The group gathered around the old Lovegood house, Hermione clutching Draco's hand.
"Be careful," she murmured, "get them out safely, then get yourself out as well."
"Don't worry Love," Draco said kissing Hermione's forehead, "we'll get them."
Ginny and Hermione stepped back as Draco, George, Bill, and Harry studied the entrance. "I've been inside before," Harry said. "The likeliest place he could have them is one of the bedrooms. Whether or not he is with them, we don't know."
"What do you want us to do?" Bill asked.
"We stick together," Harry said, "we'll check the kitchen first and foremost, covering the ground floor. Two Aurors," he nodded at two of the official looking men wearing Auror robes, "will stay down there. If we don't find any trace we will move to the next floor, and so on and so forth until we find the girls and get them out."
"What about Ron?" George asked.
"We will subdue him and bring him back to St. Mungos. What happens to him once he's there is the healers choice."
"Harry," Hermione said, "isn't there any way, any way at all, to help him come back to us? I know he's gone insane, but there must be some way we can bring him back, make him the way he was before."
Harry sighed, "The healers tried everything, Hermione. Nothing triggered his mind, nothing clicked back into place. His eyes remained vacant, his expression dead. It's like he's there in body but not in mind. He can move, and he can speak, but he's not Ron anymore. The few times I visited him in the hospital, it was scary Mione."
Hermione bit her lip and nodded.
"Alright, time to go; remember to silence your movements, we want to be able to surprise him as much as possible."
The group nodded and entered the house. They searched downstairs, finding nothing except dirty dishes, proving someone had, in fact, been living in the house. They continued looking.
Upstairs, Lyra was crying softly into Gemini's lap. "I'm so scared Gemi," she sobbed, "what if nobody finds us? What if we never see mummy and daddy ever again? What if we never see Ara?"
"Don't think like that," Gemini said softly, stroking her sister's hair. "Have some faith. You don't know mum and dad like I do. Nothing would ever get in their way of saving us. They love us. We come first. We always have."
Lyra sniffled, "I'm never going off by myself ever again."
Gemini smiled, "don't say that; it's good to have alone time. You just have to make sure it's in a safe distance to the house, and that mum or dad can still see you."
"It's all Lorcan's fault this happened," Lyra mumbled, "he wanted to play with the stupid gnomes."
"Don't blame him," Gemini whispered, "blame me, it's my fault. I should have been playing with you like mummy always asks me."
"I wish they were here," Lyra whispered.
"Me too," Gemini replied, "me too."
They sat huddled together, thinking of their parents, and their sister, not knowing that said sister was on her way to them.
Ara had hopped on one of the nimbus 2000s, knowing they were slow but determined to get to her sisters before it was too late. She knew she was a good flyer, and she was light, which helped her with momentum. She laid flat on the broom, leaning close to the handle, and soared across the skies. She didn't care about being seen, all she cared about was finding her sisters.
But like with Gemini, Ara had no idea where she was going; all she knew was that she would have to stay hidden from the adults already at the house. She knew she was going to be in big trouble if she was caught, but she didn't care. Her sister's were in trouble and she was going to do whatever it took to find them.
"Ara!" a familiar voice shouted and she groaned, glancing behind her to see three more brooms flying in the same direction, their occupants bent as low as she was. "Wait!"
"Leave me alone Teddy!" she growled, and leaned even further down, getting a small burst of speed.
"We want to help you!" he shouted. "I know you're scared and angry, and that you didn't really mean what you said! I forgive you for yelling at me! Please, let us help you!"
Ara sighed, "it's not like I have a choice, now do I? You're going to follow me regardless!"
"Damn right," Teddy said as his broom flew neck-to-neck with hers now. "Beside's, we know where the house is."
Ara whipped her head around to look at him, "you do?" She asked, eyes wide.
"Yup," Teddy said grinning, "just follow us. We want to help you."
Ara nodded, "lead the way."
The group flew for ten minutes before Teddy shouted, "There! The one shaped like a rook!"
"Be careful," James said, "I'm sure they have patrollers!"
"Fly towards that tree line!" Teddy directed, turning swiftly towards the north and landing behind a line of trees that bordered the house's property line and blocked the scene from muggle eyes. The others followed, landing side by side.
"How are we going to get inside?" Ara whispered as they watched Hermione and Ginny pace back and forth in front of the building.
"We wait," Teddy said, watching as Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks.
"They've been inside an awfully long time," Hermione said, glancing at the watch she wore on her left wrist, then back at the door. "Maybe I should…"
"No," Ginny said firmly, "you don't need to do anything but stay put! Let the men handle this, Hermione. And no I'm not saying you aren't capable of helping," she added seeing Hermione's look of disdain, "we're needed out here and not in there, that's all."
Hermione sighed and nodded as she began to pace again. Suddenly, the door slammed open, Bill dragging an unconscious George out. Ginny hurried over to her brothers, helping Bill.
"What happened?" she demanded.
"Ron attacked us," Bill said disbelievingly, "he didn't even recognize George and I! Harry's still in there with Draco and the Aurors trying to get to the girls."
"We need to get him back to the Burrow," Ginny said, turning to her friend, "will you be alright by yourself?"
Hermione nodded, "just go!"
Without further ado Bill and Ginny turned together on the spot, George between them. Hermione sighed and paced restlessly. Ron was attacking his own family, the girls were still locked inside, and she was forced to remain outside. She couldn't do it. She couldn't stand by while her family was in danger.
"I'm going in," she muttered to herself, walking through the still open front door.
Ara saw this as the opportunity she had been waiting for. "I'm going to give her a few moments before I follow."
"You do realize that as soon as my mum gets back to the house she will be checking on us and once she sees we're gone we're dead." James pointed out.
"Does it looks like I care?" Ara snapped, "my sisters could possibly be dead as we speak! Leave if you want to, I don't care, I didn't ask you to come anyways."
"Fine," Victorie sneered, picking up her broom.
"I'm staying," Teddy declared.
"What?" Victorie screeched, "Teddy, your godfather is going to kill you if he finds you here! You understand that right?"
"I don't care!" Teddy said, "lives are at stake here Victorie! I'm staying!"
Victorie huffed and turned to her cousin, "you are coming, right James?"
James looked between his cousin and the boy he considered his brother and shook his head. "I'm staying."
"Fine," Victorie said hopping on her broom. "Have it your way then."
The three watched as she flew off back towards the Burrow. Ara turned to the boys, "ready?" she asked. Nodding they followed her out of their hiding space behind the trees and towards the house, as the sun began to sink and night began to fall.
A/N: Another chapter for all of you! A guest reviewer asked a very good question, "why does Harry have a house elf?" (you may recall Bubbles from the last chapter). Its quite simple actually... After Kreacher would have passed Harry would have needed the extra hands... with 3 kids and both parents working jobs it would be difficult to get anything done around the house. Bubbles replaced Kreacher! But don't worry, their house elf is treated very well :)
Feel free to ask if you have any other questions! Oh another reviewer asked a very good question as well "why did Hermione and Draco wait to get married?". I told that reviewer that the answer to their question will be answered in a future chapter, so in case any of you were wondering... you will find out soon enough!
Please review!