Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, followed and favorited! The next one should be up soon, maybe Sunday.
Chapter Two
The next day, Hermione, Ron and everyone else involved in the "get Harry" plan, woke at an ungodly hour to the angelic sounds of Moody's shouts. Apparently, it was time to start the training no one had been aware of.
The kitchen was filled with people, Tonks had knocked over a few chairs, and was quickly attempting to put everything back into place. Mrs. Weasley and Fleur were in deep conversation about wedding plans, Hagrid and Bill were talking about dragons, the twins were silently exchanging facial expressions while pointing at a piece of paper. Kingsley Shacklebolt eyed Mundungus Fletcher while he eyed the Weasleys' toaster, Hermione and Lupin were discussing various ways to make up a year at Hogwarts, and Ron grumbled drearily over his toast.
Suddenly, Moody walked in, his uneven footsteps effectively silencing the room. He turned to face the crowded kitchen. "Everyone ready for training, I hope?" He asked gruffly.
"Not when you haven't let us have our beauty sleep," George replied.
"Yeah, you can't expect us to look this good all the time." Added Fred, smiling a bit.
"This is an important mission, it is imperative, that we are prepared. We have no idea how many Death Eaters Voldemort has patrolling his Aunt and uncles house, and as soon as we leave, Harry loses his protection. We become vulnerable must be prepared to fight." Moody said, his voice sobering up the room. "Everyone, meet outside, and we'll start." he then left, and it wasn't long until everyone followed, suddenly eager to begin.
The crowd trained all day, in the beginning, they simply practiced dueling, but eventually, when Moody thought they were ready, they began dueling on their flying modes of transportation. Sometime during the day, when it was acceptable time for a sane human being to get up, Ginny joined. At the end of the day, very few could say that they had been a victim of her infamous Bat Bogey hex.
Eventually, it was time to head to Provet Drive, and everyone's adrenaline was pumping, ready to get Harry.
Once at Privet Drive Hermione realized how anxious she was to tell Harry all about what she had discovered, even during training, it had not left her mind. After Harry gave in, and agreed to the 'seven Potters plan', She pulled Harry to the side.
"Harry, I need to talk to you," she whispered.
"Okay, um, who are you? Sorry, but it's hard to tell, you look like me," a confused Harry replied.
"Its me, Hermione," she whispered, and, getting a nod from Harry, continued. "I, uh, I found something, looking through my house before I went to the Burrow. You see, my parents, they arent-" Hermione was cut off by two other Harry's, Fred and George, she assumed and they began to playfully tease the real Harry while he tried to figure out what Hermione was trying to say. "I'll tell you later," she said, and walked over to the other group.
The seven groups departed Harry's childhood horror house a few minutes later. Hermione caught Harry glance back at it, knowing he was probably feeling exactly the same as she had leaving her home that summer.
Not even a second after that thought crossed her mind, they were surrounded by Death Eaters. Everyone took off in different directions, the sky lit up by spells. In the chaos, Hermione couldn't make out who went where, or even if everyone was okay. Five Death Eaters began chasing her and Kingsley, so Hermione bent around, trying her best to block all the spells coming at them, and firing some of her own hexes back.
She managed to stun one Death Eater, quickly realizing that stunning wouldn't matter, the fall would kill them anyway. Still, she could not bring herself to fire any of the Unforgiveable Curses at the Death Eaters behind them.
Kingsley managed to set another Death Eater on fire, causing him to fall off his broom, but as soon as he was gone, he was replaced by someone else. A snake like face, flying on a cloud of black smoke, unaided by a broomstick.
Voldemort was right behind them! Hermione's breath caught in her throat for a split second, before she calmed down and began firing at him, though he was able to deflect every single spell she cast. Voldemort only pursued them for a few minutes, when he suddenly left, causing Hermione to wonder what had happened. Soon, Hermione and Kingsley arrived at their destination, and took their portkey to the Burrow.
Hermione had already transformed into herself by the time they arrived at the Burrow, and was immediately greeted by a teary Mrs. Weasley, who gave her a bone crushing hug. "Oh, Hermione dear." She sniffed.
"Are the others back?" Hermione asked, the worry in her voice clearly tangible.
"Harry and Hagrid were first, then George and Remus, and then Fred and Arthur." Mrs. Weasley answered sadly.
"But no sign of Ron, Tonks, Bill, Fleur or Moody?" Hermione questioned.
"I'm afraid not, dear, they've missed their portkeys portkeys," Mrs Weasley replied, tea ring up. Hermione glanced at her with worry and followed her inside.
Once inside she saw George lying on the couch, a bandage over his head, and Fred beside him, laughing, but she could tell by his face that he was worried.
Hermione was swallowed into a hug from Harry, who looked beyond relieved, though his face quickly changed to worried. "So, no sign of Ron, yet?"
Harry shook his head, and the two sat in silence for a minute. "What is it you were trying to tell me earlier?" He asked, clearly wanting a way to distract his thoughts.
"Oh, yeah," Hermione started, realizing that she had forgotten about the fact that she was adopted for the first time since she found the papers. "You see, I was going through some stuff in my house after I sent my parents to Australia-"
"You sent them to Australia?"
"Yes, I just, I wanted them to be safe while we hunted for Horcruxes. Once I don't show up at Hogwarts, Voldemort will realize, if he hasn't already, that I'm with you. He could try to torture them, to get information about where we are."
"Oh, that makes sense," Harry admitted. "So, you were looking around?"
"Yeah, I was looking around, and I found these papers. They were adoption papers, I'm adopted," Hermione blurted a bit nervously.
"You're adopted? Wow . . . Do you know who your real parents are?" He asked, genuinely curious.
"I have names and addresses, they're both in America," Hermione answered.
"Well, I guess we have to find them, right?" Harry asked. "I mean, if Voldemort finds out, they could be in danger, too."
"That's what Ron and I were thinking, we just wanted to talk to you first." Hermione said, still worried about Ron.
Harry nodded, and began tapping his foot up and down slowly, obviously just as concerned as Hermione.
"We could wait outside for Ron, I'm sure he'll be here soon, he's just running a bit late." It was obvious as she said it that she was trying to convince herself of this fact.
Harry agreed regardless and the two sat out in the front lawn, quickly accompanied by an equally silent Ginny.
After an hour or so of waiting, Ginny excitedly pointed at the sky. "Is that them?"
Harry and Hermione were quick to look in the direction of the pointed finger and saw a speck, growing larger by the second. They stood up, straining their eyes to see, and soon enough they realized that the speck was Ron and Tonks riding a broom.
When the two landed, Ron was attacked by hugs as Tonks was snatched up by Remus, the two hugging so tightly that no one else dared come between them.
Ron and Tonks launched into the explanation of why they missed their portkey and had to fly back, as soon as the story drew to an end Bill and Fleur arrived, bringing news of Moody's death.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry eventually holed up in Ron's room, and when the three were seated on the bed, Ron blurted to Harry that they needed to talk to him.
"He already knows." Hermione informed him.
"Oh, uh, then what do you think?" Ron asked, ears a bit red.
"I say we head to America, we need to warn them." Harry replied.
"I agree," Hermione said softly. "However, it will cut precious time out of our quest for Horcruxes."
"Yeah, I would say we should leave now, if it weren't for the wedding." Harry grumbled the last bit, rubbing his face in thought.
"What's one stupid wedding when we have a world to save?" Ron asked, bewildered. "I say we leave now, I love my brother and all, but this is more bloody important than his wedding."
Hermione smiled a little. "Your mother would never let us miss the wedding, though."
Ron nodded, pondering for a moment, before Harry spoke up. "Then let's tell her why we're leaving. We tell her we have to find your parents, it's not like it's a secret from her, right?"
"I suppose not," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"That's brilliant!" Ron exclaimed cheerfully. "She can't say no once she knows your family is in danger!"
"So, we'll leave tomorrow, then?" Harry asked, to be certain.
"I guess so," Hermione replied, anticipation building in her stomach.
