That very night the trio and Ginny started laying out their plans for the trip they were about to undertake. Ginny was relieved she found the help she was looking for. She knew that it was asking quite a bit of the trio to help her, but she knew that only they could manage it.
"Okay, we can't just go into this lightly. We need all the facts about Voldemort and the war before we just jump in." Hermione reasoned. Then turning to Ginny, she asked "Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
"A what?" Ginny asked confused.
"Okay, so she's never heard of horcuxes." Ron interjected. "But then what is keeping Voldemort alive?"
"That doesn't mean they don't exist, Ron." Hermione said with a wave of her hand. "They could exist and no one knows about them."
"But Dumbledore. Wouldn't he know about them? He's the one who instructed me."
Ron slammed down in the nearest chair by the Gryffindor fireplace. "This is hopeless. We don't know anything about their world, how are we going to rush in and save it?"
The group went silent, each contemplating on the situation trying to find their solution. Ginny was trying to find the answers to their questions. Horcuxes? What in the world is that? She was then brought out of her thoughts and memories by Harry who stood up abruptly.
"We agree we don't know if the horcruxes exist, then that's where we need to start. We know where all of them were in our world, I say when we get to the otherside, that's where we begin, we see if they're there."
"You mean, you're suggesting us go gallivanting right back into Gringotts without even knowing if its in there or not? Harry, that's mental!"
"No, Ron, Harry's right. That's the only logical place to start. Maybe not Gringotts just yet, but we can start at the cave or Little Hangleton."
Ron shuddered. "The cave. I don't fancy seeing that place. Can we try Little Hangleton first?"
"Dumbledore was the one to retrieve the ring. If we start there and it isn't there, then we should also try the cave, just in case."
"However, even so, Harry, remember? Regulus got the locket. Then maybe we should start at Grimmauld?" Hermione said.
"Not unless you're ready to face the entire Order." Ginny interjected.
"No," Harry said. "No, we're not ready for that. It would be easier to search for the horcruxes without them."
Ginny could have sworn she caught a glimpse of pain cross Harry's face. Before she could reflect on it however, Hermione spoke "No, maybe not the whole Order, but we could speak with Dumbledore. Harry, just listen to me. We need his history. We could get answers to these questions we have."
Harry sat back down. Ginny could tell he was contemplating. When he looked up, the group waited with bated breath. "You're right. We'll meet up with Dumbledore first thing. But we need to find a safe place away from the Order. Any ideas Ginny?"
Glad to finally feel useful, Ginny answered, "The Burrow. No one is there, they're all staying at Grimmauld Place."
"You're sure? No one will pop in?" Hermione sounded concerned.
"Positive. They're all at headquarters. Mum didn't want any more of us separated."
"Right. What do you think Harry?"
"It will do. Hermione, charm some bags for us to use to bring what we can. And gather anything you think will be useful. We leave in the morning."
Ginny had been missing for a month now. Dumbledore said he had things under control and he had had a special mission for her, but no one knew what that was. Except Lily.
Lily tensed. She heard Mrs. Weasley's footsteps coming up the stairs again. She couldn't bare to lie to her again. Maybe, she thought, maybe this time she'd just tell her the truth. But she knew she couldn't. She knew she couldn't see the hurt in her eyes as she told her that she helped send her daughter away.
Tap, tap. "Come in" called Lily, already knowing who was at the door.
"Am I bothering you, Dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked politely.
"Of course not." Answered Lily. "You're always welcome in our room."
"I just wanted to get some quiet. It's pretty loud downstairs." Lily knew this was an excuse. The Order had been very quiet lately, as if they were in mourning for Ginny already. Instead of calling her out on her lie, she motioned for Molly to sit on her bed.
As soon as she hit it's softness, Molly burst into another fit of tears. This had been the routine. Everyday, Molly would come to seek solace and end up crying all over Lily's bed. Lily always gave her space. She let her cry. The first few times this happened she had been a wreck herself just trying to console Molly. But in recent days, she had gotten to just let her cry. And in actuality it seemed to be the best medicine for her. For after she had her crying out for the day, she picked herself back up and carried on as she had to.
In all honesty, Lily understood why she came to her. She knew. She really knew what it was like to lose a child. She understood the days on end of crying. Of pushing everyone else away. She knew the heartache of seeing a stranger cuddle their child and not being able to touch your own. She too, had had her heart ripped into pieces every night by the nightmares. She understood. She knew. And that is why she let the older woman cry on her bed as she sat next to her in the silence.
"Thank you, Lily." Molly croaked, as she wiped the tear stains from her face. "I am so very thankful for you."
As Molly walked out the door, Lily wondered if she could ever forgive herself for letting another child slip through her fingers.