"This is ridiculous," Ron shouted. "They're treating us like children!"

Hermione sighed and looked up at Ron. He was pacing across the floor of his bedroom, anxiously pushing his hand through his overgrown hair as he plodded from one side of the tiny room to the other. Through the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Ginny give her the side-eye as if to say this again.

"I'm of age, you're of age," he pointed at Hermione. "The only person who isn't of age is bloody Harry. I bet they'd let him sit in meetings if he were here." Ron heaved a sigh and collapsed in a huff on his bed. He didn't last long in his relaxed state and soon jumped up to continue his tirade.

"The twins are even there! They're only a couple of years older than us!"

And aeons less mature, Hermione thought to herself with a smirk.

"What?" Ron asked Hermione, noticing her smile.

"Nothing," Hermione whispered and brought her eyes back to her book in embarrassment.

"How are we supposed to help, if we don't know what's going on?" Ron stressed, not slowed down in the slightest by Hermione and Ginny's lack of enthusiasm.

"With everything we know, and everything…" he paused and looked at Ginny with an air of suspicion, "we have to do, they should be begging us to join them."

"You know what," Ginny asked, tossing her magazine to the side, "is ridiculous? It's you complaining about not being included in Order meetings when you won't include me in what you're planning! What do you know, huh? What are you planning on doing?" she asked desperately, looking at Hermione and Ron.

Hermione gave Ginny a sympathetic look. They couldn't tell Ginny what they knew, they couldn't tell anyone, at least not according to Harry. Hermione had pestered him a few times about letting someone know their plans, someone who was older and wiser, someone who could continue the hunt...if they couldn't. But Harry was strict in his resolve not to tell anyone, especially not Ginny.

"That's right, you won't tell me!" Ginny huffed and stood up to leave. "We've got to protect Ginny. That's what you all say. Well, I think that's utter bollocks. If you're old enough to be in the Order, I'm old enough to know what you're doing. It's not like I can't help."

Ginny looked at the pair with pleading eyes, and Hermione felt terrible that she couldn't include Ginny in some way. She could only imagine what it would be like knowing that your brother and your…friend were risking their lives and you could do nothing about it. After a moment of silence, Ginny left the room, slamming the door as she left.

"She's a bit emotional, don't you think?" Ron asked Hermione, and Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's total lack of self-awareness.

"She's got a point," Hermione said.

"Yeah, well," Ron shrugged. He folded his arms and sat across from Hermione. "I don't know how you can be so calm, don't you want to know what's going on?"

"Of course I do," Hermione replied succinctly. "I just happen to know that whinging about it won't change anything."

Ron harrumphed in protest and began playing with loose threads on a throw at the edge of his bed. Just as Hermione was starting to refocus on her book, he spoke up again.

"I just–," he paused, looking down at his hands, "I want to do something. It feels like I'm sitting on my bloody ass all day, while the whole world's burning to bits."

"I know," Hermione responded in a gentle tone. "But when Harry gets here we'll have plenty to do, plenty to plan."

"Yeah, but what about now," Ron sighed. "I mean you can't be fine with doing nothing, reading," he tilted his head to read the title of her book, "Pride and Prejudice, and sitting about."

With a sigh, Hermione removed the book cover from her book and revealed the real title– The Unique History of Deadly Potions and Spells.

"Great," Ron said, sounding annoyed, "so I'm the only one doing fuck all." He stood up, seemingly propelled by his frustration and tossed the ratty blanket he was holding to the side.

"Well," Hermione said, "we could do something."

"Yeah, like what?"

Hermione stood up and walked to Ron. "We could practice duelling?"

"What, duel you? No way!"

"Because I'm a girl?" Hermione asked in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest and letting out a huff.

"No, because you'd bloody beat my ass."

Hermione couldn't help the small smile forming on her face. She knew she should be admonishing him for his language, but she decided to ignore it and take the compliment.

"Do you have any other ideas?" Hermione asked.

"We could go downstairs and demand they let us in the meeting," Ron stated.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Ron questioned, appearing taken aback by Hermione's agreement.

"I told you that I want to know too."

Ron nodded his head and held out his hand. "Let's go, then."

Hermione stilled, looking back and forth from his opened hand to his face. He seemed to be doing the same thing, his eyes staring intently at his outreached palm. She figured he would snatch his hand back, realising his mistake. But he didn't. After what would have typically been much too long for someone to take another's hand, Hermione reached out towards him. She squeezed his slightly sweaty palm as their hands collided.

"Alright," Hermione smiled as they walked out of the bedroom, still hand-in-hand.

Suddenly, everything felt easier. She felt like she could do anything, even interrupt the people she so looked up to and demand that they include Ron and her. As long as she had Ron by her side.