Chapter 10 It's in the Blood
She raised a shaking hand to the knocker, failing to laugh as she usually did at the resulting lion's roar that shook the interior of the house. Hermione had wanted to remove the enchantment from the knocker years ago but ended up indulging Ron and his quirky Weasley sense of humor. He thought it was great fun, and she usually agreed, but this morning, she only hoped it made them hurry to answer the door.
She shifted from foot to foot and was seriously considering disapparating into their living room when a rumpled Ron, eyes bleary and hair mussed, in a t-shirt and gray sweats, answered the door.
"Blimey, Ginny! What are you doing here so early?"
Ginny pushed her way past Ron and steamed straight towards the kitchen, without a reply or second glance at Ron, hoping to talk to Hermione.
Ron muttered, "Nice to see you, too," as he closed the door and shuffled behind his sister.
Ginny could barely stop the sob in her throat when she saw the kitchen was empty. She needed to talk to Hermione and not Ron.
"Have you seen Harry?" Ginny choked out.
Ron scratched his chest and yawned. "Yeah. We saw him yesterday."
At that moment, a slightly more together Hermione walked into the kitchen, hair combed and teeth brushed, but still in her pajamas and a pink floral robe. Hermione's eyes went wide with surprise when Ginny walked into her arms and promptly burst into tears.
Hermione looked at Ron with a question in her eyes, but Ron shrugged with eyebrows raised and eyes wide.
Ron patted Ginny soothingly on the back, "Why don't you lot go into the living room and sit down? I'll make us some tea. Hermione and I will help you sort…, um, whatever..." He trailed off when Ginny's sobs escalated and Hermione gave him one of her exasperated 'you aren't helping' looks. Not knowing what else to do, Hermione pulled Ginny towards the living room.
Ron dashed in before they were even settled, with an open box of tissues for his sister. Hermione accepted the box with a proud smile, thankful for his compassion and forethought for his sister. She pulled out several and handed the wad to Ginny, who accepted them gratefully. She mopped up her tears and took deep breaths to try to regain control. Hermione nodded to Ron, and taking his cue, returned to the kitchen.
"Harry and I had a big row. He thought I would be home more since I'm not playing quidditch anymore. The Prophet sent me to report on the Harpies' qualifiers for the cup and I had to leave for a few days. It's my job! He occasionally has to travel for his job and I say nothing to him about it. Why should my job be any different?"
Hermione shook her head but wasn't sure what to say.
"We've had rows before, but I didn't think this one was the end of our marriage!"
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Ha...Harry didn't come ho-home last night."
Hermione burst out of her chair. "Ron! Ron, come here!"
Ron came into the room, wiping his hands on a towel. "Yeah? The tea's almost ready."
"Ron, Harry didn't come home last night. Do you think something could have happened to him after he left us?"
Ron snorted, "Not likely, right?"
Ginny burst into tears. Ron looked uncomfortable, and Hermione wrung her hands.
Ron snapped his fingers. "The clock!"