Chapter 17: Outlaws

Bella POV

Edward walked into the homeroom – 30 minutes late.

"Where were you?" I asked. "I couldn't smell you or hear you or anything! I almost took the shield off so that you could read my mind!"

"I was just talking to Harry," he said. He paused. "Don't EVER take your shield off. Not even on yourself, do you hear me?"

I sighed. "I do now," I said.

"Bella, I know it's hard for you, and I should never have asked so much of you, but we have no other choice," Edward said.

"Harry is going to be gone for two days," he went on. "Hermione got hold of a Time-Turner, so they will be living the same day over and over and over until they have found as many Horcruxes as possible."

"What are Horcruxes?"

"I'm not going into all the details," Edward said.

"But the main point is that they need to destroy six Horcruxes before they can kill Voldemort."

"Ah. How many times wil they live the day over?" I asked.

"Harry says he isn't sure, but they will stop at three months if they haven't finished yet. Otherwise the difference in age will be too easy to notice."

"Who else is going?" I asked.

"Harry, Hermione and Ron are like a trio, so they will all go. Another girl called Cho Chang will also go with. Her aunt was a helper to Voldemort, and Cho has some information that might help them on their quest. The four of them will be gone for about two or three months, but it will seem like two days to us."

"Oh," I said. That must be weird. Tme-Travel was confusing.

"Edward?" I asked. "Do you have any idea why my Patronus turned out to be a turtle? I mean, it's not that I'm complaining, but I wouldn't say I'm slow or anything...."

Edward chuckled. "Turtles represent longevity and life. You can guess that you will be having quite a long life. Also, you have the ability to shield other abilities, as a turtle has a shell."

"Oh!" I said again.

He was quiet for a long time, and seemed to be thinking something through.

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"You said you couldn't hear or smell me earlier."

"Yes."

"I think.....I think it might be that room. The Room of Requirement as they call it. It can apparently become any room that supplies what one needs. So the DA wanted a room where no one could know they were there....." Edward thought out loud.

"Yes!" I said. "That must be the reason! Maybe we can use it to our advantage!"

"I don't see how it will help, but it is indeed something to think about."

Nessie POV

I was getting pretty good at this magical schoolwork. It's really quite fun. Even Jacob was enjoying it.

On Saturday we had no work, so Ginny offered to take me and Jake for a picnic. Saturday morning we said goodbye to Harry, Hermione, Ron and Cho. I couldn't help but notice that Cho was very pretty.

Our picnic was at a little meadow just outside Hogsmeade. When we were in Hogsmeade (we had to go there before we could apparate to the meadow) Ginny flicked her wand to make herself look different. She suddenly had long black curly hair and bright blue eyes.

"What on Earth are you doing?" Jacob asked.

Ginny giggled. "Shhh...." she said. "Look!"

Our eyes followed where she was pointing. A huge poster was up against a wall with the heading: "Have you seen these children?" and below it "Wanted for Conspiring Against the Ministry - Reward 5000 galleons." Under the heading were pictures of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, Luna and Neville.

"Whoa, you're an outlaw!" Jacob exclaimed. A number of people looked in our direction. "Oops, I meant in-law," Jacob said quickly. "Because my aunt is married to your uncle."

I laughed. The people went back to their usual activities. "Good save," Ginny said.

"Do you both know how to apparate?" she asked.

"Uh....not really..." Jacob said quietly. I could tell he was a bit embarrassed.

"Okay then," Ginny said. "Hold my hands." Jacob and I each took one of Ginny's hands, and disappeared.