A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to write this next chapter. I'm also very sorry that it's so short, but this particular section is becoming increasingly hard to write, so just bare with me and I hope you enjoy it.



Chapter 12



~Hermione~



My mother once told me, always be prepared. She was one of those mothers who's voice was permanently chattering away in the back of her child's head. In times of need, distress, or insufferable terror, my mother's words had always been there. So, I awoke promptly the next morning and packed a bag. I made sure to include all the necessities: Snacks, water, bandages, a shrunken change of clothes for each of us, and three essential volumes.



"Beginner's Medical Incantations" by: Florence Cureall

"101 Spells Needed For Survival" by: Eugene Buzzbee

"Something Out of Nothing: Conjuring for the Novice" by: Greta Sordein



Once those were shrunken and packed, I double checked everything, re-packed it and snapped my rucksack shut. I sat down next to it and closed my eyes. I'd been avoiding thoughts of Ron all morning. I was wagging an inner battle with my body and I was losing rapidly. Every thing he said, all that he did, even the looks he gave were more than enough to make me tingle all over. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep my mind from wandering back to the previous night in Molly Weasley's kitchen...holy mother of Merlin, I'd never felt anything like that before. He was so taken aback when I'd first kissed him, but then...oh then it had been like we'd been frequenting that act for years. His arms went around me and his body pressed against me in all the best places. He brought about sensations that I'd never admitted I could feel before. But all that had to wait. The thought nearly killed me, but it had to wait.

I survived the day by going through the motions of everyday life at the Burrow. An owl from Charlie at breakfast, that stuffed sensation after lunch, and Molly's legendary afternoon snacks. The boys went out in the early evening to fly a bit. I took the opportunity to grab Ginny and hustle her upstairs for a private chat.

I pushed her through the door and shut it behind me, "What's this all about?"

"I have a little confession to make." I said, sitting down next to her on her bed.

She got that familiar twinkle of mischief in her eyes, "About Ron?"

"You are impossible, yes about Ron, "I paused and then took the plunge, "I kissed him."

Ginny squealed, "You did!?"

"I did." she smiled, but didn't reply.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Are you afraid?" I asked her.

"Very much."

"Do you think it's......"

"Voldemort? Yes, I do." she said it so easily I nearly choked on my tongue.

It was a fear of mine that wasn't fully realized, but it was there, and it was strong. Who else? Was there anyone else on earth that could possibly be responsible for this note and these strange pieces? No one.

"You seem so sure." I said.

"I am. I...." she looked like she wanted to elaborate, but she chose not to, " I just am."

"When did Harry say he wanted to go?" I asked.

"At eleven. My parents go to bed at ten like clock work and no one else will be home."

Another silence.

"How can the boys be so calm? Out there, playing around, I just don't understand it." I crossed my arms.

"What is the one thing that they both love to do more than just about anything?" Ginny turned to me and touched my arm.

"They love to fly around and play quidditch." I answered.

"What have you been doing all day long?"

I looked at her, defeated by her logic for the first time in my life.

"Reading and watching them fly with you."

"Maybe they aren't as calm as they seem. Maybe...I don't know. Come on, lets go back outside and watch, "she got up and gave a dry smile, "Who knows when we will get the next opportunity."

I shook my head, unsmiling, and followed her out the door.





~Ron~



At 10:00 my parents went up to bed, mum stopping to give each of us a little goodnight hug. At 10:10 Fred and George gave a little wave as they swaggered out the door on a destination to enjoy London and it's nightlife. At 10:30 Harry whispered something to Ginny and then announced that we should all meet in the kitchen at 10:50, then they went upstairs. After a brief conversation with Hermione where we carefully avoided anything remotely romantic, I headed to the kitchen where Harry and Ginny sat waiting, each with their cloaks on. Moments later, with a giant rucksack on her back, Hermione joined us with Maggie hovering not far behind.

"Why did you get Maggie?" I asked.

"You can't be too far away from her, remember?" Hermione said.

"Ron, what are we doing?" Maggie asked hovering over to me and landing in my outstretched hand.

"We've got to go on a little trip Maggie, and you have to go along, okay?"

"Oookay..." she said and quickly fell onto her side, drifting back to sleep.

I chuckled and tucked her into my robes, "Are we ready?"

Harry nodded and that was it. We wrapped our robes around us, pulled our mittens on tight and walked out into the December night.



*****



Almost an hour later, with Hermione navigating, we walked into a clearing and stopped to rest.

"Are we almost to the opening?" Ginny asked, leaning against a tree.

"We are, it should only be about ten minutes away." I walked over and sat next to her.

"Are you alright? Do you want me to carry that sack for awhile?"

"No Ron, I'm not helpless you know." she huffed.

"I never said you were, I was just offering..."

"Well, I don't NEED HELP. You can just stop treating me as if I can't take care of myself." she struggled to her feet.

"Look Hermione, I never said that you couldn't take care of yourself, but is it so wrong that sometimes *I* want to take care of you!?"

"I WANT you to take care of me, but right now I'm scared and I need to do this on my own or I won't make it THROUGH THIS!!!"

Her voice hung in the air as we stood there and stared at each other. Finally she spun around and started to march off down the hill.

"This way!" she called and a very timid looking Harry and Ginny followed me down behind her.

None of us dared to try and talk to her during the next five or ten minutes and then she shrieked.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, as we rushed up to her.

"I found it!!" she yelled and pointed toward a stone wall a little ways in front of us.

It was large and arched, almost cut into the hillside. It was almost new looking had it not been for a few big divots which were obviously the holes where our stray pieces of stone fit.

"It's a double-U." Ginny said, sounding confused.

"What?" Harry whispered.

My eyes widened, "A double-U."

There, on the wall, was the biggest double-U I'd ever seen in my entire life. It was glaring out at us so ominously that I almost felt silly not to have noticed it right away.

"I guess this is it," Harry said, handing us the pieces, "Here goes."

We each held two pieces. We all stepped up to the wall and reached out to put our stones in their places. As soon as my pieces touched the wall I saw my hands melt into it as if we were becoming one and all of a sudden, I couldn't see a thing and all I could hear was my screams mingled with those of Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.



A/N: Now is when I really need reviews to keep me going! So GO!