After Hermione and Ron made a promise to Harry, they were more scared for him. His best friends felt danger waiting for him everywhere. Harry shoved off their thought and told them that he'd be fine.

Two days later, Harry set off to the Dursleys' and left more worries at the Burrow. He flooed to the train station, and his goodbye felt as if it was permanent to Hermione and Ron.

"Hermione, Ron, don't think of it that way. He's Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the 'Chosen One'. Plus, he'll be gone for only a day," Bill told them caringly. They were eating dinner and Harry had left just hours ago.

"I know, I know. But I'm just too nervous that Harry will go looking for the---looking for Snape and the other Death Eaters. I know he can manage himself, but well, I don't know…" Hermione trailed off.

"Hermione, dear, it's normal for you and Ron to think of it that way. He's your best friend, and I'm sure, if I were in your shoes, I'd be feeling the same thing," comforted Mrs. Weasley. Ron and Hermione smiled thankfully at her. Mrs. Weasley glanced at their large clock and saw Mr. Weasley's name shift from "mortal peril" to "traveling". Mr. Weasley knocked on their door not a moment later and his wife let him in, after doing their usual routine of asking questions.

"Good evening, everyone! Wait, where's Harry?" Mr. Weasley wondered while his wife helped him out of his cloak. Apparently, he was not at home when Harry left.

"He already left, remember dear? He's at the Dursleys' now and he'll be back tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley reminded him.

"Oh, I almost forgot about that. It's a pity I didn't get to say goodbye to him, though," Mr. Weasley said. Hermione and Ron looked at each other sympathetically. "What's the matter Ron, Hermione?"

"Erm, nothing, Dad," Ron mumbled. He continued to eat his dinner quietly.

"Molly, what's wrong with the two of them?" Mr. Weasley whispered. Mrs. Weasley looked at her son and Hermione, and turned to her husband.

"They're worried about Harry, you know, traveling alone and all. Good heavens, they're really true friends," replied Mrs. Weasley. Her husband mouthed "oh," nodded, and then joined the rest of the family for dinner.

The rest of the night was quiet, Fred and George slept in with Ron because their room was filled with boxes. Ginny and Hermione shared as usual, and idem for Bill and Fleur (Mrs. Weasley still disagrees with this, though she never told anyone but Ginny and Hermione).

"Hermione, to tell you the truth, I'm also very worried for Harry," said Ginny, once they were lying down their beds.

"I know. I saw it in your face when Harry left. Are you still feeling the same thing for him?" asked Hermione, suddenly sitting up and facing Ginny. Ginny did the same thing and sat on Hermione's bed instead.

"Well, since you asked about it, yes," Ginny admitted. "But I'm thankful that he broke up with me, though," she added. Hermione shot her a puzzled look.

"What? Why?" wondered Hermione.

"He told me that he won't risk going out with me, since You-Know-Who's still around. And if we were going out, You-Know-Who might aim for me instead. See? I never thought of it that way. That's why I'm thankful," said Ginny. Hermione gave an inaudible small gasp.

"I never imagined Harry could be a very sweet person," Hermione sighed.

"I know," said Ginny, rather airily. The door opened and both girls turned their heads to see who was coming in. It was Mrs. Weasley in her sleeping gown.

"Girls, lights out please. It's already eleven," she said. Hermione and Ginny nodded and tucked in their beds. Mrs. Weasley extinguished the lights and said "good-night".

After some time, Hermione was still wide awake and decided to say something.

"Ginny, you awake?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad Harry told you that," Hermione muttered.

"I don't get you, Hermione," replied Ginny.

"If he hadn't told you, Voldemort might have been aiming for you right this instant," Hermione predicted.

"Yeah, I think so too," said Ginny, yawning. "Goodnight, Hermione," she added.

"Goodnight," replied Hermione. And with that, the two girls snoozed off.

Many miles away, however, while the Weasley's and the others were are slumbering, Snape and Draco Malfoy were sitting together in a small cottage, far away from any civilization.

"What now, are we going to live like this forever?" grunted Malfoy. He was getting tired of hiding from the world for weeks, eating food which he himself cooked, and doing chores he had never done before.

"Not particularly. I have a plan that will surely get the Dark Lord's attention, and this will definitely kill that Potter," Snape sneered, disgusted with Harry's name.

"Exactly what is this plan? Why didn't you tell me at once? I want to know that plan," Malfoy demanded sharply.

"Not to worry, Draco. You're the one needed to accomplish this task. Listen carefully. You very well know that Granger is Potter's closest friend," said Snape.

"Yeah, what's its connection with your plan?" Malfoy inquired boringly.

"You are going to get her from Hogwarts, bring her here, and we use her as bait," Snape said.

"A bait? I don't get it," Malfoy asked flatly.

"You see, if we capture her, Potter will definitely look for her. If he finds her, and in that case, she is with us, it's easy to lure him to the Dark Lord. It's that simple," Snape explained.

"So, you're saying that I should get Granger, bring her here, and Potter will surely look for her?" Malfoy repeated. Snape nodded and smirked. "Then," he continued, "Granger will be the bait that leads Potter to the Dark Lord?"

"Very good. We'll leave it to the Dark Lord on how he'll finish off Potter," Snape sneered.

"Wait, how will we lead Potter to him?" asked Malfoy.

"By the time that he's looking for his precious friend, we're already beside the Dark Lord," Snape replied.

Malfoy understood it this time. He was having a hard time with all these tasks assigned to him. What was the matter with him? Usually, I enjoy defeating Potter and his companions, but what's up with me? I know that I want to follow Father's footsteps, but why am I acting all cowardly when I ought to do something that'll kill someone? Malfoy thought.

"How am I going to get Granger from the school? I bet she's already Head Girl and the school's full of protection and shield charms," asked Malfoy. Snape gave an emotionless chuckle.

"I thought you were smart. I can't give you any more suggestions, use your own intelligence," said Snape. Malfoy rolled his eyes. "One more thing," Snape added, "don't get caught." Malfoy scoffed and mumbled something about Snape helping him instead. Snape stood up and headed for the door.

"I'll be off. Don't forget the plan, Draco," Snape reminded him.

"Yeah, yeah," Malfoy replied. Snape stepped out of the cottage and, with a soft i pop /i , he Disapparated. Malfoy returned to his small sitting room and slumped on the couch. Not a moment later, he fell asleep.

The whole Burrow was still quiet when Hermione woke up. She descended down the stairs and headed to the kitchen, deciding to cook breakfast for everyone. She arrived to the kitchen, only to find Mrs. Weasley already preparing the meal.

"Good morning, Hermione. I see you have awoken very early," Mrs. Weasley greeted warmly while cracking eggs.

"'Morning Mrs. Weasley. Do you mind if I help you out?" Hermione greeted back.

"Not at all, dear. I'd be happy if you could help me," replied Mrs. Weasley very kindly, motioning her to the breakfast table. "You can start setting the table while I cook eggs. The bacon's done so you can put it here too," she said.

"Alright," Hermione grinned. She took the utensils from the cupboard and started to set the table. They women were chatting happily. Suddenly, there was a knock from the front door. The two were startled. Mrs. Weasley placed the cooked egg on a plate and walked toward the door.

"Who's there? Identify yourself," she said sternly.

"It's me. Harry, Harry Potter," said the stranger. Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes and looked at Hermione. She signaled her to come to her, and whispered her something.

"What's the one thing you know about Harry that no one aside from you and Ron know?" Mrs. Weasley whispered to Hermione.

"Well," said Hermione, and there was the knocking again.

"Hello?" asked the stranger again. Hermione was in deep thought when one thing popped in her head.

"Okay, what was the thing you gave me and Ron before you left for the Dursleys?" asked Hermione. The stranger was silent for a couple of seconds.

"That was the…the mirror. You have one and I have one too," replied the person.

"C'mon in, Harry," said Hermione. She opened the door and found Harry, his trunk beside him. Hermione hugged her best friend and he hugged back.

"I'm sorry that I kept you waiting, dear. I was a bit suspicious having someone knock on my front door at this time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley apologized.

"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry, smiling. Mrs. Weasley led him to the kitchen while helping him with his things. He sat down at the breakfast table and Hermione handed him bacon and eggs. Just as Harry was about to eat, Mr. Weasley and Ginny went down the stairs in their pajamas.

"Ah! Harry, I didn't expect you till sunrise!" Mr. Wealsey said cheerfully. Harry and Mr. Weasley shook hands and he took a seat across him. Ginny smiled at Harry and he smiled back. She sat beside Hermione and all of them ate and chatted. Soon, every member of the Weasley family had woken up, welcomed Harry back, and ate breakfast happily.