"Ron!" Hermione stepped away from her standoff to catch her knackered friend.

Legolas stepped up to the other side of the man to help, draping Ron's arm over his shoulders, and tossing the other over Hermione's. They walked him over to a nearby loveseat and sat him down. While Hermione tried to talk to him, Legolas poured a drink from the nearby decanter.

"Weasley, c'mon," she swiftly tapped his cheeks trying to wake him up. He looked like a rotting tomato-shades varying from green to red, but mostly brown. "Ron."

He drank from the cup handed to him by Legolas, not even looking up at the elf, but muttered a thanks. Once having sipped, he looked more awake. "That'll bloody pluck your feathers, won' it?"

Hermione nodded, glad to see her friend respond to the drink, she gave a nod to Legolas, who seemed to fall into the shadows and out of the way. He was, she mused, still listening. She decided he could wait for her to introduce him later, she wanted to hear why her friend was so harried.

"Just flew in from Hamburg, and boy are my arms tired." Ron half joked trying to lighten the mood. Neither laughed. "Yeh, Scuttles joke there…"

"You heard then?" she cut to the point.

Ron just nodded reluctantly, not having to say he was worried about his best friend. "Left as soon as I heard, got caught up in customs though."

Apparating across countries had become more difficult in years, having check in points along the way for traveling certain distances. Receiving the envelope from Lupin had been rough, watching the ink faded made him wonder if he had really read it or imagined it all. It didn't matter though, Ron had to come home and see what he could do. The Scuttles had given him time off but he had had to cut out five days early. He hoped they'd understand. Emergency and all. In a few words, he summed all this up to Hermione.

"I see," she nodded. "Well, glad to have you."

"You make it sound like I'm some ickle hang on. I'm not an amateur when it comes to Harry and trouble."

"Right, Ron." Rubbing her eyes, Hermione indulged him.

"Who's your fellow?"

"He is not-" Letting it drop, she wasn't going to defend it. "He's with the Order."

Ron gave her a careful gaze, which she widened her eyes at, making it clear there wasn't anything between her and Legolas. Instead, she introduced them to each other. Both acknowledged the other, glad to have their help, etc.

"Why don't I show you to a room?" Hermione stood up, trying to shoo her friend down the corridor.

Legolas coughed, making Hermione glare at him, knowing he was hinting at mentioning her departure to Ron. Deciding to call him on it, taking it for a con, she asked him. "Do you need a glass of water?"

"No."

Ron turned to look at the two facing each other with determined stands. "Hermione?"

She kept her eyes on the elf as she turned to speak with Ron. "What?"

"Nothing." He let it go hearing her voice and remembering its meaning from years ago.

"Are you going somewhere?" Legolas asked her directly, a small smile playing at his lips.

"Only to show Ron his room." She answered overly sweet.

"Until the morning." He nodded to Ron and a watchful eye on Hermione, followed with a respectful dip of his head. He disappeared back into the shadows.

Hermione didn't believe that he left, nor did she care to inspect. It was clear she wouldn't be able to leave for the moment, so she showed Ron to a room. Sleep would be beneficial anyhow. As they walked along, Hermione began to notice how tired she was.

"I was just kidding 'bout your bloke back there." Ron nudged her. Hermione flashed him a patronizing smile. Laughing, he kissed her on the cheek at the door. "Still know how to get you, Granger."

She stood outside his door a moment longer than necessary, surprised not to hear immediate snores. Part of her expected to run into the elf when she turned around, but she didn't. If she had made her way to leave, she was sure he would have appeared. Instead, she decided to sleep. Maybe it would occur to her on how to ditch him.

When she woke up the next morning, the sun was still asleep, only meaning she had less that a few desired hours of sleep. And no inspiration. A voice reminded her that it was not such a horrible thought to have backup. Ron had been with her and Harry all those years, if anyone should go, it should be him.

As thoughts bundled up in her mind, she slowly worked herself to sleep. It wasn't until she woke up a couple hours later, the sun ostentatiously shining through her window. Hermione couldn't help but smile, as she never slept in. it felt somewhat nice. She listen quietly to hear if anyone was up, but heard no footsteps.

Getting up, the guilt hit her as she remembered Harry was captive. Dressing quickly seemed to slow her down more as she tripped about and put two limbs in one opening, or have dressed backwards. She winced every time she hopped, hoping not to wake anyone. Her mind was made up, she had to leave then. Ron could comfort Ginny.

Softly, the door shut behind her as she made her way to the kitchen to grab water and a cloak, her wand stuck in her back pocket. When she passed the parlour she smiled slightly to see everything as they had left it. In the kitchen was a different story however.

There sat Tonks, Ginny, Ron, Aragorn, Gimli, and one smug Legolas. Immediately, Hermione dropped her sneaky air. Her hands found there way to her hips where she glared at the five pairs of eyes on her (she refused to waste time on a tattling elf.)

"No." She laid their immediate thoughts to rest.

"Hermione," at least three different voices joined in, though Hermione simply shook her head.

"No."

Ron stood up. "Don't 'no' me. I'm going."

"So am I." Tonks and Ginny both said and stood up, glancing at the other oddly in unison.

Hermione chanced a glimpse at the Three, minus one, which yielded a smirking Aragorn and a humouring Gimli. Finally she turned her gaze towards the righteous elf, just so she could be mad at his superior gaze, only to find his blue eyes watching her carefully, and unreadable.

"If we all trop over there, it won't really be surprise, now would it?" Hermione laid it all out.

"And we can't let you get killed, can we?" Ginny glared at her.

"If Harry couldn't do it," Tonks started.

"But I'm not going to do his job," Hermione interrupted. "All I want to do is free him, and he can finish what was started."

"It's not that easy, luv," Tonks laughed grimly.

"It is." She said, wanting to aparrate right then, but knew better. "I didn't go through seven years of torment and learn nothing of how to take care of myself. Ron?"

"Yeh," he nodded in agreement. All their adventures with Potter had certainly taught the three of them about life and themselves. And each other. "We know what we're doing."

"We?" a variety of voices asked.

It was as if the gates had been opened and the horses ran, or the arguments arose. Hermione wondered if she let all of them fight, if she could sneak out, but she knew there were a pair of eyes on her. Instead she threw her bit into the battle.

"Listen," a voice spoke up and all turned to Aragorn. "We need to decide what is going to be done now."

"Harry is held," Legolas stated the obvious, much to Hermione's annoyance, but then add, "if we are to free him, we'd best think."

"Fine," they all agreed.

"I will stay and explain all of this to the 'elders'," Aragorn stated. It was clear that as the oldest, at least in appearance and temperament, he was giving the mission to the rest.

"Someone has to place a pleasant spin on it." He nodded with a gentle smile.

"Yes," Gimli agreed. "You can stay behind. I will be keep an eye on you all."

"Lookout?" Hermione asked.

After a pause, she nodded. It would work out well to have Aragorn cover their backs with the Order and then to have Gimli as the over all eye. Both graying, they would be better suited to backup support. That left herself, Tonks, Ginny, and Ron. And Legolas.

Turning to him, Hermione eyed Legolas to see if he was going to volunteer for any other job. Unfortunately, he kept quiet and his eyes on her. She had hoped he would be out of her way as well, but at least he was agile.

"Ok, now for the rest of you," Hermione turned back toward the rest.

"I will see Harry," Ginny spoke determinedly.

"And me."

"Tonks?" Hermione turned to the women.

"Who else can do this," and she contorted her face into a mirror image of Hermione's.

It made sense, Hermione had to admit, Tonks would be able to get in better than the rest of them. She could shape to a Deatheater and walk right in. Four, it was still too many. They needed to split up.

"I'm going with you." Legolas' voice spoke up.

Hemione had completely forgotten about him, which made five. Bugger. The look of frustration must've been clear on her face.

"I'm capable," he spoke as if he were trying to convince her he could walk on his own two feet, as if she were a simpleton. He tossed her a humoring smile.

"He's right," Aragorn and Gimli added.

"He's those eyes that can see miles."

"And exceptional audible range."

"Fine!" Hermione agreed just so they could get on with it. "Five then, we need to split up. Five is too many as a pack."

"Agreed." They all nodded.

"To be free from questions," Aragorn referred to Gandalf and Dumbledore, "I will leave you to your schematics."

And then there were six…

:Next we will see how Hermione goes about a rescue.