Chapter 5
It was very drafty, and chilly in Grimmauld Place that evening, and Hermione pulled Luna's borrowed robes around her tightly. She was sitting on the bottom steps of the main staircase, thinking herself into a terrible migraine. So, I'm an Animagus. step one, check. Can't tell anyone, though, and I'm stumped on what to do next. It would be nice to have others to brainstorm with, she thought wistfully.
She could hear a quill scratching into parchment in the next room, probably Percy writing another cryptic letter out to his parents. Hermione had learned they were staying with Andromeda Tonks, holed up in Minerva McGonagall's family home, with Moody again as secret keeper. They also had Teddy Tonks with them, and Angelina Johnson. George Weasley had gone to do some work with his brother Charlie, trying to locate McGonagall who they all feared was imperviused...or dead. She also learned Moody had an unnamed connection to the Death Eaters. Someone who couldn't give them a surplus of information, but everything they gave was true, and all of it was appreciated. Moody was to set up a safe life for them away from the war in exchange when they no longer felt safe gathering information. Hermione had gone through her mental list of people affiliated with the Death Eaters to see if she could guess who it was, but that had only started her migraine and she decided to stop thinking about those people.
I wish I knew who was in possession of the Marauders Map. Hermione thought, clutching her hands into firsts. She needed to get into the forbidden forest. But how? If she was in her Animagus form, that would be fine. Unless someone in the castle had the Marauders Map and was able to see her gallivanting about the property. Does it even show the Forest? I wish I could speak with George and maybe get some answers. Hermione's frustrations did nothing to improve her migraine, and she felt her stomach curling up as a pulse made itself present in her temple.
Just then, she heard the back entrance door open with a bang, and feet shuffling in. Even though Hermione knew it was an Order member, she still jumped to her feet and pulled her wand out.
"Moody, hello, you gave me such a fright!" Hermione said, lowering her wand and rushing over to hug the weathered Wizard. Although it had only been 6 months or so since Hermione had seen him, Moody looked as though he had aged ten years. His magic eye swiveled to see Hermione better and he cracked a hardened grin.
"Well, hello there 'Mione. How are you?" he answered, embracing her back. He smelled like grass, and rain, and his robes hung loosely around him. How much weight have we all collectively lost? Hermione thought in passing, before backing up to answer Moody.
"I am as good as I can be, in light of circumstances," Hermione grinned. What else could be said? Were any of them well and truly peachy these days? She almost giggled. All this human interaction is getting to me, she thought gleefully, remembering her month of absolute solitude over in the Americas.
"Well, same, same on my end. I have news, I want a cup of coffee...I know Bill brought some, I want to sit down and drink it before telling you lot what I know," Moody said, already moving towards the kitchen.
Neville and Luna were seated at the scrubbed wood table, playing with a muggle deck of cards. Moody snickered to see it and took a seat down next to Neville.
"Hello Moody, yes I'll make some coffee," Neville said, already rising from his seat and rolling his eyes good-naturedly, turning to wink at Luna.
"Hello Moody," Luna said, gathering the playing cards up off the table. "Your eye looks beautiful today," She finished placidly.
"Er..thank you Luna," Moody answered reaching out for the cup of coffee Neville was handing him.
Hermione Reached for a cup, hoping the coffee would do something to ease her migraine.
Percy walked into the kitchen just then, holding some rolled-up parchments in his hands, looking flushed and smiling slyly. "I thought I heard you make an entrance," Percy said, reaching up for his own cup of coffee from Neville. "I have been working on something that I am eager to share," Percy said, laying the rolls of parchments down in front of him. "Luna, could you take this roll, open it, and read it?" Percy asked, extending a roll of parchment to her. On the outside, in Percy's neat handwriting was "Allistair Moody", scrolled above the wax seal.
Luna slid her tiny finger gently under the wax seal and the parchment rolled open. The parchment was completely blank.
Percy slammed his fist down on the table, causing them all to jump. "Aha!" He cried, a wide smile spreading across his reddening face. "Now, Luna, can you close the parchment and reseal the wax?" Percy asked, moving to brush his hair out of his face.
Luna did just that and motioned to hand it back to Percy, who shook his head and gestured towards moody.
"Moody, if you would," Percy said, licking his lips and eyeing the roll of parchment. Moody tore through the wax seal, and unrolled the parchment to see "Hello, Moody" scrolled in a neat scrawl in the center of the parchment. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Percy cried, jumping to his feet.
"Well done, mate," Neville said, reaching a hand out to clap him on the back. "I wondered why you had taken over every piece of parchment in the house," Neville mused, picking Moody's parchment up and examining the text.
"Brilliant," Hermione said, smiling with delight. We are capable. Despite our loses, we are capable.
"Percy, you are a wonder," Luna said, reaching her small fist across the table to briefly clasp Percy's hand.
"Wait until I show your mother this. She'll be a right proud one, she will. And your dad, too." Moody said, pocketing the roll of parchment. Percy's face seemed to glow with pride at what he had done.
"That's an impressive feat. Will you share with us how you did it? Oh, to have safe mail again!" Hermione said, sitting back in her seat.
"Of course, of course," Percy answered, blushing profusely. "I did this for the Order,"
"Now, on to the news. Amycus Carrow was appointed headmaster of Durmstrang, With Blaise Zabini appointed Potions Master at Hogwarts. I've arranged a meeting with Viktor Krum and Atanas Lyuben, former students at the school with very strong ties. I believe you are all acquainted with Krum." Hermione felt her throat tighten slightly with the mention of Viktor Krum's name. It would be awfully nice to see him again...Hermione thought quickly, before turning her attentions back to Moody.
"I don't want to think what the worlds next generation of witches and wizards are going to be like with The Carrows running Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and Antonin Dolohov heading Hogwarts." Moody look down sadly, and Hermione shuddered.
"Bastards," Neville breathed under his breathe.
"I have also been informed You-Know-who intends to take over control of London. He doesn't care if muggles die in the process," Moody said starkly, sighing again. It's not like I had been expecting good news anyways, Hermione thought, inwardly sighing. "Why he wants Muggle London remains to be seen, other than just an absolute power grab for the Dark Wizards. I will update you lot with more news as I get it. My connect only knows so much, as they aren't a Death Eater themselves." Moody said.
"Are they safe?" Luna asked, leaning her face towards Moody's.
"As safe as can be. If that ever changes, I may need to cash in some favors with you lot. I promised them safety in return for this information, which has all proven to be valuable, and I intend to honor that promise." Moody began to rise from his chair. "Oh, and Percy, will you teach me how to do that trick with the parchment? I can teach everyone else, maybe, and we can figure out how to start mailing each other again."