The Ministry of Magic Attacked Again

"Molly, I want to get Potter out of there as soon as possible too, but we can't."

The atmosphere at the Burrow was heavy. Mad-Eye Moody stood between the sitting room and the kitchen, his expression even grimmer than it had been at Hogwarts.

"I found traces of at least three Death Eaters at Privet Drive. They've been watching the place all along!"

"And the Ministry of Magic—according to the information I received, a few minutes after Dumbledore was killed—while we were still at Hogwarts—Barty Crouch Jr. led another group of Death Eaters in an attack on the Ministry. Their target was still the Department of Magical Transportation on the sixth floor."

"But what does that have to do with anything?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "And I heard Kingsley already drove them back—"

"Of course it has something to do with it," Mad-Eye Moody said gruffly. "Kingsley did defeat them, but the scene was complete chaos. Nearly every office was broken into. We can't guarantee that Death Eaters haven't infiltrated the place, or that someone hasn't been put under the Imperius Curse."

"If that really happened, the moment we Apparate with Potter, they'll notice and trace us immediately—don't forget that Potter is still underage. His Trace is still being monitored by the Ministry of Magic."

"But Alastor, we can't just leave him there," Mrs. Weasley said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Of course we won't leave him there," Mad-Eye Moody said, beginning to pace back and forth unconsciously.

"But not now. I need time to find out exactly what Barty Crouch Jr. did in this attack." His wooden leg struck the floor with a series of thudding knocks.

"Besides, the Death Eaters will certainly have thought of everything we have. They're all watching Privet Drive right now. Moving Potter recklessly would be