Ideal

CHAPTER TWO

NOTES

~~~

Despite the fact that it was impossible not to give his baby brother, Ron, a hard time about dating and constantly writing to Lavender Brown, Fred was feeling thoroughly enamoured by a certain Chaser for the Puddlemere United reserve team and he wasn't afraid to admit it to anyone who wasn't his mother. Katie Bell, to be exact. They had started going out near the end of their seventh year at Hogwarts and, despite the distance they lived apart currently, were still going strong.

After sending Ron to look into a charm and making sure George was on the other side of the warehouse, Fred sat down and started writing.

To my dearest Bella,

Sorry it took so long to respond to your last letter. Things have been mad here. The factory was broken into and we lost the entire Halloween shipment, so we've all been working 'round the clock to set things right. Unfortunately that means that I probably won't make the match. Sorry, Katie.

Wish I could write more, but George is calling. Something about the Skiving Snackboxes.

Love,

Fred

PS: what do you know about Neville Longbottom?

After making sure the letter came out the way he wanted, Fred folded it up and sent it off before rushing to help his brother with their merchandise.

~~~

"Mrs. Weasley?" Harry called as he let Crookshanks down so the cat could head outside to hunt garden gnomes.

"Who's there?" a voice called from above.

"It's me, Mrs. Weasley. Harry. I need to speak with you," Harry called as the girls put down their things and went to stow their rabbits in Ginny's room--the only room in the house that they knew they would be welcome.

"I'll be right down," Mrs. Weasley called.

A few moments later Mrs. Weasley came down the stairs with a heavy book in her arms. "What is it dear? I was just doing some paperwork for the Order."

"That's what I need to talk to you about," Harry said once he was satisfied that the twins were out of range. "Mum got called in to work today. She left in such a hurry that she forgot to destroy the letter." He took the piece of parchment out of the pocket of his jeans and unfolded it before handing it over to Molly Weasley.

Lily,

As instructed in the conditions of your leaving the Department of Mysteries, when a file comes up that you worked on in the past, you are to be notified.

Consider this your notification.

There has been a rash of killings in Wales with the same MO as the murders committed by You-Know-Who's Death Eaters.

Though You-Know-Who is safely locked away in a prison more secure than Azkaban itself, the Auror Council admits that not every Death Eater was captured or killed, and in the last eighteen years it is inevitable that they recruited new members for their murderous cause.

Your expertise is required.

Dawn Summers has already been alerted and is on her way now. You are to work off her profile and predictions.

It is conceivable that the Death Eaters may be gathering to release their master, or worse.

Yakatarina Derevko,

DoM

Mrs. Weasley paled upon reading the words before her. "I must contact Dumbledore at once," she said, dropping the letter to the counter and heading over to the fireplace.

"I'm going to go check on the Brats," Harry said, heading up the stairs.

~~~

After listening to her grandmother rant for over two hours, Hermione left the pantry and went up to her room. There was only so many attacks on her character she could take. It was bad enough at school with the narrow-minded bigoted jackasses and their attitudes toward Muggle born witches and wizards, she didn't need to hear the disapproval from her own grandmother.

Josh had followed Hermione upstairs, unsure of how she was taking the harsh words that had been uttered about Hermione, Harry, and Amelia and William. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, not entering her room but poking his head inside.

"I'll be okay," Hermione said softly. "I wish she wouldn't be so judgemental. I mean, she had dad when she was only a year older than me. It's not like I'm going to make the same mistakes she did."

"Plus, aren't there potions or spells or something for that kind of thing?" Josh asked, coming in and leaning back against Hermione's desk that was stacked with books and looked like it could collapse at any moment.

"How do you know about those?" Hermione asked in her best big-sister voice.

"I was reading some of your books," Josh shrugged.

Hermione looked at her brother dubiously for a minute before letting it go. "Well, you're right. There are spells to prevent and potions to take after, but Harry and I aren't sleeping together. We've slept together, but we haven't slept together slept together, you know?"

"Got it. You've slept together but you haven't slept together. Makes perfect sense. Shall I relay that message to Nana and mum and dad?" Josh teased.

Hermione glowered at her brother and then said, "Close the door. Since you're coming to Hogwarts this year I might as well prepare you for what you'll inevitably hear." Josh did as he was told and sat on the end of his sister's bed, waiting patiently. "Harry is the Seeker for the Gryffindor and is... undeniably sexy," Hermione said.

"I don't need to hear this," Josh cringed.

"Sorry," Hermione said. "Anyway, because of his skill on the pitch and his looks, and because his parents were instrumental in stopping Voldemort, Harry is somewhat of a celebrity at Hogwarts. And, as such, people talk about him. And me, by extension."

"So far everything you're saying makes sense, though I'm still not all that clear on all that Voldemort business."

"I'll explain later," she promised.

"Thank you."

Hermione shifted uncomfortably and then she said, "Ever since Harry and I became more than friends... there have been rumours flying around. That we were together all along and that we only made our relationship public because I got pregnant. Things like that. That's all lies. Harry and I never hid our relationship--our first date was a Hogsmead weekend--but, understandably, we don't advertise it, either." She looked at her brother very seriously. "In our fourth year, right before a big Potions exam, Harry and I were sitting in the Common room--"

"Is this going to get dirty? 'Cause if so, you can stop here," Josh said.

"It's not dirty. We were staying up talking and studying and it got later than we expected. We were just heading up to the dorms to get some sleep when we realized that the sun was coming up and people were starting to come down for breakfast," Hermione said. "Of course rumours started flying then, despite the fact that we were both carrying our books and most of them had seen us studying when they went to bed. Somehow it got around that Parvati Patil saw us going at it up against the wall and that the whole tower could hear us screaming. But... the only time we've even been in the same bed was near the end of last term when Harry started having the nightmares again. We just curled up and held each other."

Josh smiled softly and then said, "I'm glad Harry makes you happy."

~~~

After reading the letter that Fred had written her, Katie Bell took a break from Quidditch practice and wrote back so she could send her letter on the same owl hers came with.

To my beloved Snoopy,

I heard about the factory in the Prophet. I'm glad no one was hurt. I tried to get time off to come help you but... well, you remember Wood from school, and he's a hundred times worse now that he's substitute co-captain for a reserve team. God help us all if he ever gets more power.

Why do you want to know about Neville Longbottom?

Stay safe.

Love,

Katie.

Once she had sent the letter off she went back to practice, apologizing profusely for delaying Oliver by a few minutes.

~~~

Ginny had left her room when the twins came in and she had gone up to her brother, Charlie's room. Charlie was in Romania working with dragons and his room was near the top of the house, away from everyone else. As much as she loved her family and Harry's younger sisters, she needed time alone to sort through her thoughts.

For the past year she had been conversing with Neville Longbottom, a boy one year her senior, who was sweet and cute and klutzy, and fiercely loyal to his friends. They had been flirting throughout their correspondence and were talking about getting together before start of term if their schedules allowed. So far there hadn't been an opportunity, though they both remained hopeful.

It was Neville who was on Ginny's mind when she went up the stairs and locked herself in her brother's old room. They had developed a very good friendship since they had known each other, even more so since they started talking and writing regularly, but they were dangerously close to taking that next step into becoming a couple, and, despite the success stories Ginny knew of--Harry and Hermione, Ron and Lavender, Fred and Katie, George and Angelina, even her parents--dating friends could lead to heartbreak and the loss of at least one friend.

Usually Ginny was as cheerful as the colour of her hair, but she was very serious about three things. School, family, and friends. Not necessarily in that order.

After pacing around for a few minutes in the highly masculine room decorated with Quidditch posters and littered with books and an assortment of charred clothing and tools, Ginny decided she needed to stop thinking about her problems and find out what had brought Sydney and Nadya to the Burrow.

~~~

Harry tapped on the door that was slightly ajar before pushing it open. "Hey, how're you guys doing?" he asked, crouching down between his sisters.

"Mummy doesn't work, Harry. She never has. Where is she really?" Sydney asked softly as she cuddled her white Holland Dwarf Lop, Mai-Tai.

"Mum used to work. Until dad got hurt she worked for the Ministry. She left when she got pregnant with Mike. But something she worked on before she quit is important now, so she needed to go back and make sure everything's okay," Harry said. He sat down to avoid leg cramps and smoothed down both girls hair, which was red like their mother's but thick and unruly like his and their father's. "It's nothing for you to worry about, okay?"

"You sure?" Nadya asked as she set her rabbit, a black Lionshead dwarf named Tango, down on the carpet.

"I'm sure," Harry said. "You guys just stay up here, okay? Call if you need anything."

"We will," they said simultaneously

Harry smiled and nodded then got up and left the room, closing the door and almost running into Ginny who was heading down from the upper levels. "Hey, Gin. Didn't know you were home," Harry said.

"Yeah, I was just returning a book to Charlie's room," Ginny said, pointing in a vague upwards direction. "What are you doing here?"

Harry motioned for her to follow him down the stairs and she did, walking behind him in silence until they reached the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was making a pot of tea and conjuring chocolate chip cookies while the house cleaned itself.

"Dumbledore is alerting the Order. They're on their way here," Mrs. Weasley said.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked.

"Death Eaters," Harry said. "Something big is coming."

Ginny sighed heavily as she sank down into a chair at the kitchen table. "What's the plan?" she asked.

"That's why the Order is coming here," Mrs. Weasley said. "Harry, please be a dear and make room in the living room for everyone. Ginny, could you make sure there are enough chairs?"

~~~

When Fred got his response from Katie he wrote her back right away.

Bella,

Ugg, enough with the 'Snoopy' already! You and your Muggle cartoons!

Sorry to hear Wood's reverted to form.

Let me know if you need anything.

Now, about Longbottom. I want to know about him 'cause apparently he fancies Ginny and I need to know if I need to kill him or just maim him.

Love, Fred

An hour later a Howler appeared in front of him and Katie's voice screeched, "Frederick Sebastian Weasley, don't you dare hurt Neville!" and then, more calmly, she added, "What are your plans for Thursday?"

The fact that he had been full-named indicated that Katie meant business, so he left it alone and wrote a quick note back, sending it via Zip Mail--Wizard instant messaging of sorts.

Nothing, why?

Fred

Moments later he got a response.

No reason.

Love ya!

Katie

And Fred was left to try to figure out the mystery that is Katie Bell.

~~~

Harry looked around the room, trying to judge the size to figure out if it would be big enough for everyone. Ideally they would have gone to the Order's headquarters but time constraints and accessibility issues and the desire to keep the secret location a secret--even with the Fidelius charm and all the other precautions that were being taken.

"That should be suitable," Mrs. Weasley said, coming in with a tray of tea and cookies balanced on each palm and three more floating behind her. "Could you get that last one? It's slipping," she said, jerking her head backwards.

"Got it," Harry said, snatching the stray out of the air and carrying it over to the table Ginny had dragged in. Harry had offered to help the diminutive girl with the huge table but she had shot him the iciest of glares and he had backed off immediately. Even though she couldn't do magic in the summer, Ginny was still scary when she got angry, and Harry definitely did not want to cross her, with or without her wand.

"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley called loudly, heedless of the fact that she had yelled right in Harry's ear.

"Yes?" Ginny said, knowing that whatever her mother had to ask her wouldn't be good.

"I need you to take Sydney and Nadya to the Diggory's and stay there," Mrs. Weasley said. Ginny opened her mouth to argue, but Mrs. Weasley put a stop to it. "Do it, Virginia."

"But mum, I wanna know what happens at the meeting," Ginny whined.

"I'm sure your brothers will fill you in," Mrs. Weasley said idly as she nervously arranged and rearranged the tea and coffee cups.

"Please, Ginny," Harry said gently. "I really don't want them near this. I'll fill you in, word for word, after, okay?"

Ginny sighed heavily and relented. "Fine. But you owe me, Harry. Big."

"I know," Harry said.

"We're talking jewellery," Ginny warned.

"Gold or silver?" Harry inquired.

"We'll talk specifics later," Ginny said with a smirk before heading up the stairs to collect the girls.

"Thank you, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. "But you don't need to get Ginny anything."

"I know. We were just kidding around. Besides, I really don't want the girls around for this. I know they're not stupid, but they're still pretty young, and mum and dad don't want them around when the Order is conducting business," Harry said. "Plus Syd's afraid of Dung."

"Mundungus Fletcher used to scare Ginny, too," Mrs. Weasley confided.

A moment later Ginny came down the stairs with the twins behind her. "Why'd we gotta go?" Nadya whined to her brother.

"Because mum and dad don't like you using the Extendable Ears Fred and George gave you to listen to Order meetings," Harry said. "Please just go with Ginny and behave. I'll come get you guys when everything's over here." He knelt down in front of them. "I'll fill you in with as much as you need to know once you get back. Just please be good for Ginny and try not to terrorize Zorre while you're there, okay? That poor house elf can only take so much."

"Okay," the twins groused before giving Harry a quick hug and then saying goodbye to Mrs. Weasley before following Ginny to the fireplace and calling out 'Diggory Manor' as they stepped into the flames.

~~~

Hermione and Josh spent a great deal of the afternoon hiding out in her room, reading and talking and listening to music and just hanging out together. They were just beginning to implement their plan of sneaking out for pizza because the food that was in the house whenever Nana Granger was around was beyond horrible and always undercooked, when Hermione's wizard-pager went off as she was searching for her wallet in hopes of finding some Muggle money in it.

"What's this?" Josh asked as he looked at the pager. It looked like the ones their parents had for when their patients needed emergency dental care, only it was a sparkly green with what looked like a hand-written message on the screen.

"My pager for the Order," Hermione said, snatching it away from him rather violently. She immediately felt guilty. "Sorry, it's just that they only page me when there's something big going on," she said apologetically.

She read the message quickly and then read it again slower.

New information has come to light. Meet at the Burrow immediately. Be prepared for anything.

-Albus Dumbledore

"It's from Dumbledore. The Order's meeting right now. I've gotta go," she said apologetically.

"You can't leave me here with Nana! She'll eat me alive!" Josh whined.

"Josh, you can deal with Nana for a few hours. Just fake a headache and go to bed early. I've gotta go," Hermione said, grabbing her wand and sticking it in her schoolbag before going to her closet and digging to the back, opening the magical safe she had gotten the Weasley twins to develop and install for her--no jokes, no tricks, no nonsense--and extracting several books and files that she quickly put into her bag as well. She picked up a hair elastic and started pulling her wavy hair back into a serviceable ponytail as she ran down the stairs to the living room.

"I've got to go," Hermione said, hating that she was interrupting her parents and grandmother. It made her grandmother furious when she was interrupted.

"Why?" Nana Granger asked.

"It's this place I volunteer at," Hermione lied. "They just paged me. I need to go in. I'll probably end up staying at the Weasley's. It's closer to where I have to be and they're all involved so I won't wake anyone up. I'll give you a call in the morning, okay?" she said, kissing her mother's cheek and then her father's and then going over and giving her grandmother a quick hug. "Oh, and Josh isn't feeling all that well. I'm not sure if he'll be up for supper tonight," she added as she backed out of the room and headed to the back of the house, Disapperating in the kitchen and Apperating in the kitchen at the Burrow.

"What's happening?" Hermione asked the Weasley twins who were already there with Ron, Harry, and Sirius.

"Nothing good," Harry said, reaching out and giving her hand a quick squeeze.