In Continuation
Chapter Three
Sorry it's taken me a while by my standards. But I seem to be going off Harry Potter a bit already ... oh well. Hello again, AC/DC, old friends. I've missed you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
No one said anything for a long time. Harry was still numb with grief and guilt, and what Hermione had just said took a while to sink in.
She couldn't leave. Not in the midst of all this trouble, everyone so upset they could barely converse without sobbing.
Harry looked at Ron. He was so pale he could have been a corpse, still and silent. The imagery in Harry's mind struck him as inappropriate: he thought of Fred and his desire for Hermione to stay increased greatly.
Ginny had noticed her brother, too. She stood up slowly.
"I'm going to see Mum and Dad," she said quietly, edging towards the door. She closed it behind her, her footsteps suddenly quick across the landing and down the stairs.
Hermione burst into tears.
"Hermione!" Ron cried, rushing to her, "Please -"
She wasn't listening to him. Sobbing hard, she collapsed onto the bed and buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. Ron followed suit, sitting down with an arm around her.
"You can't go," he said simply, shaking his head, "You c-can't. Please."
He was trembling and so was his voice as he repeated himself, over and over gain.
"You can't go, you can't, you can't -"
"Oh, I know that Ron!" Hermione screamed eventually, "D'you really think I want to? D'you think that I need to sit on my own in a plane when I'm in this state?"
She was livid. Harry could tell that this was simply due to emotion - all the same, it was rather frightening.
"Of course not!" she shouted hysterically, "I can't go, Ron, but I've got to! I haven't really got a choice!"
Harry watched the two of them stare each other out, Hermione flushed, Ron drained. Their faces were exact opposites, yet they showed exactly the same devastation.
"I'm sorry," Hermione sniffed finally, "I'm just - it's a bit of a shock, and I don't think it's an ideal time to fly off and leave you, but I can't help it, can I?" She held up the phone, "I got a call from the airport. I've been moved to another flight."
Ron was momentarily amazed.
"That thing's a fellytone?" he gasped incredulously.
Hermione ignored him. Wiping her eyes, she put the phone in her pocket and stood up.
"I'd better start packing," she sniffed.
Ron slipped back into misery, nodding slowly. Harry sighed heavily. He hadn't said a word in a very long time.
Clearing his throat, he spoke: "If you want any help, Hermione, just ask."
"Thanks, Harry, but I think I'll be all right."
Ron stood up.
"Right, I'm going to pack too," he announced.
Harry was about to ask Ron where he was going when Hermione started shaking her head, and he realised what was going on.
"No, Ron, you can't," she said, "I have to do this alone."
"Don't talk like that, it's not true!" Ron protested, "You don't have to! I'll come with you - Harry'll be all right here, won't you, Harry?"
Before Harry could even open his mouth, Hermione cut across him.
"I don't think it's a good idea," she insisted, "My parents have never met you, what are they going to say when two strangers come and point wands at them? Besides, I'm going by plane, aren't I? How will you get on?"
"Well - the same way the Muggles do," Ron said, perplexed.
"You know what I mean," Hermione sighed, "Plane tickets! You haven't got one, have you?"
"I'll get there by magic and meet you, then! Please, Hermione, I can't let you -"
"Silencio!"
Harry looked up with a jerk to see Hermione's wand drawn, pointing at Ron, who mouthed a few soundless words before realising what had happened. When he did, he glared furiously at Hermione and started to, evidently, swear.
"What did you do that for?" asked Harry under his breath.
"He won't listen to me otherwise," Hermione replied, "I'm sorry about that, Ron, but I really do need you to listen. I'm going to Australia on my own. I don't want to, especially not right now, but I really think I have to, don't you? Thank you for offering to come with me, but - you c-can't."
Harry could see tears forming in her eyes once more as she removed her spell. Ron didn't seem to see, however: he silently sat down, avoiding both Harry and Hermione's eyes.
"I'm s-sorry, Ron, I r-really am," Hermione started, but Ron silenced her with a sudden look. His mood had totally changed - he now looked like there was a question forming in his mind.
"We're going to have to tell everyone when you get back."
Harry's immediate thought was to agree with what Ron had just said. He did, after all, know exactly what he was talking about, and thought it best to do as he had suggested. Luckily, before he said anything, he remembered that the only reason he could agree was because he heard a conversation that he was supposed to have slept through.
"We can tell Harry now, though," Hermione whispered, "It won't be as much of a shock to him as it will to anyone else, will it? I mean, he was the only other person there at the time ..."
"I - I think I know what you're talking about," Harry interrupted, "And it's fine, I swear. I just presumed it was already a thing, so I've accepted it. To be honest, it wasn't even a surprise in the first place."
Ron half-smiled.
"Hermione and me were talking last night, that's all," he explained, "We've both realised that ... well, you know ..."
"I do."
"Yeah. Um - good."
"Which is, at the end of the day, another reason I ought not to be leaving tonight," Hermione sighed, sitting down again. She turned to Ron, "You understand, though, don't you?"
Ron nodded. Leaning forward, he kissed Hermione on the lips and she responded happily, slowly winding her arms around him. It was odd: Harry was reminded forcefully of their first kiss on the night of the battle, yet that one had been much more heated, completely different to the one he was witnessing on Ron's bed. Harry supposed that the atmosphere made quite a bit of difference.
"Of course I understand," Ron murmured, after several what seemed like hours, but were probably mere seconds, "I can't help but imagine how I'd be feeling in the same situation."
"Don't imagine it," Hermione warned him, "You've got plenty to concentrate on. Look, you two go downstairs, make sure everyone is all right. I'll come down as soon as I've finished packing."
"They won't be all right," Ron said casually.
"Maybe not," Hermione replied grimly, "That's exactly why we should be sticking together, isn't it?"
It was a miserable afternoon. Harry was half-hoping for a private conversation with Ginny, but was not particularly disappointed when none came - such a meeting would not have been as pleasant and cheerful as Harry was hoping it would eventually be.
His patience was not always rewarded. Among all the sadness, Harry kept feeling stabs of jealousy whenever he saw Ron and Hermione together. Most of the afternoon was spent in the company of Weasleys and guests, nibbling at the huge buffet meal Mrs Weasley had prepared so everyone could eat when they wanted. There was one moment, however, when his two friends disappeared. He found the, after a short search: they had found an empty armchair away from most of the crowd, and were simply sitting in silence, hand in hand. A pang of envy sliced through him as he pictured himself in the same armchair, closely entwined with Ginny. He longed, once again, for their closeness and intimacy.
This though soon died when he left Ron and Hermione to get a sandwich from the buffet. Mr Weasley was there - he shot Harry a weak smile before leaning close to him.
"Can I have a quick word, Harry?" he whispered.
Wondering what Mr Weasley could possibly want with him that was so private, Harry nodded. It had to be urgent, after all, if he was to be told now.
Mr Weasley lead him into the kitchen.
"Now, Harry," he started, removing his glasses to wipe them on his sleeve, "I want you to know that nobody blames Fred's death on you."
Harry had forgotten about his guilt in the commotion about Hermione leaving. Even as he remembered it, it came flooding back, strong as ever. He felt a sudden want to find out how Mr Weasley could have, apparently, read his thoughts.
"How did you -?"
"We saw you leave the funeral early. Ginny told us how you were feeling, Harry and everyone understands. We've known you too long, we know you too well."
Harry wasn't sure what he was supposed to say.
"None of this was your fault, Harry. I think I speak for everyone when I say that."
Harry nodded.
"Yeah. I just - I can't help thinking that if I'd been faster, or whatever, then - then Fred would still be here, with Tonks and Lupin ..." he blinked furiously
"You didn't ask for all this to happen," Mr Weasley told him, a hand on his shoulder, "If anyone is at fault it's - You-Know-Who."
Without warnind, Mr Weasley's face lit up, his mouth stretched into a grin too huge for the occasion. He looked at Harry and laughed; a joyous, triumphant laugh that made Harry feel slightly more rejuvenated inside.
"Why are we still calling him You-Know-Who?" he asked himself loudly, "He can't have been as strong as we all though if he died, can he? His name was - V-Voldemort!"
Voldemort ... it sounded so strange to hear someone like Mr Weasley saying the name. But, Harry reminded himself, it was no longer taboo, and it was very rarely going to strike fear into the hearts of witches and wizards. He was going to have to get used to it.
"Well - " Hermione swallowed, "I'm ready. I'm going."
She stood up, clutching a suitcase and her beaded handbag.
"I won't say goodbye to everyone, it's too sad," she said, her voice rising, "I'll be as fast as I can, but I'll have a lot to do so I can't make any promises, I'm afraid ..."
Harry approached her. He was starting to miss her already , even though her reassuringly solid, visible form was standing right in front of him.
"Good luck," he told her, "You'll be absolutely fine, and I'm sure your parents will be, too, once you've got them home."
"Thanks Harry," Hermione smiled at him, though tears were forming in her eyes, "I really don't feel like doing this, though. I don't know how hard it's going to be ... I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to undo the magic, it's the explaining I'm worried about. How do you begin to tell two Muggles about all that's happened to us?"
"You'll find a way," Harry said, in what he hoped was a reassuring kind of voice, "Just remember - Wendell and Monica are going to get their daughter back."
A tear trickled down Hermione's cheek as she wrapped her arms around Harry. He hugged her back tightly, trying hard not to start crying himself. Every mildly saddening thing seemed a thousand times worse since Fred's death. Normally, he would still have missed Hermione greatly, but at the moment he needed all the company he could get.
"Bye, Harry," Hermione whispered thickly, wiping her eyes. She glanced nervously across the room. Harry followed her gaze: he had almost forgotten that Ron was there, but there he was, skulking in the shadows. As the day had progressed, he had become increasingly moody, and snapped at anyone who approached him. Even, Harry was surprised to see, Hermione - Ron's aim seemed to be to make her stay by acting frosty due to her leaving.
"Ron?" Hermione prompted gently.
With a sigh, Ron heaved himself across the room and came to rest in front of Hermione's suitcase.
"Oh, Ron," its owner said sadly, "Am I going to have to leave without you even saying goodbye?"
"No," Ron mumbled, "Goodbye."
He was staring at the floor. Harry saw another tear escape Hermione's eye: she caught Ron's hand and he looked up.
"What happened?" Hermione asked, "You said you understood, now you're barely speaking to me ..."
"I just - " Ron swallowed, "I don't want you to go," he finished lamely, "I've kind of realised that this means you won't - you know, be here and all that. When I need you."
"I know," Hermione agreed, "I really do. How do you think I feel?"
She laughed shakily - a laugh that immediately turned to a noisy sob. Something inside Ron seemed to melt. He pulled Hermione into a close embrace, stroking her hair while she continued to sob, dropping her bag and hugging Ron back tightly.
"S-sorry," she gulped, "I d-didn't mean t-to start c-crying, I -"
She fished a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose. Ron let her go - he did, however, keep one arm around her shoulders.
"Right," Hermione said finally, taking deep, calming breaths, "I'm going. See you both soon, really soon -"
"Yeah, you're not going for a holiday, remember?" Harry reminded her.
She smiled and nodded.
"Straight back to The Burrow, I promise."
"I'll come and see you off," Ron said, "Is that all right, Harry?"
It wouldn't have mattered if it wasn't all right. Harry would still have said yes. He understood all too well how Ron was feeling, minutes away from his last few moments alone with Hermione for an unknown stretch of time.
Harry sat on his bed as he watched Ron and Hermione's backs leave the room.
It had been a horrid day, he thought, staring around at Ron's orange room. All he wanted to do was get back beneath his duvet and succumb to the wave of drowsiness washing over him. Sleep would bring the next day on faster, and the days could only improve.
It was several minutes before a knock on the door made Harry jump.
"Harry? Are you in there?"
The voice belonged to Ginny. Relieved, Harry called back to her.
"Yeah, I am. Come in."
She entered Ron's room, perching beside Harry.
"I hope you're not planning on talking privately, Ron'll be back any minute," Harry warned her. Then, he added in an undertone, "He's saying goodbye to Hermione."
Ginny's face turned unnaturally serious.
"Oh, is that what he's calling it?" she mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
Ginny hesitated. She seemed to be arguing with herself. Finally, she burst out with a question.
"Harry are Ron and Hermione together now?"
Harry froze. This sounded all too suspicious.
She knew.
Or did she ...?
"Wh-why? I mean - what makes you say that?" Harry was choosing his words carefully, trying to sound as if he knew absolutely nothing, "D'you think they are?"
"Come off it!" Ginny cried, "I can tell you know, Harry! And now I do, too, I just saw them snogging outside -"
Harry swore loudly, causing Ginny to jump.
"You're right, it's true, but nobody's supposed to know yet!" Harry growled furiously, "Oh, why aren't they being more careful -"
"Nobody's supposed to know?" Ginny repeated, "You mean Ron has been trying to hide his feelings for Hermione? Well, he certainly convinced me otherwise!"
"Yeah, I know he's a bit obvious," Harry admitted, "But they're not telling anyone officially until Hermione gets back from Australia." It was Harry's turn to hesitate, "I overheard them the other night. They were going to do it tomorrow. I know they want to, as soon as possible, but it's not really appropriate at the moment, is it?"
"Mmm," Ginny agreed, "Well. I suppose I'm happy for them. Ron's crazy about Hermione, always has been. Did he finally tell her, or something?"
"No," said Harry, "She snogged him."
They both laughed.
"I'm beginning to think," Ginny said eventually, "That I'm going to have to do the same." She paused, "Only - not to Ron."
Harry stared at her. She was gazing at him, expectantly, as though willing him to say something.
The door creaked open and Ron trudged in, his expression one of despair. Ginny sprang to his side, her arm around him.
"It's all right," she whispered soothingly, "Come on ..."
She sat Ron down on his bed. He looked as lost and hopeless as he had done before his first Quidditch match.
"It'll only be a few days," Harry said, "Not long, mate, she said so herself, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but - at a time like this? It's going to seem like f-forever -"
To everyone's surprise, Ron did something that Harry had rarely seen him do. He burst into tears.
FINALLY! I'm finished! Sorry it took so long, as I said I've gone off HP and fanfiction a bit.
It's hard to write funeraly sadness, purely because you can't understand it until it's happened to you really, can you? Anyway, please review!
