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ii. familial ties
Mrs. Weasley followed them upstairs looking grim, "I want you all to go straight to bed, no talking," she said as they reached the first landing. "We've got a busy day tomorrow. I expect Ginny is asleep," she added to Hermione and Matilda. "So, try not to wake her."
"Asleep, yeah, right," said Fred in an undertone, after Hermione and Matilda bade them goodnight and left into the bedroom door.
The door closed behind them with a sharp snap. The bedroom looked, if anything, even darker and gloomier than the rest of the house. The blank picture on the wall was now breathing very slowly and deeply, as though its invisible occupant was asleep. Matilda changed into her pajamas, braided her hair, and climbed into her chilly bed while Hermione threw cat treats at the foot of her bed to pacify Crookshanks, who was whining loudly at the door.
"Don't forget the lock," Ginny sat up from her bed, her eyes wide, no sign of sleep having ever consumed her.
Hermione's eyes widened, "Oh yes... I forgot."
She crossed to the door and bolted it.
"What's that all about?" asked Matilda.
"Kreacher," said Ginny as she turned off the light. "First night I was here he came wandering in at three in the morning. Trust me, you don't want to wake up and find him prowling around your room. Anyway..." Ginny settled back into her bed, pulling her heavy blankets up to her chin, then turned to look at Hermione and Matilda in the darkness. Matilda could see her outline by the moonlight filtering in through the grimy window. "What happened down there?"
It took a moment for Hermione or Matilda to say anything.
"Well, they didn't tell us much we couldn't have easily guessed," said Hermione after a long moment of lingering silence. "I mean, all they've really said is that the Order is trying to stop others from joining Vol-"
There was a sharp intake of breath from Hermione.
"Voldemort," Matilda said firmly. "It's a name, Hermione, just say it. We can't fear it. Not anymore."
Hermione chose to ignore Matilda's blunt tone, "Yeah, you're right," she said in a whisper. "We already knew nearly everything they told us, from using the Extendable Ears earlier. The only new piece was-"
