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Chapter Five

A New Secret

Two days after the attack, Harry found himself alone at the Burrow. Mr. Weasley had gone to Diagon Alley with Fred and George for school supplies, and Mrs. Weasley was with Ginny at St. Mungo's. Bill and Fleur had gone to their London flat, and Hermione had gone home to be with her parents. Ron's attack had shaken everybody up.

However, alone was the wrong term. Hidden all around the Burrow were members of the Order. They weren't really hidden, simply hanging around itching for something to happen. Remus and Tonks were in the kitchen when Harry came down.

"Hello Harry," Lupin said. Harry simply nodded rather than speak. Guilt about Ron seemed to hang over him, even though everyone said it wasn't his fault. He just felt a strong responsibility. He could only imagine what Hermione was going through. It could have been her instead of Ron, and Harry knew that the deciding actor had been her ability to Side-Along Apparate.

"Hey," Tonks said, her normally cheerful voice dulled. After the death of Sirius, she knew what Harry was going through. Sirius, Dumbledore, and almost Ron. Harry felt anger and sadness rise up in him. He hated that everyone he cared about got hurt.

As if reading his mind, Lupin spoke up. "Listen, Harry, you can't blame yourself for these things." He put a hand on his shoulder. "None of it is your fault."

"That's what everyone tells me, but," Harry started choking on his words, "first Sirius, then Dumbledore…" A thought came to him. "No, not Sirius first…My parents died because of me, then Sirius, then Dumbledore, and I almost lost Ron." The anger was taking over. He knocked over the pitcher of water that had been on the table. "I hate feeling helpless when the people I care about die for me!" he sat down on one of the chairs, practically sobbing. With his sleeve he wiped his sweaty face.

Someone walked over and sat down next to him. "I know how you feel," Lupin said quietly. "Well, not you, but how everyone else feels. Because of my father, Greyback came after me and now I'm a werewolf. Somebody else's decision made me what I am. When I learned the truth, I was upset. But I learned that it was alright. If it wasn't for that, I might not be here today. Instead of lashing out at my father, I fueled my anger towards Voldemort when I joined the Order."

He got up and left, with Tonks following quietly. Harry sat, trying to focus on what Lupin had said. He managed to calm down just in time to see the strange Weasley clock hands move. Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Ron's hands were now on "traveling". Harry jumped up. Ron was back! He could finally find out what had happened.

The large fireplace turned green, and Ginny popped out. So they had taken Floo powder. His heart dropped as he wondered what type of condition Ron was in. Thankfully, Ron stepped out of the grate next, dazed, but alright. Before Harry could get a word in, Mrs. Weasley popped out and whisked Ron up the stairs.

"Harry!" she called, and he ran up the steps to the topmost landing. "Watch over him, make sure he gets some rest." Looking at her, Harry wanted to tell her the same thing. Her bloodshot eyes had dark bags under them, as if she hadn't had a decent sleep in months. But he just nodded, and entered the violently orange room.

On the bed, Ron didn't look the least bit tired. He seemed overjoyed at seeing Harry. "Hey mate. Sorry I ruined the surprise," Ron chuckled.

"You didn't ruin it. I had no idea what was going on," Harry said honestly. Ron's face reddened.

"But you asked me what was going on with me and Hermione, and you saw here leave when we were looking at maps!"

"But I just thought you two were, uh, studying or something," he lied. He'd rather not Ron know what he actually thought. "So, uh, what happened?"

"Well, I went to Godric's Hollow, as we had planned. At first it was all sunny and normal, but then this weird fog comes rolling in, right? And I just figured that it was the weather, it's been like that. Then I heard someone Apparate near me, and I figured it was Hermione. She was supposed to bring you and I was supposed to find your house, which I hadn't done 'cause of the fog," Ron paused and pulled out a bag of Bertie Botts beans. It amazed Harry that he was able to eat when reliving all of this.

"Anyways, I started walking around, trying to find the house before Hermione called out the cue. But then I was hit from behind by a spell," he looked thoughtful. "I tried to turn, but I couldn't. Then someone grabbed me, I figured I was a Death Eater by then, and I was Side-Alonged to some really dark and dirty house. Pettigrew was there, and there was Snape. Someone else was in the corner too. Whoever was holding me let go and…next thing I knew I was on the pavement and you and Hermione were holding me." Ron's face darkened. "I wish I knew what they'd done to me."

"It was a spell that Snape made himself. Sectumsempra," Harry said. "It was the one I used against Malfoy."

"Oh," he said. "But I wish I knew what else they did. I mean, not much point taking me away to try and kill me, is there? And why not just use Avada Kedavra? I suppose I should be thankful they didn't though…"

"I don't know Ron." Harry said, answering his own question. He found himself deep in thought. Why not just kill Ron? Unless they thought he was me, Harry snorted. No self-respecting Death Eater would mistake Ron for Harry. So why take Ron at all? Unless they believed that he knew something…

"Ron, how do Secret Keepers work?" he asked quickly.

"Well, I don't know everything about it, but it's kind of simple. It's where a location is kept secret by one person, and only the Secret Keeper can tell anyone about the place. You know that," he said over a mouthful of Chocolate Cauldrons.

"Yeah, but Sirius made Wormtail Secret Keeper. When Dumbledore died, who became Secret Keeper for Grimmauld Place?"

Ron thought on it for about a minute, then shrugged. "I dunno. Ask Mum. Maybe the spell ended." Harry remembered Sirius yelling at Peter Pettigrew years earlier that he should have died rather than betray his parents to Voldemort. Would the protection of the spell end? Or would it pass on to someone else? And if so, who?

Ron had write the address without a second thought, giving it to a stranger. That shouldn't have been possible if the spell was still working. Unless…

"Ron, can I borrow a quill?" He grabbed some ink and parchment. Ron looked at him curiously.

"What are you doing?"

"Placing an order to the Daily Prophet." Was the only response. Harry walked across the room, trying the letter to Hedwig's leg. If the spell was still in effect, then no one from the Daily Prophet could read the paper. And the letter Ron had sent, that might get s response as well, unless someone from the Order was delivering it.

Luna Quiz: Which three pets of Hagrid's either escaped him or were taken away? Which one died?