Missing in Action

Missing in Action

Chapter Two: Torn Between Heaven and Hell

Harry and Ginny's current location: Voldemort's Unplottable villa in Dublin, Ireland.

Ron and Hermione's current location: Ron is at home, and Hermione's about to Floo there.

Ron Weasley:

Mione,

I apologise for using that name, I know you hate it!- but Harry and Ginny are missing! Ginny was supposed to bring Harry straight here from those wretched Dursleys, but she hasn't. I don't know where they are.

I'm really scared, Hermione. You-Know-Who could've done something. Floo over here pronto. Take a pinch of the powder from the sack Pig's brought, and chuck it into your fireplace- Dad's put it on the network for an hour.

Mum and Dad need you here. I need you here.

-Ron.

Hermione Granger:

An owl I recognised as Pigwidgeon came hurtling through my open window. It was bearing an orange envelope. I relaxed. Not a Howler. But as soon as I slit open the envelope Ron's voice came hurtling out of the parchment. It was scrawled hastily, and my heart began to fill with dread.

"Mione," I really loathe that nickname, Ron Weasley! I thought.

I apologise for using that name, I know you hate it! No, do you think?

- but Harry and Ginny are missing! Ginny was supposed to bring Harry straight here from those wretched Dursleys, but she hasn't. I don't know where they are. Oh, my God! They're missing?

That did it. I grabbed the sack of Floo Powder and threw on my black wool coat over the black pants and camel-coloured twin-set I already wore. Rushing down the stairs, I ran to the front of our fireplace. My parents sat on recliners in front of it.

"Hermione?" my father said, "Stop running!"

"Can't!" I shouted, "My friends are in danger, and I need to get to The Burrow two hours ago!"

"Wait a minute! I don't want you in danger too!" my mother protested.

I turned and stared at my parents. Usually they looked so young and bright, but for the first time they looked old. I was their sixteen-year-old daughter, Hermione Granger, and I had responsibilities.

"I have to," I told them, "because if I don't, I will never, ever forgive myself. And then it'll be suicide, not murder."

"Well-" my parents said, "Good luck." I just smiled bitterly and said, "Thank you."

I threw a pinch of powder into the fire, stepped into it, and shouted, "The Burrow!" I began to spin out of sight. The last thing I saw was my parents' faces, hanging slack.

Ron and Hermione's current location: The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, England.

I landed on my knees directly in front of Ron Weasley's feet. Wordlessly, he took my hand and pulled me up off the ground. I smiled and thanked him.

"You... er, look nice," he offered awkwardly. I was about to blush, when I came out with a brusque reprimand, "I think it's more appropriate to worry about Harry and your sister, rather than how I look." Ron's face fell, then returned to a somber expression. "Thanks for coming so quickly," he said.

I followed him into the kitchen, bracing myself for a hysterical Mrs. Weasley.

Sure enough, she was bawling, wringing her hands, and Mr. Weasley was trying to comfort her, but he could barely suppress his own sobs.

"Mum and Dad have completely lost it," Ron whispered, "Percy's in shock. He didn't believe that You-Know-Who had come back."

"There are far too many people who don't." I said worriedly, "I wonder if they're not... you know, with... him." Ron shook his head sadly, "I just... what if? What if he's already killed them?"

Ginny Weasley:

I really hate it here. One of Voldemort's Death Eaters just moved Harry and me to a new holding cell. He's going to torture us, I can feel it. Harry's clutching his scar and crying out in pain. He's still gripping my hand.

"Harry?" I whispered, "Are you OK?"

"No," he gasped, his face in an expression of utter pain, "My... scar is killing... me."

"I know, but there's nothing we can do. Nothing except sit tight and hope."

"I'm starting to lose mine," he whispered.

"You can't," I told him, "That's what he wants."

"I know, but Ginny, do you know what it's like?"

I looked into his eyes. They were sad and hurt. "Yes Harry," I replied, "I do."

"You do, don't you?" he said.

"Yes," I said, relaxing my grip.

"Ginny... I'm so sorry."

"For what, Harry?"

"For not knowing what was going on with you in second year... it's my fault, I know."

"Just because you helped me overthrow Tom Riddle isn't the only reason these loons want us dead. No. There's got to be something else."

"Can I ask you something, Ginny?"

"Why?"

"Just to pass the time."

"Oh. OK."

"What's your real name?"

"Virginia. I thought you knew that."

"What does it mean?"

I blushed red. "Um... it means 'virgin'. It's Latin for 'virgin'."

"I don't know if I'm Harold or not... God, that sounds so old-fashioned."

"Harold and Virginia... doesn't that sound medieval?"

"Nah... it sounds alright."

"What does Harry mean, anyway?"

"This is going to sound like such an ego-trip... but it means 'hero'."

"It doesn't."

"What doesn't?"

"Your name. It sounds just about perfect."

"What's your sign?"

"Sagittarius."

"I'm a Leo."

"Funny. You don't strike me as one."

"You seem like the Sag poster girl. Impulsive. Funny. Idealistic. Creative. Friendly-" here he paused- "pretty."

"Me, pretty? Nah. I'm a Weasley. Weasleys are cute, not pretty or handsome."

"Well, how do you explain your brother and Hermione?"

"Two words. Opposites. Attract."

"Well, aren't we opposites?"

I stared at the stone floor, "No, Harry," I said finally, "the problem is, we're too similar."

"Well, I have two words for you. Second. Year."

"Harry... I'm light-years and a whole galaxy away from that."

"Ginny..." Harry appealed.

"Look, I'm over you, OK?" I bit out.

"Funny. That's not what I was going to say."

"Well, what were you going to say, then?"

"Um... you're kind of sitting on my hand."

Harry Potter:

"We-eell, isn't this just so... touching? Voldemort sneered down at me and Ginny. "Are you going to kill us?" I asked impatiently.

"No, Harry Potter, I'm not going to kill you... yet. First we're going to take you both on a scenic trip through Europe. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. In each capital, you and Miss Weasley- who can both speak Parseltongue- will set specially-bred Basilisks on the Mudbloods, until we purge the cities of them. We begin... here."

I had to admit, he'd thought out his master plan extremely well. I was impressed with his organisational skills. I still hated him.

"So... do you mean everywhere in Europe? Even in places like Sofia, Budapest..." Ginny piped up, looking Voldemort directly in the eye.

Voldemort stared right back, "Why, yes, of course, you naïve little brat. We have big plans for you two."

"OK," Ginny said, "We'll do it. If it makes you happy."

"Ah, excellent," Voldemort cheered, "You see, Mr. Potter, if your parents had made the choice to join me like Miss Weasley here, they would still be alive today. Perhaps... if, of course, you work hard... I may decide to bring them back. If you do as you're told... dreams can come true, Mr. Potter..."

It was interesting, his claim. But I had a feeling Ginny's plan would not work.

Oh, well. There was nothing for us to do except submit to the will of Voldemort... and hope Ron and Hermione found us.

When I looked up from my reverie, I found that Ginny had disappeared. She returned about a minute later, wearing a dep-green satin number and silver heels. Her hair was piled on top of her head and a few sexy tendrils hung at the sides of her face.

I think I need a cold shower.

She's so. Fucking. Gorgeous.

Can we make that zero degrees Celsius?