Warding it Right
Sharpclaw and the warders arrived promptly at 8 PM. The Weasley boys were put down for the night. Gary and Arthur showed them around. They wouldn't necessarily start warding now, but needed to know the setup.
First, Gary took them through the access to the different ward stones.
The lead warder asked, "Why are there different stones?"
Gary replied, "The original area was warded with basic houselhold wards when we started. As Arthur's family increased, we added additions." He walked over to the foundation. "These tying runes were placed on every stone, timber, and board which was used for the ground floor and foundation." He turned to Arthur. "We never went through and did all of the tying runes on the original portion on the ground floor – something we should correct."
He turned back to the warder. "A different scheme and a different stone were applied to the first floor." He showed them the secondary stone. "This was so that wards and a Fidelius could be applied more easily, hiding that floor in case the family needed a fallback. If someone attacked, they would only see the ground floor."
He turned back to Arthur. "Maybe we should use a different tying scheme for the original ground floor. If there was an attack, they would only see the kitchen and rooms there – missing the new master bedrooms."
He showed them the septic system. "This is a functional piece which handles the wastes, saving any item accidentally dropped." The goblins were interested, but were wondering why they were shown this. He walked around to the other side. "Another access panel, right?" The warder nodded. "Not really."
He stepped back and allowed Arthur to open it. The ward stone for the addition came into view. "A bit of misdirection – wizards don't like to deal with wastes and so most pureblood idiots would ignore such a thing if they made it inside."
The goblins grinned. Wizards were so squeamish – and easily misdirected.
The exited and made their way to the area below the original area. The goblins were shocked.
"This is the new main ward stone. It is half buried in the ground – you're only seeing the top half. With the various ward stones tying into it, it needed to be bigger than the original stone."
The warders all walked around the stone and talked in their own language with each other. Sharpclaw, who was mostly listening, said, "Well, such a stone will reduce costs for warding."
He showed them the room prepared for the Weasley Box. He also showed them the panel which looked to be access to the separate septic tank. "This uses even another tying scheme. This has to be accessed by those who run Weasley, Prewitt, Potter."
They then entered the entrance via a hidden access – the only tie in to The Redoubt from the original house. "The second floor has its tying scheme and a ward stone. This area has two schemes and two stones." Once everyone was inside the entrance to The Redoubt, Gary closed the secret door. The warders and Arthur all looked at it and conceded that no one would find it if they didn't know it was there.
"This is an apparatition chamber. For those who are keyed in or who have been given the secret, this is the only entrance via apparition without an alarm sounding." He pointed to the tall stone fireplace. "That's for a floo entrance."
After moving to it, he cast a spell and moved a sconse. A hidden door opened. "The main ward stone for The Redoubt." He closed that door and moved to the other side and repeated his actions. Another door opened. "A secondary stone for an Emergency entrance. If someone needs to apparate or portkey in on an emergency basis, an alarm sounds throughout The Redoubt."
He moved to the elevator. It was very similar to the Ministry elevators. "The elevator has another tying scheme. The stone for it is here." He cast a spell and pushed the elevator button. The elevator opened but he ignored it. He moved everyone back and then pulled the sconse next to the elevator. One of the marble sheets that defined the elevator entrance area clicked. He pulled it up and pointed down. "Didn't know if we actually needed a separate ward for it, but just in case …" He pushed it back down and no one could see that anything was different.
They all moved into the elevator and Gary pushed the up button. Sharpclaw was curious and so he asked, "What are the colored panels for?"
Gary grinned. "You'll see."
The elevator doors opened and The Redoubt came into view. The entrance had several doors opening to it. He showed them around. "Conference room. Small kitchen. Potions lab – with it's own ventilation of course. As a matter of fact, the whole area has a separate ventilation system from the Weasley home. The two are tied into the separate septic system off to the side from the main ward stone with a stone wall between them – we wouldn't want someone to drop something dangerous into the tank and an explosion or something able to reach the main stone. A couple of rooms for office or beds."
He took them to the other side of the entrance hall. "A couple of more bedrooms and an infirmary." He pointed to the doorframe. "Starting here, the secondary stone controls the wards. A room for a healer to sleep and beds." He took them to another door and an empty room was seen. "Emergency portkey and apparition entrance."
He turned to Arthur, "I didn't add any expansion charms to make the rooms larger but they can be applied if needed."
He turned back to the warders and Sharpclaw. "Every stone and every piece of wood used for building is tied into a corresponding stone. If you notice – there aren't any real windows, just viewing portals like those found in some pureblood homes. The Redoubt is completely separate and anyone visiting it won't know they're at the Burrow. Anyone visiting the Burrow won't see the second floor once the Fidelius is placed."
He looked at Arthur and then back to the goblins. "This will be provided to Albus Dumbledore in the fight against Voldemort. But I don't want him to even know exactly where it is. I've spent a good portion of energy and time giving Arthur and Molly a safe and pleasant home and I don't want anything done which might jeopardize it. I want only Arthur and perhaps Molly to know the secret: The Redoubt is above the Burrow. I want Molly to hold the secret: The Burrow has more than the ground floor. Or even the Fidelius can cover the additions and the first floor, leaving anyone unexpectedly visiting only seeing to original portion. You can work that out with Arthur."
The goblins all spoke to each other in their own language. Arthur put his hand on Gary's shoulder in a show of thanks. He really didn't want to see his family in jeopardy.
The conversation ended and Sharpclaw turned, "The colored panels."
Gary's face took on a look of unholy glee. "Oooooh. That's a good one!" He took them to a panel next to the shaft and opened it. Several wires ended at two different stones.
Arthur got excited. "Elektricity?"
Gary shook his head. "No. Kind of. Actually the wires are plated gold or silver, depending on the stone. Those two metals are difficult the enchant and, once enchanted, are hard to disrupt with other magic. That's why they're used for money." He grinned again. "Regular muggle lighting doesn't work with a lot of magic, but a special type of light was recently developed. It use's … well, that's not important. They're called LEDs. Instead of converting electricity to light, I applied magic and connected it. So the proper magic applied will cause the panel to light either red or yellow."
He grinned at the goblins. "You know how an alarm can be tied in to warn someone if there's a breech?"
The goblins nodded.
Gary pointed up to small glass panel above. "That's an enchanted mirror, kind of like the ones that wizards use but smaller. Actually, each piece was cut from once enchanted mirror so they're tied together. Watch."
He pointed to the stone which had gold-dipped wires attached. He cast a spell simulating a pulse from a ward stone and suddenly the red portions of the colored panels started blinking. The mirrors all let out a piercing klaxon and then the voice spelled into the mirror called out, "Red Alert! Red Alert! Intruder detected! Main Hallway!" Klaxon. "Red Alert! Red Alert! Intruder Detected! Main Hallway!"
He called out, "End audio warning!" The sounds stopped but the lights kept flashing. "They'll keep going until the authorized voice – right now me, but you can add people – gives the right commands." He called out again, "End Red Alert! Secure all stations!"
The lights stopped flashing. Gary turned. "When the wards detect where the breech is, they can say where. If there is no place, they'll just warn of whatever the alarm is for."
He pointed to the stone tied with silver wires. "This is for the portkey entrance." He pushed a similar simulation spell.
The mirror sounded a different klaxon. And then, "Yellow Alert! Yellow Alert! Emergency Entrance Activated!" The panels were flashing the yellow portions. "Yellow Alert! Yellow Alert! Emergency Entrance Activated!" Unlike the other one, the mirror automatically stopped sounding a klaxon.
"End Yellow Alert!" Gary called and the lights and voice stopped. He turned to the warders, Sharpclaw, and Arthur. "Something from a muggle entertainment show from a few years ago which I thought was useful."
He grinned at the looks of awed amusement from the warders. He said to Arthur, "Yes, Arthur, I put the plans in the Weasley Box."
He laughed at Arthur's look of glee. He then said, "The anti-apparition wards aren't up yet so can you apparate downstairs and get The Weasley Box ready in the dining room? We can show them and then begin negotiating."
Once Arthur left, he turned to the goblins. "There is one ward which I need added to the Burrow which should also extend to the Redoubt. I want to take advantage of something that isn't widely known quite yet."
Sharpclaw grinned to himself. This was why he wanted to come: Maarek Ilumian often provided profitable advice.
The warders, Sharpclaw, Gary, Arthur, and Molly were sitting in the dining room. Once again, the contents of the Weasley Box were all laid out.
Gary explained what each item was. He pointed out, but didn't hand over, the instructions regarding each step and each portion of the construction and ward preparation.
The tying schemes weren't that interesting to the goblins, but the "potions" which allowed quick etching for all building materials as well as the templating process were. The magical LED installation was also a matter of great interest.
Gary gave Sharpclaw a look. "As a matter of interest, within perhaps … twenty years, the muggles should progress to the point that they will start replacing their old lighting with more advanced types of this," he held up an LED panel, "and as these can be made to work without actually enchanting the panels themselves, there will be a terrific potential profit. Imagine, replacing the necessity for torches and spells to light up an area. Making potential muggle interaction much safer and the Statute of Secrecy that much easier to enforce. Imagine how much Ministries and Muggleborns will desire such a thing."
In the end, Weasley, Prewitt, Potter entered into an agreement with Gringotts Bank. Almost immediately, the Weasleys would – for the first time in decades – begin enjoying financial stability. The Prewitts moved from stable to comfortable. The Potters weren't affected quite as much, having excellent wealth already.
Within fifty years, the goblins and the families involved would find the agreement perhaps the most profitable venture any of them had become involved with.
Everything was soon fully arranged and installed. Gary got to enjoy a Weasley family Christmas before he felt the call. He was saddened by the diminishing health of Arthur's mother and father but didn't have any ready solution for it. He promised that he would return as possible, but didn't know when.
It was boxing day and Albus Dumbledore apparated to the home of some of his former students. James and the Prewitt Brothers had asked him to come, saying that they had a holiday surprise for the Order of the Phoenix.
Albus looked at the home. It was much smaller than he had expected. He knew that Arthur and Molly Weasley had a number of children but their home didn't seem to have enough space for all of them.
He knocked on the door and Arthur Weasley opened it and invited him in. He looked around and said, "James and your brothers-in-law asked me to come today."
Arthur nodded. "Yes. They're in back."
Albus was confused. "In back?"
Arthur smiled and presented a small slip. Albus read it: "The Burrow has been expanded."
He looked up and suddenly a doorway which was not visible before shimmered into view. Arthur led the Headmaster back and found the people in question in the dining area. "This is marvelous! Wonderful protections for your family."
The men already present all grinned at each other. Albus sat down. "While that was quite interesting, I am certain that this wasn't the reason why I was asked here."
Arthur said, "No, but it's related." He handed another slip to Albus: "The Weasley home is taller than the gound floor." He was shocked when a staircase shimmered into view on one side of the large dining area. "We actually live mostly on the first floor – that's where the boys' bedrooms are."
Albus was shocked. He had never seen interlocking Fidelius Charms.
James said, "There's a couple of more."
Arthur handed him another slip: "The Redoubt sits atop the Burrow." He looked up and nothing seemed to happen.
"What is The Redoubt?"
The pranksters in the room grinned. "The Christmas present to our group." They all stood – sans Molly. She didn't need to become involved. And Arthur had promised that he wouldn't outside of setting them up.
The men all moved to the floo. "Redoubt!" each called and moved through the floo. Albus followed. The area he flooed into looked to be an entrance hall.
James pointed to the side. "Apparition entrance." Albus was very curious as he was led to an elevator much like those found in the Ministry. They all entered and Arthur pushed the button.
The Headmaster was amazed at the facilities laid out for him. He noticed that even knowing exactly where it was, he would never get any indications from the inside. The emergency indicators were demonstrated and he was handed a sheet with instructions.
The facility was amazing!
They all moved back down the elevator and Arthur turned the James. "Okay. Once you and Albus perform the charm I'll forget about this outside of the fact that it exists. As I'm not part of the group, it's better if I leave now."
James shook his hand and said, "You're the best, Arthur. We'll come back to the Burrow when we're done here."
Arthur nodded at the others and apparated out. James said, "No apparition in the Redoubt except out. The only place in is either in the chamber for it or the emergency platform. And there's an alarm on that one."
James led Albus over and showed him the two ward stones. After closing the panel for the secondary one, James pulled out a sheet. "This will be a drain, but it's much easier for me to do this with the way it was constructed."
He handed a new slip to Albus: The Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix can be found at The Redoubt. He said, "Let me get Lily, she knows the Charm better than I."
He floo called his wife and she came through. After performing the charm, Albus replaced the slip that had burned during the casting with one in his own writing. Everyone there was shown the slip. Lily went back home.
Albus turned to James and the Prewitts. "This is wonderful! It will provide an excellent base for our operations."
Gideon said, "And the best thing is: The only people who know where it is are those in the room. Even Lily doesn't know exactly where The Redoubt is – she forgot as soon as the charm was cast."
Fabian added, "You needed to know the secrets to become the keeper here, and Arthur needed to know that it was here as the property owner, but even the other Order members won't know exactly where Headquarters is actually located."
Gideon: "We wanted to make certain that our sister's family was safe."
Fabian: "And the less who know about this the better."
Albus was in agreement with that. "Where did the idea for this come from?"
Gideon: "The man who helped expand the Burrow over the years came up with it."
Fabian: "Spent the last six weeks or so getting it ready."
James: "He did most of the work and the planning. I provided the financial backing. Arthur provided the space."
Albus nodded distractedly.
"Well, back to the Burrow."
They all apparated out. Albus looked up and saw that the Burrow now looked much, much larger from the outside. Indeed it now looked a comfortable home for a large family. The top floor had no windows, but none were needed. Indeed, anyone who didn't know the secrets would never see it.
They all made their way back inside. Arthur and Molly welcomed them back. Molly provided tea and then moved back to continue knitting.
Albus looked at his Order members and Arthur. "This was excellently done. Although I am curious." He paused. "Can the man you say planned this really be trusted?" His grave concern had to be answered.
He never knew that in that moment he lost the almost blinding devotion that he normally experienced from those who were members of the light families of Britain. Molly especially was tremendously disappointed in the Headmaster.
Arthur answered him. "Yes. Without a doubt." He pointed to Molly's clock. "His is the hand on 'Traveling.' The Weasleys, including my mother and father, consider him family as do these others. The entire system to protect both my family and your group was devised by him. Yes, he can be trusted."
Albus nodded and then stood. "Well. This was wonderful! My tremendous thanks for your part in our endevour." He turned to the Order members present. "Friday night we shall begin preparing the others." He nodded at the Weasleys and then made his way outside.
The rest farewelled each other. Arthur and Molly both prepared for bed and Arthur had to make some effort to placate his wife. She was still somewhat upset by the casual suspicion directed at one of her favorite people.
Alastor Moody was very happy. Somehow, someone had pushed Albus into providing a much more secure location which meant that better planning could take place. The Order would be able to act much more proactively than reactively.
He stood outside of the floo at the home of the Prewitt brothers. The meeting had started there but each Order member had been let in on the secret and then was flooed to the new Headquarters.
In the future, those that could apparate could enter using the fancy chamber for that purpose.
Black, as one of his trainees, was on the other side directing each person on where to go. He was only waiting for the last stragglers before he himself would apparate to the new location. He held the slip Albus gave him.
He pulled out his pocket watch: 7:57. Three more minutes. If anyone showed up late, there was a note which directed them to send a Patronus to Albus and someone would come back to pick them up. If they couldn't produce a Patronus – well, they would have to leave a note.
Suddenly, Potter and Black's nervous friend showed up through the floo. This would be the last one. "Pettigrew! Read this!"
Peter read the slip with some confusion. Alastor then gave him the floo address and said, "Floo over. I'll apparate over and meet you. The meeting is starting at the new Headquarters."
Peter nodded and did as Alastor asked. Alastor checked his watch one more time and then, as the second hand clicked over he apparated out. He was completely shocked by what he saw when he arrived.
Albus was watching all of the Order members looking around and cheerfully discussing the new location. Most had taken a quick look around and were amazed at what they saw. It was close to the time, though, and so the conference room was pretty full.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, the enchanted mirror let out a horrifying sound. It then yelled loudly, "Red Alert! Red Alert! Dark Mark Detected! Intruder Incapacitated Floo Chamber!" Klaxon. ""Red Alert! Red Alert! Dark Mark Detected! Intruder Incapacitated Floo Chamber!"
Albus called out, "Audio off!" He rushed to the platform nearby, taking Frank and Alice with him as they were Aurors. "We're apparating downstairs as it will be faster."
The Order members were all looking at each other in worry – and confusion. What was the Dark Mark?
The three apparated to the chamber and rushed out. Sirius Black was staring horrified at the figure on the floor. It proved to be Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was rendered unconscious but, even unconscious he was holding his arm as though in terrific pain.
Sirius looked up in confusion. "I don't know what happened! He came in through the floo and suddenly grabbed his arm and screamed! And then he just passed out!"
Alastor chose that moment to arrive in the chamber as well. Seeing someone down, he had his wand out. "What in Merlin's name is going on?"
Albus, with some confusion of his own, replied, "I don't know."
Alastor moved to Pettigrew and moved the unconscious man's hand away. He pulled the sleeve up and everyone there saw the black tattoo on his arm.
Everyone gasped. It was a perfect image of the illusion death eaters left after attacks. Sirius looked at his brother-in-all-but-blood in horror.