Harry and Hermione had just settled down at the Grangers' dinner table which was covered with a virtual elf-made feast when Harry felt the mirror heat up in his pocket.
"Excuse me," Harry apologized to the Grangers as he pulled out the mirror. "If Sirius is calling it's important," He explained. "Or at least it better be," he muttered under his breath.
"Harry," Sirius whispered urgently when his face appeared in the mirror. "You need to come back now. Molly and Arthur want to talk to you. In fact Molly is going up the steps right now."
"Planning on telling us they are leaving?" Hermione asked as she looked over her husband's shoulder.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Overheard them at lunchtime," Harry explained. "We were just about to eat, can't it wait?"
"As I said Molly is going up the steps now. You can always say you were ignoring her, but do you want to give her a reason to stay longer?"
"Good point," Harry agreed. "We'll be back soon."
"What's going on dear?" Jean asked as Harry and Hermione got up from the table.
"My babysitters are leaving it seems," Harry replied before Hermione could.
"What?"
"There is a family who's staying at Sirius' house for the sole purpose of making sure Harry doesn't go anywhere," Hermione explained.
"Why would they do that?"
Harry looked at his wife and a quick mental conversation took place, finally Hermione continued. "We'll explain later but for now, we must hurry."
"What about this food?"
"Can you wait for a few minutes to eat?" Hermione asked. "We really won't be long."
"I guess, but the food will get cold."
"Dobby, Winky, can you make sure the food is still hot when we get back?"
"Winky and Dobby can do that," The excited house elves said together. The food disappeared from the table within seconds.
Mr. Granger, who had just cut a slice of the turkey, watched in dismay as his plate of food disappeared. With a sigh he set his fork and knife back down on the table. "Well, hurry back."
As they exited the cabinet, they could hear the knocking at the door. Hermione crossed the room to open the door while Harry quickly sat at the desk and opened his textbook.
"Yes?" Hermione asked.
"It's...it's dinnertime," Molly said. "We'd like for you to join us. We...Arthur and I wish to tell you something."
"We'll be down in a minute," Harry said as he stood from his chair.
When Harry and Hermione entered the kitchen, they tried to look surprised by the boxes filled with Mrs. Weasley's cookbooks and other stuff lining the kitchen counter. Harry glanced at the table. Ginny and Ron were sitting at the far end of the table between their parents. Tonks was between Molly and Fleur while Sirius sat beaming next to Arthur.
Fleur had looked up anxiously when Harry and Hermione had entered the kitchen hoping it was her fiancée. It wasn't unusual for Bill to be late for dinner. Since his usefulness to the Order was to get information from the goblins, he often worked past closing just so he could overhear the conversations that flowed more freely around the bank once the customers had left the building. Fleur smiled nonetheless at Harry and Hermione. "Bonsoir Monsieur and Madame Potter."
"And good evening to you too Fleur," Hermione replied and smiled as she recognized the married French title. "Comment ça va?"
Fleur smile grew even larger at the French response while at the same time Molly sniffed.
Before Molly could say anything Harry asked. "What's with the boxes?"
Molly looked at Arthur who took a sip from his cup before he replied. "That's what we wanted to tell you. Molly and I have decided that we should take Ron and Ginevra back to the Burrow. We think it is...it's the right thing to do," Arthur glanced at his children who were looking at their plates. He then turned back to the Potters. "But don't worry. You're going to have protection. Tonks is moving in full time."
"That's right," Tonks said. "Which will fit right in with my new job."
"Your new job?"
"Yep," The metamorph replied. "Madam Bones is putting me on her staff. She said she wanted a way to contact you that doesn't rely on Dumbledore."
The look that Molly gave Tonks was sufficient evidence that they had already discussed the issue and Molly disliked the results of the conversation.
"Well if it's what you want, we're happy for you," Hermione said as she glanced at her husband. "We might have to consider letting Tonks know about things so she can get word to Madam Bones for us as well."
"Maybe, but we'll have to see how things go. We'll see Madam Bones tomorrow and maybe we can get her opinion."
"Bill and I will be staying as well," Fleur added. Neither Harry nor Hermione missed the extra bit of cheerfulness in her voice.
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.
