CHAPTER 2
Hermione lay on the couch of the sitting room unmoving while the other three sat by the fire. Luna had attempted to clean and mend the wound on Hermione's forearms but was unable to be mended. Ron and Neville sat with glasses of amber liquid that still shown on the floor near the fire side. Four hours had passed since they had apparated to the house in London. Upon return Hermione fainted and had remained still ever since.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Asked Neville shifting uncomfortably in his chair to look over at the unconscious Hermione.
"Daddy told me that he once had the Crusiatis curse put on him and he's ok." Said Luna quietly.
Ron looked into the fire, he was unable to speak. He cared dearly for Hermione she had been one of his best friends since his first year at Hogwarts. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have her act like Luna's father did. The thought of friends brought him back to the thoughts that had been brewing in his head the entire time they'd been back at Grimald Place. Harry. He couldn't believe he was captured. He had tried to get to Lucius before he'd apparated but the thought that Hermione was being tortured to near death made him go to her. Ron knew Harry was a much better wizard then Hermione was a witch and some how thought that'd Harry would pull through it all, like he always did. Ron screwed up his face and covered it with his hands. He couldn't bear to think of life without Harry or Hermione. How was it that the two people he loved most could be hurt while he who wasn't nearly as skilled at them was unharmed and sane?
There was a loud whooshing sound and out of the green flames in the fire emerged the entire Weasley family minus Percy and Charlie. They all stepped out into the small space in front of the fire before the chairs. They looked disheveled but otherwise unharmed. Short after they stepped back from the fire Lupin and Sirius emerged. Lupin's arm was around Sirius' waist guiding him. Lupin was pale and seemed to have been sweating profusely while Sirius had a large gash on his forehead.
Ron, Neville and Luna stood quickly and moved out of the chairs stepping closer to the Weasley's that were all huddled around Hermione.
"Where's Harry?" The three of them asked franticly.
"Not at the Malfoy's" said Bill Weasley moving to lean on the wall next to the fire place.
"But…" spat Ron "that's where they said they were taking him!"
"They tricked us" said Tonks she moved closer to Hermione and knelt lifting Hermione's arm to heal her wound.
"What happened?" asked Ron. The question went ignored.
"Hermione?" said Tonks. Hermione lay still. Her breathing was slow but still she showed a sign of life.
"Sirius" said Mrs. Weasley "let's clean that cut up." She turned towards Bill and her husband. "Please take Hermione upstairs. She's going to need rest. Put a charm on her room that will announce her wake to the house at large."
They nodded and strode to Hermione's side. Tonks, Ginny, Fred and George moved from her side as Arthur lifted her into his arms. He walked slowly out of the room, Bill at his heals. Their way up the stairs echoed through the quiet house.
"What happened?" Ron asked again, his voice with a hint of urgency.
Remus helped Sirius into a hair near the fire as Molly pulled out her want and started mumbling while pointing it at Sirius' forehead.
"They weren't at the school anymore" said Lupin.
Ron sat down on the couch recently vacated by Hermione. Ginny sat to his left as Luna sat to his right. Fred and George moved and sat on the ground to the right of the couch while Neville simply stood where he had been. Lupin moved from the side of Sirius to behind the chair his sat him. His hands grasping the back of the chair. Sirius just sat there. He hadn't said a word and his face was pale and full of anger. He normal light gray eyes had turned into black holes.
"We went to Malfoy Manor but it seemed like they were waiting for us. While trying to search from Harry we were ambushed by ten death eaters. Sirius barely missed a killing curse resulting in this cut here. We still thought Harry was there till Belatrix showed up laughing about how they'd tricked us to come there in the hopes of finding Harry. We immediately apparated back to Hogwarts grabbed these three and flooed here. McGonagall said she hasn't seen Dumbledore since he left after Lucius and Harry."
"So what are we going to do?" said Sirius his voice low and angry. "We cannot just let Harry stay with them!" he said this at a near scream.
"We're not!" said Lupin. "We will find him Sirius, I promise." He rounded the chair and knelt looking deep into Sirius' eyes.
Sirius nodded slightly.
"Molly." Said Lupin. "I do realize that these six" he pointed at Ron, Luna, Neville, Fred, George and Ginny. "Have had a very long day. I would suggest they go to bed and rest up. Tomorrow the order will need their help."
"I'm not cleaning this house again." Said George.
"No, no" said Lupin. "Five of you may still be at Hogwarts but we need more people in the order to attempt what I've been thinking."
All six or their faces lightened. Two years previous they had been told they weren't allowed in the order because they were still in school.
Molly nodded but didn't look happy about Lupin's words.
"You heard him" she said. "Off to bed with you all."
They stood beaming for the first time all day and headed up the stairs. Lupin followed and closed the door behind Arthur and Bill who were reentering the room. Lupin slowly turned towards the rest left in the room.
Bill moved from the wall to sit on the couch. Molly retired next to him. Arthur stood next to the fire as Sirius hadn't moved. Lupin resumed his position behind the chair Sirius sat in.
"We need them" he said looking at Mrs. Weasley.
She looked at him "but why?"
"Because of this" he said as he extracted a small red feather from his robe pocket.
"Faux" said Bill.
"Yes" replied Lupin. "It appeared while I was searching a room at Malfoy Manor. It seems Dumbledore is with Harry. A note was attached." He pulled a small piece of parchment out of his pocket.
Remus,
I suspect you know what has happened. I sent Mrs. Granger to you before she had passed out from the curse Belatrix was using. I am with Harry. I let Lucius take me with him when he took Harry. I do have a plan. If I am correct in my thoughts this will inevitably bring down Voldemort. I wish for you to come to Tom Riddles parent's house. I do know you know where it is. This is where we are held prisioners in the basement. Harry is quite sure that Voldemort is here. He says he can feel his presents. We do know now that his enchantments that are surrounding him are only strong if he is away from Harry. It seems as though the sacrifice Lilly gave to Harry is mixing with Voldemorts control on him. The aura I once saw around him is now gone and he doesn't seem to notice it.
I will be at 12 Grimmauld Place tomorrow night roughly around two in the morning. I wish to speak with everyone. This includes all of my students and previous students. Do not worry. I will protect Harry with everything I have in me. Remember two in the morning. Do not reply.
Albus