Hermione awoke with a start at the cooing of some animal. She opened her
eyes slowly to find, ruefully, that they were still in the muggle house -
and Harry was still missing.
Once again something cooed, and she strained her eyes to see in the darkness of the house. The outline of what looked to be an owl was sitting patiently on the table infront of her, with what seemed to be a rolled up parchment by it's feet.
She slowly rose and suddenly realized Ron wasn't beside her as he had been the night before. She panicked for a moment thinking she had lost him too, until she heard someone else's light breath to her right.
Quickly she looked over and found the faint outline of Ron sprawled on the chair beside her.
Reassured, Hermione picked up the paper in font of the owl. Too drained to do any sort of spell, she reached over and turned on a muggle lamp.
The light was blinding and she blinked for a few moments, getting used to the light, and then bent down to read the paper.
She read the first line and gasped to herself and hastened to get up and arose Ron. She shook him lightly and he grumbled something but was quick to sit up.
"What's wrong 'Mione?" He asked cringing at the bright light.
"Listen to this," she prompted and held up the paper. " 'Member killed, two missing - '" she began.
"It's an Order paper?" Ron asked quickly.
She nodded and then went on swiftly, " 'An all out search has been posted by top member Alabaster Moody. The two missing are Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, the people invovled in the case already say they can't be far from London. The Order's officals ask for you to keep a lookout for them.
'Three of them were missing until just last night, when our own Dean Thomas and Remus Lupin were attacked by a pack of Death Eaters. Lupin barely escaped, but sadly Mr. Thomas did not. That is the Order's twentyninth death to date.'"
She stopped reading even though there was more and looked to Ron for guidance of any kind.
"You better set that down on the table, 'Mione," he said softly and she nodded, slowly putting it on the table.
An instant later the paper burst into flame - much to the owl's dismay - and dissapeared, leaving naught a mark on the wooden table.
"So Dean's dead," Ron said simply, leaning back in his chair rubbing his eyes wearily.
Hermione's nodded, "They're looking for us too, but they didn't say anything about Harry. Why Ron? Why aren't they looking for him too?" She asked, her voice rising in slight hysteria.
Ron sat back up in his chair and came over beside her, putting a supporting arm around her shoulders.
"They are 'Mione, they are. But they couldn't rightly print that the one person that everyone's depending on to end this war is missing." He paused, "It'd be a blow to the whole Order, and what would of happened if the paper would of gotten into the wrong hands?"
She nodded and looked to him, "But what now? Dean's gone," she sighed and put her head in her hands.
"And with everyone in the Order watching for us, it's going to be near impossible to find Harry without being caught." He stated
"We need help Ron," she looked at him hopelessly, "There's no way we can take this on alone."
He shook his head, "I said near Hermione, near impossible, there's still hope yet." He stood up abruptly, "We'll have to leave soon before the newsletter gets out to everyone."
She stared at him, "N - Now, but, Ron - " She began.
He took her by the arm and pulled her up, "We've got to get moving Hermione," it wasn't often that he called her by her real name, "We have about an hour of darkness left, it's going to take us long enough to get there on foot without having to travel at night. I'm not going to take the chance by apparating, we've got to leave now."
With that, they gathered up their things and put their wands securely in their pockets and set off into the slowly rising sun off in pursuit of their friend
**
It was two days before the start of her last year in Hogwarts, and Ginny found herself back in Diagon Alley.
It was strange how little it had changed, how little the people of the wizarding world had changed. Everyone knew Voldemort was back, but strangely - showed no signs of it. The ministry had profusly stated that they had the best in the business tracking him and keeping their cities safe.
But Ginny didn't feel very assured.
Maybe it was because she had lived right upstairs from where the Order met every month, maybe it was because she'd had so many people close to her die under the hand of Voldemort, whatever it was, she was very weary walking through the streets of Diagon Alley.
Her mother was determined not to leave her side, and Ginny found shopping so very boring. They finally came to Fred and George's shop, the "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" hanging proudly above it - and she convinced her mother that she would be fine if she stayed there and let her finish the shopping alone.
When Ginny's mother finally left her, she stepped into her brother's shop. She gazed around her - though she'd been in the store on many occasions before. They always seemed to have something new up, and they all delighted her.
She picked up a package of some fireworks with the now-familiar triple W that alerted whoever bought these tricks that they had the best.
She patiently waited for the person George was helping to check out and leave before having a seat at the counter.
"Well hullo Ginny, where's mum?" He asked looking behind her as though he expected his mother's normall dissaproving face to appear.
"She's still shopping," Ginny shrugged, "I finally convinced her that I'd be safe here."
"Well how could you of done that?" Fred joked coming out of the back.
Ginny smiled to her brothers and the looked cautiously around. "Have you heard the news?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.
Fred and George exchanged looks and she followed them into the back room. She had a seat in a nearby chair while the other two sat on random trunks.
"Got the newsletter a few days ago," George said. They'd still joined the Order, but since they refused to leave the shop that had taken them years to make - the Order members had decided to make their shop a post, keeping a watchout for any suspicious events in Diagon Alley.
"Mum told us not to say anything to you, though." Fred said cocking an eyebrow at her.
Ginny nodded with a sulking face, "Professor Lupin came by the night after - Did you know Harry's missing too?"
Fred's eyes grew large but George didn't look as surprised. "I knew there was something up, I've never seen anything mentioned about Ron or Hermione without Harry's name too." He said and Fred only looked to him.
"Do they have any idea where he's at?" George continued.
Ginny nodded slowly, "Voldemort," she said in a hushed whisper.
This time they both looked equally startled, "Does that mean Ron and Hermione." Fred began but Ginny shook her head.
"No, not yet, but that's where they're heading, to find him. Dean," she paused for a moment, "Dean said that too many people would get Harry killed."
"So they're going to try and take Voldemort on by themselves?" Fred cried.
Ginny and George immeadiately silenced him, "Not so loud Fred," George hissed.
"Sorry," Fred said breathlessly, "But they are?" He asked quieter this time.
She nodded and Fred sat back at let out a low whistle. "There's no way," George said, not completely believing it. "Hermione and Ron? They can't - they'll get killed!" he cried in a hoarse whisper and shook his head in an exasperated mannor.
"I know George, I know," Ginny said rather hopelessly, "They won't live unless they have some kind of help." A small smirk played on her lips.
They were silent for a moment until Fred looked up, "What are you suggesting Ginny?" He asked furrowing his brow.
She shrugged, "We could help them,"
George shook his head, "That's a crazy idea Ginny - "
Fred broke his brother off, "I love it! What do you have in mind?"
George stared at him, "Fred! This isn't like one of our pranks, we're dealing with Volemort!"
Fred looked sobered and for a moment Ginny lost hope that they'd help her. "But we are members of the Order George, it's our duty, isn't it?" Fred finally piped up and her confidence in them was revived.
George shook his head again, "We're supposed to report anything, not go after it!"
"No, George, I just need to know I can come here, that's all." Ginny said quickly, mustering up the most pathetic look she could get.
"Mom would have our head if she found out, you know that, both of you know." George said looking from one to the other, knowing he was going to have to give in.
At that, Fred grinned and turned back to Ginny, "So as I was saying, what do you have in mind?"
Ginny smiled to them, "Hermione and I exchanged pendants last year," she said pulling out a lily-shaped silver pendant from her pocket. "She has one exactly like it, I'm not sure if she still has hers, but I know there's some sort of spell that can tell me where the matching one is."
Fred and George looked to each other, "And if you find it, what are you going to do?"
"Get out of Hogwarts - somehow," she said, "I'm still working on that,"
"And then you're going to come . . . here?" He continued.
She nodded, "I won't be missed for maybe a day, I don't know, but it's not safe to apparate here, is it?"
Fred shook his head, "Ministry's put some kind of charm on the whole city. Remember that bloke that blew himself up last week, George?"
George nodded but still looked undecided, "If you can make it out of Hogwarts, you can stay here. But listen Ginny, if you get caught, you weren't coming here. Mom still hasn't gotten over us starting this shop."
A bell clinged and Fred looked out, "Speaking of the devil," he muttered.
"Hi Mum," George said with a slightly mocking smile as he came out of the room with the other two trailing behind him.
"Fred, George," she said cooly, nodding to them, "Ready to go Ginny?"
Ginny nodded and her mother immeadiately walked out of the store.
"Surprised she even came in here," Fred said with his eyebrows raised.
Ginny smiled and hugged her two brothers goodbye, "See you later," she said waving and walked out to join her mother.
Once again something cooed, and she strained her eyes to see in the darkness of the house. The outline of what looked to be an owl was sitting patiently on the table infront of her, with what seemed to be a rolled up parchment by it's feet.
She slowly rose and suddenly realized Ron wasn't beside her as he had been the night before. She panicked for a moment thinking she had lost him too, until she heard someone else's light breath to her right.
Quickly she looked over and found the faint outline of Ron sprawled on the chair beside her.
Reassured, Hermione picked up the paper in font of the owl. Too drained to do any sort of spell, she reached over and turned on a muggle lamp.
The light was blinding and she blinked for a few moments, getting used to the light, and then bent down to read the paper.
She read the first line and gasped to herself and hastened to get up and arose Ron. She shook him lightly and he grumbled something but was quick to sit up.
"What's wrong 'Mione?" He asked cringing at the bright light.
"Listen to this," she prompted and held up the paper. " 'Member killed, two missing - '" she began.
"It's an Order paper?" Ron asked quickly.
She nodded and then went on swiftly, " 'An all out search has been posted by top member Alabaster Moody. The two missing are Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, the people invovled in the case already say they can't be far from London. The Order's officals ask for you to keep a lookout for them.
'Three of them were missing until just last night, when our own Dean Thomas and Remus Lupin were attacked by a pack of Death Eaters. Lupin barely escaped, but sadly Mr. Thomas did not. That is the Order's twentyninth death to date.'"
She stopped reading even though there was more and looked to Ron for guidance of any kind.
"You better set that down on the table, 'Mione," he said softly and she nodded, slowly putting it on the table.
An instant later the paper burst into flame - much to the owl's dismay - and dissapeared, leaving naught a mark on the wooden table.
"So Dean's dead," Ron said simply, leaning back in his chair rubbing his eyes wearily.
Hermione's nodded, "They're looking for us too, but they didn't say anything about Harry. Why Ron? Why aren't they looking for him too?" She asked, her voice rising in slight hysteria.
Ron sat back up in his chair and came over beside her, putting a supporting arm around her shoulders.
"They are 'Mione, they are. But they couldn't rightly print that the one person that everyone's depending on to end this war is missing." He paused, "It'd be a blow to the whole Order, and what would of happened if the paper would of gotten into the wrong hands?"
She nodded and looked to him, "But what now? Dean's gone," she sighed and put her head in her hands.
"And with everyone in the Order watching for us, it's going to be near impossible to find Harry without being caught." He stated
"We need help Ron," she looked at him hopelessly, "There's no way we can take this on alone."
He shook his head, "I said near Hermione, near impossible, there's still hope yet." He stood up abruptly, "We'll have to leave soon before the newsletter gets out to everyone."
She stared at him, "N - Now, but, Ron - " She began.
He took her by the arm and pulled her up, "We've got to get moving Hermione," it wasn't often that he called her by her real name, "We have about an hour of darkness left, it's going to take us long enough to get there on foot without having to travel at night. I'm not going to take the chance by apparating, we've got to leave now."
With that, they gathered up their things and put their wands securely in their pockets and set off into the slowly rising sun off in pursuit of their friend
**
It was two days before the start of her last year in Hogwarts, and Ginny found herself back in Diagon Alley.
It was strange how little it had changed, how little the people of the wizarding world had changed. Everyone knew Voldemort was back, but strangely - showed no signs of it. The ministry had profusly stated that they had the best in the business tracking him and keeping their cities safe.
But Ginny didn't feel very assured.
Maybe it was because she had lived right upstairs from where the Order met every month, maybe it was because she'd had so many people close to her die under the hand of Voldemort, whatever it was, she was very weary walking through the streets of Diagon Alley.
Her mother was determined not to leave her side, and Ginny found shopping so very boring. They finally came to Fred and George's shop, the "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" hanging proudly above it - and she convinced her mother that she would be fine if she stayed there and let her finish the shopping alone.
When Ginny's mother finally left her, she stepped into her brother's shop. She gazed around her - though she'd been in the store on many occasions before. They always seemed to have something new up, and they all delighted her.
She picked up a package of some fireworks with the now-familiar triple W that alerted whoever bought these tricks that they had the best.
She patiently waited for the person George was helping to check out and leave before having a seat at the counter.
"Well hullo Ginny, where's mum?" He asked looking behind her as though he expected his mother's normall dissaproving face to appear.
"She's still shopping," Ginny shrugged, "I finally convinced her that I'd be safe here."
"Well how could you of done that?" Fred joked coming out of the back.
Ginny smiled to her brothers and the looked cautiously around. "Have you heard the news?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.
Fred and George exchanged looks and she followed them into the back room. She had a seat in a nearby chair while the other two sat on random trunks.
"Got the newsletter a few days ago," George said. They'd still joined the Order, but since they refused to leave the shop that had taken them years to make - the Order members had decided to make their shop a post, keeping a watchout for any suspicious events in Diagon Alley.
"Mum told us not to say anything to you, though." Fred said cocking an eyebrow at her.
Ginny nodded with a sulking face, "Professor Lupin came by the night after - Did you know Harry's missing too?"
Fred's eyes grew large but George didn't look as surprised. "I knew there was something up, I've never seen anything mentioned about Ron or Hermione without Harry's name too." He said and Fred only looked to him.
"Do they have any idea where he's at?" George continued.
Ginny nodded slowly, "Voldemort," she said in a hushed whisper.
This time they both looked equally startled, "Does that mean Ron and Hermione." Fred began but Ginny shook her head.
"No, not yet, but that's where they're heading, to find him. Dean," she paused for a moment, "Dean said that too many people would get Harry killed."
"So they're going to try and take Voldemort on by themselves?" Fred cried.
Ginny and George immeadiately silenced him, "Not so loud Fred," George hissed.
"Sorry," Fred said breathlessly, "But they are?" He asked quieter this time.
She nodded and Fred sat back at let out a low whistle. "There's no way," George said, not completely believing it. "Hermione and Ron? They can't - they'll get killed!" he cried in a hoarse whisper and shook his head in an exasperated mannor.
"I know George, I know," Ginny said rather hopelessly, "They won't live unless they have some kind of help." A small smirk played on her lips.
They were silent for a moment until Fred looked up, "What are you suggesting Ginny?" He asked furrowing his brow.
She shrugged, "We could help them,"
George shook his head, "That's a crazy idea Ginny - "
Fred broke his brother off, "I love it! What do you have in mind?"
George stared at him, "Fred! This isn't like one of our pranks, we're dealing with Volemort!"
Fred looked sobered and for a moment Ginny lost hope that they'd help her. "But we are members of the Order George, it's our duty, isn't it?" Fred finally piped up and her confidence in them was revived.
George shook his head again, "We're supposed to report anything, not go after it!"
"No, George, I just need to know I can come here, that's all." Ginny said quickly, mustering up the most pathetic look she could get.
"Mom would have our head if she found out, you know that, both of you know." George said looking from one to the other, knowing he was going to have to give in.
At that, Fred grinned and turned back to Ginny, "So as I was saying, what do you have in mind?"
Ginny smiled to them, "Hermione and I exchanged pendants last year," she said pulling out a lily-shaped silver pendant from her pocket. "She has one exactly like it, I'm not sure if she still has hers, but I know there's some sort of spell that can tell me where the matching one is."
Fred and George looked to each other, "And if you find it, what are you going to do?"
"Get out of Hogwarts - somehow," she said, "I'm still working on that,"
"And then you're going to come . . . here?" He continued.
She nodded, "I won't be missed for maybe a day, I don't know, but it's not safe to apparate here, is it?"
Fred shook his head, "Ministry's put some kind of charm on the whole city. Remember that bloke that blew himself up last week, George?"
George nodded but still looked undecided, "If you can make it out of Hogwarts, you can stay here. But listen Ginny, if you get caught, you weren't coming here. Mom still hasn't gotten over us starting this shop."
A bell clinged and Fred looked out, "Speaking of the devil," he muttered.
"Hi Mum," George said with a slightly mocking smile as he came out of the room with the other two trailing behind him.
"Fred, George," she said cooly, nodding to them, "Ready to go Ginny?"
Ginny nodded and her mother immeadiately walked out of the store.
"Surprised she even came in here," Fred said with his eyebrows raised.
Ginny smiled and hugged her two brothers goodbye, "See you later," she said waving and walked out to join her mother.