The mood at HQ had become a high strung buzz. Everyone was on red alert as they continued to remove the remaining order supporters into hiding, whilst waiting for Voldemort to strike. The latest attack had been a family of 5, the three young children killed along with their parents, who had not been outwardly supportive of either side of the war, had shocked the order to its core. The constant question of 'who's next' was running through everyone's minds.

"We can't just keep sitting here waiting!" Harry cried frustrated running his hands over his face. They were sat in the kitchen, already enlarged with magic to accommodate the whole order staying here, it was plenty enough to fit them all in and easily warded against wandering ears. The whole order wasn't present tonight though, just its key players - The remaining original order members, the Weasley's and the members of the DA who fought at the department of mysteries. They felt completely at ease discussing how they really felt when it came to the war effort.

"But we can't go charging in wands drawn either Harry" Tonks replied earning her a wink from Fred, which confused the witch so much she found it hard to remember what she was saying. "I...I mean, His fortress is just that, his, it will be extremely well warded and will hold all kinds of curses and traps – we want the territory to be as neutral as possible." She finished, chancing another look at Fred and instantly regretting it. His eyes were smouldering as he stared at her in a way that had her lower stomach muscles clenching. Charlie took one look at Dora sat beside him, blushing like a tomato, and one at his brother across the table and instantly knew something was going on.

"I agree with Dora" Charlie said, using the opportunity to boot his brother beneath the table. Fred sucked a huge gush of air through gritted teeth and turned his attention to his brother, his eyes blazing with fury as he bit his lip to keep from cursing out loud.

"I think what Harry is trying to say is – we signed up for this, all these people dying, they didn't" Ginny explained. Harry watched her with adoring eyes, she understood him so well. "Now we do understand that this is a war, and yes there is going to be some collateral damage. But we are as ready as we are ever going to be; at least if we do something, we will be the ones in danger, not everyone else." She added, ignoring her mothers sad gaze, and Harry's adoring one, and instead chose to look at Luna, sat on George's lap across the room, wrapped securely in his arms. The poor thing had barely left his side since she had awoken; she was almost completely dependent on him now.

"Nevertheless, we don't need anyone doing anything rash" Remus said looking at the youngest members of the group.

"It's worked for us so far" Ron said grinning like a Cheshire cat from beside Tonks, at Ginny, Harry and Hermione sat opposite them. All three of them grinned back automatically.

"Don't be stupid, that was pure luck and you know it" Moody cut in harshly. "You're older now, smarter. People are counting on you – you can't afford to be reckless anymore, you're too important!"

"Exactly" Molly agreed, her condescending tone annoying Hermione.

"What and those people aren't?" Hermione shot back at Moody her eyes furious. "Their lives are just as important as ours! We are supposed to be fighting to save them, not the standing back while they are slaughtered!" she fumed earning her a few gasps around the room and a cautioning whisper from her father, causing her eyes to flick to him momentarily. She didn't care, it was time they faced the reality of the situation and stopped sugar coating it.

"We're strategising, we have to have a plan of attack" Bill tried in a pacifying tone while rubbing Chloe's back soothingly. Though whether he was soothing her or his own conscience was another thing.

"Call it whatever you want Bill, its still the same thing" Ginny added concurring with Hermione, making the adults sigh at the resolute sound in her voice.

"The four of us are going away." Harry added making heads turn around the table. "There are things that we need to do" before commotion broke out.

"What!"

"Where?"

"You can't be serious!"

"What things?"

"How long?"

The four averted their eyes to only focus on each other while the others expressed their shock and disapproval. A soft but firm clearing of the throat was enough to earn their attention. All eyes turned to Dumbledore, even Luna

"They are doing it as a favour to me" Dumbledore finally chose to cut in silencing the room completely.

"But why Albus?" Molly asked finally, the desperation in her voice betraying how close she was to loosing it.

"There are things that need to be done, that only they can do" He answered honestly. "I understand your concern, but I have the utmost faith in their ability to work together and survive even the most heinous of situations"

"Why?" Charlie started, his voice hoarse, causing Hermione's eyes to flick up to him, as he cleared his throat. "You said its something only they can do, why?" He continued, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore's. Hermione could tell by the clench of his fist and the tightening of his jaw that he was not happy with this at all. Not happy with her. Her stomach twisted at the thought of him being unhappy with her, or upset because of her. But there was nothing she could do, it was like her grandfather said, they were the only ones who could do it.

"They have advantages that others here do not; their training with Alastor and myself, their Animagus abilities, their range of skill and knowledge, and of course excellent healing capabilities." He finished with a proud smile at his granddaughter who couldn't help smiling in return. "Then there is the obvious aspect. They work together in a way that no one else does, it has worked and I am confident will continue to work, extremely well."

The four smiled at each other, their confidence lifted by the kind words of the greatest wizard they had ever known. If he felt they could do it, then surely they could.

"But what are they going to be doing?" Remus asked, feeling annoyed and betrayed at his father and daughter for keeping these plans from him. He eyed his father challengingly, as if daring him to try to keep the truth from him. Albus sighed when he noticed that his son was going to settle for nothing but the truth, looking over at the other members, who all wore a similar expression.

"There are objects that need to be destroyed before Voldemort can be killed. If we do not destroy them, it is possible for him to return as he did through his Diary when he opened the Chamber of Secrets." He answered honestly. All eyes unconsciously turned to gage Ginny's reaction. She rolled her eyes when she noticed all the attention.

"Oh please!" She huffed. "You get possessed one time…" she lead off teasingly looking at Harry making him grin, and the other two shake with silent laughter.

"It's not funny!" Molly scolded. All four looked appropriately abashed and forced their eyes to the table to regain their focus.

"Please go on Albus" Arthur requested, pretending like nothing had happened.

"What are these objects you speak of?"

"There is a way, with the darkest of dark magic, that you can split your soul and place a piece of it in an object." Gasps issued all around the table at the very thought of such an abomination. Albus gave them a moment to absorb the information. "It is called a Horcrux"

"So the diary?" George asked, rubbing Luna's back soothingly.

"Horcrux" Ginny confirmed with a nod of the head. "So that's one down"

"How many are you looking for exactly?" Percy enquired sitting forward in his chair and rubbing his eyes.

"5 more" Hermione replied simply. Something shattered to her right, and she noticed that Charlie had just dropped the glass he had raised to his lips. He stared at her incredulously, covered in beer. She knew what he was thinking he didn't have to say it. It was too dangerous. If one was able to open the chamber of secrets, what other powerful things may they come up against? Would they all survive this time? All she could do was offer him a small smile as she moved her wand and wordlessly cleaned the mess.

"7 Pieces!" Moody exclaimed appalled. "How in Merlin's name do you expect them to track down these other 5 objects?"

"I have a fairly good idea what and where they may be, and I have shared this information with them." Albus informed the group.

"But your not going to share that with us" Bill stated more than asked. Dumbledore's eyes just twinkled in response, earning groans and sighs of protest and resignation from the others.

"When do you leave?" Tonks asked, silencing everyone. All eyes turned to the four.

"Tomorrow" Harry answered. Molly fainted instantly, the others jumping up to tend to her. Only a few people noticed when Charlie's chair toppled over and he stormed into the backyard. Hermione being one of them. Sighing heavily she followed him out into the rain.