Hermione Granger was leaning against the wall next to one of the large windows at 12 Grimmauld Place. She had arrived there yesterday evening with her parents and had found the Weasleys already arrived. Mrs. Weasley had even begun sprucing up the place, giving it what she called a "woman's touch" and making it a little more like home.
Hermione sighed and looked outside, then she heard something behind her that caught her attention and looked to see a majestic looking bird with black feathers all along it's back, a white coat of feathers on it's front, a yellow beak, and a very majestic glow about him, perched on one of the windowsills. "Isn't it beautiful?" Ginny had said to Hermione when she noticed her gaze shifting to the bird.
"Where did it come from?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know" Ginny responded, "but I'll bet Lupin can tell us when he comes."
When Lupin and Tonks did arrive, Lupin explained that in the Order of St. George they communicate much like in the wizarding world. Only that instead of using owls, the Order of St. George uses falcons.
"That's Sean's bird isn't it?" Ginny said with a wishful tone to her voice. Hermione had told Ginny about the Order of St. George when she first arrived, and that Sean was a vampire hunter and a Knight.
"Indeed," Lupin answered, "his name is Regal, he is a real Lanner Falcon, and Sean had Bill leave him here on his way to his honeymoon so that we could send him to the monastery to let him know when we have established base here at Grimmauld."
Ginny was in another world, everything about Sean was so mystical "and dreamy" she thought to herself. His cavalier manner, his mysterious demeanor and profession, and now Ginny was imagining him with his majestic falcon Regal on his shoulder, and riding his horse. Ginny cursed herself for not being born at least three years earlier.
Lupin then called for Regal, but the bird would not budge, Lupin was slightly annoyed by this, but then he realized why…he was speaking to Regal in English. Lupin cleared his throat and tried to remember the word Bill had told him to use. "Regal," Lupin paused trying to ensure his pronunciation was correct, "tar!" With this, Regal gracefully swooped down and perched on Lupin's forearm, which was guarded with a falconer's glove. Lupin then tied a piece of parchment to Regal's leg, gave him something to eat, paused for a moment to remember another word, and sent him on his way by saying "Imigh!"
Regal let out a falcon's caw and flew out of the nearest window, off towards Ireland and the St. George monastery that was awaiting the arrival of one of their members and his special guest.
"Such a loyal bird," Lupin mused, "I can see why Sean treasures him so much."
"Why did he respond only when you told him "tar"?" Hermione asked Lupin.
"Regal is Sean's flacon" Lupin began, "and Sean is a proud Irishman whose lineage goes back to the Celtic tribes, he trained Regal in the Irish dialect of the Gaelic language, the language of his ancestors. "Tar" means come and "imigh" means go."
At this point Ginny thought that she would go into convulsions, now Sean was a dreamy warrior Knight, a heroic member of a mysterious Order, and now a proud member of a noble and ancient race who honored that heritage with everything in himself. Ginny was sure that she would never find a better man than Sean, but she also knew that there was no way they could be together, he was a Muggle warrior-monk, and she was a witch…it could never be.
Once all the Grangers and Weasleys that were staying at Grimmauld Place had been assembled in the main room, Lupin told them what to expect. "I believe that at this point you are all allowed to know the magnitude of this situation and what it means for you." Lupin explained about the intercepted communiqué, how Harry was in terrible danger, how Bill had come up with a plan to use the opportunity they had to end the insurgence of Lord Voldemort, and how Sean was indispensable to the success of this plan.
"May I ask why we and the Weasleys need to be here" Mr. Granger asked Lupin.
"Snape and LeStrange will be looking for Harry anywhere and everywhere they can think of…and they will start with his best friends."
"Ron and I." Hermione said with understanding.
"You especially" Lupin added. The reality that Harry and Hermione were fond of each other had been common knowledge to the Grangers and Weasleys for some time now, but the fact that the two of them had acknowledged and accepted it was not known.
"Voldemort's forces do not know of this place because of its protection," Lupin began to explain. "But if Snape and LeStrange are looking for us and don't find us at home" Ginny began inquisitively, having gotten over her fear of Harry being captured and killed, "then won't they suspect we know of their plan when they don't find us."
"A good observation," Lupin beamed, "we can only hope that they don't catch on, and besides, people go on holiday all the time during the summer months…just not in the wild between the Burrow and Ireland."
"But if Harry isn't with us," Mr. Granger asked once again, "than why do we need to go into hiding here?"
"Because" Lupin said, "they would torture and kill you to find out where he is." There was a tone of seriousness in Lupin's voice that Hermione had only heard before when she was in the Shrieking Shack with Harry and Ron back in third year.
"I understand" Mr. Granger replied, "How long will we need to be here?" Mrs. Granger asked.
"Voldemort's plan is to strike at the opening feast at Hogwarts. So for about three months."
"Can we communicate with Harry at all during that time?" Hermione asked with dread in her voice at the thought of not being able to correspond with him.
"I'm afraid not," Lupin said grimly, "Mr. O'Sullivan, asked specifically that correspondence be limited between him and myself through Regal. The Death Eaters will not be expecting us to communicate by anything other than owl, so that will give us another advantage."
Tonks, who had remained silent while Remus had explained, chose this moment to speak up. "It is absolutely vital that all of you comply with these conditions. We will never have another opportunity like this, we can end it all in one swift stroke and have peace once again." Tonks paused before continuing, she looked specifically at Hermione and Ginny, the two children that were staying at Grimmauld Place, Ron was sleeping at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes along with Fred and George.
"You two must not use Regal to communicate with Harry, he is merely the messenger between Sean and Remus. You must promise not to use Regal, Harry cannot be distracted anymore than he surely already is." The two young witches nodded and knew that they had to refrain from communicating with Harry. "Good." Tonks said after Hermione and Ginny showed their consent to comply.
"Very well." Lupin said, "I am still needed to report to McGonagall about the goings on among the werewolves. But Tonks will be staying here to make sure nothing happens, if the worst should happen she has been instructed on how to summon help. But in the meantime, I bid you all farewell and hope that we will meet again, all in one piece, and in very favorable circumstances." Lupin then kissed Tonks goodbye and turned to leave, he walked out the door, and apparated away from 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Have all of you made room arrangements?" Tonks asked turning to face the Grangers and Weasleys. They all nodded, and Tonks continued, "then would one of you be kind enough to show me to my room?" Mrs. Weasley volunteered to show Tonks to the nicest of the remaining empty rooms. A few minutes after Molly left with Tonks, Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Arthur decided to go to bed, while Ginny and Hermione decided to stay up and talk for a while…Hermione needed to confess some things and Ginny had been her best friend for some time, "but all in due time" she thought to herself.