Kreacher popped back to the group as quickly as he had left them brandishing with him the old book. Though the journal was ancient, the leather that bound it was still a vivid red. Golden thread was etched to comprise the words. The only reason why it upheld such good condition after millennia was because of the magic held within it. Now, here it was. More than just an artifact passed down through his family, Draco thought.
He watched as members of the Order looked on as Kreacher handed his mother the journal. Some looked excited, others apprehensive. Though, one common feature that everyone in the room clung to was some kind of hope that maybe, just maybe there would be answers. Maybe they could find a way to survive again.
His mother rummaged through the yellowed pages. He wondered if whoever this ancestor was would have really given some clue as to how to find the dark wizarding school.
The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. It seemed everyone was on edge with bated breath, just waiting to be reeled in by the possibility of good news.
He looked at Hermione, who was sitting down next to him again. If they were able to find something in that journal, it was because of her quick thinking. He was in awe of her brilliance. How he had ever thought less of her before made him feel sick. Yet, here they were. He reached for her hand again and she smiled at him. The perfect woman did exist, and she was right beside him.
His aunt, Potter, and Kingsley were all gathered around his mother. Potter looked confused, which wasn't a surprise, really. Kingsley had a look of determination that he wore on his face like most of their kind wore their cloaks. Aunt Andromeda was busy fingering down one page with her other hand on her hip. They were all murmuring to themselves as the others in the room waited still.
"Any luck so far?" The Finnegan bloke spoke up after a period of silence.
"Perhaps. It's written in Latin." His mother said holding up a finger as if to say she was concentrating and not to be a bugger.
"Honestly, I'm completely lost. I don't know how to read any of this." Potter sighed and went to sit with his wife, who was starting to show in her pregnancy. He felt bad. He couldn't imagine Hermione being pregnant with all the bullocks going on at the moment.
"This is odd." Andromeda spoke up after a few minutes.
Draco felt Hermione shift by him and looked over at her when she spoke.
"What is it?" She directed at his aunt.
"There are three pages of just runic language." Andromeda didn't look up from the book but kept studying it quizzically. "I was always rubbish in runes."
"I never took Ancient Runes." His mother said sheepishly. "I didn't read this far into the journal either."
"May I have a look?" Hermione asked, getting up and not waiting for a response anyway. That was his witch.
She strode over to where the other three bore over the journal and took out her wand from within her robes. What she planned on doing with the wand, he wasn't really sure.
His mother handed her the journal and she studied the pages one by one before smiling to herself. She took her wand and started murmuring what sounded like absolute nonsense as her wand trailed the pages.
"These aren't real runes. It's a code." Hermione told them happily.
His mother let out a gasp. "The pages are in Latin now!"
"Will you be able to translate it from here?" Hermione asked.
"Absolutely." His mother answered, taking the journal as Hermione offered it back to her.
"The school is in the Eastern Balkan Mountains. It says here that it appears as an old monastery to muggles and those that aren't affiliated with the school. Which is quite ironic." His mother told the room.
Blaise snickered next to Luna. "A monastery, you say?"
"Well, she did say it was ironic." Luna told him matter of factly.
"So, does this mean we split into groups now and trek the Balkans?" Pansy spoke up.
Kingsley looked around the room. "Potter, I trust that you have it from here and know what to do. I can't spare anymore aurors at the moment. I need them at the Ministry, especially after the fiasco a couple of weeks ago. This is your crew. I need to get back though. Keep me updated and remember what Moody always said."
"Constant vigilance." Potter answered the other man. Kingsley put a hand on his shoulder and bid everyone farewell before flooing back to the Ministry.
Hermione could tell that Harry was nervous as he instructed everyone on what to do. At any given point from there on out, it could mean death to anyone in the Order and that was a heavy load weighed on their leader. She looked at the remnants of the Order. So many had already died, and everyone had sacrificed something during the last war and now they had to prepare for the worst all over again. The only certainty in life was death though, so at least if any of them died, they died for a cause much bigger than them. At least their deaths would have a purpose. A meaning. These were the harsh realities of life and war.
She glanced at Draco who had gotten up to talk to his mother. There was her purpose and meaning right there. She lived to see the man he would become. She was fighting for them and the possibility of a brighter future filled with love and happiness. That was worth everything. She was also fighting to finally live in a peaceful world with less darkness and unnecessary death and danger in it. That was also worth everything.
Love was worth everything and no amount of evil was going to take that away. Even if they all perished, she knew that evil never truly won. It just couldn't.
"I'm not staying here, Harry!" Hermione heard Ginny scream from across the room. "You can't make me. I'm fighting just like everyone else! No one is going to risk their lives while I wait here! I refuse!"
"Ginny, calm down. You're causing a scene!" Harry told her frantically, looking around the room.
"Do NOT tell me to calm down Harry James!" The redhead continued fuming, reaching for her wand. Hermione briefly wondered if a Bat Bogey Hex was going to make an appearance.
Now even more panicked, Harry reached out to grab his wife's arms and place them at her side. "Ginny, please. You're pregnant. You're not going."
At that, Ginny broke from his grip and stormed out of the room where Luna and Mrs. Weasley followed.
"Ginny, he's right you know. Plus, we will both need to stay here just in case someone gets injured or to watch out for news on the home front, dear!" Hermione heard Mrs. Weasley call after her daughter as she left the room.
"I don't care!" Ginny shouted from where ever she was running off to. Hermione couldn't help but laugh a little bit.
Flustered, Harry went ahead and addressed the group of remaining Order members.
"Er, sorry about that. Erm, so we're going to go in groups of four and five. We can knock out more terrain that way and be less visible. We can not apparate or use Portkeys. We don't know if we can trust the Bulgarian Ministry at this point, so I would rather be safe than sorry." Harry told them.
"Well, then what are we supposed to do, Potter? Walk there?" Pansy asked sarcastically.
"That will take way too much time, especially since the Death Eaters and Bellatrix already have a head start. Is there a Floo Network we can use somehow?" Theo chimed in.
"Yeah, Harry. Love you, mate, but how are we going to catch up to them let alone look for a school without using a Portkey or the Floo? We couldn't apparate there anyway unless any of you have been there and plan on doing side along for everyone in the room." George added sarcastically.
"Flying probably wouldn't work either." Dean Thomas surmised.
"If you all would just let me finish, thank you." Harry retorted irritably. He took a breath. "Actually, we are going to fly."
"With all the brooms we have handy?" Theo asked sardonically.
"No, not with brooms…" Harry trailed.
"Where are you going with this, Harry? I don't recommend flying dragons again either." Charlie piped in too.
"The muggle way." Harry said simply.
"What?" Pansy snorted.
"You're really going to put all of these witches and wizards on a plane?" Dean howled. "I can't wait for this!"
"Wait, Potter, you're being serious?" Draco asked.
"Dead. It's safe for us and relatively fast. I can pay for it all. It will be fine." Harry said.
"It really isn't so bad, I promise." Hermione whispered to Draco after noticing his face ashen.
"How reliable is a big metal thing in the sky that isn't supported by magic?" Draco asked loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"It will be fine. I'm going to get tickets tomorrow. George and Angelina, you two are in charge of getting supplies ready. Ask Hermione if you need any help. We might need some extra shield cloaks in case we run into people who need them, or something happens to the ones we have. Anyone who has brooms handy, get them if you're able to. Pack for extreme weather. I've never been to the Balkans, but mountains can variate in weather or climate or whatever at any given time. Practice dueling. I have stores of Polyjuice potion, so Dean, you and Seamus will go into muggle London and retrieve hair samples for everyone. In the meantime, do what you need to do to prepare because this is it. This is the battle front. I will divide you into groups once we land. Any questions?" Harry asked.
"This really is it, isn't it? This is war." Pansy stated somewhat numbly.
Harry focused on her. "Yes, it is, but we will be okay."
"Let's be realistic, here. Odds are not everyone is going to make it out of this. So, let me make this very clear. We aren't casting defensive spells. We're going for the kill. I know that's not what you're about, Potter. But our numbers are already significantly low… We are going to have to use Unforgivables. I know a lot of you don't want to acknowledge it, but I will be that guy. Our survival will depend on it." Theo told the room bluntly.
"I agree." Draco spoke up.
Harry looked crestfallen when he spoke up again. "I know. Theo is right."
The weight on Hermione's conscious multiplied. She had never used an Unforgivable Curse. Yet, in another ironic event that day, she knew Harry had. Only one time. On Bellatrix. After she murdered Sirius. Things really do come full circle.
"You know, Draco, I know this isn't proper timing, but I have wanted to fly in one of these things since seeing it on the television." His mother told him giddily at the gate for their flight.
"Really, mother?" Draco asked, half amused but also a bit exasperated. Only his mother. Really. A time like this and she's happy about flying in a muggle contraption. If it were up to him, she would not be going, but she was adamant about participating since Andromeda stayed at Grimmauld Place with Teddy, the Weaslette, and Mrs. Weasley.
"Nothing says happiness like potential bloodshed and a change of scenery." Theo smirked.
"Shut it, will you?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"Where are our girlfriends?" Blaise asked.
"Still in the loo, apparently." Theo answered.
Hermione, Pansy, and Luna came back into sight as soon as something was said because apparently the phrase "Speak of the Devil, and the Devil shall come," applied to their witches. Draco nearly snorted at his own inner monologue.
"Okay, good. They're back." Potter muttered walking past the gaggle of Slytherins and doing a headcount.
"Is that everyone, then?" George asked.
"I think so. Are we ready to board?" Harry asked the group as the three women joined them all again.
"Yes, lets go." Dean said happily, fully enjoying the apprehension most of the Order had about getting on a muggle aircraft.
"WAIT! WAIT!" A voice shouted behind them as most were going through the gate.
"What in the bloody Hell?" Draco muttered as he turned around.
His mouth dropped.
"GUYS, WAIT UP! STOP THE GATE!" Longbottom. And…? Who was the witch with him? She was in their year. Hufflepuff, maybe? What the ever-loving….
"Hey, look everyone! It's Neville and Hannah!" Lovegood pointed at them, unfazed apparently.
"Erm, what?" Potter blinked stupidly.
When Longbottom and the Hannah witch arrived, their faces were red and they were out of breath.
"Erm, Neville, don't take this the wrong way, but what are you doing here and how-" Potter started before the Hannah witch cut him off.
"Neville and I want to come fight for the Order. McGonagall told him about what you were doing. My mum's a muggle, you know. So, I got us tickets and he got a sub for his classes." Hannah explained breathlessly.
"Oh, how great! We have two extra friends fighting for the Order!" Luna exclaimed happily. Bloody Lovegood.
As Potter talked to Longbottom, Draco noticed the gate attendant eyeing them all suspiciously. Hermione, noticing too, smiled at the woman and said something about a Bulgarian Anime Convention (whatever that was supposed to be). The attendant then went from looking suspicious to rolling her eyes and bored.
"Alright then, lets go everyone." Potter told them.
"Draco, don't take this the wrong way, but you look ghastly." Hermione told them after the pilot told them to buckle up. She was sitting in the window seat and seemed perfectly fine and not like she could explode in the sky at any given moment. His mother was on his other side reading a muggle magazine.
"Love, pray tell. We are in this big metal contraption that just floats in the sky without any magic and we're going on what? Another one after this too? How do people survive? How does this stay in the air? This is unnatural." Draco answered, trying to suppress nausea.
"Well, it doesn't float, it flies." Hermione stated matter of factly.
"Either way, this isn't natural, and I don't like it. Something this heavy should not be able to do fly without magic." Draco huffed.
"Muggles would think you're unnatural too, you know." Hermione answered cheekily.
"Oh, Draco! The muggle woman from that show I like is getting her third divorce! She also threw a shoe at one of the other housewives…" His mother droned, but he tuned her out.
This was going to be a long trip.