The typical "I don't own these characters, only the plot. Everything else Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and I get no profits from this" speech is over.
I do have fun writing this though.
Thanks to Kate as well, my beta.
Hermione sat in shock.
"Voldemort is coming here?" she thought, "That's not possible! This is the safe haven. How did he find out?"
"Move!" said Mr. Weasley in a voice that shook everyone gathered around the kitchen table from their thoughts. "Time is wasting and we don't have much time to waste."
Everyone jumped up from their chairs and exited the kitchen in a hurry. Hermione went upstairs to her room to pack as she had been instructed to do. All of her things, however, were already packed. She looked about the room and noticed that Ginny's things were strewn all over. She decided to start begin packing Ginny's things in hopes of Ginny appreciating it later.
"Oi! Hermione!"
Fred Weasley walked into Ginny and Hermione's shared room, holding Hermione's familiar Crookshanks in his arms.
"I found your cat lurking under my bed. I bet he was searching for mice, or trying to keep away from that carrying basket," said Fred, handing over the squashed-faced cat.
"Thanks. I've been looking everywhere for him. In all honesty, I had forgotten about him completely." Crookshanks hissed at the idea of being forgotten.
"Are you packing Ginny's things?" he inquired, "Here, let me help." With a swish and a flick of his wand, all of Ginny's things were in her trunk. Fred sat down on Hermione's bed. "I wait until you get done packing."
"No it's ok," said Hermione, "I'll shrink these down and meet you downstairs in a couple…"
"No, I'll wait."
Hermione paused. "That's odd," she thought as she shrunk the two trunks and Crookshank's basket and placed them in her pocket. "Why is Fred so adamant about staying? Wait a minute…"
"Are you protecting me?" she asked aloud.
"I was told to stay with you," he responded, not meeting her eyes, "We don't want you to get hurt. Let's go." He stood and waited at the door for Hermione to precede him downstairs.
Hermione and Fred were the last to enter the kitchen. Hermione looked at the faces of the other members of the Order. She saw fear, worry and confusion. Even Professor Lupin looked scared. Hermione was frightened.
"Follow me," said Mr. Weasley, "stay close together and keep your eyes open. Be careful."
"Wait!" said George, "why can't we just Floo out of here?"
"Because they will be watching the Floo lines and will just follow us to wherever we go," growled Professor Moody. "Slimy bastards."
Everyone filed out of the kitchen and followed Mr. Weasley down the front hall.
Hermione was terrified. She drew her want and prepared herself for the worst. She came to a stop in front of the door and waited for Mr. Weasley to swing it open. Fred was standing close behind her, his wand drawn as well. "He really is protecting me," she thought, "but why? Am I really that important to the Order?"
"Okay," said Mr. Weasley in a voice that was scarcely audible, "stay with your partner. When I give the go ahead, apparate to the Leaky Cauldron and wait for instructions there. If something happens before I give the go ahead, apparate to Hogwarts immediately and go inside the castle and stay there!"
"Wait!" said Hermione, "I can't apparate. I don't have my license yet. How am I supposed to escape if something happens?"
"Me," said Fred from directly behind her, "I'm your partner and I can apparate. Stick close to me and you'll be fine."
"Alright. Make for the Leaky Cauldron."
Mr. Weasley opened the door. The group filed out onto the lawn of number 12 Grimmauld Place and began their trek to a safe apparition location.
Suddenly, Mr. Weasley stopped. He stood stock still and pointed his wand directly in front of him. Hermione leaned to look around him and saw nothing. She turned and saw that Professors Lupin and Moody were also pointing their wands at nothing.
"Show yourselves," growled Moody, never lowering his wand.
"Very well," said a low, drawling voice. Hermione knew that voice well. She had heard it just three months ago at the end of her 5th year at Hogwarts.
"Malfoy," she said, gritting her teeth.
The name had barely left her lips when the tall, blonde form of Lucius Malfoy materialized exactly where Mr. Weasley had been pointing his wand.
To be continued…