Discordant Harmony

Discordant Harmony - Chapter 1

The Burrow. There wasn't much to say about it. It was, after all, just a house that was too small for the many occupants inside. Mrs. Weasley was anxiously making dinner, looking at the clock with the many names and watching as her husband was still at the Leaky Cauldron. Bill and Charlie were both watching their mother watch the clock, noticing that her wand - in stirring - was being dipped into the soup. In the backyard were the twins, testing out their latest invention since their mother was too preoccupied to notice. The youngest boy of the Weasley clan was in his room with his friend, Hermione Granger, both writing a letter to send to Harry. Percy was again locked in his room, again trying to make out the current situation with Crouch and the rise of ldemort. And in the living room, near the fire since she, too, was anxious at her father's absence, sat Ginny Weasley, youngest female Weasley in the large Weasley clan.

"Mother, your wa-" Charlie began to point out that the tip of her wand was already in danger of being added as the dinner's ingredients, but Mrs. Weasley only shushed him.

"But, mum," Bill now tried, "your wand-"

"Why is he still there?" Molly asked, as she seemed to not have heard her sons' remarks. ing back to her cooking, she saw her wand and instantly corrected it. "He's been there for over an hour now. And he's late. You don't think-"

"Mum!" Ginny Weasley's voice carried from the living room. Mrs. Weasley looked up and both Bill and Charlie saw as her wand's tip again dropped into the soup. "Dad's coming home!" Glancing at the clock, Arthur's arrow was pointing towards traveling. In another moment, the flames in the hearth roared green and Arthur Weasley stepped out.

"Arthur!" Molly said relieved, coming towards him and engulfing him in a tight hug. Ever since Dumbledore announced news of Voldemort's rise, she - as well as the rest of the family - had become more so anxious at any loved ones extended absence. Especially Harry's.

Ginny noted as he disentangled himself from her mum's arms that his supposedly reassuring smile was strained. "I have something very important to tell all of you."

The room went silent. Ginny glanced again towards the fire noting that the flames were still green. Were there more people coming? "Where is everybody else?" Molly ushered Bill and Charlie to get them.

"What's wrong?"

His mouth opened as if to say something and then closed. He kept doing that until Bill, Charlie and the rest returned - all with worried faces. "How are you, Hermione?" He asked as he caught sight of brown hair among the sea of red.

Hermione gave a small smile, but her eyes clearly told that she was more interested in his news. Was it something to do with Harry? Had anything happened? Similar questions were running the course through each family member's minds as well. "There was another attack," Arthur began as he ran a hand through his sparse red hair. "Third one so far on Muggles. Happened at the edges of Little Whinging."

"Dad, Harry-"

Ron silenced when his father raised a hand and shook his head. "Harry is fine. He," Arthur's face turned strained, " no, Voldemort," a reflex gasp from the others, "had not tried to go after Harry - yet. Dumbledore figures he is still just testing whether or not his powers are as good as they were before."

"Are they, Dad?" Charlie asked, his lips thin. He remembered Voldemort's reign all too vividly. To have it happen again...

At that question, Arthur gave his first genuine smile that evening. "Thankfully not. Over the years his power has weakened considerably and Severus - Professor Snape -," the twins frowned at his name, "kons it's mainly because of the long absence of serious... use." Now his face turned strained again. "The attack near Little Whinging is so far the biggest yet. A wizard was injured badly in trying to help save a Muggle boy." Ginny glanced towards the fireplace and the green flames. "He needs somewhere to stay to recuperate and to stay - to stay safe." Understanding what he meant, that Voldemort was now on the look out for this wizard, everyone nodded. "The closest place and safest is here. At the Burrow. I have agreed. I ask you whether you agree or not." Nobody moved, but that was only for a second.

"Don't be silly, Arthur," Molly said, coming near him and grabbing his hand. "You didn't have to ask. Of course, the poor dear. Where is he?"

"He'll be coming shortly," Arthur said as he slinked down on a chair and ran his hand once more through his sparse red hair. A few seconds of relaxation and then he stood up again, his nose sniffing the air. "lly, is something burning?"

"Oh no! The dinner!" Brandishing her wand, she pointed towards the kitchen. "Nox." The fire on the stove went out, but it was too late. Half the soup had bubbled its way to the stovetop to form a little swamp on the kitchen floor and the meat that had been frying now resembled a lump of coal. "Guess we'll be having sandwiches tonight." Seeing Ron's stricken look, she added, "We ran out of corned beef last week, dear."

Ginny smiled at the exchange and then resumed her staring towards the green fire. Everyone else was also looking and then her father started to scratch his head. "It couldn't take this-" But he stopped for then a large 'pop' roared and out came forth Dumbledore with a little yellow box in his hands and a large grin on his old, wizened face. "Hello Molly," he said and then acknowledged the rest individually with their names. "I'm sure Arthur has already informed you of the matter?"

"Yes, Headmaster."

"Again, I do not wish to make you both feel pressured into doing this."

"Headmaster, we would be honored to house the poor dear. Is he still injured? Should we call the local nurse?"

"Madame Pomfrey has tended his wounds." He paused as then another 'pop' was heard and a man in patched clothing and a large black dog appeared.

"Professor Lupin!" Hermione said and paused in front of the dog to give him a smile. "Hey Snuffles." The large black dog muzzled her hand and did the same to Ron. "What are you doing-?" She was forced to stop as another 'pop' resounded and Professor Snape appeared.

"Everything sound here, Headmaster?" He asked. He was obviously trying to ignore the dog and Ginny noted that the dog, however oddly, seemed to be trying to do the same.

"Please do a quick patrol around the grounds, Severus," Dumbledore said and then added with another large smirk, "and do bring 'Snuffles' with you." The dog gave a small growl but then walked stiffly out the door with Professor Snape. Both seemed highly reluctant to be near each other.

Finally, the last 'pop' was heard and out came a man who Ginny did not recognize at all. He was tall and wide, but in a muscular way. His hair was cropped short to his head and in his large arms was a grown person wrapped from head to toe in an over-sized cloak.

"Molly, this is Alden Nester from the Floo Regulation Panel in the Ministry." Arthur said introducing the man. He strode forward and gave herm a nod of hello. "Alden, this is my wife and my kids. Well, all the red heads," he amended and Hermione gave him a quick grin.

"Where should I place him, Arthur?"

"Still hasn't come around?"

Alden shook his head. Arthur, scratching his head, looked around. "Where to put him?"

"He can stay in my room," Ron said as he finally got off the steps and stood next to his father. "Bill and Charlie are leaving tomorrow anyways and the twins will have their room back tomorrow."

Arthur looked towards his two elder sons. "Going back so soon? Are you sure?"

"I got word that some of the dragons are getting out of hand. Just like before. I reckon they can sense that he has come back," Charlie said. "If... if Voldemort attacked last night I'm sure they'll be even more so when I get back."

Alden gave forth a large, booming laugh that could have rivaled Hagrid's. Almost. Ginny watched as the bundle in cloaks was shifted into Bill's arms. Some of the cloak parted and she caught sight of mussed up blonde hair poking from the end. "Scrawny, but heavy," Alden said. Walking back to the fireplace, he leaned forward and mumbled a charm Ginny couldn't quite hear. "No one followed. Once I get back to the Office, I'll cut off the connection indefinitely. A Ministry car will be loaned to you until the whole matter is cleared."

"Thank you, Alden."

"No problem."

The front door opened and in stormed Professor Snape with his left hand clutched in his right. His eyes were burning with anger. The dog, in turn, looked smug. 'If dogs could look smug,' Ginny thought. "What happened?" Professor Lupin asked looking alarmingly at the wound on Snape's left hand.

"This... this canine should be trained some more, Remus," Professor Snape gritted out and the dog growled. Professor Lupin came over and put a hand on the dog's head and it calmed. "The grounds are clear. All I found was a bunch of gnomes trying to get into the garden, but other then th everything is fine." He walked over to Bill and pulled out a golden potion with swirls of orange all around. "Once he wakes, he must drink this."

"What is it?" Bill asked curiously, shifting the body's weight and grabbing onto the potion. Percy came over and helped him.

"It's primary purpose is to finish healing up his wounds," Snape said. "My own special mix. The second purpose is to make him incapable of crossing the boundary I have set up around this house. He can go no further then the fence and the nearer he is, the less magical aptitude he has. He must drink all of it - even if you have to force him." With that he sent a look towards Arthur. "He'll be incapable of magic for the first twelve hours, but depending on his level in wizardry it can be as less as an hour. Since he was the second to top in his year, and in my house, I expect him to break that restriction within two hours."

Hermione and Ron exchanged shocked glances. The wizard came from Snape's house? But Snape's house is Slytherin. A Slytherin saved a Muggle!? Dumbledore stepped forward to Arthur and gave him a black wand that was at least 11 inches. Ron, staring at it, felt a pang of recognition. Glancing again towards Hermione with her bewildered and confused face, he realized she must have felt the same recognition go through her. "His wand." A honk was issued from outside and Snape, looking out the window, nodded.

"Fletcher is here with the Ministry cars." Walking out, he returned with a set of keys and gave them to Arthur. "We must be going."

Dumbledore agreed and gave them all one last look and bow. "I'll double the wards," he said and then put the box of lemon drops in Molly's hands. "If anything happens, anything at all, I ask you all to take one lemon drop each."

"Whatever for, Headmaster?"

"You'll find they're all bewitched to send the holder immediately to the Leaky Cauldron. I have put twelve lemon drops in this box."

"Twelve, Headmaster?" Ron asked, his grin widening. "Does that mean Harry can come over?"

Dumbledore gave a nod. "The attack was a bit too near Harry's location. I believe Voldemort is beginning to figure his way around the spell cast around Harry's relatives' house. For if he didn't, he wouldn't be capable of performing any spell in Little Whinging at all." Another honk was heard. "He'll be arriving tomorrow morning with Remus and... and Snuffles," his eyes twinkled, "since you have all asked so much for his stay."

"Thank you, Dumbledore," Arthur said.

"No, thank you," Dumbledore said and then turned around. "Thank all of you." And with that, he walked out with the rest of his entourage.

Bill, his face giving a little grimace, shifted the weight in his arms again. "Oy, Mr. Nester wasn't lying about this boy's weight."

"I told you to start getting those weight lifts from Sir Flannis," Charlie said as he took the bundle from his elder brother. The cloak once again slipped slightly off and everyone saw dusty boots, but expensive ones, poke out. Ron again felt that sinking feeling as if he knew whom those boots belonged to. "It'd build up your puny arms."

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