Chapter 32: Hogsmeade

 Harry awoke early the next morning, especially early considering how late he'd been up the night before. He rubbed his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them. Sun filtered through the curtains and he thought it would blind him. Even after he'd come back to the dorm again everyone had kept him up for another half hour just to make sure he was okay. At least they didn't seem annoyed with him, just very concerned. That was definitely a good thing. It was all rather embarrassing for him though. Fifteen year old boys weren't supposed to have so many nightmares, especially ones that caused them to wake up crying in the dark. He groaned as Ron tried fervently to get him out of bed again, but then remembered that he was supposed to spend the day with Ginny in Hogsmeade. His attitude brightened a bit at that prospect and he tried to wipe away morning grumpiness as well.

"Oi, you're finally up!" said Ron as he climbed out of bed.

"Yeah," said Harry, his voice still hoarse from being sleep, "I'm going to take a shower. I'll meet you in the common room."

 Fifteen minutes and a refreshing shower later their group had gathered in the common room to prepare to leave. Before going Harry informed them about the emergency portkeys Dumbledore was supposed to prepare,  wondering if they needed to go to his office..

"Oh," said Hermione, "don't worry, he already sent them. She passed out the portkeys, Harry and Ron receiving wristwatches while she and Ginny both sported bracelets of connected amethyst and topaz stones.

"How do they work?" asked Ron.

"They're all activated by a certain word," said Hermione, her mouth twitching. "All you have to say is 'Bumblebee' and you'll be taken to Dumbledore's office."

"Okay," said Harry, strapping the watch to his wrist.

"What's so funny?" asked Ron.

"Well, it's 'Bumblebee,'" said Hermione with a grin.

"I don't get it," he replied.

"Never mind..."

~*~

 Thirty minutes later, after having a few butterbeers in Hogsmeade, Harry and Ginny went off on their own, promising to meet back with Ron and Hermione in two hours.

"So where do you want to go first?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Hmm," said Ginny, "Why don't we drop by Honeydukes first?"

"Sure," said Harry, who needed to pick up some more chocolate anyway.

 He watched interestingly as Ginny picked up some bars of the more powerful medicinal chocolate.

"It's always good to have some around," she told him. "It's like an emergency kit."

 Harry grabbed a box of chocolate frogs as well before they paid for their purchases and exited the store.  Their next destination was Zonko's, after which Ginny managed to drag him into Gladrags so that she could pick up a few shirts.

"Come on, Harry," she had pleaded, giving him a look no one could refuse. "It won't take long at all."

 Harry quickly acquiesced and followed her into the store. After Ginny had picked a few shirts out they managed to have quite a bit of fun picking out interesting socks for Dobby, pairs that barked or screech, or lit up in alternating colors and patterns. One pair almost took his hand off though and Harry chucked it back into the bin. He was sure Dobby would have loved them, but knew that he would be just as thrilled with the rest. He nursed a sore finger as they continued looking.

"Oh look at these," exclaimed Ginny holding up a pair of socks with kittens running around them. "Aren't they adorable!"

  They didn't seem Dobby's style, but the kittens looked very similar to Ginny's own cat, Caera. Harry, being at least somewhat observant, and having been the one to purchase her the cat in the first place, noticed this. He smiled at her and then added them to the rest of socks he was planning on buying buying.

"Oh, Harry," said Ginny, "I don't think those are really Dobby's style, I just thought they were cute..."

"I know," said Harry, "that's why I got them for you."

 Ginny had squealed with delight and hugged him in the middle of the store, causing him to turn red, but he hugged her back anyway. Who cared what the store clerks might think?

"It was only a pair of socks..." said Harry, still blushing, though it didn't dampen Ginny's mood at all. She gave him a peck on the cheek before they headed back out on the street.

"I've got all my shopping done," said Ginny. "What about you?"

"Me too," said Harry. "We've still got half an hour left though. Anything else you want to do?"

"Let's take a walk?" suggested Ginny. "Ron and Hermione won't be expecting us until then anyway."

 So it was that they found themselves walking down the road that led towards the Shrieking Shack. Harry had his arm twined around Ginny's waist and she did the same. He was leaning down to kiss her again when a whooshing sound caused him to jump. Something like a ball was flying towards the two of him. It wasn't perfectly round, though it was covered in black laquer, and held some interesting markings. Thinking only of protecting their faces from the flying object, which appeared to be made of stone, he stuck his arm out to catch it.

"Harry, no!" shrieked Ginny, but it was too late. He felt a familiar tug behind his navel as he and Ginny were jerked to some place unknown.

"Wands out," he whispered to her as they got to their feet, then noticed that she already had hers in hand. It was dark and Harry was having trouble trying to gage where they were. He was afraid to cast a simple 'lumos,' fearing that it might make them easier to spot by whoever their attacker was. He heard rustling in what appeared to be nearby trees and he knew that they were in trouble. They both pulled out their wands but it seemed they were too late. Curses started flying as Harry and Ginny started frantically casting shield charms. Harry saw a red jet of light come towards them. He watched Ginny fall limply to the ground as her shield broke and was filled with horror. As he leaned down to try and check on her, hoping to activate the portkey while holding her, he was struck by a jet of red light. And then he knew no more.

~*~

"I'm telling you, Ron!" said Hermione stubbornly. "I know I saw them come this way earlier! And I know they wouldn't just lose track of time like this. They know how worried we'd be."

"Are you sure, Herm?" Ron questioned, looking at the street before them. "I don't see anything..." His voice trailed off as he notice a shopping bag lying in the road. He opened it to find an assortment of strange socks and his heart jumped into his throat.

"What is it, Ron?" she said, looking puzzled.

"This has to be Harry's," he said, holding out the bag to her. "He's the only person I know who would buy these, probably for Dobby. And look, here's Ginny's cloak. I doubt he would have just forgotten it here. D'you think something happened?"

Hermione's eyes widened, "We should go to Dumbledore. If it was an attack..."

"If it was an attack we can't spare that much time!" exclaimed Ron angrily.

"They have their portkeys," argued Hermione, "And what could we do?"

"Are you willing to bet the death-eater's didn't confiscate them?" he said, "Besides, after your spiel last week in charms, I know you're capable of making a portkey. Even if you don't admit it."

Hermione flushed, "But it's not guaranteed to work, Ron. I don't even have something to connect us to them."

 Ron pulled a cloak out of the bag which Ginny must have decided was too hot to wear. He pulled a red strand of hair off the back and handed it to Hermione.

"Will this do?"

"We'll portkey to Dumbledore's first," said Hermione firmly, picking up the bag. "It will only take two seconds. Then we can use the hair for a rescue mission portkey, supposing they've been taken."

 Ron seemed to still be mulling it over so she grabbed his arm. With a shout of "Bumblebee" they were both being whisked back to Dumbledore's office.

Hoping that they weren't too late.