Ron signaled to Charlie with a Quidditch gesture they often use in their family games.The strategy was two on one, third player cuts around the side past the opposition. Charlie gave Ron his secret signal and started to follow the game plan. He advanced on the largest of the three Death Eaters, wand at the ready. Meanwhile Arthur Weasley stood still while waiting for the Death Eater opposite him to make a move. Ron was at the most advantage as the Death Eaters had apparated with their backs towards him and he'd managed to duck behind the well just as he signaled his older brother.
Ron crept quietlyaround the well still hidden from view by a trellis covered with climbing roses. He readied himself for a surprise attack. His bad arm ached but luckily it wasn't his wand arm. Charlie went on the offensive throwing out various spells at two of the Death Eaters. His father remained in his spot dodging curses thrown at him by the third Death Eater.
Ron was almost in position when the Death Eater dueling with his father yelled,"Crucio." His father was not quite quick enough and the curse hit its mark grazing Arthur Weasley's arm and causing him to collapse to the ground in pain.
Ron felt a flame of white hot rage sear through him. Emerging from behind the trellis, he hit his father's attacker squarely with a strong immobilizing spell and then immediately turned on Charlie's second attacker to perform the same act. Charlie, freed from his second attacker, made short work of the last Death Eater standing.
Arthur Weasley, still favouring his arm rose unsteadily. Charlie examined the wound while Ron supported his father.
"Good work, boys!" Arthur Weasley said shakily. "Now let's see about rescuing Mr. Henckel and getting back to Great Aunt Muriel's. Your mother is not going to be pleased with us, I fear."
Charlie and Ron exchanged looks. "Neither are Harry and Hermione," thought Ron wondering if Hermione was still upset with him and more determined than ever to convince her to give up her secret.
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The older gentleman peered wonderingly at Hermione.
"I've seen you, I believe, but I'm not sure who you are, my dear." He stated in a surprisingly clear voice.
Hermione swallowed. Could this be some sort of a trick? He seemed kind and not at all threatening although there was a keen intelligence in those blue eyes. Now that the blurring had stopped, Hermione realized two things. The first was that she had just witnessed an animagus transform back into human form. The second was that the man before her resembled Ron Weasley in a remarkable way. She began to shiver violently.
"My dear, it's no wonder you're confused. Let me introduce myself. My name is...,"
Hermione's mind finally cleared and everything clicked into place.
"Bilius Weasley," she blurted out.
"Why yes, but how could you know? Everyone thinks I'm dead and so I have been at least to part of the Wizarding world," the older man finished bitterly and shook his head.
"I'm Hermione-Hermione Granger. Your nephew and niece are close friends of mine." Hermione replied as questions sprung into her mind rapidly.
Bilius Weasley looked stunned. His passage of time had not equaled the passing years.
" I have a niece and nephew? But that's amazing. Arthur and Molly were young things but I guess, all these years." Here he gulped and moisture formed at the edge of one eye.
Hermione started to reply as if indeed this was Ron's uncle and then stopped herself. She'd already been caught off guard once. Who knew if this was just another ploy to get her to reveal her knowledge of Harry, the Order and their Ministry project? She steeled herself and recalled a spell that would identify a person who was disguised as a metamorphmagus or someone using a disguising potion such as the polyjuice potion she'd made in second year. It was N.E.W.T. level and was most effective with a wand, a wand that she was now without. Professor McGonagall had been teaching her this as well as its countercurse. She hoped by catching this gentleman by surprise that she could discover what she needed to know before he could put a countercurse into action.
Taking a deep breath, she focused with every ounce of her formidable concentration and uttered the phrase, " Revelato omnia." Slowly, a faint aura of blue shimmered and outlined her cellmate's figure.
A brighter blue would have been preferable but still the aura was blue and that was the important thing. Yellow indicated the true form had been in some way disguised and red indicated purposeful deception. Most telling was the fact that no countercurse had even been attempted.
She gave a sigh of relief and looked apologetically at the real Bilius Weasley. "I had to be sure, you know."
Bilius Weasley, rather than looking offended or angry, gazed at her with a rather amused expression. "That's right, never take anything on trust. You have good instincts, my dear and if I may say so, rather remarkable skill in wandless magic for one so young. Impressive, in fact."
A rather wistful expression now wandered over his face. Seeing Hermione staring at him, he gave a rueful smile. "Sorry, woolgathering, I'm afraid. You remind me of someone important to me who was also a brilliant witch. Now, perhaps we can start over. I am, in truth, Bilius Charles Weasley, ghost from the past and you are Hermione Granger, witch of many talents and a very welcome fellow prisoner. You were about to tell me more about my family, I believe."
"Actually sir, you have six nephews and one niece. Bill is the oldest. He's a curse breaker with Gringott's and he's getting married in two weeks to a former TriWizard champion. Next comes Charlie. He's an Auror but works with dragons mostly in Romania. Percy is third-he works for the Ministry of Magic." Hermione paused for breath. Try as she might, she couldn't keep a cooler tone from creeping into her voice when she spoke of Percy.
Bilius Weasley raised his eyebrows in a style reminiscent to Ron. Hermione ignored the implication and continued her listing.
" Fred and George are the Twins. They own their own business- Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes in Diagon Alley. And then there's Ron." Here Hermione's voice softened and she gulped. "Ron's named after you-Ronald Bilius Weasley and he's excellent at Chess and loves Quidditch…" She barely contained a sob welling up in her throat as she thought of hanging up on Ron.
Again, Bilius raised his eyebrows but made no comment.
"And finally there's Ginny. She's the youngest-bright and talented and a true friend." Hermione stumbled to the end of her list thinking of Harry, Ginny and above all, Ron. This time tears coursed down her cheeks.
"Not to worry, my dear. You are obviously a very dear friend of the family and perhaps something more to my, let's see, sixth nephew – my namesake." Here his eyes twinkled and Hermione could see that the Weasley trait of teasing was still intact in him despite the hardships he had borne over the years.
"Six nephews and a niece! You've given me new hope, my dear. Well, well. Now that there's two of us, we'll just have to see what we can do about an escape plan, won't we?"
He grinned conspiratorially at her and Hermione couldn't help smiling back.
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With some difficulty, Charlie had lowered himself into the ancient well and then side by side apparated with the injured and shaken Herodotus Henckel.
"Thank Godric you came! My nephew usually checks on me but he's away on Ministry business and his wife and son are in Scotland with her family. They were due to see me at the weekend but Merlin knows what kind of shape I would have been in by then!"
"Here, drink this," Charlie had produced a small vial from his leather pouch and held it to the old fellow's blue lips.
"Ah,traveller's potion. It's been a long while since I've needed this." Herodotus took a large sip. Immediately his colour returned to normal and he ceased trembling.
In the meantime, Ron had insisted that his father take one of Ron's remaining pain potions and Arthur Weasley now felt able to stand on his own.
"What happened, Herodotus," he now queried.
"Someone, and I'm beginning to have my suspicions about whom, wanted to ensure that I didn't meet with your son and his friends." Herodotus Henckel replied, his voice now much stronger.
"But why, sir?" asked Charlie, puzzled.
"A rather long story which your father and now young Ronald here, know. I'm very much afraid I've put you, your sister and your young lady friend at risk by visiting you at the hospital." Herodotus Henckel said to Ron, a frown on his normally jovial face.
Ron felt a shiver of dread and looked anxiously at his father who had gone quite pale.
Charlie recalled where they were supposed to be and thought to himself that with this new information, they had better make tracks immediately. To the others he remained calm but with an eye to his father, he said, "I think we should apparate to Great Aunt M's with all due speed."
No sooner as the words were out of his mouth, Lupin and Tonks apparated on the other side of the garden with wands raised. Lupin took in the three fallen Death Eaters and exchanged a glance with a grim-faced Tonks.
"Right, I'm back to the Ministry-I'll arrange the clean-up of this lot. Then I'll meet you back at the Weasley's," Her voice faltered and she clutched her fiancee's arm fiercely.
"Be careful. Ron, I'm so sorry but we will find her." With that, she disappeared with an almost silent pop, her skill as an Auror to the fore.
An ice-cold finger dragged itself down Ron's spine. He felt suddenly dizzy.
"What does she mean? Sorry about what? Find who?" Ron ground his questions out, feeling sick with apprehension.
Remus Lupin sighed and placed his hand on Ron's shoulder.
"There's no good way of putting it. Hermione has disappeared-we think kidnapped. We're formulating a plan and forming search parties right now. We should get back quickly."
Arthur Weasley looked at Herodotus Henckel who had an expression of guilt on his face.
"It's not your fault, Herodotus. It appears Minerva is correct in suspecting betrayal in the Ministry ranks. Come back with us. You may be able to help."
The rest of his companions' words faded out as Ron, all his worst fears realized, leaned heavily on the rough stones of the well, head in hands. Only one thought pulsed in his brain. He'd failed. He'd failed to protect her.
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Professor McGonagall contemplated her decision to remain at the deserted mansion. At first, the wise decision might have been to find a place where she could assume her own human form and apparate to the Weasleys'. She could report the new information to the Order and action would be taken. But the conversation she'd overheard that evening had convinced her to stay.
"Excellent work," the Death Eater at the door had exulted.
"Yes, I'm rather pleased myself," replied his companion. Minerva McGonagall longed for a chance to curse this betraying scum, once her colleague, into a painful oblivion.
"The girl will be guarded well-it won't be long until we will have Harry Potter exactly where we want him," the Death Eater chuckled mirthlessly.
"What about the bird? Any chance of a problem when he resumes his original form?" the betrayer inquired anxiously.
"Pah, you worry too much. The blood traitor is but a weak old man in his own form. And as the bird, we control it as we control its animagus state. The Dark Lord has been clever in turning the tables-their spy is now our spy." Again his mirthless chuckle sounded.
Minerva McGonagall almost gave herself away by uttering a loud hiss.
The betrayer twitched nervously. "What was that?"
The Death Eater replied scornfully,"You are as jumpy as a Cornish Pixie with hiccups. There is nothing here but the wildlife of the dusk. Your job here is complete. Go now and report back any new developments in the usual way. You will be contacted when the Dark Lord is ready."
Minerva McGonagall's emotions seesawed between fury and frustration. Her cool reasoning mind, however, determined her action. The girl referred to had to be either Ginny Weasley or Hermione Granger. The Professor was almost certain it would be Hermione as she considered the Ministry step to separate Hermione from Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, an action she had vehemently opposed.
The bird. Whoever that bird was or had been – it was under the Dark Lord's control now and could be a danger to Hermione and everyone else she held dear.
Therefore her decision was to stay. Minerva McGonagall would find a way into the gloomy building before her. Licking a paw, she bided her time, waiting for her optimum opportunity.