Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to J. K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and its affiliates. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; it does not belong to me.

Rating: M.

Chapter 4. Talks

At around seven thirty in the evening, two young women, more importantly, Luna and Hermione could be seen coming out from the Tabi's Beauty Salon. Being one of the few high-priced beauty salons in the Diagon Alley, Tabi's Beauty Salon often received expensive clients and customers. However, Luna and Hermione were not only one of those expensive patrons, but their special guests as well. On a closer view, it looked that Luna and Hermione had their hair and face done. They both looked exquisite and ethereal.

As Luna and Hermione came out of the Tabi's Beauty Salon, they waited for sometime to contemplate as to which way they should go. Few yards away from where they were standing the lane divided into two streets, each of which went in the opposite direction.

"So, which way do we go now?"

"Take left. We'll reach Hogwarts soon." Hermione said logically, when a thunderclap reverberated the entire dusk sky and strong zephyrs picked up abruptly.

"It looks as if it's going to rain, shortly."

"I hate this! Why has the weather gone topsy-turvy all of a sudden? It's March, and we are supposed to enjoy the spring time, not stay cooped up in the dorms because of the heavy rains." Luna grumbled. "When will all this end?"

"You're not the only one who hates this weather; Vic's Quidditch games suffered a lot because of this foul weather," Hermione replied, when two or three droplets of water began to fall from the sky.

"I think it would be better to take the Knight Bus to Hogwarts, than to take a walk, Hermione." Luna said.

"What! You do realize that we don't like Stan and Ernie Prang, don't you. They believe Harry's innocent, and don't give any credit to Dumbledore" Hermione shrieked

"I know! I know, Hermione! But it's starting to rain and we need to get to the school fast." Luna countered. "Right now, I'll even take a ride with the Malfoys themselves, if necessary."

"Fine! Stop being so dramatic! We'll go by the Knight Bus, okay," Hermione responded.

As soon as they had put out their wands hands out, they heard a deafening bang behind them, and were dizzy when glaring intense headlights assaulted their eyes.

Before long, Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Knight Bus, wearing his customary purple uniform came out and began to recite his usual adage:

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch and wizard…" Stan stopped abruptly, when he saw Hermione and Luna.

"Oh! It's you two! How are you?" Stan questioned with a smile.

"Quite well, thank you." Hermione said caustically. "Here, take twenty two sickles."

"Where to?"

"Hogwarts." Luna replied acidly.

"What's with the cold shoulder? Did something happen?" Stan questioned.

"It's none of your business, okay. Moreover, we don't want anything to do with people like you." Hermione said, after looking at Stan and the other commuters of the Knight Bus. "People who believe that Harry was not a dark wizard."

"You do know that everyone has a right to their own opinion, don't you?" Stan replied heavy-heartedly.

"Everyone does have a right to their own opinions. But not in Harry's case because he was a dark wizard, period." Hermione retorted.

"B- But what…"

"I think it's time to end not only our conversation, but our companionship with you as well. You see, we don't associate ourselves with any traitors" Luna chided coldly.

"O- Okay…" Stan said morosely and sorrowfully, "So this really is the end, isn't it." Stan went to one of the passengers who called him, while Luna and Hermione talked amongst themselves.

Within ten-fifteen minutes, the Knight Bus reached the Hogwarts grounds; Hermione and Luna left the bus as quickly as possible and went to their respective House dorms to get ready for the party.

"Bye. See at the party, okay!" Hermione said.

"Same to you, too."

XX Gryffindor Tower XX

As soon as Hermione reached the Gryffindor Common Rooms, Ron, Parvati, and Neville attacked her. They all wear dressed up in party clothes for the event.

"My, my, don't you look beautiful," Katie Bell. "By the way, Ron and Neville are anxious about you, and Victor's looking for you everywhere, Hermione."

"Thanks." But before Hermione could sit on the couch, the doors of the Gryffindor Common Room opened with such force as if a tornado had just pass through and two boys entered. As soon as they saw Hermione, they launched a barrage of questions all at the same time.

"Where were you and Luna? You told us that you'd be back by six-thirty in the evening?" Ron inquired; he was wearing black suits and bow ties. "Victor arrived half an hour ago and is looking for you."

"Why were you late?" Neville interrogated as well. Neville wore white suits with black bow ties. He actually looked more handsome than Ron.

"Okay, guys! Let me take some breathe, then I'll answer your questions. Alright!" Hermione answered, as she sat down on one of the couches in the Common Rooms. Slowly, Hermione recounted what occurred at the Goblet King (how they were belittled by Ken Savant because of Ginny) and in the Knight Bus.

"You're right, Hermie. Ginny must be taught a lesson about her status and what she's worth here" Ron responded distantly. "I think I'm going to bring Luna." With that Ron left the Common Room. After sometime, Parvati Patil could be seen coming down from the stairs, wearing her evening dress for the party, and Neville gaped as he stared at her.

"Did you bring the Blackberry shade lipstick, Hermione?" Parvati asked. She put on a nice pale peach gown with glass stone set all over the place. The evening dress looked splendid and perfectly matched with her hair style.

"Yeah. It's in that bag, the one next to my party dress. And I think I need to get ready for the party." Hermione said when Victor entered the room and saw her.

"It's eight-fifteen. Where were you?" Victor queried. "You're not even dressed and it takes almost half an hour to reach Sharaton Villa."

"Just five minutes, and I'll be tip-top." And within five minutes, Hermione was ready. She was wearing a silk pink gown with glass stones fit at the top part of her dress with her back open and flounce and frills filling the bottom half of the dress. She looked beautiful.

"You look exquisite, my dear, Hermione." Victor commented. "And I think it's time we leave for the party."

"Thanks. By the way, do Ron, Neville, Parvati, and Luna know the direction to the Sharaton Villa?"

"Yes. They are already on their way to that place."

-/-

London was busy in the late afternoon; being Friday, it was especially busy. Many workers after having finished working for the day were returning home either by cars, bus, or any other means of transportation. The roads were crowded and the traffic jammed at some places. Everyone attempted to get out of the metropolitan city. The city center and the down town shops were bustling with activity and dynamism, as the customers and workers both rushed about, each trying to tend to their last minute business. All this took place yesterday (Friday) at around four thirty to five P.M.

Today is Saturday. In the metropolitan city of London, the weekends were relatively quiet and peaceful since the majority of people went far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and town to enjoy the two day vacation. People would leave on Friday evening and come back by late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Even the suburbs were blissfully serene and tranquil from the everyday chaos and noise, bar from the sporadic car passing through or the clamor of teenager's stereo box. Everyone was at home relaxing and reclining from the whole week's fatigue and exhaustion from the work; they were enjoying the company of their friends and families. Some of these hosted Bar-B-Q parties and invited their friends to join with them.

However, this was not true for everyone, especially not for the people living in the number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, who were currently very busy at a meeting. (It was almost night)

Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, is the secret meeting place for the Order of the Phoenix members. A secret society, founded by Dumbledore in 1970, whose only purpose was to fight Voldemort. Concealed from inquisitive-meddlesome glances and peeping Toms by witchcraft, the old Black House was located between numbers eleven and thirteen Grimmauld Place.

At the moment, the members of the Order of the Phoenix were meeting in the kitchen. The old kitchen was too short to accommodate all of the members, but due to a few well-placed spells, thanks to Dumbledore, solved the problem. However, the tense and gloomy atmosphere couldn't be expunged by any spell. Dumbledore looked all around him, all of the members had been seated, and no chairs were left empty. Slowly peoples' voices lowered and silence reigned, and with that the meeting started.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," said Dumbledore. "Since there are no more interruptions, we shall start the meeting. I know the last meeting ended quite quickly and badly, I hope that this does occur today. So, Moody, would you like to begin?"

Moody, who sat five chairs (on the right) away from Dumbledore, in between Hestia Jones and Mundungus Fletcher, stood up assessing the entire room with his glass eye. He began by saying, "Well as far as in the Ministry, everyone is working round the clock to find who stole Harry's bones from his grave. However, they had not been able find a single suspect." Moody ended his speech.

"Why would anyone want to steal Harry's bones, Dumbledore?" questioned Arthur Weasley worriedly. He sat alongside his wife and after Hestia Jones.

"Not to mention even the grave soil where Harry was buried." continued Molly seriously. "The entire mound around Harry's tomb was desecrated."

"Yes, I know what happened to Harry's tomb, Molly. I've seen the tomb's remains." Dumbledore said gravely. "To tell the truth, even I'm confounded by these events as well. Anyone stealing Harry's bones and ashes worries me as well."

"I've heard that someone is trying to steal Harry's other possessions as well. Is this true, Dumbledore?" Minerva McGonagall inquired. She looked worried and apprehensive.

"Unfortunately, it's true. But don't worry, I've managed to hide his wand, amongst his other things, in a secure location; the thief won't be able to descry it very easily, like he or she retrieved Harry's bones."

"Do you think that You-Know-Who is behind this?" Hestia Jones asked. She was sitting on the opposite side of Kingsley Shacklebolt and in front of Arthur Weasley.

"I don't believe that Voldemort is behind this. My sources say that right now Voldemort is in Romania busy gathering the support of the Werewolves."

"Is there any other thing anyone who'd like to say?" Dumbledore inquired.

"I thought everything would be over since he died. Instead, what's happening now worries me more…" asserted Arabella Figg desperately. "… I mean… I've heard tomb robbers befouling and desecrating tombs to plunder precious stones and riches, but to pillage bones and ashes… It somehow doesn't fit."

"I know, Arabella. I know." Dumbledore said wearily. "Is there anything you'd like to say, Remus? Your face looks troubled and concerned."

Dumbledore had noticed the werewolf's face throughout the meeting; his face looked distracted and his mind seemed to be in a different place, not at all concerned with the meeting that was taking place. Worry and anguish could be seen on his facial features.

"Oh, no! It's nothing significant; I was thinking about Sirius." Remus replied drearily. He didn't want to reveal the fact that it was Cole who was disturbing his mind currently. Remus wanted to dig and find more about Cole before saying anything to Dumbledore.

"I'm sorry about Sirius, Remus. I know that he was your mate, and I know how much you cherished and loved him. I also know it's hard for you to accept his death, but you must. You should realize that if Harry hadn't gone on an impulse to the Department of Mysteries to rescue Sirius, then he wouldn't have died." Dumbledore answered.

"I know, Dumbledore that I should get over his death by now but it's too painful. What makes it excruciating is that Sirius paid more attention and concern to Harry than to me. But don't worry; I'll get over his death eventually." Remus replied. "I think I need some fresh air." With that Remus left the room.

Everyone knew mentioning Sirius' name always agitated and disturbed Remus. So they (Order members) rarely mentioned his name in front of him.

"Is there anything anyone else wants to talk or discuss about?" But since nobody wanted to talk anymore, the conference was put to an end. However, they didn't know what was going to happen this night in the Wizarding World. Some would be afraid and shocked, while others would be perplexed and terrified.

Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay and the filler chapter. My college has opened, and I'm busy with my classes and tests, so it'll take sometime before uploading new chapters.

I've placed some story challenges in my FFN profile page (since writing challenges as a story chapter is prohibited); if someone would accept the challenge stories and write about it, I'd be quite happy. Rules and regulations to the stories are all written in my profile page. Currently challenges are from the anime/manga Inu yasha series.