Chapter 10:
The Grand Entrance
Hermione was swooped into the Shrieking Shack but seemed to be downstairs. Damn. Hermione thought. Really overshot that one. She shook her head.
"Hermione, duck!" Ginny screamed, firing a curse at Draco Malfoy which nearly missed him. Realizing she was in the middle of the battle, Hermione jumped forward over a pushed down table and landed on her stomach. She winced as her chin skidded a bit on the ground and crawled to the table. Hermione found Harry and Ginny ducked behind the table getting up once and a while to fire spells. Hermione's eyes went to Ginny's arm.
"Ginny! What happened to your arm?" She gasped. Ginny sighed, shaking her head a little.
"It's not a big deal, I just nearly missed a spell and it brushed against my arm. I have no idea what the spell was but man, it hurt on my arm." Ginny laughed. "Confingo!" Ginny shouted over her shoulder, sending a curse bursting into flames. Hermione ducked her head down along with Harry and Ginny as flames ingulfed the room. They heard screams coming from possibly Draco and Blaise, but they couldn't be sure. The flames finally distinguished and Hermione looked quizzically at Harry who looked at her sheepishly. Ginny will be Ginny. Harry mouthed. Hermione giggled a bit but then realized George and Teddy weren't with them.
"Where are Teddy and," Hermione started, but was cut off by shouts and laughter. Hermione's head shot up to see Teddy dancing like an Irishman and George tipping his imaginary hat to him. They seemed to be standing over someone. Hermione craned her head back to see who it was. The person was quite tall, had lots of hair and seemed to have fangs. Greyback. Hermione shuddered. He wasn't dead but just seemed to be stunned. Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled at them. Teddy had been kind of like a replacement for Fred and he was doing a great job. George had changed since Fred died. Less laughter and smiles but he still had a sense of humor. It just wasn't as big as it used to be. But no one had seen George as happy as he was with Teddy when he turned 13 and started playing pranks.
All of a sudden, someone burst through the door, clanking in on heals.
"What is all this? Greyback? Draco! Draco what is happening!" A familiar voice screamed. Hermione, Harry and Ginny peaked from under the table. Standing in the doorway was Delores Umbridge in all pink. They slowly lowered their heads and looked at each other. Disapparate. Hermione mouthed and took Ginny and Harry's hands. Harry was about to protest when they were suddenly flying through the air. They landed right next to where George and Teddy were crouching down. George opened his mouth in protest but Hermione cut him off.
"We don't have time for this!" Hermione whisper/screamed at him. George shut his mouth. Ginny forcefully grabbed her brother's hand and Harry grabbed Teddy's. The last thing they heard was a shrill voice that screamed, "HARRY POTTER!"
They touched down at the Burrow, landing on their stomachs. George groaned and sat up. Teddy huffed and helped Hermione up, who brushed herself off. Harry helped Ginny up and grinned at her.
"You were really brilliant back there you know; saving me like that." He blushed and scratched the back of his head.
"It was my pleasure. Everyone loves a good confusion charm; especially on Draco Malfoy." Ginny laughed. Harry laughed at the memory of Draco's face when Ginny sprang up and used the spell 'confundo' on him. George choked and looked over at Ginny.
"That was you? Boy I got a hoot out of that! Did you see him land right on his 'pureblood' butt? Good one little sis!" George laughed and gave Ginny a punch in her good arm. Ginny scowled but couldn't hold back her laughter as she punched George back.
"Oh! What about when Teddy punched Greyback straight in the face? Oh now that is what I call perfection!" George laughed harder, patting Teddy on the back. Teddy grinned ear to ear.
"All in a day's work, Georgie!" Teddy laughed.
While the others were laughing having a good time, Hermione made her way back into the Burrow. Everyone seemed to have gone home and now the house only contained Molly, Arthur and Ron. Hermione was greeted at the door by Molly.
"Hermione! Thanks goodness you all made it back ok. Oh dear! Your cheek! We will have to stitch that up straight away. You can see Ronald in a minute." Molly said and quickly got out some potions.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione cheek had been healed and she now sat in the kitchen with only a scar upon her cheek.
"Thanks Molly. I really appreciate it." Hermione thanked Molly.
"Of course dear!" Molly smiled. Hermione walked into the living room where Ron laid on the couch. She saw his eyes were closed and his chest slowly rose up and down from the intake on breaths. Hermione smiled at him lovingly and made her way over to him. She sat on the edge of the couch by his stomach. She put one of her hands on his cheek and rested the other hand on the couch. She caressed his cheek and then slowly put her hand through his hair. Oh, how she loved his fiery red hair. Hermione had been a Weasley for many years now but she had always wanted their hair. She never told Ron but she had always been jealous of his hair. She smiled and gave a little laugh as she remembered when Ron had been poisoned in their 6th year. She had remembered when he whispered her name and Lavender had walked in the room and heard him thus braking up with him. Hermione never liked Lavender after that even though she knew it really wasn't her fault at all. She couldn't help but dislike her though, she had snogged Ron. She had snogged him multiple times too! Hermione furrowed her brow at this thought. She shook it off immediately. That time was over. Hermione knew now that Ron has always and always would love Hermione.
"Hm, Hermione?" Ron asked dreamily. Hermione jumped in surprise. She hadn't expected Ron to wake up! Ron put his hand over the hand Hermione had on his face."Hey." Ron said, smiling at her. Hermione sighed as he gave her hand a squeeze. "Did you bring them back?" He asked and sat up a little.
"Yes I did just as I said I would Ronald. I am quite strong you know." She said pretending to scold him. Ron laughed.
"Hey, I was only asking. Didn't drop your wand this time, eh?" Ron grinned. Hermione smack his arm.
"Honestly Ronald that wasn't funny! You could have been killed! It would have been my fault!" She said, now scolding him for real. Ron put up his hands.
"Blimey Hermione I was only joking!" Ron huffed and rubbed his arm. "And it was never your falut! it was my choice to protect you." Ron said in a smal vocie. The corners of Hermione's mouth started to turn upward and Ron noticed. "Well Hermione I guess you were right back in 5th year. I do have the emotional range of a teaspoon." Ron said, stifling back laughter. Hermione looked into his eyes and burst out laughing. She fell onto Ron's chest lightly, still laughing. Ron laughed with her and put his arms around her. Once they stopped laughing, Ron scooted over slightly to make room for Hermione's body on the couch. Hermione rapped her arms around Ron's stomach and buried her face into his chest.
"I missed you." Hermione's voice sounding muffled. Ron chuckled and smiled a little.
"I missed you too. You know, for a moment I thought I'd never see you again. But, that was only for a moment." Ron finished quickly as his ears turned a bright pink. Hermione lifted up her head and stared at him. She laughed at his pink ears.
"I just knew you'd be alive. I could feel it. But I was worried about you." She said while lowering her head back down to his chest.
"Right; how did you know where I was? I've been meaning to ask and well, I kind of forgot, and I just remembered now." Ron asked sheepishly. Hermione giggled but then became very serious.
"Well, I had gone to bed for that night and when I did I had a nightmare. I was about you. You were being tortured by someone and I looked around and realized I was in the shrieking shack. Then I woke the whole house but with my screaming, which was really embarrassing," Hermione stopped to look a Ron. He looked at her in concern, then motioned for her to go on. "So anyways, I told everyone about it and Arthur said that there was something new to the wizarding world that was a connection shared between two people in love. They can see where the other person is in their dreams, kind of like a vision, but it only usually happens when the other is in danger. And that made sense in this occasion, considering you were in danger. I guess we have it." Hermione finished. She let out a breath and looked at Ron. He stared back at her with a look mixed with shock and excitement.
"So, if you're in danger, I can get a vision of where you are?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, I supposed that's the general idea." Hermione answered.
"Brilliant." Ron said grinning. Hermione rolled her eyes but chuckled a bit. Boys were such…boys. Hermione thought to herself. Ron yawned and snuggled his head into his pillow, tightening his grip on Hermione. A wave of tiredness hit Hermione like a tidal wave and she suddenly felt her eye lids falling. She held onto Ron's shirt, breathing in his smell. And this time she knew it was the real thing and not just a pillow.
"Hermione! Ron! Get up, Mum's going to have a fit if she finds you two sleeping on the couch!" Ginny shook Hermione and Ron but having no such luck getting them up. "Guys! Come one, get up! NOW!" Ginny yelled and shook Hermione and Ron harder. Ron groaned and pushed his head farther into the pillow. Hermione's eyes shot open and she slid her arms off Ron chest. She breathed in the morning air as she removed Ron's arms from her waist and sat up on the couch. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, still feeling a bit sleepy.
"Honestly the two of you were knocked out cold. Were you up late last night?" Ginny asked, wiggling her eye brows. Hermione smacked Ginny in the arm and scowled.
"Oh come off it I know you two fell asleep early. Harry, George, Teddy and I came in and you were already asleep. Don't worry Harry and I defended your honor from George and Teddy's awful jokes. Can't quite say the same for Ron though. Might have a rough time today." Ginny giggled. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned her head to Ron. She sighed and knelt down.
"Breakfast is ready and it smells delicious Ron." Hermione whispered in his ear. Ron's eyes flew open and he jumped up, knocking Hermione off the couch.
"I'm up! Where's breakfast?" Ron shouted and ran into the kitchen. Ginny burst out laughing and Hermione looked surprised. She laughed too and picked herself up from the floor.
"The things that man does for food!" Hermione laughed, holding her stomach.
"Why didn't I think of that? It's so simple but brilliant!" Ginny exclaimed. Hermione patted Ginny on the back.
"You lived with him for 17 years, but I've been his wife for 18 years and I've come to know things that I don't think anyone knows. It's a wife's duty to know the juicy gossip of their husband." Hermione raised her eye brow, trying to look mysterious. Ginny laughed.
"That's very true. I did find stuff out about Harry that would probably make him a little less famous." Ginny giggled some more.
"What about me?" Harry said while coming down the stairs. He gave Ginny a look.
"Oh honey I was only joking. You are a perfectly wonderful man." Ginny mused and gave Harry a peck on the cheek and a hug. Ginny made a face behind Harry's back and Hermione laughed. Harry turned around quizzically then turned back to Ginny and shook his head.
"Once a Weasley, always a Weasley,eh?" Harry chuckled. They all walked into the kitchen to join Ron for breakfast. Hermione hadn't been lying to Ron. There was in fact breakfast. Ron had already finished his breakfast and was going in for seconds.
"Come on all of you, eat up! You had a long day yesterday and you probably will again today. We still have to find those bodies." Molly said while plating Hermione, Harry and Ginny's breakfast and refilling Ron's plate. Hermione, Harry, Ginny and Ron all exchanged looks. For a minute they had all forgotten the reason Ron had been captured in the first place; the stolen bodies.
Ok, so no cliff hanger this time! oh and I really would like to thank you all for such lovely reviews and feedback you've given me! you make me keep writing this! I hope it's getting better! :)