Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own Harry Potter. It is the property of JK Rowling and her associates. No monetary or material profit was gained from this story.
Chapter 10
By the Pricking of My Thumbs…
Hermione cursed loudly as the needle pricked her skin. She jumped away from her work violently; none of her blood could touch the cloth, if it did she would have to start all over again. Ron, dimwit that he was, had tried to help earlier and ruined a doll, leaving all the sewing to Hermione and Ginny.
Sighing in resignation, Hermione picked herself up from the ground and made her way downstairs to find Molly. Despite what they were doing, she didn't want to break any laws by using underage magic to heal herself. After making it past the screaming portrait, she headed straight for the kitchen, walking in to find Molly and a few other Order members having tea around the island.
"Molly, could you heal this?" Hermione held her hand carefully in front of her, tilted in such a way that the blood was gathering in the palm of her hand. It looked very practiced.
"Of course, dear. Why don't you take a break from that stitching. When I was learning, my mother had me take breaks when I got like this. I think, after pricking your fingers enough to bleed twice, now is a good time to stop." Molly was smiling happily. Hermione was learning how to sew, a skill that every future Weasley wife would need.
"I think you're right. Thanks Molly!" the girl left a little too cheerfully and innocently than was normal for a girl who kept sticking herself with sharp objects.
When Hermione was back upstairs, she took her place next to Ginny and started again on the doll. They had less than a week to get the ritual done. She sighed in exasperation, internally blaming Harry for her predicament before getting back to work.
OoOoO
Later that night, after the dolls were finished and the three teenagers were finally asleep, there was a very important Order meeting was taking place.
"Yesterday afternoon, when the children were taken to Diagon Alley to retrieve their school supplies, Harry and one of the twins were spotted in Eeylops. They got away before they could be caught. We don't know whether or not if the other twin was in the alley as well. Anything thoughts on what to do now?" Dumbledore started off he meeting bluntly and to the point.
"It's clear that we must do something before the Fall term begins. If we can get the twins into custody and Harry to Hogwarts, then we will have leverage," stated a woman from the back of the room. The Order member was a nobody, who tended to state the most obvious approach.
"Why don't we just wait until they arrive at Platform Nine and Three Quarters? They will show up to drop off Potter and we can get them there! It's the one place we can be certain they will be," cried another person, again stating the obvious approach.
"That is assuming that Mr. Potter will be coming to Hogwarts this year," pointed out Snape, completely deadpan. The room became pandemonium, everyone shouted over everyone else saying things like "Harry would never do that!" and "You don't really believe he would do that, do you?"
"Quiet!" shout Dumbledore in a rare show of irritation. "Continue please, Severus."
"We have treated these three boys with distain for not doing what we ordered to do. The were held like prisoners in what was, at that time, their home. When they ran from the situation, we blamed two boys for kidnapping the third, who left of his own free will. We have fired spells at them and threatened them. Why would any person return to that situation?" the words hung in the air for the smallest of moments.
Then a roar of voices overcame the words' effects, being pushed to the side as they denied the factual accusations, and went back to debating all the possible ways of getting the twins and Potter separated.
OoOoO
Draco Malfoy was contentedly walking down the corridor of Riddle Manor, heading for what served as the throne room. He was bringing news to his Lord about the blood traitors and the Potter brat. The mudblood had sent him an owl, informing him that soon, very soon, those blasted twins would be under their control and delivered to the Dark Lord's feet. Soon afterwards Potter would come running to save them, allowing him to be killed once and for all.
He waited outside the enormous double doors until that rat of a man, Pettigrew, showed him inside. He walked quickly with his head down to the foot of the platform where he dropped gracefully to his knees in front of his Lord.
"My Lord," he said humbly.
"Draco Malfoy… Do you have the something important to tell me? Because if you do not, I will be very …. Disappointed."
"I have received an owl, my Lord. The plan will be completed in three days time. The blood traitors will be delivered to your doorstep and Potter will soon follow them to his death," Draco informed him with a malicious glee not quite masked by his humble façade.
"Very good, Draco. Very good. As soon as Potter has fallen, I want you to tell the press about the mudblood and the blood traitors being instrumental in his downfall. Potter's death would be crippling, the fact that his closet friends helped will destroy the Light entirely." The Dark Lord looked entirely to pleased.
"Nothing would please me more, my Lord."
A/N: I'm only calling this one done because I'm putting the next one up with it.