Shadows of Trust
They moved cautiously, staying low as they made their way through the underbrush, keeping to the shadows.
Hermione took a deep breath, determination settling in her chest. "I remember the way back to Ted and Andromedas. If we Apparate from just outside the grounds, we can get there in one jump."
Ron still looked uneasy, but he nodded. "Alright. Let's go, then."
"Ready?" she asked, glancing at Harry and Ron.
Harry nodded firmly. "Let's do it."
With a shared look of determination, the three of them focused on their destination. A moment later, with a sharpcrack, they Disapparated from the forest, the world spinning and twisting around them in a blur of color and sound.
When they landed, they stood in front of the modest, ivy-covered house at the edge of a quiet country lane. The air here felt still and calm, untouched by the chaos and danger they had just left behind.
"This is it," Hermione whispered, glancing around. The familiar sight of the Tonks' home brought a pang of nostalgia.
For several long, tense seconds, there was no sound from within. Hermione held her breath, heart pounding. What if no one answered? What if—
The door creaked open a fraction, and a wary face peered out. Hermione felt a rush of relief and sorrow all at once. It was Andromeda Tonks. She looked \ tired, and there was a haunted look in her eyes, but she was very much alive.
"Andromeda," Harry said softly. "Where is everyone?"
For a moment, she just stared at them, her gaze moving from one face to the next, as if trying to decide whether they were real. Then, slowly, she stepped back, opening the door wider.
"Come in, quickly," she said in a low, urgent voice.
They stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the house wrapping around them like a blanket. The smell of herbs and old books lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of simpler times.
"Are you alright?" Andromeda asked, looking them over with sharp, assessing eyes. "What's happened?"
"It's a long story," Hermione said softly. "But we're safe now. We just… we needed somewhere to regroup."
Andromeda nodded, though her expression remained strained. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need. But—" She hesitated, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Things have gotten worse. They're rounding people up, anyone with connections to Muggleborns or… or rebels. It's not safe here, either, after reports of Order activity were put out, the lot of them left"
Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Harry and Ron. "We won't stay long," she promised. "Where did everyone go?."
Andromeda nodded slowly, though a shadow of worry remained in her eyes. Kingsley has a lot of people in an unknown location, Ron, your aunt Muriel's house is also safe, I believe the majority of your family is there. I recommend going there once you all are done here. There are more houses but most locations are kept behind closed doors. Only the inner circle knows everything" she murmured.
Andromeda's gaze softened slightly. " You know I stand with you all no matter what. Just… take care of yourselves," she murmured. "And whatever you're planning, make sure it's worth the risk."
With that, she left them alone, disappearing down the hallway. Silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth.
Harry turned to Hermione, his expression serious. "So, what now?"
Hermione took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the fire seep into her bones. "Now… we figure out how to get back into the fight. And how to save everyone we can."
The night passed fitfully in Andromeda's small home. Despite the temporary safety, sleep eluded them, their minds too busy racing through plans and worries. By dawn, they knew what they had to do: reconnect with the Order and regroup for what was bound to be the final stand.
As the sun rose, casting pale light through the curtains, Andromeda reappeared, looking just as tired as they felt. She offered them a small, tight smile as they gathered in the kitchen, sipping on hastily made tea.
"Where will you go?" she asked quietly, her gaze moving from one face to the next.
"Aunt Muriel's," Harry answered, his voice firm. "We need to meet with the rest of the Order. Make a plan."
Andromeda nodded, her expression solemn. "Muriel's been hosting more and more people. You should be safe there—at least for now."
They knew she was right. With Voldemort's forces tightening their grip, safe havens were dwindling rapidly. Aunt Muriel's home, unassuming and tucked away in the countryside, was one of the few places still unknown to the Death Eaters.
"Thank you, Andromeda," Hermione murmured, reaching out to squeeze the older woman's hand. "We wouldn't have made it this far without your help."
Andromeda's lips pressed into a thin line. "Just promise me you'll be careful. Ted… Ted would have wanted you to stay safe." Her voice faltered, and for a moment, the sadness and loss in her eyes were overwhelming.
Hermione hadn't even realized Ted wasn't there, "andromeda what happened?" she whispered.
"They took him" Andromeda gasped out.
'What do you mean? What happened?"
"A few days after you left to find the horcruxes the death eaters came. They took all of the muggle objects in our house everything they couldn't identify as wizarding. They tortured Ted in front of me and didn't stop until I revealed the burrow, Grimmauld, and the safe house on the coast as locations with order activity, They took Ted and probably threw him in a dungeon to be tortured until he died." andromeda whimpered.
"I'm so so sorry Andromeda"
"I tried my best, I didn't want to tell them the locations it's just that he's my husband, the love of my life." She sobbed
"we understand, you were put in an impossible situation" Hermione replied, squeezing the woman's shoulder, "I don't know what I would do if-"
"If what? They took Malfoy and tortured him in front of you, would you tell them where Harry is to save him?" Ron muttered under his breath, but still catching her very off guard, she had expected some type of interrogation, but she never expected him to bring it up in front of Andromeda..
"oh come off it Ron!" she shouted back "You know it was just a kiss"
Andromeda looked extremely confused by their outbursts and just stared at the two screaming teens.
Ron turned to Harry 'She's bloody crazy, Malfoy was helping us get out of there and to thank him for his help, 'Mione kissed the bloody bastard YOU WERE BEING TORTURED IN HIS HOUSE HERMIONE." Ron roared
"Draco, my nephew?' Andromeda asked slightly dazed
"Ron you don't know anything, you don't know anything about me and Malfoy, so our relationship is none of your business" Hermione replied
"YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP" shouted Harry.
"No Harry I'm not in a "relationship" with him. It's just that you don't know the nature of my interactions with Malfoy, so why are you even judging it"
"But it's Malfoy" Harry added "We've hated him the whole time we've known him"
"Not all of us" Hermione muttered.
"You all need to go to Muriel's" Andromeda stated, attempting to shut down the interaction.
"Yes, we should go" Ron promised quietly. "Let's go, Harry"
With a final, lingering glance around the small, comforting kitchen, the two boys prepared to leave. Outside, the morning air was crisp and cool, the kind of stillness that felt too serene given the chaos they knew was unraveling in the world.
"We'll meet you at Muriels?" Harry asked, forcing himself to look at her."
Hermione nodded a yes in response.
Ron and Harry nodded goodbye in unison, and once more, they gripped each other's arms tightly. With a softcrack, they Disappeared, leaving Andromeda and Hermione in the house.
"Hermione they get over it," Andromeda said breaking the silence
"I don't know if they will?" Hermione replied
"Do you care about him? My nephew?" Andromeda pried
"I don't know, I just know that he's trapped and I think that I can save him" Hermione replied looking at the ground.
"Just be careful Hermione. The Malfoys, are dangerous and they play to save themselves. I hope my nephew is different and the person you think he is but all I ask is for you to be careful"
"Thank you, Andromeda, I really appreciate it." Hermione turned to the patch of grass where Ron and Harry apparated from and felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a narrow tube enveloped them as she popped away leaving the brokenhearted woman behind.
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When the world righted itself again, they were standing in front of a quaint, ivy-covered cottage nestled in the English countryside. Aunt Muriel's house was surrounded by a low stone wall, the garden overgrown but colorful, with patches of wildflowers peeking through the dense foliage. It looked like the last place anyone would expect to find members of the Order of the Phoenix planning a rebellion.
The house seemed empty at first glance, but as she stepped onto the path, the door creaked open. A familiar figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took them in.
"Well, it's about time," Aunt Muriel snapped, though her voice was tinged with relief. "Get in, get in. We don't have all day."
She hurried inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around her instantly. Muriel's home was cluttered and chaotic, filled with old furniture, books stacked in precarious towers, and faded portraits watching them with disapproving expressions.
She walked over to where Harry and Ron were standing in the foyer
"What are you all doing out there, looking like lost sheep?" Muriel huffed, waving them forward. "Go on, they're all in the drawing room. And dotrynot to knock anything over, Ronald. I'm still finding the pieces from the last time you blundered through here."
Ron flushed but murmured a sheepish apology as they made their way toward the back of the house. The drawing room door was ajar, and as they approached, they could hear the murmur of voices within.
Harry took a deep breath, exchanging a look with Hermione and Ron. Then, steeling himself, he pushed the door open.
The room fell silent as they stepped inside. Every face turned toward them, a mix of shock, relief, and wary curiosity flickering through the gathered members of the Order. They recognized most of them—Kingsley Shacklebolt stood by the fireplace, his tall figure commanding as ever; Bill, Fred, George, and Ginny were all sitting on the couch; Professor McGonagall, her expression stern but with a spark of pride in her eyes.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron," Ginny greeted, stepping forward. "We were beginning to worry. Where have you been?"
"Escaping," Harry said simply, his gaze sweeping over the group. "We barely made it out of Godrics Hallow and Malfoy Manor "
A murmur of dismay rippled through the room, and Bill swore softly under his breath.
"But you're here now," McGonagall said, her voice tight but steady. "That's what matters. We've been regrouping, trying to find a way to strike back. But without a clear plan…"
"We have to go to the castle and to Gringotts," Harry interrupted his voice firm. "But not yet. Not without reinforcements, and not without knowing how to defeat him."
He glanced at Hermione, who stepped forward, holding a small piece of parchment they had been carefully guarding.
"We need to find the last Horcruxes," she said quietly. "There are still a few left, and until they're destroyed, we can't hope to finish this. That's why we need everyone's help."
The room fell silent again as the weight of her words settled in. Then, slowly, Kingsley nodded.
"We knew you were searching for something," he murmured, his gaze thoughtful. "But Horcruxes… If we can destroy them…"
"Then we can finally end this," Harry finished. "But we need to be smart. We can't just charge in without a plan."
Aunt Muriel sniffed from the doorway. "Well, it's about time someone started using their brain," she muttered. "Now, if you're all going to sit around plotting, at least do it somewhere I don't have to trip over you. There's a room upstairs—use that. And dotrynot to set anything on fire, Bill. Last time you were here, half the curtains were singed."
Bill rolled his eyes but nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Aunt Muriel."
They moved upstairs to a smaller, more secluded room lined with old bookshelves and faded tapestries. It was cramped but comfortable, the perfect place to lay low and plan.
"Alright," Harry said as they settled in. "We have a lot to go over. But if we do this right… we might finally have a way to win."
The Order members leaned forward, faces etched with determination. Despite the fear and uncertainty, there was a new sense of hope in the room—a belief that, for the first time, they might have a chance to end the darkness for good.