Chapter 3 – Plans and Preparations

The sun rose high over The Burrow, bringing with it a new day of discoveries, possibilities and revelations. It was a week now until the wedding of Bill Weasley to Fleur Delacour, and tensions were running high. Mrs Weasley could frequently be seen running from one end of the garden to the other with armfuls of fabric, or else she was dusting the china for the tenth time that day. Everything was going to go to plan even if it was the last thing she did. With talk of Voldemort rife and the increasing worry surrounding Hogwarts' future it was about time everyone let go and enjoyed themselves – Mrs Weasley was intent on making this an event everyone would remember.

Harry sat on Ron's bed gazing out across the garden and into the hazy morning beyond. It was warm for this time of day, and the flowers were just beginning to peek out from behind their nighttime coverings. A gnome jumped with fright as Crookshanks approached it, eventually giving chase through the rockery and out into the open fields. This was followed by a knock on the door. Harry knew that this would be Hermione. She had arranged to talk to them early when there was less chance of being overheard by Ron's large family. Harry opened the door letting Hermione tumble through, her arms full of maps, photos and documents relating to their mission. Many of them flew to the floor as she struggled to regain her balance. Upon hearing the sound Ron ran into the room, almost knocking the bushy-haired girl over.

"What was that?" he asked, spraying a mouthful of toothpaste into his path.

"Honestly Ron!" exclaimed Hermione. "I just dropped a few things."

"Just being careful!" he sulked before heading back to the bathroom. Hermione gazed after him.

"That was a bit harsh wasn't it?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders knowing full well that anything he said in this sort of situation would not help. Ron and Hermione were like that. No matter what anyone said, they would always be them – and usually they thought they were right. At the end of last term it had seemed they might have finally given in to their feelings for each other, but so far this summer nothing had been said.

"Right, so we will take the pensieve, the Horcruxes we already have…." All three's eyes moved briefly towards the ink stained diary on the bed in front of them "….the maps, the supplies and Pigwidgeon. Harry I really am sorry we can't take Hedwig."

"Don't worry 'Mione." As Hermione rattled off the list of items they would need for their journey, Harry couldn't help but feel sad that he would have to leave so much behind him. With every day that passed he became more and more attached to his current life. He felt safe here at The Burrow. He was surrounded by his friends, people he regarded as parents, he was in contact with Order members daily and Ginny was there. He didn't want to leave. But he knew that soon he would have to. Perhaps forever.

Lord Voldemort smirked into the distance. A fog was rolling in towards the cave, as the sea lapped gently at the shore. There was no wind tonight – the storm had yet to come. So they knew about the Horcruxes. That mattered little. In fact it was almost a good thing: it would be bait. Perhaps he gave the children less credit than they deserved. They had after all defeated him before. But that was when they had Dumbledore. Without Dumbledore they were nothing – just two boys and a girl, all rather naïve.

Voldemort was still unsure why Snape had stepped in so late in the mission and taken over from Malfoy. He had yet to hear the answers from either of them, but he was at least glad that the job was done. There will be no punishment yet he mused. I still have use for them both. It was at this moment that a figure entered the cave, his hand dripping with blood from the 'clever' entry charm. Voldemort gazed down at him, slightly startled that this person was not cowering like so many others. He will cower soon.

"I have retrieved the information requested your Lord."

"Very good" hissed Voldemort, taking a jar and a roll of parchment from the steely young man. "I trust you went undetected."

The man laughed. "They didn't have a clue."

"Good. It must remain this way." Voldemort unscrewed the jar and the voices of Ron, Harry and Hermione echoed around the cave. Snippets of their conversation reverberated off the walls. "To Godric's Hollow……..Apparation test………the pensieve…." This was more than Voldemort could have wished for at this stage. He now had all the information he needed to begin his attack. As soon as they were away from that silly little house he would strike. Hitting everyone the Potter boy loved the most in one fell swoop would be a glory, and he tingled with excitement just thinking of it. The power would be his, and Harry would soon come to see that too. He sensed however, some hesitation in his companion, something he did not allow from any of his followers.

"No personal involvement remember!" he commanded. "You must not have any personal feelings towards this mission or I will kill you myself. You've done well, just don't let yourself down at the last hurdle."

"No master. I will not." Replied the arrogant voice. But Voldemort wasn't convinced.

There was a knock on the bedroom door and with a flick of her wand Hermione swept everything up into a small package and pushed it under the bed. It was Ginny and she had a sombre look on her face.

"Ron, I think you'd better come downstairs now." As she said this the sound of raised voices could be heard floating upwards. A full-blown argument was apparently underway downstairs.

"What is it?" asked Ron moving to the door.

"It's Percy. He's here."

A/N Sorry this is another short chapter and thanks to all my reviewers! I'll try and update soon.