Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot is my own! Happy Reading!

Chapter Nine: And so it begins…

The trio landed with a whirl in the middle of a smoky, bustling city. Hermione drug them to an alley and shoved her arm into a bag, fetching clothes. One changed, they tried to sit at a coffee shop and discuss their next move, but Death Eaters had other ideas. Hermione performed the necessary memory charms when the small scuffle was over. Then, the trio cautiously ventured to Grimmauld Place and was frightened by the "security" measures.

Now, it was late into the night, or early into the morning, whichever you would prefer for it to be referred to. Hermione was offered the couch and the boys had pallets made of cushions on the floor. Her arm lazily hung down, drawing invisible symbols on the floor. Harry was in the loo, either getting ready bed or stealing a moment to let him emotions release. Ron watched her motions silently, until he noticed the tears that betrayed her.

"Hey, I'm sure they are fine. They got out okay…the twins are resourceful and can be right nasty with their magic if they choose," Ron tried to comfort her.

Hermione's arm still dangled, but her motions ceased. Her lip trembled violently, but she still tried to stop the loud sobs that threatened to burst out. Ron softly took her hand in his, trying to soothe her and give her some strength.

"I just wanted him to know he wasn't some silly..." Hermione tried but the sobs overtook her.

"Fred knows he meant more to you than some hidden snog. My brother might be an arse, but he's not daft, Mione. He knows how much you care for him," Ron assured her.

Hermione nodded and gripped his hand tighter. Ron watched her breathing slowly evening out, as she drifted to sleep. He slipped his hand from hers as softly as he could and passed out.

The next few days were filled with the discovered of the identity of RAB and a surprise visit from Lupin. He had found out Tonks was pregnant with his child and was terrified of the repercussions. Harry sent him back, rather harshly according to Hermione, recognizing he was running from his family.

The interrogation of Mundungus Fletcher led to the location of the real locket. A plan was formed to break into the Ministry of Magic to retrieve the locket from Dolores Umbridge, who took it from Fletcher as a bribe for not turning him in for selling magical artifacts without a license.

"How do we go to the Ministry without being arrested?" Ron said exasperatedly.

"Polyjuice Potion," Harry said simply.

Hermione hopped off the couch and made a list of the required ingredients. "We will have to be careful about this. This could get us discovered and we're sitting ducks as it is."

"So we'll be extra careful and make sure we aren't discovered. Glamours and charms can be placed to protect us," Ron reasoned.

Hermione sat stunned by this, and then cleared her throat, "Exactly. Come on, we need to see what kind of ingredients were stashed here from before."

She hurriedly scurried to the kitchen and searched the cabinets, leaving two smirking boys behind.


Their plan should have worked. How had it gone wrong? Why was Ron in so much pain? Harry tried to tell Hermione it wasn't her fault. She wasn't to blame. But she refused to release her guilt and worked tirelessly to help Ron heal faster, losing even more sleep than she already was.

They were in the middle of nowhere, on the old grounds of Quidditch World Cup. It had been the first Hermione had thought of when the enchantments at Grimmauld Place had been compromised during their escape from the Ministry of Magic.

The locket, a horcrux that had previously been worn by Umbridge, now bounced among the trio. It was nasty bit of hate and darkness and it changed the demeanor of whoever its current victim was. Hermione was snappier, Harry more insecure about defeating Voldemort, and Ronald became darker, ruder, and questioning of their every move. Hermione knew it was harder for Ron to wear the locket in his injured state, but he refused to let the burden fall more on their shoulders and insisted he do his part. Hermione tried to reason with him, but he waved her off and stalked back to his bunk.

Hermione watched both of her best friends struggle with different pains, and resolved to bury herself in her research. She knew the strange symbol in her copy of "The Tales of Beedle and the Bard" and on Xenophilius Lovegood's necklace held some importance, or else why would Dumbledore etch into the book.

Harry tried to think of ways to destroy the locket, but failed miserably with each idea. His latest attempt made him severely frustrated and he chucked the evil piece across the table.

Hermione left her bunk, under the watchful eye of Ron, and attempted to calm Harry.

"Hey…"

"No, Mione. This is getting ridiculous," Harry slumped in the big chair. His feet on the seat, knees bent, resting his head on them.

Hermione took a seat in the little space provided in the oversized chair, curling up into the space.

"We'll figure it out. I know it looks dark and far off, but we will keep trying. We will do what we need to, and come out of this slump," she said.

Harry turned his head towards her and watched her carefully. She smiled at him and brought her hand to his hair, ruffling it. Hermione stood and kissed his head lightly, before slowly putting her jacket and scarf on for her watch. She slipped quietly from the tent, slipping the locket on as she went.

Ron watched the exchange between the two, narrowing his eyes at the thoughts that circled in his head.

"Surely, they weren't doing anything behind his siblings' backs. But since when…NO! Hermione likes Fred, possibly loves him and she wouldn't hurt him like that. Harry would never be so stupid to cross Ginny in such a way. I'm being stupid," Ron thought.

He felt his arm and chest, feeling the long scar that formed from the splinching. It was still healing, but he was able to resume his turn during watch.

Harry, eventually, left his seat in the chair and announced he was going to hunt for some food. Ron nodded and laid back down on his bunk, playing with his deluminator. He didn't have the heart to turn on the wireless to listen to the names of the missing being read again. It only brought misery during the reading and guilty relief when his family was not among them.

Hermione was an awful cook with what was given to her, but she tried with the meager findings of plants, mushrooms, and the occasional rabbit.

Ron tried to be polite, but the Weasley in him complained about the state of their food. Ron's nose scrunched in disgust and he groaned loudly, earning him a glare from Hermione. He noticed her expression flicker and instantly knew he either grated her nerves with his comments or severely hurt her feelings.

She announced she was going for a hunt one day, and the boys watched her leave.

Hermione walked along their enchantments in search of food and checked their traps. Nothing had been caught and she worried if they would have to survive the entire time on mushrooms and berries. Her own weight had significantly dropped and she worried about how drastic the boys' drop had been.

Searching further she came to edge of her barrier and stopped. Death Eaters stood at the edge and Hermione held her breathe. She knew they could not see her, but they could possibly detect the force field and instantly know someone or a group had placed them for a reason.

They stayed for what seemed to eternity, before trudging on about their business. She stood frozen, panicked in her spot until they faded away into the distance. She must have been gone for a while, because Harry eventually found her in her frightened state.

"They were just outside. If they had detected the enchantment, we would have been snatched," Hermione said shakily.

Harry held her in a tight embrace and steered her back towards their camp. She noticed he did not have the locket on, which left a moody Ronald at the tent.

Harry helped her pick as many berries and mushrooms along the way. Hermione even managed to snare a rabbit, lifting some of the gloom from her mind. They entered the camp with their haul and found a Ron sitting outside watching them.

His expression seemed confused and dark, so Hermione did her best to focus on preparing the meal. Harry took the rabbit to prepare outside.

Ron entered the tent and found her sitting at the table sorting her haul and avoiding his gaze.

"The latest broadcast was still clear of their names," he said shuffling over to help her. "Lee had him as a guest. He sounded good and strong. Would've made you proud, I suspect."

Hermione stopped her work and stared at the table. She had forced herself to put all thoughts of Fred out of her mind, not wanting to distract herself from their mission. But, she missed him desperately and it got harder as the weeks wore on.

"So, he's safe…good. And Lavender?" Hermione croaked.

"Not included on the list of the missing, so as good as can be expected," he added.

Hermione nodded, twisting her fingers and willing herself not to cry. All her efforts to put Fred in the back of her mind had come crashing down in an instant the moment she missed hearing his voice.

Harry entered the tent with a prepared raw rabbit and fire wood, and saw her expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked, worry etched across his face.

Hermione blinked several times and erased the distraught look on her face. "Nothing. I just missed something."

She quickly set out to grab the rabbit from him, but Harry pushed passed her and set everything on the table.

"What happened at the barrier?" Harry asked.

Ron looked from one to the other, completely feeling like an outsider of this conversation.

"Nothing-"

"Bloody hell, Hermione! What happened? You were gone for a long time and I found you shaking by the barrier. You said they almost detected it, why?"

Hermione's lip quivered and she wrung her hands so rough, they began turning strange colors. Harry noticed and snatched them up.

She took a deep breath and mumbled, "They could smell my…perfume."

Harry looked confused, but Ron knew exactly what she was talking about. He had given her a bottle in fifth year and she apparently still had some of it left.

"Why do you have perfume on?" Harry asked exasperatedly.

"Because we struggle to find ways to find food and properly take care of ourselves. Researching and that perfume are the only things I have that connect me to my old self…my old life. I happen to be a girl, as well. Sometimes, I like to act as one," she replied quietly, appearing as a scolded child.

"As much as you, or either of us, like that perfume, please do not wear it any longer," Harry pleaded.

Ron watched her lip quiver again, as she walked towards her bunk. She slumped on to it, curling into a ball. Harry looked to Ron, not sure what to do. Ron shrugged, knowing her current state was caused by another loss of her previous self and the missed chance to hear his voice.

Harry turned around and started to prepare the food, knowing that they needed to eat tonight. Ron returned to his spot of watch outside.

An hour or so later, Ron returned inside and found Hermione being embraced by Harry. The locket kept pulling at this display and bringing awful thoughts and conclusions to his mind. He jerked his head, trying to clear his mind, but failed miserably.

"What more confirmation, do you need? See how they embrace so freely, once you turn your back. They do not care for your family as they say they do. That look she had was worn out of guilt for the lies she weaving with her lover on the side," the voice urged him.

"No, she loves Fred. Harry only left my sister to attempt to protect her. He would never betray her," Ron thought against the seething voice.

The voice cackled at his reasoning, "Do you not remember she was about to end her relationship with him, the boy she "loves", if it made you uncomfortable? How could she love him if she could so easily chuck him to the side? And what do they care? They have each other within feet of each other. What do you think happens when you go for hunts? They are probably seizing the opportunities to "release their frustrations". Do you know any other two people, so selfless that they would end relationships simply to make their friends more comfortable or to save their loved ones from persecution?"

"Stop it!" Ron thought forcefully, ending the voices for the moment.

"Ron, you should really eat tonight. I may not be able to come across another rabbit, or any source of meat, for a while," Hermione urged.

"Yeah, I guess," he mumbled in response.

Harry made the plates and set them down in front of the three cups of water. The trio sat down to the closest thing to a proper meal they had been graced with in several weeks.

Harry watched Hermione carefully, making sure she was eating and not stirring it around.

Ron watched both of them, searching for signs to rebuke their lockets accusations. It was becoming harder for him to come out of the fog of the locket each time and the arguments still stirred in his brain making his mood fouler than usual.