Harry and Ron had just met in Godric's Hollow as planned when Hermione's Otter appeared to them. The blood drained from their faces at her words. She had only once ever spoke her weariness about the Headmaster in the past year. She may have thought they didn't take it seriously but they did. It made them more aware of the old man. It was a good thing they did too.
"We have to go save her!" Ron immediately panicks.
"I think that's what she meant by Don't Be Stupid.," Harry stops him. "Look, I claimed my rings from the bank the day we got off the train. I told my uncle if he took me to Diagon, I'll be out of his home forever in a few short weeks.
I now have access to the Potter Properties. Let's go to one for now and try to find out what we can first before moving forward. I funny know if you realized it, but Mione had been preparing us for all scenerios. We can't let her down now," he calms his best friend with logic.
He calls an elf to apparate them into the wards of Potter Manor. The 5 elves on the property had worked hard to fix the manor in time for his possible arrival. The first thing he did was ask for the wardstone room. He secured the wards and added Ron to it so he could come and go at will. A small vial of Hermione's blood was pulled from his own bag and added in as well.
"How did you get that?" Ron pointed at the note empty bottle.
"It was her idea for protecting her parents. She had been pretty upset when the Order told her they weren't going to give them extra protection. When she was learning blood magic, I thought it was brilliant. So I worked to sneak this in case of anything." Ron nods. Once upon a time that would have enraged the mind washed red head, thinking it was evil. Can't stay angry when a calm logical Hermione pointed out what was wrong with his way of thinking and then forcing a purging potion down his throat with the help of his twin brothers.
"So what now?" He ask.
"I don't think Dumbledore has or will kill her. Something to that level...I think he would have set someone else to do that. So, since he went after her himself, I'm positive he's placed her in some kind of prison like a heavily warded safe house to keep her away from influencing us," he thinks it over. It sounded right as he said it aloud.
"Why would he do that? Didn't we suspect he had her placed in Gryffendor because she would be the brains to keep you alive?" They head seen the pain in her eyes at that realization. They made it clear to her that no matter how she became their best friend, she was around because they wanted her around. They loved her and was their best friend, that no body could take that away from them. They were in this together.
"She had theories that I was left with the Dursleys so that when I arrived at Hogwarts I would be love deprived. Show a little grandfatherly care and boom, I look to him for all answers and believe everything he tells me. I wouldn't question him.
Then here comes Hermione, swot extraordinaire, who was one to follow the rules and help me stay alive but I don't know better too often and don't think the whys. Or hows. What he didn't expect was she did more than just memorize books. She actually used her brain and her common sense. She listened to her mind and her magic. Remember how often we all argued those first few years of school? And how always needed her help? I think she just realized that wasn't going to keep working if we were going up against someone like Riddle. She almost died from my stupidity back in 5th year. She changed tactics. She helped us grow up instead. Helped us so we can help each other instead of us 2 just going to her for help with everything.
What if she gets injured while on the run with us and its up to us to save her from dying? If we had kept on the path he set us on, she would die or be forever scarred or worse. Because we didn't do our parts.
She changed us. And I think he felt threatened by that. He couldn't easily manipulate us because she was our shield against him."
They say in silence for a while thinking...worrying about Hermione. They truly didn't know what Dumbledore was capable of. His much he'd risk to keep his chess have pieces he wanted.
Either way, she would berate them if they didn't continue the mission. So they got down to writing notes and possibly plans. It was going to be a long night.
--
She came to , to the sound of dripping water and the feel of cold hard stone underneath her. She let her senses come to focus first as she struggled to open her eyes immediately like she wanted. Outside the water drops, she could hear the wind banging against the stone walls around her. She could even feel like some which meant a window was near. Outside of that though, it was silent. She was alone.
When she was finally able to open her eyes, it took a second to adjust to the darkness. some light came through the open window. The wind was a warning to the thunderstorm building. Dark clouds working together to bring the rain. If it wasn't for the lack of depression filling the air, she'd wonder if she was somehow in Azkaban.
Groaning at the stiffness of her body, she sits up carefully. She was in a cell still, so while maybe not Azkaban or maybe she was and the Dementors were gone, off with Riddle, she was in a prison.
She checks herself over. No real harm, clothes as they were, and her purse untouched. She breathes a sigh of relief. She had her belongings. She had her wand.
She walks over to the thin window. She felt a bit dizzy at how high she was in the air. A very tall tower construction. So maybe not Azkaban. It was not surrounded by water. It was surrounded by mountains. She didn't think she was in England anymore. In fact, she worried she knew exactly where she was.
Luckily she had a wand. She pulls out out to open the cell door and begins her exploration. She doubted it would be ready to escape or Dumbledore wouldn't have placed her here. Either way, she wasn't going to stay in the grimy old cell and she wasn't interested in meeting the man who started the "for the Greater Good" nonsense Dumbledore sprouted about.
--
Albus waited for the Order members to quiet down. Everyone was upset at his news that the trio of children were missing.
"Calm down. We will find them. We will protect them. I had feared this was a possibility towards the end of the school year and wish I had acted faster." He tells them. They settled down but were distressed still. "Harry can not do magic without getting caught so I am sure soon enough, we will be able to locate the boys. Ms. Grangers parents have taken her out of the country as well. As long they stay away, they should be safe." Those around him began nodding.
As they worked on plans not just to find the boys, but to fight against the dark side, none realized Fred, george, and Ginny were listening. As they had been around the trio often enough at school, they weren't fulled by the Headmasters lies. Ginny had kept the twins up to date even after they left in her fourth year.
Dumbledore didn't know they also heard his and Snape's side discussion of the change of plans to set Dumbledore's death now that they can't do it when they were supposed to rescue Harry for his relatives home.
He was going to die. He was already dying but was ending it in his own terms to make himself look good. Severus Snape will be placed by Voldy into the school as Headmaster. Death Eaters were coming in to be teachers.
What that meant was it was no longer safe to be at Hogwarts. The Weasley children decide to pull a trio. They pack their things and slip out the house, Ginny being side apparated with them once they were far enough to not be heard.
Once they were in the Joke shop (for now) they used the old coins from school thatHermione had made to warn the others school will not be safe, and to spread the word.
A house elf with the Potter crest appears before them.
"They is notice you are gone. They will be here any minute. Come with me," she holds out her hand. They take it.
They land just inside the wards of a large castle.
"Welcome to Potter Castle. Children will be safe here. Parents might be more brave if children safe. Bring your friends," she coily smiles at them as they enter the large building.
The twins smirk at each other and get started.