A/N: Here's the second installment of the story! Enjoy, and reviews will be loved. :)


CHAPTER TWO

Harry woke up to find himself on the floor of his room with the mother of all hangovers. He couldn't remember a single detail of what had transpired after the visit to George's joke shop the previous evening.

Clutching his aching head, he walked to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Then he washed up, shaved and dressed hoping Hermione could fix a potion for the massive hangover that he was having, and was sure his best friends would be having too. Then he entered the living room to find it deserted. He checked the kitchen. Deserted again. Three half-finished cups of black coffee stood on the table, untouched since the night before.

Realising that Hermione was probably still asleep, he cleared the table and made himself some more black coffee. After taking a sip of it, he knocked at the door to Ron's room, deciding to wake him up so he could get ready for work.

There was no answer to Harry's knocks. "Ron?" Harry called, knocking harder. To his surprise, the door swung open to reveal an empty room. Bewildered, Harry entered it. The bathroom door was open too; so Ron wasn't there either.

Harry was quite surprised and confused. Where had Ron gone off, so early in the morning? He stepped over to Hermione's room. "Hermione? Are you there?" There was no reply. He knocked again, only to find Hermione's room unlocked too. Carefully, he pushed the door open to find a startling vision. Ron was on Hermione's bed! Harry made to shut the door. Obviously, he had invaded on something private. But a grin spread on his face when he returned to his coffee. Ron and Hermione were back together. Nothing could make him gladder.

He waited fifteen minutes, but Hermione did not come out. Hell, there was silence in the house; as though he was the only one who was staying there. He finished his coffee and fixed some more for Ron and Hermione, before knocking at her door again. "Hermione!" he called out loudly. The coffee hadn't quite cured him of his hangover. He felt dehydrated and fatigued. Plus his head was still pulsating lightly.

"Ron!" he called out again, hoping to wake his best friend up. Thankfully, it worked. Ron came to the door and opened it, his eyes red and tired.

"We have to report to Kingsley in fifteen minutes," said Harry, checking his watch. "Get ready fast."

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked, yawning and scratching at his stubble.

"Well, you should know that," said Harry grinning.

Ron chuckled. "Why would I—" Suddenly, his eyes filled with horror as he recognised his surroundings. "What am I doing in her effing room?"

Harry shrugged. "Would I know?"

"I'm fully dressed, though…" said Ron, relaxing a little. "Maybe I just went and slept next to her in my drunken state."

"Maybe…" grinned Harry.

"Awh, shut up," yawned Ron. "Nothing happened."

"Right," said Harry again, his eyes twinkling.

"Don't do that," snapped Ron. "You're only increasing my headache."

"Speaking of which," said Harry, "I have made coffee. Get ready and have it fast. We don't have much time."

"Hmm," replied Ron, walking over to his room. He turned around before shutting the door. "Where is Hermione, though."

"No idea. Isn't she in the bathroom?"

He sighed. "Nope, I'd have realised. Maybe she's gone to buy extra books to study so she can get three hundred percent in her NEWTs or something. She's just like that Ernie Macmillan— crazy about exams."

Harry sniggered at Ron's words. "Where did Ernie Macmillan come from?"

"I just remembered how mental he'd gone before the OWLs. You do recollect how he rambled on about studying ten hours a day, right? Sheesh, what a prat!"

Harry sniggered more and said. "Go get ready, now, or we're going to be really late."

"Right. In a minute," said Ron, before vanishing into his room. He emerged soon after, fully dressed and drank up the coffee, groaning. "My head still hurts," he complained as Harry poured out Hermione's coffee into the sink. "I feel terrible."

"I know, I do too," replied Harry. "I really don't know how to brew the Hangover potion, though and Hermione isn't around. Guess we'll just have to adjust like this for the next few hours."

"Fine," said Ron as they got out of the flat and locked it. "Let's go."


"I got news about a group of Death Eaters who have been spotted in parts of London recently," said Kingsley, pointing at some parts in a map of London. "These Death Eaters have not yet caused trouble, but I know they will soon if we don't capture them fast enough. So—" he looked at a group of senior Aurors whom he had summoned. "I want you all to make a clean job of capturing them.". He paused and looked at Harry, Ron and Neville. "Would you three like to go?"

"Yes," they chorused, eager to get set on a task.

Kingsley nodded. "Okay. You must at any cost stay with the senior Aurors. Try not to get separated from them. We do not yet have an idea of the identity of the Death Eaters, and they can be very dangerous. Is that understood?"

The three of them nodded eagerly.

"All right, then," replied Kingsley, handing them a pen. "A source confirmed their whereabouts last evening and here's a Portkey to the location. Get them all alive, as far as possible. All the best."

Harry, Ron and Neville walked into a circle with the six other Aurors and caught onto the pen, before it glowed blue and transported them away from the Ministry of Magic.


Hermione pulled at the tight black ropes that bound her, trying hard to free herself. Beside her she could see her mother and father; both tied to similar chairs, unconscious and covered in dirt. The letter she had received the previous night had informed her of their kidnapping and asked her to come along with Harry— to give him up to the Death Eaters if she wanted to free her parents.

Get us Harry Potter, and you'll get your parents back alive.

Of course, the letter hadn't been signed: there was only a fake address scrawled at the bottom. She hadn't really seen the faces of any of her captors, but she knew that they were Death Eaters. When she had arrived by Portkey, she had been immediately blindfolded and tied up. When the blindfold had been removed, she had just seen a figure in black Death Eater robes and the characteristic mask exit the room hurriedly. However, Hermione had realised that there were a group of Death Eaters and not just a single one of them because of the different whispered voices that she could make out from the other room.

Presently, a Death Eater entered the room again. He had pulled his hood over his head and worn the mask too. "Where is Potter?" he asked, and Hermione recognised him as Yaxley.

She could feel fear boil over her senses, but she decided to pretend to be cool. "In case you haven't noticed, I didn't bring him along. You will never understand friendship and loyalty will you?"

He raised his wand at her. "You called the Aurors didn't you, Mudblood?"

Hermione felt relief flood into her. Harry and Ron must have realised she was missing and alerted Kingsley! "Well," she said, pretending to be calm, "you aren't so smart yourself, are you? You thought you could threaten and kidnap Harry Potter's good friend and get away with it."

"And we will," said Yaxley in a deadly voice. "Harry Potter will regret defeating the Dark Lord. It's called sweet vengeance."

"Right, I'm shaking in my shoes," said Hermione, truthfully. "You haven't done anything to me in the last hour, and I doubt you even have the courage to hurt me. You're on the run from the Ministry and you don't have the guts to give them any idea about your whereabouts." She knew she was probably talking utter nonsense, but she knew that this was the first principle to adopt when faced by a stronger enemy. Keep talking, Harry had taught her. It always buys you more time.

"KEEP QUIET, YOU MUDBLOOD!" the Death Eater screamed. Hermione grimaced as her head pounded. She should have really had some coffee before coming here. She knew she had to be very quick with her hands, feet as well as wand if need be; but how was she going to do it all with that colossal headache?

She looked up at the angry man, maintaining her act of nonchalance. "Yeah, scream all you want. You're probably only going to half damage my ear." Oh Merlin, let the Aurors come fast. Let the Aurors come fast…

Just then, another Death Eater entered and spoke to Yaxley in a low voice. The latter took a deep breath and looked around the room, first at Hermione's parents and then at her. He then took off his mask and smirked at Hermione, while speaking to the other man. "So maybe we will kill them all, Rabastan."

Hermione's heart began to beat fast. No… no… please let the Aurors come… please let them come right now…

Yaxley looked at her rapidly paling face. "Not so brave now, are you? You alerted the Aurors and they're coming here to catch us. Now all they will find here will be your Mudblood body with those of your Muggle parents. Enjoy your journey." He raised his wand at her and with a menacing smile, he prepared to utter the Killing Curse. "Avada—"

However, before he could complete his curse the wand had flown out of his hand and he turned around just in time to see a tall Auror catch it. Then all Hermione could see were flashes of light and in a few moments, both Rabastan Lestrange as well as Yaxley were unconscious at her feet. The Aurors barged into the next room and began to fight the other Death Eaters as Harry, Ron and Neville came into the flat behind their seniors. They saw her immediately.

"Hermione?!" exclaimed Ron, rushing to untie her at once. "How did you get here?"

Harry and Neville untied Hermione's parents as she spoke. "The Death Eaters kidnapped my parents— and then they sent me a letter to get Harry along and surrender him to them in exchange for their release. I had to come."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked, supporting Mrs Granger and trying to get her out of the door. "We would have helped."

"I just thought I should do this myself…" said Hermione.

"Nonsense," said Ron, rushing over to help Neville with getting Mr Granger out. Just as he got hold of the older man, there was a sound and before they knew it, Neville was unconscious.

Ron and Harry turned around, shocked, to see Rabastan on his feet with his wand aimed at them. Harry opened his mouth for an incantation, but he was too late; Rabastan had disarmed him. He handed Harry's wand to Yaxley and pointed his wand at Harry with a smile. "Crucio."

Harry fell to the ground, screaming in agony, as Ron and Yaxley fought, quick flashes of light issuing from both their wands. "Hermione, do something for Harry!" said Ron through gritted teeth. Hermione looked around desperately, trying to find a way to help Harry. She didn't have her wand, but surely, there was some way she could help. Harry was still writhing in pain and she wanted to stop Rabastan…

Suddenly, a broomstick standing against one of the walls caught her attention. She ran to it, grasped the handle and without waiting a moment, she whacked Rabastan hard on the head. He staggered, his spell discontinuing and giving Harry time to get up. Clenching her teeth, Hermione hit Rabastan for a second time and then turned to Yaxley, who stopped fighting with Ron for just a moment to send a jet of red light flying at her. Then she lost consciousness.


Hermione's eyes opened and she looked around, recognising her own room. Groaning, she turned to her side and curled up, wondering if she had just seen a really convincing dream or if she had really been held hostage by the Death Eaters.

"Hello, sleepyhead," said a familiar voice, and she sat up to see Ron enter the room with a smile on his face. He seated himself on the bed, right next to her.

"So was I seriously just asleep?" she asked, grinning a little herself.

"What do you think?" asked Ron.

"Well, that was either really a wild dream or…"

"Or?"

Hermione thought for a while. "Well, I think it was just a dream…"

"It wasn't just a dream," said Ron earnestly. "Those idiots thought they could punish Harry for killing You-know-Who or something. Nothing happened, though... thankfully."

Hermione sighed, remembering how Rabastan Lestrange had cast the Cruciatus Curse on her best friend. "How is Harry?" she asked Ron. "That Cruciatus Curse looked horrible."

"Well, he has been better," said Ron. "He was in pain— he just downed a pain potion with a bit of Sleeping Draught. He should be fine when he wakes up."

"And what did I get hit by?" asked Hermione.

"Thankfully, it was only a Stunner," said Ron. "Bit odd of Yaxley to use a simple charm on you, actually, but thank Merlin that he didn't do something worse."

"So how long has it been since…?"

"An hour. Harry, Neville and I were sent home. And before you ask, Neville is fine too. And so are your mum and dad. You can visit them later if you want."

"That will be good. I'll do that."

There was silence. Both of them looked into each other's eyes, the same question playing in their minds: What had happened last night?

Hermione decided to go for it. "So… any idea about last night…?"

He shrugged. "Nope. I really don't know how I got here… I barely remember anything that happened after we entered George's joke shop."

"I did have all my clothes on, though…"

"Well, obviously, nothing happened," said Ron.

"Of course not," said Hermione, but she could still sense some doubt in Ron's mind along with that in hers.

There was more silence, pressing on them like a blanket. "I… should go," said Ron, getting up and stretching. "Take rest."

Hermione got off the bed too. "Okay, see you later."

Then incredibly, before either of them could realise it, they were kissing. Hermione put her arms around him and held him tight, not ready to let go of them this time. He kissed her back with equal passion, his hands playing with her hair. Then they parted, panting hard, but their eyes twinkling with happiness. And then, a memory flashed in Hermione's eyes. Ron entering her room last night… all the kissing… and both of them passing out almost at the same time. She looked at Ron and burst into giggles, going red at the same time.

His ears reddened too. "What happened? Was I that terrible?"

"No!" she said, controlling her giggles with great difficulty. "I just remembered— we really didn't do anything last night. Well… except for some kissing…"

"We kissed?" he asked, trying hard to recollect the previous night.

"Yes. Then we passed out."

A relieved smile spread on his face. "We were all so drunk on Firewhiskey, weren't we?"

"We definitely were," said Hermione.

Ron looked at her for a while before clearing his throat. "So… um… will you go out with me for dinner…? Tonight?"

She smiled and nodded. "Of course! What took you so long to ask?"

"Guess I wasn't very prepared," he shrugged. Then he bit his lip for a second, before making a daring move and taking her hand in his.

She did not object. Instead, she squeezed his hand and said, "We'll take this slow and steady, okay? Let's not ruin our friendship with this."

"Of course," he said. She looked at him, adoring his blue eyes and his freckled face. She couldn't tell him about how long she had dreamt of this… how long she had waited for him to at least ask her out once… She leaned in and kissed him again.

This time it was softer and yet more passionate. She couldn't believe how kind life was finally being to her… for a really long time now she had been having feelings for Ron…

Suddenly, Ron pulled away mid kiss. Hermione, bewildered, looked at him only to find his face covered in a mask of fear. "What is it?" she asked, worried.

He pointed at the wall behind her and she turned around to see a spider scuttle about, building a web between the wall and her bedpost. "I'll get rid of it," she said, looking around for her wand, but Ron was quicker. Before she could find her wand, Ron had gone into his room and come back with his Cleansweep. Then with a deep breath, he brought the broomstick crashing down on the poor spider, causing it to fall down and scuttle fearfully across the floor.

"Ron!" Hermione cried, amused and exasperated. "Don't—" she made a face as the broomstick landed on the spider again. And again. Ron continued to hit the dead spider, while Hermione got up and pulled him away, Vanishing the arachnid with her wand. "What's with you?" she asked Ron, putting her hands on her hips.

"It was a spider, in case you didn't notice!" he replied to her in a fearful voice.

"Yes, I saw that, Ron, but you didn't have to hit it like that!"

The fear vanished from his face and soon, it was replaced by a grin. "I was only taking a leaf from your book."

She looked at him, her expression of anger changing until she burst into laughter. "Oh, Ron!"

He snorted, breaking into laughter too. "I'm sure Rabastan Lestrange is never going to want to look at another broomstick."

"Come on! I had to do something to protect us!"

"Yes and the broomstick was just perfect."

"May I remind you that you are standing here because of that exact broomstick?"

"Yeah. Right. Hermione, the hero."

"Shut up, Ron…"

Two rooms away, Harry opened an eye, the intense yelling having disrupted his sleep. But as he heard Ron and Hermione's bickering voices, he shut his eyes again, smiling. Those two would never put a stop to this stupid bickering of theirs would they? So he might as well sleep. There was absolutely no need to worry about anything. Everything was as normal as it could get.

THE END