Chapter Two
"WHAT?" Harry almost yelled.
"McGonagall sent them out on a mission on July 3rd…and they never came back. The two were last seen near Godric's Hollow. Yes, I know it's horrible," she added at the look on Harry's face.
He said nothing for a long time. That's been almost five days! It's already July 9th! Finally, Harry asked, "Is it possible they're alive?"
Hermione nodded, though not too enthusiastically. "Possible…but not probable. Members of the Order need to check in every day…two days at the latest. McGonagall likes to know what is going on with them, you know, after Professor Dumbledore's death." Harry knew, but he was not too happy.
"I HATE not knowing things!" he snarled.
"No, Harry, not now. Please don't start," Hermione almost begged. Harry's fury fell away at the distressed sound of her voice. He sighed loudly.
"How much longer?" he wanted to know, for he was beginning to get cold.
"Not long now. Maybe ten, fifteen minutes." Hermione shivered too.
They landed, shaking from the cold, twenty minutes later. Harry stared up at the gloomy house. His house.
Shivering again, though this time not of cold, rather of horrid memories, he approached the building carefully. Hermione walked purposefully to the door, and muttered the password. Harry grumbled something that sounded a lot like, "I never get to know anything."
The inside of the house was the same miserable foyer, the same ugly elfs on the wall…the same people.
"Harry, dear! How wonderful to see you! Oh, so skinny again!" Someone hugged him fiercely.
"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley." Harry's greeting was muffled by the older woman's shoulder.
"Come now, everyone's waiting for you!" She ushered him into the dark kitchen.
Hermione followed, caring his trunk. Harry offered to help, but Hermione gave him a no nonsense look. Rolling his eyes, he went over to shake Ron's hands.
"Great to see you, mate!" Ron said enthusiastically. Hermione strode past Ginny, and kissed Ron. She thought back to last night:
Hermione entered the kitchen.
"Mrs. Weasley? What's wrong?" she asked. Mrs. Weasley was bent over the table, head hanging down. Her hair fell out of her tight bun, and her knuckles were white from grasping the table's edge so hard.
"It's-" she began, then stopped abruptly. "Hermione, get Harry."
Hermione's eyebrows went up. What could be so wrong? she wondered.
"Harry? What about him? He's coming here?" an excited voice squealed. Hermione nodded, and Ginny ran up the stairs.
"Gotta change," she yelled in explanation. Hermione looked back at the red-headed woman.
"Please tell me, what happened?"
"He-he…" Mrs. Weasley began again, then stopped. "Get him. Right away!" Hermione nodded, feeling scared. She raced upstairs, and into the room she shared with Ginny.
"Er…Ginny?" Hermione asked carefully, standing in the doorway.
"Yes?"
"I believe, that if you look in a mirror…you will notice that you forgot your skirt."
Ginny rolled her eyes, glancing down at her outfit: a black micro mini-skirt and a top fit for a toddler.
"I need to show Harry what he's missing out on," Ginny explain. "I need to make him want me."
Hermione nodded, giggling.
"…really happen?" Harry asked a weary-looking Mr. Weasley. "They cannot be found?" Hermione was pulled back from her memory. She solemnly nodded, along with Tonks.
"I'm afraid so." Mr. Weasley slumped in his chair.
"Where is Professor McGonagall?" Harry inquired.
"Hogwarts. Teachers' meeting."
"What do we do no-" Harry started to say, but stopped when he saw Ginny.
The young witch made a spectacular entrance; slowly walking down the stairs in her dramatic 3-inch heels, smiling a striking smile. Harry's eyes lit up, and he moved to the end of the steps, ready to be welcomed.
Ginny grinned, and Hermione rolled her eyes, vaguely reminded of those cheesy Muggle movies that she so often watched with her mother. If only she fell now; then it'd be a perfect scene from those movies, Hermione mused.
After one moment's time, Ginny finally reached the bottom, and Harry embraced her in a tight hug. Both beamed like maniacs, and Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but laugh.
Ginny pulled back and kissed Harry passionately. Ron, who was standing beside Hermione, made a face. "Ugh," he muttered under his breath, and Mrs. Weasley gave him a stern look.
A minute later, they were still joined by their lips, and Hermione significantly cleared her throat loudly. The pair immediately broke apart. Ginny pushed a strand of hair from her eyes, and Harry blushed.
"Right. Er, Voldemort." Ron shuddered when Harry said this.
"Grow up, Ronald," Hermione chided. Ron just yawned, then whacked Harry on the back playfully. Harry fell into Hermione, nearly knocking the two down.
"Good to see ya, mate!" Hermione glared, straightening her blouse.
"We need our energy. I'll see everyone in the morning." Harry headed upstairs.
"It's already morning," a drowsy voice pointed out, yawning widely. "Harry's here?"
"'Morning, Fred. Er, sorry. George," Harry said, shaking the twin's hand. "I'll see you later!" He ran this time, and shut his door.
Ron followed, and Hermione and Ginny headed up to their room. Harry climbed into the four-poster bed. "'Night. Sort of."
"'Night, mate," Ron answered. There was a knock. Harry sat up.
"Not again," he mumbled under his breath, then went to the door. "Oh, Hermione. Yes?"
"An owl delivered a letter address to a Mr…" she paused, and Harry reached out his hand, "…Ronald Weasley." She thrust the letter into Ron's hands, and plopped down onto his bed. "What's it say?"
Ron gaped at the seal. "Well?" Harry asked.
"Er…I have Sturgis and Mundugus. I'm willing to exchange them for Harry Potter. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, it's signed," Ron read.
"Did he sign it Lord Voldemort, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" Hermione wondered, reaching for the letter.
"Vol-Vol-Voldemort," Ron choked out. "Harry for Mundungus and Sturgis." He gulped audibly.
