Chapter Nine: The Mission & A Birthday

Days have passed and no one has said a peep about what happened or what could've happened. No one said anything about my confession. It only came up when I woke up screaming. They took care of it. It reminded me and them of the summer after my first year Hogwarts. Not happy memories you could say. And non happy memories we don't want to think about.

The past few days have been extra busy with the wedding coming up and the Order trying to get Harry to the Burrow without anyone from the Ministry knowing. We don't know who's on our side now. According Kingsley and the others, half the ministry is under the Imperius Curse or either sided with Moldy Voldie. It seems as though times are getting worse since Dumbledore died. It seems as though the world doesn't know who to side with; like they have no loyalty anymore.

From what I know, one of the Order members have set a false trail of rumor saying they will pick Harry up on his birthday, but actually they're going to get him on the 21st or something like that. How do I know all of this? Ron and Hermione of course. They're going on the trip to get him. And of course I cannot come along. It's too dangerous for me and my family doesn't want me anywhere near any death eaters. I have to agree with them. I don't feel up to seeing any familiar faces anytime soon.

Today is July 21st by the way. Tonight they will get Harry and bring him to the Burrow. And there's obviously a lot more stuff going on that I don't know and I hate it, I've been sent to my room while the people and the Order have a meeting downstairs. According to Mad-Eye, Sirius' house is booby-trapped by Dumbledore himself and kinda spooky. After he told me that, I decided not to press the subject any farther.

But, at breakfast I did find out something else that was very interesting. It isn't about the rescue mission of Harry but about Remus and Tonks. They got married! It was a secret, of course. The ring Remus got Tonks is beautiful. Tonks is obviously happy. She was glowing all over this morning. Her pink hair is brighter than it has ever been and her eyes were bluer than the bluest of days. I am so happy for her and so was the rest of the crew.

Even though that was all I'd learned at the moment I'm eager to know more. It's not only their war, it's mine too. And I am determined to know what goes on while on the sidelines and on the field. I can't tell you how hard my heart is thumping right now as the Extendable Ears pick up words. I try not to squeal as I hear Remus say: "The Polyjuice Potion is ready. We just need six volunteers. Mad-Eye?"

The next words were muffled and then you heard Mad-Eye say 'Meeting adjourned'. I jumped up and hurriedly pulled the Ears up. I swear it felt like the Ears were coming slower up the stairs as I heard footsteps and voices coming up to my floor. I was panicking; I am panicking. Finally, the pair of Extendable reached me and I fled. I quickly but quietly shut the door. I hid the creation in my drawer and lied down on my bed. That's when Ron and Hermione appeared in my room.

" Hey Gin."

"Hey Ron. Anything interesting happened at the meeting? Not like I would know or anything."

"Ginny…." Ron said warningly.

"Ronald…"

"Ginny, you know we can't say anything."

"But I need to know. What guys are going on the trip? What's the plan? How are you going to get back if death eaters come and attack?"

"Ginny!"

"What Hermione? I can help even if it's only with the information."

"She has a point Herms." Ron pointed out.

"No, no, no! I will not tell."

"Ok, Ronald can tell me then, Hermione. You're excused."

"Fine!"

Hermione sat on her bed with a huff and folded her arms. She always gets mad when she doesn't get her way. I turned to Ron as he sat on my bed. I nodded, saying I was ready. He started: "As you know, we lead a false trail saying that we were going to get Harry on his birthday even though we're really going to get him tonight. Just incase death eaters come like you said, or someone slips out the secret, we got decoys such as the polyjuice potion. Six of us will drink it and become Harry once we get to his house. We will change into clothes similar to his, and then it will be seven Harry's instead of one. So, if death eaters do attack, hopefully they will go for one of the other six, not the real Harry."

I asked who will be with the real Harry. He answered: "Hagrid will have Harry. They will be traveling by a flying motorcycle. Isn't that cool? Fleur and Bill will be traveling by that creature you can only see if you've seen death. I don't remember what's it's called, but whatever. The rest of us will be traveling by broom."

I asked how many are going. He said around ten of them. Maybe more. He doesn't know. He does know that there are a couple of Order members at Harry's house at the moment, giving his so called family a salvation, a hiding place for them during the war. Nice lot, us wizards. Aren't we? I asked what if they split up or loose each other. Of course he had an answer.

He sat there for a second and pondered on how he was going to explain. Suddenly, he started talking: "Originally, we were going to split up anyway to different portkeys that take us back here to the Burrow without a trail. But, then, of course, there was the case of death eaters attacking us. Kingsley and the others met up with people who were on our side and they would have protective spells around their houses. They will also have a portkey to the Burrow. Before you ask who are the people. Hermione and I only know two of them. Tonks parents and Auntie Muriel are the only two we know. Any other questions?"

I took a deep breath and let the information that Ron just told me sink in. I asked my last question. Was there a certain order that everyone was supposed to come back because of the different locations of the portkeys? Ron said he really didn't know. He said he didn't where they were supposed to go until right before the mission. I asked Hermione and she said she didn't know either. I guess she decided to cooperate. I said thank you as mum called for us to have dinner before the "mission." Had two hours passed already?

I stood there with my mother and wished everyone luck on getting Harry safely back to us. Mum was crying (bless her heart). She's always worried about something and or someone. But, the truth is, I'm worried too. Hopefully everyone would come back in one piece and we could have a moment of serenity. Even though my gut is telling me that that isn't going to happen, I still hope though.

I was pacing with my mother. I have to agree with her, they were supposed to be here by now or at least starting to appear in front of us. The first portkey had already started to appear in front of the house, but there were no hands holding it trying to get here. I look at mum and it was like I could read her mind.

Had what we feared the most happened? Was everyone okay? If not, who was injured? Who had died?

Suddenly, out of nowhere, bodies became apparent. The portkey that had started to show in front of the house now had hands attached to it and feet ready to land. There was a bright light and mum and I ran outside to see who the people are. It is Harry and Hagrid. My heart stops. Mum was squeezing the living crap out of Harry. Tears are in her eyes and she is asking if they were real or not. I just stand here frozen and trying not let any emotion show in my face.

I start to walk up to the rest of them once I knew I could handle being near him. I am strong, aren't I? I hear Harry's voice ask a question. He seems to be out of breath. I stand closer to them as mum answers him. Harry is looking at me with a plea for information as I look up. I tell him who was supposed to be back first and so on. He seems to love being informed. I can tell by the way he looked. His eyes gave him away.

Just as I finish up telling him what was happening, there was another flash and appears George and Lupin. Thank goodness. I yell mum's name and she comes back outside. I look back at the couple and see that something is wrong with George. For the second time tonight, my heart stops. There was a hole in the side of his face. Oh no, his ear, it's gone.

Fred, Tonks, Kingsley, Hermione, Ron, Dad, Bill, and Fleur have made it back, finally. The only two that didn't make it were Dung and Mad-Eye. Dung had chickened out once they were attacked and Mad-Eye had to pay the price. He died. Right before we got all of this information from Bill and Fleur, I had to help Harry compose himself, I guess. I could tell he needed me as much as I need him. I am glad.

We were now in the sitting room passing around glasses of Firewhiskey to remember Mad-Eye. I was the last person to get the bottle. Typical. I felt overwhelmed by our lost and decided to get a little bit more than others. We had a toast to Mad-Eye and drunk our liquor. I looked around the room as my throat started to burn. I guess they weren't lying when they said you had to price to pay when drink Firewhiskey. My eyes are watering.

I blinked back the liquid and noticed that Charlie wasn't with us. Had I been so caught up in my own little world that I hadn't noticed that my brother had left us? Has he gone back to Romania already? Had something came up? These are the things that buzzed through my head as I saw Harry argue with the others. Oh bugger. Again, I was in my own little world and had missed another close caption in the life of Harry Potter. I got up and slipped slowly out the door and up the steps with still my glass in my hand. I had gone unnoticed. Thanks to Harry of course. Maybe I should thank him later on for that….

Days are passing by us now. Mum knows…well, pretty much everyone knows that the trio is leaving us soon, but where to is the question. I wonder myself, and I am determined to find out. My companions, Ron and Hermione, seemed to have turned their backs on me, the little bastards. They won't tell me a smidge of info. I felt kind of offended when Hermione glared at me and snapped: "None of your business." Really, it did hurt. I would've snapped back, but I didn't feel like arguing.

Did I tell you that Harry's birthday is coming up soon? I don't know what to give the poor fellow. But, I've been thinking: He's going on a little quest, no? He'll probably find some girl of some kind and blah. You catch my drift? Even if that doesn't happen, I still want him to remember me. If he doesn't, then he'll know where home is.

Today the Delacours will arrive and mum is running us like crazy. I hardly see the trio, but they hardly see themselves. Mum is determined not to have them together at anytime. She knows they're planning like crazy. While she's trying to find out more, I know a little more myself. Rumor around the Burrow is that Dumbledore left them a mission to do. They and only they can complete it. What they have to do on this mission, know one knows. But, again, mum is determined to find out.

I went downstairs to meet the French family. You could tell that mum was nervous. She wanted everything to be perfect for them. Like I said once before, she worked everyone like crazy. There wasn't a spot that hasn't been wiped down 100 times to make it sparkle, and that's without magic.

After we stood there in our specific spot, they appeared. There were greetings flying everywhere. I greeted nicely of course, but one thing or one person bothered me when I hugged her, Gabrielle Delacour. I let go of her and watch her bat her eyelashes at Harry. In my mind I was cursing her but out loud I cleared my throat. It was a clear warning to back off, obviously. Did she really think she had a chance with him? Wasn't she…five or something like that?

Happy birthday Harry! That's what we all said this morning. Today we all said we were going to kick back and relax. Preparations for the wedding were postponed just because it was his birthday. And at last, I do not have a gift for him. I couldn't and still can't figure out what I want to give him for his birthday. What is there to give him? He has everything! Well, almost everything. I put my head in my hands and sighed. I was so frustrated and it was almost time for breakfast. Hermione finally looked up at me.

"Still having trouble figuring out what you're going to give Harry today?"

"Yes! And I still can't think of anything."

"Well, give him something he'll remember."

"That's what I'm trying to think of –"

"I meant something that isn't materialistic." I looked at her. She had that glint in her eye.

"But how am I supposed to do that with Ronald around?"

"I'll do something with Ron."

"Oh come on Hermione you know you won't be able to head Ron off. He's a 300 pound brother who's super overprotective."

"Just trust me Ginny. When are you going to do it?"

"I dunno. Sometime today… You'll know. I'll ask him to come with me and we're off from there."

"That's not really a good plan. Ron will know what you're going to do."

"Well, that'll be a first for him." Hermione laughed.

I've decided take the plan into action now. I can here them coming up the steps. It's the perfect time. I finally heard them and I opened my door.

"Harry, will come in here for a moment?"

I saw Ron stop. OH damn, he knew. When did he become so smart? Hermione immediately grabbed his arm and pulled him up the steps. The butterflies that were in my stomach were becoming more apparent. I could tell he was nervous too. He didn't know what was coming. I, myself, didn't know how this was going to work. Hopefully, it'll go well.

When he finally was completely in my room he looked at my new transformed room. It was no longer that ugly room from earlier in the summer. Mum made me redecorate it for the Delacours. It was white and nice. I took a deep breath and said: "Happy seventeenth." After that he started to ramble. I didn't reply to the random statements he made. If I did, it would throw me off track. I didn't want to get off track.

I told him I couldn't get him anything when the truth was that I couldn't think of anything. He told me that I didn't have to. I didn't reply to that either. I turned more towards him and started to tell him that I wanted him to have a gift that'll he'll remember. And I then started to ramble about meeting a veela. He replied stupidly about not meeting one where he's going. I was waiting for him to say that and that's when it happened. I kissed him.

He kissed me back in no time. It was the best kiss I've ever given anyone. Maybe he'll remember me now. I could feel his hands on my back and in my hair. Sweet oblivion. I loved the feeling of this, I really did. The kiss was starting to get more intense when…. You guessed it right. Ron appeared out of nowhere and he seemed to be mad. Hermione appeared behind him and seemed to be out of breath. Damn.

I turned around facing the wall. So many emotions were going through me. I was feeling angry, sad, happy, and stupid. Ron acted like he was sorry for walking in on us. Damn Hermione. I whispered happy birthday again. After a moment of silence, I heard Harry walk out with the other two. Just my luck, right? I finally get a moment alone with the guy I love and I can't tell him my feelings for him or tell him what had happened to me. To tell him that I have a scar also caused by Dark Magic, and the only exception is that mine is on my back. Again, just my luck.

That night was Harry's birthday bash. There was no talking between us or no flirtation of any kind like there usually was. It felt…weird. I didn't like the feeling at all. Just as the party started the Minister arrived and Tonks and Remus had to jet. From my eavesdropping (with the help of Fred and George), I have learned that it deals with Albus Dumbledore's will. In the will Dumbledore gives those three something and those three only. Lucky them.