As always, my beta-readers, fredfred and InquisitorCOC, deserve a huge thank you. They helped a lot.
Chapter 29: The Family Reunion
Black Lake, Scotland, Britain, October 11th, 2005
Despite her words, Hermione wasn't handling the pressure very well. At least not in Ron's opinion. She was tense, far more so than she usually was, anyway. Despite the effort they had made to relax last night - and wasn't that a euphemism which wouldn't fool anyone? Even Aunt Muriel wouldn't be taken in by it. Especially not Aunt Muriel, actually, since the old battleaxe always suspected the worst of everyone and was more old-fashioned than anyone else Ron knew.
He gritted his teeth as he saw Hermione biting her lower lip and scowling at her computer in apparent frustration. No, that wasn't the face of someone handling pressure well. Quite the opposite.
He rose from the bench and started to walk towards her, giving the area around the quantum mirror cage an even wider berth than usual - he didn't want to cross the 'ritual space' as he had dubbed the spot where Hermione had drawn her circle. "Hey!"
She jerked, then looked up. "What?"
"Time for a break?"
"It's not yet time," she pointed out after a quick glance at the clock on her screen. "And I've got a lot of work to do today."
"Another ritual?" he asked.
"Not yet. I need to make quite extensive adjustments to the formula. Not before dinner, at the earliest." She was already staring at the screen again.
He suppressed his own scowl. This needed a lighter touch. "Tomorrow then. You wouldn't risk a ritual when you're tired, would you?" That came out a little more pleading than he liked.
"I've done rituals under worse conditions," she replied, setting her jaw.
He sat down on the edge of her desk, first displacing a few of her notes with his hand. She tensed up some more, pressing her lips together, though, apart from a glance at the notes, she kept studying the columns of data on her computer screen.
"There's no need to push yourself like this." He leaned forward a little, towards her. He was telling the truth - this was going too far. And it was Dumbledore's fault. The old spymaster knew how to manipulate her, and was willing to exploit that without scruple.
"You know why I have to do this," she replied, still not looking at him.
"No."
That made her look at him, her mouth half-open. "What?"
"You told me that you can't rush things." She was about to contradict him, but he continued without giving her an opportunity to respond. "You said rituals are dangerous. That even a single mistake could be fatal. That means every time you perform one when you're not at your best, you're putting everyone in danger since you're more likely to make a mistake."
She closed her mouth and pressed her lips together. "If I take too long, I'm also putting everyone in danger," she said after a moment.
"We've got a better chance of handling an attack by Russian agents than a magical mishap," he retorted. "Dumbledore knows what he's doing. And we've faced these sort of situations before. But none of us could do anything if you ended up cursed. And we'd still have to face the Russians sooner or later - just without you." And, possibly, without Dumbledore's help. If the old man decided to cut his losses, he might even choose to deliver them to the Russians to prove that there was no portal to take any more. Dad might consider Dumbledore a friend, but Ron wasn't sure if the reverse was true. And he was certain that Grindelwald didn't care for any of them.
"Sometimes you have to take calculated risks," she replied, raising her chin slightly.
He shrugged. "Yes, but I don't think you can calculate the risks in this case." Or, even if she could, that it would be worth taking such a risk.
Once more, she pressed her lips together, but this time, she didn't answer even after a few seconds had passed.
So he reached out and touched her shoulder. "Please."
She closed her eyes and sighed. "Alright. Let's take a break."
He was tempted to tease her but refrained from doing so. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the bench.
They sat down together, and he nodded at the intercom next to them. "Should I order our usual early?" The kitchen usually delivered drinks and snacks at half-past nine.
She shook her head. "No. We can take another break at the normal time." With a faint but - as far as he could tell - honest smile, she added: "I've got a wide selection of snacks in my bag."
He knew that. And he also knew that she used to live in her lab for days at a time. But he took her offer for what it was and smiled. "A Mars bar, please."
Black Lake, Scotland, Britain, October 12th, 2005
"Hermione looks less stressed."
Upon hearing Luna's comment, Ron looked up from where he had been stacking some of the targets from the exercise they had just finished. "Hm?"
"She was quite stressed after Mr Dumbledore's visit," Luna said as she knelt to help him. "Now she's not."
"Ah." So someone else had noticed. "We had a talk."
"Ah." She nodded with a faint grin that told him that her repeating his words wasn't an accident.
He rolled his eyes at her. "A real talk."
"Ah." After a moment, she giggled.
"You already knew that," he said.
"Yes." She sighed. "I talked to her while we were walking back to our starting positions."
He nodded. That had been after he and Harry had defeated their first attempt at an attack. The only time, actually, that he hadn't been with her today - she had gone straight back to her lab after the exercise. Hermione was more relaxed, but she certainly wasn't lazy. "So, how are you doing with the drones?"
"Oh, it's going well. I wish I could have them fly at a higher altitude, but then government radar would pick them up. But the surveillance network is coming along well." She smiled at him with obvious pride.
"How much does your network cover?"
"It doesn't cover our rooms," she said, "if you were afraid of that. Although I haven't found the network that does cover our rooms, yet. It must be something revolutionary, I think."
"Or there aren't any bugs in our quarters," Ron suggested. Dumbledore would be aware of their reaction to their bedrooms being bugged, wouldn't he?
She shook her head. "He'll want some surveillance. But short of ripping out the walls, floor and ceiling, it'll be hard to find. He could've had listening pipes built into them. Nothing electronic at all on that end."
To imagine Filch listening in to them, at night… Ron shuddered.
Luna nodded in apparent sympathy. "I've been keeping my eyes on the obvious suspects, but I haven't caught them yet." She sighed and looked out at the Black Lake. "But, at least, we've got the area outside covered."
Ron blinked. Wait a minute… "So that's how you caught us in the second part today!"
Once more, she giggled. "You said we should act as realistically as possible."
"We didn't spot any drones," he pointed out. And they had been looking for them, too. Luna had used drones - her toy helicopters - in such exercises before, after all.
"There are thermographic cameras concealed at several locations," she admitted. "We didn't use them in the first attempt, to see how it would go without them."
"Ah." He looked down at the shore, where Harry and Ginny were checking their training weapons. His sister looked smug. "I guess she didn't tell him, did she?"
"She asked us not to tell you."
He shook his head. Sometimes, his sister was a little too much like the twins. Well, not that rarely, actually - but, unlike the twins, she got away with it too often.
"She's been feeling stressed, too," Luna mentioned.
Ron nodded. "All of us are."
She didn't disagree.
Dumbledore revisited them that evening, smiling widely this time. And once again, he didn't tell them the real reason for his visit during dinner. He probably enjoyed making them wait and wonder while he made polite conversation. It was annoying, but Ron had to admit that it was perhaps easier to enjoy the meal if you weren't discussing serious matters. Slightly easier, overall - worrying what news would be revealed wasn't that conducive to a pleasant dining experience, either.
Finally, Dumbledore finished dessert - crème brûlée this time - and put his fork down. "Now, I'm certain that you're wondering why I'm visiting so soon after my last visit."
"You've got good news, or news you think is good news," Luna said.
"An important distinction, Miss Lovegood," Dumbledore replied, nodding at her. "After all, almost all of our views are subjective. Certainly when it comes to judging news."
"So, what did your men find out?" Ginny asked.
"Ah." The old man sighed, looking apologetic. "I have no new intelligence about our Russian friends, I'm afraid. No," he went on, "I'm here because I was approached by Arthur and Molly to arrange a meeting with you. I have evaluated the request, and I think it's safe, provided certain precautions are taken." He nodded at Luna and Hermione. "I took the liberty of assuming that you'd like to include your father and your parents' counterparts as well."
Oh. Ron felt queasy. Meeting Mum and Dad? He looked around, and Hermione and his sister seemed to feel the same way. Luna, however, was beaming and nodding rapidly.
Harry, on the other hand, was glaring at Dumbledore. "That is rather dangerous," Ron's friend snapped. "Anyone observing them will be led straight to us."
"I have people trained and able to spot such tails," the old man retorted. "And rest assured that no one will be visiting this place."
"You're using us, and our families, to prop up a decoy site. Or as bait," Harry spat.
"Your and your families' safety is my priority, but I would be lying if I said that the fringe benefits of such a meeting have escaped my notice." Dumbledore's smile turned into a rather wry grin as he confirmed Harry's suspicion.
Ron glared at the spymaster. You didn't risk civilians like that. Especially not his and his friends' families. "And what if the Russians manage to follow us afterwards?" No one was perfect, not even the smug old man.
"They'll be led straight into a trap - a series of traps, to be precise." Dumbledore shook his head. "I am aware of and understand your misgivings, but this won't be a dangerous gamble relying on luck, but a well-planned operation."
"The more of your people who know about us, the bigger the chance that a traitor learns about us," Harry pointed out.
"I've taken that into account as well. The only ones involved in your trip will be people already aware of this location," Dumbledore replied. He still didn't seem to be fazed by their reactions and accusations.
"It's an unnecessary risk," Ron told him. "Putting our families in danger for a meeting?"
"Staying isolated also puts them at risk," the old man retorted. "How much longer do you think it'll take before your parents will attempt to contact you on their own?" He spread his hands. "I doubt that imprisoning them for their own protection is a good idea."
Sirius snorted at that, looking surprised at his own reaction a moment later.
Ron was tempted to disagree, but the spymaster had a point, as much as he loathed having to admit it. They couldn't let their families become actual prisoners 'for their own good'. Mum and Dad wouldn't forgive them, he was certain. If they even believed it, and didn't assume that Dumbledore was also keeping this group locked up against their will. And if Ron's siblings got involved…
"Daddy wouldn't let you do that," Luna said. "He'd trigger all the contingencies we've prepared for such a situation. Even the Shadow Government knows better than to push us this far!"
"Quite." Dumbledore nodded at her. "While I certainly agree that the safest course of action would be continuing to avoid contact, I don't think that this will be possible without causing exactly the kind of disaster we want to avoid. And while such twists are common and entertaining in literature - have been since ancient times - I prefer to keep them in literary works instead of allowing them to actually happen."
"I don't think that my… the Grangers would cause much trouble," Hermione commented. She looked calm, but Ron could tell how tense she was. And how angry.
"I think that they might surprise you, Dr Granger." For a moment, Dumbledore looked as if he pitied her, or so Ron thought.
"It doesn't matter," Ginny spoke up. "If Mum is set on this, then she won't listen to reason. And Dad…"
"...will support her," Ron added with a sigh. Dad was laid back, generally, but his patience had limits.
"Yes." Ginny nodded in agreement.
Harry shook his head. "I don't like this."
"As I said, I would prefer an alternative myself, but even regular electronic communication has its limits," Dumbledore said.
Ron winced. He should have written more mails to his family. And longer ones. This was probably partially his own fault. But he couldn't have told them about the missions and the dangers. Or about magic.
"And the more information you send, the easier it gets to decrypt," Luna said, nodding.
"Precisely."
"So, when and where can we meet them?" she went on.
"That still remains to be seen, though I think Southern England would be best," Dumbledore told her.
That was about the farthest you could be from here and still remain in mainland Britain. "Won't the Russians expect that?" Ron asked.
"Even if they did, they still wouldn't have a clue where to begin their search - and Scotland is quite large but thinly populated," Dumbledore retorted. "Not to mention that they will suspect me of pulling a double-bluff and might assume I expect them to think I chose a location as far away as possible while actually having the meeting take place near the real laboratory."
"Or a quadruple bluff," Luna said, looking excited. "Perhaps even a sextuple bluff."
"I think they'll try to cover all bases and pursue all leads, which will further set back their pursuit of us, and may cause them to offer us another opportunity to deal with them."
Ron shook his head. He didn't like these sorts of mind games. Trying to think like a criminal was difficult enough in his line of work, to try it with Russian spies…
And Dumbledore apparently being able to think like Luna?
That was wrong. Very wrong.
Black Lake, Scotland, Britain, October 14th, 2005
"I'm still not convinced that this is a good idea."
Ron stopped getting into the SUV and turned to look at Harry. His friend met his eyes with a frown. "It's not," Ron replied. "But the alternatives are worse."
Harry scoffed and shook his head. To Ron's relief, he didn't press the issue - they had been over this before, since Dumbledore's visit, and things had sometimes grown a little heated. Apparently, this wouldn't be one of those times, so Ron nodded and entered the car, taking the seat next to Hermione while Harry went to the second SUV.
"Did he complain again?" she asked as soon as he had closed the door and she wouldn't be overheard.
Ron shrugged. "Not really."
She snorted in response. "So he did."
"Not much," Ron admitted. "And it's not as if it would amount to anything, anyway." In a minute or two, they'd be on the way to England.
"Let's hope he doesn't annoy Ginny too much," she said.
"He won't." Ron was sure of that - his little sister wouldn't let him. Ginny was already quite worked up over their impending meeting with the 'rents, and so her temper would be worse than usual. Ron was very glad he wasn't in the other car - any row would be spectacular.
On the other hand, he added to himself as he saw Luna approach their car pushing a trolley loaded down with a crate upon which three drones were balanced, Harry, Ginny and Sirius wouldn't be at risk of being decapitated by drone parts if their car had an accident.
"Ron, can you help me load the crate? I can handle Anna, Bertha and Chrysalis, but the crate's a little too heavy to easily lift."
"Of course." He had known Luna would name the drones. But… 'Chrysalis'? Better not ask, he thought to himself.
As he found out, the crate was very heavy. He had to strain to lift it high enough to push it into the boot. Forget the danger from drones - if they ran into something, the crate would probably end up smashing their engine. After going through the passenger compartment.
"Thank you!" Luna said while she stacked all three drones on to the free seat next to her.
"No problem," he told her while he tried to subtly rub his back.
Judging by the way Hermione shook her head at him with a wry smile as he climbed back into the car, he hadn't been subtle enough. He rolled his eyes at her, and she chuckled in return.
But the levity didn't last, of course. She closed her eyes and sighed before leaning back in her seat as their driver and guard - 'Smith' and 'Brown', both apparently lacking a first name - got in.
"Having second thoughts?" he asked.
"I've been having second thoughts for days."
"Oh?" Luna piped up. A moment later, her head appeared between Ron and Hermione as she bent over the backrest of their bench. "Why?"
"She's feeling guilty," Ron replied before Hermione could think of an answer. "Even if it's not her fault." He met her annoyed glare with raised eyebrows - he knew what she was thinking. And she should know his opinion about it.
At least she didn't try to deny it.
"Oh." Luna shook her head with a sigh. "You really should know better, Hermione. It's not your fault."
Of course, Hermione couldn't leave that be. "Without me, none of you or your families would be in danger."
"Of course we'd be in danger!" Luna retorted. "Anyone trying to uncover the machinations of the cabal behind the government is in danger!" After a moment, she added: "And police officers, at least if they aren't corrupt, are in danger as well. Ginny has had to dodge paparazzi for years, which, as everyone knows after Paris, is dangerous. Even though she usually drives herself. I guess Sirius would be safer - but also far more bored."
Since Luna was facing Hermione, Ron could grin at her confusion from behind the back of Luna's head. When Luna set her mind on something, there was no arguing. You could try, but to no avail.
"Besides, a little danger is a small price to pay for becoming your friend," Luna told her. Ron didn't have to see her face to know she was beaming at Hermione in that charming but utterly honest way of hers. She had a way with people and was far more insightful than most people thought.
He nodded, smiling at Hermione's surprised reaction. "Yes. We won't abandon you, no matter what."
She sniffled, once, as she nodded in return. "Thank you."
"Yes," Luna added. "Ginny must have lost a fortune in prize money and advertising contracts, but have you heard her complaining?"
And, Ron thought with a wince as Hermione gasped, hands flying to her mouth, sometimes, Luna's honesty wasn't charming or helping. Or very insightful.
Near Cuxwold, Lincolnshire, Britain, October 15th, 2005
The light wasn't good - it was past midnight already - but from what Ron could tell, the safehouse looked more like a hovel. And not a hovel old enough that English Heritage would care about it - just decrepit, not ancient. And he was sure that the garage they were entering was a repurposed barn. The inside matched the outside, too, he noticed a moment later as Brown opened the doors and Smith drove them inside - there was even a pile of hay in a corner.
"Hope no one's allergic," he said as they got out.
"To mould?" Hermione asked.
He chuckled.
"Over here," Smith told them, moving towards a crate.
"Are we going to camp out here?" Luna asked. "Or is there a secret passage built into the building?"
Smith blinked for a moment, then pushed the crate away, revealing a trapdoor beneath it.
"A secret passage!" Luna all but cheered. "This must be an old Secret Service station - we're near a former emergency airfield; they were used for spy missions in the war and afterwards, you know."
Judging by the way Smith jerked a little, she was on the mark. The stairs under the trapdoor certainly were far more solid than the barn's appearance would lead one to expect, and the basement was solid concrete with modern lights - and the obvious entrance to an underground bunker.
Dumbledore apparently didn't plan to skimp on their security. That they wouldn't be able to easily take a walk was likely a welcome bonus.
But it was too late for a stroll anyway, much less a run. They'd be up in six hours, so they'd make the meeting with enough time to spare to ensure the place was safe - and to pick a route that wouldn't lead straight back to this spot.
"Oh, a secret underground base!" Sirius exclaimed. "Now that's what I call style! As long as it has comfortable beds, and not army cots, of course."
"The quarters are comfortable," Smith replied as he entered a code into the pad next to the door.
"Are they? You don't know my standards, do you?" Sirius said.
"They're the same as at the other location." Smith stepped to the side as the door started to open - and revealed that it was as massive as a vault door.
If Dumbledore was about to double-cross them and locked them inside… Ron shook his head. If the old man wanted to stab them in the back, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths; he had had ample opportunities to do so on the way here.
They entered, and found themselves in rather familiar surroundings - but for a slightly stale smell, it looked similar to the underground parts of the laboratory. "Built by the same people, or built according to the same specs?" he wondered.
"Either way, it's a potential leak," Harry replied. "If different people built the bases, someone might still be able to track the construction materials."
"That was taken into account during construction," Brown said, a little stiffly, in Ron's opinion. For someone who hadn't said a single word during the drive, despite Luna's best efforts, he was downright chatty now.
"Did you tell the mole that as well?" Harry shot back.
The man didn't answer that but instead stiffened some more. "Your quarters are to the right. Breakfast will be served at 7 o'clock."
"I hope it's not a continental breakfast," Sirius said with a wide smile. "We'll need a hearty meal to face tomorrow."
"Our means are limited. Security, you understand," Brown replied with a bland expression.
Definitely continental, then. Probably without anything fresh. If Mum were here… Ron sighed.
"I'm sure we'll manage," Hermione said, patting her bag as they entered their quarters.
"Oh, it's not about that," he replied. "Not really, at least. I was just thinking about Mum's reaction if she were here."
"Ah."
They entered their room - the second from the mini-lounge. The bed looked comfortable, but the whole place felt more bland than a hotel room. Almost sterile.
"Are you nervous?" she asked as she sat down on the bed, testing it.
"About tomorrow?"
She tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. He snorted in response - it was a dumb question. "Yes," he said after a deep breath. "I'm sure that Dumbledore's doing his best to keep us safe, but some risk remains."
"Yes," she agreed.
A few seconds passed in silence.
"But, well… you probably know what to expect tomorrow," he said. She knew his parents' counterparts, after all.
"I haven't met your mother yet," she replied.
Which was another can of worms, Ron thought. He wasn't exactly bringing a girl home, but it felt a little like it. Or a lot. "She'll like you," he said.
"Because she thinks you'll settle down with me and stop risking your life?"
He snorted again. Oh, she knew what to expect, indeed.
Rye, East Sussex, Britain, October 15th, 2005
Walking through the small village, Ron couldn't help feeling terribly exposed. They were in disguise, this time as tourists, but that did little to calm his nerves. They had split up before reaching the village, but they were still the right age… If he were looking for them, he wouldn't miss them. It was a little late in the year for tourists, anyway, unless they were retirees. If anyone followed their families to this village, they'd probably make them.
On the other hand, anyone tailing them would stick out here as well - and they'd also have to pose as tourists since he doubted that the Russians had any informants in the village. Dumbledore, though, wouldn't have picked Rye if he didn't have some assets in place - provided he could trust them.
Dumbledore. It all came down to trusting the old man. His plans, his men, his choice of location.
And Ron loathed it. The former spymaster - with 'former' being a very technical term where he was concerned - knew his business. They had changed cars twice since leaving the bunker, and Ron hadn't spotted anyone following them. He couldn't have planned it better himself. Nor as well. And that irked him the most.
"Smile a little," he heard Ginny whisper next to him, "we're supposed to be tourists having a good time."
He snorted at that. As part of their disguises, they had broken up the couples. He couldn't even walk with Hermione. "You're not exactly looking happy, either."
"I don't look like I'm about to attack the next guy who gets close."
"So people will assume that I'm a jealous, insecure boyfriend."
"Well, you are a jealous, insecure boyfriend," she retorted. "Just not mine."
"What?" he stared at her.
She scoffed as she met his eyes. "I know you."
"I'm not insecure," he told her.
"Sure you are. And you're jealous - of your counterpart."
"I'm not," he spat. Just what had Hermione talked about with Ginny and, presumably, Luna?
"And here's the insecurity."
"My love life is none of your business." Cheap, but better than sounding like a teenager.
"You're my brother." She bared her teeth at him in a toothy grin.
He knew what she meant. "I'm not a teenager any more." And he had never been a teenage girl with a crush on her brother's best friend. This wasn't the same.
She sniffed, obviously not agreeing. "Acting like a jealous, insecure boyfriend won't help you with Hermione."
"I don't need any help."
She shook her head. "Good luck trying to convince Mum of that."
"She'll focus on her baby girl," he shot back. This wasn't about matchmaking, but 'terrorist attacks' - and Mum knew he could take care of himself. Ginny, though, could have a black belt in every martial art known to mankind, and Mum would still think she needed protection.
Now Ginny scowled at him while he grinned back.
And they had reached The Mermaid Inn. Perfect timing.
A precisely worded phrase to the innkeeper got them a room as cover, and a passage through a secret tunnel to the actual meeting spot - hidden under The Olde Bell Inn, the town's other famous inn. "English Heritage would have a stroke knowing someone installed all of this," Ron muttered as they entered a very modern-looking part.
"As long as something's not visible and not replacing or altering anything valuable, they don't care. You could build a bunker under your manor," Ginny told him.
"I don't have a manor," he pointed out.
"You might get one if you marry Hermione."
"What?"
"She'll control access to her world. And their magical health care. You know how much money people will pay her for a real miracle cure?" Ginny snorted. "Even with Dumbledore taking his cut, she'll be raking in the money."
"She doesn't care about that," he told her.
"Well, someone has to," Ginny said, shrugging. "Might as well be you. Now look happy, we're about to meet Mum and Dad."
She wasn't quite right, though. When they entered the meeting room - one of the guards, another of Dumbledore's men, opened the door for them - not just Mum and Dad, but also Xenophon and the Grangers were waiting for them.
And the others hadn't arrived yet.
"Ron! Ginny!"
A moment later, Mum grabbed both of them and hugged them, hard. But any embarrassment or annoyance Ron might have felt died when he realised she was sobbing.
"I was so afraid for you both! The things I heard…"
"What were you thinking, Son?"
Ron looked over her shoulder as he patted her back. Dad looked disappointed. And concerned. The Grangers looked uncomfortable, but Xenophon… looked confused. Of course - Luna must have told him enough to figure things out - or close enough. And he probably hadn't realised that other parents wouldn't be proud of their kids' involvement in such matters.
Great. Ron should have expected this. Then he had another thought: Had Dumbledore arranged this? And for what purpose?
Or was he becoming a little too paranoid?
"What were you thinking? And you, Ginny! Risking your life like that!"
"What?" Ginny made a decent effort at displaying honest, innocent surprise, but she didn't quite pull it off.
"Going off to attack criminals! In foreign countries!" Mum told her.
What? Ron blinked. Luna knew better than to go into these details - ever since their ill-fated 'swamp expedition' back when they were nine and eight, she had known that certain things were to be kept a secret from Mum and Dad.
And in an instant, Ginny switched from innocent to digging in her heels and doubling down. "Mum! Everyone went - I couldn't let them go by themselves! They needed my help!"
"You're not a police officer! Nor are you a former soldier! Oh, I'll have words with Sirius!"
"It was my decision, Mum! I'm old enough to make my own choices!" Ginny retorted.
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady! Risking your life by going to war is not the same as buying a sports car with the prize money from your first tournament win!"
"So? You're opposed to both!"
"With good reason!"
Ron slowly backed away. This was familiar terrain, and his mum and his sister could easily go on to butt heads for an hour or two.
"I do have to agree with Molly," Dad told him in a low but firm voice. "Why did you drag your little sister to war?"
"War?" Ron stalled.
"The 'terrorist attack' on Russia's Black Sea Coast. Xenophon figured out that that had been you."
Ron winced under his father's stare. Dad was laid-back, but sometimes, he showed a temper, and this might be one of these times. "We didn't have much of a choice," he said in a not quite whisper while Ginny and Mum were rehashing Ginny's teenage rebellion. "We could only trust each other."
"You couldn't trust Dumbledore?" Dad sounded surprised. Perhaps even a little shocked. "Dr Granger's research is that valuable?"
"Yes." Even more than that, actually, as Ginny had reminded him.
"But to drag your little sister into this…"
"We couldn't exactly make her stay behind," Ron defended himself. "Harry tried his best."
Judging by the way Dad's lips thinned, Sirius might not be the only one getting a talking to.
And as if they had been waiting for their cue, Harry and Sirius entered.
"Hello, everyone!" Sirius said, smiling widely at Mum in a - doomed, Ron knew - attempt to charm her. "Molly! How are you?"
"Harry! Tell Mum that you needed my help to escape the mercenary ambush! I was the only one able to drive when Sirius got shot!" Ginny interrupted the older man.
"I was laying down covering fire with the machine gun!" Sirius defended himself.
"Until you got shot."
And Mum exploded.
By the time Hermione and Luna entered the room, about ten minutes late, likely due to Luna getting distracted by the secret tunnel, Mum had calmed down - a little, at least. She was still glaring daggers at Sirius, Harry, Ron and Ginny.
"Daddy!"
"Luna!"
"Hermione!"
"Gabriel! Ellen!"
Their family reunions were as emotional as Ron's own, if not quite as loud.
"Did you find out anything else about the shadow government?"
"Oh, yes! The Russians aren't part of it - but they tried to compromise it! And Putin is worse than we thought!"
"Oh! What did he do?"
"He's covering up even more than we thought, and may attack Britain in disguise!"
Ron tried to tune the Lovegoods out as he took a step closer to the Grangers.
"I've got bad news," he heard Hermione saw in a low voice. "About my counterpart."
Both Grangers stiffened. "She's dead, then." Mr Granger said.
Hermione slowly nodded. "I'm sorry."
"We were all but certain for years," Mr Granger said. "This is just confirmation."
But he had tears in his eyes, Ron noticed - and Mrs Granger was crying.
Ron almost wished Mum would go on another tirade and distract everyone.
But she didn't - she greeted Luna with a smile. "Luna! How are you doing? You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"Oh, no! I was perfectly safe. Well, as safe as everyone else. Most of the time. I'm usually piloting the helicopter."
"The helicopter?" Xenophon cut in."Oh, how marvellous!"
"Oh, yes. I had to wreck one, though - we needed a distraction for the Russian navy to chase." Luna nodded happily. "They shot the helicopter down, but Mr Dumbledore got me a better one."
"You… what? You risked your life as a distraction?"
"It was a toy helicopter!" Ron blurted out. Not for the first time, he wondered whether Luna knew exactly how her words would be misunderstood or if she genuinely had no idea until after the fact.
"A toy helicopter?"
"Yes, like a drone," Luna confirmed. "And there was no one on it that time."
"'That time'?" Dad asked. "Just how big was that toy?"
"Oh, about two feet," Luna said, demonstrating the length with her hands. "The rotor blades are a little longer, though. But," she added, perking up, "I got to fly a large drone as well!"
"Oh! A spy drone? Or a Predator?"
"A spy drone!"
"Marvellous! Did you find out how they monitor our communications from the air?"
While the Lovegoods got lost in technical details, leaving Mum and Dad confused, Ron glanced back at the Grangers and winced - they were holding each other, with Hermione standing nearby, looking awkward and guilty. Even though this wasn't her fault at all.
It wasn't his, either, yet he felt guilty as well. His own family was fine.
So he walked over and wrapped his arm around Hermione, offering what comfort and reassurance he could. It wasn't much, but he felt her relax and lean into him. It also made him feel better.
Until he caught Mum and Dad watching them.
"Ron, pass the bread, please. George! Don't you dare!"
"I wasn't doing anything! And I'm Fred!"
"I'm Fred and so is my wife."
"You're married? To Fred? Alicia will kill you!"
"Alicia will kill us both just to be sure she got you."
She snorted at their display. The twins weren't as funny as they thought they were - but they were funnier than Ron claimed. Of course, being their brother and frequent target, he was more than a little biased.
A glance to the side showed her that Harry was laughing as well. Good. After that stupid tournament and Voldemort's return, and the Ministry's stubborn denial of reality, her friend needed all the laughs he could get. Although, in hindsight, showing him and the Weasleys 'Life of Brian' might not have been one of her better ideas.
"Boys! Behave!"
As the Weasleys settled down, she leaned back and relaxed. She loved her parents, but meals at the Grangers were never this lively. Or this entertaining.