Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter Sixteen: Stuck
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Harry was back, and he had Professor McGonagall with him.

The kitchen, which had once contained a rather large group of people, now held only Ron, Hermione, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley and Moody. Percy was in another room, still unconscious. Bill had convinced Fleur to Floo back to her parents' house and be with her family for a while, whilst everything was sorted out. The woman who tended to Percy had left after giving him a potion and giving Mrs Weasley instructions on what to do if he didn't wake up soon. Other wedding guests, who had been hiding during the attack and ha appeared randomly into the kitchen during the past forty minutes, had left as quickly as they could.

'Is everyone okay?' McGonagall asked, looking around the room.

They all murmured a "yes", but Ron found that he could only nod. Death Eaters had taken his sister. They had come very close to taking Hermione. Why had this happened? It was Bill's wedding! It was supposed to be a day of fun and family and togetherness. And now Ginny was gone, quite a few people were sporting injuries from the duel with the Death Eaters, and Ron couldn't do anything about it. He had never felt so helpless in his life. He couldn't save his own sister. This wasn't like his second year, when she was pulled into the Chamber of Secrets. He had no idea where she was, or even why she had been taken. Why her? Why didn't they try to take Hermione, who had been with Ginny, or someone else at the wedding? Harry was there, out in the open, but they didn't even attempt to capture him. Why, specifically, did they want Ginny?

'We have to get to Grimmauld Place,' Harry said quickly. His eyes met Ron's and Ron saw something in his friend's eyes that shocked him: fear. Harry had faced Voldemort, Dementors, Death Eaters, countless obstacles in the Triwizard Tournament, the deaths of both Sirius and Dumbledore, the search for Horcruxes, and many other things, and he had never been anything short of magnificent. He had always been brave and strong. But now, standing in the kitchen of The Burrow with a few cuts and broken glasses, he looked terrified. 'I'm leaving as soon as possible, and if any of you want to come along, you'll need to be organized.'

Nobody protested. Instead, they all scrambled toward the fireplace, about to Floo to Headquarters and set up a rescue mission for Ginny.

'Wait,' Hermione said. 'My parents are supposed to be arriving soon ... do you think they'll be okay?'

'I'll stay behind. Someone should stay with P-Percy, anyway,' said Mrs Weasley. 'When your parents arrive, Hermione, I'll have them join you at Headquarters.'

'Okay, Molly, dear,' said Mr Weasley. He, for once, did not appear excited at the prospect of being with Muggles. In fact, he wore an expression similar to Harry's.

'Very well,' said McGonagall. 'The rest of you, let's move. We have a lot of work to do.'

They arrived to the cold, empty Grimmauld Place and Harry immediately began grilling Hermione.

'What happened?' he asked eagerly. Ron stayed by her side as his dad, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, McGonagall, Kingsley, Lupin, Tonks, Moody and Harry all surrounded her. 'Who took her? Was it just Snape, or –?'

'Lucius Malfoy,' Hermione said quietly.

'Was there anyone else?'

'Bellatrix Lestrange was there, too,' said Hermione. 'She ... well, she was awful.' Ron's blood boiled and he silently vowed to murder that woman. She deserved death almost as much as Voldemort did. Ron shuddered at the idea of Bellatrix Lestrange cornering Hermione and his sister at their pond and forced himself to listen to the conversation that was still going on around him.

'Why would they take Ginny?' Bill demanded.

'Yeah,' said Charlie. 'I mean, no offense, Hermione, but you were there as well. They could've taken both of you, but they didn't. There has to be a reason.' Hermione nodded.

'Have you been using your Occlumency, Potter?' asked McGonagall.

Harry appeared puzzled for a moment before his eyes widened and he cursed. 'No! Dumbledore said that Voldemort was blocking me out so I didn't think ...' he cursed again and slammed his fist against the wall. 'He must have gone poking around in my head when I wasn't aware of it.'

'Why does that matter?' asked Charlie.

'Well,' said Hermione, 'Harry and Ginny, um, dated briefly at Hogwarts.' Ron would've been amused at the glances that his uneducated brothers cast at Harry if they had been under different circumstances. But, as it was, every second was precious and there was no excuse for wasting time. They had a crisis to deal with.

'And Voldemort stopped blocking me out long enough to figure out that she's what I care about most,' Harry growled. 'That son of a –'

'Is there any other possible explanation?' Kingsley asked.

'No,' Harry said angrily. 'I'm a bloody idiot and because of me, because of my carelessness, Ginny's going to get –'

'Ginny's not "going to get" anything,' Ron said firmly. He didn't want to hear the end of Harry's sentence. If he gave himself time to think about it, Ron was sure the many different scenarios would drive him mad. Were they going to kill his sister? Why else did You-Know-Who take prisoners? It certainly wasn't to have nice little tea parties with them.

'And it isn't your fault,' Hermione told him. 'The entire school knew about you and Ginny. Snape probably heard about it and passed the information along to Voldemort.'

'What happened when they took her?' asked Harry, ignoring Hermione's attempts to relieve him from the responsibility of putting Ginny in danger.

'I ...' Hermione closed her eyes, as if trying to remember exactly what happened, and Ron was tempted to tell her it was okay if she didn't want to talk about it. She had just been through a traumatic experience, and reliving it probably wasn't the best idea. But they needed information and if that meant Hermione had to recount her story, she would have to do it. They needed details, in order to get to Ginny.

'Think,' Harry prodded.

'She's trying,' Ron snapped. Harry was stressed, Ron understood that. He was stressed, too. Ginny was his sister and he was dying to get out there and rescue her, but he wasn't snapping at everyone – especially Hermione, who had already been through enough.

'When they got there ... Lestrange made a comment about ... about killing us both,' Hermione said, her eyes still closed. 'Then, she tried to ... use the Cruciatus Curse on me, but Snape and Malfoy kept reminding her that they were only supposed to take Ginny away, and do nothing else. They said they had to follow Voldemort's orders.'

'Why would they want Ginny?' Ron asked. 'Why would You-Know-Who's orders be to take her?'

Harry slumped against the wall and cursed yet again. 'Why do you think, Ron? They took her because Voldemort figured I'd come after her. Voldemort tapped into my mind and he knew that if he wanted to lure me out into the open, taking Ginny would be his best bet.' He looked at McGonagall and nodded. 'And he was right. I'm going.'

'You don't –'

'I don't know where to go,' said Harry. 'So you've all said. But this is Voldemort we're talking about. I don't need to go anywhere. He'll find me himself.'

'Harry,' said Lupin, 'don't do anything you'll regret later.'

'I won't regret going after her,' argued Harry.

Lupin held up his hands. 'I never said you would,' he said. 'But you won't be able to save her just yet. We need to organize. Give us a little time to think, please. If you rush out, you'll only end up getting hurt. That can't help Ginny at all.'

Ron had never seen his friend appear so torn. Harry wanted to go off and fight. It was what he did. Harry would go looking for trouble before it had the chance to find him. As long as Ron had known him, Harry had never been one to sit on the sidelines. He was always in the middle of everything, fighting and living dangerously, head-deep in trouble.

But even though this was all very true (and though Ron didn't like to admit it to himself), Harry also cared a great deal about Ginny. Harry had broken up with her at Dumbledore's funeral, yes, but that didn't mean he didn't care. If anything, that showed just how much he cared. If Ron had been in his situation, he wouldn't have been able to do it. Actually having Hermione and intentionally ending things with her would be unthinkable, even if it was for her own safety. But, in the end, it hadn't benefited Ginny. She was still a bigger target than even Ron or Hermione, it seemed.

'I – I know, but –'

'No buts, Harry,' Mr Weasley said stiffly. 'We all want to run out and get her, but it would be a huge risk to try anything now.'

'Order members,' McGonagall said, breaking the thick silence that had fallen over the room, 'follow me. We need to plan a rescue mission.' When Harry did not move, Ron gave him a strange look but said nothing. Everyone quickly filed out of the room, leaving Ron, Harry and Hermione alone.

In all the years Ron had known Harry and Hermione, after everything they had been through together; Ron had never been more uncomfortable around them than he was right now. This even topped the first time he met Harry, when he was so star struck that he had no idea what to say or do. Even when he and Hermione weren't speaking because of one stupid fight or another, there had been less tension than there was now.

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'What's taking them so long?' Harry demanded as he paced around the room. The past five minutes had been the longest of Hermione's life. The sounds of Harry's feet against the floor and the ticking of the clock overhead were slowly driving her insane. The creaking of Ron's chair as he shifted positions and the tapping of his foot as he impatiently waited for the Order members to return to the kitchen made her wish for the deafening silence to return, the one that had made her uncomfortable but would now only make her calm and able to think more rationally than she was currently able to.

'Calm down,' Hermione said softly. Harry had never been good at waiting, at not being in the middle of action, and Hermione knew that. In fact, his tendency to jump the gun had been quite a detriment in the past – at the Department of Mysteries, specifically.

That was exactly why it was important for Harry to keep his emotions in check. If he was to grow too impatient, too angry, too worried ... Hermione didn't want to think about what the repercussions would be – for Ginny, if no one else.

But it was good, in some strange, horrible way, that Ginny was the one who had been taken. Hermione knew that Harry loved her and Ron, but it was Ginny who meant the most to him, and he would take extra caution in rescuing her. On the flip side, however, it made him extra anxious to get out there and attempt a rescue mission. Hermione knew it wouldn't be long before his control snapped.

'I can't just calm down,' snapped Harry. 'What do you want me to do, Hermione? Pretend that Ginny's gone off to a friend's house and will be back in the morning? Do you want me to act like everything is fine and dandy and that it isn't my fault that she might be –'

'It isn't you fault!' cried Hermione, unable to keep her own emotions in check any longer.

'Bullocks,' Harry muttered.

Beside Hermione, Ron sighed heavily. 'Bloody hell, would you shut up? Ginny's gone, but sitting here snapping at your friends isn't going to get her back! And Hermione's right, it isn't you fault ... why do you always have to shoulder the burden for every bloody thing that happens?' he asked, his voice loud and firm. 'Merlin, you broke up with her because you thought it would keep her safe ... you did all you could.'

'No, I didn't!' yelled Harry. His face was going red and Hermione didn't like the look in his eyes one bit. This was going to be trouble, she was sure of it. 'I didn't do anything other than break up with her and then fool around with her behind everyone's backs! And do you know why, Ron? Because I'm a git! And it should have been me, not her! Not her! Never her.'

Ron stood up, his face suddenly red, and Hermione had to think for a moment before connecting the dots on what Harry had just said.

'You did what with my sister?'

Now it was Ron's turn to be told to calm down.

'How could you do that?' Ron demanded taking a step toward him. 'You said you cared about her ... and you still went ahead and turned her into your own personal slag?'

'Shut up, Ron,' Hermione hissed. 'I know that you must be surprised to find out, but this isn't the time!'

Ron whirled around to face her and gave her a curious look. 'You knew?' Ron asked, staring incredulously at Hermione. 'You knew what he was doing to my sister, and you didn't tell me?'

Hermione didn't know what to say. She had inadvertently admitted to knowing that Harry and Ginny had been sneaking around ... and Ron was going to hate her now.

She had never seen Ron look angrier than he did at that moment. Cursing, he balled up his hands, and after sharply pulling back his right arm, connected his fist with Harry's jaw. Harry's head jerked to the side and he stumbled back, but didn't retaliate. Ron punched him again.

'STOP IT!' yelled Hermione. 'Stop hitting him!'

Ron ignored her and hit him again. Harry stumbled against the wall and Ron stopped. Harry didn't even seem fazed. Hermione wasn't even sure he knew he'd just been hit. His eyes were glazed over and he dropped his gaze to the floor, ignoring Ron completely.

'Damn it, fight back!' growled Ron. His face was bright red and he was gritting his teeth. He needed to let out his emotions through physical aggression, a request Hermione was thankful to see Harry wasn't complying to.

Harry shook his head but said nothing. Hermione felt tears sting her eyes as she watched her friend. 'She was – I thought we could hide it ... I thought nobody would know, but ...'

'Oh, Harry, no,' said Hermione.

'There's nobody to blame but me,' he said. He looked at Ron intently. 'I have to go. I can't stay here any longer. I – I need to go.'

'She's my sister!' cried Ron. 'She's my sister. I want to go after her more than anything else, but it would be a suicide mission, and you know that!'

'I don't bloody care!' Harry bellowed. 'Don't you get it? They're going to hurt her! They're going to torture her ... they – they're going to use the Cruciatus Curse on her.' Ron paled. 'Yeah, you think that's bad, do you? Have you ever had it used on you?' Ron shook his head slowly. He looked frightened beyond his wits, like a small child. 'Your whole body feels like it's on fire,' explained Harry, his voice low and dangerous, 'and you can't see anything because you're blinded by the pain, and you can't hear anything but your own screams ... and it just keeps burning and you just keep screaming. It feels like ... it feels like everything bad and evil in the world, intensified by about a billion percent. It isn't like the Imperius, either. You can't throw off the Cruciatus. You get to the point that you pray for death, because nothing is worse than the pain.'

Hermione shivered. She'd read about the curse and its effects. She'd even seen it used on a spider by Barty Crouch Jr. when he impersonated Moody. But she'd never heard someone who'd been subjected to it actually talk about it. She'd never heard Harry describe it before. She'd practically forgotten he'd experienced it. 'They – they won't really do that to her, w-will they?' she asked.

Harry turned to regard her, his stare cold and worried. 'They might, if we give them the chance,' he said seriously. 'That's why I have to find her. Now.'

'You can't! You'll get yourself killed. You don't have a plan. This isn't a game, Harry; you need to know what you're getting yourself into.'

'Hermione's right,' agreed Ron. 'This is one thing we need to let the Order members take charge of. I don't want to sit around here any more than you do, but there's nothing else we can do right now.'

'Yes, there is,' Harry protested. He winced and lightly rubbed his jaw, which was already swelling. Ron looked down and mumbled an apology. Harry shrugged and Hermione noticed his eyes were sparkling with determination and a sort of recklessness. 'There's something I can do – something I need to do – and it's the only way to get her back. I'm doing it.'

'What?' questioned Hermione.

'It's obvious as to why they took Ginny, wouldn't you agree?' Hermione shrugged and Ron gave a strange head movement. They didn't want to point fingers, but it was rather obvious that they took her because of Harry. 'They took her because they knew that I'd come for her and they want me to –'

'They won't kill her if they need her. Isn't that a good thing?' asked Ron.

'In some ways, no,' Harry said. He looked like it pained him to say the words, but he knew them to be true. 'They'll torture her until they can get her to talk. They want her alive, but that doesn't mean they won't have a little "fun" with her. They want information about me, about the Horcruxes ... about everything. And I know Ginny. She won't talk. They'll keep cursing her until ... until she's like the Longbottoms.' Ron gasped and Hermione felt hot tears roll down her cheeks again. 'Unless I act quickly. I can still save her. There's still some time.'

'We're coming with you!' Hermione said instantly. It seemed like the logical response. She and Ron always followed Harry. Whether it was to go after the Philosopher's Stone or to the Department of Mysteries to potentially rescue Sirius, they were always there, by his side. Hadn't they agreed, at Dumbledore's funeral, that they'd be with him every step of the way? Rushing out to get Ginny actually didn't sound too bad. In fact, it seemed exactly like something the three of them would do. The adults were still in the Order meeting. They could slip away and nobody would even notice.

Harry shook his head and narrowed his eyes. She suddenly knew better than to argue. 'No, you're not. It's too dangerous and –'

'SHE'S MY SISTER!' Ron yelled for the millionth time. 'I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not! You can't stop me!'

'SHE'S THERE BECAUSE OF ME!' shouted Harry. Nobody said anything for a moment. Hermione couldn't help but notice that neither she nor Ron disagreed, though she was sure it wasn't intentional. She was too shocked by everything that happened to be able to think rationally.

It was easy to imagine going out, finding Ginny, and bringing her back safe. In Hermione's mind, they encountered no obstacles, no troubles – everyone made it through, just as they had in the past. But this wasn't the same as it was in their first year, when they stopped the troll or faced the three-headed dog. One wrong move and Ginny would die. Harry paced the room.

'What are you saying?' Hermione asked worriedly.

'I'm saying that the Death Eaters took her, and they're going to hurt her. I – I don't even want to think about what they might do ...'

'Get on with it,' Ron said impatiently.

'You're family is suffering because of me.'

'Harry –'

'They're only using her to lure me in, to draw me out so Voldemort can have me. She's in danger because they want me. I'll give them what they want. I'll give them a trade. They give us Ginny ... and I'll surrender myself.'

Harry would surrender himself?

If there had been a doubt in Hermione's mind that Harry loved Ginny, it was squashed by his last statement. Harry was willing to sacrifice himself for Ginny, and while Hermione as fairly certain that he'd be noble and do that for just about anyone, there was a look in his eyes that told her he not only felt he had to do it, but that he wanted to, as well.

Harry was dead serious about this.

'Don't even think about it!' shrieked Hermione. 'You can't do that! They'll kill you! Voldemort will kill you!'

'Dumbledore once told me that one of Voldemort's weaknesses is his fear of death. Voldemort believes that there's nothing worse than death, but he's wrong.'

'Worse than death ... what does that mean? What could be worse?' asked Ron.

'Watching everyone that you love die,' said Harry. 'Living, all the while knowing that everyone you care about died because of you, died to help you. That's worse.' Harry turned to Hermione. 'You have to think ... I need to know ... did Snape say anything else?'

'No,' said Hermione. She thought back to the fiasco at the pond and remembered something. 'But right when Ginny got taken,' she said, casting a worried glance at Ron, 'she said to tell you that, um, she –'

Harry slammed his fist on the table and she stopped, knowing that he understood what she was about to say. Ginny loved him. The Silencing Charm had prevented Ginny from actually giving her the full message, but she would bet her life that was what Ginny had intended to say.

'PROFESSOR!' Harry yelled.

McGonagall rushed into the kitchen an instant later. 'We're doing all we can, Potter,' she said wearily.

'Well it's not enough!' he argued. 'We have to do something now. I'm going.' He pulled his wand from his pocket and stepped around Ron.

'You can't do that,' Lupin said softly, appearing behind McGonagall.

'What else happened?' Harry asked Hermione. 'Did any of the Death Eaters say anything else important?'

Hermione thought back. 'I – no,' she said. 'But Malfoy gave me a message to give to you. He said that he and his son are looking forward to seeing you soon.'

Harry furrowed his brow and bit his lip. After a moment, he cursed loudly and turned back to McGonagall. 'That bloody bastard! I know where they are.'

'Where?'

'They're at the Malfoy place.'

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