Chapter 324 - The Wizarding World

A month. It's been a month after Dumbledore's funeral and a lot had changed. Three days ago, Harry Potter had been brought at the Burrow by thirteen Order of the Phoenix people. The plan was, six people will impersonate Harry, then they will fly into the night accompanied by another Order of the Phoenix member. But they were caught and the results were ~ heavy. Mad-Eye Moody, a former Auror, tough and invincible was dead; Sirius Black, Harry's Godfather and a talented wizard had lost his half of the face and an ear, and Fred Weasley, one of the twins of Weasley family had got many broken ribs and bones. But Harry Potter was safe . . . though not happy to be alive and safe at the cost of these people. He never wanted to risk so many people's lives because of his safety. He even refused to cooperate with the plan but everyone else was rather determined, especially Mad-Eye. Now, Harry really wanted nothing but to go back in time and refuse Mad-Eye and cancel the plan. Maybe that way, he would be alive.

But Harry had learned to hide his guilty feelings. He had to stop himself from taking any hasty decision in this situation. Running away alone was not an option anymore. . . Not after she. . .

"Beacons 'Arry?" Fleur's thick french voice brought Harry back from his half-trance.

Harry was sitting down for breakfast on the Burrow's kitchen table, with Ronald Weasley, his tall and lanky best friend; Hermione Granger, another best friend of Harry with bushy brown hair; Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister, a beautiful young girl with long flaming red hair; Nymphadora Tonks, her dull pink short hair and a big baby bump, indicating that she was now seven months pregnant; Fleur Delacour, a slender beautiful French witch; and Fred and George, the identical twins. Fred had already recovered from his damages.

Mrs Weasley, a short and plump witch was bustling around the kitchen as usual, when Remus Lupin, more grey and lined than ever, and Kingsley Shaklebolt, the bald, strong, black Auror walked in.

"No sign of Mad-Eye's body," Remus sighed and dropped on the chair beside Tonks. "I'm sorry, Dora."

Tonks nodded stifling another round of sobs. Remus gave her a handkerchief and patted her back. Tonks was very close to Mad-Eye and his death was very hard for her. Remus was very worried about the health of Tonks and their upcoming child. For one, he had a horrible thought that what if his son becomes just like him, a werewolf, and on the other hand, Tonks was always stressed about him and now devastated by Mad-Eye's death. These things were never healthy for a pregnant woman.

"Anything new at the Ministry, Kingsley?" asked Hermione dividing the attention from Tonks.

"Nothing," Kingsley grumbled as Mrs Weasley set a new pile of toasts in front of them. "Scrimgeour is trying all he can do to save the Ministry and some people are still on his side but the rest are either scared or compelled by the things Pius Thicknesse is offering."

"Isn't he under Imperious Curse?" asked Ron.

"Not anymore," replied Kingsley. "He has gone to the dark side willingly."

"Well, I'm glad we asked my group to put protection around the Burrow, not the Ministry," Aurelia Cromwell, the beautiful golden blonde witch, said walking inside the kitchen. By "our group" she meant the International wizarding community she worked for. They were helping the Order a lot nowadays.

Sirius Black entered after Aurelia and sat beside Harry, giving him a smile. Harry had never thought he would see his godfather like that. Sirius was one of most handsome looking man Harry knew, but now, his face was barely recognizable. The left side of his face was cursed off, including an ear. He looked like the left side of his face was stitched together magically after getting slashed off completely, which was exactly what happened. No thanks to Severus Snape.

"How is your face, Sirius?" George said.

"Good, good as new," Sirius beamed.

"Hardly," Aurelia supplied. "He will need weeks to getting adjusted with his new face."

Sirius shrugged and Harry grimaced at his plate.

"I still look handsome, don't I, Harry?" Sirius said to Harry.

Many people on the table gave soft chuckles.

"So no news about Chris?" Finally, Ginny asked the question no one was asking.

For several seconds her question hung on the air and no one spoke then ~

"No," said Kingsley. "I think we should accept the fact -"

Aurelia looked at Kingsley and he stopped. Last time, when he said what he thought, it created chaos. Harry and Ginny had screamed at him. They didn't believe that Christina Norton was dead. The people who had seen her doing magic knew she couldn't be dead.

After eating in awkward silence Kingsley left and Mrs Weasley cleared her throat.

"Harry dear, will you come with me? I have some work for you," Mrs Weasley said.

Harry looked up and saw Ron, Hermione and Ginny gave him a warning look. Sirius straighten up. They all knew what this was about. Sirius opened his mouth but Aurelia talked before him.

"Molly, please, we have been over this thrice," said Aurelia sounding tired. "I don't think you should do this, but if you really want, you can ask Harry this in front of us. There is no reason to cornering the boy."

"Cornering the boy?" Mrs Weasley's eyes widened and she looked furious. "You think I will force the truth out of him, Aurelia?"

"Am I wrong?" Aurelia said calmly.

"How dare you?" Mrs Weasley's face was red with anger. "I just don't want the kids getting killed. They are barely of age and am I wrong to be concerned? I think as Ron's mother, I have a right to know and I think, Mr and Mrs Granger should know to why is their daughter dropping off her last year education and going off to - where exactly?" She added the last part looking at Hermione to Harry.

"We can't tell you. I'm sorry, Mrs Weasley," said Harry.

Aurelia gave an I-told-you-so look but Mrs Weasley wasn't ready to back down.

"I don't understand why," Mrs Weasley said crossing her arms.

"Because Dumbledore asked me not to," Harry said firmly. "Hermione and Ron knew from the beginning, so they want to come. Other than this I can't say anything. Sorry."

"Why would Dumbledore ask you? I think it's utter nonsense," snapped Mrs Weasley. "If Dumbledore wanted something to be done he had entire Order of the Phoenix. I think you misunderstood, Harry."

"Somethings are decided, Molly," Aurelia said, her voice quiet. "If Dumbledore asked something specifically from Harry, and Harry is set on doing it then. Then he will do it. You can't stop him."

"And let him go and die?" Mrs Weasley looked close to tears as she screamed. "You wouldn't be saying this Aurelia if Harry was your son. You will never understand this because you're not a mother."

Hermione gasped. Tonks wrapped her hands around her belly, also looking teary. Remus opened his mouth in protest and Sirius looked angry. Fleur shook her head looking frustrated. Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny looked at Mrs Weasley to Aurelia, who still looked composed.

"If we keep Harry locked here, would that stop Voldemort from hunting him, Molly? Do you really believe that?" Aurelia said and Mrs Weasley flinched at the name. "No Molly, you can't keep Harry safe, I can't keep him safe, no one can except for him. Only he can save himself, just like we have to save ourselves. We all know the situation, Molly. No one is safe. They will find each and every one of us, who supported Dumbledore and will try to finish us off. They have already killed many of us but we are still fighting and we will continue that. And for what? For a better future for those who will live. If my death means I can create a better world then I will do it. So will you, Molly, won't you? Each of us is doing the same thing. Knowing the circumstances we are taking risks. . . And trust me, Molly, if I had children and they wanted to do the same, I wouldn't stop them. I understand what you are going through, Molly. I don't have to have kids to be a mother. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Ron . . . Chris, they are as good as my children. But if they want to do the right thing, we can't stop them, Molly. We can not. Because this is more than just us, it's about the entire wizarding world."

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To be continued. . .