Edited by the mighty pazed!

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Chapter 18

"Where to Gov?" asked the man in the driver's seat of the taxi.

The pair of red headed men looked at one another then the trio of girls that had crammed into the small black automobile with them, answering at the same time. "We're late for a very important date, St. Pancras Station," they said the phrase exactly the way they'd been told.

The dark skinned man nodded and pulled away from the curb.

"Are you sure about this George?" asked the brunet in the center.

"Of course we are! It was Dad's Patronus and we are doing exactly like he told us! Otherwise the car would not have been there! You'll see! We'll be fine!"

The taxi fell into silence as they sped through the darkness.

They soon pulled up in front of a large stone building. The driver turned to look at them and only then did they notice he was missing an eye. "Your train leaves in thirty five minutes from platform six." He passed one of the girls an envelope. "Inside you will find the appropriate paperwork, passports for each of you, a thousand Euros and your tickets. Use the far right security line, they will have already cleared you. Get on board the train, keep your eyes open and mouths shut, till you are out of the country. You are not to get off or be alone for any reason till you reach Paris. Understood?"

They nodded numbly. "Good! Now go! And good luck!"

Harry tapped his foot impatiently as he leaned against the tree. "How long?"

Natasha sighed, "Subtract thirty seconds from the last time you asked!" she said trying to keep the aggravation out of her voice. "Our turn will come soon enough, Spitfire and Cap, then Hermione and Tony, then us. We need to give it another three minutes."

Harry nodded, not happy with it and wanting it to be over, and get to someplace they could rest. "It's just… Well, is this the best way to go about this?" he asked.

She nodded. "We need information about what is going on and how they operate, so three different teams will take down three different snatcher teams then interrogate them… that along with the ones we caught at the Lovegood's and the base earlier, should give us a clearer picture."

Harry nodded. "How much do you think they actually know? And will any of it be useful?"

Natasha snickered at that. "Harry, you may just be surprised what they know, and I suspect they would be as well. That holds doubly true given how little we know."

She stood from her crouch and faced him. "They will at the very least be able to help us with numbers, and their organization. They may even know things they do not realize are important, like where the giants, werewolves or vampires are."

Harry nodded. "Alright, fine, I understand. I guess it makes sense."

"Good," she said checking her watch. "Get ready, it's our turn... in 5…4…3…2…1… Voldemort!"

"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Clint as they circled the coastline for a second time.

The older wizard nodded. "I believe so… You must understand, it looks much different from here in the air at night, and I only saw it the once… but I believe this is the place."

"Alright, I'll land on the beach at the end of that point," he said pointing to a thin finger of land sticking into the ocean. "We'll go on foot from there and JARVIS will take control of the Quinjet."

Arthur nodded. While he didn't understand exactly what Jarvis was, he did seem to be very polite. "Yes, well we had best be off then," he said turning to move to the rear of the jet to exit as they had boarded.

Shortly he was standing on the soft sand of the beach, his arm shielding his face, as the jet lifted into the air and faded from view. "Astounding! You have invented disillusionment for something so large! Muggles! Who would believe it!"

Clint just shook his head. Arthur seemed to be pleasant enough but seemed to know absolutely nothing about the world outside his small world, and was easily distracted.

Clint found that it was best to keep him focused on something he knew. "So, you've known Harry and Hermione for some time?" he asked, leading the man inland along the small peninsula.

"Hmmm…?" Arthur pulled himself away from searching for the Muggle arrowplane in the sky. "Harry and Hermione?" he asked. "Yes quite! Let's see…" He thought as he hurried to catch up. "Seven years now!"

He chuckled. "I didn't meet them till the summer after their first year. Molly met Harry just before he boarded the train when he and Ron were on their way the first time… She didn't know who he was then, just a muggleborn first year having trouble finding the gate you see. Helped him out a bit."

Clint nodded, as his eyes scanned the surrounding terrain listening. "She didn't speak with him long, didn't even get to ask the lad his name!" he said with a chuckle, "Ron sat with him on the train, and they've been fast friends ever since!"

Clint made a non committal sound as they worked their way up a small hill and onto more solid ground. "Hermione soon joined them… the Golden Trio!' he said, voice quieting, "Won't say they didn't have their arguments, Merlin knows! But better friends there have never been!"

Clint came to a halt looking around. "Mr. Weasley, are you sure this is the right place? I don't see…"

"Fidelius, my boy!" the older man said. "This is the place, you wait here. I'll be back in just a tick!" With that the man seemed to vanish into thin air.

Clint drew an arrow and nocked it. "No there is nothing creepy about that! Let's just leave good ol' Hawkeye out here with no idea what the hell is going on! I hate magic!" he grumbled.

Arthur watched from just inside the wards as the cottage seemed to form out of the very land surrounding it till it was the small home he remembered, a small two story three bedroom, just perfect for a young couple. What surprised him was the fact that there were lights coming from inside and a small plume of smoke rising from the chimney.

Almost immediately the door opened. "Who's there?" asked a voice.

"Arthur Weasley! Bill? Is that you?" he asked.

"What did the twins threaten to send home the year Ron started Hogwarts?" asked the voice.

Arthur chuckled. "Toilet seats! For Ginny as I recall! What does Molly's favorite dress look like?" he asked back.

"Yellow, with a white collar, covered in sunflowers!" A figure stepped out of the door. "Dad? What are you doing here? Did something happen? Is Mum okay? Or was it-"

Arthur cut him off. "They are all fine!" he said rushing up the walkway. "Let's get inside, we haven't much time!"

He was within an arms length when he realized the person in the doorway wasn't his eldest son, but his youngest. "RON! Oh, thank Merlin!" he said gathering the boy up in his arms. "We have been so worried about you!"

"I-I would have come home…" Ron began, only for his father to stop him.

"No time for that now!" he said, pushing him inside. "Where are your brother and Fleur?"

It was Fleur that answered. "Bill will return shortly," she said. "During the night is the best time for him to go and procure the few necessities we need."

Arthur nodded. "Alright, both of you go pack whatever you think you will need, only take what you can carry! I'll wait here for Bill! Go! Now! And pack a bag for Bill as well!"

Ron's and Fleur's eyes grew wide. "We're leaving?" Ron asked stunned.

"As soon as your brother gets back!" he replied. "Hurry now we don't have much time!"

They had only been upstairs a couple of minutes when Bill came in through the door, a large bag in his hands. "Fleur! Someone is just outside the wardlines! He has a bow!"

A masculine voice came from the kitchen. "He's with me son."

Bill startled, almost dropping the bag. "Dad!"

"It's good to see you," he said taking the bag. "Go upstairs, help your wife. We don't have much more time. We need to go."

Bill looked at him for a moment more before nodding and running up the stairs.

Satisfied that no one was in pursuit, Clint pushed away from the control console leaving JARVIS to follow the programmed flight plan, and headed toward the group of people gathered around the situation table.

"We'll land in just over two hours," he said. "We need to stay low and out of the flight paths as this is not official. Otherwise it would be faster, sorry."

Arthur nodded, just happy his family was safe. "We won't hear from the twins till this afternoon, but they got underway safely."

Ron looked down. "That just leaves Hermi and Harry then…" he said quietly. "And we have no idea where they are…"

Arthur rose from his seat and walked around the small table, kneeling next to his youngest son. "Ron, they-"

"I MESSED UP!" he yelled. "Alright! I know that! I never should have left them!" He pushed his way out of the chair and turned away. "I knew it was a mistake as soon as I did it! But I was…"

He turned back to them, tears rolling down his face. "I was angry… and tired… We were all so tired… cooped up in that tent all the time… I couldn't take it anymore! I tried to find them again! I really did! But… but they weren't there!"

He had started to shake at this point. "Then… then after I found Bill and he took me to their house… I found out this," He placed the 'Putter Outer' on the table, "would let me hear them… and point a direction towards them with its flame… I tried to find them again… It stopped working a few weeks ago… I think…I think they're dead…" His voice collapsed into a sob.

Arthur gathered his son into his arms. "Ron… They're fine," he said softly. "Your mother and I just saw them a few hours ago, at the Burrow."

Ron looked up at him, a look of genuine surprise on his face. "Then they are with Mum? And Ginny?" he asked hopefully.

He shook his head. "No, they are helping their new friends, but they said they will see us in time for breakfast, if everything goes the way they expect."

Ron's face broke into a wide grin. "They're alright though?" he asked.

Arthur sighed. "Ron you will need to prepare yourself… Some things have happened and…"

Ron looked horrified. "Oh Merlin, they were hurt! Is Hermi okay? What about Harry?"

"Calm down son!" Arthur said. "There was some form of accident… They really haven't explained it to us as of yet, but Hermione looks quite different at the moment."

Ron's look of concern changed in an instant, to one of anger. "If Harry let something happen to her I'll-"

"You'll do what Ron?" said his father glaring down at the boy. "You were the one that left them! He has done nothing wrong, and been nothing but supportive of her since the accident!"

"But he let her get hurt!" Ron blurted.

"It was an accident!" Arthur replied. "She said so herself! Madam Pomfrey hasn't even had a chance to look her over yet! So we don't even know if she can do something for her as of yet!"

Ron looked down, and drew in a deep breath. "Alright! I'm sorry… It's just… I'm worried about her."

Arthur sighed again. "Ron, I think you had best prepare yourself. I know you fancy Hermione, but things have changed for the pair of them since you left." He lifted the boy's chin till he was looking him in the eye. "They have had to lean on each other heavily, during that time and may have developed feelings for one another."

He could see the anger seep back into his youngest's eyes. "He has been with her during something that would be hard for the strongest of people, and has not only been a friend, and supportive, but encouraging as well. He genuinely likes the woman she has become and does not mind the changes she has had to go through in the least, and truthfully Ron, I don't know if you could have done the same."

Ron looked at him incredulously. "Of course I could!" he snapped, going back to his seat and dropping heavily into it.

"We'll see," Arthur said quietly. "We'll see."

Harry stepped of the loading ramp and stretched. "I feel like I could sleep for a week," he said, falling into place and walking next to Natasha.

"Go eat something first, then sleep," she said. She pointed towards Hermione disembarking her own Quinjet. "Take her with you, we'll take care of the prisoners."

He looked at her for a moment before shrugging. "Alright, see you there." He paused for a moment, "You want me to make your usual?" he asked.

She nodded. "That would be great. Thanks."

"Not a problem," he said, jogging away.

"Breakfast Hermione?" Harry asked as he slowed next to her.

She nodded. "I want a shower first. One of those snatchers got off a flame curse… Now my hair smells like smoke… make an omelet for me?" she asked.

He nodded. "I'll start Nat's first that will give you a little more time."

"I won't be long," she said turning down a hallway.

When he made it to the kitchen he had to stop and smile, all of the Weasleys, save the twins and Charlie, were present and talking animatedly, while the matriarch cooked behind the stove.

Ginny was the first to see him, with a cry of, "Harry!" she was out of her seat and on her way to hug him.

Only for Ron to block her path before she could make it. "Where is she!" he almost growled.

Harry's head tilted to the side slightly in confusion. "Hermione?" he asked.

Ron's ears reddened. "Yes! Hermione! Where is she?" he snarled.

Harry shrugged. "Down the hall," he said thumbing the direction. "She wanted a shower…"

Ron tried to brush past him, only to find Harry's hand grabbing his arm. Trying to jerk away he ended up spun towards him, for the first time realizing that Harry stood almost a head taller than he did now, and the grip on his arm felt like iron.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said.

"Well you aren't me!" Ron yelled. "Let me go!"

"Ron!" Harry said squeezing his arm enough to make the boy wince. "She is taking a shower! If she could lay Malfoy out in one punch when she was a 'little angry' what do you think she would do to you now if you barged in on her in the shower?"

Ron's eyes widened, and he stopped trying to pull away. "Fine!" he said, "But I want to know what happened to her! They told me she had some kind of accident, and she looks different now…"

Harry sighed. "Yeah, well… That's true… Look," he said. "It's a long story, and I promised her breakfast when she got out of the shower. Let me do that, and we'll tell you everything when she gets done."

Ron nodded slowly, as Harry released him and headed toward the stove.

"If this is something that Madam Pomfrey can't fix I'm holding you responsible Potter!" Ron said from behind him.

Harry whirled toward him gathering his shirt in his clenched fist and lifting the terrified boy off the floor. "And where were you when it happened Ron?" he yelled. "Where were you when we were starving? Where were you when the forest exploded around us? Where were you when-"

"Harry!" yelled Steve, as he stepped through the door. "Put him down!"

Harry's eyes never left Ron's as he slowly lowered him. "You ran out on us! Remember? And if this is something that Madam Pomfrey can't fix, or she chooses not to have it fixed, so be it! I don't care! Because I happen to like the changes, and haven't seen her this happy in a long time! So you need to shut your mouth before I shut it for you!"

Steve put a hand on his shoulder, pulling Harry's eyes to his. "Let his shirt go Harry."

Harry glared at him for a moment, then his head swiveled back to Ron. "If you do anything to make her cry again Ron, I swear you will wish a troll had found you instead of me!" he said giving him enough of a push to send him sprawling.

He turned away and walked toward the stove, taking a deep breath. "I've got to make breakfast. Keep him away from me for a while."