Ron sat on the chair, fidgeting with his fingers, absorbed in his thoughts, 'Kill the snake? That's right.' Harry had given them the job of killing Nagini before going into the Forbidden Forest. And, indeed they had tried but failed tragically. Once Voldemort had presented them with Harry Potter's dead body, Neville Longbottom had tried to kill it. But it was protected with a powerful force. As soon as the sword of Godric Gryffindor touched the snake, that force stopped it, causing Neville to get severely injured, but he was luckily still alive.
"Ron," Hermione said as she sat down, "We have to leave. We have to save Harry."
Hermione's eyes were filled with worry for Harry, and Ron could see that she was really anxious.
Ron thought about it for a moment, and said, "Alright. Alright, we'll leave but- we have to do it without telling anyone. It'll just put them in danger."
Hermione looked relieved as if they'd found Harry already
"Yes, I understand. Then, shall we leave tonight? Once everyone's gone to bed?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine. You said you've packed the necessities already?"
Hermione nodded.
"Then that settles it. We're leaving tonight.
Ron was ready to give his life for Harry, but didn't want to put the others in danger. If they knew what Ron and Hermione were about to do or where they were going to go, they would want to come along. Even if they wouldn't come along, the Weasleys could be tracked down and inquired, which could lead to them being hurt, and with Bill and Fleur's daughter along, they couldn't risk it. Little did they know, that there was a curious ear pressed on to the door's key hole, listening to their words quite meticulously.
Hermione and Ron got up, and were just about to leave when the door was pushed open by Ginny Weasley. She stood there, her eyes fixed on both Hermione and Ron who were afraid she had heard everything. Ron and Hermione stood rooted on the spot as Ginny furrowed her brows.
"And what exactly are we talking about here? Abandoning the Burrow and running off to save ourselves are we?"
Ginny had happened to here only half of the conversation, and didn't have a clue as to why they were leaving but suspected that it was to save themselves. After all, Harry was alive, and if this news broke out in the Wizarding World, it would be a catastrophe and they could be harmed and Ginny thought this the reason for them leaving.
Hermione whispered something to Ron's ear, while Ginny stood there with her hands on her hips, acting exactly like her mother.
"No, Ginny", Hermione said, "Look, you've got it all wrong. We-we're going to save Harry."
Ginny wasn't expecting to hear this and was surprised. The tension in the atmosphere changed as quickly as you'd change your socks. Ginny's brows went all the way up to her forehead and her hands dropped down.
"Harry? You're going to save him?"
"Yeah. And look Ginny, we need you to keep it a secret. We don't want anyone else to find out." Ron pleaded.
Ginny looked at Ron and then at Hermione. She thought for a moment and placed her condition.
"Only-only if you take me with you."
Ron was astonished. He didn't want his little sister to go on a dangerous quest like this. But then again, it would be better if they had someone else with them. But, she was so young, what if something were to happen to her. No, Ron couldn't let that happen. He may be just a year older than her, but he was her older brother and he needed to protect her.
"No." Ron blurted, "You can't go Ginny. Mum'll be devastated."
"And she won't when you're gone?"
"Look, Gin. Even if I DIE, she'll have five more sons. But if something happens to you, she'll have no one."
"You think she doesn't care for you?"
"No! It's-"
"Alright, stop fighting the both of you!" Hermione exclaimed, "I think- I think taking Ginny with us isn't such a bad idea Ron."
"But-"
"Just hear me out. We may need another person with us. I mean, the two of us against an entire army of Death Eaters? There was Harry with us last time but now there's no one. We need Ginny."
"Gee, thanks Hermione. This brainless brother of mine might listen for once."
"Yeah, I guess you're right Hermione. Well- fine! We're leaving tonight. And Ginny, don't you dare tell anyone!"