A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed
A/N: This chapter takes place at the same time as the second chapter, so there's no confusion
A/N: I think this story is going to go a little differently than the way I did my summary, well at least the rescue part, because I'm doing this one chapter at a time, but it will still be a Harry/James story.
Well here's the next chap, enjoy.
"Ron, no more." Hermione giggled.
"Just once, and then I'll never ask you again. At least not for a week." Ron said playfully.
"No, Ron I can't take anymore. Maybe tomorrow."
"Fine." Ron said grumpily.
Hermione had only been at the Burrow for three days, and already her and Ron's relationship were developing much faster than both of them could expect. It was easier because they were usually left alone, until meal times, except for the odd times when Ginny would intrude out of boredom.
From outside of Ron's room, a springing noise could be heard as if someone was getting off of his bed.
Ginny who had been listening to this conversation outside of the closed door, opened it in disgust, eyes closed.
"Mum says dinner's ready."
"Ginny, why are your eyes closed?" Ron asked confused.
"Just didn't want to see anything."
"See what?" now it was Hermione's turn to look confused.
Ginny opened her eyes and to her surprise found Ron's wizard chess set sprawled out along the bed. The broken pieces were placed along the sides of the board.
"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed. "Well, anyways…"
"We know Ginny, dinner's ready." Ron explained impatiently. "Now if you don't mind get out."
Just at that moment Hedwig had flown into Ron's room, landed on the bed, dropped Harry's letter, and flew off out the window again.
"That's weird." Hermione exclaimed. "Hedwig never leaves that quickly."
"What about my letter, I'm also his best friend, why you and not me." Ron whined as he surveyed Hermione's letter, in jealousy.
Hermione started tearing open the envelope, that had Ron's address printed in neat scrawl.
"Ron, stop acting like a three year old." Ginny said sitting down on the bed joining the pair.
She was also curious as to what Harry had to say. After last year and the guys that she went out with, made her change her mind about Harry. Her crush was back in full swing. Ginny blushed just at the thought of Harry. This year she vowed to let him know.
While Ginny was lost in her thoughts Hermione scanned her letter from Harry and dropped it in surprise. "Ron, read the last sentence Harry wrote."
The sound of Hermione's worried voice brought Ginny back to the real world, and she just sat and listened for whatever would happen next.
"Yea so?" Ron gave Hermione a puzzled look.
"You know you could be so dense at times." Hermione admonished him.
"Mione what's wrong?"
"Harry's in trouble Ronald, that's what's wrong. He's written us, well me, actually, in code, asking for help."
"Did he say what's wrong? Could be his scar." Ron said hopefully.
"It's more than that, if it was just his scar he would have simply written it down, instead of having to hide his problem. He was probably being watched by his uncle, or possibly a death eater when he wrote this." Hermione started to chew her bottom lip nervously.
"We've got to go help him." Determined to help his friend Ron jumped off the bed ready to sprint out the door.
Hermione grabbed Ron by the arm, to stop him from doing anything stupid like she knew he was going to.
"How do you plan to get to Surrey, by broom?" She asked him sardonically.
"Fred and George." Ron stated simply.
"Are you mad? Yes, yes you are." She answered her own question.
"And why not? We did it in second year."
"Yes and look how much trouble you three got into then. I even heard someone saying, that you're mum even threatened to put bars on your window Ronald Weasley."
"That was all a misunderstanding, and whoever told you that, will be sorry in the morning." Ron glared at his sister.
Ginny hadn't heard the rest of the argument, by this time she had started to pale. She couldn't take anymore; their bickering was driving her insane. She knew if she didn't stop it now, then they would be at it all night. And in the end it would be pointless.
"Quiet the both of you, arguing back and forth isn't going to help Harry." Ginny piped up.
Ron and Hermione looked at Ginny in surprise.
"I agree with Ron." She told them flatly.
"Great you both have gone mad." Hermione cried. "WE NEED TO TELL SOMEONE." She seethed, as she jumped off the bed and looked out the window, backs turned to the two siblings.
"No, listen Hermione, for being the brightest witch of your age, your not doing a good job of it now. We can't tell anyone. Anyone we tell will probably think that Harry is exaggerating. That's probably what he thought to, because it seems like you're the only one he wrote this to."
"How do you know that?" Hermione faced back to the younger girl, clearly trying to stay calm at the insult that was just handed to her.
"Hermione let me finish, don't interrupt me, please." Ginny's face was turning the same colour as her flaming red hair.
"Sorry." Hermione mumbled, face going red, clearly embarrassed by being yelled at by someone younger then her.
"First off, he probably only told you because if he had told one of the order members he wouldn't have asked you for the help. Now would he? Not when he's asked overage wizards, who's clearly more capable of helping him then you are. Secondly, Harry has written soo many times about his scar and how it hurts, that the adults won't take him seriously, and they'd just end up telling us that he has to stay at his aunt's and uncle's for the blood protection to work, and in the end they'd tell us not to worry, and mind our own business."
"So what are we going to do?" Hermione for once was lost, and she looked at the younger girl for help.
"I still say Ron's right in this matter. Fred and George will be able to help us. They are the only overage wizards we can trust right now. I say we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. They have invisibility cloaks and everything that we would need to help Harry."
"Yes, but that still doesn't explain how we're still going to get to Surrey." Hermione wailed.
Ginny glanced at Ron; it looked to Hermione like they were using telepathy to read each other's mind.
Ginny nodded her head. "That is bloody brilliant, who knew you had it in you." A deeper appreciation for her older brother shone across her face.
"What?" Hermione said clearly even more confused, and on the verge of tears thinking of Harry, and what was happening to him at this moment.
"Don't you remember, the spell Mad – Eye, did on Harry, to take him to Grimmauld place last summer."
"The disillusionment charm." Hermione's eyes grew wide. She slowly pondered this idea. "That is bloody brilliant. We can't do it, but Fred and George will be able to. You're a genius Ron." And she gave a soft squeal and enveloped the blushing boy in her arms
"I'm hungry." Ron said breaking free of the bear tight hug Hermione had him in. To prove his point his stomach gave an enormous rumble. They all laughed at this.
"Ron, you're always hungry." Exclaimed the two girls, through their laughter.
Feeling better now that they had a plan, Ron descended down the stairs to the kitchen, with the two girls following behind.
The dinner at the Weasley's that evening was a quite affair. It consisted of Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley was doing some extra work for the order, and the twin's appearance was far from few, since they opened up their joke shop, they were extremely busy.
They all sat quietly around the table, not one had anything to say, all three teenagers lost in their own thoughts, thoughts about Harry, and the rescue plan.
Molly Weasley looked curiously around the table. She was not used to this from any of them. Meal times at the Burrow were usually boisterous. Molly knew these children were not acting normally. She had to know what was happening.
"All right you three, what's going on?" Molly asked them suspiciously.
"What do you mean, mum?" Ginny picked up another drumstick and began chewing on it innocently.
"Your behaviours tonight, that's what I mean."
"OOH, that." Ginny said, putting down the bone, waving her mum's comment aside "I guess we're just thinking about tomorrow."
Ron now gave his sister a look of daggers, he was ready to tell her off, but before he could Ginny slightly cocked her head to one side, telling him to back off. This went unnoticed by Mrs. Weasley since she was clearing the table getting it ready for dessert.
"What's happening tomorrow?" She cast her child a wary glance, almost in an accusatory way.
"We've decided to head off to Diagon Alley to visit Fred and George. I just can't wait to see what new jokes they've invented, it's almost three months since I've last seen them."
The other two teens let out deep silent breaths by Ginny's save.
"If you three are going maybe I'll join you, there are things that I need to get, and I haven't seen Fred and George in awhile either."
Ron and Hermione held their breaths for a second time that night in less then five minutes, if Mrs. Weasley went with them then there would be no hope of helping Harry that day. And they had to help him because none of them knew what kind of trouble he was actually in.
Ginny came to the rescue, "MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM." She cried in the whiniest voice that she could muster. "We don't need an escort. We can go by ourselves. We ARE NOT BABIES ANYMORE!"
Mrs. Weasley cringed; listening to her daughter's whining was like listening to fingernails scraping against a blackboard.
"Fine. Just stop your whining. And you must promise me one thing, that you won't go wandering off without Fred or George. It's very dangerous these days, since Voldemort's return."
"We promise." All three said in unison.
Though Fred and George were famous for being pranksters, they could also be very malicious and overprotective of their younger siblings. They inherited that from Mrs. Weasley's side of the family. Mrs. Weasley felt content knowing that the twins would keep them safe.
They ate dessert, and trudged up the stairs sleepily. It was only 9:30, but they had no idea what the next day would bring them, and they wanted to be well rested.
They climbed into their respective beds, Ron and Ginny falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.
Hermione, the last one to fall asleep, said a silent prayer to keep them safe, and for Harry to be ok. She soon fell into a deep sleep.
The stray rooster woke the slumbering teens from their sleep. They opened their eyes, to see the welcoming of the rising sun's rays. They didn't take long to enjoy the view, coming from the window. Today was an important day, and they had no time to daydream.
They got up, showered, dressed, and quickly ate breakfast.
Within two hours they found themselves staring into the flames of the fireplace, ready to be taken to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." Ginny talked very clearly and threw the floo powder into the fire. Instantly the fire turned a light shade of green. She stepped into the fire gingerly, and was swept away.
Next was Hermione's turn, and soon she too found herself drifting down the fireplace.
"Omphf." She squealed as she hit the ground.
"So sorry Hermione, we were going to put down carpet, but you came tumbling in a second too early." Quipped Fred who standing behind Ginny.
"Very funny." She smirked.
"Where's little ickle Ronniekins. I thought he was right behind you."
That was George.
"He was. I hope nothing happened to him." Her smile fading and worry lines were beginning to etch across her forehead.
"Don't worry you're boyfriend will be fine. You'll be in each other's arms soon enough. Don't you worry your little pretty bushy hair off."
"Fred." Ginny admonished. "Now's not the time."
Having just been scolded by his younger sister made Fred blush a deep dark red.
"Thanks." Hermione said gratefully, also blushing rather fiercely.
In that second another person came stumbling out of the fireplace, falling flat on his face.
Ginny just shook her head and giggled. "Well, speak of the devil."
"What?" Ron asked in bewilderment, as he pulled himself off from the floor, and started brushing the soot of off his robe.
"What took you so long?" Hermione scolded.
"Aww, did little Ronniekins get lost in the grates."
"Shut up, Fred." Ron glared.
"Yea leave him alone, the little baby's sensitive, don't you know."
"Shut up, George." Hermione repeated Ron.
"Shut up all of you." Ginny snapped at them. "We have more important things here to deal with. And for once you two," She said pointing at the twins. "Have to stop acting so childish. For once in your lives try to act mature." Ginny chided them.
Eight eyes were staring at Ginny now. Mouths opened agape. Never had anyone of those people ever heard or seen Ginny so angry, than she had been that moment ago, apart from for the exception from last night. Last night she also had outdone herself.
"Sorry." They all mumbled in unison.
"That's better." She declared in almost a triumphant sort of way.
"So…" Said Fred, quietly, not wanting to get his sister going again. "What is this about? I mean we're just sitting here enjoying our breakfast, when you three come popping up out of our fireplace."
"It's Harry." Hermione said quietly, and without explaining thrusted the letter into Fred's hand.
Fred glanced at the letter, and after reading comprehension was written all over his face. "What are we going to do?" He sat down on at the kitchen table, going pale.
The rest of the occupants of the apartment followed his lead.
"Do about what?" George now said more seriously.
With that Fred gave George the letter.
"Oh my." George exclaimed. "Well let's not all panic. We don't know what's going on yet. Maybe it's just his scar."
"That's what we thought to," Hermione said. "But he could've plainly told us that. There's something else wrong, something more serious, otherwise he wouldn't have had to disguise it."
"Alright, we first need to think of what we're going to do. If Harry is in fact in trouble, then we have to be very careful. You know how the muggle's are if they see us they would probably call the proper authority's." Fred said.
"You mean police officers." Hermione said gently.
"Ya, them."
"We already have a plan, but what we have we can't do because we would have to do magic. That's where you two are needed, or at least one of you." Hermione spoke.
"So what's the plan?" Fred asked.
Hermione spent 20 minutes explaining their plan in-depth. Ginny helped fill in the blanks if she forgot any. Ron just sat and watched, not saying anything. The others took this as a sign of apprehension, and they left him alone.
Finally George was the first one to give his opinion on the whole matter. "It's a good idea, but it'll just take too long." He shook his head sadly.
"Yea, but that's why we came here early, so it'll give us enough time to fly to Surrey."
"Hermione, listen, Harry could be in real trouble, we don't know, but right now we have to think of the worst case scenario's. Flying to Surrey could take at least 2 good solid hours, and who knows what could possibly happen to Harry in that time."
"But…" Hermione started
"No listen Hermione," At this all three of the younger teens started laughing. George just sounded exactly like Ginny did last night when Hermione tried to interrupt.
"It will be easier if Fred and I go. We could apparate to Surrey, in no time flat. We won't make a move until nighttime, but this way we'll be there now, and if we see Harry in any further trouble we can help him."
"We all want to go to." Ginny wailed. Ron and Hermione nodded their agreement. They looked ready to pound George into mincemeat, at his ludicrous suggestion. If they didn't go it would be like they were abandoning Harry.
Angry himself George spoke rather abrasively, "Look we don't know what's going on, it could be his aunt and uncle, or it could be death eaters, OR it could even be Voldemort himself, or you all could be wrong and in the end it could just be his scar. But still we don't know what's going on, and if it is death eaters, and Voldemort, I'm not going to let you guys get hurt."
"George it wouldn't be Voldemort, Harry has the blood protection ward up against his aunt and uncle's house."
"Yes, Hermione he does, but it might not work anymore, who knows, maybe Voldemort finally found away to break the wards."
"Fred." Hermione pleaded, with the other twin.
Fred just looked at her sadly and replied to her plea. "I'm sorry, but I agree one hundred percent with George. We can't risk you all getting hurt. We'll go to Privet Drive, and then once we help Harry, we'll inform you immediately."
"I'm going to go at least." Ron finally spoke up for the first time since the meeting had started.
"Didn't you hear us Ronald, not of you will go with us, and that's final. If you say one more thing about this, we will go straight to mum and dad. Understand?"
"Yes, Fred." Ron mumbled, the two girls nodded.
"Good, now that we've spent wasted time arguing, we'll be going to get Harry, you three stay here, you can mind the store for us today."
"Isn't there a time when you two don't have money on your minds." Hermione laughed.
"Nope" Fred and George said in unison.
They all had to laugh at this. It wasn't that funny, but it was a good relief from the stress and worry that each one was feeling.
The three teenagers opened Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, while the two adults got their cloaks on, grabbed anything they thought would come in handy, for any sort of predicament that Harry could be in, and grabbed two sets of invisibility cloaks, newly remodelled so that it blocked out sound and scent of the person wearing it. And then they both snapped their fingers and apparated away to Privet Drive.
Privet Drive looked exactly the same as the twins had seen it the first night they went to rescue Harry in their fourth year. The only difference was that it was mid afternoon. The street was deserted; the only footsteps that could be heard were coming from them.
They stepped into the dark alleyway that connected Privet Drive to Magnolia Crescent. They changed from their regular travelling cloaks to their invisibility cloaks.
They made their way to the house marked number 4. At first it seemed like nobody was home, but then through the heavily draped window, they saw the silhouette of the large pig like man, Harry's uncle.
At seeing Harry's uncle, Fred and George at least were partially able to confirm that it wasn't death eaters, or Voldemort. They still weren't a hundred percent sure, because they could have portkeyed Harry away. But still the three day letter promises were made directly to the Dursley's so their chances of finding Harry at Privet Drive was very optimistic.
They reached the door and George murmured, "Alohamora." The door swung open, they ran inside the abysmally clean house, and up the stairs landing, when they heard Vernon come to examine the front entrance.
They planned to stay up on the landing until night. It was the best place to keep on eye on things. The twins had a full frontal view of the kitchen and the hallway, as well as the upstairs bedrooms. They would be able to know at all times what Vernon Dursley was up to.
"That's odd." Vernon muttered. "There's not even a strong wind. Oh well must've forgot to close it properly, when I came home."
"Yea, odd is right." Fred shouted loudly. "Oh wait it couldn't be wizards who entered your house, now could it. You Big OAF."
Fred felt something jab him in his ribs. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scream." He apologized to George.
They both were wearing walkie – talkies, a great idea given by Hermione, since the invisibility cloaks blocked out sound, and the twins needed to stay in contact with one another, it was a brilliant idea, simple, but still brilliant.
They sat silent waiting for day to turn to night, when darkness fell, the twins went into full rescue mode.
"Should we make our move now?" George asked Fred questioningly.
"Yea, lets go. Harry's room was the third room on the right."
They made their way towards Harry's room. Anticipation and dread filled them. They had no clue what to expect when they entered, and they were preparing themselves for the worst.
The reached Harry's room within twenty seconds, seeing that the door was not locked, which surprised them both, Fred grabbed hold of the handle, and gently opened the door.
The door made a loud squeak as it was being opened, and the owner of the house had audibly heard it.
"Bloody Hell!" George cried. "GO IN! HE'S COMING."
Fred and George both squeezed themselves into Harry's too small bedroom and scrunched themselves into a corner.
Vernon's huge body shook the house as he climbed the stairs. At the top of the landing he saw that Harry's door to his bedroom was ajar.
Vernon stood in the doorway, his wide frame taking up the whole area. "Who's there?" He asked dangerously. "I demand you show yourselves. Or are you just cowards?" He asked hoping to get arise out of the intruders, so that they would show themselves.
Obvious to Vernon there was nobody in the house, for he hadn't heard any footsteps, and hadn't seen any sign of life go up the stairs as he was examining the entrance door, and of course that was hours a go, if there was an intruder he would be gone.
Then it dawned on him. "Potter it had to be. True he didn't have his wand anymore, but that never stopped him from doing peculiar things when he was younger, like the time he was found on the school's rooftop, or the vanishing glass at the zoo. It was him." Vernon thought to himself.
The loud pounding of Vernon's retreating footsteps could probably be heard from Surrey to Hogsmeade, they were soo loud.
The twins followed Vernon to the front foyer. They saw him enter the cupboard and close the door behind him. They heard two muffled voices coming from inside, one was defiantly coming from Vernon and the other was from Harry, even though his voice sounded foreign to them. Harry's voice was coming out hollow and raw.
They felt a cold shudder run down their spines as what happened next terrified them. A loud long yowl of pain ripped through the mostly silent house.
Fred and George could hear Harry crying and pleading with his uncle.
"It wasn't me, I swear, Uncle Vernon. I've been here the whole time."
"You lie, boy." The twins heard Harry's uncle respond.
Then there was more silent, the twins watched the closed door, picturing what was going on inside the cupboard. They wanted to enter, and blast Harry's uncle to smithereens, but they knew they would be in trouble by the whole order if they allowed themselves to do it, so they didn't. It was better to not get directly involved with the muggle. They would leave punishment for the older adult's in the order to see to it. The twins knew that the Dursley man would get his "just dessert".
Fred and George figured the safest bet was to collect Harry after his uncle left the room. They waited and waited. Then the sound of a whip hitting flesh echoed through the house. They heard another loud wail, and then silence once more.
The twins saw Vernon Dursley leave the cupboard, and lock the door.
Unbeknownst to him he was staring directly at two seething identical redheads; a dark sinister smile covered Vernon's face from ear to ear.