The Twin Lockets

The Twin Lockets

Chapter One: A Letter From Lily

Harry put his pillow over his face and groaned. He really didn't want to get up. Sure, the sun was shining and the flowers were blooming, but what good did any of that do you when you were miserable?

Harry pulled his shirt over his head and sighed. This day was just like any other. Pointless. All around him, people were dying or being hurt. Plus, it didn't help that he was stuck at the Dursleys' home. Just one more week and he would be seventeen. But one week can be a long time to wait.

What Harry didn't expect as he trudged downstairs was to find Ron and Bill downstairs. They both looked pale.

"Ron! Bill!" Harry said, coming down the stairs in leaps and bounds.

Ron looked down immediately. Bill forced a smile and said, "Harry, we've been waiting for you."

Harry stopped. Something was wrong.

Bill's wedding was in two weeks and Ron, even though being his usual self, hadn't been too unhappy the last time Harry had seen him. So, what was wrong now?

"Did something happen?" Harry asked.

"We'll tell you later," Ron mumbled, his face turning a strange shade of green.

"Come on, let's go," Bill said.

The three wizards walked out into the living room. Dudley screeched and ran from the room. Harry's aunt and uncle were nowhere to be found.

"Let's go by Floo. It's easier," Bill said.

In a moment, Harry felt himself being hurtled into a smoky mist of green flames. He shot out the other side, tumbling onto the ground, Ron falling on top of him. Bill made a much more graceful entrance.

Harry stood up, dusting off his shirt. He looked up to see Mrs. Weasley crying, Mr. Weasley holding her, Fred and George not smiling for once, Charlie looking very uncomfortable, Fleur crossing her arms, and Hermione coming towards him.

"It's about time!" Hermione said. "Harry, have they told you what happened, yet?"

Harry shook his head. "What?" Then, he noticed the lack of a certain red-haired girl. "Where's Ginny?"

Mrs. Weasley gave out a horrible wail, making everyone in the room shift uncomfortably. "They've taken my Ginny away!"

"What?" Harry asked, looking at Bill.

"We think Ginny's been kidnaped, Harry," Bill said.

"By Death Eaters?" Harry asked, his face turning pale.

"I'm afraid so," Bill said.

Harry looked at the clock. Ginny's hand was pointed at "mortal peril." But, then again, all of the hands were.

"We have some Aurors out looking for her," Hermione said. "They've had no luck, so far."

Harry sat down on a chair, his head drooping.

"There's something else," Hermione said. As Harry looked up, Hermione pulled out a slip of paper. "Read this."

Harry looked at the piece of paper, which was addressed to Arthur Weasley. He unfolded it.

Weasley,

If you ever want to see your daughter again, don't do anything stupid. Getting the ministry involved won't help. We'll do what we can to get her out, but we can't promise anything. All we ask is that you understand.

There was no signature at the end or any further explanation.

"Who sent it?" Harry asked.

"We don't know," Hermione said. "It's been charmed, so we can't do any spells on it to find out who it's from. But, we imagine that it must be someone close to the Death Eaters."

"Do you think it could be one?" Harry asked.

"Maybe, but I doubt it," Hermione said. "I couldn't see any Death Eater risking his or her life to save a Weasley girl."

"What do they mean by, 'All we ask is that you understand'?" Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. "We're not quite sure what that means."

Dinner at the Weasleys' was very quiet. No one really spoke. Just small glances around the room. Harry ran his hand through his hair, sighing. Ron and Hermione whispered back and forth, just quieted enough for no one to understand what they were talking about.

That night, Harry lay on his bed as Ron paced back and forth. "I just don't understand," Ron rambled on. "One minute she was here, and the next minute, she wasn't. I said good night to her, and the next morning, she was missing."

"Lie down Ron," Harry said. "You're stressing too much. Don't worry. She'll be fine."

Ron sighed. "Sorry. I'm just not as confidant in that as you are."

"I'm not," Harry said. "But, I know she'll be all right. She just has to be."

Just then, Harry and Ron saw a green flash. From out of no where, a letter fell right in front of them. The front of the envelope just read, "Harry."

"Should I open it?" Harry asked.

"It could be cursed. But..." Ron looked around. "Open it anyways."

Harry opened the letter. It had a strange fragrance to it. Flowers. Lilies.

The letter read:

Dear Harry,

By the time you read this, your father and I will be gone and you should be almost seventeen. As I write this letter, you are sleeping in your crib. Most likely, this letter has been circulating for years, waiting for the time to come when I want you to read it.

First, I just want you to know that your father and I love you very much. We always have and we always will. Even though I can't imagine being alive for much longer, I want you to know that I'll always be there for you.

Lately, it seems that one tragedy after another has been happening. Several months ago, a good friend of mine, Kelly, passed away. Many others in the Order have been killed, as well. I just have a feeling that James and I are going to be next. And, before we die, I need to tell you something.

In our home, there is a small cabinet that is hidden away in the wall under the picture of your grandfather. A simple opening spell should do the trick to opening it up. In it, I have a few things that you should find. I don't know how much of a use any of them will be, but I know that you should find them.

I love you so much, Harry.

Your mother,

Lily

Harry could barely look up from the letter.

"Whoa," Ron gasped.

"Yeah," Harry said, his voice quiet.

Harry looked up, staring out the window. He had a feeling that the letter was going to lead to something big.