Chapter 12 – Priorities

The meeting was over. It had been decided, and every person in that room had volunteered to go and rescue Harry. The rest of the meeting had been dedicated to figuring out a way to do that, since it seemed impossible. One of the Aurors had suggested a plan that, although it seemed crazy, was the best one thought up. All of the Aurors were getting up, most likely to go talk to relatives or friends before their mission was to begin. Remus approached Albus right after the meeting was over.

"Albus?"

"Yes, Remus, what is it?"

"I was wondering if you'd thought about that ... um thing that we talked about?" Remus asked, nervously twisting a string that was hanging off of his robes.

Albus shook his head sadly; "I'm sorry Remus. I just don't know if it can be done. I've thought of everything but nothing seems to work."

"Well..." Remus sighed, "At least I know that you've thought about it."

Albus put a hand on Remus' shoulder to try and comfort him, "I want him back as much as you do, Remus, but we've got to set our priorities straight. I'm sorry."

Remus walked away, greatly disappointed. He saw Hermione sitting on one of the couches in front of the fireplace and tried to erase any sadness he felt before approaching her.

"My lady," he said, bowing before her, "Why is a woman as beautiful as you sitting here all alone?"

Hermione smiled at him, knowing he was trying to make her feel better. She patted the seat next to her, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Why are you always so nice to me, Remus?" Hermione said, chuckling softly.

"Are you saying you want me to be mean?" he asked with a smirk.

Hermione looked at him, smiling, "I never said that, you just twisted my words around."

Remus laughed and leaned back on the couch. No one talked, and he glanced into the fireplace. After a few minutes, he spoke, turning to face her.

"We'll find him, you know," he said, "We'll get him back, I promise."

- - - - - -

"Ewan, I can't just leave you here, alone, with all these Death Eaters." Said Harry, still in shock over what Ewan had told him.
"You have no choice, Harry." Ewan was currently pacing Harry's room, "When I hear from my contact, I'm going to know the plan for getting you out of here, and then I'm going to do it. There is nothing about me getting out, and I'm not going to jeopardize your life."

"How would it jeopardize my life to try and get you out too?" Harry asked.

"You just don't understand. We're trying to save you. Only you. That's it. I can't explain it any better." Ewan said, frustrated.

Harry was mad, too. He hated the thought of being chosen for rescue over someone else.

"Ewan, I swear, I'm going to figure out a way to get you out of here."

"If I leave, they are going to know I'm not a Death Eater, and then there will be trouble." He replied, sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed.

"But there are already a few Death Eaters who don't know of you. I'm afraid it was before I knew you worked for the Order, but ... I asked them about you and they denied that you existed at all." Harry said, extremely confused.

"Well it depends on who you ask," and then he added, "Some of them are very stupid."

"I guess that explains it then. But I'm still confused about the way I'm being treated here. Since I arrived in this room, I've been treated very well, but according to those same Death Eaters, I should be in a room much like the prison I was held in before." Said Harry.

"Let me point something out... 'Those same Death Eaters'," Ewan replied, quoting Harry, "Very stupid."

"Well now that everything is explained, I'd like to ask you a question I've been wanting to since you came back this morning."

Ewan shrugged, "Sure. Go ahead."

Harry stood up and walked toward the small window before turning back to face Ewan again, "I want to know about Hermione. How is she? What is she doing? How is the baby?"

Ewan smiled, "Hermione's fine. She's still in hiding with Dumbledore and another group of people. She's very safe, trust me. Ron Weasley is there with her."

A look of relief came over Harry's face and he sighed happily, "And the baby?"

"Right on schedule. Of course, he/she hasn't been born yet but Dumbledore said to tell you that you should be out of here in time for it." Replied Ewan, happy to give some good news for a change.

"He/she? You don't know if it's a girl or a boy yet?" asked Harry, almost absentmindedly.

Ewan smiled, "Of course we do. You just aren't allowed to know."

- - - - -

"You ready for this Ferret?"

"Better than you are, Weasel."

Ron smiled at the use of that nickname. He had long gotten over it, and now, it was a reminder of the past, of happier times, even if they involved a Draco Malfoy that was a complete asshole. Draco and Ron were preparing for their mission to start. They had, of course, volunteered to go and rescue Harry. When Ginny had heard that Draco had signed up, she was of course, pleased that he wanted to help save a former enemy, but also upset because it was a very dangerous mission, and as the son of a Death Eater, he would be treated more harshly if captured. She had gone off to see Hermione, but had returned and was now sitting in-between Draco and Ron.

"I'm glad you two signed up for this... although I'm not glad at the same time." She said, leaning over to hug Ron, then to hug and kiss Draco.

Draco pretended to be disgusted and Ron laughed at Ginny's face. "Don't even try it. I'm trying to be serious and here you go making jokes. I'm going to be so worried about you. About both of you." She said, looking back and forth between her husband and her brother.

"Aw, come on, Gin. We're just playing around. We're gonna have to be serious for this entire mission, we should at least get a chance to have fun now. Isn't that right, Malfoy?"

Draco nodded, and then put up his right hand and said, "I swear that when this mission starts, I, Draco Malfoy, will take it with complete seriousness, but until then, will have all the fun I could possibly have."

Ginny laughed, "You are impossible."

Ron fake gagged as they kissed again, "And you two are incredibly gross."