if like fires in the forest, becoming uncontrollable and untameable as every moment passed. From out of the crowd Remus could see the strange and unique hairstyle and clothing of Tonks. He pushed through towards her, his voice trying to be heard above all the commotion and screaming.
"TONKS!" he shouted, trying to catch her attention. "TONKS!" he shouted again, this she turned upon her name being shouted. She looked at him and immediately ran over; pushing past whomever was in the way.
"Remus, how is Harry?" she asked immediately the wellbeing of herself or Remus being unimportant at this very time.
"He should be fine, I sent him through into the Leaky Cauldron," Remus replied, his wand held out at full length in wait for whatever could still be out there.
"Kingsley left a few minutes ago to make sure you two were ok, well to make sure he got out safely more like," said Tonks as she suddenly turned and knocked Remus from out of the way. A shot had been fired from somewhere behind the crowd and it missed Remus by a whisker. Both of them collided into the floor hard as Remus tried to fire back but instead could only see the crowds.
Remus dusted himself off and rose back to his feet, this time he strafed across to a shielded position via a corner as Tonks followed.
"Have you seen who is attacking us?" he asked swiftly as he surveyed the area for whatever clues or hints to anything he could find.
"No, but Moody thinks there are 3 of them, he's gone out to try and take who he thinks is the leader down," retorted Tonks breathlessly.
SMASH!
Opposite the both of them the windows to an empty shop erupted in a burst of sparks, people leapt out of the way as the shattered glass rained down on them. Remus immediately looked to where the shot could come from and saw a dark cloak disappear from out of nowhere.
"They're apparating and disapparating, we have to get out of here, we're sitting ducks," said Remus as he nervously looked in every direction.
"I'm not leaving Mad-Eye here," yelled Tonks as Remus suddenly burst in front of her and in a flying leap fired the stupefy curse as a mysterious dark assailant that had just apparated just in front of Flourish and Blott's. The assailant was thrown back into the main window of Flourish and Blott's as Remus immediately ran over stealthily.
Tonks flanked him as both of them slowly approached the shattered hole for what was once the gleaming window for Flourish and Blott's. In the window were the remnants of a black cloak but nothing more, the broken glass left a distinct imprint of a body but no body.
"Damnit, he apparated out," shouted Remus in anger as he turned back towards the street. "at least we know one thing, there is only two left now."
"How do you know that?" asked Tonks. Remus looked at her and then pointed at the cloak.
"Without that cloak, he or she has no disguise, to be seen now would be too damaging," said Remus confidently as his eyes suddenly spotted Moody coming from the top of Diagon Alley.
"It's Bellatrix," yelled Moody as he came to join both Remus and Tonks. "She's here with two others."
Moody reached Remus and dragged them into a shaded part of the street. "You two have to get out of here, they're not just after Harry," he said sharply his voice menacing as his magic Eye span around in it's socket looking, no searching for the Deatheaters.
"What are they after?" asked Tonks instinctively.
"I don't know, but the sooner you two are gone the better, it's not safe, not even safe for you two," said Moody as he pulled Remus by his jacket towards him. "I'm not losing another member of the Order again Remus, now go!"
Remus turned to Tonks and then before he could even blink was engulfed by the horrific feeling of being thrown by something else against the wall. His body seemed to shoot-up and then collide with the nearby wall as if he'd been thrown from a car accident. His head immediately felt like someone had gone at it with a sledgehammer. He clutched at it with his right hand and felt the familiar warm sticky feeling of blood accumulating at a large gash.
Remus seemed to be lost within a world of blurred nightmares and pain, he stared across at Moody who'd been thrown also and saw the dark sinister boots of Bellatrix Lestrange stood over Mad-Eye's unconscious body. Remus tried to stop Bellatrix but he wasn't strong enough to do so, Bellatrix shook off the grasps at her legs and dragged Moody away from Remus and Tonks who was also unconscious behind him. Remus tried to shout at them but his voicebox seemed to seize up on him as Moody was picked up and thrown onto the shoulders of the 2nd Deatheater.
"They captured Moody!?" Harry exclaimed in shock, his voice bellowing as if he had no control on it whatsoever.
"I tried to stop her Harry, trust me I did, but I was too weak, that curse has knocked me for six and left Moody vulnerable," Remus said a tear accumulating at his eye as he tried to tell himself that it wasn't his fault, that it was an unfortunate part of being in the Order.
Ron was just lost, he couldn't look nor speak to either Remus or Harry, he seemed to be left wondering how Moody could get caught, it didn't make sense to Ron, Moody was like an Auror, Aurors never get captured at least to Ron they don't.
"Why did they take him? Why not kill all three of you?" asked Harry his mind working overload at trying to figure it all out.
"We don't know Harry, the moment I returned with Tonks, we spoke to Albus about this and he couldn't answer it either," Remus answered, his head now looking away from Harry's focus.
"Professor Dumbledore was here? Why wasn't I told?" asked Harry, reeling from the knowledge that the one Wizard that he trusted more than any other was here and he didn't even know.
"Harry, you'll speak to Albus in good time, he said that that at some point he has to speak to you, but for now it's best you leave him to his own business, he's a busy man," said Remus, his eyes now drawn back to Harry who had now taken a confused and rather disappointed look.
"But he's not too busy to speak to everyone else," said Harry with the anger boiling up underneath the surface.
"Be patient Harry, he will talk to you in goodtime, but today wasn't a good time, its best you not worry yourself about him for now, what matters is that you are safe and nothing happens to you," said Remus assuredly.
Harry nodded whilst he wanted to believe that he'll find out soon enough, it reminded him of being shut-out and ignored for so long last year. For once Harry would like to find out with the rest of the adults, after all he is the one in the Prophesy, he is the one that ultimately has to face Voldemort and he is the one that matters most.
"Right Harry, I'm sorry but I have to end this conversation, as much as I'd like to continue on, I need some rest, I'm not quite as indestructible as I'd like to believe," said Remus jokingly as he pushed his chair back and walked towards the kitchen door. "Remember Harry, you will find out in time, just be… patient."