The order meeting was fairly uneventful. It was mostly solidifying plans and reviewing emergency and defense tactics. Harry paid closer attention than he ever had in his life. This was the day, he could feel it in his bones. The plan for Harry�s group was to do reconnaissance and dispatch any guards. He was surprisingly not very nervous as they had a very clear escape plan should things go foul.
Dumbledore had equipped each of them with a sort of magical �walkie-talkie� which used thought instead of voice so they could remain silent. �Fred and George Weasley have been testing them for sometime and have finally got it spot on.� they nodded as a smattering of applause broke out. The twins had become the unofficial gadget masters for the order.
�All right, we move out at sunset so get something to eat and meet back here at 5 pm sharp,� Moody growled, dismissing them.
Harry walked silently to the kitchen and sat at the table. He was alone for only a few seconds though as most of the Weasley�s joined him. It was a sort of stifled silence as they ate. They all left one by one until it was only Harry, Ron and Hermione and they sat in the cool tranquility of the kitchen, their minds and hearts filled with turmoil. When Harry rose from the table Hermione began to speak, �Harry--� she stopped and simply hugged him instead. Then Ron joined in. They stood there, like that, for a few moments, when Hermione suddenly pulled away, crying.
�Oh, Hermione! It is ok.� Harry hugged her and patted her back until she calmed down, �here, I have something for you both.� He removed five pieces of rolled up and sealed parchment. He handed two to Hermione and the others to Ron, �when this is over--for better or worse--I want you to read this,� he pointed to the one in each of their hands with their own name on it, two of Ron�s had other names on them however, one with Ginny�s and the other with both of Ron�s parents�. �It�s just that, since what happened, with Sirius, I know I haven�t told those I love that I do love them nearly enough. And I love you, both, you are my family now that I have none left.�
Hermione was crying again and Ron was refusing to speak--Harry suspected he was on the verge of tears as well, he was feeling a little choked up himself so he didn�t press the matter but Ron suddenly caught him in a bear hug. They hugged like brothers and when they pulled back, both had tears shining in their eyes.
Harry coughed, clearing his throat so he could speak, �the other,� he indicated the much fatter piece of parchment in Hermione�s hand, �is my will--oh, don�t get that look! Dumbledore told me to have one drawn up before he would let me join the Order. He said as I have so much property and whatnot, and no family, I needed to have this if something were to happen to me--so that everything would not just go to the Dursleys. I even updated it to include my parents� house now.� he stopped, full of emotion again, upon thinking of all those he lost.
�Harry,� Hermione came and put her hand on his shoulder.
�No, Hermione! He has to be stopped, to pay for his crimes, for what he�s done to me.� He slammed his fist down on the table, a single tear running down his cheek.
�You�re right, Harry, I just...wish it wasn�t you who had to make it happen.� she patted his arm and he looked up at her.
She looked so beautiful in the fleeting light of the kitchen, the way it was falling on her made her look like a da Vinci painting. Harry hugged her. �I know, Hermione, none of us wish it, but that is how it is.� he held her at arms length then kissed her on the forehead. His watch beeped, indicating that it was five minutes to 5 o�clock. They all tensed. He hugged them both, once more. �I will see you when this is over, trust in that.� he turned and left the room as Hermione fell into Ron�s arms, both of them weeping.
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