Disclaimer: Anyone who thinks I own this, go get your head examined. Thank you.

Chapter Thirteen: Ready


Harry Apparated onto a cold and windy hillside. Hermione, Ron, and the others were huddled about, waiting for him.

Hermione scurried over to him. "What took you so long?"

Harry shrugged. "Andrew had to talk to me. Not about the mission," Harry added, seeing Ron's ears, perk up. "Personal stuff." He rubbed his hands. "So, where do we go from here?"

Aurora pulled a tiny piece of paper out of her back pocket, spread it out on the ground, and tapped in twice with her wand. It immediately grew three sizes larger.

The team huddled around the map. Finally, Jack took his finger, and drew it around one area on the map. The ink ran together, and formed a new, more detailed map of the area he had circled. He pointed. "Due northeast." He stood up and pointed to the top of the hill. "That way."

Aurora tapped the map three times. It shrunk again, and she was able to fold it up and put it in her back pocket again.

The group stood up, some of them shouldering packs, and trekked up the hill. Harry, who considered himself to be in excellent shape, was panting by the time he got to the top. And his mouth dropped open.

A mansion- a huge mansion- was sitting on the top of the next hill. Percy sucked in a breath sharply.

"Well," said Hermione in a tiny voice. "This is it."

Ron tapped her on the shoulder, and led her off to one side. Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George all conferred silently. Luke, Jack and Aurora wandered over to join Harry.

Aurora cocked her head to one side. "Think we'll get him?"

Harry smiled coldly. "Oh, yes. Definitely yes. His ass belongs to us, and we're going to kick it. Hard."

Jack clapped him on the shoulder. "That's it, man. That we will."

Over to the side, Ron pulled Hermione into a long kiss. Under ordinary situations, the twins would have cat called or made jokes. Not this time. Fred was even eyeing Aurora. She seemed to feel his eyes on her, because she looked up and met them. Fred started.

At that moment, Ron and Hermione marched over, looking determined.

"Everyone ready?" asked Ron, drawing his wand. "We Apparate directly to the front doors, and go in from there. Fred, Aurora, Hermione, Bill and I will go in one group. Harry, George, Jack, Charlie, Percy and Luke will go in another."

Nine heads nodded. Harry didn't. He just raised his wand. He was the first to Apparate to the huge, lonely mansion. The others followed.


A/N: Yes, it's short. I'm sorry. This was all that needed to happen in this chapter. I was just setting the scene. I'll try to update very soon, but I am starting a new set of classes tomorrow, and it includes math. I am AWFUL at maths of any kind. So I will do my darndest to update, but no promises.

Until then, faithful readers, REVIEW!!!

PS: To all you US readers, or anyone who follows American football: GO NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!