Everyone at the table looked at the door in silent disbelief. Harry rubbed his eyes, and Ron was sitting with his mouth open. Harry looked at Ginny, but she seemed just as astounded as the rest of them.
"Excuse me....Miss Weasley," Snape said in a cold voice, "I believe I need to speak with your parents."
Ginny didn't say anything, she moved from the doorway but her eyes never left the two men. Snape brushed past her in his usual icy cloud. Draco followed him silently. This surprised Harry most of all. He had never known Draco to be quiet, and he had known him for quite some time. At that moment the twins decided to plow down the stairs. Fred stopped dead in the middle of the kitchen, sending George plowing into his back.
"Oi Fred, what's the matter with you?" he stopped talking as he caught sight of Snape.
"Well as touching as this little reunion is..." Snape spoke loudly as usual, "Go and fetch you parents' girl," he snarled at Ginny who still stood by the door, as if she was rooted to the spot. Snape turned towards her, "Well, go!" he barked, making everyone in the room jump. Ginny moved, rather slowly because she was still watching, to the stairs. When she left an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Hermione cleared her throat, but she was at a loss for words, which almost never happened to her. Mr. Weasley appeared at the bottom of the stairs. His lips were turned up into a tight smile, though his eyes showed his discomfort.
"Severus," he said the name like it had a bad taste, "May I be of help to you?"
"Not me....Arthur, but I have some rather urgent news to discuss with you," he beckoned Mr. Weasley out the door, leaving Draco alone with the six Gryffindors. No one spoke, though Harry noticed the shock in Ron's eyes was rapidly fading to the familiar hate, targeted at Malfoy. Malfoy himself stood exactly where Snape had left him. He had his arms folded and was staring at a tile in the floor rather intently. Harry noticed his usually spotless appearance was a bit ruffled today. His cloak was wrinkled, and his hair was badly in need of combing. Ginny meanwhile had come back and slid into the chair next to Harry.
"Do you….uh, want to sit?" Ginny asked suddenly, getting a scathing look from Ron. Malfoy shook his head, still without looking up. She shrugged in Harry's direction, not sure what to do. Harry noticed Hermione's hand clasped on top of Ron's. She was giving him a pleading look, while Ron still looked as though he might pounce at any moment. A few minutes later Mr. Weasley and Professor Snape returned. He clamped a hand onto Malfoy's shoulder.
"Come along Draco," Snape lead him out the door. When he had gone the room erupted with questions.
"Dad? What.."
"Why was he…."
"Can someone tell me…."
Mr. Weasley raised a thin hand, "Please children, no questions right now," he slipped past them up the stairs. Harry sat back down at the table. This made absolutely no sense. Malfoy would never, ever, willingly come to the Burrow!
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang from upstairs. Everyone turned to the twins, who batted their eyelashes in innocence. "What?" Fred exclaimed. Hermione shook her head and Ginny giggled from behind her hand. Slowly a purple cloud of smoke billowed from the staircase.
"GEORGE! FRED!" Mrs. Weasley's voice rang through the room. The twins disappeared from the kitchen in a moment.
"Do you think they apparated?" Harry asked Ron, confused to where they had gone.
"No, I think they ran for their puny lives!"
"Alright," Mr. Weasley returned, sounding extremely tired. "I suppose you all need to know what's going on. There have been more attacks. Two muggle cities in western Britain, many lives were lost, including Draco's mother."
Harry's throat closed. Malfoy's mother?
"Apparently after the attacks Draco ran. He didn't know where to go, so he found Severus…uh, Professor Snape. It seems he feels his life is in danger. He won't tell us exactly what happened, but he did say there are more attacks being planned," Mr. Weasley rubbed his temple with a slightly quivering finger.
"Oh, that's awful," Hermione broke in, a glimmer of a tear in her eye.
"There's more," Mr. Weasley continued with such a grim voice everyone's eyes snapped back to him. "Draco informed us one of the attacks planned is for here," Harry heard Ginny gasp. "I've decided that you must all leave, immediately. You're to go to Grimmauld place, until further notice."
The backlash happened in an instant. Six teenagers wailed their displeasure as Mr. Weasley slapped his hand down on the table with surprising force. "No!" he yelled. Everyone fell silent at once. Harry couldn't remember a time when Mr. Weasley had yelled at them. "I'm sorry kids, I really am, but it's my main priority to see to it that you are safe. Now, I suggest you all go pack, we'll be leaving shortly," Mr. Weasley left without a backward glance.
Ginny sank down in her chair, her face empty of emotion. Harry had the sudden urge to hold her. "Well, this is bloody brilliant!" Fred spat sarcastically. Everyone jumped, when had they gotten back? George kicked the table leg, before realizing it would be more painful to him than it. Hermione still had Ron's hand, and he hadn't moved since the door had opened. Harry didn't know what to think, he suddenly felt numb. Hermione was the next to speak.
"Well, you heard him, we should get busy. Come on Ginny," the girls left heading up the stairs to Ginny's room which they were currently sharing. Harry watched them go. Leave it to Hermione to be the voice of reason, he thought. Fred and George were leaving also, grumbling about packing up all their 'experiments.' Ron was still sitting motionless in his chair. A spoon clasped in his white fist.
"Ron? Hey, Ron, mate?" Harry voiced, suddenly finding it rather hard to speak. "Come on," he practically pulled Ron to his feet and over to the stairs.
When they reached his room they began packing in silence. Harry busied himself pulling all his possessions into his Hogwarts chest. Ron, meanwhile, was shoving random items into his bag, looking rather distracted. Harry watched him nervously, he wasn't sure if he should say something.
"Are you alright mate?" he asked carefully.
Ron didn't answer straight away, "I hate him," he replied simply. Harry suppressed a nervous laugh, and nodded.
"I hate that he was here, I hate seeing his face, and….I hate that he's saved the lot of us," Ron stopped talking shoving the last book in with a vengeance. Harry sat by him on the bed. He hadn't really thought of it that way, did he owe his life to Malfoy?
"I know," he sighed, patting Ron's shoulder, "But hey, look on the bright side. I've never seen Malfoy quiet before."
Ron chuckled softly, "Yeah, could have knocked me over with a bloody feather."
The two laughed a bit and finished packing. Harry tried to lighten the mood. Ron deserved it, all the times he had been there for Harry through the years. He suddenly found himself feeling horribly guilty for the way he had treated him this summer. Ron had been there, through the worst times, and he had never snapped at Harry the way he had at him. It was wrong of him to push him away. After all, he'd had his share of hard times. He deserved as much happiness as he could have. Suddenly Harry had a grand realization.
"Hey mate, I was wondering….uh, downstairs...you and Hermione looked rather comfy holding hands," Harry grinned at him from across the room. He noticed, with a bit of satisfaction, that Ron's ears turned a delicate shade of red.
"What…uh, what are you talking about? We weren't…"
Harry took pity on him, "Oh, alright. I must have been seeing things," he laughed as Ron chucked a book at him.
"Hey I don't think Hermione would appreciate you abusing your books," he screeched in a high voice,"Honestly Ron, you should have more respect for 'Toadstools and Turtle Skin.'"
While Harry laughed a loud screech came from the window. He felt his stomach lurch, but when he looked only Hedwig appeared. He sighed and patted her head fondly. While he scolded himself for being so jumpy when he saw the letter tied to her leg. His eyes opened wide as he saw blood red wax.
"Hey, who's it from?" Ron asked curiously from behind the closet door. Harry cleared his throat quickly, "No one, uh….Tonks, just checking up," he scurried out of the room, crossing the hall to the loo and shutting the door.
Harry swallowed hard, this was getting serious. He broke the seal carefully and peered inside, the familiar swirl writing greeted him, this time in large bold letters,
"Alright everyone?" Mrs. Weasley asked with falsetto cheeriness. Everyone grumbled lightly.
"Well, off we go then," Mr. Weasley nodded to the driver and they were gone. As they sped away from the Burrow Ginny sighed again. This wasn't shaping up to be the best summer. They had been driving for a few minutes when Harry leaned his head into her ear.
"I need to show you something….I got another….'package,'" Harry whispered, Ginny felt the hairs on her neck stand up. He was much too close to her for comfort. She nodded sliding as far away from him as she could. Ginny took a breathe, how childish could she be? She cleared Harry from her head and concentrated on the countryside they were passing. Cows, cute black haired……no! Cows, just cows, she told herself firmly.
Ron was eyeing the two of them a little suspiciously, "Just asking if she felt alright, looked a bit ill," Harry answered his unspoken question. He elbowed Ginny slightly in the side.
"Oh, yes, I was feeling a bit sick, you know motion and all," she smiled briefly at her brother who shrugged and went back to staring at the floor. Ginny shook her head. Sometimes Ron was as thick as a tar pool. You practically had to smack him over the head to get him to notice anything. Hermione on the other hand…..
She was looking at the two of them with a knowing smirk. Ginny cocked her eyebrow and mouthed 'what?' Hermione shook her head and flipped a page in her book, though still smirking. Thankfully Harry wasn't paying attention. Ginny felt herself blush as she faced the window. Hermione was her best friend in the world; she knew Ginny still had a crush on Harry, though she had the decency not to tease her about it.
Before long the car rolled to a smooth stop outside a small neighborhood. Mr. Weasley turned to the backseat.
"Alright Fred, George, and Ron you first. Go with your mum, we have to approach the house in small groups so we don't look suspicious," the brothers piled out with Mrs. Weasley and walked up the sidewalk a good distance from number twelve, they turned abruptly down a side street, Mr. Weasley said they would enter from the behind. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione sat silently in the back waiting. Ginny noticed Hermione kept glancing her way. She was beginning to feel a bit annoyed.
"Okay, here we go," Mr. Weasley ushered them from the car, which promptly took off down the wide street. Mr. Weasley led them down the sidewalk and stopped by a tall street lamp.
"New entrance," he explained, "a portkey, it will activate in two minutes, for exactly one second. Are you ready?" they nodded waiting for Mr. Weasley's count. "Alright…..one…..two……three!" Ginny touched the post lightly with her finger and felt herself pulled from the ground, moments later she was standing shakily in the entrance hall of Grimmauld place.
The first person Ginny saw was Remus Lupin. He jumped forward to shake Mr. Weasley's hand in welcome.
"Good to see you Arthur," he smiled, though Ginny noticed his hair was a good deal grayer than the last time she had seen him. He greeted them all, stopping to give Harry a tense side hug. After which both men jumped backwards as though burned. Ginny wondered suddenly why it was so hard for men to show affection.
The next thing she saw was Ron, red faced and breathing hard he stomped up to his father.
"How could you?" he yelled, making Ginny gasp. Never in all her life, had Ron raised his voice to their father.
Mr. Weasley sighed, "Ron, I know you're upset, but son it couldn't be helped…." Ron glared at him and pushed by to the stairs.
"Ron, what is it?" Harry called after him in a worried tone.
"What is is? I'll bloody tell you what it is! HE is staying HERE!" Ron bellowed and ran up the remaining steps. Ginny was in an utter state of shock. She turned to Harry exasperated, "What is he…" she stopped, following his gaze.
Draco Malfoy sat quietly at the kitchen table, his hands in his lap, looking at an empty plate.
After supper Harry pulled Ginny into the hall. He was a bit concerned about telling her what the letter said. When he had mentioned it in the car she had seemed upset, she had even moved away from him. Though he didn't blame her, of course she was a bit frightened by him, who wouldn't be. He handed her the thin parchment and watched as her eyes flew over the words.
"Harry, this is bad. I don't think this person is just trying to scare you. I mean, they obviously knew we were leaving the Burrow. That means you're being watched!"
Harry sighed, he knew she was right.
"I think you need to tell Ron and Hermione. They should know, and we'll take it from there," Ginny handed him the letter. He nodded and rubbed his eyes. He felt so exhausted. Ginny touched his arm softly, he felt an odd lump in his throat.
"I'll find Hermione, we'll meet you upstairs, if you can Ron to open the door," she smiled sadly and left.
Harry trudged up the stairs and knocked on the door timidly, "Go away!" came the sharp reply. Harry grunted, it was his room too after all.
"Ron, open up, I have something important to show you," a few moments later a bleary eyed Ron opened the door, searching the hall before letting him in. Harry flopped down on the bed.
"Well?" he demanded, "What is it?"
"We're waiting for the girls; they need to hear this too."
Hermione opened the door softly, followed by Ginny who had a worried look on her face. They sat next to Ron, who didn't look at them.
"Well, I guess I need to show you these," Harry pulled the three letters from his pocket and passed them to Hermione, who took them curiously. After she had read them her head snapped up sharply.
"Harry, what's going on?"
He sighed and launched into the story. It took him several minutes to fill them in. He told Ron and Hermione that Ginny had know, but he conveniently left out that she knew much earlier than them. Ron had been listening with the same blank expression, but Hermione's face grew steadily darker.
"Harry, this is serious! You have to tell someone, Mr. Weasley, or Lupin. We could get Dumbledore!" Harry sighed; he knew exactly what she was going to say. Ron remained silent, except to say he agreed with Hermione. Harry looked to Ginny for help.
"I don't know Harry; I don't want you…or anyone in danger. Maybe you should show them," she seemed too scared now to even look at him.
He nodded, "I thought that's what you'd say, alright, I'll tell them tomorrow."
Hermione hugged him swiftly, "Good, get some sleep. You look exhausted," she turned to Ron, "You too," she touched his shoulder tenderly, he nodded and smiled at her half heartedly.
Ginny bid them goodnight as well, Harry watched her go, a horrible sadness pulled at him. He followed her to the hall, "Ginny, I'm sorry if I put you on the spot. I didn't mean to drag you into all this."
"No Harry, I'm just…worried….about….everything," she sighed heavily. Ginny glanced up seeing the pained look he wore, "but I want to be…in all this. I want to help, you didn't do anything wrong."
Harry snorted, "Yeah," Lately he felt as though everything he did was wrong. His very presence caused people problems.
"I mean it," she said, a bit more angrily than she meant, "trust me Harry, you….never do anything wrong," she looked away from him and he felt himself smile.
"Goodnight," she turned quickly into her room and closed her door.
Harry turned around and went back to his bedroom. Ron was still sitting on his bed silently. Harry decided it best not to try and talk to him as he got ready for bed. He told Ron goodnight, to which he got a quiet reply. He shook his head and turned out the lights. It would seem better in the morning.
That night as Harry slept he had a dream. It started in the Burrow; he was playing exploding snap with Ron when suddenly everything went black. He found himself standing in the middle of the Grimmauld place entrance hall, but he wasn't standing exactly. It seemed as if he were….swinging, back and forth. Then with alarming speed he moved up the stairs. He stopped on the landing, turning sharply to the left. He continued down the hall, and stared at a door. As he stared it seemed as though he was sucked through the keyhole. It was a bit hard to see where he was, for Harry suddenly found everything to be upside down. Then he realized with a start that he was standing in the middle of the girl's room. He watched as Hermione slept peacefully, and Ginny slept in a dark green nightgown. He looked down on her, still feeling the odd swinging sensation. She was so pretty when she slept….and so helpless.
Harry woke with a start, a searing sensation radiated from his head. He yelped in pain as he felt his scar burning from beneath his fingers. Ron woke with a start.
"Harry, what's going on?"
Ron was interrupted as a scream exploded from the next room.
A/N- Uh oh, sounds like someone's in trouble. I have a challenge for you guys! My friend swears to me that she read in one of the books that Hermione has a sister. Is this true? I'm really curious. Anyway next chapter- who screamed, why they did it, and why is Draco alone with Ginny at night? Not to mention the trip to Diagon Alley. Review please! You make my day!