A/N- I would love to hear from you! Your reviews and thoughts are very helpful and enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time to read this story, please let me know what you think of it. Do you like it? Not your cup of tea? I want to know!

I can promise you each review or PM will be responded to (as long as your settings allow for it), and I am very open to discussion.

Disclaimer- J.K. Rowling/Warner Bros. own all things Potter. This story is in no way intended as an infringement of that copyright.

Chapter 7

That evening found Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all sitting quietly in the drawing room together. After the gifts they'd received from the members of the Order, everyone was in a good mood. However even that mood was tempered by the current situation of things.

Ron was just peeking out of the curtains again, when Hermione exasperatedly told him for what seemed like the hundredth time;

"Ron, I don't think they're going anywhere,"

"I know that," Ron said defensively as he let the curtains fall back into place and turned around.

"Then why do you keep looking out there?" Ginny asked him.

"Maybe it's because I'm not so keen on sleeping so close to the people who want to kill me," Ron fired back.

"Until they come knocking, I wouldn't worry," Hermione told him with a patient smile.

Harry was listening to this exchange but not paying much attention to it. His thoughts were elsewhere. His mind was drifting about and kept going back to the conversation he'd had earlier with Hermione about his feelings for Ginny. To her credit, Hermione had not said anything further to him about it. He was grateful for that. That didn't stop her, however, from giving him knowing looks every now and again.

Figuring he knew what she was thinking, Harry was avoiding eye contact with her. He would figure out a way to talk to Ginny. He had to if she was going to be with them. The right time just had to present itself. Which is just the problem, Harry thought, when is that going to happen?

Ginny's attitude towards Harry was somewhat improved over her earlier distance. She seemed cordial if not overly friendly. She would at least talk to him now anyway. He'd also caught her looking at him more than once with a look that seemed to be equal parts curiosity and frustration. Harry suspected that while he was alone upstairs, Hermione must have said something to her. He had no proof to back that thought up of course, but it wouldn't have surprised him.

Now it was just a matter of talking to Ginny and telling her why he'd tried to get Remus and Bill to take her with them even after Harry had explained everything. He looked over at Ginny again. She was watching the interaction between Hermione and Ron with an amused look. He wanted so much to be able to talk to her, but had no idea how to broach the subject of his feelings. He was just trying to think of a way that he might approach her, and coming up completely blank, when Hermione broke into his train of thought.

"Harry? Harry!"

"Huh? I'm sorry, what is it?" Harry looked up and towards where Ron and Hermione sat together on the sofa. They were looking back at him, Hermione's face showing some concern.

"You alright?" Hermione asked.

"Fine, I was just...thinking..."

"What about?" Ron was curious.

"Just things," Harry muttered glancing at Ginny. She was looking at him like the others were, eyes curious.

Ron seemed oblivious to what Harry was talking about but the smug look on Hermione's face suggested that she knew. She was also kind enough to change the subject.

"So, Harry, I was just talking to Ron and we were wondering about how we're going to work out our trip to Hogwarts." Hermione said.

"I think...I think that we need to scout it out first. From what Remus and Bill were saying, things are changing out there quickly. The last thing we need is to show up in Hogsmeade and have a Death Eater welcoming party waiting for us,"

"So what do you suggest?" Ron asked getting into the conversation now. He was sitting forward and looking at Harry attentively.

"I think that one of us is going to have to chance going into Hogsmeade. Wearing the Invisibility Cloak one of us can get into Hogsmeade, lay low, maybe find out what's happening up at the school..." Harry speculated.

"One of you?" Ginny looked skeptical.

"There's no sense in us all going. It's too dangerous and if it's only one of us then that leaves the rest to be able to help out if something goes wrong,"

"Harry," Hermione said slowly, "I think that Ginny is right on this. If someone is going to go, then it should be two of us. It's safer that way,"

Even though he wanted to argue his point, Harry didn't. With Ginny just speaking to him again he didn't want to upset her if he didn't have to. Instead he just nodded.

"What are you going to be looking for?" Ginny asked.

"First off is to see if there are any Death Eaters around. Then, if the coast is clear, we'll be trying to find out how best to get into Honeydukes so we can take the tunnel into the school," Harry answered her directly, chancing a smile.

Nodding her head in understanding and with a ghost of a smile of her own, Ginny went on, "When did you plan on going?"

"School starts September first, so it will have to be before then," Hermione advised.

Ron and Harry both nodded their agreement.

"Which means that the sooner we go the better, wouldn't it? I mean if we go now, then isn't it less likely that there will be anyone there to worry about?" Ron interjected.

"True, but how soon? We'll need time to prepare," Hermione argued.

"I say we take a look tomorrow and make plans to go in a week. That gives us time to prepare and still be able to go early enough to hopefully avoid meeting anyone along the way that we want to avoid..." Harry froze for a moment. His eyes seeming to be looking at something far away, "Merlin's Beard!" Harry shouted standing up and running out of the room.

Everyone else in the room jumped at Harry's sudden exclamation and movement.

"Harry? What is it? What's wrong?" An alarmed Hermione asked as she got up and followed after him.

"Harry, are you okay?" Ginny called.

Harry didn't hear them; he was running up the stairs to the room he shared with Ron. He grabbed up the little bag moleskin Hagrid had given him for his birthday. He wrenched it open and removed its contents lying them out haphazardly on his bed. There was the fragment of mirror he'd received from Sirius, the torn letter from his mother, the photograph that went with it, the knife that he'd been given that could open any door, and finally; "Aha!"

"What the blazes are you going on about?" Ron asked from the door. His face was a mask of alarm. Ginny and Hermione were standing in the doorway behind him looking equally upset.

"This!" Harry held up the map with a grin.

"What's that?" Ginny asked as she glared at Harry.

"Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione exclaimed realizing what it was Harry held in his hand.

"Harry, that's bloody brilliant!" Ron said as he reluctantly shook his head, relief flooding his voice; "But if you ever do that again, I swear..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I just realized that if we're planning on getting into Hogwarts, then this map might by the key to getting in and out of the successfully," Harry was leaving the room now with the map in his hand. Ron and the two girls went with him.

They got back downstairs and Harry led the way into the kitchen. Once there he carefully spread the Marauder's Map out on the table. The group gathered around the table with him.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry said giving the incantation that activated the map.

"What are you looking for?" Ron asked as the map appeared on the parchment. The corridors slowly appeared along with the rooms and even the nearby grounds extending out to the greenhouses, the school gardens, Hagrid's hut, and the boat-house. Harry watched carefully as the details filled themselves in completely.

"I want to see who is in the castle. This should also give us a good idea as to which corridors are going to be open and which ones to avoid,"

"It's too bad you don't have two of those," Ginny mentioned quietly.

"Why is that?" Harry asked looking up at her.

Her eyes were glued to the map but it was clear from her face that she was bothered by something, "I'm sure when you go, you'll want to take this with you, but it would also be nice to have a way to watch you while you're gone..."

"Ginny! That's a great idea! Then we won't be dependant upon just this one map," Hermione exclaimed loudly as she gave Ginny a spontaneous hug.

"What are you thinking? Make another map?" Ron confirmed.

"Yes! The idea is brilliant! That way if you run into trouble, we know where to go to help. Also if we get separated then we can use the maps to find each other," Hermione was getting more and more excited at the idea of having more than one map.

Harry was looking at Hermione carefully, "Can it be done do you think?"

"I don't know. We don't know what magic was involved in making the map to begin with, so I'm not sure what I'll need to do to copy it," she admitted.

"We could ask Remus, he'd know!" Ron looked around for agreement.

"That would work if he was here. I don't know if we can count on that," Hermione answered him as she looked at the map.

Ginny was looking at the map herself. She was studying it carefully before she frowned, "Where is the Chamber of Secrets?"

"The Chamber wouldn't be on here; I doubt that when this map was made, anyone knew where it was," Harry replied.

"Okay then, how about the Room of Requirement? Where is that?"

Hermione answered this one, "The Chamber of Secrets, or the entry to it rather, is in the second floor girl's bathroom. That is on here, see...?" Hermione pointed it out on the map. Ginny nodded and Hermione went on, "...and we know that the Room of Requirement is on the seventh floor, but I reckon that it doesn't show on the map because the room changes with the needs of whoever is using it. That's why Harry never saw Malfoy on the map when he was using that room last year."

They all four of them poured over the map carefully, looking over every inch of it for some time. Trying to see who was at the school.

"There's Filch!" Ron stabbed at the map.

Sure enough, there was the caretaker pacing in his office. His tiny little footsteps going back and forth. Mrs. Norris, his cat and the most hated animal at the school, was in his office with him. Their labels hovered near their footprints.

"And there's Hagrid!" Ginny said as she pointed towards Hagrid's hut.

They could see Hagrid's footprints along with his nametag sitting stationary in his hut with his great boarhound, Fang. Harry had a moment of reminiscence as he thought back to all the time that he, Ron, and Hermione had spent in that little hut there on the school grounds. The rock cakes that could break your teeth. The treacle fudge that would glue your mouth shut, and Fang. One of the first dogs Harry had ever met who loved to rest his head and drool messily over Harry's robes.

The pang of nostalgia went on as Harry remembered the times that they'd gone to see Hagrid, the classes he'd taught, the kindness he'd shown. Hagrid was the person who had come to get Harry from that rock in the sea when his letters to him were not being received, scaring his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley in the process.

It was Hagrid who introduced Harry to the Wizarding World and Hagrid who had been his first friend in it. He still had the album of photos that Hagrid had given him. The loveable half giant who looked fearsome but whom Harry knew to be very gentle. Right now, Harry missed his friend.

After several long minutes of looking over the entire map, it was soon clear that no one else was currently at the school. Whether that was due to the teachers just being away for the evening, or because they had not yet reported for duty wasn't clear. Harry suspected, and Hermione agreed, that the school's population would grow as the beginning of fall term approached.

A group of names concentrated in one room suddenly got Harry's attention. There were so many footprints there and name tags floating near them, that it was a moment before Harry realized what it was that he was looking at.

"It's the house elves!" Harry smiled in recognition.

"Where?" Hermione wanted to know.

"There, see?" Harry pointed.

Everyone looked where Harry's finger was directed. The names on the map kept changing around and moving within the kitchens on the lowermost floor of the castle. Harry recognized the names of the three elves he knew: Dobby, Winky, and his own house elf, Kreacher. He pointed them out to his friends.

"How barbaric!" Hermione exclaimed when she saw them.

"What's barbaric?" Ron wondered looking confused.

"That even when everyone else is out of school for the summer holiday, that the house elves are forced to work!" Hermione was outraged.

"But that's what House Elves do, they work!" Ron was still confused though Harry felt privately that Ron should have known better about this by now.

"Ronald Weasley," Hermione began, her chest puffing up and a gleam in her eye; Harry and Ginny exchanged knowing looks. This was shaping up to be a royal row between the two friends.

"If you think that those House Elves don't deserve..."

"That's not what I'm saying at all!" Ron exclaimed, his ears turning red.

"Then what, pray tell, are you saying?" Hermione's voice was taking on a nasty tone.

"I'm just saying that house elves like to work, that's why they're there. It's their job!"

"If memory serves, only two of those elves are being paid for what they do. The rest..."

"The rest of the elves belong to the school!" Ron shouted.

Harry caught Ginny's eye and nodded towards the kitchen door. She nodded and followed Harry out of the kitchen. Together the walked down the hall and made their way to the drawing room. It was quieter here.

"It sounds like they might be at it for awhile. May as well give them their space," Harry smiled at her. He took a seat on the sofa.

It was a surprise when Ginny didn't sit next to him. Instead she sat in the big poofy chair. When she sat down, she crossed her legs and her arms in front of her. Harry got the distinct impression that she wasn't exactly in the room with him because she wanted to be. His suspicions were confirmed when a few minutes later Ginny stood up and said, "Well, I guess I'll go to bed now. Good night, Harry,"

Harry felt at a loss for words. Realizing that now might be a good time to talk to Ginny, he stood up to follow saying after her, "Ginny, wait,"

She turned around, her liquid chocolate eyes looking at Harry expectantly. Her fiery red hair gleaming in the light from the gas lamps. Harry took a deep breath. He realized that he had some fences to mend. He may as well start now. Who knew when the time would come again?

"Yes, Harry?" Ginny said. He could hear a bit of exasperation and hostility in her tone. He knew that this would not be easy. But he had to try.

"About this morning..."

"What about it?" Ginny challenged, "Did you have something to say?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you for a minute,"

"Talk to me about what, Harry?" Ginny was impatient now.

Harry could hear the muffled sounds of Ron and Hermione having their row in the kitchen. The last thing Harry wanted was to row with Ginny. He sighed inwardly. In his head this had gone a lot better. He looked up at her; silently pleading for her to understand.

"Please, Ginny, can I just talk with you?"

There must have been something in his face that caused Ginny's eyes to soften a bit. Her tone however was guarded when she asked, "What is it, Harry? What has you so tongue tied?"

Moving back over to the sofa, Harry sat down. He patted the seat next to him and reluctantly Ginny followed him back into the room and sat down where Harry had indicated, her arms folded across her stomach.

"Ginny...I...well...it's like this..."

She signed with frustration. Harry couldn't blame her. She was upset with him and he knew it. His eyes went from looking into hers to the floor. There they stayed while he took a deep breath and began saying what was on his mind.

"This isn't going well, I'm sorry. I-I know that I h-hurt you when I tried to get Remus and B-Bill to take you with them last night," Harry began stuttering.

"I don't think hurting me was on your mind though, was it?" Ginny asked heat in her voice. She was plainly still upset about this; not that he could blame her.

"No, n-not like you think..."

"I'm tired, Harry. I'm tired of fighting with you and I'm tired of all of this. Would you please just spit it out?" Ginny was becoming more upset.

Harry sighed, swallowing past the lump forming in his throat.

"Y-you know the other night, when we g-got here and what you s-said? About how y-you feel? You know, about m-me?"

"What about it, Harry?" Ginny asked her voice cracking.

Harry glanced up. A single tear was making its way down her face. This was really not going well. He closed his eyes and was silent for a long moment. His own feelings of regret for hurting her, uncertainty about talking to her and discomfort with the entire situation flooded through him. It was overwhelming. He could hear Ginny's increasingly quick breathing and knew that she was getting more and more upset with him. His eyes returned to the floor.

"Fine, I'm going to bed!" Ginny said angrily as she started to stand up.

"No, please! Wait, j-just a minute...please?" Harry's voice broke on the last word. He hadn't meant for that to happen. This was much, much more difficult than he'd thought it would be. He was making a royal mess of this, he knew it.

"Harry? What is it?" Ginny sat down again, closer to him this time. Her tone changed immediately. She seemed to be more concerned. At least some of the anger was gone from her voice.

Harry screwed his eyes shut tight and plowed on ahead. He was going to get it out no matter what. Then, after it was said, he would deal with whatever happened afterwards. He owed her this much.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm not the best b-boyfriend you could have. B-but the reason I wanted you to g-go with your brother and Remus wasn't to get rid of you. It was because I...I can't stand the thought of you being hurt. I can't stand the thought of seeing you bleeding, like Bill or even worse dead like Sirius. It keeps me up nights! I-it makes it so I c-can't concentrate. Ginny, I...l love you. I don't want you to be hurt. I love you, Ginny. More and more every day." Harry kept his eyes closed as he said all this. He waited for Ginny's reaction. He figured he deserved whatever he got.

The room was silent except for the continued sounds of Ron and Hermione arguing in the next room. Harry figured Ginny must have left the drawing room and he didn't notice it, it was quiet so long. The minutes ticked by. Harry knew this because he counted them. His eyes never left the floor even as he felt a rare tear of his own slide slowly down his cheek. Then a cool finger was pressed firmly under his chin.

"Harry, please, look at me," Ginny said softly, her voice rich with emotion.

He shook his head and turned it away. He couldn't bear to see the look of rejection or anger in her eyes. Ginny however was more insistent. Both of her hands were gently placed on either side of his face. She then guided his face around to face her. "Open your eyes please, Harry," She whispered softly, urgently,

"Harry, please...open your eyes," She whispered again, this time much closer to him. Her lips were right next to his ear.

Harry resigned himself to what it was he thought he was going to see and opened his eyes. The light irritated them a bit from having them closed so tightly. However the first thing his eyes found when they opened was Ginny's chocolate brown orbs looking deeply and lovingly back into own. There was no anger there, no hostility, not even irritation. There was only acceptance and love.

"Harry," she whispered again, swallowing hard as she did so.

"Ginny," He whispered back barely loud enough to hear. He didn't know what else to say.

The next thing he knew, Ginny was pulling his face towards hers. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. Barely a caress of the lips, hers upon his. Then she kissed him again, this time firmly and with more fire.

She snaked her arms around his neck and his found their way around her back. There they remained for some time, enjoying each other warm embrace. Harry knew, as Ginny did, that things between them would be a little different than they had been before. Their challenge would be in working that out.

The next morning Harry awoke a little later than he'd planned. Ron and Hermione had stormed off to bed not long after Ginny had forgiven Harry. Neither of them wanting to listen to the angry sounds of their room-mates, Harry and Ginny stayed out in the drawing room and talked long into the night.

When they finally did go up to bed, sleep was a long time in coming for Harry. He had quietly gotten into his pajamas and into bed even though he could tell by Ron's breathing that his best mate was not asleep. However when Harry had entered the room Ron was turned away from the door, clearly not in a mood to talk. Harry thought it best to let him have his privacy.

The next morning, when everyone was up, it was Harry and Ginny who were holding hands and smiling at each other. Ron and Hermione were barely being civil to one another. In fact they were both being very short and direct. Harry shook his head at them when their backs were turned. It wasn't like this was a new thing with them. He knew that like all their previous fights, this one too would run it's course.

"So Harry," Hermione began in a voice that was too happy and chipper, "What are we going to do today?"

"I think that Ron and I should take a quick trip to Hogsmeade and get the lay of the land," Harry answered after a moment's thought.

"That sounds good, yeah. Let's do that," Ron agreed enthusiastically. His eyes were red from lack of sleep.

"Already? You want to leave today?" Ginny asked, surprised.

"Don't you want at least some time to prepare?" Hermione looked suddenly a little nervous.

"What? Don't you think we can handle ourselves without you?" Ron accused.

"That's not what I was saying!" Hermione shot back, tears forming in her eyes.

"It sure sounded like it. Makes you wonder, doesn't it Harry? How were we able to succeed down in the Chamber of Secrets without her? Or in getting to school at all in second year?" Ron shouted.

His dander was up. Harry knew he had better intervene, now, before things really got out of hand.

"You're right, Ron, we did do pretty well in the Chamber of Secrets. Although I do have to wonder if Hermione might not have had another idea instead of flying that car to school, not that, that was a bad one," Harry added hastily at seeing Ron's scathing look.

"My point is you're both right. Yes Hermione, we probably could do with a bit more preparation. Except that September the first is right around the corner and I don't want to be at Hogwarts when that day comes and school begins. Ron, you know well enough that Hermione was only looking out for us; yelling at her doesn't help anything," Harry finished.

Neither one of them were looking at each other or at Harry. Finally Harry sighed and said to the room in exasperation, "I guess I'll just go myself. You two need to work this out!"

Harry leaned over and gave Ginny a quick kiss before he stood up and left the room. He wasn't happy with Ron as he went upstairs and got his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map. Making sure he had his wand in his belt before going back downstairs, Harry sighed. This whole situation wasn't easy on any of them. Privately Harry thought that Ron and Hermione needed some time alone together. That was going to be a difficult time staying here though, he suddenly realized. He was lucky to get what he did with Ginny last night and they weren't likely to get much more anytime soon.

Resigning himself to the task ahead and what needed to be done, Harry put Ron and Hermione's differences out of his mind. He resolved himself to just getting in and out of Hogsmeade today, preferably coming back with more information than he had now, going in. Harry left his room and went back down the hall and the stairs. He was met on the bottom landing by the other three.

Ginny held out some food to him. It was a leftover sausage from dinner the night before, reheated at a touch from Hermione's wand. Ron was chewing on his own sausage, looking sheepishly up at him as Harry came down the stairs.

"I re'kon ou shouln' go out by urself," He said around his mouthful. Both Hermione and Ginny looked slightly disgusted at this but neither one said anything about it. Harry nodded his thanks to Ginny and took a few minutes to eat the sausage.

"So, Harry," Hermione began carefully, "How exactly are you going to do this?"

"I was thinking of only being gone an hour. Ron and I can apparate into Hogsmeade and from there have a look around. I was going to take my map, but I think this trip should only be just into Hogsmeade and back. I'll leave the map here. If Ron and I aren't back in an hour or so, you'll know something happened,"

Everyone was nodding now so Harry went on, "Hermione, if something does happen and Ron and I don't make it back, then you'll need to take Ginny and find somewhere safe to lay low. Hopefully though you won't have to do that," he finished with a smile.

"Harry, be careful," Ginny said as she came forward and wrapped him up in a tight hug. Harry returned it, kissing Ginny on the cheek as he did.

"We won't be gone too long," Harry promised.

Ron pointedly looked away from them as they said their good-byes. Hermione watched Harry and Ginny, then looked at Ron with a hurt expression. She came forward and gave Harry a quick hug, "Be safe, both of you," She told him quietly.

"We will," Harry replied.

Harry and Ron went to the door and opened it. Hermione and Ginny stood back from the entrance, close to the portrait of Sirius' mother. They watched fearfully as the two boys stepped outside onto the porch and shut the door.

"It'll be good to get away for a bit," Ron said sullenly.

Harry just nodded. He threw the Invisibility Cloak over them and then had Ron take him by the arm, just as he himself had taken Dumbledore's arm almost a year ago. Harry turned on the spot, felt his insides squeeze together like they were being stuffed through a thick rubber tube, and then he was able to breathe again. They were standing on the road about half a mile away from Hogsmeade village in the forest on the opposite side of the settlement from Hogwarts.

"Why did you take us so far away from the village?" Ron asked as he let go of Harry's arm.

"I didn't want anyone hearing us apparate," Harry replied.

"Oh, good thinking. Where do you think we should go first?"

Harry thought for a minute; "I think we should just go down close enough to watch the village for a little bit. If it looks safe, we can try moving farther in. What do you think?"

"Sounds like it might work," Ron agreed as they set out walking.

"Don't forget," Harry cautioned his oldest friend, "We'll have to be quiet. No one can see us under this, but that doesn't stop them from hearing us."

"I remember," Ron nodded but his voice was much quieter.

It was slow going as the two friends walked hunched over under the Invisibility Cloak towards the village. They stopped just outside of town and found a place under some trees where they could sit and watch and observe things quietly.

The first thing that Harry noticed was that everything seemed quieter than usual. At first Harry thought that it might be because school hadn't started yet, but it was soon apparent that it was more than that.

Very few people were out and about. Those that were, were moving about their business quickly; with their heads down. No one stopped to talk to each other in the street. In fact they seemed to be going out of their way to avoid one another.

"Do you see that?" Ron asked Harry in an urgent whisper.

"The people? Yeah, they look like they're in a hurry, don't they?"

"It's more than that, they're scared to be around each other! Look at them, over there, quick!"

Harry's eyes found what Ron was indicating. Two people had bumped into each other, apparently accidentally. Now they could be seen exchanging profuse apologies to one another and reassuring each other that no harm was done.

"What do you make of it?" Ron asked shocked at the display he'd just seen.

"I don't know, but it doesn't look good, does it?"

"No, it doesn't." They continued to watch for awhile longer. There wasn't much to see since the streets were so empty. The two agreed to change their position to watch a while longer. Harry wanted a better look at Honeydukes Sweet shop. So they moved into the town and down a quiet side alley.

From that alley they were able to see a lot more. The Three Broomsticks was clearly viewable, as was the sweet shop, Gladrags, and several other shops. They settled in to watch the scene before them. They didn't have long to wait before something happened to catch their attention.

The door to the Three Broomsticks opened and four men in shabby, dark, threadbare robes came stumbling out. It was clear that they were not the usual customers that Madam Rosemerta catered towards but neither were they Death Eaters.

"'Ere you are!" shouted a fifth man who was walking up the lane.

"We was jus' tippin' a few back we was," Said one of the drunken men.

"More'n just a few, I reckon," The fifth said disgustedly, "If'n they see you like this, they'll kill ya jus' as soon as lookit ya!" The fifth man said contemptuously.

"We were jus' havin' a bit' o fun!" another of the drunken men proclaimed.

"Well, until the Dark Lord captures Potter, I wouldn't have too much of it!"

The four dark robed men came forward to meet the fifth man in the middle of the street. Where they met was about ten yards directly in front of where Harry and Ron sat hidden under Harry's cloak. They looked at each other briefly then back at the group.

"Still no word then?" Asked a new voice. He seemed to be the tallest one of the group. He was swaying unsteadily on his feet.

"Nope, I reckon he's gone to ground, hasn' he? No one's seen 'im since them Death Eaters tried to capture him on 'is birfday. They muss really wan at 'im!"

The sober man held up a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry's picture was on the front page, but it wasn't the same copy that Remus and Bill had brought them a couple days prior. This one had a banner heading across the picture of Harry that read, Undesirable Number One! Harry could clearly read it even from ten feet away.

"Wass dat?" Asked another drunken voice.

"Them Death Eaters put out a list! Evryone they wan t talk to but don' 'ave is on 'ere!"

"What does that mean?" asked another drunken man.

"On'y tha' we'c'n make some galleons if'n we catch 'em tha's on this list!"

The men laughed excitedly and then set off down the road. Harry and Ron looked at each other. Suddenly Harry was desperate to get his hands on a copy of the Daily Prophet. He wanted to see this list that the fifth man was talking about. He started thinking about how he could go about getting one.

"Harry..." Ron began, quietly speculative.

"Shush, I'm trying to think..."

"Harry, I want to see a copy of that newspaper!" Ron exclaimed. For the moment he forgot to lower his voice. A passerby looked alarmingly down the alley where Harry and Ron were hidden. Harry shushed Ron, realizing why Ron was after a copy. It would be the easiest way to see which of his family members weren't on the list. It turned out they both wanted the same thing, just for different reasons.

"Alright, alright! We'll get a copy, but we'll have to be careful," Harry agreed.

"Okay," Ron took a deep breath, "How do we do it?"

Checking his watch, Harry determined that they only had about ten minutes left before they needed to get back to the lane outside of town where they could apparate safely.

"We'll look in rubbish bins; someone is bound to have thrown away their copy somewhere..."

They set off down the alley. They checked each rubbish bin they came across. There weren't any copies of that day's prophet that they found in their alley. So, with great care they moved on to the next alley and checked that alley's bins; still nothing. It wasn't until they were midway through checking the fifth and next to the last alley that they found what they were looking for. Ron held it up in triumph.

"AHA!" He exclaimed loudly.

"Shh!" Harry shushed him except that it did little good.

"Aha! So there is someone creepin aroun down 'ere!" Said a voice from the street.

Harry and Ron wheeled around only to come face to face with one of the men from the Three Broomsticks. He had his wand leveled at them and he was holding it steadily. It took Harry a moment to realize that all the man could see would be Ron's disembodied arm holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. It gave him an idea.

Slowly moving his wand out the belt of his jeans, Harry pointed it towards the man in the dark robes. That same man was calling over his shoulder, eyes never leaving Ron's arm holding the copy of the prophet in mid air, "Hey! Over 'ere! I found somethin'!"

"STUPIFY!" Harry cried suddenly. The man's wand flew out of his hand as he flew backwards through the air. Harry didn't even see where he landed. He took hold of Ron's arm and turned on the spot. With a loud "CRACK!" they were gone.

Together they were able to apparate under the Invisibility Cloak back to the front porch of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Harry turned to watch the Death Eaters across the street as they started looking around furiously for the two of them. So far at least the secret that protected their temporary home remained intact. Harry couldn't help but wonder how much longer that could last.

"We alright?" Ron asked him as he noted where Harry was looking.

"Seem to be, let's get inside though," Harry advised.

Together they entered the residence and passed through the security precautions set up by Professor Moody. Only after they had dissipated the dust form of Professor Dumbledore did Hermione and Ginny emerge from their hiding places behind the door to the cloak room and the drawing room. Harry removed the Invisibility Cloak and folded it haphazardly before tucking it under his arm.

"You made it," Hermione said as she rushed forward giving Harry a hug. She moved to embrace Ron as well but he'd brushed past her on his way to the drawing room with the Daily Prophet in his hand. Harry saw the hurt look in her eyes.

"I'm glad you're both safe," Ginny said as she came forward and kissed him lightly.

"Barely," Harry replied, and then he launched into the story as they followed Ron into the drawing room.

"You what?" Ginny was outraged when Harry reached the part about how they had given themselves away.

"It was an honest mistake," Harry amended quietly.

"You could have gotten yourselves killed," Hermione added looking horrified.

"Yes, but we didn't. Instead we got to look around Hogsmeade and got a new copy of the Daily Prophet. All in all not bad for an hour's work," Harry said as he sat down on the sofa. Ron was alone in the over stuffed chair with the paper already open. Hermione was tentatively standing near him, reading over his shoulder. Ginny went to sit next to Harry.

No one said anything for a few minutes. Hermione was sitting on the arm of Ron's chair reading with him. Ron didn't acknowledge her, but neither did her push her away. Harry took this as a positive sign. He laid his head back to think for a minute and felt Ginny take his hand.

The trip to Hogsmeade had been successful, yes. But it had also come perilously close to disaster. Harry would have much rather had a different outcome, but he had no control over something like that.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed in quiet shock.

Harry opened his eyes and looked up. Ron's face had turned white and Hermione's was a mask of horror.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"This list of undesirables," Ron answered in a quiet voice.

"What about it?" Harry prodded him getting annoyed.

"Harry, this list..." Hermione began,

"Yes?"

"It's a list of who's who of the Death Eater's most wanted. You're listed here first..." Hermione went on.

"I knew that, what about it?"

"Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I are listed right after you. Followed by Kingsley, Remus, Ron and Ginny's parents, Bill, Neville, Neville's grandmother..."

"What about Charlie, Fred, and George?" Ginny asked in alarm.

"They're not listed here, I checked. Twice," Ron answered quietly, "What do you think that means?"

All eyes in the room fell on Harry who suddenly was feeling overwhelmed, "I'm...not sure," Harry hesitated.

"Harry, those are my brothers," Ginny said quietly. It was clear that she was deeply affected by the news she had just heard.

"I know that," Harry answered her, putting his hand on her arm reassuringly.

"Harry," Ron began.

"Look, we know that Charlie, Fred, and George are not listed there. That means either one of two things: either the Death Eaters have them," Harry looked everyone in the eye as he gave voice to their fears, "Or that they aren't wanted. We haven't heard anything about them since we've been here. I rather think that someone would have found a way to tell us if something bad had happened to them,"

"Harry's right," Hermione agreed in a voice of false bravado, "We need to keep positive."

"What about that paper that Remus sent yesterday? Has anyone read that?" Harry asked.

Realization dawned in Hermione's eyes, "Oh Harry, after everything that happened yesterday, I completely forgot about it,"

"Well, let's take a look at it now. Maybe we can learn something we don't know that might answer some of our questions," Ginny voiced as she stood up and moved towards the kitchen. She was back within a minute, the folded copy of yesterday's Daily Prophet clutched tightly in her hand. She went back to her seat on the couch and began reading.

Harry observed Ginny as she quietly read the paper in her hands. She didn't seem to be reading every article so much as scanning it. Seeming content for the moment, Harry then turned his attention to Ron. It turned out that he'd turned away a few moments too soon. Ginny's gasp of surprise was followed by a horrific cry; "OH NO!"

Everyone in the room turned towards her as Ginny slowly lowered the paper. Her eyes were streaming tears and she looked like she was only moments from breaking down completely.

"What is it?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione asked all at the same time.

"It's our house! They burned it to the ground!"

"WHAT?" Ron roared jumping to his feet and sending Hermione sprawling to the floor. He turned and helped Hermione to her feet and when he turned around his face was white.

"Look, there, in that paper!" Ginny cried.

Harry picked up the paper Ginny dropped. Sure enough, there was a picture of the Burrow in flames. The photo caption underneath stated:

'Weasley home in flames; traitorous family on the run.

The home of known undesirable (see tomorrow's copy of the Daily Prophet for full list, page 2) was burned to the ground yesterday following a fight between Ministry Officials and The Order of the Phoenix that was using the Weasley home as their base of operations and was, until very recently, also the last known place to have house Harry Potter who is wanted for questioning in the death of former Hogwarts Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, who was said to have been the head of the Order.

Known participants in the Battle of the Burrow, as it is now being called, were members of the Weasley family: Arthur, Molly, Bill and Fleur Weasley, Warewolf Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Nymphadora Tonks.

Known to have perished in the battle is a ghoul that had been dressed up as Ronald Weasley, who had been reportedly laid up at the home with the infectious disease; Spattergroit.

Ronald Weasley, the youngest son of the Weasley Clan, is now thought to be on the run or in hiding with Harry Potter, as is the only girl of the Weasley family, Ginerva "Ginny" Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Granger is also wanted for questioning by the Muggleborn Registration Commission (see yesterday's Prophet, page 3 for more on this story).

Anyone who has seen any member of the Weasley family, Harry Potter, or the aforementioned individuals are asked to report these whereabouts immediately to the Ministry of Magic. Do not try to apprehend them, as they are believed to be armed and dangerous.'

Harry finished reading and looked up at his friends. Hermione was holding Ron from behind, her arms wrapped around him and her head on his back between his shoulders. Ron looked like he was ready to bolt from the room, but sat there silently staring at the wall. Ginny had her arms wrapped around herself and looked like she was ready to cry.

Setting down the paper, Harry gently reached over and took her in his arms. Ginny let him and put her arms around him. Stunned, Harry didn't know what else to do. The Burrow had been more of a home to him than anywhere else he'd ever been, except for maybe Hogwarts. He felt horrible at what he'd read and the picture he'd seen. It was difficult to imagine what Ron and Ginny must be feeling about this.

The group sat there in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place that afternoon reeling from the shock of the events they'd just learned of. Harry held Ginny until she was able to come to grips with the situation. He rubbed her back and spent his time deep in thought. When Ginny sat up, Harry decided that it was time to start doing something.

"I think," he said putting his thoughts into words, "that we need to really get started on trying to get into Hogwarts. Before we go back though I think we need to learn and practice disillusionment spells. It would be a lot easier to move around if we could do it without having to hide under my dad's old cloak,"

"That's a good idea, Harry," Hermione nodded in agreement, "We need to start right away if we're going to get in and out of the school before term begins,"

Ron quietly nodded. Ginny just looked at Harry as he continued on; "We'll need to keep going to Hogsmeade. We need to learn everything we can about what's going on there and up in the school. We need to find out everything we can,"

Harry looked down at Ginny who looked back at him. She had a fire in her eyes and Harry knew that staying behind at Grimmauld Place while the others were out trying to do something would be extremely hard for her. He recognized the burning desire to be out there doing something about what was going on. He knew what he saw because he felt it himself. Harry nodded at Ginny and smiled at her grimly.

"I also think that we need to do everything we can to find a way to break the Trace on Ginny. If we're going to do this, we'll need all the help we can get,"

"Agreed," Hermione said solemnly. Ron and Ginny were nodding their agreement as well.

Now it was time to set to work.