The Order of the Phoenix meets at their headquarters to help the Grangers.

Back to Hermione and Draco in the next chapter.


Chapter Twenty: The Order of the Phoenix

An owl was sent immediately to Dumbledore. “Fly fast, Orion,” said Hagrid as he tied the parchment to its leg. He then promptly apparated to the Burrow. In his haste and preoccupation, he forgot to apparate onto the front yard and instead arrived with a loud pop in the middle of the Weasleys’ kitchen.

********

Molly was busy at the sink and jumped nearly a foot in the air. “FRED! GEORGE! That is the LAST time either of you- OH!!” She jumped again. “Sorry, Molly- didn’ mean tah land in the kitchen.” Molly expelled her breath in a great woosh. “Hagrid-goodness! It’s all right, all right. What’s the matter, dear? Can I get you something to eat?” Hagrid shook his head. “No thanks, Molly. I, uh, need tah talk to ya.” At that moment, the house shook as five pairs of feet thundered down the stairs. “Hagrid?” “Is that Hagrid?” Ron, the twins, Ginny and Harry rounded the corner into the kitchen. “Hagrid, what are you doing here?” said Harry, hugging him around the waist. His smile faded quickly when he saw the grave look on his friend’s face. “Hagrid,” he said slowly, “What’s the matter?”

*******

Albus Dumbledore stroked Orion’s feathers as he removed the parchment from the owl’s leg. The bird stumbled backward with a squawk as Dumbledore abruptly leapt from his desk and hurried to his fireplace. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped inside. “Number Twelve Grimmauld Place!” he announced, and was gone in a flash of green fire.

*******

Molly and the children stared anxiously at Hagrid, who was now looking at his feet in an attempt to stall until he thought of something to say. “Hagrid,” Molly said softly, placing a hand on his forearm, “What’s happened? Is everyone all right?” She glanced quickly at the family clock- Arthur’s picture was under “Traveling”, not “Mortal Peril” to her great relief; Percy, Bill, and Charlie were safe as well. “Uh, Molly, we need tah discuss somethin’ in private- Order business.” At once, Harry and the Weasley children protested simultaneously. “Private?” “Why?” Tell us what’s happened!” “We want to know!” Molly silenced them, “Now now, that’s enough out of all of you. Out! Out!” She shooed them all outside. “And don’t try listening in, as I’ll have put up a silencing charm on the whole house!”

*******

Dumbledore sat at the table in the kitchen of the ancient house of the Black family. Within minutes, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt apparated or blazed into the floo. In their hands were the Protean-charmed coins that alerted them to Dumbledore’s call. Tonks stepped out of the fireplace with Lupin. “What’s happened?” she asked, concern coating her normally bright voice. As they all sat down, Dumbledore spoke: “I have serious news: earlier today, Hermione Granger was abducted by Snatchers in Diagon Alley.” Tonks gasped and her hand flew to her mouth; Lupin and Kingsley exchanged an alarmed look and Mad-Eye cursed loudly. “What else do we know?” he growled. “Very little yet, I’m afraid,” sighed Dumbledore. “Tom and Jean Granger are with Arthur at the Ministry hoping for more information, and Hagrid is currently informing Molly at the Burrow.” “This is no simple Snatcher case, we all know that much,” spat Moody. “We can set up a search immediately,” commented Lupin, “just tell us how you would like to divide the area.” “Let’s plan that approach while we wait for the rest to arrive,” the old wizard said in earnest.

About an hour later, Tom’s car arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place and he, Jean, and Arthur hurried inside the Order headquarters. “Molly darling,” said Arthur as he held his wife in a tight embrace. “Arthur-thank Merlin you’re all right! The children are all upstairs- we got here not much before you.” She kissed him quickly and hugged him again. She walked right over to Jean and put her arms around her. “Jean, we’ll find her- not to worry, we’ll have her back here in no time. And she’s a clever young lady; she’ll keep a cool head.” Jean sobbed in her arms. “I just want her back, Molly. I just want her safe.”

“Who’s that?” Ginny frowned, looking out the window at the silver Jaguar parked in front of the house. Harry pressed his face to the glass. “That looks like Hermione’s dad’s car,” said Harry, his brow furrowed in thought. “Hermione?” said Ron. “You think she’s here?”

He strode to the door and opened it, stealthily leading them all to the upstairs railing. Carefully, they peeked over. No one was in the hall and the door to the kitchen was already closed. They were just about to go back into the bedroom to puzzle out what was going on when a shrill beeping startled them. “What the bloody hell?” whispered Ron. “That’s a cell phone,” answered Harry, “a Muggle, uh- communication device.” “Muggle?” came the unified response of Fred and George.

They all ducked as the kitchen door opened. A woman walked quickly to her coat and retrieved the phone from its pocket. As she did, five heads slowly rose over the railing above her. The woman turned around and, for a moment, her tear-stained face was visible to them. Harry and Ron gave an audible gasp but the woman didn’t notice. She shut the kitchen door behind her and the others looked at Harry and Ron. “That was Hermione’s mum,” Harry whispered. “Well then, where’s Hermione?” replied Ginny. She realized the impact of her words as soon as they came out of her mouth . “Where is Hermione?” Ron spoke, his voice breaking on her name. They looked at each other, no one daring to say a word, and hurried back inside the bedroom to figure it out.