Gathering Intel

Mrs Weasley started. Bill sank back into his chair. Fred and George looked over at Ron with astonishment in their eyes. Mr Weasley took a moment to wipe his glasses.

"How many people knew?" Mr Weasley wiped his brow.

"Probably the entire school." Ron answered. "It began rather...suddenly."

The news that Ginny Weasley had been going out with Harry Potter interested a great many members of her family, who were now faced with the terrible reality that Ginny might've been taken to lure Harry out.

"Wait a minute." Bill began. "You said they were dating, not they are dating. Is that because they're apart and unable to be together, or are they not together at all anymore?"

"They split up." Ron answered.

Fred and George exchanged significant looks. "So that's why she was so distressed, I had no idea…" Fred said.

"Well, how long were they together?" Bill pressed.

"A few weeks or so…"

"Well, maybe it wasn't important enough to register on You-Know-Who's radar of things to coerce Harry with. Hopefully the Death Eaters just see it as a spring fling and that's all."

"No matter why, the fact remains that Ginny is gone." Mr Weasley reminded them. "Now, we've sent Charlie a message and he should be arriving as soon as he can."

"Dad, what about Percy?" George asked.

Mr Weasley looked deeply pained at the mention of his third son. "I'm afraid he won't be coming."

"Does he know?" Fred added.

"If he does." Mrs Weasley had tears in her eyes as Mr Weasley responded. "We didn't tell him. We couldn't risk it."

0o0o0o0

Severus Snape departed Hogwarts for Malfoy Manor. Lucius Malfoy was Lord of the manor in name only; whilst Voldemort was away, as he was at the moment, Bellatrix Lestrange was the domineering individual.

"Good evening, Bella." Snape said politely. "I'm wondering if you have any knowledge about a possible incident that took place on the Hogwarts Express today."

Bellatrix puffed out her chest. "Severus, do come in. We're having roast. And...what incident?"

"Bella, the disappearance of two pure-blood witches is bound to attract attention."

"They're blood traitors, Snape, I don't see why you're so concerned."

"They may be blood traitors, but their blood is pure. And we're educating them on the other front, Bella."

"Well, she'll certainly get education here." Bellatrix grinned maliciously, but Snape did not smile.

"She…"

Bellatrix's eyes widened as she realised what she'd said and revealed.

"I'm sure you can take care of this while I'm away, Bellatrix. Xenophilius has been insolent for far too long."

"Yes of course, my Lord." Bellatrix replied, scraping her nose on the floor at Voldemort's feet. "And if she has companions?"

"Use your judgement, Bella."

Bellatrix had taken Fenrir Greyback, along with Jugson and a few Dark Wizards and Witches that had not yet taken the mark. Their arrival on the train was met with no trouble, and Bellatrix found Luna alone in the compartment. Six on one meant the fight was very short lived, despite them being unable to take Luna Lovegood completely by surprise.

Unfortunately, Luna hadn't been on her own for the whole trip; Ginny Weasley was returning from the bathroom and found the Death Eaters in the compartment, and responded in her typically defiant manner.

Jugson and the three junior Death Eaters fell in quick succession. Trying to keep Lovegood under control, Bellatrix managed to portkey herself and her captive back to the manor, leaving Greyback to deal with Ginny Weasley.

Ginny hadn't been seen since, and Greyback hadn't reported back. Although Bellatrix's mission was a success, Lord Voldemort was bound to be sorely disappointed in the performance of the Death Eaters. Four taken out in quick succession was unacceptable losses, especially when it came against an underaged witch.

But what was immensely clear was this: Dumbledore's Army was becoming too great a threat.

0o0o0o0

Fleur Delacour blinked to clear her eyes…surely she was mistaken.

0o0o0o0

Percy Weasley fiddled with the dial on his portable radio. He had become disenfranchised with the path the ministry had taken for months, but had been unable and unwilling to try to reconnect himself with his family. He barely saw his father.

Whilst eating his Christmas Eve Dinner alone, Percy stumbled upon a Pottermore broadcast by complete accident.

"...In more sombre news, Hogwarts Students Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley have not been since boarding the Hogwarts Express. We at Potterwatch express our deepest sympathies for them and their families and hope for their safe return."

The door to the Burrow rattled as Percy banged upon it.

"Oh, hello." Percy began, noticing a blonde woman answer the door. "Delacour, isn't it?"

"Weasley now. What is it you want?"

"Can I talk to my family, please? It's really quite urgent." Percy replied, not entirely comfortable at being denied access to the Burrow by the lady who bore only a passing familiarity.

"Wait here." Fleur commanded, and shut the door on his face.

Percy was miffed at the treatment, but he couldn't really complain about. Still, he had been told not to move by Delacour, and he thought that she had rather more weight in the family than he did at the moment.

But the distracting pull of a Silver Horse was becoming difficult to ignore.