Chapter 10: Search Party Closing In

In her entire eighteen years of life Rachel could never remember a shower feeling so invigorating despite the creepy surroundings. Let's face it Grimmauld Place bore more resemblance to a haunted house than a five star hotel, but she would have to get past all the spider webs and the constant creaks and groans. She trusted Harry and if this was the place he had brought her, then she knew that they would be safe here. Wrapping the towel tightly around her torso she stepped into the flip flops she had laid outside the tub. No way was she letting her feet touch the moldy looking bathmat. Making her way to the sink she removed the layer of steam that had collected on the mirror with one swipe of her hand, along with an unexpected layer of dust.

Sighing heavily Rachel wiped her hand on her towel to restore it to its previously clean state. Staring at herself in the mirror she surveyed her injuries that were much more minor than she thought they were going to be. The bruise on her left cheekbone was the most serious one, while a few scratches crossed her skin in various locations on her fair face. Her body on the other hand looked like a map with the multitude of ugly bruises that appeared during the course of the night.

Why is it every time I am around magical people I end up looking like a car accident victim, she thought gently touching the welt on her cheek.

A glint of blue light, reflecting in the mirror, distracted her from her injury as the pendant around her neck shone brightly. It had been a constant glow for hours. Tightly gripping the star Rachel felt lightheaded with all the emotions that began to overwhelm her.

I'm keeping her safe, she repeated over and over in her head, hoping to bat away the feelings that were making her sick with blame.

The groan of the pipes overhead ended abruptly signaling that Harry was out of the shower as well caused her to open her eyes and release the necklace. Luckily for him that he was correct in telling Rachel there were two showers because she had easily beaten him to the bathroom to claim it first. Dressing as quickly as she could with all the soreness that still burdened her body she wrapped her hair up in the towel like a turban and exited the room, letting all the built up steam escape into the hallway.

The flip flops clicked the entire way down the hall to the room she and Harry had chosen to inhabit while they were there. At first they were going to each take their own rooms. Then the boy wizard had decided it might be safer to stay in one just in case they needed to make a quick exit. Pulling her hair out of the towel Rachel combed through it before deciding that she didn't feel like doing it, and just let turn wavy with air drying. Over her shoulder in the mirror she caught sight of the bed, calling her to come a lay down for a bit. And who was she to tell it no?

With a content sigh Rachel performed a perfect swan dive onto the bed causing a mushroom cloud of dust to erupt in the air which headed straight into her mouth, nose, and eyes. Coughing violently as she tried to dislodge the particles that now gripped onto the lining of her throat and lungs, Rachel sat up rubbing at her eyes and nose.

I survive two run ins with Voldemort, a broom accident, death eaters, a stabbing, and I almost die from a dirty bed, she thought still hacking up a lung, seriously where's the glory in that!

"You okay in there?" Harry's voice came faintly from the closed door across the hall.

"Yeah," she wheezed wiping her watering eyes, "but I think this house is trying to kill me! First with the little creepy house elf and now the furniture, I think my odds were better off out there!'

Harry's laugh rang out loudly which caused her to break into laughter as well, it always happened that way. When he was truly laughing and enjoying himself Rachel found his laughter to be completely contagious, more so than anyone she had ever met before. "Glad to see you're so concerned for my wellbeing!" she called as the air finally was flowing normally into her lungs.

"Oh yeah, that's quite obvious that I don't care what happens to you at all," he winced trying to tend to the gash on his head he couldn't see.

"Yeah, well first thing I'm doing after I look at your head if disinfecting this whole place before I get a disease," she laughed patting the pillow to send smoke signals into the air.

"I could always have Kreatcher do it for you, I mean that is his job," Harry suggested bouncing on one leg as he attempted to pull his jeans on.

Before Rachel could answer her mouth unexpectedly went dry as felt the air grow strangely heavy. At first she thought that she had just inhaled too much dust, but when Harry emerged from the bathroom only dressed from the waist down she knew that he felt it too. At that moment she realized that she was not the only one that took a beating the previous night. Harry's entire midsection appeared to be one huge blue and purple bruise covered in so many scratches she couldn't count them all.

Raising a finger to his lips he tiptoed in his bare feet toward the stairs, leaving the muggle in the bedroom with her head throbbing. This feeling was strangely familiar, the nausea, the pounding in her temples, then it hit her like a bolt of lightning . . . danger's coming. She had felt this way in the Forbidden Forest the night she had lost Beth, and the afternoon on the path as she was trying to get Hermione to safety.

Cursing herself for letting Harry go off on his own, she removed her noisy footwear to slip some on socks instead. Standing Rachel tried her best to get ahold of her uncooperative wobbly legs that made walking a very difficult task. Eventually she managed to enter the hallway, maybe a minute, after he had, and she was surprised to find it was empty.

"Harry?" she whispered sharply gripping onto the wall for some sort of support, "Harry!" her voice hissed as she scanned up and down the strangely quiet hall.

With each room that she passed, she paused to glance inside in hopes of finding her friend, but each lay empty except for the various pieces of furniture that inhabited them. Where had he gone to in the short head start he had gotten on her? Reaching the banister Rachel peered down at the floor below searching for the danger she felt throughout her body. The hallway she has spent the night in appeared exactly as the pair had left a few hours ago.

With a death grip on the banister that caused her knuckles to turn white, Rachel descended the stairs. As quiet and stealthy as she was trying to be the staircase took it upon themselves to announce every step she took instead. Leaping over the tiny pile of glass that still sat at the bottom of the stairs, she skidded in her socks upon her "graceful" landing.

Bumping into the wall on the opposite side of the corridor she felt her head suddenly stop hurting. Sweat began to bead on her forehead, her symptoms disappearing unexpectedly was never a good sign. Normally this signaled her that who or whatever was hunting her had arrived, and soon would be making its presence known. Everything appeared to be normal inside the house, but Rachel had learned early on in the magical world that nothing appeared to be what it seemed.

Turning back around to continue her way back up the stairs to the search the above floors for her ally, something caught the attention of the soul piercer. Voices, at least three of them, could be heard muttering outside the front door, and from the volume of the talking they sounded close. Daring not to breath too loudly she turned to face the front door, and before she could change her mind she began to inch toward the solid wooden structure. Reaching the door Rachel's mind was reeling, how had they been discovered?

Heart pounding against her ribcage she peered out the peephole near the center of the door. Through the dirty cracked glass she could make out the three distinct figured clothed in black robes standing just off the landing steps. The group stood huddled together muttering about things Rachel could not make out, except the occasional word: Potter, soul piercer, the dark lord, capture, and kill came up the most throughout their conversation.

What are they waiting for; she thought her throat tightening in terror.

She knew she didn't stand a chance if they decided to turn and kick in the door, but the anxiety of watching them plot just yards from where she was, was far much worse.

Being so focused on the death eaters at her door, Rachel didn't even hear the padded footsteps approaching her from behind. Arms were around her in a flash, and suddenly the girl found her mouth covered before the scream had time to form.

"Shh," Harry hissed in her ear, instantly erasing her urge to start punching and ask questions later.

Releasing her from his bear hug Harry crept up to the door, and took a quick glance of his own out the peephole.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Rachel barely breathed, "They're just fucking standing there!"

"They don't know the house is here," Harry whispered back keeping his eye on the band of men.

Completely dumbfounded by his statement Rachel had to pause to digest what he had said. "Um Harry, I think that blow to your head might have caused some brain damage. It's a house, how can they not know it's there?!" she whispered sharply, nearly at her normal volume.

As quietly and briefly as he could Harry explained the magic that hid the order's headquarters, and only if you are told the exact location would number twelve Grimmauld Place make itself known to you. Breathing a sigh of relief Rachel pressed her ear against the door trying to hear what exactly they were planning. Unfortunately all she could hear was the blood coursing through the veins in her ear.

"Damn can't hear anything," she cursed under her breath, "What are they doing, Harry?"

"Nothing," he muttered his emerald eye still pressed against the glass, "but I think we are safe for now."

Leaning back on her heels Rachel laughed nervously, "Somehow that doesn't really comfort me."

A few more tense minutes ticked by agonizingly slow before Harry pulled away from the door. "They've gone," he smiled his voice slightly shaking from fear, "but they'll be back no doubt about that. After all they know the order's headquarters is in the area."

"Super," Rachel sighed, so much for her not having to worry about whether or not they were safe. But then a thought dawned on her, if the death eaters were so occupied with finding them, the other would undoubtedly be left alone. A warm feeling of comfort filled the muggle, as she let a smile cross her face as she looked at Harry. Raising an eyebrow he joined her with a suspicious smile.

"What?" he laughed as Rachel threw an arm around his bare torso.

"Nothing, now let's go take care of that head of yours," she said half leading him back toward the stairs and half leaning on him; her body was still recovering from the soul piercer part of her reactions to danger. "I promise, I won't hurt you."

Emitting an evil laugh which caused Harry to clamp a hand over the back of his head, Rachel applied a quick hug. The pair had just reached the bottom of the stairs when several loud cracks sounded in the dining room at the end of the hall. Rachel knew that sound, someone had just apperated into the house. Grabbing her by the shoulders, Harry shoved her across the hallway. Before she could argue she found herself shut inside a dark cramp closet with a half-naked boy who lived pressed up against her. The awkwardness of the situation was only diminished by the terror she could see in Harry's normally calm eyes, which caused frightened tears to form in her eyes.

"I don't want to die," she whispered looking up at him.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he whispered leaning his forehead against hers, so that their eyes locked. "I won't let Hermione lose you again; I just wish I had my wand with me."

Even in the dimly lit closet Harry saw the color vacate Rachel's face. "You don't have your wand?" her voice broke with almost every word.

"Don't worry I have a plan," he said with a glint in his eyes that Rachel knew what he was thinking.

"I'll only follow it if it involves both of us getting out of here in one piece," Rachel responded, listening to the group of voices filter down the corridor.

"Listen, I'm not arguing with you about this. If I have to, I'm going to get you out of here first and then worry about me afterwards," he whispered sharply, instantly silencing her with his tone. "If I tell you to run, you head toward the door and run as far and as fast as you can. Don't stop until you can't run anymore and only then phone Hermione, if you tell her where you are at, she will be able to apperate to you in a flash."

"As much as I would love to be with her, Harry, I won't leave you. If we are going to be attacked I'm standing beside you magic or no magic," she said defiantly as the voices began to grow louder as the group made their way out of the dining room. "I'll distract them long enough for you to go get your wand if I have to."

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," he said setting his jaw as the footsteps stopped just outside the closet.

Every muscle in both their bodies had gone rigid in anticipation of having to react quickly, if they were going to have to fight they weren't going to give in that easily. Holding her breath Rachel closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer to keep the pair of them safe from harm from the mysterious group just outside the door. Just at the point of passing out from lack of oxygen a familiar voice caused her to release her breath.

"So we know that Harry left two nights ago and there has been no sighting of him since then," the voice of Arthur Weasley sounded in the hallway which caused Harry to relax his stance, and almost begin laughing, "Both Ron and Hermione have written to him as well as Rachel several times over the past few days and there has been no response. This leads me to believe they are together, and they might have even planned this whole thing, but the real question is why?"

"We all know that Harry would never just take off like this if unless he had good reason to do so," Lupin's voice joined the Weasley father, "plus the fact that Rachel has vanished as well, means that perhaps she was the reason for it. I think she might have been in some sort of danger, You-Know-Who must have found out that she was still alive."

"But if she was in danger, why didn't he just bring her here? He knows that none of us would let anything happen to her," Tonks said which caused a mutter from the others who voices they could not tell apart.

"Sounds like the whole order is out looking for us," Harry whispered his warm breath tickling Rachel's ear.

"He knew that if he brought her here, he would be bringing the attention of You-Know-Who here as well. Not only would be hunting Harry but he would be hunting Rachel as well, they wanted to keep us out of harm's way," a voice Rachel did not recognized chimed in, which caused her to look up at Harry for clarification.

"Bill," he whispered directly in her ear. "Ron's eldest brother."

"Still I promised your siblings, Hermione, as well as your mother I would bring them home safety, and I intend not to break my promise," Arthur said sternly in a tone Rachel had heard her own father use when he meant business.

Hermione must have gone to the Burrow after I didn't show up yesterday, Rachel thought hearing Mr. Weasley include her girlfriend in his list; I should have suspected that was going to happen.

"How are the kids holding up?" Tonks asked the question that both Rachel and Harry were wondering, but didn't really want to know the answer.

Silence filled the air momentarily as the group all turned to face Arthur; they all knew that the two teens would be affected the worse by this disappearance. "Honestly, I think this has hit them harder than we could have ever predicted. Molly said Ron and Hermione sat up all night just waiting for news from me, staring off into space. They all look like zombies, ready to break at any moment," Arthur sighed thinking about everyone that was counting on him back home.

A lump formed in Rachel's throat at the thought of the other's worrying about them so much so that they were forgoing sleep. Harry's eyes met her as the guilt was also hitting him in the gut like a quick punch. They knew that the others would be concerned but the way Mr. Weasely was describing them it sounded like their disappearing act had almost destroyed them. "What have we done?" she whispered causing Harry to close his eyes in shame.

"Of course, Hermione is probably the worse out of the three… it's like she lost her all over again. I don't think she can take having Rachel ripped from her life again," Arthur added a certain sadness quite apparent in his voice, "we have to find them, I don't feel like I can face them all again unless I have Rachel and Harry at my side, especially her. Nobody should have to lose the person they love once in a lifetime… let alone twice in one year."

His words were like stones that collected in her stomach which caused it to plummet to her feet. I'm keeping her safe, I'm keeping her safe, she thought as tears began to fall trying to keep herself together, who am I kidding, I'm killing her.

It only took a quick glance at Rachel to tell that she was fighting a losing battle of heavy sobs, and Harry knew if she lost it, she would blow their cover. Even though it was cramped inside the cupboard Harry managed to quietly wrap a comforting arm around her, and allowed her to bury her face in his bare chest.

"Well enough chit chat, we need to start searching," Arthur said taking charge of the band of people, "Bill and Fluer will head to Little Whining to search the surrounding area, Fred and George will go to Diagon Alley, Remus and Tonks will be going to Hogsmeade, Kingsely will go to the ministry to see if there have been any sightings of Harry, and I will head to America to check up on Rachel's household. Meet back up in the Burrow at the end of the day, hopefully with them."

The sound of the entire order apperating at once was almost deafening, and in its wake left the manor eerily quiet. Inside the closet the soul piercer wept while the young wizard held her closely, the pair of them oblivious to the fact that they were once again alone in the house.

"What was I thinking just leaving her like this, Harry? I'm a fucking horrible person," Rachel cried the guilt of once again hurting Hermione pressing on her heart like a vice, " I promised Hermione, I would never leave her again, and that is exactly what I did; I broke my promise."

"You're not a horrible person," Harry whispered giving her a tight hug, "you're a wonderful person who loves and cares about her very much. So much so that you risked everything before to keep her safe and you are doing it again. If we are found now at least we know that both of them are out of harm's way."

Rachel's tears stopped upon catching the wording of his last sentence. He didn't say they all would be safe, he said both of them are safe, she thought knowing that secretly he was going through the same pain she was experiencing. "You still love her don't you?" Rachel whispered feeling Harry's heartbeat increase at her question.

Even in the dark she saw the color race to his cheeks at the thought of the red haired girl he was keeping safe. As Rachel's sobbing died down, Harry noticed that the voices outside had disappeared, signaling it was safe to exit the cupboard. Clearing his throat, she looked up at him; she had forgotten that she was holding on tightly to her friend with no shirt on, and upon realizing it her cheeks instantly flushed. Stepping back she released Harry, it was the first time ever Rachel felt awkward embracing him. She always thought of him as a brother, and having him hold her like that in such a vulnerable state caused her to feel uncomfortable knowing it should have been Ginny. Instead it was her and it was because of her that he was here in the closet miles and miles away from the person he loved. Solemnly they exited out into the hallway and stood were their search party had stood just moments ago.

Silently, Rachel turned and faced the front door to the house. Outside that door was the rest of the world was still carrying on full of dangers: death eaters, Voldemort, and various other things that went bump in the night. Everyone outside these four walls would be at the mercy of all the evils that were currently running rampant, while she and Harry simply hid. The more that she thought about it the more she realized how stupid she was for thinking that everyone they cared about would be out of harm's way if she and Harry went into hiding; the death eaters still knew where the Burrow was located, and could go after everyone at any given moment. So not only was Hermione was still in danger but she was also completely heartbroken due to their disappearance, and this thought caused Rachel's stomach to churn.

Hot tears burned her eyes upon realizing a terrifying thought, Voldemort knew about her and Hermione's relationship… he could use her to draw them both out.

I need to keep her away from him at all costs, she thought and for a brief moment she formulated a crazy plan.

What was stopping her from just running out that door, screaming down the street, "HERE I AM, COME GET ME YOU BASTARDS!" and having them chase her over the country so that the others would safe by her distraction? The insanely suicidal thought dissipated when one of the reasons for not sacrificing herself to the darkness in the universe, placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?"

The images of not only Harry, but Hermione, her parents, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys all mourning her if she perished after trying to divert You-Know-Who from the others filled her head. Then another thought crossed her mind, she had promised her mother and father that she would come back to them; she had already broken her promise to Hermione and she intended not to break another.

"No," she said turning back from that door a slight paleness to her skin, "Who were we kidding Harry thinking that we were keeping them safe by running away? He knows where they are and he can use them against us, especially Hermione. Cause not only she your best friend she is my girlfriend, and he knows that I will sacrifice myself to keep her safe. Hell he's seen me do it before! I want to go get her, and bring her back here so he doesn't get the opportunity to use her like a pawn. "

"Are you completely mental? It's not safe for either of us to just show up in the Burrow, they are tracking us very heavily right now," Harry stated gripping both her shoulders and staring into her blue eyes. "You saw it yourself they are only a few steps behind us, and to go grab her right now would be suicide. And what about Ron and Ginny, do we just leave them behind? You know damn well that he could use them as well to lore us out! "

Sighing Rachel placed her face in her hands, she hated that once again that Harry had a valid point. "I don't know, Harry, I just don't know anymore," she groaned feeling her head begin to start to pound, "Look I'm going to go lay down. Either think of a way we can go get her or at least warn the others or… I'm going to pick her up myself, even if I have to walk to the Burrow from here. I'm not putting her in anymore danger because that son of a bitch wants his pet back. Cause not to sound insensitive or anything but she is my main concern right now."

Releasing her shoulder's Harry allowed her to walk past him and up the stairs to their room. Now that he was alone he realized he felt the same guilt about Ginny that Rachel was feeling about Hermione, and she did have a valid point. He couldn't blame her at all for focusing solely on her girlfriend's safety, because deep down he knew he would be trying to do the same for Ginny. Huffing he leaned against the wall and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he looked up at the level Rachel had just retreated to; her words sticking in his mind.

I have to figure something out; he thought closing his eyes as her heard her sobs waft down the stairwell, she's right we can't let him use them like pawns.

It was like a light bulb went off for the young wizard at Rachel's phrase from before. He knew a way that they can warn them until it was safe to go collect their friends. In order to put his plan into action though he needed a key element, and he knew that there had to be one in the house that his godfather grew up in. Turning he took the steps two by two as he passed the second floor and headed higher up until he ran out of stairs to the floor where he knew Sirius' old room was located. If there wasn't one in there Harry would be very surprised, but in the off chance that happened he would have to send Kreacher out to retrieve one. Pushing open the door that hadn't been opened in years, Harry squinted through the dim sunlight that streamed in through the dusty moth eaten velvet curtains.

Crossing the room Harry approached the dusty bookcase to do a quick search, and it didn't take long to find the wooden box tucked away on the topmost shelf. Standing on tip toes, Harry stretched until his fingertips brushed the box gently tipping it off the shelf and into his waiting hand. Blowing the dust off the dark stained mahogany box and cracking it open, Harry smiled upon seeing that all the pieces appeared to be accounted for inside. Picking up the faded white pawn piece he rolled it in his fingers, knowing that at one point in its past this piece would have been touched by his father in a battle against his godfather. Now this piece and its fellow brethren would hopefully be used to send a warning to three teens hundreds of miles away; that is if Harry Potter can pull off a spell he has never attempted before.