Chapter 5: A Few Steps Away
Summer holidays were drawing to a close and Harry was sure that everybody and everything could feel it. Grimmauld Place seemed to be have realized that four of its guests would soon be leaving and it seemed to be happy knowing that fact. It was endlessly creaking in the night, restlessly waiting for the day when they would leave.
Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Dudley noticed it too. They were endlessly asking Harry when he would be back. He was a tad confused and kept pondering why they wanted him back so much. It came to him one night while he lay awake waiting for the sun to rise. They only wanted him back because he was the wizard they knew best and they felt safer knowing, that he being an under aged wizard couldn't turn them into toads but the fact that they were being forced to live with a group of the most powerful legal aged witches and wizards made them nervous.
Millie was devastated that Ginny was going to be leaving her soon and Harry could see why; if Ginny had given him that much attention he'd have been devastated too. for different reasons of course. Millie wasn't the only one devastated to see Ginny leaving. Devin was going to miss her too. That was so obvious Harry wanted to half be one of Ginny's brothers so that he had authority enough for pounding him into a bloody pulp.
Devin had been sucking up to Ginny and she was sucking it all in. She seemed to love the attention the young boy soaked her in. They were always together; Devin never let Ginny out of his sight. Except perhaps when she was sleeping or in the loo and Harry had the sneaky suspicion that if Ginny had allowed it Devin would have kept an eye on her all day.
Hermione had been ecstatic about the beginning of their sixth year since she had arrived Grimmauld Place. The day after she arrived she was the first to suggest they go buy their school supplies and they did amidst the burning buildings and now evil villages.
Ron was lazier than usual and Harry understood him; for once. The thought of going back to Hogwarts made Harry groan. They shouldn't be going to school they ought to be fighting with the others; defending their world; avenging Sirius's death. Harry felt hatred towards the Lestrange woman who had killed Sirius. It was hatred to rival even the hatred Voldemort felt for Dumbledore. Voldemort respected Dumbledore; even if it was only a little bit. All Harry felt toward Belatrix was loathing, there was no speck of respect hidden inside Harry for the escaped convict.
The days were colder than normal August days; snow was already beginning to fall over the entire world. The Earth seemed detached from the sun as if it was retreating into the darkness; like a desert rat trying to escape the desert heat.
*
Ginny stood by the window, staring out into the gray snow below, of her bedroom in Grimmauld Place. Millie lay curled up in Ginny's bed; she looked so peaceful, so young and so innocent. The small girl had absolutely no idea what was going on outside of Grimmauld Place. Ginny both envied and pitied the girl. She remembered when nobody would tell her anything and almost missed those days. Years ago Ginny could have looked in the mirror and seen light, happiness and innocence reflected in every aspect of her face. Now, Ginny never really examined herself in the mirror. Sure, she wore make-up but she didn't examine her features as she decorated her face. It hurt too much. The light, happiness and innocence had long gone and were now replaced with darkness, sadness and knowledge of evil. She wasn't sure if she had ever really had a hear-to-heart conversation with anyone after her first year at Hogwarts. Girl talks were all part of the everyday speech. But she had yet to have that one conversation that could rid her of the nightmares, the fears and the pain. Sometimes she wondered which hurt more, the nightmares and the fear or the fact that she knew the one person she could have that one conversation with and that he was just upstairs; a few steps away.
Tears pricked her eyes but she pushed them back. She had shed far too many tears in her lifetime. Tears only brought the worst memories of her life back. When she cried they swirled around in her head; suffocating her, choking her, stabbing her. Fear leaked out of the darkest corners of her mind and toyed with her feelings, letting her fear what was to come. That was all that tears brought for her and she feared it.
Ginny groaned and punched the wall in frustration. Fear was the emotion she knew best. It was as if all she ever had and did feel was fear and she hated it. Everything that happened scared her; she never showed it. Having everybody worry about you and wonder if she was going to suddenly freak out wasn't very comforting and it bothered her. She didn't want people to think she was a weak baby who always cried to her mummy. She wasn't like that at all and she knew it but still she was afraid and it didn't help.
The bed creaked and Ginny ignored it. Millie's tiny feet were easily heard as they were dragged to Ginny's side.
"Gin s'wron?" Millie reached up and put her small hand on Ginny's elbow.
"Nothing," Ginny sighed, "Nothing at all."
"Oh," the girl yawned stuffing her thumb into her mouth. Ginny yearned to do the same.
"Grandma needs help in the kitchen with dinner. There's quite a lot of food to make," Ginny smiled and Millie returned the gift. Millie turned her brown curls bounced as she skipped out the door.
*
"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley called from the foot of the stairs and Harry felt him self slowly sinking back to reality. The shrill shrieks of Mrs. Black could be heard and he plugged his ears. Would she ever shut up?
Angrily Harry stormed out of his room and down the stairs with his ears still plugged. A surprising site met him as he came close enough to see Mrs. Black's portrait. Ginny stood there wand, threateningly pointed at the portrait. Lupin and Mrs. Weasley had clearly given up and stopped trying to quiet Mrs. Black.
"I'm warning you!" Ginny threatened and the portrait continued to shriek, "You know what?" Ginny sighed in annoyance, "The others may not have found a way to get rid of you but I will. I promise you!" Harry advanced slowly transfixed as Ginny's eyes grew wide with hate for the portrait.
The portrait didn't stop shrieking and Ginny muttered something Harry didn't quite catch and about fifty beams of purple light flew out of her wand and hit the portrait. Even though they did absolutely no damage she angrily let more beams of purple fly. Ginny's eyes were lit with anger, frustration and a darkness that Harry had never even dared to imagine.
"Ginny, Ginny," Harry grabbed her from behind and held her tight, "Sh, It's alright. Calm down." Ginny was smaller than he expected and had a strength that didn't match her small frame. She fought him, whirling around and pushing him away. He clasped her wrists and she struggled.
"Calm down," he hissed, "Everything's fine!"
"Everything is not fine!" she screamed stopping to angrily stare at him. Her wrists were still clasped tightly in his hands and he had absolutely no intention of letting go. He stared into her eyes and a small tremor of fear crawled up and down his spine; she had seen far too much in her short life.
She trembled and began to struggle again with a fierceness he had never seen in anybody's eyes; ever.
"Gin," he said soothingly as she spun around and attempted to elbow him. He held her so close she couldn't move, "Gin." He let out a breath and the hair by her ear blew. In time her breathing slowed and Harry could tell she had calmed quite a bit.
"Let go," she hissed and he immediately let go. Before running down the stairs she turned to look at him. Her face was flushed a slight pink and her eyes were a bit timid but angry too.
He watched as she raced down the stars. There was obvious humiliation written all over her face as she stormed into the kitchen. Why was she so angry?
There were footsteps behind him and he spun around. Devin. The blonde boy took huge strides and slowly walked to Harry's side with his hands deep in his baggy pants pockets. His eyebrows were raised and he whistled.
"Do you know why women get so angry?" he asked and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"No," he said icily as he continued to stare at Devin without hiding his dislike for the boy.
"Then perhaps you should be trying to understand why they get angry before you attempt to sooth them," Devin hissed just as icily. The tension between the boys was so thick even Ron would have noticed.
"It's not as simple as all that," Harry pointed out shrugging his shoulders. The anger, hurt and confusion he had seen in Ginny's eyes wasn't just some type of female anger no man could understand. It was far more complicated then that. (a/n: it's true but still he's a guy.) No, he was sure, it had to do with all the horrors Ginny had experienced. Devin couldn't possibly know about them. Could he?
"Sure it is," Devin said simply before he left Harry alone on the landing.
"You have no idea," Harry hissed, suddenly deciding he wasn't hungry.
*
Millie wandered around Grimmauld Place one afternoon. She wasn't particularly interested in her surroundings but she was hardly scared of the decorations. The wonderful fairies, the tall, skinny man with long a white beard had decorated the halls which brightened the place up quite a lot. Millie found it hard to weave her small tongue around in her mouth to form the name 'Dumbledore' and even though the man was skinny, lacked rosy cheeks and didn't wear a bright red suit she had taken to calling him Santa Clause. The white beard, you know.
Her small shoes made a tapping noise as she walked down the halls. Even though her mum had told her more than once that curiosity had killed the cat she couldn't help herself. Plus, how was a child of four supposed to know what curious meant? She had passed a few locked doors on the way but there was one that interested her more than the others. When she tried to open the door it was locked but noises could be heard. They sounded like voices. The voices were muffled by the door and whoever they belonged to was speaking rather fast. Millie pressed her small ear to the door and listened. The wood was cold against her cheek but the little girl didn't notice.
"Yes but what about the muggles?" the voice of the scary woman who could turn into a cat met Millie's ear and she squashed herself against the door.
"They don't matter," Millie recognized the greasy haired man's voice. She frowned, he scared her too.
"Of course they matter," Dumbledore's voce was calm and Millie's frown transformed into a smile. She liked him; he was always bringing her some of her candy from home.
"Of course," Snape hissed. The creaking of a chair could be heard and Millie stepped away from the door in horror. She knew she had been spying but that didn't mean anybody had to know about it. Nobody came. Slowly Millie pressed her ear to the door and listened.
"We'll worry about them later," Mr. Diggory said, "What shall we do with Harry and Ginny?" At the mention of Ginny's name Millie wanted to open the door and crawl under the table they were obviously sitting at. Over the last few weeks Ginny had become Millie's whole world. If Ginny walked into a room you could bet that Millie would be just a few steps away.
"The safest place for them is Hogwarts," the cat lady said.
"Perhaps but we all know how You-Know-Who managed to get in the school years ago." Mr. Diggory let his voice trail off. Who was this man everybody was afraid to call by his real name? Why were they whispering? Why were they so afraid?
"I would rather forget," Mrs. Weasley snapped.
"Yes, but what if something like that was to happen again?" the strange man Ron called Loony asked.
"We had better hope it doesn't," Dumbledore said calmly. What didn't they want to happen?
"Well what shall we do if it does?" Mrs. Diggory sniffed. That's all the woman seemed to do; cry.
"It won't" Mr. Weasley hissed and Millie bit her lip. He sounded scary.
"The children are best off in the school," the cat lady hissed.
"Yes, but-
"No buts, Diggory," Dumbledore's voice was sharp and Millie jumped, "they will stay at the school."
"How can you be so sure?" Mr. Diggory spoke.
"At this time Hogwarts is the safest place for them," Dumbledore sighed, "it's as safe as they can get from Voldemort." There was a crash and Millie guessed that something had broken. Several people gasped.
"Get over yourselves," the greasy haired man spat, "you might as well get used to his name."
"Dumbledore," Mr. Weasley changed the subject, "do you know why V-v-v- Voldemort wants them? I understand why he wants Harry but why my little girl?"
Dumbledore sighed, "Just like Harry, Ginny has had a close encounter with Voldemort and lived to tell about it." The room fell silent, "She's as threatening to him as Harry is." Thoughts and questions were spinning through Millie's small head at top speed.
"Well," Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, "That explains a tiny bit but what does he want to do with them?"
"I think it has something to do with their bond," Dumbledore sighed, "I've been thinking and I've come to this conclusion; Voldemort owes Ginny. She almost died so that he could live and that's as good saving a life. Thanks to that Voldemort and Ginny share a bond but Harry and Ginny share a bond, too."
"So what you're saying is it's some kind of triangle; that never ends?" Mr. Diggory asked.
Mrs. Weasley sighed and a chair moved, "I need a drink." Millie jumped and ran down the hall. Whatever she had just heard she knew she wasn't supposed to hear. What if she was caught?
*
"Get up! We're leaving for Hogwarts today!" Hermione hissed excitedly shaking Ginny awake. Ginny groaned and swatted at the older girl.
"Let me sleep!" she hissed grabbing the covers before Hermione could pull them away.
"Hush, you'll wake Annie and Millie!" Hermione whispered pointing at the sleeping pair, "Your mum told me to wake you."
"What about Ron and Harry?" Ginny licked her dry lips before she opened her eyes to notice Hermione was already dressed.
"What time is it?" Ginny groaned sitting up. The worst time to get up in the morning was before the sun.
"Four o'clock," Hermione hissed and Ginny sent her a look that said; 'are you mad!?', "We're going to have a harder time getting to the station this year because of all the snow." Hermione pointed out and Ginny shrugged. Four o'clock!
"I've got to go wake Harry and Ron," Hermione smiled, "Your not to wake anyone else. Tonks, Moody and Lupin are already awake." Hermione turned around and walked away; her bushy hair bounced as she walked with happy jump in between steps.
It was quite clear the only thought going through Hermione's head. She wanted to learn. The taste for it was on the tip of her tongue and the smell of it teased her nose. Learning was one of the many things Hermione did best.
*
There was no wind and the air around her was warm as they walked towards the station. The snow was ankle deep and bit at her skin like teeth. She shivered. Stupid snow, anyways.
Ron walked on her right side and Hermione on her left. Harry was slightly ahead of them chatting with Lupin. Ginny guessed that he was trying to figure out what he had done with Lucius. All of the adults knew what had happened to him but nobody would even consider telling the under- aged witches and wizards.
There were more people in the station then normal. 'Odd,' Ginny though as they passed an old woman with three warts on her nose, 'it's rather crowded in here.'
The seven of them stopped in front of the invisible platform; '9¾'. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron and Harry.
"You two first, go slowly now. It'll be easier to attract attention as it's so busy in here," she hissed and at her words Ron and Harry casually walked through the barrier. 'Almost too casual,' Ginny though as her mum nodded at her and Hermione. The girls were less casual then Ron and Harry but casual enough.
Familiar faces ran around the platform. Mothers were saying good-bye and fathers were saying some last minute stuff to their children. She sighed. The order had decided not to let any of their members to see off their children for some bizarre and unknown reason. Ginny followed Hermione onto the train. They found Ron and Harry sitting together in a compartment. Hermione sat down and Ginny quickly studied the faces of her friends. Ron and Harry shared the same expression, bored and sleepy. Hermione's cheeks were red with excitement but none of the faces seemed to be inviting her to sit with them. Silently she turned.
"Gin, what are you doing?" Hermione asked and Ginny spun around. All three of them were looking at her with questioning expressions. She smiled, inside.
"Loo," she smiled putting her luggage on an empty seat.
*
Harry rested his head against the window pane of the compartment her sat in with his closest friends; Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Ginny still hadn't returned from the lou and he was beginning to worry. The train would be off in a few minutes.
"I wonder where Ginny is," Hermione said. Could she read his mind?
"I was starting to get worried too," Ron agreed, "It's been fifteen minutes."
"Let's go check on her," Hermione half-smiled. Ron stood up and Harry followed the pair out the door and into the hall. They searched half the train until they came to a certain compartment. The door was opened slightly and Harry being the closest looked in. His heart froze; he couldn't move. There she was with, Dean Thomas, snogging him senseless. He couldn't see her face but the red hair gave her away. There she was just a few steps away.
Butterfinger's Notes: Thanx 2 everyone 4 reviewing. I read every sing 1!
Summer holidays were drawing to a close and Harry was sure that everybody and everything could feel it. Grimmauld Place seemed to be have realized that four of its guests would soon be leaving and it seemed to be happy knowing that fact. It was endlessly creaking in the night, restlessly waiting for the day when they would leave.
Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Dudley noticed it too. They were endlessly asking Harry when he would be back. He was a tad confused and kept pondering why they wanted him back so much. It came to him one night while he lay awake waiting for the sun to rise. They only wanted him back because he was the wizard they knew best and they felt safer knowing, that he being an under aged wizard couldn't turn them into toads but the fact that they were being forced to live with a group of the most powerful legal aged witches and wizards made them nervous.
Millie was devastated that Ginny was going to be leaving her soon and Harry could see why; if Ginny had given him that much attention he'd have been devastated too. for different reasons of course. Millie wasn't the only one devastated to see Ginny leaving. Devin was going to miss her too. That was so obvious Harry wanted to half be one of Ginny's brothers so that he had authority enough for pounding him into a bloody pulp.
Devin had been sucking up to Ginny and she was sucking it all in. She seemed to love the attention the young boy soaked her in. They were always together; Devin never let Ginny out of his sight. Except perhaps when she was sleeping or in the loo and Harry had the sneaky suspicion that if Ginny had allowed it Devin would have kept an eye on her all day.
Hermione had been ecstatic about the beginning of their sixth year since she had arrived Grimmauld Place. The day after she arrived she was the first to suggest they go buy their school supplies and they did amidst the burning buildings and now evil villages.
Ron was lazier than usual and Harry understood him; for once. The thought of going back to Hogwarts made Harry groan. They shouldn't be going to school they ought to be fighting with the others; defending their world; avenging Sirius's death. Harry felt hatred towards the Lestrange woman who had killed Sirius. It was hatred to rival even the hatred Voldemort felt for Dumbledore. Voldemort respected Dumbledore; even if it was only a little bit. All Harry felt toward Belatrix was loathing, there was no speck of respect hidden inside Harry for the escaped convict.
The days were colder than normal August days; snow was already beginning to fall over the entire world. The Earth seemed detached from the sun as if it was retreating into the darkness; like a desert rat trying to escape the desert heat.
*
Ginny stood by the window, staring out into the gray snow below, of her bedroom in Grimmauld Place. Millie lay curled up in Ginny's bed; she looked so peaceful, so young and so innocent. The small girl had absolutely no idea what was going on outside of Grimmauld Place. Ginny both envied and pitied the girl. She remembered when nobody would tell her anything and almost missed those days. Years ago Ginny could have looked in the mirror and seen light, happiness and innocence reflected in every aspect of her face. Now, Ginny never really examined herself in the mirror. Sure, she wore make-up but she didn't examine her features as she decorated her face. It hurt too much. The light, happiness and innocence had long gone and were now replaced with darkness, sadness and knowledge of evil. She wasn't sure if she had ever really had a hear-to-heart conversation with anyone after her first year at Hogwarts. Girl talks were all part of the everyday speech. But she had yet to have that one conversation that could rid her of the nightmares, the fears and the pain. Sometimes she wondered which hurt more, the nightmares and the fear or the fact that she knew the one person she could have that one conversation with and that he was just upstairs; a few steps away.
Tears pricked her eyes but she pushed them back. She had shed far too many tears in her lifetime. Tears only brought the worst memories of her life back. When she cried they swirled around in her head; suffocating her, choking her, stabbing her. Fear leaked out of the darkest corners of her mind and toyed with her feelings, letting her fear what was to come. That was all that tears brought for her and she feared it.
Ginny groaned and punched the wall in frustration. Fear was the emotion she knew best. It was as if all she ever had and did feel was fear and she hated it. Everything that happened scared her; she never showed it. Having everybody worry about you and wonder if she was going to suddenly freak out wasn't very comforting and it bothered her. She didn't want people to think she was a weak baby who always cried to her mummy. She wasn't like that at all and she knew it but still she was afraid and it didn't help.
The bed creaked and Ginny ignored it. Millie's tiny feet were easily heard as they were dragged to Ginny's side.
"Gin s'wron?" Millie reached up and put her small hand on Ginny's elbow.
"Nothing," Ginny sighed, "Nothing at all."
"Oh," the girl yawned stuffing her thumb into her mouth. Ginny yearned to do the same.
"Grandma needs help in the kitchen with dinner. There's quite a lot of food to make," Ginny smiled and Millie returned the gift. Millie turned her brown curls bounced as she skipped out the door.
*
"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley called from the foot of the stairs and Harry felt him self slowly sinking back to reality. The shrill shrieks of Mrs. Black could be heard and he plugged his ears. Would she ever shut up?
Angrily Harry stormed out of his room and down the stairs with his ears still plugged. A surprising site met him as he came close enough to see Mrs. Black's portrait. Ginny stood there wand, threateningly pointed at the portrait. Lupin and Mrs. Weasley had clearly given up and stopped trying to quiet Mrs. Black.
"I'm warning you!" Ginny threatened and the portrait continued to shriek, "You know what?" Ginny sighed in annoyance, "The others may not have found a way to get rid of you but I will. I promise you!" Harry advanced slowly transfixed as Ginny's eyes grew wide with hate for the portrait.
The portrait didn't stop shrieking and Ginny muttered something Harry didn't quite catch and about fifty beams of purple light flew out of her wand and hit the portrait. Even though they did absolutely no damage she angrily let more beams of purple fly. Ginny's eyes were lit with anger, frustration and a darkness that Harry had never even dared to imagine.
"Ginny, Ginny," Harry grabbed her from behind and held her tight, "Sh, It's alright. Calm down." Ginny was smaller than he expected and had a strength that didn't match her small frame. She fought him, whirling around and pushing him away. He clasped her wrists and she struggled.
"Calm down," he hissed, "Everything's fine!"
"Everything is not fine!" she screamed stopping to angrily stare at him. Her wrists were still clasped tightly in his hands and he had absolutely no intention of letting go. He stared into her eyes and a small tremor of fear crawled up and down his spine; she had seen far too much in her short life.
She trembled and began to struggle again with a fierceness he had never seen in anybody's eyes; ever.
"Gin," he said soothingly as she spun around and attempted to elbow him. He held her so close she couldn't move, "Gin." He let out a breath and the hair by her ear blew. In time her breathing slowed and Harry could tell she had calmed quite a bit.
"Let go," she hissed and he immediately let go. Before running down the stairs she turned to look at him. Her face was flushed a slight pink and her eyes were a bit timid but angry too.
He watched as she raced down the stars. There was obvious humiliation written all over her face as she stormed into the kitchen. Why was she so angry?
There were footsteps behind him and he spun around. Devin. The blonde boy took huge strides and slowly walked to Harry's side with his hands deep in his baggy pants pockets. His eyebrows were raised and he whistled.
"Do you know why women get so angry?" he asked and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"No," he said icily as he continued to stare at Devin without hiding his dislike for the boy.
"Then perhaps you should be trying to understand why they get angry before you attempt to sooth them," Devin hissed just as icily. The tension between the boys was so thick even Ron would have noticed.
"It's not as simple as all that," Harry pointed out shrugging his shoulders. The anger, hurt and confusion he had seen in Ginny's eyes wasn't just some type of female anger no man could understand. It was far more complicated then that. (a/n: it's true but still he's a guy.) No, he was sure, it had to do with all the horrors Ginny had experienced. Devin couldn't possibly know about them. Could he?
"Sure it is," Devin said simply before he left Harry alone on the landing.
"You have no idea," Harry hissed, suddenly deciding he wasn't hungry.
*
Millie wandered around Grimmauld Place one afternoon. She wasn't particularly interested in her surroundings but she was hardly scared of the decorations. The wonderful fairies, the tall, skinny man with long a white beard had decorated the halls which brightened the place up quite a lot. Millie found it hard to weave her small tongue around in her mouth to form the name 'Dumbledore' and even though the man was skinny, lacked rosy cheeks and didn't wear a bright red suit she had taken to calling him Santa Clause. The white beard, you know.
Her small shoes made a tapping noise as she walked down the halls. Even though her mum had told her more than once that curiosity had killed the cat she couldn't help herself. Plus, how was a child of four supposed to know what curious meant? She had passed a few locked doors on the way but there was one that interested her more than the others. When she tried to open the door it was locked but noises could be heard. They sounded like voices. The voices were muffled by the door and whoever they belonged to was speaking rather fast. Millie pressed her small ear to the door and listened. The wood was cold against her cheek but the little girl didn't notice.
"Yes but what about the muggles?" the voice of the scary woman who could turn into a cat met Millie's ear and she squashed herself against the door.
"They don't matter," Millie recognized the greasy haired man's voice. She frowned, he scared her too.
"Of course they matter," Dumbledore's voce was calm and Millie's frown transformed into a smile. She liked him; he was always bringing her some of her candy from home.
"Of course," Snape hissed. The creaking of a chair could be heard and Millie stepped away from the door in horror. She knew she had been spying but that didn't mean anybody had to know about it. Nobody came. Slowly Millie pressed her ear to the door and listened.
"We'll worry about them later," Mr. Diggory said, "What shall we do with Harry and Ginny?" At the mention of Ginny's name Millie wanted to open the door and crawl under the table they were obviously sitting at. Over the last few weeks Ginny had become Millie's whole world. If Ginny walked into a room you could bet that Millie would be just a few steps away.
"The safest place for them is Hogwarts," the cat lady said.
"Perhaps but we all know how You-Know-Who managed to get in the school years ago." Mr. Diggory let his voice trail off. Who was this man everybody was afraid to call by his real name? Why were they whispering? Why were they so afraid?
"I would rather forget," Mrs. Weasley snapped.
"Yes, but what if something like that was to happen again?" the strange man Ron called Loony asked.
"We had better hope it doesn't," Dumbledore said calmly. What didn't they want to happen?
"Well what shall we do if it does?" Mrs. Diggory sniffed. That's all the woman seemed to do; cry.
"It won't" Mr. Weasley hissed and Millie bit her lip. He sounded scary.
"The children are best off in the school," the cat lady hissed.
"Yes, but-
"No buts, Diggory," Dumbledore's voice was sharp and Millie jumped, "they will stay at the school."
"How can you be so sure?" Mr. Diggory spoke.
"At this time Hogwarts is the safest place for them," Dumbledore sighed, "it's as safe as they can get from Voldemort." There was a crash and Millie guessed that something had broken. Several people gasped.
"Get over yourselves," the greasy haired man spat, "you might as well get used to his name."
"Dumbledore," Mr. Weasley changed the subject, "do you know why V-v-v- Voldemort wants them? I understand why he wants Harry but why my little girl?"
Dumbledore sighed, "Just like Harry, Ginny has had a close encounter with Voldemort and lived to tell about it." The room fell silent, "She's as threatening to him as Harry is." Thoughts and questions were spinning through Millie's small head at top speed.
"Well," Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, "That explains a tiny bit but what does he want to do with them?"
"I think it has something to do with their bond," Dumbledore sighed, "I've been thinking and I've come to this conclusion; Voldemort owes Ginny. She almost died so that he could live and that's as good saving a life. Thanks to that Voldemort and Ginny share a bond but Harry and Ginny share a bond, too."
"So what you're saying is it's some kind of triangle; that never ends?" Mr. Diggory asked.
Mrs. Weasley sighed and a chair moved, "I need a drink." Millie jumped and ran down the hall. Whatever she had just heard she knew she wasn't supposed to hear. What if she was caught?
*
"Get up! We're leaving for Hogwarts today!" Hermione hissed excitedly shaking Ginny awake. Ginny groaned and swatted at the older girl.
"Let me sleep!" she hissed grabbing the covers before Hermione could pull them away.
"Hush, you'll wake Annie and Millie!" Hermione whispered pointing at the sleeping pair, "Your mum told me to wake you."
"What about Ron and Harry?" Ginny licked her dry lips before she opened her eyes to notice Hermione was already dressed.
"What time is it?" Ginny groaned sitting up. The worst time to get up in the morning was before the sun.
"Four o'clock," Hermione hissed and Ginny sent her a look that said; 'are you mad!?', "We're going to have a harder time getting to the station this year because of all the snow." Hermione pointed out and Ginny shrugged. Four o'clock!
"I've got to go wake Harry and Ron," Hermione smiled, "Your not to wake anyone else. Tonks, Moody and Lupin are already awake." Hermione turned around and walked away; her bushy hair bounced as she walked with happy jump in between steps.
It was quite clear the only thought going through Hermione's head. She wanted to learn. The taste for it was on the tip of her tongue and the smell of it teased her nose. Learning was one of the many things Hermione did best.
*
There was no wind and the air around her was warm as they walked towards the station. The snow was ankle deep and bit at her skin like teeth. She shivered. Stupid snow, anyways.
Ron walked on her right side and Hermione on her left. Harry was slightly ahead of them chatting with Lupin. Ginny guessed that he was trying to figure out what he had done with Lucius. All of the adults knew what had happened to him but nobody would even consider telling the under- aged witches and wizards.
There were more people in the station then normal. 'Odd,' Ginny though as they passed an old woman with three warts on her nose, 'it's rather crowded in here.'
The seven of them stopped in front of the invisible platform; '9¾'. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron and Harry.
"You two first, go slowly now. It'll be easier to attract attention as it's so busy in here," she hissed and at her words Ron and Harry casually walked through the barrier. 'Almost too casual,' Ginny though as her mum nodded at her and Hermione. The girls were less casual then Ron and Harry but casual enough.
Familiar faces ran around the platform. Mothers were saying good-bye and fathers were saying some last minute stuff to their children. She sighed. The order had decided not to let any of their members to see off their children for some bizarre and unknown reason. Ginny followed Hermione onto the train. They found Ron and Harry sitting together in a compartment. Hermione sat down and Ginny quickly studied the faces of her friends. Ron and Harry shared the same expression, bored and sleepy. Hermione's cheeks were red with excitement but none of the faces seemed to be inviting her to sit with them. Silently she turned.
"Gin, what are you doing?" Hermione asked and Ginny spun around. All three of them were looking at her with questioning expressions. She smiled, inside.
"Loo," she smiled putting her luggage on an empty seat.
*
Harry rested his head against the window pane of the compartment her sat in with his closest friends; Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Ginny still hadn't returned from the lou and he was beginning to worry. The train would be off in a few minutes.
"I wonder where Ginny is," Hermione said. Could she read his mind?
"I was starting to get worried too," Ron agreed, "It's been fifteen minutes."
"Let's go check on her," Hermione half-smiled. Ron stood up and Harry followed the pair out the door and into the hall. They searched half the train until they came to a certain compartment. The door was opened slightly and Harry being the closest looked in. His heart froze; he couldn't move. There she was with, Dean Thomas, snogging him senseless. He couldn't see her face but the red hair gave her away. There she was just a few steps away.
Butterfinger's Notes: Thanx 2 everyone 4 reviewing. I read every sing 1!