Harry stumbled slightly as he tried to keep up with Dumbledore's quick pace down the hallway. The older man stopped at a room at the end of the hall and waited for Harry to join him before he entered. Dumbledore proceeded to join Daniel and Bill at the head of the large conference table. Harry took a seat between George and Charlie Weasley.
"How's Hermione and your mum?" he questioned George.
A look of mingled grief, relief, and fear flashed across his freckled face, "Hermione is stable, she woke up for a while and saw Ron and the kids but she is sleeping again. Mum," he stopped to gain control of his emotions, "mum hasn't woken up yet, Katie and Dad are with her. They said there nothing we can do but wait."
Harry did not know what to say so he gazed around the room instead. He noticed Julius had joined the group at the head of the table and was scribbling something on a piece of parchment while the other three stared intently at what he was putting on the paper.
Several more people entered the room and either found seats around the table or spots to lean against the wall. Harry was relieved when he saw Remus take a seat near the door, he was a bit pale but other than that seemed to have been healed. Tonks sat next to him and kept giving her husband nervous glances.
After a few more minutes, Dumbledore addressed those gathered in the room, "Julius has given us some information regarding where Lucius may have taken Ginny and the children. However before we begin a rescue mission we need to find out all we can as quickly as possible. I do not want anyone going into anything unprepared. I think we all agree that one death is enough tonight."
His last statement caused Harry to feel a pang in his chest. Bob had been his closest friend besides Lori during the ten years he had been in the States. Harry realized that he was the only person who had befriended him without thinking of his as 'the boy who lived." Even Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had had preconceived ideas about him when they met. But not Bob. Harry dropped his head onto the table as he realized that he would never see his friend again. He thought to himself that no one else could understand what he was going through.
When he sat up he was surprised to see Ron standing silently in the doorway. Harry saw that the group at the front of the room was once again speaking to each other in low tones so he rose from his chair. He made his way to Ron and gently pulled him to the hallway. Ron leaned against the wall and pushed his hands through his hair.
"How is she?" Harry gently inquired.
Ron sighed and looked down the hall, "The Healers say that Hermione is going to be okay." He paused and Harry knew there was something more. Ron confirmed that thought when he looked at Harry fearfully, "But she's pregnant and they don't know if the baby will survive."
"Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry," Harry said helplessly. "I didn't know she was pregnant."
Ron slid down the wall and sat with his head resting against the wall, "Neither did I. I don't even think she knew."
Harry joined his friend on the floor and silently pulled him into a comforting hug. For several minutes the two sat silently on the cold hospital floor. Ron was the first to stand up, he brushed the tears from his cheeks as he asked Harry, "Do you know anything else about Ginny and the kids?"
Harry miserably shook his head as he pushed himself to his feet.
George came hurrying out the door that Harry had just exited. Harry started to ask him what was wrong when he realized whom George was hurrying to. At the other end of the corridor, Fred and Lori came rushing around the corner.
Fred met his twin in the middle of the hall, "What's going on George? We were walking on the beach when I felt something was wrong where you were."
George started to explain to a horrified Fred and Lori what had occurred. Ron and Harry reentered the conference room and discovered that a plan had been made. Julius had informed everyone of an island that his and Lucius's family owned that was not too far from where they were. It had been in disuse since their childhood and Julius thought Lucius would assume that he had forgotten about it. The island was unplottable and only someone who already knew its whereabouts would be able to find it.
Harry hurried to join those who were gathered in the far corner of the room and would be embarking on the mission. Ron hovered uncertainly in the doorway. His emotions played across his expressive face as he struggled with a desire to aid in rescuing his sister, niece, and nephew, and wanting to be near Hermione in her time of need.
Katie entered the room and helped Ron make his decision when she said, "Ron, Hermione says that you need to go with Harry so you can keep each other safe." She looked at Harry to include him in the rest of her statement, "And if anything happens to one of you, she will personally kill the other."
Harry gulped, "Ron, your wife scares me," he laughed.
Ron grinned as he joined the group, "That's why I love her."
Julius quickly told everyone where they were headed and the group apparated as one. They appeared on a rocky beach at the bottom of a massive cliff. The group silently followed Julius up a steep pathway that led to an imposing stone house. He halted them at the top of the path to instruct everyone as to their assignments. He made a striking figure as the wind whipped his dark robes around his tall frame. Harry briefly thought to himself that he was glad Julius was on their side, he did not appear to be someone Harry would want to fight.
Julius motioned for Harry and Ron to join him and a few others. They made their way to the front doors. The huge door creaked ominously as Julius pushed it open.
1The group split after they entered the grand atrium of the home. Julius led Harry, Ron, and Fred to a door on the right of the entrance. As they silently went through the door and down the stairs, Harry looked up and watched the rest of their group, Remus, Charlie, Bill, and Tonks climb the palatial main staircase. With them they carried the map of the estate that Julius had drawn up for them before they had left. Several other groups of their cohorts were stationed around the outside perimeter of the home.
Harry was at the rear of the group descending the wooden stairs to the damp cellar. Julius had informed them of a series of tunnels that ran under that house. He had reason to believe that Lucius would imprison his hostages there.
The group was silent as they hurried through the winding, underground corridors. Despite their quick pace, the men carefully kept an eye out for any sign of Ginny and the kids or Lucius and any of his Death Eaters. At the end of the path, they had to decide between going right or left. Julius indicated that he and Fred would take the right and Harry and Ron were to go to the left.
Harry quickened his pace when he heard a noise that sounded like a whimper coming from farther down the hall. Ron was close on his heels as the two men began to sprint. The whimpers increased in volume as they stopped in front of a wooden door. Ron reached out a hand to open it but found it locked. He pulled out his wand and muttered a quick unlocking spell. The spell did not work. Ron looked at Harry with frustration. Harry decided to forgo magic and instead kicked the door open.
Ron stared at him open mouthed, "How did you learn how to do that?"
Harry shrugged, "I spent ten years working as a police officer. It was a skill that came in handy every once in a while."
Ron continued to look at him with awe, "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
"Don't worry, Hermione will protect you."
Another whimper got their attention. They scanned the dark room with their eyes. Ron was the first to spot Jamie huddled in the far corner.
"Jamie!" he cried as he dashed to his niece.
Harry saw his daughter and rushed ahead of Ron. He knelt before Jamie and embraced her. Her whimpers turned to sobs that caused her slender body to shake when his strong arms enveloped her. She was too hysterical to tell him what had happened so he gently picked her up and followed Ron out the door. When they reached the place where the hallways intersected, they met up with Fred who was running full speed toward them.
"Harry, Ron," he gasped as he bent over and held his side. "Quick, we found Ginny, she's alive but hurt, we need to get her out of here."
Harry handed Jamie to Ron and tore down the hallway in the direction that Fred had just come from. He skidded to a halt when he came to where Julius was gently cradling Ginny. It was with relief that he saw her look at him and smile weakly.
"Harry," she hoarsely whispered.
He walked to them and Julius carefully transferred her wounded body to Harry.
"Oh, Ginny," Harry carefully brushed her hair off of her face.
"Jamie? Jason?" she struggled to say.
"Jamie's okay. She's with Ron and Fred."
She tried to sit up, "Jason?" she looked up at Harry with fearful tears swimming in her deep eyes.
"Shh, calm down," he tried to reassure her. "We're going to find him but first we need to get you help."
Fred quietly entered the room from behind Harry, "Ron took Jamie back to the hospital to have her checked out." He knelt down beside his sister, "Come on, Gin. Let's get you taken care of." He gently reached for her and stood up with her in his arms. His face paled slightly when she softly groaned with pain. Since it was not possible to apparate in or out of the house, he carefully carried her out the door to head back to the beach in order to transport her to the medical center.
Once they had left, Harry and Julius headed back up the stairs to continue the search for Jason. They heard shouts coming from up the main staircase and sprinted up the stairs. When they reached the room where the battle was raging, Harry was terrified to see Lucius Malfoy holding Jason in front of him. The blond man was using the young boy as a human shield. Jason was screaming and attempting to kick Lucius in the groin. Remus, Charlie, Bill, and Tonks were all battling at least three Death Eaters apiece.
"Lucius, let the boy go. I don't know what crazy game your playing but it's over and you lose," Julius calmly spoke as he entered the room.
"Oh, really. It appears I am winning," he smirked as Remus was taken down by several curses. Harry watched with horror as Remus collapsed and his head hit the wood floor with a sickening thud.
Harry swiftly shot out a few curses and was able to subdue two of the Death Eaters who had attacked Remus. A brief look of fear crossed Lucius's face as the doorway filled with the others who had joined in the rescue mission. With the reinforcements it did not take long to outfight the Death Eaters. Jason finally connected with his foot and a surprised Lucius let go of him. The young boy ran to his father as Julius approached his brother.
The room became deathly silent as everyone waited for the confrontation. The two brothers stared at each other for a moment before Lucius raised his wand, "AVAD…"
He was not able to finish the curse because someone else was quicker than he was. The deadly green curse flew through the air, a split second before it hit Malfoy in the chest, a cloud of smoke erupted around him. When the smoke cleared, his body was gone. Everyone turned to see who had sent the curse. Several gasps were heard when they saw who was standing in the doorway. His hair was longer and shaggier than any had ever seen it but it was clear who it was.