Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.
Summary: Set at end of HBP. As the ministry falls further under Voldemorts control a new law is passed, forcing Hermione into a life she wasn't ready for. How will it affect the horcrux hunt and the fight against Voldemort?
CHAPTER 8
Ron was outside in his father's shed of mostly muggle artifacts, ripping apart the back wall, trying his best to dig out a few sleeping bags. He figured the faster they got the supplies ready, the quicker they would be able to move out on the horcrux hunt.
"Ron?" Harry's voice filled the garage. He immediately spotted the redhead, but stopped walking when he saw the state Ron was in.
Ron glanced briefly at Harry before turning back to the wall, chucking objects he did not need. He was sweating and dirty from digging through the shed.
"Ron, what are you doing?" Harry asked, cautiously.
"Getting some of the bloody stuff we will need for this bloody hunt so we can get the bloody hell out of here…" Ron grunted. He had found one sleeping bag so far.
"All day? Ron, I've been looking for you for hours. Ever since you stormed off this morning…" Harry told him.
For the first time since his arrival in the shed, Ron glanced out the window to see it was getting dark outside. He shrugged. "Huh…didn't realize it was so late…"
"Well it is." Harry said.
Ron nodded, calming down a bit. "I just…I've been thinking a lot."
"About Hermione?" Harry asked, though he already knew the answer.
"And her stupidity." Ron added.
Harry sighed. He was on Ron's side in this argument. "I know. I agree with you. We should leave…we shouldn't risk anything we don't need to…but she is not going to change her mind."
"And we need her." Ron sighed. He knew that, maybe even more then Harry did.
"Well then…we need to figure something out. I mean, realistically, Hermione could already be pregnant…if she is we have to figure out what to do…" Harry said.
"Easy. We leave her here…and you and I have no bloody chance…" Ron sighed.
"You and I will manage. At any rate, she will at least start with us. Even if she is pregnant, we won't know until after we've left." Harry reminded Ron.
"Alright fine…but when, if she is…what do we do?" Ron asked.
Harry glanced at Ron. He didn't think it was his place to say. After all, technically, Hermione was Ron's wife and if she was pregnant it would be with his child.
Ron understood Harry's glance and nodded. "I think it would be best to send her home…maybe back to Hogwarts. Ginny will be there."
Harry nodded. "That might be the safest thing…we should tell Hermione."
"Bloody hell, no! She will just fight with us about it until she figures out a way to get us to change our minds. No, I don't think we tell her unless we have no other choice…" Ron said.
"Ron, you know that will just end way worse. She needs to know the plan. Hermione will be livid if she thinks we tried to go behind her back." Harry said.
Ron sighed. He knew Harry was right. "Yeah…alright…lets just not tell her right now…I can't handle another row with her."
Harry nodded. That seemed fair enough and, personally, he could not watch Ron and Hermione having another go at one another; once a day was more then enough for him. He silently moved up next to Ron, helping the redhead pull down two more sleeping bags for their horcrux hunt.
Hermione sat on Ron's bed, trying her best to concentrate on the book she was reading, but it was no use. She knew Ron was still upset and she knew Mrs. Weasley was upset with what she had decided. However, Hermione knew she was right; she could not take Fleur's special day from her, but also, Hermione knew she, Ron, and Harry were not ready to leave yet. She knew she was taking a big risk doing what the Ministry was making her do with Ron but she couldn't look at it that way. She couldn't even think about getting pregnant because she knew it would disastrous if it happened.
The door to Ron's room opened and Hermione glanced up to see Ginny entering the room.
"Hey..." Hermione said softly, closing the book.
"Are you going to come down for dinner?" Ginny asked.
"Is your mum still upset with me?" Hermione responded.
Ginny shrugged. "She just thinks Ron's right. She thinks you're taking a big risk…but I think she is just worried about everything really. I mean, you and Ron are young and if something happened…"
"Not to mention we aren't even a real couple…" Hermione threw in, her voice a bit shaky.
"Well…you could be, if the two of you weren't dancing around it…" Ginny said.
"I told him how I felt, Gin. He didn't say much." Hermione admitted.
Ginny looked at Hermione for a moment and then shook her head. "That's because he can be a twit sometimes…"
Hermione shrugged, though it was clear she was hurt. "Doesn't matter…but that's why I can't even think about getting pregnant."
Ginny took a seat next to Hermione. "Hermione, I agree with you…that Ron and Harry need you but the longer you all stay here to plan this the bigger the chance you have of…well…getting pregnant which won't help anyone."
"I know." Hermione sighed. "But we are not ready to leave yet. If we try before it, we are just walking into a death mission and to ruin Fleur and Bill's day…"
"Hermione, they can get married when all of this over…" Ginny reasoned.
"If we all make it through." Hermione's voice quivered a little.
"Don't think like that." Ginny told her.
"I have to. We have to be reasonable. There is a good chance that if Bill and Fleur were to wait we would all not be there for it." Hermione reasoned.
"That's not true." Ginny said.
"It is true, Gin. I mean, look at all the people we've lost already. All the muggles who've been killed…Sirus…Dumbledore…" Hermione shook her head. "It could happen to any of us."
Ginny said nothing, but gave a little nod. She knew Hermione had a point, whether she wanted to believe it or not, and as much as she understood why there were quite a few people who thought Hermione was being ridiculous, Ginny could see the bushy-haired brunettes reasoning. The idea of war made people make decisions that were not always the most rational.
Ron and Harry walked back into the kitchen of the Burrow where they found Mrs. Weasley finishing cooking dinner. She immediately turned to them giving them both a strained smile.
"Thanks for finding Ron, Harry…" Mrs. Weasley said.
"I wasn't lost, mum…" Ron knew she was joking.
Mrs. Weasley sighed with a nod and continued cooking.
"Look, I know you're not happy with Hermione's decision. I'm not really either…" Ron admitted.
"She seems pretty set on it." Mrs. Weasley commented.
"Yeah…we figured that much out…" Ron glanced at Harry who gave a slight nod.
"Which…got us thinking…if something happens we need a plan." Harry spoke up.
"A plan?" Mrs. Weasley raised an eyebrow.
"For Hermione. If she does…you know…get pregnant…" Ron said.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head with another sigh. "That girl isn't thinking this through. Even in the best of times being a young mother isn't easy…"
"Well, hopefully it won't happen." Ron said.
"But if it does…Ron and I thought it would obviously be best for her not to stay with us…wherever we are." Harry said.
"Well at least you two seem to have brains for once." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Right, so we thought we would send her here…or maybe Hogwarts…" Ron suggested.
"I don't know where we will be and honestly, I don't know if Hogwarts would be so smart…if Hermione leaves with you she might be rendered an outlaw…" Mrs. Weasley reminded them.
"Right. We didn't think of that." Ron glanced at Harry. So far, their plan was a bust.
"Maybe not though. Maybe if she showed up at Hogwarts…I mean, McGonagall is there…Ginny will be there…" Harry reasoned.
"She's muggle born though…" Mrs. Weasley reminded them.
"But, if she is pregnant, she is following the Ministry's Law. I doubt they would do anything to her until she at least had the child…it would make the Ministry look bad and make a lot of other people ignore this law." Harry thought.
"Yeah, but the law wasn't made for anything but a reason to kill us. They won't care about that kid…" Ron could see where his mother was coming from.
"So what do we do with her then?" Harry asked.
"Shell Cottage." Mrs. Weasley said at once.
"Where?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" Ron was equally as confused.
"Shell Cottage, Harry, is a summer home that has been in our family. Fleur and Bill will be moving there, and we plan on making it a safe house for the Order." Mrs. Weasley explained.
"So Hermione would be safe there." Ron nodded. It sounded like a good idea.
"We should see how things go but…hopefully we won't have to worry about it." Mrs. Weasley said.
Ron nodded. "Another thing, mum. We…aren't going to tell Hermione this unless we have to so don't bring it up in front of her, please?"
"Not a problem, dear. Now why don't you two eat?" Mrs. Weasley handed them both plates.
"What about everyone else?" Ron asked, forking at his chicken.
"They already ate." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Wow. I was outside a long time…" Ron commented, his mouth full of food.
"Told you." Harry said.
A second later, Ron was done eating, as fast as always. He placed the empty plate down.
"Blimey, Ron…" Harry shook his head at the empty plate.
"Well…I figured I needed some energy for tonight…Yaxley's coming tomorrow…" Ron reminded them, shaking his head and moving out of the kitchen begrudgingly. He was not looking forward to the night ahead because he was still a little annoyed with Hermione and he was sure she was annoyed with him as well. He had a feeling it was going to be an awkward night.
Hermione moved out of Ron's small shower and into his room, ringing her wet hair out as she grabbed a pair of underwear and a big white t-shirt from her drawer. Dinner had been awkward; Mrs. Weasley hardly talking to her, though Hermione was more hurt by the fact that neither Ron nor Harry had joined them for dinner. She thought they would, after a few hours, at least begin to see where she was coming from.
As Hermione continued to ring her curls out, the door to Ron's door opened and Ron walked in observing Hermione who was now looking for a pair of pajama bottoms from her drawer.
"Don't bother getting dressed. We've still got stuff we need to get done." Ron said, no emotion in his voice. Yaxley would be back tomorrow and unless he and Hermione wanted to die they would have to have sex again that night.
Hermione bit her bottom lip, avoiding eye contact with Ron as her trembling hand closed Ron's dresser drawer that Ginny had put a few of Hermione's things in. So after everything, that was what it amounted to for Ron; obligation. She thought the night before had proved something different; that maybe Ron actually cared about her. Hermione certainly told him she cared about him, but now none of that seemed to matter.
Ron noticed Hermione's freeze and sighed. He thought she was risking their entire futures by continuing to follow through with the Ministry rather then pack up and leave now for the hunt but he certainly wasn't truly mad at her, and he hated to see her look upset, which clearly she was.
"Hermione…I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that…" Ron sighed, ruffling his own red hair and flopping himself down on his bed.
"Its fine. You're right. We have a commitment to stick to." Hermione nodded, as if she were talking about a business transaction.
"We don't have to. We could leave now—" Ron tried.
"You know we can't, Ron." Hermione glance dup and made eye contact with him for the first time since he had walked in. "We aren't ready."
"Yeah, well…we aren't ready to be parents either." Ron mumbled loud enough for Hermione to hear.
Hermione glared at him. "Well, hopefully we won't be."
Ron just nodded, pulling his shirt off and laying down; ready to do what he had to with Hermione. In truth, he knew in the back of his head, he was being a complete ass. He should be happy he was getting this experience with Hermione; because he knew he had feelings for her unlike he had ever felt for anyone else. Hell, he was pretty sure he even loved her; he just didn't want to sleep with her because he had to, he wanted to do it because he wanted to. Now, he felt like he was being forced in it.
Hermione just nodded at Ron's action, trying her best to keep herself from crying. She felt so used in that moment. Ron was clearly still upset with her and was there for one thing only. She took a deep breath and tried her best to calm her nerves before the tears rose. Instead, she closed her eyes as she pulled her own shirt off, exposing her uncovered breast.
Ron could see that Hermione was trying not to cry, and he realized he was being inconsiderate to some degree. Even if she caved and said they could leave early, he knew that it wouldn't be that night and that he and Hermione had to have sex because Yaxley would be by in the morning. It was out of her control and he shouldn't be taking it out on her. She deserved to be treated like the beautiful woman she was, especially while he was sleeping with her.
"Hermione…" Ron sighed, sitting up and patting the bed next to him.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes to see Ron tossing her shirt back at her. She caught it, confused.
"I'm sorry. I'm being a complete arse about this. If we are going to do this, I don't want it to just be a physical thing, like it doesn't matter, because it does matter. We may have no choice, but you deserve to be treated better then that." Ron told her. He knew right now was not the moment to argue with her over their different opinions on the horcrux hunt. Right now was about the two of them.
Hermione's breath hitched at Ron's words. There was meaning behind them and she could tell Ron was trying to tell her something, though he didn't know how exactly to say it.
"Go on, put that back on for now…" Ron motioned to Hermione's shirt, still in her hand.
Hermione slipped her shirt back on and sat down next to Ron. "Ron…I'm sorry if your mad at me…I know you think I'm being stupid but I am really thinking about our safety. If we leave now, we are risking our lives…and your families…we need to have a proper plan…"
Ron laughed a little, causing Hermione to stop talking.
"What?" Hermione glared a bit at Ron, feeling offended by his laugh.
"You ramble when you get nervous…or when you are trying to prove a point." Ron told her. It was something he had known about her since their first year at Hogwarts, and although he sometimes acted as if it was annoying, he secretly found it rather cute.
"I…I absolutely do not." Hermione stuck her nose in the air, trying to prove Ron wrong. "And for the record, Ronald, I have no point to prove because I am right and deep down you and Harry both know it, and risking our lives will prove nothing. If we fail there is nothing—"
Ron cut Hermione off with a kiss, surprising her. After a moment they broke apart, Hermione's eyes still closed and her mouth slightly opened in shock, Ron grinningly widely.
"Do you ever stop talking? We can discuss this in the morning…" Ron whispered to her.
"Mmmhmm…" Hermione still didn't open her eyes but rather just nodded her head, diving in for another kiss, completely forgetting what she was talking about. The only thing that was on her mind at the moment was the feeling of Ron's lips on hers.
Yaxley didn't bother knocking on the front door of the Weasley home that sunny morning. They were blood traitors, beneth him. He didn't need permission to enter their filthy, mudblood-loving home.
Yaxley moved into the Burrow to find a surprised Harry and Ginny wrapped up in each other's arms on the couch.
"Sorry. We didn't hear you knock." Ginny recovered before Harry did.
"That's because I didn't." Yaxley shot back at her.
Ginny glared at him. She obviously had known he had just barged into her home.
"I need the married couple." Yaxley said.
"I'll go get them." Harry stood, hustling up the stairs and toward Ron's room. In all honesty, it was rather late and he was surprised the two were still asleep. He knocked on the door.
No response.
"Ron? Hermione?" Harry called.
No response.
Harry took a deep breath and opened the door. He had no idea what he was walking into and so he covered his eyes. "Ron? Hermione?"
"Bloody hell, Harry! Knock, would you?" Ron seemed to yelp.
"My eyes are closed." Harry assured them. "And I did knock…Yaxley is downstairs."
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione's voice seemed calm, though Harry could tell she was blushing.
Harry just nodded and moved out the door, closing it.
"Bloody hell…" Ron flopped back onto the bed. Pulling Hermione's naked body close to his. If the first night together had been great, Ron was certain the night before had been the most amazing night of his life. Hermione had been more relaxed, obviously knowing what to expect, and it had allowed Ron to get to explore her even more, and learn what she liked. For example he knew if he nibbled lightly under her right ear her toes curled in ecstasy. The side of Hermione he had seen the night before was something he never though he would experience.
Hermione giggled against Ron's bear chest. She was still in ecstasy herself. It was as if they had never been fighting the night before at all. Things were perfect in that moment. "I guess we didn't hear him knock."
"I was unconscious. Bloody tired…worn out from last night…" Ron said, running a hand through her brown locks.
Hermione laughed softly and then glanced at the clock by Ron's bed. "Well, it is rather late…we should get downstairs before Yaxley comes up here…"
"Little late, Mrs. Weasley." Yaxley's voice filled the room as he entered.
Hermione yelp, jumping up and pulling Ron's sheet tight around her breast. She was hardly comfortable around Ron naked, let alone around another grown man whom she knew hated her simply for the kind of parents she was born to.
Yaxley grinned. "I doubt I will be needing to use any type of serum today. Looks like you two are more then friendly."
Hermione blushed the color of Ron's hair and dropped her head, completely embarrassed.
Ron sat up, placing an arm around Hermione's naked shoulders and fixing the sheets so his bottom half was covered. "Yeah well, that's the point of marriage, right?"
"Very good, Mr. Weasley." Yaxley nodded and stood, moving toward the door. "I'll be back in two days."
Hermione still sat there, shocked, as Yaxley closed the door, leaving the couple alone.
"Well…you were right." Ron flopped back down on the bed.
Hermione glanced down at Ron. "What are you talking about?"
Ron picked up Hermione's finger, playing with the small wedding band he had given her. "Well…he isn't coming back tomorrow, so I guess he trusts us a little more."
Hermione smiled at Ron, swatting his chest playfully before flopping down on it, watching as he continued to play with her wedding ring. "So see…we don't have to worry about doing this every day."
"True." Ron nodded with a small grin as he kissed the top of her head. "Too bad…"
