by Jiwwy
 
 

Chapter 4
In the Woods
 

Ginny Weasley coughed and shifted. There was a horrible ache in her back and it took a while for
her to remember why. "Oh my god," she moaned, as the events of last night unfolded again before
her pained eyes.

Coming to grandma’s house, finding she wasn’t even there…

She, Ron, and the twins staying behind to unload the suitcases while Mum and Dad went in to see
what was wrong…

The sickening lurch she’d felt when she’d been going up the steps and… and green light enveloped
the shadows of the empty house…

Empty but for her parents…

"George? Fred? Ron?" she called shakily, looking around.

Fred taking control, telling them to run as soon as the flash went off, Ron waiting for Ginny, whom
was slowest (this doesn’t say much when the other three were highly athletic troublemakers, always
on the run from teachers or Filch or in Ron’s case: werewolves, Basilisks, and Voldemort’s
assorted henchmen), taking her hand and running, trying to comfort her at the same time…

"Gin?" came a voice, Fred’s or George’s. A bright red head came into her line of vision. "Ginny,
you okay?" the twin ran up to her, pushing her hair from her face, biting his lip.

"I’m fine. Just really sore." She sighed and tried to get up, finally realizing they were in woods. There
was a huge stretch of wood going all around the small village Grandma lived in. Her eyes reluctantly
focused on his shirt. Red. George had been wearing red last night. "Where are Ron and Fred?" she
uttered finally as she managed to get to her feet.

"They went off to look for a way out of the woods, I was supposed to find you." He smiled slightly.

"I thought you and Fred knew these woods like the back of your hands."

"The magic parts. We’re trying to find a way to Muggle parts, just for now. You-know-who
probably has this town staked by now."

Ginny followed him. "Why did He want us?"

George shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well, us Weasleys, we’re supposed to be
pretty smart." He smirked back at her. "Most of us at least." She smiled as he continued. "Seriously,
you know, there are a lot of us and, admittedly, we are pretty talented. The fact that dad loves
Muggles couldn’t hurt."

Ginny looked down. The next time she spoke, her voice shook. "George, do you… think maybe,
Mum and Dad…"

Her brother looked very uncomfortable. "Gin, I’m sorry, but I don’t think…"

She nodded, and shivered.

***

Draco watched Hermione as she calmly put her Mary Janes on the coffee table, then her head on her
knees, and stayed there for quite a while, breathing deeply but obviously trying not to cry. "Hermione,
should I… do you want me to… er… Who’s Ron?"

She smiled to herself and spoke without moving. "Ron’s… one of my best friends." She finally sat up
and wiped a few stray tears away. "One time… you insulted me, and he tried to curse you but his…
his wand backfired and he ended up belching slugs for an afternoon."

Draco didn’t quite know how to take this.

Hermione turned and smiled at him. She took his hand. "Draco, it’s okay. I don’t blame you. I- I
know now you’re actually fairly decent."

"Thank you?" he finally said. She laughed, just a little. He realized she was shaking. "Are you okay?"

Nodding slowly, still with the smallest smile, she went to the window. "I’m just so… I don’t know."

He looked up at her. Standing by the window, pale skin accentuated by her flushed cheeks, her
dark hair falling around her in frizzy curls, her faint carnation lips. "You know… are you really sure
that was where they were? There- there must be a million people in North Carolina."

Hermione nodded slowly. "I just keep thinking Hedwig will come. That’s Harry’s owl… Harry’s
my other friend."

Draco nodded slowly. "Are you hungry? I think I can make cereal now." He smiled smugly.

Hermione snorted.
 
 
 

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Chapter 5