One Enchanting Night

By HazelMist

Summary: Susan and Harry have nightmares about the school being attacked. Is it a haunting vision of the future? Dumbledore sends Harry, Hermione and Susan off with a portkey and his blessing, in search of Ron. The future of their beloved school and the fate of the magical world depends on the reunion of the Order…

Chapter 10: Hide and Seek

All students were to report to the Great Hall. Ginny Weasley was reluctantly dragged out of her dormitory by some of her roommates. She had been in there since yesterday morning, wondering where on earth her brother was, knowing that chances were, wherever he was, he was probably dead.

In her mind she flashed back to yesterday morning.

Ginny hadn't seen her brother since the feast. She was really beginning to worry about him. Ron tended to disappear when he was upset but he always came out for meals, and no one, not even the Ravenclaws who he had taken to talking to had seen him. Ginny had tried to get a hold of Harry and Hermione but whenever she looked for them they were no where to be found. She thought she saw the two of them in the library with Susan Bones but why would they be with her? It probably hadn't been them.

Suddenly she spotted Dean coming down into the Common Room.

"Hey Dean!" She jogged over to him, touching him on the shoulder. "Have you seen my brother?"

Dean looked down at her, and then immediately looked away. He wasn't answering the question and he was looking anywhere but at her.

"Well, have you?" Ginny asked wondering why he looked so guilty.

Dean sighed and shook his head.

"I haven't but Ginny there's something I think you should know." He fished something out of his book bag and handed it to her. It was a piece of paper folded up into a ball. Ginny began to carefully unravel it, wondering what was the meaning of this.

"I swear I would've shown it to you sooner but I thought it was a love note and today I found it and well-"

Ginny wasn't listening, she was reading what was on the piece of paper.

"Consider Ron Weasley Dead."

Four words, and her world had collapsed around her.She had mourned the loss of the only person that seemed to understand her. Unfortunately, unlike Harry and Hermione she had no one to lean on. The person that she had always depended on to protect her, comfort her and tell her everything was going to be all right, was gone. Now here she was in the mists of confusion, waiting for Dumbledore to make his announcement.

"Maybe we're having another Ball!" One of her roommates, Gwen, squealed.

"Oh I hope you're right!" Another one exclaimed.

"I don't think that's it." Ginny said sadly.

"You're just saying that because you hate dances!" Gwen accused her.

Ginny rolled her eyes. They were so ignorant, and shallow. But this time she actually wished that their roles were reversed and she was the one with the empty head.

Before anyone could reply, Dumbledore had stood up. Instantly the students were quiet. A pin could've dropped and it would have echoed, resounding off the walls and massive ceiling. Ginny's suspicions were confirmed. Dumbledore wasn't smiling, on the contrary he looked as if someone had died. Ginny's heart plummeted to the floor. This was not going to be good.

"It is my displeasure to make this grave announcement."

The atmosphere changed. The students fidgeted, waiting for what was coming next.

"There is a chance of an attack on Hogwarts. This morning a few of our sources confirmed that there is a possibility that Hogwarts could be attacked by Death Eaters. We don't know much on this and we are looking in to find more information…." Dumbledore continued but Ginny wasn't listening.

Death Eaters attacking here?

First her brother, and now the school? Was her life coming to an end? What else could go wrong? She mind as well have given up hope and jumped off a cliff. There was nothing left to hang onto. Her life was over.

The students were white with fear, shaking and trembling as they began to chatter nervously and whisper among themselves. Nothing like this had ever happened to them before. Hogwarts had always been the safest place in the magical world. An attack on Hogwarts and they didn't have a prayer.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's loud voice brought an end to the noise.

"We will not panic. We will not give up. We are Hogwarts, if we work together, remain vigilant and alert, we can save Hogwarts from destruction. I am asking you all, Slytherins and Gryffindors, students and teachers alike to band together. We must save ourselves, each other and the one thing that brings us here, Hogwarts. I for one am not giving up and I hope that you will choose the same." Dumbledore surveyed the group of students before him.

There was silence.

Then suddenly, Ginny discovered a courage that she never knew she possessed. Before she knew what she was doing she was on her feet, drawing attention to herself. She was the center of attention.

"I'll fight." She said quietly.

All eyes were on her, but Ginny held her head high staring directly into the light blue eyes of Professor Dumbledore. The students watched her, glancing at each other, wondering whether they should stand up too. They hesitated waiting for someone else to join her.

"Not alone." The students turned around to find another sixth year getting to his feet.

Eyes widened, jaws dropped and gasps were heard.

Even Ginny couldn't believe what she was seeing. A normally quiet boy with light brown hair and dark eyes was standing at the edge of his table. But it wasn't his appearance or personality that surprised them all, it was the green badge complete with the slithering snake pinned to his robe.

He was a Slytherin.

His dark eyes met Ginny's. From across the room she could still see the determination and courage in his eyes that equally matched her own. They stared at each other for what seemed like ages, wondering how this could be, but in reality was only moments. Finally Ginny nodded, a silent motion that meant more than words could express.

It didn't matter what house you were from. They all had to unite with a common goal in mind. Their goal was to save their school and world from destruction.

More people stood up around her. First it was the courageous Gryffindors, next the clever Ravenclaws and then those loyal Hufflepuffs shakily got to their feet. Minutes passed and slowly some of the Slytherins got up from the table to join their fellow in the fight for Hogwarts.

Ginny felt her heart swell. Nearly all of Hogwarts was standing, united in the Great Hall with one common goal in mind. And it had begun with her getting to her feet and saying that she would fight.

Again her eyes drifted back to the boy at the Slytherin table, Orion Rosier, she recalled his name. She was surprised to find that he was still looking at her, in fact it appeared that his eyes had never left her at all. Ginny stared back at him, wondering why he looked so familiar. Suddenly her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. Hurriedly she looked away.

For a moment she could've sworn that she was looking at someone else.

But it was impossible, inconceivable, Sirius Black was dead.

As soon as Dumbledore sat in his seat bringing the whole school down with him, Orion muttered something about not being hungry and slipped discreetly out of the Great Hall. The halls, just as he had hoped were empty. Right now, after standing up with every eye upon him, he wanted nothing more than to be alone. In fact he hoped that he never had to look at another face again. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets thinking over what had just taken place.

Hogwarts was going to be attacked by Death Eaters, his very own friends and their parents. No one had even had the decency to warn him. Most likely they didn't care, especially now that he had just gone and made matters worse. Right now they were probably deciding which Unforgivable they were going to use on him. Orion shuddered, but it was his own fault, if he hadn't been so stupid-

"I knew I'd find you." A voice hissed, as a strong hand closed around his arm. Orion looked up at the raven haired Slytherin girl and gasped.

"Persephone? You're going to kill me?" He squeaked.

"Shut your trap Rosier!" She hissed, her blue eyes flashing. "Or I'll reconsider murdering you."

He tried to pull free, but Persephone dug her long nails into his arm, yanking him into a dimly lit corridor and quickly tossing him mercilessly into a broom closet. It happened so fast that Orion didn't know what happened until the door was locked behind him, and his future murderer and ex best friend turned around and faced him.

"What the hell were you thinking?" She roared.

"What?" This didn't sound like the usual, sorry but I have to murder you speech.

"What were you thinking, getting to your feet like that?"

"I uh-" One second the Weasley girl was standing there and the next he was on his feet, with her brown eyes on him. But Persephone kept going, with no intention of stopping.

"I can't believe you did that! Of all the stupid things you've done, this tops them all. Why would you ever declare yourself for the Light, you're a Slytherin! Don't you realize that ninety percent of the people in Slytherin are Death Eaters and support the dark?"

"And the other ten percent?" Orion asked hopefully.

"Nine percent are going to be mutual and side with whoever wins."

"And the one percent?" Orion's hope was rapidly deflating.

"They just stood up in front of the whole school and asked for someone to murder them." Persephone glared at him, allowing it to sink in. Orion laughed bitterly and Persephone misunderstood the laugh.

"It's not funny, Malfoy's going to kill you tonight." She blurted out.

The two of them stared at each other and then Orion dropped his head into his hands.

"What a mess I've gotten myself into." Orion moaned, sitting down on an overturned mop bucket.

"I don't know what you were thinking." Persephone said shaking her head. "Is there anything up in that empty head of yours or is all just air?" She said rapping him on the head smartly.

"No." He pushed her hand away. "And now you're going to kill me, aren't you?"

She looked at him stunned, and she blinked once or twice.

"I wasn't planning too." She said slowly.

"Just save me Persephone and put me out of my misery." Orion begged.

Persephone shakily took her wand out, and Orion shut his eyes. He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, knowing that Persephone would make sure that it was over and done with in less then a second and that he wouldn't feel a thing.

"You are an idiot Orion Rosier." He heard her hiss, her voice strangely hoarse as if she were crying.

Orion didn't dare open his eyes, he just lay there, waiting, wondering what death would be like. But the curse never came. He heard the door slam, and he opened his eyes.

Persephone was gone and he was alone in the closet. He sat there in the silence, realizing that either he was dead, or Persephone Avery hadn't been able to kill him. Slowly he got to his feet, pinched himself once to make sure he wasn't dead and then exited the closet.

He was alive, but not for long. Now instead of dying the quick and easy death at the hands of his best friend, Malfoy or some other Death Eater would make sure that his last hours were filled with fear, terror, pain and torture. He had heard them bragging, telling their stories of their latest victims so many times, and yet he had never thought he would be a victim. He had just assumed that he would be a member of that nine percent and wait around until someone won.

All that had changed, because of –

"Weasley!" He exclaimed, looking up and finding the very object of his thoughts right in beside him.

The girl was staring at him, studying him closely, as if he were something in Care of Magical Creatures class. Now he wondered how she had snuck up on him, and why she was looking at him. Probably because, you're the biggest idiot in Hogwarts.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's impolite to stare." He asked raising an eyebrow.

Ginny blinked, coming to herself.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it's just that you look like – never mind." She shook her head sadly, and started down the hall.

"No wait-" Orion stopped her, not really knowing why.

"What were you going to say?" He asked curious.

Ginny looked at him, it was the eyes. His eyes were so much like Sirius Black's, it was scary. Except they were brighter, and they weren't lined, or full of sorrow and loneliness as Sirius's had once been even after two years with his god son.

"Nothing, you just look like someone I used to know." She said.

Orion waited, but Ginny wasn't about to tell him that she thought he looked like a dead ex-convict. He rubbed a hand down the side of his face, fidgeting, but every time Ginny tried to walk away, his eyes caught hers, holding her back.

"Uh Ginny?" He asked finally.

"Yes?"

"I know we don't know each other real well, and this might come as a shock, but I was wondering if maybe…" He trailed off, looking down at his feet.

"What?" She coaxed.

"Could I hide in your Dorm?" He blurted out.

Ginny looked at him as if he had sixteen heads. She shook her head as if she hadn't heard him correctly.

"I'm sorry, I thought you just said that you wanted to hide in my dormitory-"

"I did." Orion cut in.

"Oh, well in that case." She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then suddenly her eyes widened. "ARE YOU MAD?" She shouted.

"Look I can explain-"

"YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND, PERVERT!" She started running, but Orion caught up to her easily.

"JUST HEAR ME OUT!"

Ginny to his surprise slowed to a walk and folded her arms over her chest.

"You better start explaining, fast." She snapped.

"Not here." He said glancing around nervously.

"Start talking or I'm going to personally make sure that you never have children."

"Fine." Orion lowered his voice, and hurriedly began explaining his situation to her. Ginny listened carefully, her scowl transforming into a look of concentration. When he was finished, Ginny pressed her hands to the side of her head and rubbed her temples.

"So can I hide in the Gryffindor Tower?" He asked hesitantly.

Ginny looked up at him, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I've got a better idea." She grabbed his wrist and took off down the hall.

"Ginny! Where are you taking me?" Orion panted from somewhere behind her.

Ginny chose to ignore the question, concentrating on the task in front of her. She didn't even know why she was going through all this trouble for someone, a Slytherin of all people, who she hadn't said more than three words before today. It must have been because he stood up and offered to help her fight for their beloved school, and then there was his eyes. The dark orbs were so much like Sirius's that she wondered if perhaps he had been reincarnated.

She stopped short when she got to the statue of Eureka the Seeker. It was around here somewhere, she just couldn't remember if it was a right or a left. Beside her, Orion leaned against the statue and tried to catch his breath.

"Where are we going?" Orion asked again between gasps.

"You'll see." Ginny smirked and started running down the left corridor.

"Hey, Wait up!" Orion called, as he scrambled after her.

Ginny was tempted to run around the building again, just to tire him out, but she realized what kind of danger Orion was in, and that they had already wasted too much time. By now the students were probably heading for their first class. Ginny sped up, praying that Orion could keep up with her.

She passed it, but quickly jogged back to the small statue. Ginny approached the statue of the witch with the bird on her shoulder, waving a barely breathing Orion over. It had been so long since she had been here, she hadn't recognized it until after she had passed it.

"What is this?" Orion asked.

"This is a secret passage way." Ginny explained. She took out her wand. Conjuring up a memory of the blonde haired girl, she held up her free hand and whispered a word.

The statue quivered and then suddenly it disappeared.

Orion scratched his head and looked at Ginny.

"After you." She said.

Orion hesitated.

"You're not going to kill me right? This isn't some cruel joke where you lead me to a group of Death Eaters or offer me up as a human sacrifice, right?" He asked.

"Orion, what are you talking about?" Ginny asked, wondering if she had made a mistake helping her fellow student who obviously had some issues.

"Nothing, never mind." Just in case though, he grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her in behind him. Ginny rolled her eyes. Orion let go of her hand immediately and turned to see where he was.

"What is this place?" He asked, looking around the dimly lit room.

Ginny smiled fondly at the familiar room. Two girls, a blonde Ravenclaw and a spunky red haired Gryffindor ran through the room giggling. Ginny blinked and the image faded. Sometimes the memories seemed so real.

"Come on." She said, tugging on his arm. She started to climb the staircase, with Orion close behind her. When she got to the top, she opened the door, and told him to stay put. Then she closed the door and left him there.

Ginny walked up another flight of stairs, but instead of going right as she normally would've in the past, she went left. She studied the doors carefully and finally decided on the second to last one. Raising her fist she knocked three times. There was a crash and a "Just a second!" and then the door was flung open.

A tall Ravenclaw boy with curling blonde hair and fat book under his arm stood in the door way. His hazel eyes widened when he saw Ginny but he smiled.

"Ginny Weasley? I haven't talked to you since her funeral…" He trailed off and Ginny's eyes met his briefly. Silently she pleaded with him not to bring her up. It was bad enough that she had had to come back here, she didn't think she could handle talking about her on top of everything else.

"So what brings you here?" He asked clearing his throat.

Ginny couldn't handle being with him now that she was gone. It felt weird and awkward, and it made Ginny think sadly of her former best friend. She hated to sound rude, but she wanted to leave quickly, and she didn't want anyone, even if it was just another Ravenclaw to see Orion.

"Zack, you owe me a favor." She said casually. "And well I was thinking that right now would be an excellent time-"

"Just say the word Ginny, and you know I'll be more than happy to help a friend out." He smiled.

Ginny wrung her hands together.

"Great, I'll be right back, I have to introduce you to someone." She turned around and walked away.

"Whoa wait just a minute, if this is another blind date." Zack said eyeing her suspiciously.

"No it's no such thing, I swear!" Ginny said throwing her hands up in the air. "Honestly."

Zack sighed, but reluctantly followed Ginny over to the door.

"Okay, then who is this person? Why do I have to meet them and is she hot?"

Ginny laughed at his last question.

"It's not a she." She giggled. "It's a he."

"Oh." Zack said disappointed.

Ginny opened the door and Orion crawled out, brushing himself off and getting to his feet.

"A Slytherin!" Zack said shocked. He glanced at Ginny. "You're dating a Slytherin!"

Ginny's cheeks flushed and she shook her head, but Zack suddenly pointed to Orion, a look of recognition crossing his face.

"Hey wait aren't you that bloke who-"

"Yes." Orion interrupted, before he could remind him of his deadly mishap.

"That's why we need your help." Ginny said looking up at her friend Zack.

Quickly she explained their situation to him. Zack paled, and leaned against the wall, clutching the book to his chest.

"So let me get this straight, they want to kill him, and you want me to hide him?" He asked finally, holding a hand over his eyes.

Ginny nodded.

"I am so dead." Zack sighed.

"We all are going to be, if we don't get this show on the road." Ginny said tapping her foot impatiently.

"Easy for you to say," Zack grumbled. "You don't have to hide him in your dormitory."

He turned to Orion, and beckoned for him to come inside the dormitory. Orion raised an eyebrow but went inside. Instantly he realized that something was off. There were three beds, instead of the customary five, and only two of them had trunks at the end of their beds. He then noticed that one was unmade with books and papers sprawled all over the place.

"That's my bed." Zack explained, pointing to the only bed that looked like it had been lived in. The other two Ravenclaw beds were made, and impossibly neat. The trunk was missing from the third bed, and the one at the end of the second bed looked as if it hadn't been opened in a long time.

"You can sleep over there." Zack pointed to the bed with no trunk. Orion went over and sat down on it. There was dust on the covers. He looked up at Zack, questioningly.

"Just as long as you stay in here, you won't have to worry about anyone seeing you." Zack sat down on his own bed, opening up the book and writing something down on a piece of parchment.

Orion glanced around and then finally asked.

"Where's everyone else?"

The scratching of the quill stopped and Zack froze. Orion waited and waited, but Zack seemed to have temporarily entered the Ice Age. Something caught his attention and suddenly his eyes were drawn to the trunk on the opposite side of the room. He leaned forward, reading the name.

"William Windham."

The name struck a chord. Suddenly Orion realized why the beds were empty and Zack was alone and why the Ravenclaw had hesitated and why Ginny had known that no one would ever find him here.

"Eric and William are both dead." Zack said faintly.

Orion drew in a sharp breath, remembering that both of the Ravenclaw boys had been victims of Voldemort's wrath.

Soon he'd be joining them.

Ginny walked out of the Ravenclaw Dormitory, closing the door quietly behind her. Orion was safe with Zack, for now.

She opened the door to the back passageway, sitting down on the steps where only minutes before Orion had been, waiting for her to return. Her eyes couldn't see anything in the shadowy room, but her mind was filled with clear images from the past. She shuddered, remembering the sight of the empty, unoccupied, dusty beds.

She had barely known Eric and William, but they had been in her Charms and History of Magic class. In fact William had sat behind her in both classes due to the fact that his last name was Windham and hers was Weasley. Early in the summer after her fourth year he had been murdered in one of Voldemort's first public attacks. Voldemort had murdered his entire family except for his twin sister Wendy who had luckily been staying with a friend at the time of the attack. Eric had been killed by an escaped Death Eater just this past July, while he was vacationing with his family in Ireland.

Ginny sighed, her thoughts drifting back to another who had died at the hands of the Death Eaters in the final week of her Fifth Year.

Fifteen year old Ginny was trapped in the twisting passageways of the underground. She had been stunned, and now that she was awake she found herself alone, scared and lost. Harry and Hermione she hadn't been able to catch up to but her brother Ron, and her best friends Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom were supposed to be right behind her. Unfortunately the Death Eater's stunning spell had thrown her off. Now Ginny frantically searched for them. At last she spotted a lone figure, hunched over on the ground. She drew closer, her heart and feet quickening when she recognized the very same red hair as her own.

"Ron, RON!" Ginny yelled running to him. Ron never looked up, ignoring her even as she came to a halt at his side.

"Ron I've been looking all over for you. I can't find Harry and Hermione and..." Her voice suddenly changed becoming quiet. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom were with Ron, but both of them were unconscious, lying lifelessly on the cold ground in front of Ron.

"What happened? Ron are they okay? Answer me Ron!" She couldn't breathe. Her heart leapt into her mouth, as she tried to get her frozen brother to answer her. But Ron was in a trance and didn't appear to hear a word she said. He didn't even blink when she roughly shoved him out of the way and revived Neville.

"Ginny, what happened?" Neville asked, opening his eyes.

"I don't know." Ginny replied, kneeling down next to Luna. She rolled her friend over onto her back, and screamed.

"NO!" Ginny yelled.

Ginny's eyes snapped open. She was trembling and shaking, trying to erase the sounds and the sights of that horrible night. The memory was like reliving the night and the pains and sorrows that resulted from it over and over again.

"NO! LUNA WAKE UP! NO YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!"

Ginny shook her head, but the distant voice of her younger self persisted, screaming and crying for someone to help her.

"Help me! Why isn't she waking up? Help me wake her Neville! RON Help me! HELP ME!"

No one was coming. No one could save her. It was too late, too late.

Ginny blocked it out, and the voices faded along with the images. Her vision was blurring and she realized that at some point she had started to cry. Wordlessly she buried her head into her hands and silently wept.

"I think we have everything." Hermione said rechecking the components that were necessary for completing the spell.

"Maybe we should try locating ourselves first." Susan suggested.

"We don't have time." Harry said shaking his head. He was watching the dark cloud on the horizon.

Hermione sat up and pulled the book into her lap. It was getting darker as they spoke, she had hoped that they would reach the place before nightfall, but now she wasn't sure. They knew the spell backwards and forwards but there seemed to be something wrong.

"Hermione, let's just try it out and we can fix the problems later." Susan groaned.

"That's just the thing Susan, one mistake and we could end up, well anywhere." Hermione ignored the comments from Susan that followed. She was thinking, running her finger over the page. There was something wrong. But what? It dawned on her very suddenly.

"We need an object to connect us to him!" Hermione exclaimed looking up.

Susan and Harry turned to her looking very puzzled.

Hermione hurriedly explained to them what she meant. Susan understood instantly.

"There's something I didn't tell you." She said nervously.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"I already had a connection with Ron." She said avoiding their gazes.

"I had a vision." Susan continued. She launched into the explanation, knowing that time was short. She had been meaning to tell Harry and Hermione about it but every time she had gotten around to it, it had slipped her mind. Now finally she had it out in the open.

"That's it!" Hermione squealed.

"What?" Susan and Harry asked.

"The connection! That's the connections of the Order that Dumbledore was talking about. It all makes sense!" Hermione had that dreamy expression on her face. Harry was staring at her, unable to tear his eyes away. Susan had to snap Hermione out of it.

"Tell me!" Susan said shaking her by the shoulders.

"Susan you have to perform the navigation spell. And -" Hermione hesitated. They needed an object as well. She glanced over at the objects that she had brought that reminded her and Harry of the adventures they had had. None of them seemed to deal with Susan. They needed something else.

Hermione remembered something from a few days ago on the train. Ron had wanted to officially end their relationship with one simple action. And Hermione had held onto it thinking it was hers. But now she suddenly realized that it was never hers, it had always been Ron's. And now it was time to give it to Susan.

"I have just the thing." Hermione slid her hand into her pocket, searching for the silver necklace that Ron had given her two years ago. Last night, she had come to the realization that she never loved Ron. She had moved forward, taking the necklace off and tucking it away with the many memories she had of them. Carefully she removed it from her pocket and held it out to Susan.

Susan reached for it, and immediately her eyes widening.

"Hermione that's your necklace!" She said recoiling.

"No it's Ron's." Hermione said shaking her head. She dangled the necklace before Susan's face. Susan's bright eyes followed the necklace longingly as it swung gently back and forth. It was almost as if she had seen it before, perhaps in her dreams.

"I can't." Susan refused, though her eyes remained glued to the dazzling chain.

"You have no choice." Hermione dropped it and Susan caught it in the palm of her hand. She cradled it in her hand, wondering what to do now.

"Well put it on!" Hermione laughed.

Numbly Susan put it around her neck. As soon as she had closed the clasp the necklace seemed to shine, more than it had ever before. Light seemed to pour from it, as if a ray of sunlight had been captured within and had been finally set free.

"This is no ordinary necklace." Susan murmured.

Hermione and Harry who both came from muggle homes wouldn't know what Susan was talking about. But the necklace was a precious valuable. Only Susan could understand it's power. It was perfect, almost as if Ron had known all along that one day a seer would pick it up and come looking for him when he was in grave danger. For that was basically what it was meant to do. Hermione would never be able to understand how helpful she had been in the rescue of Ron. Only later would she find out.

"It looks nice on you." Hermione said softly. She was going to miss the necklace. Hermione glanced over at Harry, but then again it seemed like a minor sacrifice.

"Thank you." Susan whispered taking out her wand.

"Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Harry asked.

"Positive. It's only a tracking spell, I'll be back in no time." Susan said with a weak smile.

Hermione and Harry exchanged a look. They couldn't be so sure about that.

"Maybe we should all go, in case something happens." Hermione said.

"I'll be fine." Susan insisted rolling her eyes.

Hermione and Harry were not convinced but chose to keep their protests quiet.

"All right then. Here's the spell. You just have to read it aloud while holding your wand in your left hand and your right hand needs to be on the necklace-"

"I know Hermione. We've been practicing it over and over again." Susan interrupted. Hermione opened her mouth but fell silent.

"I just want to get Ron and go back to Hogwarts as quickly as possible." Susan said quietly.

"We'll be helping you with that." Harry assured her.

"I know." She said looking at each of them.

They turned toward the dark horizon. The cloud seemed to have consumed more area while they were speaking. It was an awful reminder of everything they had hoped to forget.

"Let's go." Susan said hurriedly raising her wand.

"Remember to come straight back here once you know where he is." Susan nodded listening to Hermione's advice. She took a deep breath.

"I'm ready." She whispered.

The three of them got to their feet. They stood in the grass with the darkening sky above them. Hermione and Harry looked at Susan waiting for her to begin. She raised her wand and touched the necklace at her throat. There was a long pause as Susan shut her eyes and tried to concentrate. Then suddenly it began...

First it was a soft buzzing noise, a murmuring of voices unknown. Then came the bright light from her wand. It was only a kindling of a spark but it grew steadily becoming a blinding yellow ball of flames. The murmuring grew, the light from her wand shooting out in all directions. It split, the fingers of light feeling the air around them, writhing and moving like worms or snakes of fire.

Hermione and Harry stumbled backwards, shielding themselves from the unbearable light. They could no longer see Susan. But her voice suddenly emerged from the ball of light.

"The Four of The Order must be United,
Without One All is lost,
Completion and Victory Awaits,
The Destruction of The World Lies in the Decision of Three,
Come Back to Us,
Answer Our Calling,
Let Us Complete What Must Be."

Hermione and Harry watched as a dark shadow suddenly appear in the sphere of fire. A wand was now ripping through the wall of light, breaking and shattering the closely knit fibers of fire.

"She's breaking the connection!" Hermione exclaimed. She ran forward but Harry grabbed her dragging her back. He held onto her, not letting her leave the protection of his arms.

Hermione and Harry watched in horror as the wand continued its descent toward the ground. Tearing through the walls that connected Susan to their world, Hermione and Harry felt the wand go through their own heart. It inched closer toward the grass, the light dulling. Suddenly it shattered. Light scattered in every direction. Harry pulled Hermione down to the ground as the sky suddenly burst into flames. For a fleeting moment a shrill note was heard and the fire blanketed their vision. But the next moment they were lying on the ground holding onto each other, with nothing but grass and a shadowy blue sky.

"What just happened?" Hermione asked trembling. Harry was almost as puzzled as she was. He had never expected the spell to act like that.

Hermione scrambled to her feet and ran over to the place where Susan had been standing only seconds before. She dropped down into the grass and began examining the area for any sign of the girl that had obviously disappeared. Harry knelt beside her helping her search for clues.

"Hey look at this." Harry motioned for her to come closer. Hermione leaned over and saw what he was looking at.

He had cleared away an area in the grass. There in the dirt was a strange symbol.

"What does it mean?" Hermione asked confused. Harry shrugged but leaned closer.

Cautiously Harry reached out and touched the dirt, he immediately drew back his hand, it was burning!

"It burnt me!" He exclaimed biting his finger that was now turning red.

Hermione hid a smile. She gently prodded the dirt with her wand, it was smoking and Harry was right, it was hot. But now she had found what she was looking for. Removing the top layer of dirt she found something red sticking out. Carefully she reached her hand into the newly dug hole and pulled out the small object.

"It's a feather!" Hermione exclaimed spinning a red feather between her fingertips and examining it.

"Not just any feather." Harry said staring at it with wide eyes. He carefully took it from her and held it up to the rapidly fading sunlight. His suspicions were confirmed.

"It's a Phoenix feather." He breathed.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other, their eyes wide. It was another symbol linking back to the Order of the Phoenix.

"What does it mean?" Hermione asked softly, reaching for it.

Their hands touched. Hermione felt her hand burn as suddenly the feather between their finger tips glowed a brilliant red, like a hot coal or a dying star. They recoiled, breaking the connection. The feather dropped to the grass where it sat trembling in the breeze, glowing eerily.

It burst into flames. The fire consumed the tiny feather, leaving nothing but a pile of ash. Or was it?

The ashes of the feather seemed to have fallen in a certain pattern. Leaning closer to look, Harry and Hermione soon realized that it spelt something out in the dirt.

The Phoenix has Risen!

There were no questions, it was like a code that both Harry and Hermione knew like a language all of their own. The message was rather simple.

Susan was in contact with Ron.

AN. Thank you for your support! I will be continuing this story! Look for the next chapter soon. Thanks Lara for e-mailing me. And feel free, anyone, to e-mail me with any questions or comments about the story!