This chapter is another short one, but the next one will be up either later on tonight or tomorrow during the day! (GMT)
The scene felt really surreal to Hermione. Harry was explaining everything to Luna and Neville as Hermione stared at the coin she was still holding in her hands. There had been twenty eight members of the DA, yet only two had showed up.
Of course, many of them couldn't be there. Fred and Colin for instance, Hermione thought woefully. She figured that most of them had more than likely binned the coin, rather than ignored it.
George, on the other hand, Hermione knew for a fact still had his coin. Things had been difficult for George after the Battle of Hogwarts. Without his twin, he had to adapt to life again. On top of it all, most of his family found it difficult to look at him. Ginny had admitted to Hermione one night after visiting George and Angelina that it was difficult to be around him, and to look him in the face. Molly Weasley had burst into tears one evening when the whole family had met for dinner, and George and Angelina showed up. Of course, Mrs Weasley claimed they were tears of joy, but George could clearly tell his mother was trying not to hurt his feelings. Even George admitted one drunken evening with Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron that he struggled to look in the mirror, to have Fred's face staring back at him. Hermione's heart sank as she thought of how hard George really had it. Even for identical twins, Fred and George had been extremely close.
Marietta Edgecombe, Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang had more than likely thrown their coins out. Just as well, Hermione thought. Marietta had sold them out to Delores Umibridge and her Inquisitorial Squad, Smith had just been... difficult for most of the meetings, and he had abandoned them before the Battle of Hogwarts along with the Slytherins. Cho Chang and Harry had a thing once, which would probably make things awkward, especially since Harry was now married.
"We're going to find him, you know." Luna interrupted Hermione's thoughts while gazing far off into the distance and sitting on the ground cross-legged beside her.. "Dad told me that when two people are in love, they have some sort of connection together. I'm not quite sure what it meant, but I suppose it's really special."
It wasn't until then that Hermione really took in the appearance of Luna. Looks-wise, she hadn't changed one bit. Her waist length dirty blonde hair was still there, and she still looked constantly surprised. She looked so much prettier, though, without so much clutter of accessories. Of course, she had a purple flower in her hair and some sort of leaf attached to her navy blue dress. Around her wrist was a cuff with some corks attached to it. Still, Hermione realised, this was quite tame for Luna.
"I know." Hermione replied, nodding, then resting her chin on her arms, which were hugging her legs. "I won't stop until I do."
Luna and Hermione sat in silent contemplation while Harry and Neville had clearly been deep in conversation. Hermione overheard Neville say "I've been staying at Dirkstone", and her head snapped up again as she looked at Neville.
"What did you just say?" She asked.
"I said Dirkstone. I've been staying at Dirkstone for a few weeks now. Strange, quiet town. Everyone pretty much keeps to themselves." Neville repeated.
Hermione froze as she thought this over. What was it about that place that unsettled her? She had never been there, or even read about it, yet her eyes had been drawn to it on a map. She stood up and walked over to the boys.
"Neville," Hermione said, drawing the map that they had used earlier from her pocket, and looking through the pages before presenting a page to Neville. "Is this it?"
Neville nodded. "Yeah, that's it. The Ministry sent me there a few weeks back, said there had been some strange goings on and that I had to investigate. If you ask me, the town is just full of weirdos." Neville shook his head, pointing to the church in the middle. "This church has been closed for years, according to the locals."
Hermione looked pointedly at Harry, who seemed a little bit lost. Apparently he had forgotten their conversation back in the Ministry library. He glanced at Neville, who clearly had no idea what was going on either.
"Harry, maybe we should go with Neville." Hermione continued to stare at the map as she spoke. "I just, I... I feel as though we should be there. I don't know why."
"What?" Harry asked, whirring round to meet Hermione's eyes.
"I know, it's weird, I just... I feel drawn to it. I can't explain. Can we just go and check it out?" Hermione asked, pleading.
Harry sighed. "Well, we still need to sort out the wand problem before we go anywhere."
"Wand problem?" Luna asked, her huge eyes looking up at everyone from the ground where she sat.
"The trace." Harry said simply. Luna looked a little confused. Neville, however, nodded in an understanding way.
"Oh for heavens sake, Harry, Luna doesn't work for the Ministry." Hermione rolled her eyes, taking a seat beside Luna again. "We can't use magic without it being detected by Hornrock. That's why we need your help."
"You can use my wand," Luna said, holding her wand out to Hermione. "Dad's been promising to take me shopping, I can go to Diagon Alley and get a new one!"
Hermione had been meaning to visit the new wand shop in Diagon Alley. Ollivanders, of course, had closed down years ago. Hermione had heard talk of a new wand shop that had opened up in it's place, named Puissants. The French lady that owned it seemed to be quite knowledgeable in wand lore, according to people who had visited the place.
"Oh, Luna, that would be marvellous!" Hermione exclaimed, drawing Luna into a surprise hug.
"It's a shame, though." Luna sighed, looking put down. "I do love my wand. I hope the new one matches it" she said, passing the wand to Hermione.
"If it doesn't, we'll bring it back to you." Harry promised, walking to where Hermione and Luna were sitting and sitting down beside them, followed by Neville. "But we really need to get going. It won't be long before Hornrock realises that he can trace us."
"Dirkstone?" Hermione asked once again. Harry looked hesitant. "Look, we don't have a plan right now. All we have is this inkling that I have. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I still think we need to go there."
"Fine." Harry replied sceptically. "But according to the map, there's no portkey network. "
"No," Hermione agreed, but she couldn't stop herself as a grin spread across her face. "But Neville's been there. He can take us. How are you at multiple side along apparitions, Neville?"
This chapter is definitely an in-between one. But the next one will be exciting, honest! As stated earlier, next chapter will be up very soon to make up for it! College work is piling up now, but I don't have much to edit for the next one and I do want to get it up as soon as possible. Looking forward to reading your reviews!