Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything to do with it, doesn't belong to me.
The Brotherhood
~~~ Chapter Eight ~~~
Harry felt a pang of sorrow as he stared at the house in front of him. He was crouched beside Sirius on a hill overlooking The Burrow and he was suddenly nervous at what they had planned to do.
Their plan was simple. As soon as the house was quiet, Sirius and Harry would sneak into the house. Harry would head up to Ginny's room under his invisibility cloak and Sirius would wait in the kitchen for them to come down. He would be in dog form and would be ready to cause a distraction, if Harry needed one.
"Are you ready?" Sirius glanced over at his godson. He frowned as he saw that Harry looked particularly pale. "You alright?"
"I'm fine. Let's go," Harry muttered.
Sirius nodded and the pair ducked under the invisibility cloak before they crept toward the house in silence.
The door was locked, but Sirius whispered, "Alohomora," and it opened quietly.
Sirius led the way in, holding his wand steady. The house was dark; everyone was asleep.
"Go," Sirius muttered.
Harry crept through the house. He stopped suddenly when he saw the clock that was sitting on the counter. All the names of the Weasley family were pointed at 'home', except Charlie, whose name was pointed at 'work'. Was he still in Romania?
Harry noticed that Ron's name was pointed at 'home' and smiled lightly at the comforting thought.
Continuing on, Harry rushed up the stairs, trying to keep quiet. The Weasley's may be his favorite family in the world, but they despised him, if he could count on what several of them had said when he was caught and he did not want to be seen in their house.
Harry paused outside Ginny's door. He wasn't sure if he should just go in or knock first. Deciding to just go in, he gently opened the door and slipped into the room, closing the door behind him afterward.
Looking around the room, Harry found Ginny lying asleep on the bed, the blankets covering all of her except the top of her head and a great bundle of bright red hair.
Pulling the invisibility cloak off of him, he let it pool on the floor near the door with easy access, in case he needed a quick getaway.
Harry walked over to Ginny's bedside and gently reached out to shake her awake. When she startled awake, he hurriedly put a hand over her mouth to muffle the shriek of surprise that nearly came out when she saw him there.
Ginny stared at him for only half a second before she pulled his hand away from her mouth and sat up.
"Harry," she breathed, looking back at his slightly weary face. "What are you doing here? You'll get caught!" she insisted.
Harry only shook his head. "Scabbers. Is he still here?" Harry asked, getting right to the point.
Ginny gave a confused look that was laced with disappointment. He had come here for the rat?
"No. Scabbers disappeared shortly after…" she trailed off.
Harry nodded as if expecting this, although he looked discouraged. He turned and walked back over to the door and picked up the cloak.
"Wait! Are you leaving already?" she asked, climbing out of bed.
Harry nodded again.
"Where will you go?" Ginny questioned.
"With my godfather, wherever he determines we should search next," Harry answered.
"Godfather? Oh, Black," Ginny muttered, her voice lowering.
The pair stared at each other for a moment, and then Harry reached for the door.
"Wait," Ginny said.
Harry paused once again.
Ginny hesitated, then said, "Take me with you."
Harry froze, shocked. "Why?"
"My family doesn't understand. You couldn't have done it! I can't stand staying with them. They treat me like a little girl, like I don't know what I'm talking about. I could go with you," she pleaded.
Harry considered it. "I'll be waiting in the kitchen. Don't take too long," he answered, having decided that she could be a great help to the search.
Ginny grinned. Harry slipped under the cloak again and left the room. He made his way down the stairs, careful not to step on the creaky step which he remembered from his past summers spent here.
Reaching the kitchen, Harry found Padfoot sitting near the door, looking alertly at the doorway where Harry entered.
Harry whispered, "It's just me," and Padfoot relaxed.
With a soft 'pop' Sirius appeared in human form as Harry took off the cloak.
"Is he here?" Sirius asked.
Harry shook his head. Sirius scowled.
Footsteps on the hallway outside the room made them both pause.
"Who is that?" Sirius asked softly, raising his wand.
"Ginny, hopefully," Harry replied, stepping closer to Sirius.
The door opened and a redhead did appear, except, it wasn't Ginny. It was Molly. She stopped when she saw them, her eyes widening. She pulled out her wand and pointed it back at the pair.
"Arthur!" she shrieked, panicked.
More footsteps came down the hallway, but this time, it was Ginny. She came into the room behind her mum and saw the scene.
Several pairs of footsteps sounded on the stairs, coming to see what Molly had shouted about.
Harry caught Ginny's eye before, with one fluid movement, both Harry and Sirius were out the door and running.
Ginny followed them seconds later.
"Ginny!" Molly's voice rang out in despair as the woman exited the house. Ginny glanced back and saw her parents and the three brothers that were home all standing right outside the door, watching in bewilderment and horror as she ran off with the two supposed criminals.