A/N: Thanks to pettybureaucrat, evil-mastermind666, prg, akubhvu, and 'none' for their reviews.

Sorry for the delay in posting. I go to school and the last few weeks have been really hectic – last minute assignments and finals. But, school is over now, and other than working, I have nothing else to do for the next several months.

Seek the truth

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny left the Crow's Nest that afternoon, and, using the fireplace, Flooed to Kendrick's Pub and Inn, where the cloaked man had told them they could find Halen Cain, who was suspected to have the locket.

While they still had misgivings in believing the cloaked man, who they knew next to nothing about, they thought that it would be better to follow any leads they could get since they themselves had no idea where to look.

Although they now had a lead on where the cup could be located, thanks to Ginny remembering where she had heard the name Celina before, they decided to wait until after the holiday vacation before visiting Luna and her father.

It was strange and a little sad really, Harry thought to himself and he set his trunk of clothes on to the floor of his and Ginny's new bedroom at Kendrick's, that none of them had seemed to remember that Christmas was fast approaching.

Harry hadn't noticed until the long-black haired woman who owned the pub wished them a 'Happy Holidays' when they came up to her to ask for rooms.

By the surprised look on his friends' faces, Harry hadn't been the only one who hadn't noticed that Christmas was less than two weeks away.

What he had noticed though was that Ron and Ginny seemed hopeful about visiting their parents. He was too if truth be told.

The only problem he saw with doing so was how Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would react. Part of him feared that they would be really angry with him. After all, if he wasn't there Ron and Ginny wouldn't be in danger right now.

But, no, he thought to himself. They would still be in danger whether they knew him or not. They would, however, be in less danger if they didn't know him and no matter what they told him on the contrary, he would always believe that to be true.

He also saw leaving the Burrow after they visited to be a problem. After seeing Mrs. Weasley when he was angry or upset about something, he could only imagine all the things she would do to them to make sure they couldn't leave after they got there.

All he knew was that they would have to come up with an escape plan before they left.

It's going to be a depressing holiday vacation this year, Arthur thought to himself as he sat at the Burrow's kitchen table about a week before Christmas.

Bill and Fleur were in France visiting her family but planned to arrive to the Burrow two days before Christmas and stay the rest of the week.

Charlie would be arriving the day after Bill, but was returning to Romania the day after Christmas.

Percy, of course, still wasn't talking to them. Percy seemed to be avoiding his father at work as well because Arthur hadn't seen him there either.

Fred and George came over often but, as the Holiday rush was keeping them very busy at their shop, they would not be arriving until Christmas Eve.

And, Ron and Ginny, well, Arthur sighed, he didn't know where they were.

Remus and Tonks had eventually found the location of the owl post office they had used, but, by the time they had gotten there, the four teenagers had left the only inn in that small town.

When he, Molly, Remus, and Tonks, had arrived at the inn, they had held out hope that the children would still be there. But, the children had been one step ahead of them and had left the day before.

Worst yet, when they had asked the rough looking barkeep where they had gone, he said that he didn't have any idea. All he cared about was that they paid for the two rooms they had rented, which they had done right before they left.

When Molly heard this bit of information she had turned red in the face. It wasn't until they were leaving that she expressed her hope that the two girls had shared one room while the two boys shared the other.

Somehow Arthur did not think that had been the case. And, judging by the barkeep's laughter and the "Yeah, right, Lady" that followed them out of the pub and inn, he was sure that he had been correct.

Still, he thought as he turned the paper in his hands, pretending to read it while lost in his thoughts, I would like to see them, know that they were okay. And, only then, would I cast a spell on them so strong that they wouldn't be able to move for the next month.

He sighed. He knew that wouldn't really work. They were too smart. If they did visit, they would have a plan on how they would get away when it was time for them to leave.

As it happened, Arthur soon got his wish.

Later that afternoon, Molly and he were sitting in the living room, she was knitting as he read the paper he hadn't read earlier, when they heard a sound from the kitchen.

They looked questioningly at each other and then got up, making their way to the kitchen.

Molly followed by Arthur pushed the swinging door out of the way, and stood in shock at the scene in front of them.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were standing by the fireplace, brushing the soot that accompanies Floo travel off their robes and out of their hair.

Molly gave a little scream, startling the children, and ran up to them, drawing each of them into tight hugs and kissing each of them on the cheek.

"Oh, dears!" she cried, standing back a little and looking at each of them, clearing checking for any signs of injury.

Arthur stood a little further back, looking them over himself. They seemed fine. He couldn't see any visible wounds on them.

Molly cried for a few seconds, hugged each of them again, and then let them going, her expression turning from happiness that they were there to anger.

"Where have you been? I cannot believe that you left this house! Your father and I have been worried sick! And, Hermione your parents have fearful for your safety ever since they received the letter you wrote them…"

Arthur was about to stop Molly when he saw tears forming in Hermione's eyes, but she interrupted Molly before he had a chance to.

"Are they okay? You have told them some things right? You told them about the letter we sent recently?" she asked as Ron wrapped one arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, dear," Molly breathed, stepping toward Hermione again and drawing her into another hug. "They are fine. We told them everything we felt would be safe to tell them. We did show them the letter. They come to the house every few weeks. They miss you very much."

Hermione and Molly released each other and Molly stepped back smiling at them. "But, its okay now. You're back. You can see your parents soon. You could apparate over there today if you want, or we could send them an owl and they would be here a couple hours after they receive it, I'm sure of it…"

"No, Mrs. Weasley, we already agreed we weren't going to see them. We'll only be here a few hours and apparating to see them would be too dangerous for them. Death Eaters would know where to find them," Harry spoke up.

"What do you mean you'll only be here a few hours?" Arthur asked, stepping forward and more fully into the kitchen.

Ron looked around and then faced his father, looking him straight in the eyes. "We have to go back. We've got two leads on where to find two of the other Horcruxes. We only came here to see both of you."

Molly clenched her teeth, whispering angrily to them. "You are not leaving again."

"We're sorry Mum, we have to," Ginny said, as Arthur noticed she and Harry were holding hands.

"No…"

"Please, Mum, let's just enjoy the short time we have here before we go back."

In the end, they stayed for about seven hours.

They told us how well things were going at this point, how they hadn't really run into any trouble other than the incident with Ravenclaw's heir. They told us how the mysterious letter had been from them and that they really had destroyed one of the Horcruxes.

They told us that they had gotten leads on where to find the two Horcruxes that had been made from objects belonging to the founders. And, they told us that after they destroy those objects, only Nagini, the snake that bit me, and You-Know-Who would be left.

And, they told us that they missed us and that they loved us. Even Harry and Hermione said this. And I am not ashamed to say that when Molly cried, I did too.

That, of course, isn't to say that we made it easy for them to leave.

Molly hid the Floo powder and I set up an anti-apparition spell and put a powerful lock on all the doors, but it didn't discourage them.

Hermione just made an illegal portkey, saying while she did so that before this was over they will have done many illegal things, and, then, they were off, clutching the spoon in their hands as they went.

I could say I am angry at them. Which in some ways I am. They are young, haven't even finished Hogwarts yet, but I knew they would find a way to escape.

Like I said before though, they are smart. If anyone will be able to defeat You-Know-Who, it will be them.

Even believing this, however, didn't stop me from pulling Ron aside before they left and telling him that if they needed anything at all, they didn't need to hesitate to contact us.

We would always be there for them and we would help in any way we could.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were too depressed when they returned from the Burrow that evening that they went straight up to bed, figuring that tonight would not be the only night that Halen Cain came to the bar. Based on what the cloaked man said anyway, he frequented the place often, so they felt like they would not miss their chance if they waited until the next evening to wait for him.

As it happened, however, he did not come in the next evening.

By the third evening, they four teenagers were getting impatient.

"Here are you dinners," the barkeep said, smiling at them as she set the four plates down.

"Thank you, Mrs. Kendrick," Hermione said politely.

Mrs. Kendrick, who had only known them for a few days, was able to pick up on their frustration, as it was written clearly across their faces, and asked them what was wrong.

"I didn't get the order wrong, did I? I rarely have the problem anymore, but if I did…"

"Oh, no. Everything's fine," Hermione answered.

"Well, if you're sure…"

"We are. Thank you," Hermione said smiling at the friendly barkeep.

The four teenagers sat in silence, picking at their food, and glancing at the door whenever someone came in. So far however, just like the last few days, one young woman came in, she and Mrs. Kendrick disappeared upstairs for a minute and then Mrs. Kendrick came back down.

Today, however, the young woman came back downstairs about an hour later, going over to Mrs. Kendrick and whispering something to her, and, coughing, walked out the door.

Mrs. Kendrick let out a sigh as the woman left and walked over to the teenagers' table.

"I'm very sorry. I have to close the bar now. You can take your food up to your rooms if you would like…"

Harry and the others agreed, carrying the plates up the stairs and, in silent agreement, split up to go to their separate rooms.

"Good night," Ginny mumbled as she slid open her and Harry's door and stepping into the room.

"'Night," Hermione said in response, following Ron into their room.

Arthur and Molly were nervous about sending a message to the Grangers. They were afraid that Mr. and Mrs. Granger would be angry with them about not being able to keep a handle on the children so that they wouldn't be able to leave again.

But, their nervousness was useless. While Jonathan and Robin had been understandably upset that they had not been able to see their daughter, they had taken Arthur and Molly on their word that the children seemed fine.

They also accepted that Arthur and Molly tried everything they could think of to make sure they wouldn't be able to leave.

"Its okay, Molly," Robin replied, smiling sadly at her. "We know our daughter and, if nothing else, she is stubborn."

Molly smiled through the tears swimming in her eyes. "Ours, too." Her fingers traced over the pictures she had taken of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. There aren't enough pictures, she thought sadly, I should have taken more.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny didn't have much luck during the Christmas Holiday and, when they asked Mrs. Kendrick why she didn't get business during this time, she said that everyone in the town went home to their families during Christmas.

"It's not like the big cities or towns," Mrs. Kendrick said kindly, wiping the counter before closing up. "Most people are a lot more traditional around here. Family is really important to them and they spend the Holidays with the family they have."

She was clearly trying to keep from inquiring as to why the four teenagers weren't with their family during the Holidays, but they hurried upstairs before she had the chance to ask.

On New Year's Day, a busy day for the bar, Mrs. Kendrick came over to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny's table.

"I have a favor to ask," she said as she set their food down. "Do you girls think that you could baby sit my son tonight. I really need to keep the bar open to make money and his normal baby sitter – the one who should be coming in to take over for Elsey – is sick."

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other in surprise. They had wondered why women would come to the bar during the day and follow Mrs. Kendrick upstairs, only to have her to return downstairs a few minutes later and continuing working at her bar. It hadn't occurred to them that they might be babysitting her child.

"If you can't that's fine. I could just close the bar. I don't want to make you feel like I'm putting you on the spot. I'll pay you to take care of him for a few hours – it would only be until one o'clock in the morning and it's already eight, so…"

Hermione and Ginny glanced at the boys. They had been hoping to see Halen Cain today and so didn't want to ditch Harry and Ron.

Harry shrugged. It probably wouldn't matter anyway. Halen Cain probably wouldn't show up, and if by chance he did, Harry doubted all of them would need to talk to him anyway. Besides that, if Mrs. Kendrick couldn't get a babysitter, the bar would be closed for the night and, so, if Halen Cain had planned on coming to the bar that night, it wouldn't matter.

"Sure," Hermione finally spoke. "We would be happy to help."

"Thank you so much. You are real lifesavers. You can bring you food with you. He's just upstairs."

Hermione and Ginny nodded, gathering their food and drinks and saying good bye to Ron and Harry.

"How old is he?" Ginny asked as she followed Mrs. Kendrick and Hermione up the stairs, toward what the girls figured must be Mrs. Kendrick's room.

"He's six months old. He shouldn't give you much trouble. He's never been a really fussy baby and he should be going to sleep soon anyway. Have either of you been around babies?"

"I have a lot of cousins, though I don't see them much," Ginny answered.

"What about you Hermione?" Mrs. Kendrick asked.

"I have several cousins, most of which are several years younger than me. I've helped changed nappies and things like that before so I think we'll be okay."

"That's fantastic. Although, don't hesitate to come downstairs if you need anything," Mrs. Kendrick said as she pulled some keys from her pocket and unlocked the door, and then used her wand to unlock the magical locks on the door. "Well, come on in. I'll just pay Elsey and tell her she can go. He's playing in that bedroom," she said, pointing toward the open door of a room. "His name is Aiden."

Hermione and Ginny nodded, setting their food on a table in the kitchen and then walking back toward the room she had indicated Aiden would be.

Aiden was indeed where his mother said he would be. He was sitting on the floor, sucking on the ear of a stuffed animal, all the while smiling and drooling happily.

"He's really cute," Hermione said as Mrs. Kendrick came in to the room.

"Thank you. He looks like his father. Brown hair and all. He only got my eyes and nose."

This was true. Aiden had straight brown hair, while his mother had black and his lips were thinner than his mother's. When he turned toward them, still laughing, Hermione and Ginny saw that his smile wasn't like his mother's either. In fact she was right saying that only his blue eyes and nose were like his mother's, because, other than that, the mother and son didn't have much in common, physically at least.

"Anyway, I have to get back downstairs. Again, if you need anything, just come down and tell me."

"Don't worry. We will, Mrs. Kendrick," Hermione answered.

"Mrs. Kendrick? Oh, please, I can't be more than five years older than either of you. Call me Branna," she said, smiling back at them and walking quickly out the door but not before swooping down to kiss Aiden on the cheek, who smacked his lips in response.

"I wonder where her husband is?" Ginny asked as she sat down on the floor beside Aiden.

Hermione joined them on the floor. "I don't know. I think there were pictures of him behind the bar – you know, family pictures, but they look like they were taken right after Aiden was born."

Ginny nodded, she had noticed those too.

The girls spent the rest of the night playing with Aiden. And, they had been happy to find that Branna was right, he wasn't very fussy.

After they played blocks and stuffed animals with Aiden, and then read him several books, they put him to bed. After he fell asleep in his crib, the girls finished their dinner and talked until Mrs. Kendrick – Branna – they corrected themselves, Harry, and Ron came through the front door.

"You girls can go now, thank you so much for all you help. Here you go," Branna said as she slipped some money into Hermione and Ginny's hands. After which they thanked her and complimented Aiden's good behavior.

"I think we should go see Luna and her father now," Ginny said three days later. "We aren't accomplishing anything here, and Branna told us that business would not be back to normal for about another week."

"That's probably a good idea," Harry answered. "Let's send them a message that we'll be there the day after tomorrow. I know we said that they probably wouldn't mind if we just came over, but it wouldn't hurt."

The others nodded and later that day, they watched as the post office's owl disappeared from view.

They received a response the next evening, and fortunately for them, both Luna and her father were at home and were 'looking forward to their visit so long as they didn't bring any Jimbles with them.'

"What are Jimbles?" Ron asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Who knows?" After the Department of Mysteries, Hermione had stopped caring about the weird things Luna chose to believe.

Zacharias was having a hard time of it.

Toolio obviously had conflictions over who he should be loyal to: Zacharias' parents or Zacharias.

Ever time Zacharias asked Toolio anything, he would clench his hands together and then grab what ever was in reach and hit himself upside the head with it.

It was slow going, not to mention painful for Toolio.

Zacharias sighed as he turned over in his bed, he would just have to convince Toolio that he should be loyal to him and not his parents. After all, that was the only way he was ever going to learn anything.