Missing in Action

Missing in Action

Chapter Four: Scheduling Life

Harry and Ginny's current location: Edinburgh, Scotland.

Ron and Hermione's current location: Manchester, England.

Ron Weasley:

I smiled at Hermione, "Are you sure you're ready?" I asked.

"Not really... but," she replied, with a bittersweet smile.

"Well then, let's figure out our search trail," I suggested, reaching for the world globe on Hermione's bookshelf.

"We'll start in England... then on to Scotland, Ireland and Wales. That covers the UK and Ireland. From here, we'll go to France and the Low Countries- that's France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Holland. Then Spain, Andorra and Portugal. The Mediterranean countries, which are Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Malta. I have distant family in Greece; they might give us somewhere to stay. From there, Middle Europe- which is Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Liechtenstein. And back up near the UK, Eastern Europe... Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina... and..." and here her voice faltered- "Bulgaria."

"It's OK, Hermione. Seriously. I know you're not with him."

"Viktor will give us a place to stay, I think," Hermione pondered.

"What other countries are in Eastern Europe?" I asked. I wasn't any good at Muggle geography.

"Um... Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia."

"Are there any more European countries?"

"Yes... it's called Eurasia... Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. And of course Scandinavia, which is Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland."

"Are we going to tell anyone what we're planning?" I wondered aloud.

"No," she said, "That way, people can think Voldemort's taken us or something, and they'll think we're already dead. Which we won't be."

I sat silently for a minute. Then a question lodged itself in my brain. "Can we use magic?"

Hermione looked surprised. "If it's an emergency," she said.

"Good," I pronounced, "Let's Floo to Scotland."

Ginny Weasley:

All I can say is: that... was... incredible.

"That was incredible," Harry gasped.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," I smirked.

"Stop smirking," he ordered.

"Sorry?" I asked.

"Kidding."

"I knew you would finally throw off the memories of that wretched Valentine, and notice me for me!" I said, playfully pummeling him in the arm.

Harry's eye did something unusual then: it winked.

"Now, about this situation we're in... do we nuke it, or send an owl, or something?" Harry asked, all business again.

"I have this feeling that Ron and Hermione are planning on searching the continent for us. We have to do something, like leave clues for them."

"OK, got that covered, I think Voldemort has supplies of parchment."

"And we need to put on such a show that Voldemort will a) think we can't use Parseltongue, or b) are too good to murder. I think option a) is our best chance. And I think we're in Edinburgh, so let's go out and play Charades."

We straightened ourselves out and pushed open the pantry door again and trooped forward, ready to take centre stage in the grand scheme of things.

Hermione Granger's Diary:

Oh, Cleo, I can't believe that me and Ron are going to chase Harry and Ginny around Europe.

Well, it is kind of hard to keep your mind on the task at hand when you're loose in the European Union with no supervision.

Cleo! I was not insinuating anything!

Be honest with yourself, Hermione. You brought along those pills and the condoms for a reason.

But even if I were going by myself I'd still pack them!

There's no use arguing, Hermione. I know and you know that you're hoping that box doesn't stay sealed.

I really hate it when you're right, Cleo.

I am an Egyptian queen, Hermione. Monarchs have to make the right choices.

I can hear the bitterness in your tone.

There is none!

There is. But anyway, what do you suggest I say to Ron, hmm? "Hey sexy, let's jump into bed in Dublin and have ourselves a bang-up-banger of a night!"?

Oh, yes, the subtle approach.

Shut up, you.

Hey. I am the Queen here. No-one orders ME around!

You're also the voice in my diary. You're vapour, Cleo.

Must you be so honest?

I've got to go. Ron's waiting. We're going to use Floo Powder to go to Scotland.

Have fun!

I'm going to slam you shut now.

OW!

Ron Weasley's Journal:

Hermione doesn't know this, but I saw her put a box of condoms in her toiletry bag. I know what's she's thinking, and it's making me lose control.

I think about her all the time. She's driving me crazy. And I fancy her... we're gallivanting across Europe without parents... or teachers... and it's the most, I think, exciting feeling I've ever known. It's amazing what brushing hands... or rubbing thighs can do to the situations Down Under.

And I'm not talking about Australia.

What wouldn't I give to get inside Hermione's brain! It'd be scary, but it'd sure make my life easier.

Oh, well, there's no sign of Harry and Ginny in Hermione's room, so we're going to Floo directly to Edinburgh.

Hermione Granger:

Using Floo Powder to zoom across to Scotland certainly made my life a whole lot easier.

We're in Edinburgh, and everyone here speaks with strange accents... their dialects are different too, which is a bit nerve-wracking.

Ron's just noticed the Scottish wizarding newspaper, and he's gone off to have a look if there's anything about attacks in it.

He came back, ashen-faced. "Yes, there were attacks... Basilisks were set on all the Muggle-borns in Aberdeen and here, as well as some smaller villages. They didn't succeed in killing them, though... but it was almost certainly the work of Dark wizards." He skimmed the article and didn't look up for about three minutes.

I was left to wonder what was going on.

Again.