Harry Potter and the Return to Hogwarts, 8th Year

Chapter Seven – Well Oiled Machine

It wasn't long after lunch that Harry found himself standing in the kitchen, the extended Weasley family seated around the table. He cleared his throat catching everyone's attention. His mind racing as he tried to form sentences in his head in a way to best explain his circumstance. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and furrowed his brow. Licking his lips he started to speak slowly and with confidence.

"I have something I have to do before school starts. It's not something I can explain in order to protect everyone involved. I do however have to ask a few of you for your help. I know you've helped me before that's why I don't expect you to help me now. I will understand if you'd prefer to just stay out of it but please hear me out." Harry took a quick pause if only for a few moments. Enough time to look everyone in the eyes. "Whatever this is is gonna have to be done on a need to know basis with trust in my judgment. If I don't tell you something I need you to not dig any further. Peoples lives are at stake. So if you don't want to help I completely understand but this is something I have to do. There, I've said it." Harry stopped and looked around the room. Ron looked at Hermione and she gave him a nod.

"Well mate...we've given a lot to help you in the past. More than most people will ever know" He started before taking a deep breath. "and as far as I can tell you've never lead us astray so we're in." Hermione blushed slightly as she and Ron shared a wide smile.

"Well Harry dear I'm not sure what help me and Arthur can be but it's yours for the asking. After all you given so much for us." She said smiling. Everyone sat looking at Ginny waiting as she sat quietly, her eyes gazing at the table in front of her.

"Ginny?" Harry asked desperately. Her eyes met his and she smiled.

"Harry Potter I'm astounded that you even have to ask. I will always be there for you."

"That's my girl." He said grinning before he noticed Mrs. Weasley's shifting gaze. "So on the other things. Hermione I have a page I need translated if you can. It's written in ancient runes of a forgotten language. Feel up to it?"

"I'll give it my best." She said pepping up at the idea of a challenging project.

"Ron I'm gonna need you to come with me to Diagon alley to get whatever supplies we're gonna need for our trip."

"Trip?" Ron asked.

"To where?" Ginny piped in.

"Well Ginny that's what I need you to do. Once Hermione can get you information from the text I got I need you to try to figure out where it is referencing. This is a very important job and I can't trust it to anyone else. My best guess is that it's gonna be somewhere in Northern Europe."

"Okay. Hermione and I will get on it right away." Ginny added reassuringly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley my main concern is gonna be people asking questions. I need you to make people think we are spending our time here and to throw anyone off of our trail who might come asking." Harry said stepping closer to them. His hands on both their shoulders. "Can you do that for me?"

"Yes Harry dear. We can do that." Mrs. Weasley replied softly.

"Okay." Harry said pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolding it. "Hermione this is the page I have for you. Supposedly this page gives the location I desire." He added placing the paper down on the table and sliding it across to Hermione. She picked it up and looked over the page carefully.

"These look similar to Anglo-saxon runes...with some notable differences. I'll see what I can do."

"I'll help. I think I have a book that might help." Added Ginny thoughtfully as they headed off into the next room.

"Alright. Ron we need to get a list together for everything we might need. This time we wont get caught with our supplies low."

"Right. I'll get some parchment...got plenty that I had set aside for school last year." Ron said as he headed out of the room and ran up the stairs quickly. Hermione and Ginny sat on the couch with papers and books spread out over the center table. Hermione was already jotting down thoughts while Ginny flipped through a few books. The two talked amongst themselves quietly as they worked. Ron appeared from upstairs carrying a long piece of parchment.

"Wow we work like a well oiled machine." Harry said with a smiley

"A what?" asked Ron with a look of confusion. Hermione let out a small chuckle.

"Never mind." Harry said shaking his head. "First thing we need to go over is provisions. I'm not expecting this to take more than a few days but we should plan ahead anyway. We should take a weeks worth of food and supplies."

"Alright then, we need to figure out who's coming then don't we. I know I am."

"You can count me in." Ginny stated firmly. Ron looked at her quickly and back to Harry.

"Me too." Hermione said almost as if she just realized what they were talking about.

"So plan for four then?" Ron asked.

"Four it is." Harry said with a nod.

"I can help with some of the food." Mrs. Weasley said from in the kitchen.

"I told ya mate...bad acoustics." Ron muttered quietly.