A/N: Hey all. Here I am with the third chapter. It bases around the Order and how they are coping.

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot!

Chapter Three

"Harry!" cried Ginny as he stumbled back into the Order hideout, dragging a stunned Ron with help from a dazed Lupin. She rushed over to him, with Molly and Arthur. Molly and Arthur led Lupin to a seat as Tonks got him a glass of water. Ginny rushed to the other side of Ron and her and Harry led him to his bedroom, where Harry fell to the ground. Ginny pulled her wand out and reversed the spell cast on Ron. He moaned groggily but fell into a deep sleep.

Harry on the other hand looked devastated. Ginny covered Ron up with a blanket and knelt down in front of Harry a worried expression clearly evident on her facial features.

"Harry? What happened? Is Hermione alright?" asked Ginny calmly.

"They caught her. I told her to run and as I got up to follow I saw them catch her… the next thing I know she was gone."

"The Death Eater's got her?" said Ginny, "They attacked you and took Hermione away?"

Harry nodded in frustration, "Merlin I am so damn stupid! How could I let this happen to her? I was meant to keep her safe! Except I let her get caught!"

"It's not your fault Harry," said Ginny calmly with a hand on his shoulder, "We will get her back. Don't worry. You need some rest."

Harry opened his mouth to protest but Ginny clamped her hand over his mouth and looked at him sternly. She looked eerily like her mother that Harry looked down at the ground.

"Rest Harry. You won't find Hermione with zero energy."

Harry nodded and Ginny removed her hand as he stood and walked over to his bed. Ginny left the room and walked into the main living area with a grim expression.

"What's going on?" asked Tonks, "Remus knows nothing. Is Ron okay? What about Harry?"

"Tonks, your as bad as my mother!" cried Ginny more in annoyance as she sat at the kitchen table.

Molly handed her a hot coffee and Ginny sipped it before telling them what Harry had said.

"Firstly Ron is fine. Him and Harry are resting. While Lupin and Ron were stunned, Harry and Hermione were also attacked… I don't know exactly what happened but Harry said he told Hermione to run but as he went to follow he saw Hermione being taken away… by Death Eaters."

Everyone gasped, except for Molly who let out a sudden sob. No one spoke for a while. Molly turned away from everyone as she cried silently. Tonks gripped onto Lupin's hand while Arthur gripped onto the table edge so tight that his knuckles went white.

"We have to do something," said Ginny after a while to break the lingering silence, "Harry feels guilty… he'll want to do something as well."

"What can we do Ginny?" asked her father, "We are powerless. Hermione could be dead for all we know."

"DON'T SAY THAT!" shrieked Molly hysterically, "DO NOT SAY THAT!"

Everyone looked at Molly stunned. She had tears streaming down her face and her cheeks had blotchy red patches all over them. Arthur stepped towards his wife to comfort her but Molly backed away as the twins ran in from having visited Hogwarts to speak with McGonagall.

"What's going on?" asked Fred confused.

"Yeah, why is everyone looking so grim and why is Mum crying?" said George looking as confused as his brother.

"Hermione got caught… by the Death Eaters," answered Tonks, "Your mother is just upset about it."

"Caught? Wha- how?" asked Fred pleadingly.

"To get the full story we need Harry awake," said Lupin.

"But," cried Ginny stopping her twin brothers from going to get Harry, "He needs to rest, Ron is resting too. Him and Remus got stunned."

"Wait," said George, "This was that plan thing right? Hermione was heading to Australia to get help… so the Death Eater's attacked you, Harry, Ron and Hermione… but they took Hermione?"

"Something like that," nodded Arthur.

"What are we going to do?"

"Your father thinks we can't do anything. He says we are powerless and that Hermione could be dead," snapped Molly with a slight glare at her husband.

"This is Hermione we are talking about," said Fred, "Dead or alive we have to get her back."

"We will," said Ginny with a stern nod, "We will get her back Fred. We need to devise a plan first."

HD

"Hey man," said Ron the next morning as Harry woke, "Mum has breakfast cooked. Dad told me about Hermione."

Harry's stomach felt like it had been hit hard with a cement slab. He looked down at the ground and let out a deep, depressing breath. Ron walked over and sat beside his best mate and patted him on the back.

"We'll get her back. You and I both know Hermione is one tough cookie."

"Cookies get crumpled with one stamp of the foot Ron," replied Harry glancing at him.

"Not this cookie. No matter how times they try to turn her into crumbs, Hermione will get right back up. She is still alive Harry."

"How do you know?" snapped Harry.

"Get dressed and after breakfast I will show you how I know."

Ron stood and walked out of the dimly lit small room. With an annoyed sigh Harry stood and dressed into his normal everyday clothes of jeans and a shirt. He slipped his glasses on and walked out to the kitchen where most of the remaining Order members were. Hagrid remained at Hogwarts, as did McGonagall. Tonks, Lupin, Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Fred, George, Ron and Harry stayed in the hideout. The other Weasley's were in France or Germany with some order member's keeping an eye on things there. Other Order members were scattered throughout England, but many left upon the death of Dumbledore.

"Sit down, Harry," said Molly directing to the seat beside Ginny, "How are you feeling dear?"

"Oh you know… as best as I could," he said taking the plate of pancakes, "Can you pass me the maple syrup, Ginny?"

Ginny slid him the jug of maple syrup before returning to eating her own pancakes. Harry glanced her then poured the syrup all over his hot pancakes. Things between them were awkward at times, but mostly they had maintained a good friendship. He still found he could confide in Ginny about many things no other human being knew about. Like the fact he still missed his godfather everyday, especially at times like this.

After eating his pancakes and drinking a hot coco, Ron led Harry into Hermione's room that she had shared with Ginny. Hermione's bed was neatly made as always with her thick well-worn copy of Hogwarts, A History on her bedside table. Ron walked over to Hermione's closed trunk and lifted it onto her bed. He'd flicked open one of the locks when Ginny walked in humming. When she saw what Ron was doing she marched over to him and shoved him away.

"Ron! What do you think you are doing?" she cried.

"Seeing if Hermione is alive or not," replied Ron, "Could you move?"

"And how is looking in Hermione's trunk going to tell you that?"

"Well, Ginny, if you would move I could show you. It's something she only ever told me about."

Reluctantly Ginny backed away and stood beside a waiting Harry. Ron undid the final lock and lifted the lid back. He shifted her journal to the side and pulled out a rolled up bit of parchment with a pink ribbon done up around it.

"This is a list of all the old Dumbledore's Army member's," said Ron turning to look at Ginny and Harry.

"So?" asked Ginny, "Hermione hoard's things. I knew that."

"Let me explain, Ginny," snapped Ron in annoyance as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold imitation of a galleon, "Remember these?"

"Yeah, I still have mine," nodded Harry, "What about them?"

"They didn't just inform people when a next meeting was on," continued Ron, "Hermione put sensors on them… these sensors were connected to the person and the list. They can tell if the owner of the coin is dead or alive. When the owner dies the word 'deceased' appears beside their name."

Ron unrolled the list of names and pointed to Cho Chang's name. Sure enough beside it was the word 'deceased'.

"Where is Hermione's name?" cried Harry understanding finally.

Ron read down the list and let out a relieved laugh, "She's alive! Look!"

Harry snatched the list and finally smiled before handing it to Ginny, "She is alive. Let's keep this pinned up in here. If she… dies that's when we will tell the other's.

"We should tell them now," replied Ginny.

"No. This is just between us three. The less who know the better. I reckon someone in the Order is a snitch. Those Death Eater's found out about the plan somehow."

"I think you are right. Someone in this Order is a snitch or possibly under the imperious curse," said Ron, "We should keep an eye out for anyone acting odd."

Ginny nodded and rolled up the scroll, "We should hide this."

Ginny knelt to the ground and slid under her bed. Harry and Ron heard rustling and the sound of something sliding then snapping shut. Ginny crawled back out from under the bed and stood up right, "Loose floorboard. Stuck it in their under some books. Heavy books so if someone snoops and they are in a rush, they'll see heavy books and think 'No time to look'."

Harry and Ron nodded. Ron fixed up Hermione's trunk as Ginny smoothed the bed out. Harry left the room and headed to the kitchen with Ginny and Ron following him out a few seconds later.

"So what's the plan?" asked Harry looking around at everyone curiously, "Have you done any planning at all?"

"We have come to a decision," said Lupin calmly, "We don't know where Hermione is. But it would be best till we know for sure if she is alive."

"She is!" cried Ron suddenly, "We know she is alive."

"How?" asked Tonks.

Ginny trod on Ron's toes to keep him silent as she answered the question, "We can feel it."

Lupin sighed and ran a hand over his tired face. Tonks patted him on the shoulder and looked at the three people who were closest to Hermione.

"Guys… you have to prepare for the worst. When we know for sure if Hermione is alive that is when we will take some action. Doing that now is a risk to all of our lives," explained Tonks, her bubblegum pink hair changing to a dull red, "We are going to keep on getting a copy of the Pure Prophet sent to us by Madam Rosemerta… we can keep an eye on everything then."

Harry just gave a grunt as a response and left for his room. Ron shook his head, as if telling them they were all making a mistake and Ginny just gave a tight-lipped smile before following the other two.

HD

"HARRY!" bellowed Ron two days later, "HARRY!"

Harry sat up awake in shock and fumbled around on his bedside table for his glasses, by the time he got them on, Ron had thrust a copy of the Pure Prophet in his face. Harry leaned back from the paper and took it from Ron. It was a page of advertisements. Harry looked up at Ron who sighed and pointed his finger to one. Harry leaned closer and read the name.

"It's her!" he cried looking up at Ron, "She is bound to be taken quickly."

"Exactly. Ginny thinks we should wait a day then send in a letter asking about her… they are bound to write back that she has been sold and will probably tell us the name of the 'owner' and give contact details incase we wish to make a bargain for her with them."

"Sounds like a good idea. Have you told the others?"

Ron shook his head, "Ginny says they'll interfere for our safety… they have all changed. We need to get out of here… soon."

"I know. We'll work on that. Maybe we can contact Hagrid, he might be able to persuade McGonagall to let us three… or all of us stay at Hogwarts. Then we will have better resources there."

"True. I'll even work for McGonagall if it means leaving this place."

Harry snorted at his comment, earning a glare from Ron.

"Sorry mate," apologized Harry, "I'm just trying to imagine you working in the library with Madam Pince."

"I'll work anywhere but there… and with Filch."

"Where is Ginny?" asked Harry realizing the youngest Weasley was absent.

"Having a shower. Fred flicked porridge at her and it went through her hair… He got bat bogey hexed for it though."

Harry laughed, "What breakfast is left over?"

"Some bacon… three or four eggs and a few hash browns."

Harry nodded, "Alright. I'll get change and be out then."

HD

"It's Millie!" cried Ginny later that night as the rat came scampering inside through her little entrance beside the actual entrance door, "Millie, come here girl."

The little rat ran over to Ginny who held her gently in her hands and removed the carefully folded note under her stomach. Everyone came running into the kitchen as Ginny unfolded it a little to reach the name of whom it was for and from.

"To Them From HG," read Ginny her heart racing. She looked up at everyone who all looked shocked that Hermione had managed to get in contact with them.

"Read it!" cried Molly.

Ginny unfolded the letter and straightened it out.

"Dear All of you,

"Do not panic. I am alive and rather well. I am a slave at the M.M with five others. I have only been hit once upon arrival by the elder one. This may be the only chance I get in contacting you all for a while. Please do not panic about me and do not do anything erratic. You will know if I die.

"H.G"

Ginny folded the letter back up and sat at the kitchen table with a sigh. Harry walked over and took the letter from her reading it for him self. He folded it up and turned around to face everyone.

"So she is at the Malfoy Manor. They brought her… and Lucius has already hit her," he summarized more so for him self.

Ron nodded, "She doesn't want us doing anything irrational… which shows she is still herself."

"That is a good sign. Normally that much trauma can really do a number on someone," said Tonks.

"But where do we go from here?" asked Ginny.

"But," said Fred, "What does she mean by 'You will know if I die'?"

Harry cast Ron a sidelong glance warning him to keep his mouth shut. Ron managed to keep quiet, as did Ginny, making it seem the three were in thought.

"Maybe she is saying we will just know," shrugged Ginny after a while, "Like inside our hearts that we will know."

"Harry," said Ron suddenly, "We have that thing to do."

"What thing?" asked Harry frowning at Ron in confusion.

Ron shot him a look and Harry nodded in realization.

"Oh yeah, that thing!"

Ron and Harry stood and headed for the hideout door. Molly looked at them frowning and stood up from her seat.

"Where are you two going? It is dangerous outside that door," she said sternly.

"We have to do something," said Ron firmly to his mother, "We have our wands. Just trust us."

Harry pushed the door open and stepped out into the overwhelming mist. Ron followed him out and shut the door behind him before covering it with thick vines.

"Where are we going?" asked Harry finally.

"To Hogwarts. We can speak to Hagrid first and then McGonagall. We can even be extra protection for the school should Death Eater's attack it."

"Yeah, but it all depends on McGonagall agreeing to the plan. We can't assume anything yet. Let's get moving, it's not smart to just stand around here."

Ron nodded and him and Harry began walking quickly through the forest. They knew the path well from using it whenever they needed to see McGonagall or Hagrid about the Order. Despite everything happening in the world Hogwarts remained the safest place in the world with the protection spells recreating themselves when Dumbledore died.

It took them twenty minutes to reach the Hogwarts gates. Ron muttered a spell at the padlock. Only few Order members knew it, along with only the school staff. When it creaked open, him and Harry ran in, with Harry locking it shut. They ran down to Hagrid's hut. Harry knocked three times and the door was opened.

"Harry, Ron! Good ter see yer both," he said letting them in, "I heard abou' Ermione. Horrible news tha' is."

Harry nodded, "She is alive. The Malfoy's brought her along with five other slaves."

Hagrid looked a sudden mix of emotions: relief, happiness, anger and disgust. He took a deep breath before speaking rather calmly, "Good ter know she is alive… but the Malfoy's brought her? Tha's just horrible on it's own!"

"We know," sighed Ron, "She's already been hit once. That was just on arrival!"

"Blimey… we can only hope she's doing well then."

Harry and Ron nodded and all fell silent for a few moments. Hagrid gave a great sigh and stood to go make some tea.

"Hagrid," said Harry as his half-giant friend collected three giant mugs from a shelf, "Do you reckon McGonagall would let the Order live at Hogwarts if we offered to be extra protection on the school? That hideout is driving everyone insane and we can't escape each other."

"I think she would. Molly could even offer some weekend or after school lessons in knitting and things like that. Yer could give flying lessons and Quidditch ones, Harry. Offer some tutoring… I think Professor McGonagall would agree too it."

Harry and Ron swapped pleasing looks. After having their rather strong cup of tea the two left and headed up to the school for a meeting with McGonagall. When they explained their idea and things they could offer, she gave them a stern look.

"What else do you plan on doing here?" she asked.

"Researching possible ways to bring down the Death Eaters," said Harry, "Hogwarts has resources in its library… the Room of Requirement… everything that small… hideout doesn't"

McGonagall nodded and looked up at the painting of Albus Dumbledore. He seemed to have gone deaf with in it, fiddling with his long white beard. In other words he was telling the Head Mistress, it was her choice.

"Well… you are offering a lot for what you will be receiving. And you are yet to convince the other Order members you both are living with," said McGonagall, "I shall agree too it. On agreement that all you offer is lived up too. We will decide on times for them when you return with all you live with."

"Oh don't worry, they'll come. One way or another," said Ron determinedly, "Even if I have to drag them all here on my own."

HD

"Just think about it," said Harry in annoyance after everyone made comments on the idea, "Mrs Weasley, you don't have to cook for us and you get too teach students how to knit, sew… everything, Ginny you can tutor students in which ever subject that pleases you and Remus can give his own style of after school defense lessons. Tonks can do the same… Mr Weasley can teach tutor lessons in Muggle Studies… Fred, George weekend fun lessons in creating things to take the student's minds off the outside world and Ron and I can do quidditch."

"Most of all," added Ron, "We can get time away from each other and research how to beat the Death Eaters and get Hermione back."

"Well I am all for it," said Ginny standing up, "Anywhere is better then this place."

"We agree," said Fred and George together and even saying in unison, "Come on Mum!"

Molly sighed, "Well this place is small for all of us. Hogwarts is safer…"

"Then do you agree?" asked Ron.

"I… I agree," nodded Molly looking at Arthur who gave the nod.

Everyone looked at Tonks and Lupin. After a few moments Tonks nodded along with Lupin. Harry broke out into a grin, as did Ron.

"Let's get packing!" said Ron with a clap of his hands, "McGonagall said we can arrive as soon as we all are ready. Tonight would be best. Less chance of being seen in the mist."

They all agreed and went off to begin packing. Ginny made sure to get the D.A list and packed it in the bottom of her trunk. She gathered other things like clothes, shoes, books, hair necessitates along with her toiletries. She even packed a few of Hermione's belonging's incase she needed them should they manage to get her back alive.

An hour later the group met in the kitchen. They casted lightweight spells on their trunks and bags and left the hideout one last time, they hoped. The journey to Hogwarts was dark. No moon shone through the trees, in fact it hadn't shone for months, neither had the stars. The air was colder then normal meaning only one thing. The Dementors were breeding even more, meaning they were bound to spread further in covering the earth.

Ginny stumbled over an uprooted tree root. As she was about to hit the ground, Harry caught her. Ginny gave a little cough and stood upright. Her eyes locked with Harry's green ones, but he let her go and continued walking. Gathering her gear up, Ginny continued walking keep a better watch on the ground for any more tree roots.

A/N: There you go! Hope you all enjoyed it! Please review! Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!