A new begining - 8

Charlie let go with a snarl, and the reporter slumped to the floor. "You do that, and see to it that his camera and Quill are erased before they're returned."

"You can't do that," the reporter whined.

"Watch me," Charlie snapped. Taking the camera from Harry, he raised his wand and blasted the camera into smithereens.

The Auror roughly dragged the swearing reporter outside as he continued to threaten to press charges.

Harry was slightly taken aback by Charlie's intensity. True, it had been a rude awakening, and Harry really didn't want to talk to any reporters, but Charlie's reaction seemed over the top. Even now, he was pacing in front of the ruined door like a caged animal.

"All right, Charlie?" Harry asked tentatively. "He was a nuisance, I know, but he's just a reporter. I suppose I should just talk to them and get it over."

Harry was startled when Ginny appeared in the doorway, looking just as smudged and rumpled as Charlie. She sprinted in the room and flung herself at Harry, her eyes raking over him as her hands rapidly smoothed his hair.

"Are you all right?" she cried.

"Of course I'm all right," Harry said, growing increasingly baffled. "He just caught me off guard – I was sleeping. What are you two on about? One of those reporters was bound to get lucky sooner or later. They've been trying to sneak in here for ages."

"It makes no difference that it was only a reporter," Ginny cried. "He never should have got inside. It could have been a Death Eater. They promised top-notch security."

"Death Eater?" Harry asked, feeling as he'd just been punched in the gut. His heart began beating very fast. "I thought there weren't any left."

Both Ginny and Charlie started and averted their eyes. A wave of uneasiness overcame Harry, and he suddenly felt very nauseous. No one was going to make him go back into that kind of fear.

"Some of the few scattered Death Eaters who managed to escape alive have regrouped," Charlie said reluctantly. He refused to meet Harry's eyes as he spoke. "They're insisting Voldemort will return like he did before. They think you know more than you're telling."

"The Burrow was attacked this morning," Ginny said softly, blinking tears from her eyes.

No! It's over. Harry's mind raced. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Voldemort was dead – it was over and his life was supposed to really begin now. It was over!

"Take it easy, Harry," Ginny whispered, rubbing his back soothingly. Her hand brushed against his injured arm, causing his fingers to tingle.

He was so caught up in the news that he barely noticed it. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.

"Everyone is fine," Charlie said. "Bill's working on strengthening the wards. Ron and Fred are helping him. Ginny and I brought George in to have his new leg fitted and check on you. It's a good thing we did."

"Do you think the reporter's timing was coincidental?" Harry asked, the full implication of what could have happened finally penetrating his foggy brain.

"I don't know, but we'll find out. I'm going to go Floo Kingsley directly. I'll be back," Charlie said, nodding at Ginny before he left.

"Well, you certainly keep life exciting, don't you?" Ginny asked, grinning as she nudged him with her hip. "Budge over."

Harry's face brightened as he quickly complied. She sat on the bed and leaned back so she was lying alongside him, resting her head on his shoulder. She was on his bad side, so he couldn't wrap his arm around her and settled for kissing the top of her head instead.