Butterfly Effect ; H. Potter

21. the portkey.

"We told you to destroy them!" said Mrs. Weasley furiously, holding up what were unmistakable more Ton-Tongue Toffees. "We told you to get rid of the lot! Empty your pockets, go on, both of you!"

It was an unpleasant scene; the twins had evidently been trying to smuggle as many toffees out of the house as possible, and it was only by using her Summoning Charm that Mrs. Weasley managed to find them all.

"Accio! Accio! Accio!" she shouted, and the toffees zoomed from all sorts of unlikely places, including the lining of George's jacket and the turn-ups of Fred's jeans.

"We spent six months developing those!" Fred shouted at his mother, as she threw the toffees say.

"Oh, a fine way to spend six months!" she shrieked. "No wonder you didn't get more O.W.Ls!"

All in all, the atmosphere was not very friendly as they made their departure. Mrs. Weasley was still glowering as she kissed Mr. Weasley on the cheek, though not nearly as much as the twins, who had each hoisted their rucksacks onto their backs and walked out without a word to her.

"Well, have a lovely time," said Mrs. Weasley, "and behave yourselves," she called after the twins' retreating backs, but they did not look back or answer. "I'll send Bill, Charlie, and Percy along around midday," Mrs. Weasley said to Mr. Weasley, as he, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Antheia, and Ginny set off across the dark yard after Fred and George.

It was chilly and the moon was still out. Only a dull, greenish tinge along the horizon to their right showed that daybreak was drawing closer. Harry, having been thinking about thousands of wizards speeding towards the Quidditch World Cup, sped up to walk with Mr. Weasley.

Antheia took this opportunity to turn to Ginny.

"So," she started, smirking slightly. "You still like Harry? You didn't tell us last night and I know you do!"

Ginny immediately blushed scarlet. "Why would you think that?"

"It's obvious, Ginny," said Hermione. "You got really flustered when he smiled at you yesterday."

"What!" Ginny said, still extremely red. "I don't like Harry - Theia likes Harry!"

Antheia let out a loud laugh that made Harry glance back at her.

Harry had heard the last bit of Ginny's sentence. But he knew Antheia didn't like him - at least not in that way. Why would she? Harry knew he didn't like her in that way either. It was just that something in Harry's stomach fluttered at the sound of her laughter.

They trudged down the dark, dank lane towards the village, the silence broken only by their footsteps. The sky lightened very slowly as they made their way through the village, its inky blackness diluting to deepest blue, Harry's hands and feet were freezing. Mr. Weasley kept checking his watch.

They didn't have breath to spare for talking as they began to climb Stoatshead Hill, stumbling occasionally in hidden rabbit holes, slipping on thick black tuffets of grass. Every breath Antheia took stabbed her chest, and her legs were weak with her weight as she continued to climb clumsily.

"Whew," panted Mr. Weasley, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his sweater. "Well, we've made good time - we've got ten minutes ..."

Hermione came over the crest of the hill last, clutching a stitch in her side.

"Now we just need the Portkey," said Mr. Wesley, replacing his glasses and squinting around at the ground. "It won't be big ... come on ..."

They spread out, searching. They had only been at it for a couple of minutes, however, when a shout rent the still air.