― CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE ―

For Jaquenetta the rest of the summer continued as if on a cosmic loop inside the walls of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. During the day time not spent with The Order or on Guard duty was otherwise occupied helping Mrs Weasley with the seemingly never-ending task of cleaning out Number 12; and when they could both manage to slip away – in her room with Hermione. Meals were shared together and Jaquenetta was learning quickly to never accept anything from either of the Weasley twins – ever!

The cosmic loop, ground to a startling halt however, as the hottest day of summer drew to a close.

As Jaquenetta retired to her room she was greeted with a rolled up piece of parchment on her pillow and a disgruntled Hedwig perched on her desk. Picking up the parchment, carefully unrolling it she began to read Harry's hasty note to her.

I've just been attacked by Dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to get out of here.

The movement of white in her peripheral vision brought Jaquenetta's attention to the snowy white owl that was making its way closer to her with a determined look in those eyes. Feeling a sudden fear for the safety of her fingers Jaquenetta raised her hands in surrender, addressing Hedwig directly.

'I'm not allowed to tell Harry anything but he will be here real soon I swear'

Hedwig hooted and flew out of Jaquenetta's room in search of the other recipients of Harry's letters leaving Jaquenetta to make her way downstairs to the kitchen. As she reached the lower level raised voices could be heard coming from the kitchen.

'And you off buying stolen cauldrons!' The piercing voice of Mrs Weasley could be heard

'I – well, I – it was a very good business opportunity' a much smaller voice was barely heard

'Dementors! What were they even doing there, I swear Mundungus Fletcher if any harm comes to Harry I will hold you personally responsible' the strong voice of Sirius Black vibrated around the room.

Jaquenetta walked in to the kitchen to be met with Sirius looming over a short man with shifty eyes who looked very uncomfortable and Mrs Weasley standing at the pot-belly stove stirring something in a cast iron pot, her face still red with anger.

The feeling of claustrophobia suddenly overtook Jaquenetta as the remaining Weasley family, Hermione, and other members of The Order streamed into the room. The noise of frightened conversations as accusations were thrown around the room, primarily at Mundungus, reached its peak as Moody entered the room.

'Quiet you lot' Moody spoke loudly, his gruff voice penetrating even the loudest tirade.

All occupants of the kitchen turned to face Moody, and sensing their questions he held up a hand to stop the eager voices. With his magical eye spinning out of control, seemingly unable to stay fixed on a specific point for very long, he addressed the crowd.

'I know you have all heard parts of what has transpired tonight, and that you are all feeling outraged, so I shall say this. Tonight Harry was attacked by Dementors...'

Jaquenetta felt Hermione's hand entwine with her own and give an involuntary squeeze as a small gasp left her mouth.

'... He fought them off and is at his Aunt and Uncle's house where he is to remain until he is brought here tomorrow night.'

Moody then turned and walked out of the kitchen, followed by most of The Order members who had arrived at Headquarters shortly before. Jaquenetta looked around at the stunned Weasley family and managed only a quick "I'll come see you after" as Tonks ushered her out also towards the formal dining room where the emergency meeting was being held.

As the calls of protest faded from behind her Jaquenetta turned her attention to Tonks.

'How bad is it?' she asked.

Tonks thought for a moment before answering 'Dumbledore was furious when he found out about the first letter the Ministry sent Harry, I'm with no doubt that Mundungus should be kissing the ground he walks upon that Dumbledore saw him first and not Sirius.'

The entered the room which was charged with energy and Jaquenetta took her seat besides Tonks.

'Ok I'll make this quick' Moody began looking around at the gathered members of The Order 'tomorrow night at 8pm we will be escorting Harry from his Aunt and Uncle's place to here.'

Jaquenetta stood in the doorway to her room, not shocked to see the Weasley children and Hermione talking amongst themselves as they no doubt awaited her return from the meeting. Fred and George we passing between them what appeared to be a tiny replica of a dragon, Ginny was bandaging Ron's hand where Hedwig had been pecking at him earlier in the day and Hermione was sat at the desk reading.

'Ah, you're all here then' Jaquenetta said with a smile as she strode over to Hermione, kissing her briefly before turning to the rest of the group.

'Do you know what happened to him?' Ginny asked, a look of anxiousness on her face.

'He's alright Ginny, two Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin but Harry fought them off. Harry has not been expelled from Hogwarts but still has a disciplinary to attend.'

'When is he coming here?' Ron asked

'Tomorrow night the Advanced Guard will be going to collect him and bring him back here. I guess there is concern that the Dementors may come back again...'

'Or worse' Hermione added quietly.

Jaquenetta nodded 'Harry's been kept in the dark all summer and he is going to be upset and angry for that, and will no doubt take that anger out on all of us for a while.'

Jaquenetta had arrived back at Grimmauld Place later than the advance guard as it was her responsibility to send up the two signals from her station on top of the Crystal Palace Transmitting Station in Bromley. She was tired, cold, and perturbed.

'Send up the signals, easy I thought. Crystal Palace? No worries. Top of the transmitter Moody said... nothing to it he said... last time I ever mention anything about enjoying heights' Jaquenetta mumbled to herself as she made her way down the corridor.

Stood on a small platform no larger than a trunk 719 feet above the ground being battered by a blistering wind Jaquenetta had sent up the red and green wand sparks to give the advance guard the 'all clear' to proceed with flying Harry out of Little Whinging. The meeting had already begun by the time she arrived back at Headquarters so Jaquenetta quietly made her way up to her room, leaving Harry to spend time with Ron and Hermione, and herself free to work on a project she had started a week earlier.

A week previously Jaquenetta had sought out a meeting with Professor Dumbledore after she had been struck with the thought and resulting fear of the impact her life here was making on previously predetermined events. A deep fear had taken hold of her and as she lain awake one Tuesday night holding onto Hermione as she slept wrapped up in her embrace Jaquenetta decided to take action.

The next morning Dumbledore and Jaquenetta had conversed for the first time of the very real possibility that the timeline had changed and the resulting responsibility that Jaquenetta felt had fallen to her to ensure events pan out as they should. The Headmaster had provided Jaquenetta with a very old charms book and spoke of 'finding some sense of peace within the pages'.

Jaquenetta read through the book in awe of the charms contained within the pages – protection charms, shields, deflection and summoning charms – Jaquenetta was in awe of the complexity of some of them and yet the simplicity of their execution. After an hour of reading Jaquenetta came upon the charm she had been searching for, without knowing.

Invito:

Used widely in the mid 1500s before locater spells took over in popularity of use. The Invito charm allows a Witch or Wizard to summon a loved one to them, and was most popular amongst families with small children as it did not require them to be able to apparate themselves.

The charm was commonly placed within a Kunzite crystal and worn around the neck as was the belief that Kunzite was naturally attuned to the Body, Mind and Spirit allowing safe passage for the summoned.

While it was common practice for only one Summoner (usually a parent) to wear the crystal it is possible for two people to both wear one attuned to the other.

The incantation required...

Jaquenetta had continued reading, her heart beating faster at the realisation that this was exactly what she had been hoping for. The very next day Jaquenetta had taken a trip to Diagon Alley to purchase the materials required. While the book spoke of any material able to be used effectively to tie the Kunzite around the neck Jaquenetta decided to make it a little more special as it was Hermione's birthday in a little over a month.

Jaquenetta had just finished affixing the crystals of Kunzite she had purchased from Slug and Jiggers Apothecary in Diagon Alley to the woven silver necklaces she had made herself when the shouting from the room below hers began.

'Who saved both your skins from the Dementors' She could hear Harry yelling, all of the resent and anger he had been feeling pouring out of him.

Jaquenetta placed the crystals back into their case and closed her desk drawer before grabbing her wand and hurrying downstairs. Making her way to the room Ron was staying in she could hear Hermione, her voice sounding desperate 'I'd be furious if it was me!'

As soon as Jaquenetta came to the door she drew her wand and the door flew open on its hinges, startling the three young Gryffindor's in the process. Harry was glaring at Hermione, his chest rising and falling deeply as he paced around the room, fist curled up at his sides. Ron was standing in the middle of the room with her mouth half-open clearly stunned and at a loss for words. And Hermione... Hermione, who looked on the verge of tears, was quickly wiping her eyes with her fingers.

'Ah Harry' Jaquenetta began, hopeful to diffuse the possibly explosive situation 'I thought I heard your voice'.

'So you've been here too?' Harry shot at Jaquenetta 'why is it that everyone has been here except me. What is this place, anyway?'

'Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix' Jaquenetta replied.

'It's a secret society, Dumbledore founded it last time to fight against You-Know-Who' Hermione said quickly as she walked over to Jaquenetta.

'Who's in it?'

'I am' Jaquenetta said at once, unconsciously placing a protective arm around a still visibly shaken Hermione. She was about to speak further when the voice of Mrs Weasley floated up through the house.

'Jaquenetta dear, could you come down to the meeting please'

'Of course Mrs Weasley' Jaquenetta replied, kissing Hermione on the forehead and made out the door "I'll see you after the meeting" she said before shutting the door behind her. As Jaquenetta made her way down the stairs she saw Crookshanks on the landing playing with what appeared to be an Extendable Ear.

Brilliant those two... Evil, but brilliant.

'So who else is in the Order, besides the ones that came to get me?' Harry asked

'Well some of them are working on recruiting more people to the Order, and some have been standing watch over you...' Hermione said.

'Lot of good that did me' mumbled Harry to himself.

'We've met about twenty of them' Ron said.

'So, what has Jaq been doing then? If she has joined then we should be able to as well?' Harry asked hopeful.

'She hasn't been on any real missions yet because she is still at school though she told us she had been watching over you, and she was part of the guard who got you from your Aunt and Uncle's' Hermione answered.

'But I didn't see her there' Harry said, trying to remember who it was that came to Privet Drive.

'Maybe she was in disguise; she said she had to go in disguise in case you – AARGH!'

With two loud cracks, Fred and George had apparated right next to Hermione.

'Stop doing that!' Hermione insisted.

'Couldn't help but overhear' said George.

'But she wasn't in disguise our Jaquenetta' Fred said turning to Harry 'Didn't you wonder who sent up the two signals?'

Harry thought for a moment 'But those wand sparks were miles above us, to be able to send them up that high she would have had to have been...'

'719 feet up...'

'On the Crystal Palace Transmitter...'

'The very point...'

'Wonder how she even stayed up...' The Weasley twins filled in for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

'How do you...' Hermione began, bewildered.

'Heard her muttering about it when she came in tonight' Fred said.

All four boys looked over to Hermione, who had lost the entire colour in her face 'Oh' she began softly, making her way for the door 'just getting Harry she said... she is in big trouble!'

The boys followed Hermione out of the room, George grabbing her arm 'don't interrupt them Hermione, it's a major meeting they're having, better to hear what they have to say before you go in there wand drawn' George said with a smile, dangling the Extendable Ears they'd been using over the summer to listen in to the meetings in front of her.

Just as Fred began lowering the Ears over the railing the door behind them opened and Ginny appeared.

'Hello Harry! I thought it was your voice I could hear.' She turned to George and Fred 'Mum's put an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door; we won't be able to hear anything.'

The creek of a door below sounded, and a shuffling of footsteps could be heard.

'Hey' said Ron 'I think they're all leaving'

Harry, Ron moved closer to the railing of the landing and looked cautiously over to see about fifteen members of the Order filing out of the kitchen, followed by Mrs Weasley who called up 'The meeting's over, you can all come down and have dinner now'

Harry moved back from the banister 'shall I warn Jaq before you get to her Hermione?' Harry asked, looking around to the empty space where Hermione had only moments ago been standing.

Ron shrugged, looking around also, as neither had seen Hermione leave.

'JAQUENETTA SIROUN!'

The Weasley children and Harry stopped dead in their tracks, shocked at the sound of Hermione's voice.

'Oh this is going to be good' George sniggered as he and Fred rushed past and down the stairs on their way to the kitchen.