Aspen Sunlight - A Summer Like None Other

Harry lunged toward the garden door, no definite plan in his mind, just an overwhelming need to get out there and protect his friends. Dark powers could do it, probably, unless the level of destruction at the Ministry meant that Voldemort had also accessed his , which would mean that Remus' information was wrong, which would mean that Remus had been found out as a spy--

Snape moved like lightning, catching Harry by the wrist before he could leave the room. "No," he said, the word stern and quiet as he spoke it against Harry's ear. "We must find Draco and return to Hogwarts."

"But--"

Dumbledore's voice cut across Harry's. Coming from outside, his words rang out with the loud, clear tones that only Sonorus could produce. "The Aurors here are merely reinforcing the wards protecting us," he bellowed. "A precautionary measure, I assure you. Calm yourselves, my friends. The Burrow is not under any sort of attack!"

Harry slumped with relief, and might have fallen, except for the fact that Snape had put an arm around his shoulder, his grip a firm one that Harry could lean into. Home , thought Harry, longing for the stone walls of the dungeons. He wanted to be behind the adoption wards, the ones that would never admit anyone who meant him harm, because then his brother and father would be safe, too.

But what about everyone else?

Harry's arms started prickling something awful, but he forced the feeling back by concentrating on the stark facts of the matter. Kingsley Shacklebolt was here, and Tonks, and they were keeping the protective spells tight and strong, even though Voldemort showed no sign of wanting to attack the party. How would he even know about it?

And if by chance he did think to come to the house of a minor official from the Muggle Artefacts department, he'd have to confront Albus Dumbledore.

Yeah, Dumbledore could make sure the Burrow remained secure until everybody made it home safely, and after tonight, people would be on the alert, establishing extra wards on their home, and escape plans in case the wards were breached, and . . .

Everybody except . . .

A sharp claw seemed to tear at Harry's innards the moment he thought about his cousin. "Dudley, too," he said, wrapping a hand in Snape's robes and tugging. He didn't care if that made him seem childlike. "He has to come with us. And-- oh, God , my mother's ring was destroyed and I don't even have the gems on me, so what are we going to use for reciprocal magic this time?"

Snape patted the top of his head, which normally would have made Harry feel very much a child, but at that moment, he was grateful for the feel of the man's strong hand. Snape was a brilliant, capable wizard, Harry knew. He'd find a way to make it all work.

This must be what it's like to have a father to depend on, Harry suddenly thought, feeling dizzy with the force of the realisation. He'd trusted Snape before, of course. Plenty of times. But this, now . . . Harry hadn't even thought about things before he'd spoken. He'd just . . . known , that Snape would come through for him, whatever it took.

"Your cousin spent enough time at Hogwarts last year that there should be no issue." Snape's hand moved to Harry's back and braced him, a little. "And even if there is, we will bypass it by Portkeying directly into the castle proper."

Oh, right. The enchantments keeping Muggles from seeing properly were only on the outside of the castle, Harry remembered.

Once, he would have objected that a Portkey would be too frightening for Dudley, but now, he thought his cousin was comfortable enough with magic to bear it. Besides, it was better than the alternative, which was Apparating to Grimmauld Place and then flooing to Snape's quarters. Harry wasn't even sure that Muggles could floo, but if Snape thought they could Portkey, that was good enough for Harry.

Behind his father's gentle words, Harry heard Molly Weasley sobbing, and Arthur breathing harshly as he patted her back and struggled to console her. The sight of them curled around each other in grief was so awful that Harry had to look away. Probably best, anyway. By then, he felt like he was intruding on something intensely personal and private, and the fact that he'd come here for a birthday party . . . it was practically obscene.

"We understand that you may wish to go home and ascertain that your families are well," boomed Dumbledore's voice. He sounded like he'd had a moment to come up with a plan, which was probably what the people outside needed most. "Aurors Shacklebolt and Tonks have begun assisting those wishing to Apparate out. They are opening small, fleeting gaps in the wards upon request. The Floo remains locked, as during the party, and is not recommended for use since it presents an obvious route in as well as out--"

At that same moment, the twins burst into the kitchen. "Mum, Dad! Bill and Charlie just sped off on their brooms to look for Percy--"

Molly Weasley made a horrible noise, then, a noise halfway between mourning and hysteria.

"I'm sorry, boys," said Arthur in a rough voice, raising his head, pulling Molly in a little closer. "The clock, you see."

Fred, or maybe George, gulped. The other twin raised a fist to his mouth and bit it, and then they were both pushing past everyone to go into the hallway and see for themselves.

"Can't be," Harry heard one of them say, a hushed conversation following.

"They'll be killed!" Molly wailed, sniffling. "And for no reason! Percy's already gone!"

"Now, now," said Arthur, patting her back once again. "If confirmed reports were coming in, it means others are on site by this time. The worst is over. And a curse-breaker and a dragon-tamer, Molly mine. Our boys will be just fine."

"Not all our b- b- boys--"

Draco appeared in the kitchen, Ron and Hermione close behind him. "Severus," he said, sounding like remaining calm was a strain he could hardly bear. "Good, Harry found you, I see--"

"Mum? Have you heard from Percy, then?" asked Ron. It didn't take him two seconds to put it all together, though. His father's stricken face. His mother's tears. The twin's muttering. Ron looked into the hallway to check the clock, which Harry thought was probably instinctual for somebody raised with one of those around.

Ron went pale for a second, and then his face flushed red. "That prat, that absolute prat! Why couldn't he come to the party like he was asked, eh? I wrote him twice! I practically begged, and all he could talk about was his effing important job. Well, fat lot of good it's done him now--" Ron's voice broke, but he went on, still furious. "Why'd he have to insist he had to work , eh? Stupid prat, got himself killed--"

"Oh, hush, Ron," sobbed Molly, breaking away from her husband just enough to hold an arm out. "I know you're angry but . . . just hush."

Hermione bit her lip, and then gave Ron a gentle push toward his mother.

Ron glared at her, but then he stumbled across the room and fell against his parents. Molly folded him into the hug, and started sobbing harder, her whole body shaking with the force of her grief. "Where's Ginny, then?" she asked through her sobs, her voice rising as other thoughts occurred to her. "Somebody will have to tell Ginny! Oh, Merlin, tell me she hasn't tried to follow her brothers to the Ministry!"

"I'll go and look for her," said Harry.

Snape's glare down at him was positively feral. "You will do no such thing!" Letting go of Harry, he stalked to the door, cast Sonorus on himself, and called out her name. She appeared just a moment later, as though she'd merely been standing around the corner of the house, an impression which was confirmed by what she had to say.

"It's not true," she said, crossing her arms. "I don't care about the stupid clock. You know it's been wrong before. There was that time it said I was at school when I was standing right there! And the way Dad's hand used to spin around backwards every third Tuesday. And--"