The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 6

The next morning Delilah did not quietly sit in her room as she normally would. Instead she got up and headed downstairs, where Harry would be.

Delilah quietly walked down the hall and into the kitchen, where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Remus, and Tonks were sitting. All were fully dressed except Mrs. Weasley, who was wearing a quilted, purple dressing gown. They were obviously waiting for Harry.

"Oh Harry dear, do you want- oh, sorry," Mrs. Weasley apologized as she realized it was Delilah, not Harry. "I thought you were Harry."

That was obvious.

"What are you doing up?" Remus asked.

Delilah shrugged.

"I was already up and thought I'd see Harry off."

He nodded, but didn't seem convinced. Delilah started making herself scrambled eggs. Surprisingly, Mrs. Weasley let her.

"Oh yeah, I m-m-meant to t-t-tell you," said Tonks through a yawn. "Scrimgeour—"

Then Harry walked in. Mrs. Weasley jumped to her feet the moment he entered the room.

"Breakfast," she said as she pulled out her wand and hurried over to the fire.

"M-m-morning, Harry," yawned Tonks. Her hair was blonde and curly this morning. "Sleep all right?"

"Yeah," said Harry.

"I've b-b-been up all night," she said, with another shuddering yawn. "Come and sit down...."

She drew out a chair, knocking over the one beside it in the process.

"What do you want, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley called. "Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? Toast?"

"Just — just toast, thanks," said Harry.

Remus glanced at Harry, then said to Tonks, "What were you saying about Scrimgeour?"

"Oh... yeah... well, we need to be a bit more careful, he's been asking Kingsley and me funny questions...."

Mrs. Weasley placed a couple of pieces of toast and marmalade in front of Harry before sitting down on his other side and started fussing with his T-shirt, tucking in the label and smoothing out creases across the shoulders. Delilah sighed and focused on the eggs. She quickly finished and put them on a plate.

"... and I'll have to tell Dumbledore I can't do night duty tomorrow, I'm just t-t-too tired," Tonks finished, yawning hugely again.

"I'll cover for you," said Mr. Weasley. "I'm okay, I've got a report to finish anyway...."

As Delilah sat down next to Tonks, she realized that Mr. Weasley was not wearing wizard's robes, but a pair of pinstriped trousers and an old bomber jacket. He was looking at Harry.

"How are you feeling?"

Harry shrugged.

"It'll all be over soon," Mr. Weasley said bracingly. "In a few hours' time you'll be cleared."

Harry said nothing.

"The hearing's on my floor, in Amelia Bones's office. She's Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and she's the one who'll be questioning you."

"Amelia Bones is okay, Harry," said Tonks earnestly. "She's fair, she'll hear you out."

Harry nodded.

"Don't lose your temper," said Sirius abruptly. "Be polite and stick to the facts."

Harry nodded again.