I know, it's been forever and I really, really am crappy, but that's ok. You guys always forgive me. I hope this chapter lives up to you expectations.

Disclaimer: Not mine, still JK's.

Chapter 13: Castles and Observations

"Both Molly and little Evie are alive. For the moment."

Dumbledore's words brought a great whooshing sigh of relief from the table. While they were not enough to completely dispel doubts from all of their minds, it was a start. Besides, if Dumbledore, fairly omniscient Dumbledore, said it, there must be some semblance of truth to it.

"They are, however, in danger. The Death Eaters know that these two are worth more to them alive than dead. While they are living and in their clutches, they know that many of you will rush to save them. It is a well known and clichéd plan, one we have faced many times over, but I fear that this time the ending costs could be more than any other time. It is best to proceed with caution."

He sat at the table with eyes no longer twinkling and long fingers folded thoughtfully beneath his long and crooked nose. The half moon spectacles that usually made the man appear wise and all knowing now only served as a clear mask to the uncertainty that was etched across his wizened features. Hermione found herself staring at him with a mixture of feeling between complete trust and rage at the fact that he knew so much and could do nothing to stop any of it. She turned her gaze away from him and looked around at the other occupants of the Grimmauld Place Kitchen.

Percy and Fred sat beside each other, looking very pale and almost death-like in their obvious exhaustion. She pitied them, these last hopes of a long standing house, and looking at them made her pity herself, but she envied them their strength. They'd been through more than should have been expected of them, and yet they still went on with life the best they could. They had done their best in adjusting to a world in which there were not numerous brothers to pester and love them, they had taken it upon themselves to marry their Muggleborn friends, and were now left to face the kidnapping of their mother, their one last tie to a happier time. And yet, they looked no worse for the wear. Not any worse than they had looked at Ron's funeral, she mused.

Across from her, Harry seemed to be holding up rather well, too. His face was stern and grim, but it was determined. If he ever looked like the heroic Boy-Who-Lived, it was at this moment. But, because she knew him so well, Hermione could just see the twitch at the corner of his mouth that betrayed him. She knew that if he had been alone, he would have been in tears within seconds. She admired his bravery before his wife, who was obviously having a way more difficult time grasping the truth of the matter. Ever emotional and sympathetic, Hannah was expressing everyone's feelings with quiet sobs and heavy tears and shaking shoulders.

Beside her, Remus was stiff and angry; she could feel the fury coming off of him in heavy waves that made her shiver, especially when she chanced a look at his eyes. The normally calm and gentle amber eyes were almost feral. His nostrils were flaring dangerously as he tried to calm himself with deep breaths. It wasn't helping and his fists were clenching and unclenching on the table in front of him. She reached out to touch his shoulder comfortingly but he flinched away from her fingers, fixing her with a hard glare instead. She winced and retracted her hand quickly and set it in her lap, following it down with her eyes.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Snape looking at her. Defiantly, she turned to face him, daring him to make some snide comment. His eyebrow was arched questioningly and a smug smirk graced his features and he opened his mouth to say something. Hermione, with a bit of quick thinking stared pointedly at the corner of his mouth that was quite red and looked as though it might swell. His mouth shut with a sharp snap and he self-consciously touched the raising skin and gave her his famous glare.

"I know where they are."

Dumbledore's words bring Hermione out of her study of the room's occupants. Her head flipped about to face the aging Headmaster, just as did everyone's. There was an immediate uproar.

"You know?"

"Where are they--?"

"Why didn't you say--?"

"Is it near, sir?"

"What in hell made you not say?"

"Where is it, Professor?"

The Headmaster held up one grave hand in order to stop the questioning. Everyone closed their mouths immediately. He turned to look from one face to another before resting on Snape.

"Severus, my boy, what do you know of Ms. Turner?"

Snape sneered, revealing his stained teeth. "A most...idealistic woman. Young, I'd guess no more than 25. Was a Ravenclaw and, true to her house, possesses a most dizzying intellect at times. Pity she put it to such a use. If I were to guess where she makes her home, I would say that it's somewhere in Northern England. Her accent is distinctive to that area. She works with the Ministry's Obliviation Department, specifically with the branch that tries to keep some of the more curious Muggles from discovering about the more haunted places in Britain. She works at Raby Castle to keep the Muggles quiet about some of the attacks and tricks that the ghosts there are behind. During her off hours she can be found talking with Charles Neville, one of the ghosts, or..." he sneered, showing his obvious disgust, "thumbing through her Grimm's Fairy Tales book."

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, that's about what I know of her, too."

Harry was staring at Snape uncertainly. "How did you know all that about her? Were you stalking her or something?"

Snape gave Harry a withering glare. "No, I was checking up on her, making sure she wasn't a Death Eater."

Remus snorted. "Obviously, you missed something rather key, Severus."

Before Snape could retort with some biting comment, Hermione spoke up. "But, Professor Snape, you said she was a Death Eater, right?" Another withering glance, this time in her direction. "But, you also said she likes to read Fairy Tales. Grimm's Fairy Tales."

Snape sneered. "So the chit has disgusting taste in literature. What of it?"

Hermione was genuinely puzzled. "But...Grimm's Fairy Tales are...well, they're Muggle. Why would a Death Eater, a person who wants to rid the world of everything Muggle, be reading some of their own folk tales?"

Dumbledore looked up from his hands for a moment, an inquisitive twinkle in his eyes. "An excellent question, Mrs. Lupin. A most intriguing thought. Why would a Death Eater be reading Fairy Tales written by a pair of Muggle gentlemen? Most perplexing." He stood up rather nimbly for an old man and clapped his hands together almost cheerfully. "Ah, well, a thought for another time, perhaps, eh? After all, there are more important matters at hand." He turned to leave, but a thought struck him. He once again faced them, his eyes hard. "None of you will go to Raby Castle. No action on any of your parts is to be taken until I am sure that there is a chance. For once, we will not fly in with wands blazing. We will wait for the right time."

Remus stood abruptly to protest. Dumbledore set a calming hand on the werewolf's shoulder. "The time will come soon enough, my boy. No use in getting yourself killed in the process of rescuing your daughter." He stared into Remus' wild eyes. "Soon."

As he was about to leave, Hannah stopped him with her timid shaking voice. "Sir? W-why aren't we allowed to go to Raby Castle? N-not that I want to," she hurriedly added, cowering, after seeing the look on Snape's face.

Dumbledore, with his kindly smile, faced her. "Well, that's where Molly and Evie are, Mrs. Potter. Didn't I tell you that?" Vehement head shaking came from Hannah. "Ah, well, it must have slipped my mind. At any rate, that's where they are, and," he turned a calculating eye on Remus, "that's where they'll stay until I see fit to put the Order into motion. Do you understand?" While the question was meant to sound general, it was directed at Remus. He jerked his head in a reluctant affirmative. Dumbledore smiled slightly and turned and left in a swish of blue robes.

Hermione stood after the Headmaster had gone and took hold of her husband's arm as comfortingly and soothingly as she could. He brushed her off and took to pacing the kitchen. She tried to follow him and be as sympathetic as possible, but he ignored her to the point where she just returned to her seat.

"Where is he going, you think?" Harry mused aloud, a grim, but thoughtful expression on his face.

"Probably to get some Order members?" Fred guessed.

Percy nodded regally. "I would suppose that. Why else would he be leaving instead of simply leading us to the castle?"

Hermione shrugged. "Dumbledore's got his reasons. He always does."

She turned to look to her husband, hoping he would be more agreeable. He simply stared back, his eyes dangerously wild. She shivered and looked away. He's more determined to find Evie now than he was just a moment ago. With a determined tilt of her chin, she vowed not to let him out of her sight until plans had been made. She sighed, tilted her head towards Remus, and rested her cheek against her hand. It was going to be a long evening.

There you are. I hope that'll satisfy you until the next chapter. I know it wasn't very good, but, oh well. I'm trying to get it done before I screw it up completely.