Beyond The Veil「 The Veil Trilogy Part Ⅲ 」

[27] Earless George

I didn't get any time to ponder further on the Everharts and their mysterious Curse of Phoebus. Being a member of the Order of the Phoenix, I was extremely busy already.

From the start of that year, disappearances and killings had taken the wizarding world by storm. It was clear that the Death Eaters were wreaking havoc, but the Ministry felt powerless. Also, with Dumbledore gone, the Order was operating but lacked a key leading figure. As a result, Mad-Eye Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt did all in their power to compensate for Professor Dumbledore's absence.

One of the top missions for the Order was to bring Harry safely from Privet Drive, as he was now seventeen, and the blood protection charm that had kept him safe there would wear off. 

After much consideration and careful planning, the Order settled on using Polyjuice potion and having seven Harry Potters so that the Death Eaters would get distracted. As a result, seven different people would bring Harry Potter to the Burrow, but there would be only one real Potter and six duplicates.

Fred and George both voted to be the duplicates. Fleur reluctantly agreed on the sole condition that the person assigned to bring her over would be Bill. Ron and Hermione were also part of the lot, and one last but odd addition was Mundungus Fletcher.

Thankfully, I wasn't going to be a part of the transportation squad. I was to stay at the Burrow with Mum and Ginny. 

The waiting was the worst part.

Every second felt like an hour as Mum paced the kitchen floor, wringing her hands, while Ginny sat stiff at the table, twisting her fingers in her lap. I tried to keep myself busy, checking the protective enchantments around the Burrow, but I couldn't keep the uneasiness at bay.

Then, out of the still night, we heard it—a crash, a bang, and the unmistakable sound of broomsticks touching down outside. We all bolted to the back door.

Bill and Fleur were the first to arrive, looking battered but alive. Relief flooded the room, but it was short-lived. Minutes later, another group staggered in, Dad and Fred, both scratched and grimy, but safe.

We waited for the others, the fear and uncertainty growing thicker with every second. Dad said Harry and Hagrid had separated from the group because our Chosen One was idiot enough to use the disarming charm, alerting the Death Eaters to who the real Potter was.

No one knew where they were. But they weren't the only pair who hadn't yet reached the Burrow. Remus and George weren't here, and Mad Eye Moody and Mundungus were also missing.

We all hoped they would turn up soon. At this point, I really wished that we had some connection between the pairs, like those coins Hermione used to signify who was safe and who needed help.

Another loud crack sounded, and Mum rushed out. We followed, seeing Remus and George walking up the path. But something was terribly wrong.

George was slumped heavily against Remus, blood soaking his side, and his head wrapped hastily in a torn piece of cloak.

A cold knot twisted in my stomach as I saw George's blood-streaked face. For a moment, I couldn't move. Couldn't think. It felt like the world had tilted off its axis.

Not George. Not one of us... But then, war doesn't look for differences. It struck everyone, young and old, family and strangers. 

"He's been hit!" Remus helped George stagger inside, Mum on the other side, supporting him.

"You okay?" I asked, fetching a pair of fresh bandages and antiseptic to clean the wound.

George managed a half smile as we helped him to the couch. Mum was in tears, even though George held up a thumb to show her he was alright.

"Oh Merlin, your ear..." Ginny pointed out, and true enough, his ear had been blown off, a bloodied hole left in its place. 

In the meantime, Harry and Hagrid showed up as well, so Remus and Dad went to check. I was there with George, Mum, and Ginny.

Fred came to his side, "How're you feeling, mate?"

George looked up as if dazed, "I'm feeling holy... Saint-like..."

"Holy?" I paused. Oh dear, hole-y. A pun, even now.

When will these boys learn that not everything is a bloody joke?

"A word full of ear-related humor and you go for hole-y?" Fred shook his head as the brothers laughed together. Trust them to find humor even in the direst of situations.

Fred was grinning, but his knuckles were white where he gripped the couch. I realized then that their jokes were a defense mechanism. If they laughed, they wouldn't have to cry.

"Who did this?" I asked, looking up at Remus, who was standing next to Harry.

"Snape," Remus said grimly, pulling out a bottle of healing potion from his pocket that he gave to Mum. "Or at least someone who looked like him. Probably the Sectumsempra curse."

Snape... Finally showing his true colors.

As Mum cleaned the wound, Fred gripped George's shoulder cautiously. "Don't worry, mate. We'll tell everyone you lost it in a daring duel with fifty Death Eaters at once."

"Or that it was a tragic accident involving a rogue Bludger and Mum's new garden gnome," George joked hoarsely, earning a watery laugh from Ginny.

I was about to ask Harry what happened to him and Hagrid when Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus flew in, the silver light feeling almost blinding.

Kingsley's voice boomed through the Patronus, a heavy silence falling over the Burrow. "We have lost Mad Eye. He was struck by the killing curse, and Mundungus is nowhere to be found."

The fragile humor that the twins had managed to uphold dissolved at that revelation.

I closed my eyes as the weight of the news settled over me. Alastor Moody was dead—one more gap in the fragile shield that stood between us and the darkness. 

How many more names would we lose before this was over?

Unfortunately, there was no way to ascertain it and no way to reduce the damage.

***