Burning of the Burrow

Skirmish at the Burrow refers to the short skirmish at The Burrow and surrounding marshland in Ottery St. Catchpole, on December 25, 1996. This was a failed attempt to lure Harry Potter from out of The Burrow's magical defences and get him to Voldemort.

Skirmish
As Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks were leaving the Christmas dinner at The Burrow, Bellatrix Lestrange Apparated outside of the Burrow, then encircling it with a raging ring of fire. Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley watched the scene from a window.

As Bellatrix fled to the marshland surrounding the Burrow, Harry takes off after her in rage, as she had killed his godfather, Sirius Black, the previous summer. Ginny follows Harry trying to stop him, realizing it was a trap. Harry runs after Bellatrix with minimum visibility through the tall-grass, as she taunts him, chanting "I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!" and "Are you coming to get me?".

Lupin, Tonks, and Arthur Weasley follow them into the grassy marsh. The wizards are lost in the middle of the grass, while Bellatrix and Greyback watch them, in hiding. Ginny stops by a small puddle of water and Greyback emerges from the grass. Stopping Greyback from stunning Ginny, Harry appears just in time to deflect the stunner. Bellatrix joins Greyback in trying to stun them and Harry and Ginny are surrounded, deflecting spells. Lupin, Tonks, and Arthur find the couple and aid them in disarming the Death Eaters. Greyback and Bellatrix see their plan fail, as they are now greatly outnumbered. They hide again in the grassy marsh, leaving the other five allert. Bellatrix makes a odd sound, to signal Greyback their retreat. The two Death Eaters Apparate to the Burrow, setting fire to it, and finally leave.