Chapter 25

"Hermione, where's Harry?" asked Emily, barging into the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Emily!" shrieked Hermione, surprised. "How did you get in here? You're a Hufflepuff!"

Emily rolled her eyes. "I cursed the fat lady's portrait until she let me in. I've heard Jon say the password, Duh! Now, tell me where Harry is!"

Hermione pointed at a set of stairs that led to the boys' dormitories. Emily stomped up them, Hermione following behind her.

"This is his dormitory," said Hermione, leading her to a door marked, "Seventh Years."

Emily threw open the door, and heard Neville yelp as he ducked behind his four-poster. "Can't a boy change in peace, anymore?" he asked, frustrated.

"Sorry, Neville," said Emily automatically. Even Neville could tell she didn't really care. She was looking for Harry, and only Harry.

"Emily, what's up?" asked Harry, sitting on his bed with a book open in his lap.

"The Order of the Phoenix is going to try to rescue my mom. They might find themselves at You-Know-Who's headquarters while they're away. They're trying to keep it from you so that you won't chase after them and get yourself killed."

"So why are you telling me this?" asked Harry with a bemused expression on his face.

Emily clenched her hands, and tried to think of a retort, but none came. "Because..because…they won't let me go either," she finished lamely.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Emily shot her a look. "Fine, so you don't care where Voldemort is. You don't want revenge. You're gonna let the Order destroy Voldemort while you lie in bed at Hogwarts, safe and oblivious. Fine, I'll go get Jon to help me." She turned to leave, her rage bottled up inside of her.

A hand rested on her shoulder. "I never said I wouldn't come. I know you really want to find your mum. She could be in serious danger though. You'll need all the help you can get. Also, I'm a little annoyed that the Order considers me a child still. I'm of age for God's sake and they still treat me like a child."

"I'll come too," Hermione assured me. "And Ron and Jon will, I bet. Maybe even Genny and some more of your friends. What's your plan?"

Emily hesitated. "Well, I'm not positive, but here's what I think…"

Two hours later Emily and her friends- except Jon- were waiting in the Great Hall. They knew Lupin was going to leave soon and they planned to follow him if they could. It wasn't a very good plan; Lupin could also leave by floo powder, a portkey, or by means of another exit, but Emily had thought of it on short notice.

Hermione shrunk anything they had though to bring with them, like broomsticks and a potion or two, so that they could fit inside their owners pockets. As they waited, Ryan happened to pass by the group.

"Whatcha doing, Emily?" he asked smoothly.

Emily felt shivers up and down her spine. He was just so hot.

"We're going somewhere to rescue my mom. We think she may be in trouble," she said, simply.

Ryan shrugged, "Good luck, then." He began to walk away.

A thought crossed Emily's mind. "Hey, Ryan, do you want to come with us?"

He shrugged. "I got a lot of school work to do. I'll catch you later, okay." He raised a hand as goodbye.

Emily sighed, "See you later, Ryan- if we manage to make it back."

Genny walked up beside Emily, "You like him a lot?" she asked, tonelessly.

Emily nodded.

"You know, Jon really likes you. I think he was a little jealous when he saw you two about to kiss. He told me he liked you as soon as he met you at that muggle school."

"Really?" asked Emily, surprised. "Well, that would explain why he kept sitting with me at lunch. Nobody liked me at my muggle school. Then he came and became my friend. Now at Hogwarts I have loads of friends- I don't even know what to think! He was my first friend, but I never though of us as boyfriend/girlfriend. Everyone thought we were when we first came here and I just kept denying it. I figured Jon agreed with me. I never knew he liked me."

Genny patted her on the shoulder, "I'm sure he'll understand eventually."

"Emily?" asked Ron. "It's been a while. Do you think we should give up?"

"No!" she said, assertively. "We're not leaving this school until we have a plan to follow the Order. Unless any of you want to back out?"

Genny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron shook their heads. Luciana and Gabrielle hadn't wanted to come from the beginning. They thought it was too dangerous. Emily hadn't asked anyone else to come along.

"I think I know where they might be," said Harry slowly.

"Where?" asked Emily and Genny simultaneously.

"Number Twelve Grimwauld Place."