Blood of Mud, Wing of Bat

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Chapter 39: Hushed Wings

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 11:05PM Friday night and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

Dear Hermie,

I've owled dad. He'll have you out of there in no time! The garden is just crawling with reporters. It's worse than it was when you left. There must be three hundred people here, including the camera-wizards and so forth. Sorry this is so brief, but I think they've broken into the broom shed and I'd better go investigate.

Your Ronniekins

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 11:59PM Friday night and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

'Mione,

I haven't heard back from dad yet… I wonder what's happening? But don't worry, I'm sure he's on it. I know you're not going to want any more bad news, but the fire from dad's old experiments shed has spread to the broom shed. A couple of the Flying I operators had dropped everything and were trying to rescue the brooms when I got out there so I guess not all media wizards are ogres. By the way, I didn't hear anything back from you after my first owl so I hope you got it all right.

Your Ickle Ronniekins

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 1:20AM Saturday morning and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

Herm,

You're not going to like this, but I've just been thrown out of the house by Auror Special Ops. At least I think it was them. They were wearing unmarked black uniforms but I saw Meedwaller among them… he's still with Special Ops isn't he? I tried to stop them but I was told I was interfering with an investigation.

I thought Malfoy was just consulting you about his business. But they wouldn't be going to all this trouble just for that, would they? Hermie… you'd tell me if you were involved in anything really serious, wouldn't you?

I'm sorry about what happened with Sheila Lasherton, but I can explain. It's not what you think. Can we talk?

Ron

P.S. I didn't get a reply to the second owl either. How come you are so difficult to owl? Half the time if I don't tell them to just leave the letter where you'll find it later, they come back saying they can't find you. Have you been avoiding me?

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 2:45AM Saturday morning and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

Munchkin,

I tried owling dad again just to find out what is going on, and got no answer. That's odd… I wonder if Misuse of Muggle Artifacts is on a raid tonight? That might explain it. You know how he can't resist helping them out on particularly tough cases. If you want me to stay in England tonight you'd better owl me back soon, because the Aurors have chased me off the property twice now. I've been peeking through the windows and I can see them searching the place really thoroughly. What are they looking for? What have you gotten yourself into? Hermione, I know you're upset with me over Sheila, but I deserve some sort of explanation… don't I?

--Ron

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 4:08AM Saturday morning and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

Hermione,

I just managed to talk my way out of being arrested for interfering with an investigation. It's just a good thing Meedwaller knew the sergeant's nephew is a raging Cannons fan. I hope you're happy; I'm broomless, homeless (wait until you see the Burrow!) and now I'm shirtless too thanks to that little impromptu autograph session. I'm going back to Majorca and I'm taking your broom to get there. Owl me when you're ready to talk.

--Ron

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(Arrived at Triple-D Headquarters at 7:15AM Saturday morning and was intercepted by Auror Special Operations)

Herm,

I've arrived in Puerto Soller safely. Blue with cold, but safe. I forgot to mention it before, but I think we're probably going to lose all the outbuildings. That fire was getting pretty bad by the time I left. It might even spread to the house. They hadn't found what they were looking for and they were in the middle of setting up a wards-stunner when they ordered me to leave. I thought all those had been destroyed after the wars? Anyway, if they use that, the house won't be fireproof at all.

I'm going to get cleaned up and go apologize to the lads, and kiss Pentwick's arse for disappearing last night and missing a team meeting. We have a goodwill game against the Ibizatown Princes today after practice so I probably won't get your owls until after it's over, but I'll reply then. Love you.

--Ronniekins

P.S. Sorry for sounding so upset with you in my last owl. I was just upset. You'll see why when you get home.

P.P.S. I'm owling dad again.

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(Arrived at the Granger residence at 11:43AM Saturday morning but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

What the… Hermione! I can't believe you sent me a Howler during a game! What is wrong with you? You're completely out of control, you are! Do you realize that bloody Howler ruined the game? So much for good will. Why couldn't you just wait until after? I said I'd talk to you about it!

--Ron

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(Arrived at the Granger residence at 2:17PM Saturday afternoon but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

Hermione,

I just talked to the friend I had staking out my apartment for me in case you tried to owl me there. She said when you flooed you didn't even know if I'd be in Majorca. Did you get any of my other owls? Did you get my last one about the Howler?

Look… I can understand why you'd be upset. Obviously you've seen the Burrow… half Majorca knows that now. I'm sorry but I couldn't stop them! And nobody took down the wards, dad wasn't even there. It was a wards-stunner bomb. I thought I'd told you, but if you didn't get that owl - well it doesn't matter. The point is, you're all right, I'm all right, and we really do need to talk. When can we meet? Do you want to come here for a few days?

Your Oodly Boodlums

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(Arrived at the Granger residence at 5:46PM Saturday evening but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

Hermione? Why am I looking at a tabloid photo showing you and Malfoy holding hands on the St. Mungo's Apparition platform? I finally got around to reading the newspapers and every one of them has something about you in it. If it's not about you flipping your wig and blowing up dad's shed, it's about this crazy Apparition stunt they say you did. I didn't know you could do that! Did Malfoy show you? Why was he holding your hand, anyway? You've got to talk to me and tell me what is going on. I still haven't heard from dad either. I'm about to go mad, here.

--Ron

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(Arrived at the Granger residence 6:14PM Saturday evening but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

Hermione,

Jesus, I just found out Malfoy paid your bail. I can't even describe how humiliating that is. I don't want to be in that bastard's debt, do you understand? We'll find a way to pay him back as soon as possible. Even if it means offering up signed Cannons shirts to high demons. Or is that what the hand-holding was all about?

I finally heard back from dad. He did help out Misuse of Muggle Artifacts on a raid last night, and apparently the postbox they were after had been charmed with a powerful Hungry Object enchantment. It was to attract Muggle postal-workers and eat anything they put in. But apparently it also tended to lure down and eat owls carrying post not addressed specifically to the fellow who lived there. So I'm afraid Puffy and all those public owls I sent while dad was there may have met a bad end. But I'd rather not think about that right now.

At any rate, dad was wrestling with that all night and then he got called to some emergency up at Apparition Enforcement first thing in the morning. I think it was the inkwell explosion that was in the papers. Did you read about that? He wasn't able to answer any owls until just now. He was horrified and said he'd look into everything that had occurred.

I hope you'll get this owl at least. Please, please, please reply if you get it. I want to know what is going on and make sure you are all right.

--Ron

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(Arrived at the Granger residence 7:32PM Saturday night but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

Herm,

The evening edition of the local paper had a huge article in the sports section about my Howler and how the Princes won because of it. Well, technically won. There's a lot of people who think the game should be considered cancelled, considering most of the players and fans had fled the pitch by the time that damn Howler ended. I'm sure it'll have made it to the news where you are by tomorrow. I'm feeling very depressed right now. Please answer my owls.

Ron

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(Arrived at the Granger residence 11:55PM Saturday night but was intercepted by Auror Special Operations.)

Hermie,

I'm about to die from lack of sleep. I have to go to bed. Just send one letter. Just one. I finally owled Ginny and had her go by your parents' place to see if you were there. She did swing by but couldn't find you. I asked her if there were any Aurors there and she refused to say. Where are you? Are you all right? Please send me an owl! I'm going to sleep but I have someone waiting to wake me up if anything arrives.

Your Ron

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