Dueling With Destiny
Summary: Everyone has a destiny. But for Hermione, that destiny is something she has been fighting her whole life…
Rated: T
Disclaimer: Now really, what a silly thing to think? As if a multi-millionaire (or is it billionaire now?) would be sitting in this little office space.
Author's Note: Alright, so I lied. It took longer than anticipated for this chapter to come up. In my defense though the number of chapters for the competition was reduced so there was no need to rush. Especially being no one decided to review on here. glares angrily at readers
Besides, I'm updating it now aren't I? At 12 o'clock in the morning too I might add! I've got three scholarship applications to write tomorrow along with another chapter of this for the competition so I decided I better get started early. Then at least I stand a decent chance of getting everything done.
(By the way, I'm taking out the Half Blooded Prince Spoiler Warning. If your stupid enough to be reading this but not the book yet then you deserve to get it ruined for you.)
Chapter 5: Late Night Chats
The kitchen that evening was bustling, filled with the chatter of the eight Weasley's plus other members of the Order who had continually been showing up throughout all of dinner.
"Alright now! Let's get this mess cleaned up so we can start this meeting!" Tonks said, a little too brightly, as she jumped up from her seat next to Remus to help Molly clear the table.
Mrs. Weasley bit her lip but said nothing. Order meetings always made her nervous, especially these days when there were always casualties that needed mentioning.
"Ron, why don't you and Harry take the girls outside for a bit?" She said after a moment.
"But what about the meeting?" Ron asked.
Mrs. Weasley turned toward her son, shooting death rays at him.
"The meeting is for Order members only, Ronald," she said coolly.
"Yes… But…" Ron sputtered. "Being we're of age now we thought…"
"Absolutely not!" Mrs. Weasley said fiercely. "I will not allow it!"
"Molly, they're of age," Mr. Weasley said gently, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You can't protect them forever."
"Well I can try, can't I?" she cried, sniffing back tears. "For Merlin's sake Arthur! No matter what the law says they're still too young! I won't have them risking their lives!"
"I'm afraid they already are," a voice said sadly from the doorway. Professor McGonagall stepped out of the shadow slowly, casting a sad smile at Mrs. Weasley. "Let them stay, Molly. They should not be kept in the dark any longer."
Mrs. Weasley looked around the room for a minute before her shoulders sagged in defeat. "Ginny! Upstairs!" She said harshly.
Ginny opened her mouth to protest but she was quickly silenced.
"I may not have a say in what your brothers do any more but until the time comes when you are of age you will continue to listen to me! Now upstairs!"
Ginny pushed her chair back from the table and headed up to her room muttering as she went. No one said a thing as Mrs. Weasley shut the door behind her and placed a silencing charm on it.
The group scuttled about clearing off the table and finding a place to sit. Professor McGonagall seated herself at the head of the table, surveying everyone slowly. Her eyes landed on the trio who sat quietly to one side, waiting.
"I hope you three realize that being allowed to sit in on this meeting does not make you members of the Order."
She held up her hand as Harry opened his mouth to speak. "I am well aware that you are of age now and we will discuss that fact at a later date. You are sitting in on this meeting for your own benefit. What is to be sad concerns us all and I believe there is no use in keeping it from you."
She paused for a moment.
"Now, we are here tonight to discuss the Death Eater's recent activity or, should I say, the lack there of. Lately, the number of attacks has grown fewer, almost non-existent in fact. There hasn't been an attack on any muggles in almost two months now."
"It's always quiet before a storm," Lupin murmured
McGonagall nodded. "I'm afraid I can't help but agree with you, Remus," she said sadly. "The future holds great danger for all of us. We must be prepared for whatever is to come. Just because the Death Eaters have stopped the attacks recently does not mean that we should let our guard down. Whatever is to come, we must prepare for it as best we can."
The group remained silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Hermione asked after a while, her voice barely above a whisper.
Professor McGonagall attempted a weak smile. "It's hard to say. Our sources are not what they used to be. At this time, the best plan is to keep up the search for the horcruxes. They are our main goal. Without them any battle we might face in the future will be disastrous."
"How?" Harry asked his head suddenly snapping up so that his brilliant green eyes locked with the old hazel ones of McGonagall. "We have no idea what the last horcruxes could be or if they're even still out there. They could be anything! For all we know Voldemort could already have them and is simply bidding his time till he attacks."
"Harry…" Hermione began, reaching out to touch his shoulder gently.
"No Hermione!" Harry said, pulling his arm away angrily. "Voldemort knows what the horcruxes are. He knows where they're hidden. We're on a wild goose chase! Searching for some hopeless mystery items and trying to get to them before he does!"
"I understand how impossible this task must sound but that doesn't mean we must stop trying, Harry," McGonagall said calmly. "We must have hope that we will find the horcruxes in time. That good will triumph over evil."
"Have faith mate!" Ron said, attempting to be cheerful. "Two of them were already destroyed."
"And we know what two of the other ones are!" Tonks added brightly.
"Which leaves the final two that we have no idea about," Harry mumbled.
"It will take time, Harry," McGonagall said gently. "I know its hard but in time we can hope to discover more."
Harry looked at her sadly from across the table.
"I know," he said simply. "I'm just afraid time is something we don't have."
About half an hour later, after discussing plans and ideas further in depth, Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed up the stairs. Without a word, Hermione followed the boys into their room and shut the door. Not surprisingly, Ginny sat on one of the beds waiting expectantly.
"So what happened?" Ginny asked, unable to hide her curiosity. "What'd they say?"
"Nothing really," said Ron as he plopped down on his bed. "Nothing important anyway."
"No one knows what's going on," Harry said as he glanced out the window into the night. "There haven't been any attacks in months."
"It's all pretty much guesses as to what the Death Eaters are planning," Ron continued. "But whatever it is, it's big."
Ginny paused, waiting for someone to say more.
"So that's it?" Ginny said finally once no one had spoken. "That's all they said. No ideas? No plans?"
"As of right now the only plan is to continue to search for the horcruxes and hope for the best," Ron replied.
The group grew silent once more, unsure of quite what to say next. Ginny looked across the room to where Hermione stood, noticing suddenly just how quiet her friend had gotten.
"Well, it's late! We best be getting to bed soon!" Ginny said suddenly. "Come on Hermione!"
Ginny sprang off the bed and practically flew out the door, grabbing Hermione by the arm as she went. Ron stared after them quizzically for a moment before turning to Harry.
"What do you suppose that was about?"
Harry shrugged. "Who knows? Probably just more girl stuff… Let's just go to sleep."
Harry turned from the window toward his bed. He took his glasses off and got under the covers indicating to Ron that he was in no mood to converse. Ron sighed.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
Ron too got into bed, shutting off the lights before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
The Order watched Harry, Ron, & Hermione proceed up the stairs. They listened for the click of the bedroom door before finally breathing a sigh of relief.
"Now tell us truthfully, Minerva," Remus murmured. "How bad is it really?"
Minerva took of her spectacles and set about cleaning them as if no one had said anything. After a moment she spoke sadly to no one in particular.
"I fear that we have not even begun to experience the pain which is to come."