Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and Whatnot

I didn’t see it at first, but George stopped and I turned around. It was a gleaming lynx that said in the loud, deep voice of Kingsley, The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming.

First there was silence, then somebody screamed and guests started running or Disapparating. All the protective charms on the Burrow had broken.

I turned back to George quickly and said “I love you” before turning to run.

“Wait!” he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him, crashing his lips onto mine in a desperate, passionate kiss, and then said “I love you too.”

Tears started to well up in my eyes as I ran in the direction of Hermione’s voice. Cloaked and masked figures were appearing all around us. I ran into Ron and grabbed his hand, then we both reached Harry and Hermione. As soon as Ron grabbed Hermione’s arm, she turned on the spot and we were engulfed in darkness.

“Where are we?” asked Ron.

We were still surrounded by people.

“Tottenham Court Road” said Hermione “Walk, just walk, we need to find somewhere for you to change.”

We began walking in no particular direction, just trying to get past all the people. The muggles were staring, and some giggling because Harry and Ron were still in their dress robes. We finally found an alleyway where no one could detect us and Hermione started rummaging in her handbag. She pulled out jeans, socks, and the Invisibility Cloak.

“Caroline, do you have the rest of their clothes?”

“Oh, right” I said, looking into my bag, then pulling out sweatshirts. “Here you are” I handed one to Ron.

“How the ruddy hell-?”

“Basically she’s a genius” I said.

Ron made a face at me as if saying ‘Duh’

“Undetectable Extension Charm,” said Hermione. “Tricky, but I think I’ve done it okay; anyway, I managed to fit everything we need in these.”

She shook the bag, and it even echoed as we heard heavy objects move around inside.

“Oh, damn, that’ll be the books, and I had them all stacked by subject…Oh well…Harry you’d better take the Invisibility Cloak. Ron hurry up and change…”

Damn? Since when does she swear? When they were ready, we walked on to look for a place to stay. We passed a group of drunk men who whistled at us.

“All right darling?” one yelled to Hermione, who was the closest to them, I had hidden myself sort of behind Ron. “Fancy a drink? Ditch ginger and come and have a pint!”

“Let’s sit down somewhere,” Hermione said quickly, while I grabbed Ron’s arm to prevent him from yelling back at them.

“Look this will do, in here!” And she pushed us into a dingy 24-hour café.

Luckily, it was mostly empty. Hermione and I slipped into a booth with Harry and Ron across from us. Herms ordered three cappuccinos; only three because Harry was invisible and we couldn’t take any chances at drawing attention to ourselves.

A few minutes later, two workmen sat at the booth next to ours and I said in Hermione’s ear “We really need to go somewhere soon. Having people around makes me nervous.”

She nodded and whispered across to Ron and Harry “I say we find a quiet place to Disapparate and head for the countryside. Once we’re there, we could send a message to the Order.”

As Hermione was looking for change to pay for the coffee, I saw a glimpse of Harry’s wand as he drew it, then the next second I had ducked under the table as Ron had leapt across and pushed Hermione flat on the bench.

A spell hit the wall right where Ron had been and Harry stunned one of the men behind us. I drew my wand, but as I was still under the table, I couldn’t get a good target on either of them. I saw Ron fall to the floor bound head to foot in black ropes and someone screamed, the waitress I’m guessing.

Hermione had moved over towards Ron, so I quickly crawled out, just as the standing Death Eater yelled Expulso! and the table blew up. The shock sent me and apparently Harry both into the wall.

I heard Hermione scream Petrificus Totalus! and the second Death Eater crumpled to the floor. She shakily cut the ropes binding Ron as Harry helped me up. I rubbed the back of my head...that's gonna leave a mark. I went over to look at the Death Eaters.

“Who are they?” I asked, my voice a little shaky.

“I should’ve recognized him, he was right there the night Dumbledore died.” Harry said, looking at one of them.

“That’s Dolohov,” said Ron. “I recognize him from the old wanted posters. I think the big one’s Thorfinn Rowle.”

“Never mind what they’re called!” Hermione cried somewhat hysterically. “How did they find us? What are we going to do?”

“Lock the door,” Harry said, “and Ron, turn out the lights.”

“What are we going to do with them? Kill them? They’d kill us. They had a good go just now.” Ron said quietly.

I looked at him in shock and Hermione shuddered. Sure they had just tried to kill us, but killing people did not exactly seem like fun. It just didn’t seem all that necessary in this case.

Harry shook his head and said “We just need to wipe their memories. It’s better like that, it’ll throw them off the scent. If we killed them it’d be obvious we were here.”

I sighed inwardly. Thank God. Hermione wiped their memories as I helped Harry and Ron clean the café up, making it look as if nothing had happened. We tried to figure out a place to go. Harry was set on Grimmauld Place, and in the end, we gave in since it seemed like the safest we would be able to find right now.

Ron re-illuminated the café, and on Harry’s count, we reversed the spells on the waitress and the Death Eaters. Then we were gone before they had a chance to stir.