Molly Weasley was preparing lunch when the snow white owl swooped in the window. Recognizing it as Harry's she took the letter from it's leg and placed it on the table and proceeded to feed the bird. In the process of stuffing Hedwig, she happened a glance at the grandfather clock. A loud scream tore throughout the Burrow.

Ron's hand was in the vertical position, pointing to 'mortal peril'.

Ginny, Percy, and Bill raced down the stairs to find their mother with tears running down her face, pointing at the clock. Ginny gave a whimper and buried herself in Percy's chest, who was so shocked that all he could do was stare. Bill, who was in England to check back in with Gringotts, stood for a moment too before regaining his wits and strode with grim determination over to Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum, where was he? Where did he and the twins go?"

"D-D-Diagon A-Alley" The short woman was jerked from her hysteria by her much taller son dragging her over to the Floo jar, knowing his mother was in no condition to Apparate. Giving her a pinch of the powder, the woman took it numbly and stepped into the fireplace, shouting her destination out of habit.

"Perce, call Dad at the Ministry and tell him what's happened. Ginny, stay with Percy." With that, he Apparated.

Percy shook off his shock and guided his still sobbing sister to the table. Heading to the opposite wall, he stuck his head into the fire and into his father's office fire.

"Dad!"

Arthur Weasley had been napping with his pen in his hand and his head on the desk. There had been so much lately with the rise of the Dark Lord that everyone knew unofficially what had happened, even if Fudge was still being stubborn about declaring it officially. Forced to work at night sometimes too, he had been so tired that he had fallen asleep.

"Huh? Wha?"

Gazing around blearily, the head of Percy was located in the fireplace. Rubbing his eyes, the man got up and stumbled over to the fireplace.

"Dad, the grandfather clock! Ron's hand, it's- hold on a second, Ginny wants me."

Through her tears, the girl's hand had unintentionally brushed the envelope Hedwig had delivered. Seeing who it was addressed to, Ginny had ripped it open and read. Her hand tightened convulsively and she began screaming for her brother.

Mr. Weasley was about to fall asleep against the wall when his son's head reappeared.

"Ginny found this letter from Harry to Ron. It sa-"

"Wait. Percy, where is Ron's hand?"

"Oh, right. It's at 'mortal peril'."

Now the man was wide awake, and beginning to panic.

"And the letter, what does the letter say?"

"Dad..." His voice cracked. "It says that Harry had a dream about You-Know-Who. It says that...that...that You-Know-Who was planning on kidnapping Ron! In the dream, of course, but still..."

Mr. Weasley paled and Apparated out of his office into the Minister's office.

"My son is missing and I'm leaving for an unknown period of time to search for him."

The Minister was in the middle of making a protest when Arthur disappeared again.

Fred and George were in Quality Quidditch Supplies, gawking at the Firebolt when Bill and their mother burst in. The twins' bright smiles faded as they saw his emotionless face and her tearstreaked one.

"Uh oh."

"I think we're in trouble."

"Where's Ron?"

Bill's tone contrasted sharply with his face, full of worry and panic. The twins looked at each other and shrugged.

"He took off right after we got here."

"Something about buying a present for Harry"

At this, their mother forgot her tears and swelled up, her eyes flashing in anger. The twins cowered, knowing something was wrong, for her to be crying and yelling from one moment to the next.

"I TOLD YOU TO STAY WITH HIM, BUT NO! YOU HAD TO LET HIM GO OFF ON HIS OWN, DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE DARK LORD HAS RISEN. YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOUR DEAR BROTHER, ONLY ENTERTAINMENT FOR YOURSELVES! WHY, I OUGHT TO...OUGHT TO...ought to..."

With that, she breaks down again. The sudden mood swings prompts George to turn to his older sibling. Bill's face was pale and he was looking around desperately.

"Bill? What's wrong? Why is Mum like this? Why are you two here?"

Bill swallowed and spoke, tone frank and straightforward.

"Ron's hand on the grandfather clock is at 'mortal peril'."

"Oh."

Arthur Weasley arrived then, Apparating outside on the street. Glancing around, he spied the rest of his family through the window and came in. Pulling his wife into an embrace, he spoke quietly to all of them.

"I've alerted the Ministry. They're sending out search teams to scour the streets and shops. All we can do now is go home and wait."