Chapter 25: The countdown begins

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Ginny and Hermione sat side by side on Hermione's bed, leaning back against the pillows. Having Draco in Hermione's bed had interfered with their morning ritual of chatting before the day started and Ginny missed the intimate moments with her friend.

She'd arrived with two mugs of tea and practically chased Draco out of the room, so he'd collected Blaise and they had gone out on their own, promising to be back in time for a late breakfast.

"Mione?" Ginny began hesitantly. "How do you feel about this whole plan?"

Hermione didn't hesitate. "Terrified. I'm terrified, Gin. I'm terrified of doing it. I'm terrified of not doing it. Terrified of fucking it up and what that would mean. Terrified of not trying and then living with that knowledge."

Ginny nodded slowly. "Yes. Plus I've no idea what they do there, or what we will do when we get there. Just the idea of facing Greyback again scares me shitless. If I wasn't so pathetically in love with Blaise I don't know if I would even consider it."

"Speaking of which," Hermione smiled, "you both look a lot more relaxed since Blaise's Big Confession."

"We are. It's like I can breathe again." She sighed. "And the sex has been mind-blowing. Relax, I know you don't want the details."

They were quiet for a while.

"Mione, how the hell are we going to tell Harry?"

"I don't even want to think about it. He's going to be furious."

Ginny nodded. "I know. He's going to do that thing where his glass fog up and his voice gets all high pitched."

More silence as they contemplated Harry's reaction when he found out.

"Mione?"

"Ginny?"

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

Hermione looked at her friend. "What do you mean? Mind what?"

"You know. Draco. Jokes about taking over knees. Talk of fantasies. That sort of thing. The three of us have a much more open approach to these things. But sometimes we forget that it's not the same in the Muggle world. I worry that you are just saying that you're ok with it, but that you're actually not and that we hurt you with our jokes. If you aren't comfortable, we won't mention it again, let alone joke."

Hermione smiled. "I'm really ok, Gin. Seriously. Talking about it with Draco and with you guys the other night has made me realise that it's all good if you trust the people you're with."

Ginny looked pleased. "So I might finally get to spend some time with the Ferret for real?" she teased.

"You've thought about it?"

Ginny nodded vigorously. "Of course I have! Have you met him?" She sipped her tea. "I first fantasised about the Ferret when we were still at school." She smiled wistfully. "I was so hot for Blaise, but Malfoy's badness was also a real turn on. And they were both forbidden, so that was extra hot. They both featured in more than one of my teenage daydreams."

Hermione continued. In for a penny, she thought. "And Blaise knows that you think about being with Draco?"

"Yes, he's known all along. And Draco knows you think about being with Blaise." She met Hermione's eyes. "Do you think you'll move beyond the fantasy to make it reality?"

Hermione stood and walked over to the pile of freshly laundered clothes placed neatly on her dresser, and selected her trusty jeans and a cotton shirt. "Yes, probably. It's just that I don't have the faintest idea of how to start. I mean, I don't feel comfortable just blurting it out to Draco. Like "Hey Draco that feels so good but let's call Blaise in if you don't mind". I don't know how to let him know."

Ginny giggled. "No, I suppose mid-shag wouldn't really work. But you can relax – didn't you see his face when he was telling the Paris story? He loves the idea. He will bring it up even if you don't, and he will create an opportunity. Trust me."

"To be honest, I'm not sure whether to feel excited or panicked. It's so.. you know… intimate."

"It'll be fine. You'll see." Ginny walked through their shared bathroom into her own bedroom. "You take our shower, I'll take the boys."

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As planned, Hermione and Draco spent the Day in the RoR refreshing her memories of her parents. They met up with Blaise and Ginny for a quick lunch in the garden and then got back to work. By the end of the day they were both satisfied that they were as prepared as they could be for the arrival of Harry and Pansy the following day.

When they walked into the common room, Blaise was nowhere to be seen and Ginny was making tea.

"Can I offer you two a cup? Blaise is showering." Ginny called.

"Yes for me, Draco's heading to the shower so his can wait too," Hermione replied, walking in to the kitchen to help.

They sat and sipped their tea, chatting comfortably. Eventually Blaise appeared, dressed in charcoal track pants and a soft white t-shirt. His hair was wet and a few drops of water dripped onto Ginny's face as he bent to kiss her before sitting on the over-stuffed sofa opposite the two witches.

"Shall we go out for dinner? Stay in? What?" he asked. "Tea, wench!" he instructed Ginny. When she graced him with one of her infamous Death-Stares, he stood up hastily. "Don't worry, I'll get it," he said. "Witch," he muttered as he left the room.

Ginny grinned impishly over at Hermione. "Let's stay in," she suggested in a loud whisper. "We can put our plan into action."

Hermione's eyes widened in alarm. "Ginny! There is no plan! Anyway I need my head to be together for tomorrow. I've spent the day getting ready for a reason."

Ginny's shoulders sagged and she sighed dramatically. "Alright. We'll have a nice quiet evening." Then she perked up. "I will just have to think of a way to get rid of Harry and Pansy later in the week. Move over."

Hermione got up and went to sit on the couch opposite. Ginny stretched and lay across the couch and put her feet up on the arm.

"Maybe it's just as well," she said, turning her head to look at Hermione, who was kicking off her shoes and making herself comfortable. "Isn't it weird how tiring occlumency is? I mean, I know it's difficult, but I'm surprised at how tiring it is. Did you find it so tiring?"

"Yes, I did." Hermione tucked her feet under her and leaned back, snuggling into the deep corner of the couch. "When I first started, I would have headaches afterwards. How are you doing, though?"

Ginny lifted her head for Blaise to sit down, then she put her head back down on his lap.

"Ok, I think. I still need to really be focused. I'm nowhere near being able to do it without thinking about it, like Blaise and Draco. But I'm getting there. So how are you feeling about tomorrow?"

"I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Not looking forward to dealing with Pansy, but eager to see Harry."

"Pansy will get over it. Did you notice how Harry seemed to have struck up some kind of .. easiness with her? How she was a little less terrifying when he was around?" Ginny mused.

Hermione frowned. "If you are thinking what I think you are thinking, don't," she said flatly. "She is broken. Leave them alone."

"Leave who alone?" Draco asked as he walked into the room and through to the kitchen.

Blaise laughed as Ginny rolled her eyes.

Draco returned with a mug of tea and settled into the other corner of the couch on which Hermione was sitting, stretching his legs across the cushions. He poked Hermione with his bare toes. "Leave who alone?" he repeated.

"Potty and Pansy. Apparently Red has an extremely tiresome habit of interfering in other people's love lives." Blaise chuckled.

Ginny grinned. "I'm just saying. Harry actually seemed to almost like her." She sat up and tucked herself under Blaise's arm. "Didn't you notice?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, I noticed. But Granger is right about this one. Parkinson has some healing to do. She will decide when she's ready. Potter seems to be good for her. Leave it at that for now."

"Drake is right, amore." Blaise sipped his tea. "You can't fix Pansy, she is damaged and she must decide for herself when her heart is ready. If Scarface can make that process easier for her, then that is good. But let them figure it out themselves."

Remarkably, Ginny didn't argue. "Alright," she said with a sigh.

Tinky brought food and they ate lightly, chatted quietly. They kept the conversation light and inconsequential, deliberately steering clear of topics that would interfere with Hermione's calm state of mind, and then turned in early.

Hermione lay wrapped up in Draco's arms, her head on his shoulder, and she consciously induced a state of peace and happiness in her mind. The feelings she most wanted to be conveyed to her parents. As she drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of love and gratitude.

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Ginny scrutinised Pansy as they ate a late breakfast in almost complete silence. I'm right, she thought smugly. The black haired witch seemed noticeably less tormented. Her eyes less haunted.

Harry's gaunt appearance hadn't really improved, though. He had put on a little weight, but the dark circles under his eyes remained.

The others watched them curiously. There was a sense of comfortable ease between the two of them. Harry would lean over and pass Pansy the milk or refill her glass and she would accept with quiet easiness. Not that she ever smiled or thanked him or anything, but her open hostility appeared to have eased.

"So what's the plan?" Hermione asked eventually. "I've been so busy spending time in my own head that I've suddenly realised I haven't a clue how we will actually do this. Or where. Or even when exactly."

Pansy and Harry both looked at Draco.

"Well, we will obviously need to go to them. We will cast somnambulus and do the transfer while they are asleep. Then we need to find a place for them to stay. Somewhere where they will be safe while they re-establish their lives. They will need some time to come to terms with what has happened."

"Where will we take them?" she asked. So many details she hadn't even thought about!

"We thought about it and came up with two possibilities. I think Potter's idea is the best one."

She looked at Harry curiously.

"They should stay at the Burrow." Harry's green eyes searched hers. "I have already spoken with Molly and Arthur. They are expecting us."

Hermione nibbled her bottom lip as she considered the proposal. "But won't it be risky for the Weasleys?" she asked, turning to Ginny.

Ginny shook her head. "I think it's a great idea. They are New Order members, Mione. And they were members of the Order of the Phoenix before that. They know what they are getting into. And you know my mum. She'd love to take care of them, and Merlin knows they have the space."

Draco's icy grey eyes searched Hermione's sombrely. "This is your last chance to change your mind, Granger."

They all turned to her and waited.

"No. I want to try. I have to."

But Draco continued. "Have you thought about how they will probably feel afterwards? Confused, angry, afraid. Are you prepared for that?"

She swallowed. Then she nodded. "It's not going to be easy. But they will get over it soon enough. I can't let them live in a prison. And I can't focus on what we need to do, knowing there's another war, knowing it will just be a matter of time before they are found again. I need to know that they are safe."

Pansy stood. "Well then it's settled. We leave in an hour." She glanced over at Blaise. "Not you two, obviously."

Ginny bristled immediately, her green eyes flashing in annoyance. "Why not us two?"

"Because if you don't master occlumency soon, you're going to be a liability. You need to stay and work." Pansy's impassive gaze shifted from Ginny to Draco.

He nodded. "Pansy is right, Red. You and Zabini need to stay." He turned to Blaise. "We will be gone a couple of days at most. Sooner if they take the news well. Don't pout, Weasley, things are going to move pretty fast now. When we return we need to be able to start putting plans into action. We can't stay here forever."

Ginny stared rebelliously at him for a moment, debating the merits of arguing. She decided against it. "Yes alright. We stay."

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