Chapter 13

Initiating The Plan

Almost three full days after the twins had their talk with Neville they set their carefully mapped out plan into action.

The first step: to gain the advantage of Harry's map and cloak under the illusion that it was for 'innocent' purposes.

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The twins looked at each other before approaching the small boy and officially starting their plans. There was no turning back… not like they would have, but this was it. "Hey Harry, we wanted to sneak down to the kitchens so we could get some supplies for a house party we want to throw sometime soon." Fred smirked in mischief.

They were pleased to note that Harry didn't shy away from them like he did most others. "Yeah, think you could lend us your cloak and the map?" George quipped.

Now that the twins were aware that they should see something off about Harry they realized that his smiles were forced and that the emotions he presented were not the ones he was actually feeling. Harry now wore only long sleeve shirts, with high collars, they assumed it was to hide all the bruises their brother had put on his pale skin. He also didn't make eye contact for more than a few seconds and maybe most disturbing of all, he was deathly thin again. Maybe more thin then he was when he came to their home after a summer with the Dursley's.

The twin's shared a brief look with each other as Harry turned to his trunk to get the pair the items they had asked for.

"Here you go. Be sure to grab some extra Treacle Tarts for me, you know those are my favorite." He smiled a shy unassuming smile at them and they could tell there was a hint of truth to it, but it was mostly just his mask of false indifference.

"Of course Harry!" They said in unison. They tried to sound as cheerful as humanly possible to hide their concern for the boy.

"How could we forget to get our favorite 6th year his favorite treat?" They made twin jokingly appalled expressions before turning with smirks. "We'll return the cloak and map as soon as we are done."

"Might be a while though, we have big plans for this party!"

Harry waved them off. "No worries guys. I wouldn't have that map without you, and I don't have any use of it right now that I know of." They smiled kind smiles at him. They couldn't wait to see life in him again. They missed his real smiles now that they knew they were gone. They did their twin speak promising each other that Ron would pay for this. With cheerful waves they left jogging back up to their own dorm room.

Once there they stretched out on George's bed and opened up the map. They quickly found Harry's footprints. He was right where they had left him at the moment. He was pacing around his dorm only pausing on a turn in what they assumed was him checking the time.

Neville had informed them earlier that Harry intended to go meet Ron in an abandoned classroom tonight.

Apparently, although obviously still very hurt over Harry's betrayal to lie about what was really going on… Neville couldn't not help the teen. Neville still lay with him every night talking to him and comforting him. Their hearts squeezed for Neville and how compassionately he was taking care of Harry.

They watched with baited breath for Harry to leave the dorm and start his trek to meet Ron. Finally at a quarter to 9 Harry left the dorm and began working his way through the castle. Fred watched Harry on the map as George got their things together so they could go follow him. The second George had everything they needed they sprinted from the room to go and find their little brother and the boy they wished wasn't their brother anymore.

They made their way through the castle and towards Harry and Ron's' Footprints as silently and quickly as they could manage under the cloak. They made it there in relatively good time all things considered and quickly set phase two into motion.

This was going to be the worst part, they knew that. They felt sick to their stomachs thinking about what they were going to have to do… what they were going to have to watch. But this was the best thing they could think of. It was the only sure way to get strong evidence from Harry.

Step two: Get proof at whatever means necessary.

They did their twin speak again, both thinking the same thing…

They were not going to like what they were about to see.

Okay I know I promised a long chapter but the next one is long! Longer than I expected, so yeah…. But look!

A second Tadpole update in your e-mail? What a co-wink-e-dink (coincidence)! I put up the next chapter too because I feel really terrible you had to wait this long for a new chapter… forgive me!