The Burrow was quiet.

Well, not quite. One does not go to the Weasley household if one wishes for solitude. Rather, the sole source of noise came from the crackling fire, illuminating the people gathered around it.

Remus Lupin lounged before the fire, staring at the cracked ceiling. In the plush armchair to his left Bill embraced his wife, her face pressed against his broad shoulder. On the other couch the Weasley family,somehow, all managed to find comfortable places to lounge. Molly's hands ran through Ginny's long, luscious hair, the firelight reflected in her eyes. Arthur too stared at the ceiling, though he looked like it was about to fall on top of him. Fred and George, for once, did not smile. They stared into each other's eyes like two lovers, looking in vain for answers to questions they were too afraid to ask.

Molly sighed, breaking the smothering blanket that had sunk on top of them. "Is anyone hungry? I could make some dinner."

"No thanks, Mum." Bill said, rubbing Fleur's shoulder.

"I'm not very hungry." Ginny said.

Lupin raised his head. "I would take a cup of tea, Molly, if you don't mind."

"Of course, Remus." She stood and hurried into the kitchen, and everyone sat and listened to the banging of pots and the running of water.

In the time Molly returned with a steaming cup of tea, no one had moved. And as she handed the tea to Remus, sprinkled with cinnamon the way he liked it, she huffed. "Really, now, there's no need for this. Nobody's hurt, and just because Harry, Ron, and Hermione are gone doesn't mean we need to act like we are in mourning."

"But they could be in danger, Mum!" Ginny protested. "This worrying is killing me."

Arthur laid a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "We are all worried, hun. But I think your mother is right. It won't help them if we all wasted away thinking about them."

Lupin sat up and rubbed the stubble on his haggard face. "What we need," he mused, "is a distraction."

As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. Everybody stared at each other, shocked, until Lupin bounded out of the room, wand at the ready. Arthur and Bill likewise ripped out theirs and followed. A few minutes later the group returned, looking thoroughly puzzled.

Lupin dropped the object in his large hands onto the coffee table, and Fleur jumped."A book."

When he said nothing more, Molly prompted, "A book?"

He shrugged. "There was not a living thing besides the bullfrogs out there. We tried multiple spells, but nothing."

Fred scratched his head. "Did you check-"

" for a note, Bill?"

"It could be-"

" a prank of some kind."

Molly frowned at her sons. "Do you always have to do that?"

"Yes. It just-"

" adds to our charm."

They gave their mother wolfish grins as Arthur pulled a piece of paper from the book.

"Ah, there is one, Fred. Good thinking." He cleared his throat and read:

Dear friends,

If you are reading this, it means that the events that I feared would happen have come to pass. Voldemort has risen, and I am either dead or unavailable. I have instructed Harry as much as I can, but this letter proves that it is all up to him now. I have no doubt that he has the support of his friends Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, and of course you all. But while Harry cares for you deeply, there are things that he will never willingly share. That is what this book is for. I have seen men driven mad by their unspoken secrets, and I will not see the same thing happen to Harry. Not when he has already suffered so much. This book is in his point of view, and will record events as he sees them. Hopefully it will relieve some of his stress. Time will not flow normally while the book remains open.

Nothing that is in the book can be changed. Young Harry's fate was predetermined, and this hunt for Horcruxes is essential for defeating Voldemort.

No doubt when Harry hears of this, he will be even more angry than he already is. Please tell him that I did this with his best interest in mind. And that I am sorry.

Yours truly,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

Nobody said anything until Lupin snarled, "He sent them looking for Horcruxes!? Was that man insane?"

Ginny asked, "What's a Horcrux?"

The adults looked at each other. Ginny huffed. "We are old enough to know. You can't protect us from being involved. Harry's my friend, and I will fight for him whether you like it or not."

Arthur held up his hands, warding off her words. "You're right, Ginny. You are all old enough to partake. But if you hadn't jumped to conclusions, you would already have known that."

Her face flushed. "Sorry."

George reached for the book. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." He glanced up. "Should I start?"

Everyone took a seat. George cleared his throat, and began to read.