A/N: Thought that I would continue with the short chapters. I know that some authors go back and forth in the same one, but I think of this as more of add-ons to the actual story in chapter 1. So there will be lots of jumps: get over it.
Chapter 3
Harry Potter was lying in his warm bed in the Burrow, feeling anything but cozy. He turned towards his best friend Ron Weasley to find that he too was staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Ron," he whispered softly. The redhead grunted a brief reply, so he continued. "Do you think Hermione is ok all by herself?"
This time the young man turned over and looked his companion in the eye, something he hadn't done in what seemed like a long while. "I checked on her earlier, and I asked if she wanted me to sneak back later and stay with her, but she said no." He sounded rather hurt, as though any self-respecting woman would want to shag her boyfriend when her best friend's girlfriend has been missing for over a week.
"Well, I wouldn't worry, mate." Harry comforted perhaps a little more enthusiastically than genuinely. "She might just want to be alone to think, that's all." He looked pointedly in Ron's eyes as he continued: "Can't really say I don't relate."
But if Ron had gotten the hint, he apparently had decided that as Harry's best friend, it was his responsibility to ensure that he never had to spend a moment alone until his girlfriend came back. Or perhaps, Ron didn't want to spend a moment alone until his sister came back. Either way, Ron stayed in his bed and continued talking.
"Do you think Mum will have biscuits for breakfast tomorrow? I mean I like them all right and all, I just also have a certain affinity for variety." Harry did not respond. "Do you think if Moody and Remus get back ok from whatever mission their on, we can go back into town for more food? Where are they, anyhow? I know that we figured they'd go try to get rid of the dementors in London, but what if we're wrong? Shouldn't you of all people have a good idea of where everyone is? You're 18 now; you've been of age for a whole year. But still, here we are, trying to figure out whether we'll eat biscuits tomorrow like solving a bloody mystery. And do you think…"
"We should go find her." Harry broke in. Ron stopped his ponderings and looked at his troubled friend.
"What if that's exactly what he wants? Besides, we don't know enough. There's no telling what we'd find."
"We'd find her. That's all that matters: finding Ginny, dead or alive."
"And if it's the first one?"
"I at least want to know that she's at rest." Harry answered, sounding much more at ease with the possibility than his churning stomach indicated.
"Still." Ron seemed much more apprehensive now than six years ago when his sister was taken by Lord Voldemort. "Let's at least talk to Hermione first."