It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 39

"Right . . . I'll tell Sirius not to worry, you took good care of it tonight," replied Harry, as he walked over and gave his friend a hug.  "See you later."  Turning to Ted and Andromeda, Harry became serious.  "Ted, the Ministry is going to fall soon, Voldemort has half the staff either infiltrated with Death Eaters or they're under an 'Imperious' spell.  They'll start hunting for Muggle-born and half-blood Witches and Wizards; please make plans to go into hiding as soon as you can. Andromeda is safe; she's a Black, after all, but you could be killed. You must be  ready to disappear. . . if worse comes to worse, 'Apparate' to Hogsmeade and talk to Aberforth Dumbledore at the Hogs Head, he'll be able to help."

"Harry!" Andromeda's hand flew to her throat. "How do you know all of this?"

Harry smiled. "It's hard to explain, but . . . one day soon, I'll be able to tell you all about it . . . just please listen to me, okay?"

"I will, Harry.  I'll get started planning where to go, and all, straightaway.  Thanks," Ted replied. "I have a few friends I'd better contact, as well, after we hear news about the Ministry; they might not believe me until then."  Harry nodded and shook hands with him and gave Andromeda a hug.

Walking over to the cauldron, Harry grabbed the edge and Andromeda pointed at the side of the old pot with her wand.  There was a blue flash of light and Harry was gone.

* * *

"No sign of Harry?"asked Ginny, when her father and Fred came through the door.  She closed it and turned to look at her father and brother.

"He's not here yet?" asked Arthur, looking to Molly, who stood at the kitchen sink, gazing out into the yard.  She shook her head.

"He and Hagrid were seen flying fast and low, by Bill and Fleur.  Then they had their own fight to get through,"  Molly replied.  "They're the only ones who have returned, so far.  They're out back, sending the Thestral home to Hogwarts." 

Ginny gasped and headed for the door, throwing it open.  Remus entered, supporting George, who was spattered in blood.  "Oh, no, not again!"  Molly ran forward.

"No, Molly, he's still got his ear . . . Severus was careful not to repeat that little bit of the fight, but he did have to inflict some damage;  a cutting spell.  I've used the counter-spell to slow the bleeding and there's a bottle of 'Essence of Dittany' in my pocket," finished Remus, as he heaved George onto the couch and collapsed into a nearby arm chair.  Digging into his jacket, he handed the small bottle to the Weasley matriarch.  "Molly, if you'd be so kind."  She took the bottle and turned to administer the healing liquid to her son.

George's entire shirt front was torn and blood-soaked.  When Molly magically removed it, there was a visible gash, but the bleeding had almost stopped.  George seemed to be semi-conscious, but when she started applying the 'Dittany', he sat straight up, yowling, "BLOODY HELL, MUM!"

"George!  Quiet! Lie down!  I have to apply this 'Dittany' or you'll have a nasty looking scar!"

"War wounds are dead sexy, Molly, isn't that right, Bill?" Remus informed her, laughing, as he looked around at the others crowding into the room: Bill, Fleur, Arthur and Fred, who quickly came over by the couch, inspecting the 'damage' to his twin.  Remus frowned. "No word from Harry?"

"Not yet, but here come Tonks and Kingsley," Ginny informed them, from her post by the door.  "Oh, and there's Sirius and Mad-Eye.  Oh, dear, Sirius is hurt, too!"

Remus was up out of the armchair and through the door like a shot, running to put an arm around his old friend, whose arm was bleeding and there was a nasty burn on his leg.  Tonks was on the other side, while Kingsley gave Mad-Eye an arm to lean on, as he seemed to have lost his magical leg somewhere along the way.