Unfortunate Relations

Author's Note: Yo. I'm back. Please try your very best to restrain yourself from killing me. Umm…so I'm sure you all hate me by now…but at least I'm back! I seriously am SO SORRY that it took me so long to update…I have a plan now, though- so don't worry. Part of the reason why (the rest is due to laziness) is because my retarded computer erased (yes, you have that right. ERASED) chapter seven and eight (seven and eight were originally one chapter). DON'T HATE MEEEE! You know, I had originally intended for these two chapters to be SERIOUS. Seriously. But…they turned out rather comic. So- enjoy.

Chapter Seven: Breaking the Silence

Far away- or maybe it just seemed far away- the sun shone. Birds sang, people chattered happily to one another, bright trees glistened in the light. But there was definitely a cloud hanging over the vacant lot, and there was rain, thunder- the whole package that makes one rainy day (A/N: just mix, and stir! lol)

Maybe this was what the sign meant by 'Keep out! Violators will be prosecuted.' Of course, though it seemed like it, the strip of land was much more than just an empty lot. With the help of Harry's knowledge of its location, Ron's sarcastic remarks, and finally (brought on by Ron's sarcasm and the annoyance of the pounding rain drops) a revealing spell from Hermione, they had reached their destination at last.

There was just one problem: all entrances were sealed shut. Oh, and did I mention it was raining?

"My, what cheery weather! Shall we have a picnic, then?" a bitter teenager voiced his opinions, his lanky legs thrown dejectedly on a porch step.

"Oh, cut the sarcasm for once, Ron." Hermione snapped. "But I do like the lunch idea." she admitted sheepishly.

Then- despite all their rotten luck- Harry laughed; that was the great thing about his friends. They always managed to make him laugh- no matter how bad the situation. "Yeah. Lunch sounds good."

XXXXXXXXXX

Katie's eyes snapped open, looking straight into the concerned faces of Fred and George. She was scared to close her eyes again- but at the same time afraid to keep them open, after a long nightmare that hopefully meant nothing, she didn't want to have to relive it, making it all the more real in moonlight shadows.

"Are you…alright, Katie?" George asked slowly, the worry never leaving his edgy features.

"No- I mean, yes of course! Why wouldn't I be?" her thoughts muddled around in her head as she tried to grasp the meaning of her dream…or flashback…or whatever it had been. But she didn't need to burden the twins with a dream that probably (she hoped) didn't have any significance.

"Anyways…what's wrong with youtwo? You're gaping like monkeys." Katie giggled nervously, trying her very best to peer up at them with innocent eyes.

"What's wrong with you, don't you mean?" Even though the rain had long since passed, thunder rumbled in the distance, making the setting just a little more ominous than before- even though the rain had long since past.

Katie snorted. "You gits, what are you talking a-" she stopped as blood dripped from her nose to the ground. "Oh, no…"

"Were you having a wrestling match in you sleep or something?" Fred and George both laughed uneasily, seeing the unhappy look on her face.

"No." She looked around for the first time since she had woken- and was surprised to find the sun barely tipping the horizon to chase the stars, and light Katie's flushed cheeks. She smiled as the glint seemed to set the twins' hair aflame while at the same time highlighting warm eyes and freckles.

Katie would have been very much content to remain in this moment forever- the time when day and night met for a brief instant and any trouble slipped away in the glory of gold and silver.

But it only lasted a brief instant; and Katie knew she must break the silence- she had stopped being a coward days ago. She couldn't hide in simple, beautiful moments anyways, even if she had wanted to.

"No." she slowly repeated. "But I did have a weird dream…" It took Katie only a few minutes to recount her story to them.

At first, they looked confused- freckled faces wrinkling in bewilderment. Then, as slowly as the sunrise had crept from behind the hills, grins dawned on both their faces.

"Well, what ARE we waiting for?"

"Let's get to it."

Katie's excited grin matched their own, but once again she was just hiding behind a mask. 'Onto the next one.' She thought, though it was a dismal realization. A crawling sense of foreboding had risen within her- this time, she could guess, wouldn't be so easy as the last.

She knew her uncle only too well.

XXX

"Can we please go now?" Hermione pleaded, he shoes squelching soggily in the rain. Harry knew she was right- she had to be; Hermione was the only one out of the three of them who could have figured out how to get in, and even she had failed.

But still, it was frustrating, knowing you were this close to a horcrux but still that far away.

Slowly, reluctantly, Harry stood up from the creaky, rotting porch and nodded to his companions. "Let's go." He muttered.

Hermione willing thrust herself forward, glad to leave the place. But Ron didn't budge, he simply sat, gaping intently at something to his right.

Not reading his expression, Hermione rolled her eyes and tapped her foot impatiently. "Honestly, Ron- we've tried everything. What's sitting there going to get us?" She turned to Harry, hoping that maybe he could reason with Ron- but, by now, he too was staring incredulous…

Finally, Hermione reluctantly followed both their gazes. Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. After a moment of surprised silence, the trio erupted in noisy exclamations.

"Fred? George?"

"What're my brothers doing here?"

"What're your brothers doing here?"

Sure enough, three figures were walking directly toward them (no one paid much attention to the third person, she rather blended in with the grey surroundings), and two flaming heads were easily distinguishable despite the blurring of the constant drizzle.

Though they looked a bit confused…probably because the visibility spell Hermione had used only applied to Harry, Ron and herself.

Ron, grateful to see any familiar face, leaped up to run towards them. "Hey, Fr-"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed as Harry quickly yanked him back down.

"What? They are my brothers, after all."

"Are they?"

Ron looked from Harry to Hermione's grave expressions in bewilderment. Then, realizing at last what they had meant by it, he burst out laughing. "Oh, right!" He exclaimed loudly between chuckles. "One of Voldemort's favorite disguises is- is- FRED AND GEORGE! Ha ha ha! Oh, ha-"

"SHUT IT, RON!" Both his friends whispered fiercely. Hermione tried a new attempt, desperately covering his mouth with her hands.

Harry shakily drew his wand as the figures got closer. He certainly hoped it was Fred and George approaching, but what could possibly bring them here?

'Well,' he thought grimly, 'looks like we're going to find out.'

So, what'd ya think? PLEASE review- don't forget me just because I'm lame and haven't posted in a while. I'll try to update more often…