C Chapter 18: A Plan Set in Motion

Harry and the twins stared at Ron and Hermione open-mouthed.

"You're what?" Harry asked.

"Engaged! Are you deaf or something, mate?" Ron asked, grinning.

"Am I deaf? No. Are you daft? Yes!" Harry cried. You can't get married now!"

"And why not?" Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes.

"You're too young! Hermione, I'd think you'd have more sense than this!" Harry couldn't believe what his two best friends were doing. The twins still hadn't said anything, but were just standing there with their mouths hanging open. Ron and Hermione turned to stare at each other, both grinning slightly. Harry turned back to see if the twins had something to say, but they hadn't changed their stance. Harry turned back around to face Ron and Hermione, who were now absolutely beaming. They stared at Harry, and Ron started to giggle. Hermione soon joined in, and within seconds they were both lost in fits of laughter.

"What is wrong with you two?" Harry demanded.

Hermione took the ring off her finger then pointed her wand at it and muttered something. It transfigured into a cushion, which Hermione placed in its proper spot next to her on the couch.

"What-?" Harry was starting to understand. "Wait, were you two were joking?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Well, do you really think we'd get married at seventeen?" Hermione asked.

"Er, well, uh, no, I guess," Harry responded. Suddenly, Fred and George broke their silence and started guffawing.

"Ooh, that was a good one Ronnie!" Fred said, grasping his belly and short of breath.

"Whew, who would have thought Ronnie could actually pull off a prank?" George asked.

"Well, he did have Hermione to help him!" Fred added.

"Hey! I can pull off pranks by myself!" Ron cried indignantly.

"Sure you can, little bro," George said unbelievingly, patting Ron on the back, "suuure you can." The twins walked into the kitchen laughing.

"Well, you had me, you two," Harry said grinning. "I couldn't believe you were engaged! But what exactly is going on…" he trailed off.

"Um, well…" Ron said, reddening and staring at Hermione for help.

"Oh honestly Ron! Just admit it!" Hermione turned from Ron to Harry. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend now," she told Harry matter-of-factly. Harry let out a low whistle.

"Finally! I was wondering when you would ask her, Ron," Harry said. Ron reddened more, if that was possible.

"Actually, I asked him," Hermione said, smiling.

"Ok, ok, you don't have to go telling everyone that!" Ron exclaimed.

"I'm not telling everyone, Ronald, it's just Harry!" Hermione rebutted.

"Well, you said it loud enough for the whole house to hear! I don't want the twins teasing me for not being able to ask a girl out."

"Well, you didn't Ron."

"But I was going to, Hermione! If you had only waited for me…"

Harry grinned. Even though his two friends were together now, things were the same: constant bickering. Things will always be the same, Harry thought with a satisfied smile.

During breakfast, Ron suffered endless teasing from the twins once they found out about his and Hermione's relationship, and Ginny squealed with delight once she heard. Ron was grateful to escape his embarrassing family once the meal was over. Mrs. Weasley spent breakfast time crying both tears of sorrow for Percy and tears of joy for her youngest son. After eating, Harry, Ron, and Hermione retired to the drawing room.

"I wonder what's happened to Percy…" Ron said distantly. "You don't think they've…you know…" Ron asked. He didn't have to say it directly, because Harry and Hermione both knew he meant the dementor's kiss.

"No, I don't think so, Ron," Hermione said comfortingly. "They have no reason to! They took him for another reason…"

"They took him to get to me!" Harry cried madly. "Voldemort sent the dementors to get me! But since they couldn't, they took Percy hostage, hoping that I'd come and save him!" Harry was shouting now. "This is all my fault! Everything is always my fault!" Ron and Hermione stared at Harry in shock.

"That does seem very likely, Harry. I suppose you're right," Hermione said after Harry seemed to cool down a bit.

"Then we have to go and save him," Harry replied.

"No!" Hermione cried. Ron stared at her incredulously.

"No? Even though he's an annoying git, he's still my brother, Hermione!" Ron retorted.

"That's not what I meant!" Hermione sighed. "It's way to dangerous to go out looking for him! The order will find him. I'm sure of it."

"But it's my fault he's gone! I have to find him!" Harry cried.

"No, it's not your fault, Harry," Hermione said. "It's nobody's fault. The order will save him and that's that. We have to find the horcruxes, remember?"

"Fine, fine," Harry conceded. Just then, Mrs. Weasley burst into the living room, with an extremely joyful expression on her face, and flailing her hands which were holding a couple of envelopes.

"I'm sorry dears, but I just had to open them, when I saw the seal on the covers!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, handing Ron and Hermione each an envelope. Harry leaned over to see what the fuss was all about. Harry's best friends emptied the contents of the envelopes onto their laps. Two shiny silver badges fell out, both with a huge "H" superimposed upon the Hogwart's crest.

"I'm head girl!" Hermione cried, admiring her new badge. "Oh, I can't believe it!"

"I can," Harry muttered under his breath. Ron just gazed open mouthed at his badge, just like he'd done when he received his prefect badge two years earlier.

"Great job guys," Harry told his friends as Mrs. Weasley gave them great big bear hugs. After fussing over their achievement and ruffling Ron's hair, Mrs. Weasley went into the kitchen to bake them a fresh chocolate cake.

"Too bad I won't be able to enjoy any of the head girl privileges," Hermione said sadly.

"Huh? Why not?" Ron asked.

"Ron! Have you forgotten? We're not going back to school! Remember our plan?"

"Oh yeah," Ron replied as comprehension dawned. "Darn, I was looking forward to having the elves personally wait on me," Ron said. Hermione glared at him.

"So, you want to go ahead with the plan?" Harry asked Hermione. He remembered she had been skeptical about parts of it before.

"For the most part, yes. But I do not think we should use the Imperious Curse, Harry. That's illegal," Hermione reprimanded.

"I know it's illegal, Hermione. But how else are we going to get anyone to take the Polyjuice Potion all year?" Harry asked.

"Well, we have to just get the right person," Hermione answered. "Even though I don't approve of threats, I believe that under these strenuous conditions it would be okay to blackmail your aunt into letting Dudley take your place." Harry stared at her with his eyebrows raised. "Oh goodness, I can't believe I just said that!" Hermione spoke to herself.

"Well, what about you and me?" Ron asked her. "I'm pretty sure there's no one we could blackmail."

"We don't have to blackmail anyone, Ron! We could just ask!"

"Well, who'd do that for us? All of our friends are at school already!"

"Well…" Hermione started.

"What?" Ron and Harry both asked.

"I was thinking Fred or George could take your place, Ron. That way one of them could run the shop while the other was away."

"Ha ha, that's funny Hermione. Like they'd ever do that! They hate school!" Ron exclaimed.

"Well, it's the only thing I could think of! They're your brothers, Ron! They're supposed to do favors for you! There has to be some way to get them to do it…" Hermione got lost in deep thought.

"And what about you, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Well, I was thinking about asking your old neighbor you told us about, Mrs. Figg. I know you said she's a squib, but she's the only option. We don't want anyone babbling on us."

"I'm sure she'd do it, Hermione. She'd probably love to have a young body again." Harry shuddered at the memory of Mrs. Figg's heavily veined legs and dentures.

"Great, then it's a plan! Harry, you can owl Mrs. Figg today and tell her what's going on. Ron, you get to working on the twins. And I'll continue working on the Polyjuice Potion. I started last week when I first thought of it. Sorry, I had to take a few items from your pantry, Ron." Harry and Ron stared at her, amazed. Just like Hermione to get things done, Harry thought, right before his stomach started churning at the thought of the great task ahead of him.