~*~Chapter 13 - The Combining~*~
"We could just wait until Mrs. Weasley went on her next Order assignment," Draco suggested a few hours later.
Remus shook his head, "No, she and I are on 'watch'." A faint crease appeared between his brows as his mind began to focus on the 'how'.
Harry glanced around the room and noticed similar looks of concentration on all the faces. No, all but one of the faces. Hermione was sitting back in her chair with a smug smirk on her face and the same glowing look she had on earlier. He frowned and watched her for a moment; he could almost see the gears turning in her head as she perfected the plan that was brewing in her mind. "Alright, Hermione, spill it," he said, causing the others to look over at her and finally notice the smug look.
"Who ever said we had to sneak?" she asked.
"How else are we supposed to get out, Hermione? Just go up to Mum and say 'hey we're going to save Sirius, be back before breakfast'?" Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled, "Well, I have the best alibi to leave, right? I mean, my parents being muggles and not part of this war."
"But if we do anything it's going to have to be fairly late in the evening where we can sneak out with out getting in trouble," Draco frowned.
Hermione shook her head, "Not if I can help it."
Remus and Ginny had been quiet up until this point. Ginny thought she had an idea where Hermione was going with the plan but couldn't be sure. Remus, on the other hand, wasn't completely sure what the girl was thinking. Where they to just prance out the door?
Sitting back in her chair, she smiled and glanced around, "So, who's up for a night out in London?"
Everyone was caught a bit off guard by this odd question, but quickly caught the plan. "So, simple, yet so brilliant," Ginny murmured with a sly grin.
Only two people looked ready to disagree with Hermione's plan, Harry and Remus. Harry shook his head, "What's to say that the Order won't have someone tailing us the whole time? If that's the case, the plan is shot."
Hermione smiled, "That, my dear friend, is where Remus comes in. An Order member, and an adult who knows his responsibilities."
Remus shifted slightly in his chair, "That's what worries me, Hermione. I don't want to betray the trust given to me."
"Well, you realize that we're going to go whether or not you come with us, so that can be your alibi." Draco said. "Instead of allowing us to go off on our own, like we would not matter how tight the rules and curfews are, you decided to come with us to keep us out of trouble."
"What about, Mum?" Ron asked. "I kind of want to stay in her good graces."
"Mrs. Weasley knows how hard it's been on Remus and I since Sirius...disappeared, I think she'll be more relieved to see Sirius back, and us safe, that she'll hardly hold on to any anger for very long." Harry said with a nod of agreement from Ginny.
Hermione glanced around, studying each person in the room. "It's settled that Harry and Remus are going, for sure. Draco, will it be...wise for you to go to London?"
Draco shrugged, "I've been in worse situations, Hermione. I'm in."
Hermione looked ready to argue but nodded, "Ginny? Are you sure you want to do this again?"
"I'll say the same thing I did last time, I care as much about what happens to Sirius as you and Ron. Maybe not as much as Remus and Harry, but at least as much as you two. I'm in." Ginny said in a serious tone that left little room for argument.
"So all six of us are going?" Hermione asked, all nodded.
"I guess it's better than June, when we had five." Ron said.
"Has anyone heard from Neville or Luna this holiday?" Harry asked.
Ron flushed and nodded, "Luna and I've kept in contact."
Hermione and Ginny shared a knowing look. "What about Neville?" Harry asked.
"I saw him right before the Hogwarts battle." Draco said softly. Everyone looked over at him curiously. "I was in St. Mungo's...I saw him there."
There was an awkward silence that Remus broke by clearing his throat, "So when are we planning this 'night out'?"
"Tonight," said a sharp voice that no one recognized as Harry's. The other's exchanged glances but agreed.
"We can't go right away though," Hermione said. "We need to-to get a hold of Sirius."
"And you can do that?" Draco asked, barely able to hide the slight sound of awe in his voice. "That's past NEWT level, I don't know if my father can even do that."
Hermione stood and pulled a book of the shelf of the library and opened it to a page a little over half way through, then handed the book to Draco. She smirked as he read the true spell of how to 'contact' souls. "Alright, it will take me about an hour to do this. When I'm finished, Sirius's soul will share one of our bodies until we get to the arch."
They exchanged looks, unsurprisingly; it was Harry who first volunteered. What was surprising was when Ron spoke up, "No, Harry, that wouldn't be a good idea. You are a high priority target; you'll be in even more danger with two souls in you, especially if the other soul is Sirius's. I'll do it."
Harry looked ready to argue, but knew it was pointless; everyone seemed to agree with Ron's statement. Even Harry could see the logic behind it. That didn't mean he liked it. "Alright," said Hermione. "Let's get this done!"
Everyone other than Ron and Hermione moved the furniture out of the middle of the room then moved towards the outside walls. Hermione and Ron stood in the middle of the room face to face. Hermione took a deep breath and said "Carus Amicus , adeo nos sic nos may succurro."*
The room filled with a warm breeze and Hermione smiled and raised her wand, directing it towards Ron. She took another breath before speaking the final enchantment, "May lost animus partis is somes insquequo is exsisto privatus."**
Ron's eyes widened and his head fell backwards. He took a deep gasping breath and collapsed to his knees. His breathing slowed and he lifted his head and glanced around, apparently trying to figure out why he was on the floor. Hermione watched him carefully before softly saying, "Commodo, ostendo vestri."***
"I am here, Hermione," Ron said.
Remus wasn't completely convinced and asked, "Sirius, who was the girl you thought annoying in 5th year who was obsessed with you?"
Ron grinned, "Theresa Martin, Ravenclaw."
Remus smiled, "Hold on, we're going to get you back to the arch."
"Ron's alright though, right?" Ginny asked.
"I'm alright, Ginny. If you want proof, I'll tell you something Sirius wouldn't know about you. The year before I started at Hogwarts, Fred and George threatened to put you on of their trunks and take you to Hogwarts."
Ginny chuckled, "That's my brother. Alright, when do we go?"
Remus glanced down at his watch, "Now, I'll tell Mrs. Weasley I'm taking you all to a muggle cinema for Harry's upcoming birthday."
All the kids sat back down in their respective seats and waited patiently...well maybe not patiently but as patiently as one could be at a time like that, until Remus returned.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Author's Note: Alright, another chapter is up! I hope you enjoyed it. Here are the Latin/English translation for Hermione's spell.
* - Dearest friend, come to us so we may help
** - May the lost sould share this body until it be released
***-Please show yourself
Well there you are! I hope you liked this chapter and I look forward to reading your Reviews!
AmberEyes
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