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The grandfather clock made a whirring noise, and then, as they watched, Percy's hand moved from "Lost" to "Mortal Peril."

"Arthur!" shouted Molly, but she had no more time than that to react, for in the very next instant, Percy's hand vanished entirely.

Molly Weasley's features crumpled, her wand clattering to the floor as she raised her hands to cover her mouth. The scream she was trying to hold in, though, still emerged. "Oh, Percy, no! No, no, no, no, no!"

Harry realised then, what had to have happened. The clock face had places for "Work" and "School" and even "Hospital," but Percy wasn't in any of those places. He wasn't even in mortal peril, any longer.

Arthur Weasley appeared in the kitchen. "Molly?"

"Percy's hand disappeared," gasped Molly, fat tears rolling from her eyes as she threw herself at her husband. His arms came around her, his own face a picture of grief.

Harry was still holding out hope that Percy's hand vanishing might mean something he didn't understand, instead of the most obvious conclusion, but that hope was dashed to shreds when Molly next spoke, her voice wracked with pain, her whole body shaking as she hung onto her husband, the two of them embracing so tightly that they might have been one person.

"Oh, Arthur! How are we going to tell the children that their brother's dead?"

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Coming Soon in A Summer Like None Other:

Chapter 24: "Aftermath"

Comments very welcome,

Aspen in the Sunlight and Mercredi

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Chapter 24: Aftermath

http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=13093&chapter=24

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A Summer Like None Other

by Aspen in the Sunlight

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Chapter Twenty-Four:

Aftermath

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Harry could scarcely keep track of what happened after Molly Weasley's anguished question. Too much started taking place all at once.

As the wireless announcer kept droning on, repeating the same news, the party-goers outside began to react. Sounds of panic swirled around the rushed, frantic questions being asked. Nobody knew exactly why or how the Ministry had been destroyed, but speculation, of course, jumped right to "You-Know-Who." That was when the panic outside started to gather force.

People began screaming.

Just then, the night sky that Harry could see through the kitchen window began to light up in blazes of orange and blue, like sheet lightning gone amuck.

"They're attacking the Burrow!" someone screeched, and for a moment that seemed to stretch into hours, pandemonium reigned.

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--"