The funny thing about time is that the longer you try to stop it, the faster it seems to flow. The weeks until Christmas were trickling away and Harry was powerless to stop them. First the snow fell, blanketing the ground in soft white, belying the muddy paths surrounding the castle. Then the Christmas decorations appeared almost overnight, or so it seemed. Then the list for who was staying at school over Christmas went up on the Common Room notice board. Then there was a week left of school, then a day, then Harry was boarding the train for London with Ron and Hermione, then they were being ushered into The Burrow.


Harry dragged his trunk up to Ron's room and gloomily wondered where the time had gone. Well, here he was, waiting for Voldemort's summons. Harry's stomach flipped over as he thought about how Voldemort might summon him. Surely he would not appear at The Burrow in person…would he? Harry half-heartedly tried to clear his thoughts, but to no avail. It was all he could think about.

There was a knock at the door, and Ginny quietly came into the room. Harry tried not to heave a sigh. As funny as it may have seemed, he was not in the mood for talking.

"You know, moping around up here won't prevent him from reaching you." Ginny got straight to the point. "Mum says would you like dinner, and she can bring it up to you if you want. I would not take advantage of that offer if I were you."

As much as Harry hated to admit it, he knew that she was right. He left his trunk unpacked beside Ron's bed and followed her downstairs.

The usual fun and laughter that occurred during Weasley dinners was only slightly dampened by Harry's initial mood, and after a couple of 'demonstrations' from Fred and George of their new cutlery range, even he had to laugh as it turned out he was holding yet another fork which drooped and refused point blank in a high, tinny voice to pick up his food.

Just when he thought he could eat no more, Mrs. Weasley came in carrying a huge dish full of cooked peaches. The mere smell almost drove him wild and everyone willingly held out their bowls for helpings.

Finally the dishes cleared themselves away and Mrs. Weasley allowed the children to go to bed. Harry and Ron said goodnight to Hermione at the turn of the stairs, and then turned into Ron's room. Never had a bed looked more welcome as Harry finally allowed himself to relax and let his tiredness wash over him. Voldemort could not reach him here. He was safe, he could sleep.

"'Night, Harry" he heard Ron mumble sleepily. He gave a satisfied grunt in reply before turning over and falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.


Harry squinted to keep his eyes shut against the wintry sun streaming in through the windows. He heard Ron mutter something indistinguishable from the next bed, and the sound of a very irate person getting up to draw the curtains more tightly.

"Whatimesit?" Harry asked sleepily. Ron merely grunted in reply. Harry managed to open one eye wide enough to peer at his watch, and felt a strange pride as he found he had slept right through the night without a single dream.

"I don' WANNA do 'ny more 'velopes." Ron, it seemed, hadn't been so lucky.

Now that Harry was awake he knew he couldn't return to his blissful sleep, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He tried to quietly exit the room, but tripping over the edge of Ron's duvet, he ended up sprawled across the end of Ron's bed.

"What? What is it?" the half asleep boy exclaimed sitting up sharply.

Harry looked up at him sheepishly. "I just tripped. Go back to sleep."

But Ron shook his head a if clearing away the last images of his dream, and then pushed Harry off the bed.

"I might as well get up now. You lump." Harry left Ron to get dressed and made his way down the stairs to breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was stirring a huge pot of porridge, and Harry sniffed appreciatively at the savoury smell.

"Ah Harry dear. Sit down, and chose what you want on your porridge. It's chilly this morning, you'll need a good meal inside you." she said, not turning her back on the stove. Ron stumbled downstairs as Harry was examining Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Syrup ('A different flavour with every mouthful!'). He decided against it.

"Letter for you." Ron yawned as he passed a thick, pale gold parchment across to Harry. He opened it with the handle of his spoon.

Mr. Potter,

Do not read this out loud if you value the Weasley's lives.

Our time together draws ever closer. A matter of seconds in fact.

Don't let go of the letter.

Once again it was signed with a tiny, animated Dark Mark. But Harry barely had time to register this before he felt a familiar tug from behind his navel. He started to panic. How could he have been so stupid? How had this got past him? A rushing sound filled his ears…

Ron and Mrs. Weasley watched in shock as Harry vanished before their eyes.


A/N: I'm so sorry for taking so long with this excuse for a chapter. I know what has to happen next, but this particular chapter gave me a lot of difficulties and writer's block (although i did manage to complete The Darkest Riddle, which is quite possibly the favorite out of my stories.) Thank you for being so patient!

Just think of me like J.K...although i could never hope to be as great as her.

Thank You's go to:

Lottie: Have now continued, and hopefully wont have any gaps that long again!

Dr Rubadinghy: hehe thanks my dear

Lady Apolla: Don't hit me! This is possibly my shortest chapter by far, but will get much better

Fippets: Thanks darlin'. Also me and Danni have a proposition for you...

HoshiHikari: Wait and see...it may be pivotal to the story! or maybe not...

Sliverspecter: Well done in the competition! And keep leaving gorgeous reviews like that one, I love to feel loved:)

Circe La Fay:I'm actually a woman. and taller than you. hehehe

Taurus 07: What has happened to your stories! You're as bad as i am...

Virginia Riddle-Malfoy: Firstly i must thank you for your incredible inspiration for The Darkest Riddle, hopefully a sequal will follow soon. And i want Voldemort to have a hideout somewhere different, i.e. not his house (too obvious) and not Romainia. Or Denmark. Or...Oh I have it! HAHA!