Chapter 14 Halloween Sucks

A week passed, and it was Friday, Harry was making his first visit to Mr. Black. Patrick went with him, simply because the boy didn't know the man. They entered St. Bridget's and went to the same room as before.

Sirius was sitting up and talking to a man, who wore crumpled, darned clothes, and had sandy hair peppered with grey. The new man also had quite a few scars on his face. They both turned when the door open, and both broke out with smiles.

"Harry," Sirius said, waving him over, "is it that time already? Great! Meet Remus Lupin, he was also a friend of your dads," he said, looking much livelier than he had last week.

"Harry," Remus said, getting up, circling the bed and holding out his hand, "It's good to meet you at last." His eyes were kind, and he seemed like a very mellow person.

Harry shook the hand, and the three adults gave their welcomes to each other. Harry sat on a chair next to the bed, Patrick stayed by the door. Remus retook his chair, and they all stared at each other for a minute.

Harry cleared his throat. "Mr. Lupin, why have I not met you before?" he asked, a hurt look and a curious tilt of his head.

"You told me in your letters that you didn't want to meet me right away. The letters said that you wanted to settle at Hogwarts. I also got letters from you Aunt, telling me not to come to her house," the confused man stated, looking to Sirius, who shrugged.

"I'm sorry, sir, I've never heard of you before today," Harry said, looking to Patrick, who was frowning.

"We know that Harry's letters were being diverted, but we had no idea someone was answering them," he said deep in thought. Harry was answering his own post now, vetted by the goblins. He hadn't even investigated the possibility that someone would have pretended to be Harry, just to hold people off. Death Eaters he could understand, but friends of the family… that just wasn't right.

"Who would do that?" Remus asked, with a bit of a growl. He was extremely upset. He thought that Harry had just been shy. He had shared all sorts of stories in those letters, and to now find out that it was all a ruse.

"We can only speculate at this point, but the misdirect was placed by Dumbledore," Patrick said, stepping nearer to Harry, just in case the two men exploded. "He informed me that it was to protect Harry. I took him at his word because it made sense," he added.

Remus took a deep breathe, while Sirius was cussing up a storm under his breath. It took a few minutes for them to settle, but they finally did.

"Well," Harry started seeing them calm down, "what have you been doing this week, Mr. Black?" he asked, desperate for a change in subject. While he wanted to know who messed with his post, he didn't want to be around angry adults.

"Reading the newspaper, mostly," the bedridden man replied, waving to the stack of papers by his bed. "The Potter Herald is much better than the Daily Prophet."

"Yes, we sold our shares of that rag, the minute after I read it," Patrick said with a sneer. He had gotten a good price for those shares; little good it did the buyer now. What with the economy going down the drain.

"Justin thought it was great to be in control of a newspaper," Harry added, shifting a bit when all eyes landed on him.

"There was no saving that… paper. It was too far gone. However, we do own some shares in your product," Justin's dad said, squeezing his shoulder.

"How was school, Harry? Any better than Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, sitting up on the bed a bit straighter.

"It's great!" the boy enthused. "Much better than Hogwarts. We get to go home every day, and we get to meet new people too. The other student that are in my year think so too. Mostly. I have only heard a few complaints. That Ron kid is still complaining about his rat. I mean, it's not like anyone else is bring their pets," Harry rambled on, not noticing the looks shared by the two friends.

"A rat, you say. Umm, can you tell me anything about this rat?" Remus asked, not convinced it would be Wormtail, but he needed to make sure. It was bad enough he shot revealing spells at every rat he saw, now he was chasing another, probably dead-end lead. Still, he wanted that rat caught. Any glimmer of information was to be scrutinized.

"Yeah, I remember it from last year. Ron kept bringing it to meals, which is gross. Umm, it's a regular grey rat, with a fat tail and it's missing a toe on its front right paw," he said, tapping his finger on his chin trying to remember.

"Do you know how old it is?" Sirius asked, leaning forward a bit in anticipation.

"No, not really. I mean, me and Ron ain't friends," the boy answered, making the two men sigh in disappointment.

"'Ron and I'," corrected Patrick, "and don't say ain't." He ruffled the boy's hair with a bit of a chuckle, then looked at the two men who were whispering to one another. "Something wrong?" he asked, making both men jerk their heads his way, like they had been caught in a prank.

"Yeah, do you know Ron's last name? Can you get one of his parents here? Maybe call the police?" Remus said as calmly as he could, but he was shaking a bit in rage. His eyes flashed yellow, causing Harry to yelp and push back his chair. "Sorry, Harry, I'm a bit off at the moment. Patrick, can we take this outside? Harry can talk to Sirius more." He got up and left, hoping the other man would follow.

"Sure," the confused, yet intrigued, man said. "I'll be right outside, Harry."

"Okay," the boy said, nodding his head, just glad that the angry man was gone.

"Don't worry about Remus," Sirius tried to console. "He's just angry at something," he added, keeping his anger off his face.

"What? Does it have to do with Ron's rat?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Yes, maybe, but that's all I'll tell you. Best keep it a secret for now, okay?" the black-haired man said, patting the boy on the arm, after he scooted his chair back.

"Okay, I guess," was all the answer he got.

So, Sirius turned talks to Harry's parents. They talked for a good hour before Patrick returned, without Remus, to take Harry home. The two said good-bye and went back to the mansion.

Later that week, Patrick was reading the paper, and it told the story of how a man named Peter Pettigrew was captured. He was found as a pet at the Weasley home, though they didn't print the name, just that is was a wizard's home. The man was currently in the new jail, which was warded against any means of escape, including Animagus.

He showed the story to Patrice, who got scared that one of these Animagus, could get passed the wards. So, he called the goblins to find out if they could. No, he was told, Animagus still register as a wizard to the wards. The Finch-Fletchley adults sighed in relief.

They were still on tenterhooks over the unrest in the wizarding world. They went about their daily routine but kept a watchful eye on everything. Their businesses weren't warded after all, but they did each carry a portkey around their necks. They still feared for their coworkers. It was nerve-racking waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Time went by and nothing happened, some people started to relax, while other got more tense. It was around the time of Halloween, and Harry and Justin had invited their all their friends, including the purebloods, to stay the night, so they could go trick-or-treating. The Weasley's, sans Percy, were happy to go. Neville had to have Patrick talk to his gran, but she soon conceded. Luna simply showed up.

First there was a party held, with all those in Harry's year group and their siblings. It started around three in the afternoon and was to commiserate the dead. They then went trick-or-treating around six in the evening.

While not a widespread custom, they did find one place to go. They were all running around a street that was set up with lights, and props, to scare the children. House to house they went, just enjoying the festivities. Each dressed in costume, which the purebloods thought was wicked.

Soon it was time to head back to the mansion, first they watched some horror movies, which fascinated the wizard raised kids. Then they stayed up to tell ghost stories, wizarding and non. The wizard-raised kids didn't understand why the 'muggleborn' would fear ghosts, but the stories were cool.

They all feel asleep around midnight, everyone camped out in sleeping bags in the drawing room. Around two in the morning, a frantic knock came on the front door. Whoever it was, was banging loudly, making the children scramble to the entrance hall. Patrick hollered at them not to answer the door and go back into the room.

Patrick, after making sure the kids listened, answered the door, his gun behind his back.

There, huddled together, looking like they had just come from battle, were the Weasley parents, and Percy, Mr. Lovegood, and a few policemen.

"Oh my, what ever happened?" Patrick asked, storing his gun in the waist of his pajama pants, and waved them in.

"The Burrow is gone," Molly wailed, leaning heavily on her husband. "Thank Merlin, the kids were here!" She looked around to find her children. Not seeing them, she panicked a bit, until she heard them yell.

"What?" came the cry from the drawing room, as the Weasley children all rushed forward. The rest followed. Everyone who had a parent there, went to them. They weren't going to be left out if they could help it. Hermione and Dean, stood by Harry, who was standing at the far wall, just watching, while Justin and his parents played host to the distraught families.

"They came early this morning, just after midnight. Dressed like Death Eaters," Arthur started, guiding his wife to the nearest seat, which was a bench used to take off shoes. The kids crowded around, each touching a parent to make sure they were there and okay. "The wards flared; Molly ported away. I called the police on the… phone, like I was instructed, and they came as soon as they could." He nodded to the three police officers standing by the door.

The grimaced a bit but nodded that he was correct. It had been one of those nights. Too many people attacked. Everyone in the wizarding world that had sent their children to Dags, was attacked this night. There were quite a few at St. Mungo's and St. Bridget's. They tried to get them all to St. Bridget's, but a few claimed they needed to stay at St. Mungo's."

"But by that time," Mr. Weasley continued, "they had dropped the wards, and were setting fire to the house. I'm pretty sure it was Fiendfyre, but I can't be positive."

"It was," one of the cops said. "We left a team there to tame it."

"Oh, well, I used my portkey to Dags when I realized there was nothing I could do," Arthur said, sitting down heavily next to Molly, who was clutching his jacket. "Molly had already sent a message to Percy, and then the police got him from Hogwarts," he said, patting his son on the back, who was sitting morosely next to him. "Then we came here," he finished.

"Why didn't you port out sooner?" Patrice wanted to know, handing Molly some tea, which she just brewed.

"I wanted to see if I could save the house. Molly had already left, Percy was at school, and the rest of the kids were here, so…" he trailed off looking haunted. He will never forget the sight of his home burning. He was just glad that none of the rest of his family saw that. Everything they had ever worked for, as a family, gone. Years of magic, sweat, and muscle, just ash now.

"Well, at least you, and your family, are safe," Patrick said, handing Arthur a triple shot of whiskey. He looked askingly, at Molly, but she declined, holding up her teacup.

"Daddy?" Luna asked, tilting her head at her father.

"Yes," he sighed, making her nod in understanding.

From the byplay they figured that the same had happened to the Lovegood house.

"Sir," Neville said quickly to one of the policemen, "has anyone checked my gran?" he asked with a fearful look.

"I'll call it in and get someone over there right now," the man said, stepping outside and talking into his radio.

"I'm sure she's fine," Justin said, giving the boy a one-armed hug. While the others, not being held by their parents, patted him on the back.

"You can all stay the night here, and we'll see about finding you a new house in the morning. I think everyone is going to be sleeping late tomorrow," Patrice said, putting a hand on Molly's arm and guiding her up the stairs to the adult wing. Arthur downed his drink and followed.

"You stay here, kids," he said to his children when they made to come with. "You mum needs me right now, and I'd feel better if you were all together," he added, looking at Percy like he should keep a close watch on them. Percy nodded, and started hustling his siblings to the drawing room, where he had seen them come from.

"Officers, thanks for bringing them. We have them from here," Patrick said, nodding to the policemen.

"We just wanted to report they are free of spells. We checked before we came," a cop told him, as they moved towards the door.

"Thanks, for that," Mr. Finch-Fletchley said as he closed the door and then said, "Come, Xeno, let's get you to bed. Do you want Luna?" He looked to the slight girl, who was looking at her daddy.

"Ladybug, stay with your friends," was the troubled answer as he was led away.

"Okay, Daddy," she said airily, and then went back to her sleeping bag and laid down. Her thoughts drifting on what had happened that night. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, safe in knowing her friends and daddy were nearby. She didn't want to talk about how close she had come to losing her remaining parent. That would lead to conversing about her mum. So, she played possum.

All the other kids were soon sitting in a circle.

"Oh, my goodness," breathed Hermione, holding on to a crying Ginny. "I am so sorry this has happened to you. I hope that you can find a new home," she said, rubbing her hand up and down Ginny's back in a comforting manner.

"Dad has a better job now," Fred started, grasping his twin's arm,

"so, we should be okay," George finished, leaning on Fred.

"Maybe we could get a house like this one," Ron stated, looking around the elaborate room.

"I doubt that," Fred said, not harshly.

"Dad's not that rich," agreed George.

"Besides," Percy said, a slight glare at his youngest brother, "we don't need something this fancy."

"Don't be too hard on him, Percy," Dean said, patting Ron on the shoulder. "Everyone dreams of living in a house like this, at one point or another."

"I know I did," Harry concurred. Then beamed with Justin shot him a welcoming smile. He was grateful for the Finch-Fletchleys for taking him in. It truly was a dream come true.

"We should try to sleep," Hermione said, pulling her sleeping bag next to Ginny's.

"Yeah," came the agreement from a few of the others. They all settled in their bags, Percy on the couch with a blanket, but it was hours before anyone slept.

Patrice was right, everyone had a late start that morning. She had called the school and offices and made their excuses for the day. Arthur sent an owl to Hogwarts, stating that his sons would return the next day. Then they all gathered in the formal dining room because it had a bigger table. Everyone was eating what they could, some a lot, some little.

After breakfast, Patrick sent everyone but the Weasley kids, and Luna, off to go flying, though Hermione brought a book and just watched. Neville sat with her and fretted. Patrick made sure Mike was with them, and then took the rest out to house hunt.

Since he was a banker, he offered the Weasleys and the Lovegoods a loan, then explained, what it was. They took him up on his offer, and soon were in town looking at real estate. It might take a few days, but magic made selling and buying much faster. Until then they could stay with the Finch-Fletchleys. Each family decided to stay in the new magical town and cut all their ties with the other world.

Xeno asked Patrick about a start up loan for his paper. He didn't want to give that up, and everything had been destroyed the night before.

Patrick had read the Quibbler before, and thought the town could use a paper like that. Even if it was a bit quirky. So he agreed.

It wasn't until late afternoon when they found out that Neville's grandmother was at St. Bridget's. Patrice took him there immediately, and he stayed until visiting hours were over. She was in a bad way, but they were very hopeful she would pull through. Neville would be staying at the mansion until such time as he could go home. If there was a home, he didn't know if it survived. The police only informed him about his gran.

His parents were doing better, but still no coherent. They did react to stimuli though, so it was an improvement.

It was going to be a crowded house for the next week or so. Only Percy and the twins would be going away to Hogwarts. Everyone else was staying there.

The portkeys all had to be reconfigured to leave from the mansion to the school. The Weasley twins had to get back to Hogwarts, they were only supposed to be there for Halloween, and that was only because Dumbledore thought they would try and talk Harry back.

Not going to happen, but the twins said they'd mention it. They did… as they left.

"By the way, Harry," Fred said, standing on the portkey square at six in the morning. They would be ported to Hogshead, where they would then walk to Hogwarts. Ron and Ginny were already at Dags.

"Dumbledore wants you back," finished George, giving Harry a wink.

"Umm, okay," Harry said, looking back and forth between them.

"Just thought you'd like to know," they said together, then Fred disappeared, George quickly followed. Percy had left a few moments earlier.

"That was weird," Harry said with a shrug, then stood in the square to get to school.

"It sure was," Patrice said and then went to look for Patrick to let him know what the boys had said.