Disclaimer:

The Characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made off this site, and is for entertainment purposes only.

This chapter has been revised as of July, 2005 and contains new content. It has also been modified from the original NC-17 version is located at Checkmated and is rated R.

Author's Notes:

This is an Alternate Universe Story in the Harry Potter Series in that it branches off from the series before the final Chapter of The Order of Phoenix.

Of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter Twelve

Ginny felt as if she was underwater, perceiving events through a heavy, invisible barrier. Sitting in a kitchen chair at The Burrow, with her knees to her chest and her feet on the seat of the chair, Ginny wondered if this is what people meant by 'in shock.' She pulled the quilt around her shoulders so it completely cloaked her small frame. If she curled up tight enough would she just disappear? Could anyone really see her anyway?

The first golden rays of dawn were beginning to filtering in. Several hours had passed since her father had revived her and Ginny had been led to the kitchen where she watched as various members of the Order Apparated and Disapparated, trying to figure out what had happened, trying to do damage control, trying to find Ron.

Ron. It just didn't seem possible that he wasn't there. He could be with Voldemort at that very moment, unconscious, hurt…being tortured. It just wasn't real. It couldn't be.

Her eyes were drawn to their grandfather clock for what must have been the hundredth time. Ginny took comfort in the fact that Ron's hand had remained merely on 'lost' and hadn't progressed to 'mortal peril.' Though, that alone was disconcerting. What did that mean, 'lost'? What did it take to be in 'mortal peril'? If not being kidnapped by Death Eaters, then what? What the hell was that bloody clock thinking?

Mrs. Weasley was bustling about the kitchen at a dizzying pace. Every few minutes she would slam something down, occasionally breaking something. Alicia, George's girlfriend, followed behind her at a careful distance, quietly cleaning up the messes. No one had said anything when she showed up with George in the middle of the night after the Order's distress call was sent out.

George was standing with his father, discussing rumors about the whereabouts of Voldemort and various Death Eaters, bent over a map that Kingsley had brought before Apparating back to the Ministry to dig for more information.

"Ginny? Would you like something to drink?" Alicia asked kindly. The girl shook her head at a strangely slow pace, not looking up. Drinking would take far too much effort.

Crack. Tonks appeared in the middle of the kitchen sporting ear-length hair in an interesting greenish blue color. Ginny had the vague thought that it looked good on the young Auror even as it occurred to her how frighteningly easy it was to Apparate and Disapparate from The Burrow. They were never safe here. Why had they been holed away here all summer if it wasn't even safe?

Tonks threw herself into a chair, narrowly missing knocking over a pitcher of juice before Alicia could hastily pull it out of the way. Slouching in the chair, she announced, "Well, Harry's still safe with the Dursleys. Moody's standing guard there until we get word from Dumbledore regarding whether we're going to yank him to headquarters or not."

Harry. With extraordinary effort Ginny turned her head towards Tonks and spoke the first words she had uttered in hours. "How was he?"

Tonks looked confused, "Who?"

Who did she think? This was not the time to act daft. Every word Ginny said stole precious energy. "Harry," she managed in a flat emotionless tone.

"He was the same," Tonks responded as if this was the first time she had thought about Harry's emotional well-being. Well, that's all Ginny thought about.

"How did he take the news about Ron?" she probed further, her voice sounding hoarse to her own ears. Must be from the hours of not talking. Ginny swallowed and licked her overly dry lips.

Tonks' eyes narrowed, as she seemed to think over Ginny's question. Why was it so difficult to answer? 'He raged.' 'He yelled.' 'He threw something.' There weren't an overly large number of reactions in Harry's repertoire.

"He uh…" Tonks scratched her head and shared a look with Mr. Weasley. "He took it surprisingly well."

Ginny shook her head, confused. "What do you mean, well?" She was proud that her voice was a bit stronger this time.

"Actually, he didn't react much at all." Tonks swallowed, her face becoming increasingly tense. "He did seem a tad anxious."

A new fear began to break through the fog. Tiny tentacles reaching inside Ginny, making her breathing accelerate bit by bit. "He wasn't angry?" The Harry she knew would have torn the place apart. He would have demanded he be allowed to come to The Burrow at once. Tonks shook her head and about to say more---

Crack. Crack. Fred and Remus Lupin appeared, their drawn and horrified expressions diverting all attention to them. Without preamble, Remus announced rigidly, "Hermione and her parents are gone."

Ginny found she was suddenly having a hard time breathing. What did they say? Hermione? She didn't understand. It was so hard to think, but wasn't there something…Ginny knew something important about Hermione. A loud crash cut through Ginny's haze and her eyes jerked to the smashed platter at her mother's feet. No one moved to clean it.

"The house was in shambles," Fred said, pale and uncharacteristically serious. Anything horrible enough to put that expression on one of the twins' faces was… But there was something else. Something that wasn't connecting. Ginny knew something important. Oh, yeah. "You went to Torquay?" she asked in a small voice.

The group turned to her in confusion. Fred looked at his twin, then back at her with an expression indicating that he believed she may have endured brain damage. "Why would we go to Torquay?"

Ginny felt a rush of relief, which came out as a hysterical giggle. "You went to her house?" They nodded and she smiled. Hermione was fine. They were looking in the wrong place. That was good. Ron would need her here when he got back. He'd be in a right state if…Oh, god.

"Ginny, love, maybe we should bring you back to bed," her father said in a concerned voice, approaching her.

She heard Tonks whisper to Remus, "She's in shock. Maybe we should---"

"You don't understand," Ginny said more forcefully, shrugging away from her father as he tried to wrap an arm around her shoulders. "Hermione's on vacation at Torquay. She's been there for a week. She's not at home."

Instantly, every person's expression changed. Suddenly, they were looking at her seriously. Not as some baby to coddle, but as someone with valuable information. Remus approached her, smiling a bit in relief, before fixing her with his piercing gaze. "Ginny, do you know where they are in Torquay?"

Ginny stared at him for a moment. She was still a bit slow on the uptake, it seemed. Then she slowly nodded. "Yeah…Yeah, I do. It's in her letter." Her eyes traveled over the surface of the kitchen table. "I left it out… It was right there last night. Where did it…?" Feeling a rush of energy, she sprung from the chair and ran her hand over the table in a frantic manner. "It was right here." Oh god. Oh god. She knew she left it here.

Maybe she moved it and didn't remember, maybe… Reminiscent of her mother's movements moments before, Ginny flittered frantically around the room at an escalating pace, opening and closing drawers, her hand flying over the counter tops. Throwing an angry glance at her mother she demanded, "Did you move it? Did you clean and bin it?"

Molly shook her head, her eyes wide and despondent. "I wouldn't bin one of your letters. I---"

"It was here," Ginny cried. If it wasn't here, someone must have taken it, but who…? Oh god. "They must have taken it," she whispered to herself, feeling the tears finally come. The relief she had felt upon realizing Remus and Fred had gone to the wrong place was turning back into terror. "They must have taken it."

One of her brothers came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. It was just in time as her knees buckled and she couldn't catch herself. She would have fallen if it hadn't been for…George, she thought. Not that it really mattered which brother it was. It wasn't Ron. Ginny buried her face in her hands, a sob tearing from her throat.

"Shhh," her brother soothed, pulling her into a chair. It wasn't all together comforting. Seeing George so serious and mature merely emphasized the grave nature of the situation. It was terrifying really. Ginny couldn't handle this. This wasn't really her life. Ron wasn't gone. Death Eaters couldn't have found Hermione. This was just not happening.

"Ginny." Her eyes snapped up at the insistent command to see Remus kneeling in from of her. "Are you sure it was here?"

"Yes," she replied heatedly. Weren't they listening?

"All right." Remus nodded, looking around meaningfully at the other adults in the room, communicating silently. They could say it out loud. Ginny knew what this meant. She wasn't stupid. "Do you remember anything about the cottage?" he asked, once he turned back to her.

Ginny licked her lips, tasting tears. She hated the taste of tears. "Uh... yeah." She had to pull herself together. They needed her to remember. Hermione needed her to. And Ron.

"Hermione is staying at this cottage some old witch owned like 200 years ago. She went on and on about the history, and oh god, the architecture..." Ginny felt like she was going to hyperventilate. "The letter will lead them right to her."

Lupin grabbed her shoulders tightly, almost as if he could physically keep her from falling apart. It wasn't going to work. Wasn't that obvious? "Do you remember the witch's name?"

Name? She did. She knew the name. Crap, what was it? Something really daft. Ginny nodded, biting her lip. "Butter-something…Buttercup…Butterfield…"

"Butterflower," Tonks said with self-assurance, standing, and clutching her wand purposefully. "I know just where it is. We spent plenty of summers in Torquay. I can Apparate there."

"You can't go alone," Remus told her, pulling himself up so he stood over her.

The gesture of paternalism didn't seem to register with Tonks, who merely shook her fluorescent head. "You can't Apparate there unless you've been. It would take too long to---"

"Angelina and I spent time at Torquay earlier this summer. I can at least Apparate to the beach," Fred offered, looking restless and tense, eager jump into the fray. He really wasn't very bright.

Remus looked to Arthur, who took a deep breath and reluctantly nodded. "Go then," Lupin said in clipped tone.

Crack. Crack. They were gone. Just like that. Oh god, Ginny hoped they'd find her in time. And no Death Eaters. Please, no Death Eaters. The family couldn't handle another brother missing. And where were Bill and Charlie. Mum had sent owls. Why were they always away when trouble struck?

"Remus," Molly called stiffly, her arms crossed and her posture rigid. "We need to get Ginny and Harry to Headquarters. They aren't safe."

Ginny almost laughed. Of course, they weren't safe. No one was safe. Why was she so special to get extra protection? They were treating her like a ceramic doll. Fragile. Maybe she was. She angrily brushed the tears from her cheeks. She didn't want to be fragile. She refused to be. "I'm fine," she called irritably.

She was ignored, as per usual. Lupin just nodded and walked to the fireplace. "Let me talk to Dumbledore," he said as he ducted his head into the cavity.

"What can I do?" George asked, coming around from behind her, staring at the maps again with frustration apparent on his face.

"You can help your sister pack her and Ron's things," Molly said firmly. "He's going to need…" she drifted off with a catch in her voice, a hand to her chest. Her eyes closed and she took several deep breaths. Still, when she continued, her voice was thick with tears. "We have to bring their trunks to Grimmauld Place. Excuse me. I'm going to pack." She fled the room before the sobs could take her over.

Ginny's eyes followed her, her own lip trembling. The sound of George's fist hitting the table jolted her and snapped her attention back to him. "I want to look for Ron, not sit here like some great poof."

Arthur put a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "We don't know where to look, son." When he turned away he had a dejected look on his face. "I'm going to the Ministry to see if Kingsley found anything."

Mr. Weasley Disapparated just as Remus emerged from the fireplace, rubbing the ashes off his cheeks, only succeeding in smearing them. "Dumbledore agrees. Ginny, you and your mother will Floo over with the trunks. The rest should Apparate. I'm going to get Harry with Alastor." He gave Ginny a reassuring smile and said firmly, "All four of you will be back at Grimmauld Place before you know it."

Crack. Remus Disapparated and with him any hope of his feeble reassurances sinking in. Why was this happening, again?

George turned to Alicia and whispered, "Stay here with Mum and Ginny. I'll meet you at Headquarters."

"Where are you going?" Ginny demanded. Why was she the only one stuck here? She wanted to look, as well. She wanted to go get Harry.

George smiled bitterly. "Thought I might rough up my big brother, Percy the ponce, and see if I can get any information out of him. If not, at least I'll know I did my good deed for the day."

"George, no---" Alicia exclaimed. Crack.

Ginny rolled her eyes. Fat lot of good going to the Ministry would do. Percy couldn't see his own hand in front of his face. He wouldn't recognize useful information if he had it. At least, George would get a chance to blow off some steam. It must be killing him that Fred went without him. If there was a twin left behind, it was almost always George. No one thought it bothered him, but Ginny knew it did.

Left alone, Alicia ran a hand over Ginny's hair. Why was everyone always stroking her as if she was a toddler…or a dog? "Want me to help you pack?" George's girlfriend asked softly.

Yes, please, she couldn't possibly fold her clothes on her own. Feeling suddenly suffocated, Ginny stood up quickly, saying hastily, "No…but can you straighten up the kitchen a bit? Mum could never leave it like this."

Ginny didn't wait for a response. She started up the steps, desperate to be free of that oppressive room and that menacing clock watching over them.

She ran up the stairs, coming to an abrupt halt on her landing, when the image of a Death Eater descending the stairs assaulted her and knocked the wind from her. Taking deep breaths and gritting her teeth, Ginny forced herself to continue up the stairs until she reached Ron's bedroom.

A gasp tore from her throat as she saw the destruction for the first time. Pillows were ripped open, as was the mattress. Books and papers were torn and strewn everywhere. The contents of Ron's trunk and drawers had been emptied in the middle of the floor. If they had treated her brother as roughly…

She collapsed onto the side of his bed. Through the tears, Ginny noticed a picture face-downward on Ron's nightstand and picked it up. It was a picture of Hermione caught unawares at Hogwarts this spring. Her brother's best friend was staring out at the lake, brushing hair out of her face. A corner was torn off. Ginny wondered if it was the result of Death Eaters or Ron's own carelessness.

Clutching what was left of a pillow to her mouth to stifle a sob, Ginny fell over onto the bed. She just hoped, wherever Ron and Hermione were, that they were together.

Ron woke up feeling more refreshed and happy than he had in months. Mmm. Fuzzy warmth. He'd forgotten what it felt like to be well rested. It was fantastic. It felt like…shooting pain in his right arm.

He blinked open his eyes as he started to feel that his arm was in danger of falling…Holy shite. His breath caught as his eyes focused on the culprit, that being one Hermione Granger, fast asleep on his bicep. Whoa!

Ron was instantly, fully awake. A rush of nervous excitement filled him. He was in bed with Hermione. Crap, what…? Oh no, this wasn't good. Things were moving… It was out of control… What was he going…? Wow, she was pretty.

Ron pushed aside his apprehensive, depressive thoughts. He was going to enjoy this, damn it. When did bloke get a chance like this? If he squandered it, he was as thick as everyone accused him of being. There was a beautiful girl in bed with him for god's sake.

Hermione was lying on her back with her head turned toward him. Ron could feel the wetness of her lips against the skin of his upper arm, warm and slightly slimy. He found it ridiculously arousing. What was wrong with him? It must be the way her right side was pressed snuggly against his, and the way he could just feel the swell of her breast against his t-shirt clad chest. It addled the mind.

But then again, who cared, really? It was worth every lost thought. Ron would gladly go insane to keep doing this, to keep looking at her. He might not ever get this opportunity again. His eyes traveled to where his other arm lay curled over her waist, keeping her pressed tightly against him. Damn, that was skin under his hand.

Oh god, he was touching Hermione Granger's bare skin. Not hand or face skin, but skin usually hidden from the light of day. Skin, right where her waist dipped, where her pajama top had ridden up, just above her shorts. Wow! Just, really wow!

His morning condition became impossibly uncomfortable. What if Hermione woke up to find Ron fondling her, leaning over her like a barracuda, with a huge erection looming over her? No, not huge. He wasn't…he didn't mean that he was overly large or anything. He held his own, but…

Blimey. Ron tried to shift his pelvis away from her to hide the evidence of his teenage lack of control, but it was really difficult since he refused to move either of his hands and lose any other contact. In the end, he shifted back a bit and bent his leg so that it wasn't too obvious.

It worked fantastic, he thought sarcastically. He was so subtle that she started to stir immediately. Ron, smooth as always. Hermione yawned and brushed her face with her fist like kitten. She was so bloody beautiful. Ok, maybe it was ok if she woke up.

Ron wanted to kiss her again so bad that it hurt. Bloody hell, did it hurt. Maybe if he kept kissing her while she was half asleep he could keep getting away with it…If he had gotten away with it, that is. Just because she hadn't given him what for last night, didn't mean that she wouldn't. Hermione was much too good to berate him while he was being as pathetic as he had been last night.

Maybe, he didn't want her to wake up, after all. Shite, what if the kiss had changed things between them and they couldn't go back? What if they did go back and Ron never got to kiss her again? He had to. He had to kiss her again or he'd die.

Ron really was a selfish bastard. A really melodramatic, selfish bastard. He knew Hermione deserved someone better than him, knew that anything he was now contemplating doing to her would ultimately lead to her leaving him forever when someone more worthy came along. But this knowledge seemed to matter less and less with every day that passed.

Maybe Ron would get lucky and Voldemort would kill him before Hermione could leave him.

"Mmm." She stretched and blinked her eyes as she slowly came back to consciousness. The stretch made her shirt pull tightly across her breasts and chased all the dark thoughts from Ron's mind. Hermione's breasts were…fantastic.

Ron had to force his eyes to her face and found her liquid brown eyes blinking sleepily at him. For a moment he was gripped with fear. Was she angry? Would she chuck him out of bed? Rail at him?

A shy smile spread across her face and she murmured, her voice husky, "Morning."

Well, she didn't seem upset. Ron found himself grinning back almost giddily. "Morning, yourself."

Hermione stretched again and as she moved, Ron couldn't help but wince at the icy, sharp pains that shot down his numbed arm where she lay on it.

Immediately, she came up onto her elbows. "Oh Ron, did I sleep on your arm all night long?" Ron shrugged, unable to speak because she was reaching for his arm. "It must hurt something awful." Then she was kneading the muscle and there was one part of him that hurt all right.

"No," Ron managed through a suddenly thick throat. Just don't stop. She had the most talented hands. How would they feel on…other parts? Hermione glanced up at him and he knew he was going to kiss her, awake or not---

A loud pounding on the front door echoed through the quiet of the morning and through the open window over Hermione's bed, causing them both to start. Ron felt his heart rate and breathing speed up in a very different way. A decidedly less fun way.

Hermione clutched his arm painfully. What were they so scared of? It was just the front door. They were acting guilty as sin. Well, they were guilty. Ron turned and looked out the window, down at the front stoop… Shite. Shite. Shite. "Shite!"

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed in a horrified voice.

He turned and frowned at her. Swearing was the least of their problems. "Fred and Tonks are at the front door."

Hermione's eyes became impossibly wide. "Shite!" She pushed past him to look out the window.

Ron laughed with glee. "Hermione! I never!" He had never heard her use that word. Damn, it sounded sexy.

"Ron. This is not the time," she hissed, biting her lip. Hermione was flustered and breathing hard, her chest heaving. How was a bloke supposed to be serious with a distraction like that?

"What are we going to do?" Hermione whispered.

He frowned, miserably. It looked like his time was up. "I've got to get out of here."

"Well, obviously," Hermione harrumphed. She scrambled out of bed, grabbing his arm and pulling him behind her. At the door, she careful opened it a sliver and peered out cautiously before gesturing for him to follow her, which was simply batty considering the grip she had on his arm.

She dragged him down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Hurry," Hermione urged anxiously, pushing him into the fireplace.

Ron obediently put one foot into the fireplace before he came to himself and paused, looking back at her. This was going too fast. He was leaving too fast.

"Wait." He grabbed Hermione's shoulder. "When am I going to see you again?" He had a sudden sinking feeling, as if it might be never.

"Ron!" Hermione reprimanded, pushing at his chest. "We don't have time!"

"Come to The Burrow this afternoon," he entreated, ignoring her protests. This was important. He needed her.

This made Hermione pause and look up at him. She shook her head despondently. "I can't Ron. No Floo Powder."

What? "No Floo powder?" What the hell did she mean no Floo powder? "Hermione," Ron whispered. "How am I going to get home?"

"You don't have any?" she squeaked.

"People don't bring Floo Powder with them," Ron defended, in an increasingly high-pitched voice. Bloody hell, how was he going to get home? His mother was going to kill him.

The kitchen door opened. "Hermione's room is just up there. I'll just go and--- Oh!" Mrs. Granger stepped into the room and came to a dead stop, her eyes wide, her hand flying to her mouth. Tonks ran into her, causing them both to stumble.

Ron looked over at Hermione, who looked as though she might hyperventilate. What a picture they must make. Him with one foot in the fireplace, bare feet. Both of his hands on Hermione's shoulders. Her hands on his chest. They were so dead.

"What's going on---?" Fred pushed his way around Tonks, who was helping to right Mrs. Granger, his wand at the ready. He froze when he saw the…interesting tableau. "Bloody hell!"

Fred approached his younger brother with long quick strides. Ron hastily stepped out of the fireplace and away from Hermione. He had expected jokes and ridicule, not aggression! What the hell was wrong with his brother!

Ron's shock increased tenfold when instead of pummeling him, Fred clasped him in a tight hug. Ron stood ramrod still and looked at Hermione with wide-eyed confusion. Had Fred gone around the twist? He couldn't remember his older brother voluntarily hugging him, ever. Maybe it was a trick. An elaborate joke, maybe?

Fred pulled back. "You bloody little idiot." Then he pulled back his arm and let go a full-on punch to Ron's shoulder.

"Ow," Ron yelled, grabbing his injured arm. "What the hell?" Fred had clearly gone barking.

"Get off of him. What do you think you're doing?" Hermione was trying to pull Fred off of Ron and squeeze between them. "What's wrong with you?"

"Hermione don't!" Ron grabbed her waist with his good arm and attempted to pull her behind him. If Fred had gone nutters, the last thing he needed was him swinging at Hermione. He didn't fancy being forced to commit fratricide.

Fred laughed uproariously, looking over to Tonks who had a relieved and amused look on her face. She broke into hilarity as well, nearly doubling over with it. Hermione looked as though she was ready to spit fire and Ron had to use both arms to keep her from jumping on his brother. And they said he had a temper.

"Relax, poppet. I'm not going to pummel your boyfriend," Fred teased, further inciting her. "Though, I wouldn't miss what Mum's going to do to him. Should be quite a show. Do you have any idea what she and Ginny have been going through?" He became serious again and decided to give Ron a hard shove for emphasis.

"He's not my boyfriend," Hermione protested, even as she attempted to shove Fred back for pushing his brother. Ron tightened his grip on her waist. To hold her back, of course. He was not getting a perverted thrill from this.

Fred gave a barking laugh. "Very convincing, Hermione. Did you notice he's currently feeling you up?" Ron dropped his arms from her waist as if they had been burned, scowling at Fred's smirking face. "While you two were having your little lover's rendezvous, the whole Order has been out looking for you."

"It was not a lover's rendezvous," Hermione insisted, red-faced. She stamped her foot in emphasis. She was so sexy when she was belligerent.

"Ron just pop over for a little game of midnight chess, then?" Fred certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.

"No, it was just---"

"Just what, dear?" All eyes turned to Mrs. Granger, who stood with her hand to her chest, as if she might faint at any moment. Damn it. She was never going to let Hermione go to The Burrow now.

Think, man think. Say anything. "Look, Mrs. Granger, I just…" Ron swallowed. "I just had a bad feeling, a nightmare. I wanted to make sure Hermione was all right. Then she didn't have any Floo Powder, so I was kinda stuck here."

Fred sniggered, "Please, you couldn't come up with anything more creative than that? Makes me ashamed to say we're blood."

"It's true." Hermione eyes flared at Fred. Then she turned to her mother with a soft, pleading look. "Mum, really. Ron was just looking out for me. He slept on the floor. Honestly, Mum. You know me. Would I do anything…inappropriate?"

Hermione was lying. She was really convincing, but she was lying. To her mum. For Ron. They had kissed and there had been nothing appropriate about it. They had kissed, on her bed, in the middle of the night, and then they had slept the rest of the night together. Touching even. And it had been bloody brilliant.

"You do believe me, Mum?" Hermione entreated in a wonderfully innocent tone.

Mrs. Granger's delicate features softened. "Of course, I do, sweetheart. I know you're trustworthy." She came over and placed a reassuring pat on Ron's shoulder. "You know how we appreciate the way Ron and Harry look out for you."

Ron did his best to echo Hermione's innocent look, even as he pondered just how gullible Mrs. Granger was. Wow, didn't she understand how sexy Hermione was? How passionate? If Ron's mum had caught them… Blimey, he still had to deal with his mother.

"Let me just go and explain things to your father, so he doesn't misunderstand." Mrs. Granger smiled serenely and walked out of the room. She wasn't much like Hermione, was she?

"Bloody hell, do you have the wool over her eyes?" Fred shook his head in disgust. "I'm going to Apparate to The Burrow and tell Mum we found them," he said to Tonks. "Don't let these two out of your sight. They're slippery."

"I think I can handle them," Tonks drawled in an amused tone. Once Fred had Disapparated she shook her head at them. "You two really did it this time."

Ron ran a hand through his hair. "Hermione didn't do anything," he said in a small voice. He, on the other hand, had made one hell of a mess. All because of the blasted nightmares and his own pathetic lack of control.

"Tonks, what's going on?" Hermione asked with her arms tightly crossed and her face tense. "Something is happening isn't it? That's why everyone is so upset?"

Ron hadn't thought of that. Mum sending an Auror to fetch them was a bit of overkill. What had Fred said about the Order?

Tonks crossed her arms, her expression serious. "Maybe you two oughtta sit."

Hermione just shook her head and took a step toward Ron. "Just tell us," he insisted, feeling himself tense. It was better to get it over with.

Sighing deeply, Tonks finally said, "There's been an attack on The Burrow."

Hermione gasped and turned to Ron, one hand flying up to clutch his shirt. He stared into her eyes, barely able to digest the information. His voice was strangely detached when he asked, "Was anybody---?"

"No, everyone's fine," Tonks reassured, quickly. "Fred found a Death Eater in your sister's room and Ginny Stupefied---"

"What!" Ron roared, starting to step forward, but feeling Hermione's hands on him, he stopped.

"She's fine. Though, you think Fred gave you the what for, mate? Wait till Ginny gets her hands on you. They found your room in a shambles and with you nowhere to be found---"

"They assumed the worst," Hermione finished softly. "Oh, Ron." She leaned into him. He could only clutch his fists in rage and fear as it all sunk in. Death Eaters in his room, in Ginny's room, hurting---

"There's more---" Tonks continued, grimly.

There was a crash behind them from… Shite. Mum.

Molly did not stop to dust herself off, just grabbed her son and Hermione in a bone crushing group hug. "You stupid, stupid boy! What ever did you think you were doing?"

"Mum, I was just trying to protect Hermione," Ron protested quickly. Hey, it had worked with Hermione's mum.

His mother harrumphed, taking his head in her hands and pulling him down for a hard kiss on the cheek, followed by a slap on the head. "Worried about Hermione? Didn't think to wake your father or me? Or maybe leave a note, hmm? What did you think you were going to do for her anyway, in pajamas, no wand, not even of age? Hmm?"

All excellent points. Ron just shrugged and used his best clueless, daft puppy dog look. His only hope was that his mum thought he was just too stupid to know any better. The truth would get him banned from Hermione for the summer.

"Wait, Tonks said there was more," Hermione said anxiously, wringing his hands.

Tonks exchanged an anxious look with Molly. Swallowing, she continued what she had been about to say, "We went to your house, Hermione. First thing after the break in. It had been rampaged, as well. Especially your room."

Ron felt as though someone had just taken a death grip on his heart. If Hermione hadn't been on holiday…. All of a sudden, the story about him coming here to protect her didn't sound so far fetched.

Hermione went pale and slumped against Ron. He put an arm around her for support. "Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Fine, Fine," Molly assured, hands on hips. "Checked this morning. Right where he was supposed to be. Unlike the rest of you." She glared at them meaningfully. "Remus just Apparated over to bring him to Grimmauld Place. Which is exactly where you two are going right now. So, march upstairs, young lady, and pack your things."

Hermione nodded weakly and walked to the stairs. Ron turned to follow her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Molly shrieked, causing her son to jump. "Let the girl put some clothes on first."

Ron turned bright red as he watched Hermione disappear up the stairs. He took a deep breath and told himself to look properly contrite as his mother began her berating, because all he could think about was Hermione being with him for the rest of the summer.

It was hard to keep a smile off his face.

Ginny was going to murder her brother. Worse than that, she was going to turn him into a newt and put him in a jar. Then hide it in the potions cupboard for Snape to find and use for the eyeball-extracting lesson with the second years. No. That was too good for Ron. She'd have to think of something else.

She paced the length of the kitchen at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, keeping a close eye on the fireplace. Occasionally, Ginny would climb the stairs to sneak a peak at the front door to see if anyone had arrived that way. It wasn't really necessary since she had booby-trapped the front door so that anyone who entered would create such a clatter that Mrs. Black would immediately alert her to his or her arrival.

She couldn't believe that Ron could do this to them, to her. Oh, wait, she could. It was just the sort of thing the thickheaded git would do. Ginny even believed his daft story about being worried Hermione. Her brother didn't have the stones to Floo over to his best friend's room in the middle of the night for a snog session.

But he could have told Ginny so that she could cover for him. Ron knows she wouldn't stop him from checking on Hermione. Unless, he was embarrassed. Unless, it really was for a late night snog fest… Yeah, right. Ginny shook her head. That was just crazy talk. If Hermione and Ron had gone there, she'd know. They couldn't keep that from her all summer.

Urgh! Where were they? Mum had sent Hermione and Ron home with Tonks and Fred hours ago and Lupin had gone to get Harry even before that.

Ginny needed to see for herself that they were all right. Maybe then this restless energy would dissipate. And besides that, Ginny had something really important she needed to talk to Hermione about. It seemed that the only thing that she could find missing from her room were the letters and notes detailing the Empath research the two girls had done.

Clank. Crash. "Holy shite!"

"If your mother hears you swearing---"

"How dare you! Rubbish, Common filth. Contaminating the noble home of my ancestors, Blood traitors, sons of refuse---"

Ginny took off up the stairs in a dead run, reaching the top to see her father pull the curtain over Mrs. Black's portrait and George set down Hermione's trunk. "We should set that bloody painting on fire and see what it does," George muttered irritably.

Ginny's whole body slumped when she saw them. "Oh, it's just you."

"Thanks a lot, little sister," George said with mock hurt in his voice. Then he wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "I reckon you need to be the great Harry Potter to get any love around here."

"George, leave your sister alone." Arthur approached his daughter and gave her a hug. "All right there, Ginny?"

She nodded in response, even though it was a lie. Could gesturing be a lie? Or did you actually have to say the words to be lying?

Ginny thought she heard George mutter, "Mollycoddling," under his breath and ignored him.

Her father wasn't so generous. He and snapped, "George, bring Hermione's trunk upstairs."

"Oh, but father, I wouldn't want to deprive her boyfriend of that privilege. I'm sure he'll want to show off his manliness. What little of it there is---"

"Bloody hell, woman. You call that driving?" Fred griped to Tonks as the door opened and finally, finally, Ron and Hermione stepped into the house.

Tonks rolled her eyes, waving Fred off with a flick of her wrist. "I told you that was not a squirrel. It was merely a bump on the road. Since when did you become a ruddy animal activist anyway?"

Ron and Hermione were a complete mess. Ron still had on his too small pajamas that appeared to be covered with soot. His feet were covered by some bizarre-looking floppy Muggle things that looked extremely uncomfortable. Hermione was wearing a dowdy pair of overalls and her bushy hair was back in a puffy ponytail. Her look, a blatant attempt to deny that she even had a sexuality.

Ginny ran to the youngest of her brothers, stopping just short of a hug. Instead, anger overcame relief and she punched him as hard as she could in his arm. "Daft fool!"

"Ow, Gin, that's the second time today," Ron whined.

Satisfied, that she had properly hurt him, she threw her arms around him. "Don't you ever do that again," Ginny commanded into his breastbone.

"That's my girl. See that, Fred. That's the way it's done. Hit first, then hug."

"So right, George. Should have remembered. Terribly poorly done of me."

"Shut up!" Ron shot back. Clever as always, Ginny thought, but then his arms closed around her in a gentle hug and she felt horrible for her rude thoughts. "I'm sorry, Gin," he whispered just for her. "You all right?"

She nodded, pulling away, irritably wiping her eyes. For someone who hated to cry, she certainly did it often enough. She turned to Hermione and the two girls embraced affectionately. "We need to talk," Ginny whispered in her ear.

Hermione gave her a confused look and a single slight nod, before turning to Ginny's father. "Mr. Weasley, how did things go at my house?"

Arthur, who had been greeting his youngest son with possibly the longest hug he had ever given him, turned and hugged Hermione tenderly. "Why don't we go to the drawing room, shall we? George, the trunk!"

"But Ron---"

"I told you to do it."

Amidst the grumbling, Ginny hung back, carefully resetting her booby-trap and quickly catching up with the others in the drawing room. Ron caught sight of her and gave her an amused look, but probably felt too guilty to expose her. She'd be milking that for a while.

Her father made sure everyone was seated and Hermione's trunk was safely tucked in the room across the hall before sitting himself. "On careful searching of your house, Hermione," he began seriously. "Your parents were not able to identify anything that was missing."

Ginny bit her lip and slouched into the couch. Would the Grangers have any idea what to look for?

"Nevertheless, your room had been ransacked quite as bad as Ron's and you'll have to look through the things we brought you to see if anything's absent." Mr. Weasley swallowed. "It certainly looked as if they were looking for something. It was only the rooms that you would normally use that were touched. Your parents' bedroom was virtually intact. So, we believe they were not after your parents---"

"They were after Hermione," Ron stated stiffly as he moved to stand stiffly next to his best friend.

Arthur nodded solemnly, watching Ron with a worried expression. "That's what we believe."

Or something she has…like the Empath stuff. Ginny grabbed her knee. Trying to get the girl's attention, but Hermione seemed lost in thought. Ron was sitting on the edge of the sofa next to her, so that her shoulder and his knee were pressed firmly together. It was subtle, but… What exactly had happened between them last night? Something had changed.

"Oh, there you are. There you are, dears," Mrs. Weasley called, bustling in and hugging Ron and Hermione as they sat limply. "Harry will be here shortly. Arthur, dear. Nymphadora. Can I have a word with you?" Molly smiled a deceptively bland smile. Did she really think she was fooling anyone?

"What say you, twin?" Fred said to George, crossing his arms and drawing himself up in preparation for battle. "This seems like Order business to me. Something two blokes like us should be involved in."

Molly glared at them, but she must have been impatient because she snapped, "Fine!"

George didn't even have a chance to join the fight. Apparently, their mother was so eager to keep information from her youngest children that she was willing to bend to the twins. For once, that was fine with Ginny. She had her own information this time and she needed to talk to Hermione.

"What do you think that was about?" Ron asked, after they were gone. Hermione shook her head, still staring blankly.

"It doesn't matter," Ginny said dismissively. "Hermione, they took the notes and letters. The ones about Adrianna."

Hermione showed new life, her head jerking up and her eyes flashing. "What! Are you sure?"

Ginny nodded urgently. The older girl dashed across the hall and she followed her into their shared bedroom. Hermione rummaged through her trunk. After a few minutes of searching she shook her head. "I don't see anything here. Your father and George may have missed some of the notes I wrote, but I already packed The Legend and Legacy of the Empath. It isn't here." She sat back, breathing rapidly.

"Your parents probably did something with it, Hermione. What would Death Eaters want with that book? It's not even in English," Ron said in a tone that showed he thought they were over-reacting. To Ginny it just proved that he was as daft as he always pretended to be.

Hermione looked up at him with thinly disguised anger and fear. "Unless it wasn't the Death Eaters at all. Unless it was Adrianna who stole it."

"Or," Ginny continued, "Adrianna is working with the Death Eaters, with Voldemort."

Crash. "Freaks! Scum! Half-breed monsters---"

"Oh, shut it!" Moody's voice barked.

"Harry!" Ginny breathed, running for the stairs. She could feel the butterflies filling her stomach. At the bottom of the stairs she froze, just taking it in, forcing Ron and Hermione to push around her to get to their friend.

Remus set Hedwig's cage atop Harry's trunk as Moody led him in with a firm hand around his upper arm. Both the old Auror and the former Professor were scowling.

Ginny took a shaky breath and willed herself not to cry as she looked over Harry. He looked as if he hadn't seen the light of day in months. His clothes fell loosely off his body. Thick bags were under his eyes. Oh god, it was just as bad as she imagined it.

Hermione, tired of waiting for Harry to speak, it seemed, threw her arms around him. "It's so good to see you, Harry. How are you?" Harry didn't hug her in return. Ron held back, staring at his friend with a hurt expression.

"Dumbledore here yet?" Moody demanded.

Ginny gulped. Dumbledore wasn't supposed to be here. Why would he come now when they were all finally safe at Grimmauld Place? A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. Something was very, very wrong.

"Why is Dumbledore coming?" Hermione asked, uneasily, echoing Ginny's thoughts and pulling back from her one-sided hug. Her eyes darted around Harry's face. He still hadn't said anything. Why---

"Apparently we have a letter only he can open." Moody waved a letter in the air with one hand and yanked Harry back from Hermione with the other. "I'd keep my distance if I were you, young lady."

"Harry?" Ginny whispered. Oh god. Oh god. Please.

Remus was leaning over the trunk with a tired expression. He closed his eyes before taking a deep breath and turning to them. The look in his eyes did not alleviate Ginny's fears, but nothing could have prepared her for the words that left his mouth.

"That's not Harry, Ginny."