Games Are Afoot Chapter 7

Getting Settled

Landing on the porch of 12 Grimmauld Place, Hermione was grateful for Charlie's secure arms around her. She felt slightly disoriented, more than a little dizzy, and totally excited. Apparition was WAY better than flying. She began chuckling to herself.

"Are you ok?" Charlie whispered tentatively in her ear.

"I'm great! Hermione whispered back.

"Then I think you can let go of me now, luv." Charlie chuckled.

Hermione blushed as she realized she was still clinging ferociously to Charlie's middle. She let go and wobbled, but he caught her arms and steadied her.

"You'll get your land legs back in a second. Right now I need you to think of what you had to memorize before we left. Can you do that?" Charlie inquired.

Hermione arched her eyebrow at him. Did he really think she was that incompetent? She opened her mouth to say it when he interrupted.

"Just think it—don't say it out loud." He admonished.

"Okay. So I guess I am incompetent," she thought to herself. "Number 12 Grimmauld Place." She added in her mind. As soon as she had the thought a door appeared. Charlie tapped it with his wand and it opened and he helped her inside.

The hallway was like nothing she had ever seen. It was dark and musty and there was an extremely stale odor that was so thick she could taste it. There was a curtain hanging up half-way down the wall, an odd looking umbrella stand, and what appeared to be shrunken heads.

Charlie smiled as he noticed her taking everything in. It was truly a dark site to behold. He remembered his reaction upon his first arrival here a few weeks previously. "It still stinks. House hasn't been opened in years." Charlie murmured in Hermione's ear. "It's really important that we be very quiet until we get out of this hallway."

Hermione shivered involuntarily at his whispered words. This house was creepy. Charlie carefully moved around her to lead her through the hallway towards a door at the far end. He took her hand and maneuvered them around all the obstacles silently. Hermione was again surprised at the illusion of softness his hands had. She also noted to herself that they were very warm.

Charlie pushed open the door and led her down the stairs into what was obviously the kitchen. He let go of her hand as they entered. The others were already there and Mrs. Weasley warmly hugged Hermione.

"Dear, I'm so pleased that you all arrived safely. Dinner will be soon. Let's show you to your rooms. I must insist that you remain quiet in the main hallway. We have a devil of a time trying to restore order when anything there is disturbed." She looked at Tonks with accusation in her eyes. Ginny started laughing.

"Yes, wouldn't want a repeat of that would we, mum?" Ginny teased.

Hermione could tell she was missing something as everyone laughed and Tonks' hair turned as red as her cheeks, but she figured she could ask Ginny about it later.

Sirius came bounding in. "Welcome to Grimmauld Place. Sorry you have to be here, but misery loves company so I am damn happy to have you!" Mrs. Weasley frowned, but the rest of the room laughed good naturedly.

"Come on. Come on." Sirius prodded. "Let's get you settled before dinner." He led the way back toward the hallway and all the new arrivals followed.

They silently made their way up the first flight of stairs. "Ron, second door on the left, mate. When Harry joins us, you can share with him." Sirius announced.

"Harry's coming?" Ron asked excitedly.

"Not for a bit. Dumbledore insists he stay with the Dursley's until the week before school starts." Sirius said looking glum. "I had hoped he would let him come for the whole summer, but he mumbled something about safety issues and well, anyway, he'll be able to come for the end."

"Oh," Ron mirrored Sirius' glum look.

"Alright you lot, onward and upward." Sirius led them to the next floor. "George, Fred, first door on the right. Hermione and Ginny, you make have the first door on the left. Get comfortable and come back to the kitchen soon." He left them to unpack and headed back down the stairs.

Ginny and Hermione entered their room and glanced around. It was musty and stale, but they could tell it had been a fine room in its day. The emerald green comforters were soft and fluffy on the two twin beds. There were two dressers each with an oval mirror attached. There was a very soft rug on the dark hard wood floor between the two beds. Sconces held silver candles that lit the dim room. Overall, it was attractive, but Hermione couldn't shake the creepy feeling she felt in the house.

"Kinda feels dark doesn't it?" Ginny muttered.

Hermione could only nod her head in agreement.

Soon everyone had returned to the kitchen. More people had arrived. Professor Lupin was sitting next to Tonks at the long table. Sirius was sitting on Professor Lupin's other side. And at the head of the table sat none other than Professor Dumbledore.

"Good Evening Children." He addressed the new arrivals with a twinkle in his eye. "I am glad you could join us here at headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. I know that you have many questions, but now is not the time to ask them. Being here is a privilege that bears responsibility. No one must know that you are here except those that are also here." He said cryptically. "No information must leave here that could be traced to here." He continued. He looked directly at Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. "As difficult as it may be, you musn't reveal anything in letters or other communications." They each nodded.

"Ah well, now that the business is attended to, what's for dinner Molly, it smells divine!"

Dinner was a noisy, fun affair much like at the burrow. The twins peppered Sirius with questions about the house, which had turned out to be the Black

family home. Hermione learned why you shouldn't disturb the main hall as Mrs. Black's horribly offense shrieks burst out several times over the course of the evening. Ron was chatting with Bill and his dad while Hermione and Ginny were getting to know Tonks better. She was so fun. She could change her looks at will and entertained the girls throughout the meal by changing her nose and hair. Even Charlie tossed a couple of suggestions her way. Apparently, they had been at Hogwarts together.

Later, Hermione and Ginny were relieved to finally be alone in their room, dressed and ready for bed, so they could chat about all that had happened during the day. It seemed like weeks ago instead of just hours that they had started their games. And now, twelve hours later they had been evacuated for safety and were in an old pureblood house whose former mistress' picture was less than hospitable.

"Can you believe how today turned out?!" Ginny exclaimed as she very dramatically flopped onto her bed causing a puff of dust to fly up.

""This morning seems so long ago doesn't it?" Hermione returned settling herself against the headboard with her pillow on her lap.

"This morning was so fun. It reminded me of all those summers when Bill and Charlie would come home from Hogwarts with the best stories and would play with us. They haven't had time or been home to do that in so long and I kinda miss it. At least Percy wasn't there to tattle!" Ginny finished giggling.

"Did Percy rat you out to your parents often?" Hermione inquired, torn between understanding Percy's need for order and rules and the content, happy feelings she had enjoyed all morning feeling apart of the family.

"Percy was a right git more often than not." Ginny explained. "If he didn't get his way, he would take notes and spy on the rest of us so he could tell on us. Somehow mum would appease him by scolding us, but her heart wasn't always in it because you could see the smile in her eyes."

"It was a lovely day wasn't it?" Hermione sighed.

"Better than lovely. If I had a sister Hermione, I would want her to be you. You are not afraid of my brothers. Boy, the look on Bill's face when you figured out that first riddle." Ginny laughed at the memory. "He was stunned. That just doesn't happen. Teach him to mess with a couple of brilliant witches, eh?"

Hermione laughed too. "It was a great look on his face. When you finished barely after us, and he realized that you were only starting fourth year…..hahahahahaha…….I bet he starts studying so he can try again…..hahahahahaha"

Ginny was laughing too. CRACK! CRACK! The laughter stopped and the girls stifled screams as George and Fred appparated into their room.

"You sound—" Geroge began.

"As if—" Fred continued.

"You are having entirely too much fun—" George said.

"Without us." Fred finished.

The girls looked at the twins and then each other and laughed again.

"Seriously, what's so funny that we can hear you all the way across the hall?"

"We were remembering Bill's face after we solved the rune riddles." Ginny giggled. "Hermione thinks he's gonna hit the books tonight after a couple of underclassmen nearly kicked his bum."

"Ay, that was a great look. I don't think I have ever seen Bill look scared—and scared of a couple of little girls at that!" Fred teased.

"Oh, I think they showed they weren't so little today. I think Charlie especially thinks they are a little more grown up than he originally suspected. Wouldn't you agree Gred?"

"Most definitely Forge!"

Hermione could feel her neck flushing at their words. Ginny laughed along with her brothers.

"They should know better by now not to underestimate me! And ever since Hermione decked Malfoy…."

"When did you do that Granger?" Fred interrupted with a grin.

"Third year. He was being an annoying prat. He deserved it." Hermione replied calmly on the outside while suppressing a twinge of a smile.

"Oi, if that were reason enough then somebody would be punching him hourly!" Ginny added with glee. "I wish I had seen it. Ron said it was bloody brilliant!"

"I would have paid some sickles to see it myself," George added with an appreciative look at Hermione. "I didn't know you had it in you Granger."

Hermione just smiled and nodded. "Guess you'll be watching your step too." She teased.

"Ah, you don't want to mess with us!" Fred insisted. "Shall we George?"

"Goodnight ladies!" The twins said and disappeared with a pop.

"Things are never dull with those two are they?" Hermione asked.

"No." Ginny said affectionately. She turned on her bead facing Hermione and crossing her legs in front of her. "So what did you think of the sidelong apparition?"

"It was terrifying and amazing all at once! I loved it! It was just like Charlie said it would be—like a portkey only ten times more intense!" Hermione enthusiastically reported.

"When did Charlie tell you that?" Ginny asked noting the look of excitement in Hermione's eyes.

"While we were waiting for our turn. We were the last so we talked about it while we waited. Oh, it was so much more fun than flying!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Don't let Charlie hear you say that," Ginny snorted. "He takes flying VERY seriously. If he heard you make that last comment, he would have you up on a broom so fast your head would spin worse than in the floo."

"Weren't you dizzy apparating?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Yeah, I nearly fell over on the stoop. Tonks caught my elbow and then she tripped coming in the hallway over that stupid umbrella stand. Mrs. Black's picture went all mental. I thought mum was gonna hex Tonks. Apparently for an auror she's dead clumsy, but she is so much fun." Ginny said. "What about you? How did your trip go?"

"Well, Charlie said I might feel dizzy at the end so he kind of held me like a hug when we did it so I didn't wobble or anything until he let me go, but then I bobbled and he caught my arm." Hermione finished noting the questioning look on Ginny's face. "Why are you looking at me that way?"

"Charlie hugged you?" Ginny asked.

"Well, not really hugged as that is how he said it would be easiest to apparate with me since I hadn't done it before. Why?"

"Tonks didn't hug me. She had me tuck my hand in the crook of her arm. That's how Bill got Ron here too." Ginny said with a gleam in her bright eyes.

"Wh-What?" Hermione stammered her face flushing.

"Just interesting isn't it?" Ginny smiled a very suggestive smile.

"Why is that interesting?" Hermione demanded.

"Just is, that's all." Ginny answered evasively.

"Well, I still liked apparating way better than flying." Hermione said petulantly.

"I'm sure." Ginny replied smugly.

"Oh stop it." Hermione smiled. "You can be as bad as Fred and George."

Ginny clutched at her heart. "You've wounded me with your words!"

Hermione threw a spare pillow at Ginny. "Oh go to sleep!"

"Good night Hermione." Ginny said as she lay down and faced away. Hermione could hear her chuckling and was glad she wasn't looking as a red flush crept up her face and she remembered how secure she felt with Charlie.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Hermione thought to herself. "He just was being thoughtful." She tried to convince herself as she slid down into the covers and tried to go to sleep.