Hi again! Well…thank you SO much for your wonderful reviews! I'm at 56, can you believe it – 56! That means so, so much to me. You guys rock.
Current song: Between Two Points by Glitch Mob. It's a very techno, dupstep-esque song, but the lyrics are still very much great.
I really cannot believe I am at chapter 13. I started this story, what, 1 or 2 months ago? I never really thought I would get this far. And still have readers (:
This is another one of those "short" chapters, but that is because in the next chapter, there will be a LOT to write. I'm planning to make it 3k words, if not 4k. It's going to take a while but I'm already working on it. This is sort of building up to the next, which is going to be a bit different and the reason for the T rating.
Now, let's read!
"Your home is very nice," Luna said in her dreamy voice, playing with wind chimes attached to Ginny's bedroom door.
"Thank you," said Ginny. She was sitting in bed, wearing her nightgown, her red hair tied up in a loose bun. Neville was standing by the window, watching the streets of Muggle & Burrow, his hands deep in his pockets, his face stern. "Neville, is everything alright?"
"What?" he said, turning to her. "Oh, yes, of course – I'm just looking out if anybody else is arriving."
"Oh."
It was another night for a meeting for the Order. Hagrid, who was usually filled with news, was running late, and the Order began to grow worried. Ever since Sirius died the meetings had been slightly less interesting to attend, and so Ginny and Neville had no intention on even eavesdropping.
"Do they meet every night?" Luna asked curiously. She has stopped playing with the wind chimes and went to go sit next to Ginny.
"No, not every night," Ginny sighed, resting her head on her knees. "All they've been talking about for the past week are about the stupid taxes Riddle is demanding."
Luna nodded. "I heard that my father is under house arrest, for not revealing who Harry is."
"You're father's brave," Neville said suddenly with a thick voice, and walked away from the window to join Ginny and Luna.
A loud noise broke the silence; an alarming sound. "MOLLY! REMUS! YEH WON'T BELIEVE THE NEWS I'VE GOT!"
Ginny looked to Neville, her eyes filled with interest. "It's Hagrid!" she whispered. The three of them stood up from the bed and ran quietly to the staircase, their hands cupped around their ears, their faces filled with excitement at what the news could be.
"What is it, Hagrid?" The somber voice of Remus Lupin said. Ginny caught a glimpse of him. He was gripping his wife, Nymphadora, quite tightly. Also present were Ginny's parents, Bill, his wife Fleur, Alastor Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"It's – it's Harry! And Ron! An' Hermione!" he said.
"Lower your voice," Alastor growled. "You're going to get us all killed if anyone hears you!"
"They're alive! I just received some reports from them guards of Riddle; they were spotter at Hogsmeade today!"
"Hogsmeade?" Nymphadora said. "Whatever where they doing at Hogsmeade?"
"No doubt finding the incantation of the Godric Touch," said Kingsley's deep voice. "We should be happy. They got out, didn't they, Hagrid?"
"Of course! No idea where they're headed, but they're lucky they got them heads still on!"
"That's great news, Hagrid," Arthur said.
"Oh, and, er, one more thing," Hagrid said. "Some prisoner broke out of the dungeons early this mornin'. Riddle's on the search for her – some girl by the name o' Luna."
"Yes we know," Arthur said. "We're harboring her here."
Hagrid's eyes widened. "Yeh mean to say that…that yer keeping a fugitive in yer house, Arthur?"
Ginny looked to Luna, who was staring intently at the scene below.
"It's quite alright," Molly reassured the group. "She's very young, 16, and a student at Lapifors. Her father was Xenophilius Lovegood. She was put in prison because he was continuously supporting anybody who was against Riddle."
"Just – just be careful," Remus said. "These are dark times we are living in. We cannot risk another death."
Ginny felt a lump swell up in her throat, form excitement or anxiousness, she could not tell. Harry, Ron and Hermione had escaped a bunch of Riddle's gits. And they were on the run. Going to defeat Riddle. She looked to Neville, who's face lit up at hers. There was another reason to keep fighting.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
A rush of emotion fled him. On one hand, he had successfully stolen the book, the answer to everything against Riddle, but on the other hand, he had put Ron and Hermione in grave danger. He was ahead of them, his black stallion running like the wind, Ron and Hermione's white horse following closely behind. He shot a quick glance at them. Ron's face was stern, but softened when he felt Harry's eyes on him; Hermione face was buried in Ron's shoulder, and Harry had the slight impression she was sleeping, but for good reason; the day had been tiring.
"We should rest," Ron's thick voice said from behind him.
Harry looked around his surroundings; they were in a clear valley area, with few trees and a nearby lake. He pulled his horse's reins. Ron followed his actions; the jerk woke up Hermione, who yawned and said, "Where are we?"
"As far as we could get from Hogsmeade," Ron said, sliding off the horse, then helping her off. "Should we camp?'
"Yes," Harry said, sliding off his horse as well. "By the lake."
Ron nodded, and took Harry's horse in his other hand. "I'll go tie them to a nearby tree."
Once he was out of eyesight, Hermione spotted the book in Harry's hand. "You've got the book? And the sword?"
Harry nodded, but did not speak. He was pale and far too shocked.
"Will you find the incantation?"
"I am really not sure," he said honestly. "Should I?"
Hermione shrugged and went by the lake to wash her face.
"Question is," Harry said, staring at the book, as if hoping it would just scream that incantation at him, "how do we use the sword to open it?"
"Maybe we should join them together, in some sort of…bond," she said, as she ran her wet fingers through her hair.
"You mean stab it?" Harry said, looking at the book with discomfort.
"Not necessarily," Hermione said, staring at the sword. Harry looked up at her. He always took her word. She was the most logical of the group, anyway.
"It's lucky we've arrived by a lake," Ron said, walking towards them and rubbing his hands. "Should we find the incantation now?"
"I don't know how, exactly," Harry said, putting his face in one of his hands. "Hermione reckoned that I conjoin the two, but I'm really not sure. Do you have any suggestions?"
Ron shrugged, but to Harry, did not seem to really care, anyway. "Shall we just do it tomorrow? All this chasing has drained me of my energy."
"I as well," Hermione said, and she dusted off her dress and went in a kneeling position. "Don't worry, Harry, we'll do it by morning. Then we can go back to Hogwarts and kill Riddle once and for all."
Harry nodded, but felt a great rush of anxiousness overcome him. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that they didn't have that much time until tomorrow. But by the looks of Ron and Hermione, he saw they were tired, worn out, all because of him, and very much needed their rest. He needed rest, too.
He lay down on the surprisingly comfortable grass and almost immediately feel his eyes close. He used Hermione's cloak as some sort of blanket and snuggled up, prepared to fall asleep, clutching his book very close to him. Before doing so, however, he caught one quick glance at Ron and Hermione; Hermione's eyes were half open and Ron was already snoring.
Harry knew it was going to be a big day tomorrow. Whether it meant the fact that they would finally find the incantation or something else, Harry was sure of one thing; it wouldn't be something he was hoping for.
Again, sorry for the shortness. But it's not just the trio who have had a long day. Writing this, I'm actually feeling a bit tired myself. But I'm really into this next chapter and I hope you guys will enjoy it! x