Harry Potter and the Legacy of Merlin

Chapter 7

Problem At The Burrow

    Harry woke up next morning feeling sick. A cold shower did little to cheer him. He went down to the Great Hall to see Snape and Dumbledore waiting for him. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were also there. And there, next to Professor Flitwick, was Remus Lupin! Harry’s heart gave a leap of joy. He forgot his gloominess and ran to Lupin. Lupin got up and hugged him gently.

    “How’re you, Harry?”

    “Fine, Remus, fine.”

    “Glad to see you. You’re not looking very healthy, though. Had a good sleep?”

    “Yeah,” Harry lied.

    “Harry, how would you like to go to the Burrow for a few days? Hermione will arrive there today as well. But you’ll have to be back by the end of this week, we have some plans for you. But we thought it might be a good idea for you to relax and have some fun with your friends first,” Dumbledore said.

    Harry nodded, “I’d love to.”

    “Have a seat, Potter,” Professor McGonagall said, “Your O.W.L. results will be arriving soon.”

    Harry obeyed. Sure enough, just as soon as he’d started on his porridge, a huge owl swooped in and dropped a bundle on his head. Then it helped itself to Harry’s porridge and flew off. Harry opened the thick parchment envelope with trembling fingers.

He read through it once, then the second time, and then again. He looked up at his teachers with an incredible look on his face.

“Well, Potter?” Snape asked.

Harry looked blankly at him and extended the sheet to him. Snape read it and frowned. He passed it to McGonagall, who read it and passed it to Dumbledore without a word. Dumbledore read it and passed it to Remus. Remus read it and passed it to Flitwick. Then they all burst into a deafening applause.

“Well done, Harry!” Remus said.

“Excellent, my boy!” said Dumbledore.

“Not bad, Potter,” said Snape.

“Keep it up, Potter,” said McGonagall.

Harry still couldn’t believe it. So many O.W.L.s! He wondered how many Hermione had received. He finished his breakfast speedily. Then Remus took him to the Burrow using a Portkey (a spoon).

As soon as he stepped on the floor of the Burrow, Hermione grabbed him in a bear hug, followed by Mrs. Weasley. All the other Weasleys shook hands with him, and Ron clapped him on the back as well.

“How many O.W.L.s did you get?” Hermione asked eagerly.

“Let him sit, for Merlin’s sake, Hermione!” Ron said.

“How many did you get?” Harry asked her, sitting down on a chair.

“Fourteen!” she said happily.

“And you?” Harry asked Ron.

“Nine. What about you, mate?”

“I-uh, I got twenty.” Harry said quietly.

The room went deathly quiet. Then suddenly, like at Hogwarts, everyone broke into spontaneous clapping. Hermione put her arms around him and exclaimed, “You broke the record!” and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Congratulations, mate!” Ron said.

“Harry!” cried Fred, “How could you, mate?”

“How could you? What happened to your priorities?” George asked, in mock sadness.

Harry laughed out as Mrs. Weasley chased them around with a feather duster in her hand. It was very cosy, almost like being at home. Harry felt happy and satisfied. Ron and Hermione were still Prefects. Ginny had been made a Prefect, too, much to the chagrin of Fred and George.

“Disgraces to our names,” they said.

***

The week at The Burrow passed quickly. Harry enjoyed himself as much as he could, and tried his best not to think about the student death eater at Hogwarts. He wondered why he had been called to the school earlier. Still, he was thankful that he was not at the Dursleys’ anymore, that is, till the last day of his stay.

Harry woke up early that morning, thinking about a friend turned traitor. He wondered if he should tell Dumbledore, but then decided against it. Suddenly, he heard a huge crashing sound. Ron sat up in his bed and looked around for a while. Then both of them ran downstairs. Five Death Eaters stood there, holding Ginny captive. Everyone else had also arrived, hearing the crash. However, before they could do anything, they Disapparated, taking Ginny with them. Mrs. Weasley screamed and fainted. All her sons went deathly pale. Mr. Weasley ran to inform Dumbledore. Hermione rushed to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Come with me,” she whispered. Harry followed her quietly, his head in a whirl. He didn’t understand why Voldemort would want Ginny captured.

“Harry?” said Hermione softly.

“Oh, yeah?” he returned to his senses and looked around. She had taken him to the field behind the house.

“Can you Apparate?” she asked.