AN: Wix is a gender-inclusive version of witch/wizard. It's what I'll be using to refer to groups of magical people of mixed genders and to the wixing world as a whole.
Trigger Warnings: None for this chapter. Tell me to add something if needed!
"No, no, no!" Ginny gasped through her giggles, pushing at Hermione's hands.
Hermione immediately stopped tickling her. "Actually no?" she asked.
"No, not actually. I like it when you tickle me."
Hermione attacked her again with more vigor until Ginny was panting and limp. Then she pulled Ginny's head onto her lap and stroked her hairline.
"We have to go back to school. We have lots of work to do." Hermione said.
"I know. It's just - "
Downstairs the front door slammed and there was a loud clatter as something was knocked over. In all likelihood it was the umbrella stand.
"Tonks," said Ginny, rolling her eyes but also smiling to show she didn't actually mind how klutzy Tonks could be.
The portrait of Sirius's mother started shrieking. Even so, they could still hear Ginny's mother over the din.
"WHO IN THE BLAZES WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON GUARD DUTY?"
"That's not good," said Ginny.
"Something's wrong," said Hermione, concern in the wrinkles of her forehead.
The pair crept onto the landing and peered over the edge, not daring to let more than their eyes over the bannister. Neither wanted to suffer Mrs. Weasley's wrath if she caught them spying on the Order.
"Here," said George over Hermione's shoulder, offering her a thick, fleshy string.
Hermione jumped and swallowed her yell. She hasn't heard the twins come up. Ginny hadn't twitched.
Ginny punched George's shoulder. "Don't scare Hermione. She's not used to siblings," she whispered. She took one of the strings. "Are these safe? I don't want them exploding in my ear again."
"Weasley approved," whispered Fred with a wink.
"That counts for nothing," Ginny replied, but she inserted the Extendable Ear and dangled it over the railing.
"Dumbledore is already on his way to the ministry." Tonk's hushed voice sounded as though she was speaking directly to them.
"What about -"
"And he sent an owl to tell Harry to stay put," Tonks interrupted Mrs. Weasley. "We have to figure out how to get him here without being killed."
Everyone on the landing stared at each other wide-eyed.
"What the hell happened?" whispered Ginny.
Hermione shook her head. This was serious. Dumbledore wouldn't go to the ministry unless things were very bad considering how much Fudge feared the headmaster and the propaganda the Prophet spewed. What had happened to Harry?
"We need Allistor and more members of the Order to be an escort," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Allistor and a few of the others are already on their way. We need to have a basic plan laid out for when they get here and have everything ready to go as soon as Dumbledore gives us the go ahead," Tonks said. They walked into the meeting room and out of range of the Extendable Ears.
"What are we going to do?" asked Fred.
"Nothing."
The others turned to Hermione in shock.
"Your mother isn't going to let us do anything no matter how much we protest. There are several trained Aurors and some of the best wixes we know who will be going to get him. They don't need us and we won't be helpful."
Ginny had stopped looking shocked and had started listening.
"And they'll be bringing him here, because this is the safest place in Britain right now. So what we can do is get ready for him to arrive," Ginny continued Hermione's thought.
"He's going to be angry," she added and Hermione nodded.
"Angry? Why would he be angry?" asked Fred.
"Because we've been here all this time together, with Sirius, and he's been alone."