Ron and Hermione sat themselves down opposite him looking happier than they had done since he had first arrived at number 12, Grimmauld Place, and Harry's feeling of giddy relief, which had been somewhat dented by his encounter with Lucius Malfoy, and his fears of Ed being obliviated after his testimony, swelled again. The gloomy house seemed warmer and more welcoming all of a sudden; even Kreacher looked less ugly as he poked his snoutlike nose into the kitchen to investigate the source of all the noise.
"'Course, once Dumbledore turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," said Ron happily, now dishing great mounds of mashed potatoes onto everyone's plates.
"Yeah, he swung it for me," said Harry. Then he blinked. "Um..where's..?"
He was going to say 'Ed' but at that moment, at that thought. The scar on his forehead burned so badly that he clapped his hand to it, and left him gasping.
"What's up?" said Hermione, looking alarmed.
"Scar," Harry mumbled."It's nothing...it happens all the time now..."
None of the others had noticed a thing; all were helping themselves to food while gloating over Harry's narrow escape; Fred, George, and Ginny were still singing. Hermione looked rather anxious, but before she could say anything, Ron said happily, " I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening to celebrate with us, you know."
"I don't think he'll be able to, Ron." Mrs. Weasley said, setting a huge plate of roast chicken down infront of Harry. "He's really very busy at the moment.
"HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF--"
"SHUT UP!" roared Mrs. Weasley.
Kingsley did show up for dinner that night. As soon as dinner was served and the others had taken their places at it, Harry decided it was time to ask him the one question that was bothering him the most.
"Where's Ed? After he testified at the hearing and all, I'd though he'd be brought back here straight away like I was. I mean, um.."
The man's face showed the slightest creases of worry, but he replied, smoothly, "I'm sure he's just fine, Harry."
Harry noticed Sirus look at Kinsley and narrow his eyes slightly. Then, Sirius chuckled. And, after a few moments, slapped the table with one hand as if enjoying a good joke. Harry blinked, and ignored him, continuing his explanation over the laughter.
"Ed took a huge risk testifying for me. I want to know for sure he's alright. Where is he?" Harry pressed.
"B-big risk? What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, she widened her eyes.
"I overheard them at the upper bench. They were going to have him oblivated after the trial." Harry said.
"Good riddance I say. It's not like he was.."
"..The friendliest bloke or anything. Kind of a prat.." FredorGeorge said
"Hush up you two. If only you didn't attack him every morning you'd see he was..uh..." Ginny said
"A right grouch most of the time.." Ron said. Harry shot him a look, and Ron looked down sheepishly at his dinner plate.
"You didn't hear him today..." Harry said, and looked down himself. "His testimony was.."
"That's enough you lot. Dig in, now." Mrs Weasley said.
Kingsley's face shifted to something Harry couldn't read, and he reached for a dinner roll as Mrs. Weasley set the basket down in front of him. Sirius took another look, and only laughed harder, nearly falling off his chair doing so. Harry scowled, looking hard at his godfather.
After Sirius caught his breath and wiped his tears away, Harry angrily demanded, "What?" Sirius swallowed several more barks of laughter with great effort.
"It's plain all over your face, my friend. I can tell what happened." Sirius chuckled, and dished himself some food with a smile. "Quite easily."
"Need I remind you, Sirius, that I am the one person who is keeping the Ministry off your back..." Kingsley said softly with a slight growl, as he dished himself some more food.
"WHAT?" Harry said.
Sirius coughed into his fisted hand, and looked over to Harry.
"Harry, Kingsley DOESN'T know where he is." Sirius smiled and chuckled some more. "Because I believe Ed himself gave him the slip. How many Aurors?"
"Four. Plus the two Order members that were escorting him. Lost track of him at a coffee shop. It has yet to be fully determined if Ed wasn't just taken by someone. I was busy at the time deflecting questions about your whereabouts, so I haven't had the chance to see to it myself." Kingsley growled. "What's more..Scrimgeour himself wants him, or rather, someone who matches his description, tracked down immediately. I left before he could assign me anything-- MORE that is."
Harry leaned back into his chair. Blinking at the news. Then it all clicked.
'Scrimgeour...What the...! He was that man trapped inside that stone scupture at the Ministry today! The one that wouldn't cancel! '
Harry smiled widely. "Ed must've been the one to have done it to him, especially if he's a wanted man now."
"What?! What did he do?" FredandGeorge said, mouths open.
"Spill it." Hermione said with a glare at Harry, which Harry chose to ignore.
Kingsley gave Harry a sour look.
"Well, out with it." Mrs. Weasley said, with a worried look on her face. "Whatever has the boy done?"
"By the reports filed by numerous eyewitnesses, it was justified self defense." Kingsley said "Scrimgeour tried to oblivate him himself. Right in the middle of the Minisry's hall, thinking he was a Muggle. Ed managed to dodge it, turn about, and do SOMETHING wandlessly. Scrungeour somehow got caught inside a stone sculpture of some sort..one that wouldn't cancel, as a result."
"Well..that's positively..."
"Revolting!...brilliant!" FredandGeorge said, wide grins plastered on their faces.
Kingsley looked at them with a rueful smile on his face.
"The man was trapped inside it for hours." He said simply. "Furious wouldn't be an adequate discription for his mood. Ed WILL pay dearly if he's caught. Mark my words."
"Maybe he can show us.."
"How to do what he did..?" FredandGeorge exchanged looks.
"Don't you two start. You're a handful enough by half." Mrs. Weasley said with a firm slap to the table, and an equally firm point of her finger.
"You wouldn't happen to know where he'd go, now, would you Harry?" Kingsley asked, raising a single eyebrow as he looked over to him.
Harry blinked. Then rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Sorry. Haven't the foggiest." Harry said simply.
Kingsley snorted, with a doubtful expression on his face. But said no more.
:::
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