Harry Potter

Their Biggest Challenge

By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you don't recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Rating: K

Pairing: Marcus/Charlie - Fred/Riley - Harry/Ginny - Ron/Hermione

Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Romance/Suspense/Drama

Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything. If you do not like the story, they why are you reading it?

Summary: On their own and on the run, the Hogwarts five must now rely on one another more than ever. Their biggest challenge has yet to begin, as they set out to find and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes; and fight the Dark Forces that threaten to tear them apart.

Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: Matt-Hardy-Lover-101, Fan of Fics, BamaRose and DJScales. Where did everyone go? Come back to me...please?

Author's Note Two: In response too DJScales; Primus? Do you mean Primeval? If that is what you mean, then I only updated first chapter of the main story last night. As for pranking the Carrows, there may not be pranks, but there will definitely be retaliation.

BamaRose: I heard about the storms. Oh, My God, im glad you're all right. I don't expect people to review if they cant, so don't apologize. Im just glad you're okay.

Onto the story...

The Story

Later that evening, after Ron and Riley had returned to their friends and Ron had apologized the best he could, Harry and Ron sat inside the tent in the boys dorms watching a small flame that Hermione had produced from her wand float around in an unbreakable glass jar. In the girls room, talking in quiet voices was Riley and Charlie, while Hermione took her share of sentry duty at the mouth of the tent.

"You were chased by Snatchers?" Charlie questioned, as she watched Riley play around with the object that Dumbledore had left her in his will "How did they know you were a Muggleborn?"

"I was of school age," Riley answered, running her finger down the open book beside her, "Must have either looked it, or they guessed I was 17. And instead of being in school, I was walking the streets with another teenager who looked around the same age, they maybe slow Snatchers, but their not completely thick" she turned back to the puzzle and turned one of the fine knobs on the side.

Charlie nodded in understanding "So did you fight them?" she asked "Or just Disapparate?"

"We tried getting to a safe secluded place so we could Disapparate," Riley went on "I tried making up a story to throw them off, but we must have managed to have some of the bright lot after us, because they didnt heed my story -"

"What story did you give them?" Charlie asked

Even in the dim light of the bedroom, Riley's face burned, she mumbled something under her breath which made Charlie frowned.

"What was that?" the Slytherin asked

"I told them that Ron and I had left our daughter with a sitter," the Genius answered

Charlie fell backwards onto the bed, giggling "You and Ron?" she asked, through her giggles "That's a good one...whoo, best thing I've heard all week"

"Shut up!" Riley whined "I thought if they believed we had a daughter, then they would realize we werent at schooling age and leave us alone"

Charlie was still laughing when a growling noise was heard from outside, and Harry's panicked voice sounded loudly "Reducio!"

"What's going on out there?" the Slytherin called, just as Hermione's voice ushered in from outside asking the exact same question, except with a slight moderated question.

"Nothing!" Harry and Ron called back to both girls

Charlie and Riley exchanged looks

"Yeah, right" Charlie nodded "a whole lot of nothing!" she nodded her head towards the exit and rolled off the bottom bunk.

Riley followed her. They stepped down the wooden steps just outside the boys dorms, as Hermione entered from outside. "We need to talk" the bookworm announced

"Yeah. All right" Ron nodded

Ignoring Ron, Hermione brushed past him to stand alongside Charlie and Riley; in her hand she held a copy of Rita Skeeter's book, the same one Harry had been reading a few hours ago, and the same one she had taken from Godric's Hollow. "I want to go see Xenophilius Lovegood"

"Who comes up with these names?" Charlie asked "I mean, whatever happened to good old fashioned names, like Bertie or Xavier or - or -" she trailed off, a frown appearing on her face "I can't think of anymore..." she huffed and crossed her arms.

Riley smiled and gave her friend a one-armed hug, she really had missed Charlie.

"Sorry?" Harry frowned

"See this?" Hermione stated, turning to a specific page in the book and handing it to Harry; Charlie popped up behind the Gryffindor and read over his shoulder

The Slytherin surveyed the page "Is that -?" she cut off

Hermione nodded "Its a letter Dumbledore wrote to Grindelwarld," she exlained "Look at the signature

"Its the mark again," Charlie concluded "The same one that was on that grave at Godric's Hollow,"

"And the same one Mr. Lovegood was wearing around his neck at Bill and Fleur's Wedding," Harry agreed

Hermione lowered herself down onto the steps beside Riley, the Genius sat beside her and took the book from Charlie who was passing it back. Skimming through it, the genius frowned in confusion at some of the passages which were written.

"It keeps cropping up," Hermione continued "I think its a message..."

Harry hesitated "It was there too," he admitted

"Where?" Riley asked, looking up from the pages of the book. It was quite strange, considering she had been gone a few weeks, how easy it was to slip back into the group as if she had never left.

"Outside Gregorovitch's Wand Shop," Harry explained.

Looking back at Rita's book, Riley frowned and jumped to her feet "Hang on," she mumured, running her finger over the symbol at the bottom of Dumbledore's printed letter "I've seen that symbol on -" she scurried back into her bedroom, snagged her puzzle from the bottom bunk and returned her friends "- look," she indicated to a small etching on the side of the puzzle "I didnt think anything of it at first, because this thing is covered in runes and symbols..." lowering her hand from the symbol, she brushed against the last knob on the right had side, and almost dropped the puzzle as it gave a shuddering jolt in her hand.

Exchanging looks the five friends moved in closer to inspect the puzzle as a small opening appeared in the top of the triangular shaped 3D puzzle.

"Open it," Harry prompted the Gryffindor genius

Riley nodded, and unfolded the three sides of the puzzle to reveal a circle on the inside; and removed it to reveal a pendant of the same symbol Hermione had been talking about a few minutes ago. "Woah," the genius mumured, as Charlie removed the symbol and held it in the palm of her hand.

Inspecting Rita's book, the Slytherin compared the pendant and the drawing and then looked up at Harry "Their identical!" she confirmed

"But what does it mean?" Ron asked

Charlie shrugged.

Hermione spoke once more "Look, we've got no idea where the next Horcrux is," she pointed at the book "but this, this means something. I'm sure of it."

"Yeah" Ron nodded in agreement "Hermione's right" he walked forward and squeezed past Riley to stand alongside Hermione "We ought to see Lovegood"

Charlie, Riley and Harry exchanged looks, Ron was clearly trying to hard to get back into Hermione's good books.

"Let's vote on it," the red head continued "Those in favour?" he raised his hand. No one else mimicked his opinion and he lowered it again, a crestfallen look glimpsing across his face.

Riley pushed herself up, as Hermione walked away "Ron, piece of advice?" she smiled, patting his shoulder "Stop trying so hard."

And she along with Charlie, headed back up the steps and disappeared into the girls bedroom once more.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

It had been at least a week since Christmas break had ended, and all pureblood and halfblooded students had returned to their natural bearings of Hogwarts -Natural was used lightly this year-. Classes had picked up as normal, and the members of the DA were finding it incredibly difficult to sneak out after hours to recruit other people to the cause; Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw had yet to return after the Christmas holidays, and although none of her friends had any clue as to what had happened to her, their thoughts were all but confirmed when the Death Eater siblings spoke of the foolish man and his stupid magazine. Luna's father had been writing about how much Harry Potter and Charlie Hunter were the saviours of the Wizarding World and how the whole country should have shown them their support because they would be able to save them from the up coming war against Lord Voldemort.

"So they took Luna?" Will asked, as he entered his mother's quarters which were now on Hogwarts grounds. The Death Eater's -who were evidently running the school- had stated she couldnt be trusted off school grounds where they couldnt keep an eye on her, and since Hagrid had been on the run since the end of first term now Jennifer Carmicheal was the only other person who could take over his position, naturally Care of Magical Creatures was always her position to begin with but now she had been forced to move back onto the school grounds so she could be monitored better. That and it made for easy access by her husband Richard.

Jenn, who had been sitting behind her desk grading essay papers, looked up when her door opened and smiled as her son walked in. Her smile slipped from her face when she noticed that he wasnt alone, and that he was covered in cuts and bruises all over his face and arms. "William!" she gasped "What happened to you?"

"He happened to me!" William answered "I asked Kaela about Luna, asked if she had seen her on the train when she returned to the castle; and he came up from behind me. He flicked his wand and I felt something hot against my face, it stung like hell, and when I asked why he had done that, he did it again"

"Oh, Will," Jenn shook her head "There is a time and place to be a smart mouth," she told him "Now is not that time and place" she placed her hands on his shoulders and led him into her private area; which was also her bedroom. Motioning for the two students to take a seat on the bed, the mother opened the draw of the bedside table and removed a bottle of Dittany and a few cotton swabs. She turned back to her son, and unstopped the potion "Come here," she told hm, dabbing the liquid onto his face

Will hissed and tried to pull away, Jenn held him fast "Mum! It hurts!" she cried

"Maybe this will teach you to not speak out of turn," Jenn reminded him

Kaela bit her lower lip, as Jenn moved on from William and started applying the liquid to her cuts "What happened to Luna?" she asked quietly

Jenn sighed and surveyed the two teenagers before her "Her father was saying some things about Harry and Charlie, in his magazine. They took Luna to try and shut him up..." she turned to her son "It will not be long before they turn the tables..."

"What do you mean?" Will asked

"I mean," Jenn started "that it will not be long before they start going after parents of children who mis-behave!"

The Slytherin and Hufflepuff looked nervous "You mean, they could come after you?" Kaela asked "If Will continues to go against their rules?"

Jenn nodded "Alectro and her brother will not do much to me," she admitted "but they will send Richard down here. This is why I beg you Will, please, do not do anything to anger them."

"But Charlie -" Will started to protest

"I know you miss Charlie," Jenn cut across him "But channeling her is not going to do anything but get you in trouble. William, promise me...promise me that you will behave this term. If you don't..." she sighed as she cut off "I may not be here to protect you much longer"

Will shook his head "Don't say that mum!" he complained "This is what the DA does! It protects those at Hogwarts against the Dark Forces, we're Dumbledore's Army!"

Jenn smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead "Promise me," she whispered

The young Slytherin deflated and nodded "I promise," he mumured, although it didnt take a genius to work out that his heart was not in it one bit.

Kaela glanced sideways at her friend, and reached out to grab his hand. She gave it a soft squeeze, before Jenn escourted them back to their common rooms before curfew was set in.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

The morning after Jenn had made Will promise to not get into anymore trouble within the walls of the castle, the 7th year Slytherins had their first DA class of the new term. Professor Amycus Carrow, stood at the front of the class as he watched his students file in. The Gryffindors to one side of the room, the Slytherins to the other; except unlike over the past few years, this year there was no tension between the two houses, no rivalries, they were one of the same; and one the same side for this war.

One person had made this happen; and sadly that one person was not able to see what she had done to the two houses of Hogwarts, who had grown up enemies and were now on their way to becoming accomplices and friends.

"As of the last term," Amycus started, as the whole class had filed in and taken their seats "A handful of students have taken it upon themselves to break curfew and disgrace this school with such nonsense of DA meetings and recuitng members..."

The door opened at the back of the class and Alectro Carrow walked in, pulling two students in by the scruffs of their robes.

"...these two were found on the 4th floor corridor last night," Amycus continued "Their punishment has been hand picked by us -" he motioned to himself and his sister "- and clarified by the Headmaster"

Alectro, shoved the two students in her grasps towards the front of the room. Will and Kaela stumbled, the Hufflepuff hitting the ground and Will stooping to help her.

"Worthless, piece of -" Alectro growled, pointing her wand at the girl, and watching as Kaela screamed in pain.

The class of Slytherin and Gryffindor 7th years watched on helplessly

"Expelliarmus!" shouted the voice of Brandon Langston, as he sprang from his seat, his wand arm outstretched and pointed directly at the Alectro. The Death Eaters wand flew out of her hand, and into there, where it clattered to the floor a few feet away from the door.

The class fell silent as Amycus rounded on the Gryffindor "INSOLENT!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the room "How dare you pull a wand on a professor!" he pointed his wand at Brandon "Crucio!"

"Protego!" Daphne, was on her feet in seconds, her own wand pointed at Brandon and a silvery shield shot out from the tip and deflected Amycus's spell from hitting the Gryffindor.

The Slytherins and Gryffindors stared wide-eyed.

"Now, Miss Greengrass," Alectro spoke, after retrieving her wand "Why did you do that?"

Daphne stared at her Professors "You have no right to use those spells on us!" she responded "This may be Dark Arts class now, but we are not human guniea pigs!"

"You must be prepared for what is out there, my dear child" Alectro continued, edging closer to Daphne "How will you know the difference between a curse and a spell, if you do not know of the affects?" she asked

Daphne offered her a 'are-you-kidding-me-look' before responding "I think anyone, even a Muggle, would tell the difference between a curse and a spell, Professor" she nodded "Curses are meant to harm...spells are not"

Alectro's face changed drastically. Not only was Daphne using magic without proper cause and constitution, but she was also answering a professor back. "I do not wish to spill Pure blood in this classroom, Miss Greengrass," she spoke "But I will punish you if you do not lower your stance, at once! You are already standing on the brink of destruction, by just associating yourselves with filth!"

Daphne didnt back down, and everyone within the classroom knew exactly that the 'filth' that Alectro was edging towards were the nonexistent Hogwarts Five.

"And not only that," Alectro added "You already disgrace your family, by being a filthy little blood traitor! Lower your wand!"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," Daphne stated, her wand arm still pointed towards Brandon. She smirked inwardly, mentally thanking Charlie for showing her that submission was never the way forward; when challenged, the worst thing you could do was back down.

Alectro looked murderous "Fine! You leave me no choice, Greengrass..." she raised her wand, and uttered the one word that would bring excruciating pain to any individual.

"Crucio!"

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Sitting outside the mouth of the tent, Riley turned to Charlie "I've been meaning to ask; how did you know about the Taboo?"

"The what?" Charlie asked

"The Taboo," Riley repeated "I noticed that you, Harry and Hermione do not say You-Know-Who's name much anymore"

Charlie shrugged "Its something we've just sort of slipped into," she explained "I tend to call him Moldyshorts, these days" she grinned. Riley giggled. "But I have nothing against calling him V -" she cut off as Riley tackled her, wrapping her hands around her mouth.

"Don't say it!" Riley cried

"Get off!" Charlie complained, pushing her friend off of her "Why did you do that?"

"Sorry," Riley apologized "But the name has been jinxed. That's how the track people, these days. You know the trace that they have on underage kids?"

Charlie nodded

"Well, they have put some sort of trace on You-Know-Who's name," Riley explained "Saying his name breaks protective enchantments, it causes some kind of magical disturbance -"

Charlie gasped "That's how they found us in London, when we Diapparated after the wedding"

"Exactly," Riley nodded "They nearly got Kingsley, a few weeks ago, because he said the name. Bill was telling me and Ron, they cornered him, but he fought his way out. He's on the run now too..."

"You've seen Bill?" the Slytherin asked "Where? How?"

"Ron and I stayed with him for a few days," Riley explained "You know, when we weren't camping out in pubs and running from Snatchers. Anyway, back onto this trace; you can use You-Know-Who's name now without attracting bad news, I think they did it because only a few people were serious about using his name, us, Dumbledore and the Order" she finished

Charlie fell silent and looked thoughtful "You've got to admit," she said after a while "you can't say Death Eaters arent creative. Using a Taboo on the name, only downside is who ever says his name is trackable"

Riley nodded "I've told Ron to warn Harry about it," she added "and I've already told Hermione"

Charlie nodded and fell silent once more. It was great having Riley back, having someone else to talk to other than Harry and Hermione, it wasnt that she didnt enjoy talking to the other two, it was just she and Riley had a special connection, that no one could replace.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

They had an excellent view of the villiage of Ottery St Catchpole from the breezy hillside to which they had Disapparated later that afternoon. From the high vantage point, the villiage looked like a collection of tiny houses in the great slanting shafts of sunlight stretching to earth in their breaks between the clouds.

For a moment the stood, staring into the distance where the Burrow was situated. But all they could see was the high trees and hedges obstructing the crooked house from view of the Muggle eyes.

"You know?" Ron asked "Its strange being this close, and not going to visit"

His friends nodded in agreement, before turning their backs on the Burrow.

"Lets try up there," Charlie pointed ahead of them, before leading the way forwards. The five of the walked for a few hours, through clusters of low hills, and there in front of them stood a weirdly shaped house. It rose vertically upwards into the sky, a great, black cylindar with a ghostly moon hanging behind it in the afternoon sky.

"Thats got to be Luna's house," Ron nodded

Riley turned in his direction "What gave that away?" she asked sarcastically.

"Come on!" Charlie smiled, racing forward.

Ron, being the tallest of the five of them, caught up with the Slytherin easily and the over took her. The Slytherin glowered for a split second, before running forward and launching herself through the air and onto Ron's back! The red head stumbled, before landing on the hill with a thump.

Harry, Hermione and Riley watched all the commotion from behind, as they followed their friends.

"When you two are quite finished," Hermione sniffed, passing the squabbling red head and Slytherin

"Yes, mum!" Charlie nodded "Coming mum!"

Ron laughed as Hermione threw a dark glare back at the both of them; silencing them both instantly.

"You're not still mad at Ron, are you?" Riley asked Hermione, as Ron and Charlie ceased fighting and hurried to catch up.

Hermione sighed and came to a stop just before the steps leading up to the front door "I'm always mad at him" she answered

Harry inclined his head sightly "That's true" he agreed

Climbing the wooden stairs to the front door, Hermione knocked as Ron inspected the garden. "Keep off the dirigible plums" he read from a nearby sign. The plums were floating in the air like orange balloons.

Barely ten seconds after Hermione had knocked on the door, the top half of it opened and Xenophilius Lovegood appeared. His long white hair was dirty and unkempt. "What is it? Who are you?" he asked, surveying Hermione on his front porch "What do you want?"

"Hello, Mr. Lovegood" Harry called, from the back of the line-up "I'm Harry Potter. We met a few months ago" he stated, edging forwards, pulling Charlie with him "Could we come in?"

They were barely over the threshold when Mr. Lovegood slammed the door behind them. They were standing in a peculiar kitchen. The room was perfectly circular, so that it felt like being inside a giant pepper pot. Everything was curved to fit the walls, and everything was painted in bright primary colours. And in the middle of the floor was a wrought iron spiral staircase, which led to upper levels.

"You'd better come up," Mr. Lovegood told them, and he led them upstairs.

Once upstairs, he led them into a circular room; Luna's father motioned for them to sit down before he disappeared downstairs to make tea. When he returned, there was a small awkward silence.

"So," Mr. Lovegood started, breaking the silence "how can I help you, Mr. Potter?"

"Well, actually..." Harry responded "It was about something you were wearing around your neck at the wedding. A symbol."

Mr. Lovegood lifted the silver necklace up for them to see "This?" he asked

"Yes," Harry nodded "That exactly. What we've wondered is, what is it?"

Xenophilius frowned "What is it?" the friends nodded "Well, it's the sign of the Deathly Hallows, of course"

"They what?" Hermione, Ron, Harry and Charlie questioned.

Riley, meanwhile, gasped "But...their just magical folklore" she imprinted "Their not real! Their stories, fairytales even"

"I assure you," Mr. Lovegood told her "They are very real. I assume you're all familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'"

Hermione, Ron, Riley and Charlie nodded "Yes!"

"No!" Harry shook his head

"We have it," Charlie said, pointing at Hermione "Hermione..."

The bookworm reached into her beaded bag and pulled out her copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard. She flipped to the right page, and started to read "There were once three brothers who were travellng along a lonely, winding road at twilight -"

"Midnight" Ron interrupted her "Mum, always said midnight"

Charlie rolled her eyes "Like it matters," she told him "Continue Hermione..."

"There were once three brothers," Hermione started again "who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight. In time, the brothers reached a river too treacherous to pass. But being learned in the magical arts, the three brothers simply waved their wands and made a bridge" she stopped to breathe "Before they could cross, however, they found their path blocked by a hooded figure, it ws Death, and he felt cheated. Cheated because travelers would normally drown in the river. But Death was cunning."

Riley glanced around at her friends, she smiled as she watched Charlie for a few moments, as she remembered that this was the Slytherins favourite story in the Tales of Beedle the Bard, and it was the most read story of the Slytherin's story book collection.

"He pretended to congratulate the three brothers on their magic," Hermione continued "and said that each had earned a prize of having been clever enough to evade him. The oldest asked for a wand more powerful that any in existence; so Death fashioned him one from an elder tree that stood nearby."

Charlie nodded as she listened to Hermione read the story from the original copy that Dumbledore had left her

"The second brother decided he wanted to humiliate Death even further, and asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave. So Death plucked a stone from the river and offered it to him. Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death..."

"He gave him a cloak," Charlie butted in "an invisibility cloak." her friends looked around at her "Sorry," the Slytherin apologized "Continue"

Riley smiled as she nudged Charlie with her elbow

"...and so it was that Death reluctantly handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility." Hermione went on "The first brother travelled to a distant villiage, where, there the Elder Wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he had once quarreled. Drunk with the power that the Elder Wand had given him, he bragged of his invincibility. But that night, another wizard stole the wand and slit the brother's throat for good measure. And so Death took the first brother for his own..."

Harry and Charlie exchanged looks, that was a pretty stupid thing to do. If you had an all powerful wand, would you go bragging about it?

"...The second brother journeyed to his home," Hermione continued "where he took the stone and turned it thrice in hand. To his delight, the girl he'd once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet, soon she turned sad and cold for she did not belong in the mortal world. Driven mad with hopeless longing, the second brother killed himself so as to join her. And so Death took the second brother."

Riley lowered her gaze and swallowed sharply. If she had the chance to have a stone like that, would she be able to bring herself to use it and bring back her sister and father?

"...As for the third brother," Hermione spoke once more "Death searched for many years but was never able to find him. Only when he attained a great age did the youngest brother shed the cloak of Invisibility and give it to his son. He then greeted Death as an old friend and went with him gladly, departing this life as equals"

The bookworm fell silent, as her friends contemplated the meaning behind the story.

"But what does the story of the Three Brothers have to do with...this?" Charlie asked, holding up the symbol in which Riley had found on the inside of her puzzle, and the same symbol which had been found in Rita Skeeter's book.

Xenophilius Lovegood looked over the Slythern "The items the three brothers retrieved are the Deathly Hallows," he explained

"I still don't quite understand" Harry admitted

Mumbling to himself Xenophilius Lovegood shuffled around the room, picked up a Quill and some scrap paper and placed it on the table in front of the five friends. He drew a vertical straight line on the parchment, and looked up at the five students around him "The Elder Wand: The most powerful wand ever made," he told them, before drawing a cricle through it "The Resurrection Stone," he said, and lastly he drew a triangle, enclosing both the line and circle in it "The Invisibility Cloak"

Behind Harry and Charlie, Riley, Ron and Hermione exchanged looks at the picture.

"Together, they made the Deathly Hallows," Xenophilius Lovegood told them "Together, they make one master of Death"

Hermione frowned "But there was no mention of the words 'Deathly Hallows' in the story" she stated

"Well, of course not," said Xenophilius "That is a children's tale, told to amuse rather than to instruct. Those of us who understand these matters, however, recognize that the ancient story refers to three objects, or Hallows, which, if united, will make the possessor master of Death"

There was a short silence, in which Xenophilius glanced out of the window

Riley surveyed his actions with a curious glance. Outside the window, the sun was already low in the sky.

"That mark was on a grave in Godric's Hollow," Hermione spoke, her voice small "Mr. Lovegood, does the Peverell Family have anything to do with the Deathly Hallows?"

Xenophilius looked startled "Uh - Ignotus - and his bothers Cadmus and Antioch are thought to be the original owners of the Hallows, and therefore the inspiriation for the story" he examined the teapot on the table infront of them "But your tea's gone cold. I'll be right back" he took the tea pot and made his way back towards the spiral staircase and disappeared downstairs.

The five friends exchanged looks "Did anyone else notice that he kept looking out of the window?" Riley asked

Charlie nodded "He's hiding something," she mumured, edging towards the spiral staircase and glancing down. She couldnt see or even hear Mr. Lovegood moving around down in the kitchen.

Ron grabbed his backpack "Let's get out of here," he told his friends "I'm not drinking any more of that stuff, hot or cold"

As the rest of them grabbed their things, they hurried down the spiral staircase to find Xenophilius standing in front of a window looking out onto the garden beyond his home. The sun which had started to set, had painted the sky a deep pink.

"Thank you, sir" Riley told him, as she was one of the first to step off the metal staircase

Ron appeared behind her "You forgot the water," he told the older gentleman

"Water?" Xenophilius asked

"For the tea," Ron answered

"Did -? Did I?" Xenophilius stuttered, scurrying around them laughing to himself "How silly of me"

He hurried towards the far side of the kitchen

"It's no matter" Charlie told him "We really should be going anyway"

"No, you can't!" Xenophilius yelled, dropping the teapot in his hands. The friends jumped in surprise. Scurrying around them once more, he slammed the front door and held it shut. He was shaking visibly.

Exchanging looks, Harry spoke "Sir?" he questioned

Turning around so that he was facing them, a look of desperation crossed Mr. Lovegood's face "You're my only hope," he spoke "They were angry, you see, about what I'd been writing. So they took her. They took my Luna."

The temperature in the room seemed to decrease rapidly.

"My Luna," Mr. Lovegood whispered, edging forwards. "But it's really you they want" he added, his eyes flickering from Harry to Charlie "It's you"

Riley gripped Charlie's arm tightly "That's why you were looking out of the window, wasnt it?" she asked "Waiting for the perfect time to call them..."

Xenophilius looked towards her "Luna has told me all about you," he breathed "But when they took her...I knew..." he nodded "...I knew what it is I must do. I don't know where they have taken her, what they've done to her. But they might give her back to me if I - if I -"

"Hand Harry and Charlie over?" Hermione finished for him

"No deal!" Ron and Riley retorted flatly

Xenophilius looked ghastly, at least a century old, his lips drawn back into a dreadful leer.

"Who took her, sir?" Harry asked

Charlie, grabbed Harry and pulled him backwards "Don't say it, sir" she begged him "We'll get Luna back! Just don't turn us in!"

"I must," Xenophilius mumured "Im sorry. I must...Voldemort" he uttered

A shriek from outside cut through the air, as several black swirls of darkness flew towards the house.

"Get down!" Charlie cried, pushing Harry down and grabbing Riley as she dropped herself. The Death Eaters bombared the hosue sending chunks of the foundation across the floor, both inside and outside the house, as Xenophilius called to the Death Eaters from the front steps of his home.

Shuffling across the ground towards one another; the Hogwarts five clutched hands in the middle of the room and seconds later a suffocating darkness bore down about them as they Disapparated.

A/N: I would like to apologize for not updating last night. But I was out all day yesterday, due to the Royal Wedding between Catherine Middleton and Prince William; and I was extremely tired last night. I was practically falling asleep at the keypads. But here is the new update.

I may or may not, update again later tonight. We shall see how I feel.

Review (please)

~*Kara*~

All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) by moi xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated 30 April 2011 at 11:16pm