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

Chapter 40

The portrait swung open to reveal a smiling Dumbledore, cheerfully waving to the trio of students.

"Hello! How was the wedding?  Get through that without any interruptions?" Albus inquired.

"The wedding was lovely, Headmaster,"  Hermione informed him.

"And the Ministry has fallen," Ron injected, before Hermione went off on a tangent about the ceremony and party.

"Rufus got away, Professor," added Harry.

Albus nodded, then straightened up and rubbed his hands together. "Well, come along, you three.  Let's get you settled, shall we?  Thanks for getting them out of sight quickly Abe," Dumbledore said to his brother, who nodded.

"This place is turning into Kings bloody Cross," Aberforth grumbled, as he made his way up the stairs and back to the bar room.

Dumbledore chuckled as the portrait swung closed, and then he turned to lead the three refugees into the school.

* * *

The Room of Requirement certainly seemed to have been quite thorough in its preparations for the Trio's arrival; separate, partitioned bedrooms, a common area with tables, sofa and chairs, and another space reserved, by the looks of it, for supplies and weapons . . . mostly, it seemed, from Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes.

Ron and Harry went to check out that stockpile, while Hermione took the opportunity to collapse on one of the sofas and kick off her shoes.  Dumbledore laughed and with a wave of his wand, an ottoman scooted across the floor to stop in front of her.   Hermione smiled and lifted her feet up onto the tufted stool, sighing in contentment.

"Now, Miss Granger, I'd like a complete review of the wedding and ensuing festivities . . . indulge your old Headmaster, won't you?"

"I'd love to," she replied, casting an eye at the boys rummaging through the boxes from Fred and George's store.  "They're oblivious; so we'll just have a nice chat."

"Some tea, perhaps?"  Albus asked.

"Oh, that would be lovely, as we never did get to the cake cutting," Hermione smiled.

"Tykey!"

'Pop!'

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"Could you please bring us some afternoon tea, with a few biscuits and perhaps a bowl of lemon drops?" Albus smiled at the House Elf standing before him.

"Right away, Headmaster.  Oh, Hello, Missy Hermione.  We was hearing you and Mister Ron and Mister Harry Potter were coming to stay at Hogwarts."  Tykey smiled at Hermione.

"Indeed, we'll be seeing a great deal of each other, Tykey.  Tell the other Elves we say hello, won't you?"  Hermione replied.

"Yes, Tykey will send your greetings!"

'Pop!'

 * * *

"Meanwhile," Arthur continued.  "The Death Eaters left the wedding a shambles, but no one was badly hurt and Molly had a small wedding cake stored safely in the house, so, the festivities continued  . . . on a smaller scale."

"Now we get to the first 'tricky' bit,"  Harry started to relate, as Arthur sat down. "But this is not my story to tell."  He turned and bowed to Severus, who stood and strode forward.

"Indeed, this is MY big scene," he smirked at Dan and Rupert, as he turned to face the rest.  "I will admit, I was a bit worried some of you would slip up and give me away, when I was installed as Headmaster," he growled, looking at Neville, but then he smirked, "My fears were, I'm glad to say, groundless."