~*Chapter Eight*~ - Percy's Owl

                "Have you gotten anything from Percy yet?" Hermione asked about two days later as they made their way across an expansive meadow, the sky clouded by thick grey thunderheads. Ron shrugged listlessly; he had been distant since Hermione had mentioned what that stray Death Eater had told her. "Ron, that tells me nothing. Did you, or did you not get a response from your brother?"

                "No, okay? Not a word! I'm sorry, Hermione, but I've been on edge a bit as of late! What if we lose our way? What if we get there and he's not there and it was all a set up? What if we get killed on the way? What if-" Ron paused, trying not to think the words that were already formed in his mouth. "What if…he's dead when we get there?"

                Hermione put a hand on his shoulder. "Then we probably won't be far behind him…I'm not trying to discourage you, but I'm simply telling the truth. All we can hope for is that there's only a small number of them…"

                Ron turned and looked at her seriously. "Nothing…nothing can discourage me from this, Hermione. I don't care if Voldemort and all the creatures of Hell came and had it in for me, nothing would keep me from getting to his side. Because, if he's dead when we get there, then they're going to kill us too…and I've reached my goal either way." He turned from Hermione's gaze and looked up into the grey sky. "Do you hear me!? Nothing!!" He cried angrily into the air, his voice echoing across the meadow.

                Hermione was a bit surprised by his powerful outburst, and took a moment to admire his courage. Anything but spiders couldn't stand in his way, she thought, and smiled, but a small movement in the sky caught her eye.  She looked up into the gloomy sky and saw a swiftly moving object nearing them; an object that looked strangely like a large tawny owl carrying a letter.

                "Hey, Ron," Hermione began, putting a hand on his shoulder and pointing to the sky, "Do you think that's Hermes?" she asked, referring to Percy's owl. Ron looked up and squinted a bit as the thing came closer, and he nodded quickly.

                "Yeah, I think it is!" he cried, and ran quickly to meet the owl. Hermes landed on Hermione's outstretched arm and hooted once while Ron removed the letter from his strong talons. He ripped open the sealed envelope while Hermione conjured up a reward for Hermes, and he began to read aloud after Hermes took flight again.

                "This looks like it was written very quickly and hastily; I wonder why," Ron said, then began to read,

                                "Ron and Hermione,

                                                You really need to be careful, Ron, both of you. The Death Eaters are not foes to toy around with. They mean business. I heard about a faction of them rising recently, and I sent an Auror and a few of the top Ministry members to investegate. You should meet at least one of them when or if you find the lair. I just received word that they themselves have found the place; sadly I am unable to give you exact directions because the information is classified. Good luck.

                                                                                                                Percy"

                Ron folded up the note and put it away, and nodded. "Don't think that just because the Ministry of Magic is involved now that I'm going to give up on searching, Herm."

                "I never said it would, because I knew saying anything like that would be futile. But he sent an Auror too? Wow, I'm impressed."

                The two began on their long trek again, and as the rain began to fall lightly, they noticed that just over the line of nearby trees, its turrets barely visible to the eye, was the outline of a castle. Any Muggle human eye would not have seen the strange goings on that were taking place above those dilapidated towers, but to a wizard or witch, the sign of dark magic was never more prominent.

                "We've found them."

            It was only an hour's walk away.

~*Chapter Nine Coming Soon!*~