MetaFic

"Did I do the right thing?" Albus Dumbledore asked. "I know I did what I felt had to be done, but was it still the right thing?"

"You were trying to protect the boy," Moody growled. "He needed to be placed somewhere safe. You did what had to be done."

"Yes," Dumbledore said, looking out of his office window at the grounds below. "What had to be done."

"You or I should have taken Potter in ourselves," McGonagall said.

Moody shook his head. "The Ministry would have never let that stand. They would have wanted to parade the boy around like a little trophy. Then they would have placed him in a home of their choosing."

"Such as the Malfoys’," Dumbledore said.

McGonagall shivered at the idea. "Can you imagine?"

Dumbledore turned a tired face toward her. "I do not need to imagine. I need only look at Tom Riddle to see what would have been the consequences of such a situation."

An insistent knocking made them all turn and look at the door. "Yes, please come in."

Emmeline Vance stepped into the Headmaster's office, her face pale. She was clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet. "Albus, I think you should read this." She dropped the paper on his desk.

Albus Dumbledore picked up the newspaper and started reading. He kept his face expressionless until he had finished the article, and then he blew out a deep breath and looked over his glasses at the others in the room. "I'm afraid things just became more complicated."

***
BOY-WHO-LIVED VANISHED FROM HOME

Mr. Potter, our readers may remember...

***
"That's just great!' Ron snarled, tossing the paper back to Hermione. "If the Ministry knows Harry is missing, then the Death Eaters do, too. Stupid, bloody Fudge and his stupid Ministry."

"We needed to send this to Harry as quickly as possible," Hermione hissed.

The two teens quickly made their way up to the roof of Grimmauld Place, where they had left Hedwig last night.

"Hedwig," Hermione said softly. "We need you to take this paper to Harry."

The snowy owl drifted from her perch toward them and was halfway to where they stood when a voice snarled, "Pertrificatus Totalus!" and Hedwig dropped to the ground like a stone.

"What do you think you're doing!" Hermione screeched. "You might have hurt her!"

"I am doing what needs to be done, and as for the health of Mr. Potter's owl, that is none of your concern," Snape said coolly. He took a step toward the fallen owl.

Hermione interposed herself between Snape and Hedwig. "You leave Harry's owl alone."

Snape sneered at her. "Come now, Miss Granger, aren't you as concerned with Mr. Potter's safety as everyone else? There are certain — things — that can be done with that owl that will allow us to locate Mr. Potter more quickly."

"You're not going to touch Harry's owl," Hermione said through gritted teeth. She drew her wand.

Snape raised an eyebrow at her. "Put that wand away, Miss Granger, and stop your silly posturing. Now I command you; move aside."

"No."

Snape almost smiled. "Very well, you leave me no choice." He raised his wand.

Ron Weasley punched his Potions Master in the right kidney. Snape groaned and stumbled, and Ron smashed him in the back of the head with his closed fists.

Hermione pointed her wand at Hedwig. "Finite Incantatem!" she cried.

Hedwig, holding one wing tight to her body in obvious pain, hopped toward the paper, grabbed it in her beak, and vanished.

Hermione looked at Ron, who was standing over the unconscious Snape.

"I did underage magic! We attacked a teacher!" she cried. "We're going to be in so much trouble!"

Ron looked up and smiled. "Yeah. Felt pretty good, though." He looked down and nudged Snape with his toe. "I guess I can skip Potions this year."

***
Harry Potter woke up because of the hair tickling his nose. He blew at it, but it only giggled and continued to tickle his nose. He swatted at it, which elicited another round of laughter. Finally, he reached out and grabbed the source of the hair, flipping her over on her back and pinning her underneath him.

"Good morning," Ginny said, reaching up and locking her arms around his neck.

"Mmm-hmm," Harry replied, nuzzling her.

"Um, Harry, not that I mind, in fact, I'm quite enjoying myself, but I need to use the loo."

"Later," he mumbled.

"No, right now."

Harry smiled down at her and rolled off. "Fine," he said, laughing.

Ginny slipped out of the nest of sleeping bags and duvet and made her way toward the small bathroom in the tent. He watched as she walked away from him, wearing his tee shirt from the night before. He caught just the barest flash of blue knickers, and then she was out of his sight. Harry fell backward on the bedding and smiled at the ceiling.

Their relationship had taken a decidedly serious turn last night. For a few minutes, Harry had thought things might go too far too quickly, as he started to succumb to the ministrations of Ginny's small but clever hands. When she had rubbed up against him and hissed his name into his ear, they were almost undone.

Almost.

Somehow, a tiny voice of reason reminded them that they were both still kids. Though last night Ginny had not felt like a kid under his hands. No, she had not. But the tiny voice, which sounded suspiciously like a cross between Mrs. Weasley and Hermione, had managed to keep them from falling over the brink.

Harry's pleasant thoughts were broken by a loud pop and a screech from Ginny. Grabbing his wand, Harry stood and raced toward the bathroom. Just as he started to open the door, Ginny flung it aside, an obviously injured Hedwig in her arms.

"She just appeared, right over the sink, then she fell into it," Ginny said, handing the injured owl carefully to Harry. Hedwig hooted softly.

"It's all right, well get you taken care of, girl." Harry looked up at Ginny. "We're going to have to take her to someone."

Ginny licked her lips and nodded. "Do you think Hagrid's back?"

"I don't want to get that close to Hogwarts if I can help it."

"I know that there's a magical community in Cardiff called Llyn Cyrfinydd. It's like Diagon Alley, but I don't know how to get into it. The owner at Eeylops could probably fix her right up, but–"

"But that would mean traveling to Diagon Alley," Harry finished. Hedwig gave small, strained hoot. "Well, we'll just have to chance it."

Ginny nodded her agreement. "Fly in tonight?"

Harry shook his head. "No, we need to get there as fast as possible, then get out. Let's get cleaned up and break down the tent."

"Okay, which one of us should shower first?" Ginny asked.

"You can if you want," Harry said. "I'll get Hedwig's cage ready. Did you see what she brought?"

While Ginny went to the bathroom to fetch the paper Hedwig had dropped, Harry re-sized the owl's cage, placed cushioning charms on it, and then gently set her inside. He passed her some snacks and made sure she had plenty of fresh water.

"Harry, you'd better read this," Ginny said, bringing him the paper.

Harry scanned it and cursed. "Nothing for it. We'll just have to be careful and keep ourselves hidden."

***
Lord Voldemort looked at the ones bowing before him and smiled. So, the boy was wandering the countryside, unprotected. He would not allow this piece of good fortune to go unused.

"Go, find the boy. The one who brings me Harry Potter will be rewarded beyond his imagination."

Several dark-robed shapes bowed and slipped away.

The woman stepped out of the shadows and stood next to her Master. "This is an excellent turn of events, my lord."

Voldemort turned his gleaming red eyes on her. "Those idiots will never find the boy."

Bellatrix was silent for a moment and then finally asked, "Then why–"

"Why do I send them out? To confuse Dumbledore's little Order and to cause havoc for the Ministry. While those fools deal with my Death Eaters rampaging across the land searching for Potter, I shall use — other methods to find him."

"And what would you have me do, my lord?" she asked.

"You, my most faithful servant, shall have the honor of assisting me as I destroy Harry Potter."