I Caught Myself - Chapter twelve
Harry's POV:
Our last days at The Burrow went by in a flash. Before I knew it, Mrs Weasley was knocking on my door, telling me that we had to be up and out in a couple of hours. I took one last look around my room, wondering for a second if I'd ever be coming back, then grabbed my trunk and put it beside the others.
I went over to the bathroom and stood beside Fred, George and Hermione who were lined up outside of it, waiting for Ginny to come out.
"Harry, be careful nobody sees that backpack!" Hermione cautioned. "Here, put it in my bag. It's got an enchantment placed on it so that it can fit an unlimited amount of stuff in it but it doesn't show how much is in it," she told me, producing a tiny black, pearl bag from her back pocket.
She opened it up and I dropped my backpack in.
"Ginny, move your arse!" Fred moaned, hammering on the door.
"Every time to tell me to hurry up I'm adding five minutes on," she sing-songed out to him.
Fred groaned and slid down the wall.
"What's next? Singing?"
"Ginny's got a lovely voice," Hermione defended.
Fred snorted.
"Fred! Have you ever actually heard her sing?" Hermione challenged.
"Well, no, but I can only imagine the amount of blood that would come out of our ears."
"She's good, I'm telling you," she said, clearly unimpressed with her boyfriends answer.
I never had Ginny down as a singer, but if she really wanted to be good at it, I don't doubt that she could be.
"Thank Merlin," Fred said, getting up once the water turned off.
She emerged with her hair in a bun, a green hoodie over a plain white t-shirt and matching green joggers.
"Hurry up boys, we don't have all day," she smirked as she went downstairs for breakfast.
"Hurry up boys. Is she having a laugh?" I heard Fred grumble as he closed the door and got into the shower.
Once Fred was in, the whole process went a lot quicker. Why do girls always take forever to wash? I wore a pair of black jeans with a black t-shirt and a black jumper, Fred and George wore light blue jeans, Fred with a blue shirt, George with a purple one, and Hermione had a pair of light blue jeans with white polka dots and a light pink hoodie over the same white t-shirt Ginny has on.
We sat at the kitchen table together, a lot shakier than usual as we ate. Ginny ended up dropping a whole stack of plates, Hermione spilled her pumpkin juice all over the table, I knocked my cereal bowls over and Fred nearly broke his wand. The only one of us that was calm all through breakfast, was George. He neatly cut up his bacon and sipped at his water, laughing at Mr Weasley's jokes and assuring Mrs Weasley that we'd be good at Hogwarts when none of the rest of us could speak.
After breakfast, I went back upstairs to feed Hedwig before I let her go to Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry I have to send you there yourself. I wish I could come with you, but we need to save those eight people."
Suddenly I had an idea. I would attach a note to Hedwig and send it to Neville and ask him to tell us who's missing. I grabbed my parchment and a quill and began to write.
Neville, it's Harry. Open this alone with no exceptions.
I need you to tell me which four Hogwarts teachers are missing and I need to know which two girls that I'm close to are missing. It won't be Hermione or Ginny because we have a task to complete before we come back. Fred and George are with us too, so don't be worried if they're not about. You can't tell anyone I've wrote to you Neville or it'll blow everything we've worked for. Once you've read this and you understand what you need to do, I want you to burn this letter and take Hedwig to the Owlery and feed her and once you find out who's missing send me a letter with nothing more than their names unless you know where they are. Do not send your letter back using Hedwig...she'll stand out too much. Use a school owl. Cheers mate,
Harry.
I tied the letter to Hedwig and put her in her cage. I leaned against the door of my bedroom, thinking about what we were doing. I didn't want to have to drag the twins, Ginny and Hermione into this but I know that if I ask them not to come it'll just make things worse. If one of them gets hurt, I will never forgive myself.
Fred's POV:
I woke up this morning with a sever pounding in my head. I knew that I'd have to get up soon and get ready for The Plan and I knew that I couldn't show just how nervous I am because if I did, I'd blow the whole thing. I rolled over onto my side and checked the alarm clock. I sighed, got up and started looking in my drawers for what I wanted to wear today. I settled for my light blue jeans and a blue shirt, grabbed a towel and went for my shower.
When I got out of my room, I saw that Ginny was already in. Great, I thought, it only takes her a millenium and a half to shower and get ready.
George came out shortly after me and then Hermione.
"Golden Boy not up yet?" I asked her, cocking one eyebrow up.
"He probably is but needs a moment to himself."
I thought of the wonderful date we had three days ago. That place just brought back so many memories. We didn't wake up until half ten and then we went for a moonlit stroll down by the water. I can still remember the way her eyes sparkled and the way we kissed after it. I wouldn't trade that day for anything.
"I forgot a towel, I'll be right back," George said, leaving Hermione and me alone.
"Nervous?" she asked.
"Nah, not really," I lied, coming up behind her and putting my arms around her, holding her hands and kissing her neck.
"I am," she admitted. I felt her shaking.
"Well don't be. You're the brightest witch of your age, and probably my age too, so you have no need to be nervous. And do you really think any of us would let something happen to you?"
"No but you can't stop an unknown amount of Death Eaters," she murmured softly into my neck.
"Try me," I grinned.
"Get a room, you two," George interrupted, coming out of his room and swinging his towel about.
"Shove off, you're just jealous that I've got a bird and you've not," I said, pretending to be annoyed.
Then I saw my massive mistake. I didn't mean to say that! Oh Merlin, George is going to hate me!
"I'm gay, you daft git," he laughed.
I let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm going to see if Harry's up yet," Hermione said, skipping away down the corridor.
Once I knew she was gone, I turned to George.
"So, I can't help myself, Georgie. Have you got a boyfriend?" I blurted out.
Ever since I found out about George, the question had been eating me alive.
"No," he blushed.
"Have you got your eye on someone?"
"No. Yes. Maybe," he went redder.
"Who?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"You hate him."
"I'll learn to live with it," I said, sarcasm dripping off my tongue.
"No," George said firmly.
"Fine. But I'll find out sooner or later."
"Okay Freddie."
Hermione reappeared, looking ever so slightly horrified.
"What's up love?" I asked, making my way over to her.
"N-nothing," she said, looking quite sickly.
"C'mon tell me."
"Well, when I went in...Harry wasn't...dressed yet," she whispered, her face now a bright shade of crimson.
I burst out laughing.
"Did you see anything you shouldn't have?"
"Fred! Please don't," she groaned.
I laughed harder and gave her a cuddle.
"Sorry, 'Mione," Harry said, exiting his room looking extremely disheveled.
"Doesn't matter," she replied stiffly.
"Hermione we have a problem," I said.
"What?"
"Well, George and I are eighteen, so we can use magic out of school. You three can't."
"Well that's okay! We need to break into the Ministry and destroy the crystal ball they have that tells them who used illegal magic."
"You say that like you do it any other week," George mumbled.
"Maybe I do," she winked.
George's POV:
I couldn't wait to get going. I knew everyone else would be nervous and having doubts, but I wanted my brother back. I jumped out of bed and dragged my trunk into the hall where everyone else's was then I put my backpack in Hermione's magic bag.
"Morning George," Bill said, yawning widely.
"Morning."
"Looking forward to Hogwarts?" he said, with a mysterious glint in his eye.
"Yeah, can't wait to get back there," I said truthfully.
We stared at each other for about thirty seconds.
"Well, if that's all then..." I said awkwardly, turning towards the stairs.
"George wait!" he blurted.
I turned around and gave him a questioning look.
"Listen, I don't know what you kids are planning, but...well...stay safe," he told me, clapping me on the shoulder.
"Will do, big brother, will do."
"And look after Ginny," he smiled.
"You say that like she needs it."
We grinned at each other for a moment longer and then I went downstairs. When I got there, I saw that Mum had already left and Ginny was sitting at the table with her head in her hands.
"Morning, Gin," I said, making my way over to the fridge.
"Hey."
"What's up with you?"
"Just nervous. Haven't slept a wink since two days ago."
"Do you want to just go to Hogwarts? Because you can. Nobody will judge you or call you a coward," I said gently.
"No! I'm going on The Plan and that's that," she huffed.
"You sure? Because you can't go for a week then decide you don't want to do it anymore," I said sternly.
"George, are you seriously lecturing me? Because you and Fred never lecture me."
"I'm not lecturing you. I'm looking out for you. There's a difference."
"Well thanks," she said, giving me a quick hug.
"No problem."
"I'm going to jump in the shower before Fred does," she gave me a wicked grin, knowing how Fred hates waiting for the shower.
I laughed at her tactics. Although I'm very close to Fred, Ginny is a close second. I traipsed up the stairs after her and got my clothes, then stood outside the door waiting for her to come out.
Not too long after, Fred came out and we were chatting for a while, then Hermione came out and we were all laughing and then Hermione went to see if wonder boy was up yet.
"So, I can't help myself, Georgie. Have you got a boyfriend?" Fred said hurriedly
"No," I muttered. I could feel my face turning an alarming shade of red.
"Have you got your eye on someone?"
"No. Yes. Maybe," I stuttered. My face was getting warmer by the second.
"Who?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"You hate him."
"I'll learn to live with it," he said, sarcasm oozing from his lips.
"No," I said firmly.
"Fine. But I'll find out sooner or later."
"Okay Freddie."
I was absolutely mortified. Of course I have my eye on someone. But if he knew he'd kill me. Without a doubt. I stared at the ground, not daring to look back at him. I was extremely relieved when Hermione came back all flustered and Fred's attention turned to her.
I guess some things are better hidden.
Ginny's POV:
Nervous is an understatement. I hate everything about this stupid plan. I mean, come on, we don't even know where the flipping Manor is. At least Draco won't be there. I can't stand that foul, blonde git!
I sat at the table, not daring to move in case I fell over. Two sleepless nights are not ideal when you're going for a camping trip for Merlin knows how long. I knew that Hermione was really nervous, especially about the whole 'Breaking into the Ministry' bit although it was her idea so she needs to calm down. Harry is used to being in stupid and dangerous situations by now so it's not really effecting him and to Fred and George this is just another adventure.
"Ginny are you okay?" Bill said, coming through the kitchen door.
"What? Yeah, yeah, of course I am."
He handed me a glass of water and sat down across from me.
"Gin, I know what you and the twins are like and I know you're all planning something, so if you tell me I can help."
I sighed again. I wanted to tell Bill, I really did, but I know that he'd try and stop us, claiming that it's too dangerous.
"Bill, there's nothing going on," I lied.
I could feel a lump forming in my throat. Bill looked at me with a mixture of sadness and confusion.
"Okay Ginny," he said as he got up and left.
I slowly sipped away at my water until yet another interruption came.
"Morning, Gin," George said as he opened the fridge.
"Hey," I replied, stifling a yawn.
"What's up with you?"
"Just nervous. Haven't slept a wink since two days ago," I told him truthfully.
"Do you want to just go to Hogwarts? Because you can. Nobody will judge you or call you a coward," he said gently, sitting down beside me.
I appreciated George being so caring but if he thinks for one moment that I'll give up...
"No! I'm going on The Plan and that's that," I huffed.
"You sure? Because you can't go for a week then decide you don't want to do it anymore," he said sternly.
"George, are you seriously lecturing me? Because you and Fred never lecture me."
"I'm not lecturing you. I'm looking out for you. There's a difference."
"Well thanks," I said, giving him a cuddle.
"No problem."
"I'm going to jump in the shower before Fred does," I gave him a wicked grin, thinking about Fred's reaction.
As I left the kitchen I heard George's infectious laughter follow me out. I liked making the twins laugh, it felt like quite an accomplishment.
I got into the shower and once again tried to wash the turquoise from my hair. I knew it wasn't going to work but I tried all the same. I took my time just to get on Fred's nerves, letting the water run over me, washing away my worries.
"The shower really is a great place to think," I thought to myself as I turned the water down a little. I thought about Harry and Hermione and the twins and Ron and Percy. I still don't know why Percy took off and it's starting to really bug me.
"Ginny," I heard Fred whine.
I gave up and got out, shoving on my clothes. As I opened the door, I saw that a queue had formed.
"Hurry up boys, we don't have all day," I smirked as I went back downstairs for breakfast.
"Hurry up boys. Is she having a laugh?" I heard Fred grumble as he closed the door and got into the shower.
Once I got downstairs, I looked at the time and saw that we had forty minutes until we had to leave for The Plan. I took a deep breath and put my backpack in Hermione's bag.
Hermione's POV:
I felt okay considering what we were about to do. I knew that Ginny was a feisty girl and nearly impossible to beat at dueling. I knew that George was advanced in his studies and was really strong. I knew that Harry had done this sort of thing before so he knew what he was doing, and I knew that Fred was one of the best at Defence Against The Dark Arts and he had a streetwise attitude. So looking over my companions for this mission, I found myself wondering what could possibly go wrong.
I took my black pearl bag from my dresser and placed the enlargement charm on it, meaning we could store so much more in it. I dragged my trunk out to the hall and backed it up against the wall, then went back into my room to get my shower stuff.
When I went back out, I saw that the twins were already out there, leaning against the wall and goofing off together.
"Morning boys," I said casually.
"Morning Hermione," they chorused.
"Golden Boy not up yet?" Fred asked, cocking one eyebrow up.
"He probably is but needs a moment to himself."
"I forgot a towel, I'll be right back," George said, leaving the two of us alone.
"Nervous?" I asked.
"Nah, not really," he said softly, coming up behind me and putting his arms around me, holding my hands and kissing my neck.
"I am," I admitted. I began to shake uncontrollably, finally feeling that I could tell him my fears.
"Well don't be. You're the brightest witch of your age, and probably my age too, so you have no need to be nervous. And do you really think any of us would let something happen to you?"
"No but you can't stop an unknown amount of Death Eaters," I murmured softly into his neck.
"Try me," he grinned.
"Get a room, you two," George interrupted, coming out of his room and swinging his towel about.
"Shove off, you're just jealous that I've got a bird and you've not," Fred said, pretending to be annoyed.
I put my head in my hands. That boy can be such a dunce at the best of times!
"I'm gay, you daft git," he laughed.
I saw Fred let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm going to see if Harry's up yet," I said, deciding to give them some time together.
I never usually knock Harry's door, he always lets me come straight in, so I opened the door.
"Harry everyone else is- " I gasped. Harry was wearing nothing but his glasses.
I let out a squeal and he let out a yelp, so I ran back to Fred, extremely embarrassed. He comforted me and we argued about Ginny's singing ability and then he went in the shower, followed by George, then me, then Harry.
When I got out, I looked at the clock. Five minutes to go.
Narrator's POV:
The group of five gathered at the door of The Burrow, trailing their suitcases behind them. Although the all had expressions of calmness and boredom, they all shared feelings of dread and sickness.
"Fred, George, could you two transport our trunks to Hogwarts please?" Hermione instructed, her voice coming out slightly strangled.
The twins nodded and with a lazy flick of their wands, the trunks vanished.
"Ready?" Hermione asked, taking a deep breath.
"Ready," everyone nodded.
They set out the door into the cold, foggy morning. They pulled their jackets closer to them and kept their eyes on the ground as they trudged over the stones and into the forest not far from home. They got so far into the forest before Fred, George and Ginny stopped, causing Harry and Hermione to bump into their backs.
"Why are we stopping?" Harry asked, looking around for signs of Death Eaters.
"This is usually where Dad Apparates us there," Ginny said blankly.
"So you've never actually went their without using magic?" Hermione yelled, her voice going at least an octave higher.
"'Mione love, calm down, we'll find a way around this," Fred said, taking her hand.
"Fred, how can I calm down? We've been out for twenty minutes and it's already going wrong," she said, trying to hold back tears.
"It's okay, I remember how to get there the Muggle way. Mr Weasley took me that way when I went to my hearing last year," Harry spoke up.
"Thank Merlin," Hermione sighed, throwing her arms around her friend.
They about turned and walked the other way, following in Harry's lead until they reached a large red telephone box.
"Why've we stopped in this old thing?" Ginny asked, wrinkling her nose.
"This is the visitors entrance I went through," Harry replied, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
"Well we can't just walk through the visitors entrance. They'll never fall for that," Hermione snapped.
"We can. Just say we're visiting Dad," Ginny suggested.
"Fine."
Harry punched in the numbers 6-2-4-4-2 and then a cool voice began to speak. Following the voice's instructions, they all produced their wands, collected their visitors passes and entered the Ministry.
"We need to go to Level 2," Harry said, looking around wildly.
"What level are we on now?" Ginny asked, ducking out of view when someone came too near.
"I don't know. Do you reckon we should use the cloak?" Hermione asked, looking around nervously.
"Cloak?" said George.
"My invisibility cloak," Harry said irritably. "hurry up and get it Hermione."
Hermione flung the cloak over herself, grabbing Ginny and Harry in after her.
"I don't know if there's enough room left," she bit her lip.
"Budge up you three," Fred instructed, squeezing in with his twin brother.
They walked as a group, narrowly avoiding all sorts of people, until they reached Level 2. They stopped outside the largest office. The five of them stared up at the large, oak door, reading the sign together.
Underage Magic: Alerts and Control Room
Hermione gasped.
"We're here," whispered Harry.
Author's Note: So I've decided this is probably where I'm going to lose people. This was the shittiest (sorry for the language) chapter ever. Genuinely. I'm not saying that for attention, I'm saying that because that was the worst freakin' chapter in the world! Sorry for the repetition throughout this chapter, it was pretty annoying.
I'm really sorry to have to say this but I will not be updating this story every week now. I will be updating every second week now because I'm a Beta and I have a lot of work to do. It was either this or give the story up and I don't want to do that.
I am also looking for a Beta so if anyone is one and would like to help out or if they know somebody that is, could you please let me know?
Hope you guys can excuse my terrible work for two weeks and stick by me.
Feed Jim Bob please!
~Beth x