Chapter Eighteen - The Aurors
Aurors Tonks and Longbottom - Neville - were looking at my uncle. But they didn't seem mad or anything like that. Instead, they seemed scared. "Ron, you've got to get out of here," Neville said quickly, in a rushed whisper.
My uncle frowned. "What's going on? What's this nonsense about arresting me?"
Both Aurors looked at each other, and then at us, guiltily. "While we won't arrest you, it is true that the Ministry wants you. They've got Aurors looking for you three all over Britain!"
It was Luna's turn to frown. "Why is that?"
Again, they lowered their gazes. "Someone alerted the Ministry. They said you kidnapped John," Auror Tonks said. "We know it's not true, but... given your... er, past..." she avoided my uncle's angry glare. "The Ministry is obviously trying to do what's best for John-"
"What do they know?!" Uncle Ron bellowed, ignoring the Aurors' gestures to keep his voice down. "How do they know what's best for him? Who was the idiot that went to the Ministry? Who was it? It was Skeeter, wasn't she?"
Neville clenched his fists, and seemed too embarrassed or afraid to look at my uncle, Luna, or even me. "No. It wasn't Skeeter. It was -"
"Auror Tonks! Auror Longbottom!" came a shout from somewhere outside the room. "Did you find them?"
"Quick! Get out of here!" Auror Tonks hissed, closing the door before the other Auror would see us. "Through the window! Remus told me about your visit. Go talk to Bill, he's at the twins' shop. They have information about Harry..."
My uncle nodded. "Thanks. Both of you," he said, as Luna went through the window first. Then, it was my turn. He came last.
Before we knew it, we were hurrying through the almost empty and dark Diagon Alley, Crookshanks scurrying several feet ahead, and Hedwig flying high above. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was not too far from the inn. There was some light inside, but it was obviously closed to the public.
However, when we approached, one of the twins quickly opened the door and let us through. "We've been looking all over for you three!" he said, though not as worriedly as one would expect.
"Yeah, well... We were busy," my uncle muttered as we were ushered to the back of the shop. I nearly tripped five times, because I was getting distracted, staring at all the shiny and colorful things that the twins sold. But, since I wasn't too sure what each thing did, I didn't touch anything.
The twin must've seen my face, because he snorted and patted my head. "Don't worry, John!" he said cheerfully. "When this is all over, Fred and I will let you try one of each!"
I smiled, mostly out of politeness. I wasn't sure if he was pulling my leg or if he meant it. Uncle Ron coughed, but it sounded more like a snort. Luna just smiled.
"Well, well!" Fred said, coming from a door behind the counter. It probably led to their rooms or something like that. "Our famous fugitives!" He and George laughed heartily, as if it were okay that we were being chased by the Ministry.
Bill and Fleur also emerged from the back of the store. "Ron, Luna, John," the oldest of the Weasley brothers greeted us. "One of the goblins sent me an owl today, about Harry. He's been making several withdrawals from his vault, ever since... December, last year." He looked at me in concern, and then back to my uncle.
One of the twins had apparently gone back to the front of the store, and then came back. He wasn't as cheerful as before. "Er, we've got company," he informed us. "You should probably leave."
Uncle Ron groaned. "Bloody hell," he muttered. Fleur looked at him in disapproval, but he didn't notice. "Come on, then." He led me and Luna through the same door from where Bill and Fleur had come from. "We could go to the Burrow..."
"No!" the others exclaimed. Luna and I were as startled as my uncle. "Not to the Burrow," Bill said, looking down.
Uncle Ron frowned. "Why not?"
When no one tried to explain, Fleur sighed and spoke for the first time. "Because it was Molly who alerted the Ministry."
Notes: Heh, I can already see the hate mail for poor Molly. Or me. :P