Sorry it's been ages since I last updated, I was away without my laptop so couldn't update. Just to let you know I am now up to date with what I have written so it may well be longer between each chapter as I will need to write it, and I also have a lot of exams & coursework coming up so it's not going to be a priority - sorry! But I can guarantee it's not being abandoned!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx - thank you!
Red Garden Gnome - yes I meant Romania!
RLyn96 - hopefully you'll like this chapter then.
jessnoland - hope you enjoy the chapter!
- HermionesPolyjuice xoxo
Chapter 11
"So now I know what it feels like to be an idiot like Crabbe or Goyle," Ron complained after getting the tenth question wrong in a row.
"You're not an idiot. You're just not paying attention. I've told you all of the answers to these questions in the last hour. Maybe if you stopped thinking about your stomach for once you might remember something," Hermione said exasperatedly. It was taking Harry, and especially Ron, much longer to recall everything from their sixth year than Hermione had anticipated.
"I'm trying. But it's bloody difficult when you're keeping us captive for seven hours a day," Ron almost shouted.
"You were the ones who asked me for help. And that is all I am doing," Hermione said with a raised voice.
"This is hardly helping. I feel like I'm in a prison with you," Ron growled. Harry looked over and saw a few tears glisten in Hermione's eyes.
"Well then, you shouldn't have agreed to do it my way."
"I didn't have any other choice now did I? I'm not exactly able to teach all of this rubbish to myself."
"Well, clearly you can't let me help you so you might as well give it a go."
"You know what? I think I might. At least that way I can work and eat when I want." Ron stood up off the floor and stormed out of the room.
"He didn't mean that did he?" Hermione asked looking over at Harry.
"Of course he didn't. He's just being a prick. He hasn't worked in over a year – he's forgotten how to use his pea-sized brain," Harry calmly said making Hermione giggle slightly.
"Am I doing everything right though?"
"Hermione stop worrying. It's fine, we're going to ace these exams don't worry. Ron will eat something now and I bet you he will have realised his idiotic mistake in about half an hour when he tries to teach himself the Conjuring Spell and he'll be back." Hermione smiled.
"So, what are the ingredients necessary for the Felix Felicis?" Hermione asked turning back to the open book at her feet.
"Hmm…that's the one with the ashwinder eggs, squill bulb, occamy eggshell and," there was a pause whilst Harry thought about the rest of the ingredients, "and I can't remember what else," he finally said.
"Harry. I told you this not even 15 minutes ago!" Hermione exclaimed, "It's murtlap tentacle, tincture of thyme and powdered common rue."
"Oh yes, I do remember now," Harry said sheepishly.
"Of course you remember now, I just told you." Hermione continued asking Harry many more questions, most of which he only got about half right for another hour before they heard their names being called.
"It'll be lunch then," Harry said looking down at his watch. They both stood up and left Bill's room, which they had turned into a teaching room of sorts much to his dismay when he turned up two days previously and wanted to stay the night after drinking a bit too much Firewhisky and not wanting to splinch himself.
Hermione and Ron didn't say a single work to each other over lunch; they didn't even acknowledge that the other existed. Harry felt very uncomfortable sitting between the two of them. The other Weasleys felt the tension between the trio.
"How's work going?" Mrs Weasley asked innocently, the only one not noticing the hostility.
"Oh it's fine thank you, just taking longer than I anticipated," Hermione answered casting a look at Ron.
"Humph," Ron growled.
"What's the matter with you Ron," Ginny asked noticing the low murmur.
"Nothing," Ron replied grumpily not looking up from his plate.
"Ronald only seems to be able to think about his stomach and nothing else," Hermione smiled.
"Yet she won't accept the fact that we're just not as clever as her," Ron groaned.
"She has a name," Hermione said tartly.
"Whatever," Ron shrugged. "It's not as if you really care about us as people. You're using us as rats for your own benefit so you can do really well and we fail."
"Ron! That is utter rubbish. I would never do that to either of you. I'm doing what I think will help you the most. It's not my fault your biggest priority is your stomach."
"It's now my fault you keep us captive for so long my stomach begins to fall off."
"It's hardly going to fall off," Hermione said, her voice slowing getting higher.
"Irrelevant. You're still not thinking about us."
"Merlin, Ron! Why don't you stop being so self-centered to realise for one minute you're not the only one in this world?"
"I never said I was the only person in this world."
"You may well have done." Harry could see Hermione's chocolate brown eyes glisten with tears.
"You could have done something to help us pass our NEWTs. You're not the only one who wants proper qualifications."
"Ron, I've been trying so hard to help you, it just makes it super difficult if it's not reciprocated."
"I'm trying, but you just don't understand how hard it is not being you."
"Ron just give it a break," Fred almost shouted at his youngest brother. Harry had completely forgotten that Ron and Hermione had been arguing in front of the entire Weasley family.
"Fine. I'll give it a break. Actually, you know what I'll give you all a break." Ron stood up from the table and stormed out of the kitchen. The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione heard a pop and new he had just disapparated. They just sat there in a stunned silence.
"What have I done?" Hermione muttered to herself and without a second's notice she hurried away from the table leaving her untouched plate of food. Harry heard the back door bang shut. He sat there confused. What was wrong with Ron? It couldn't be more obvious that Hermione was helping them; he was being such a git.
{-/-} [-\-] {-/-}
Hermione sat huddled against the large oak tree by the lake the odd tear still trickling down her cheeks. The sun was setting and the surface of the lake was glistening in the late, summer's sun. She had summoned the books she had taken from Hogwarts from Ginny's room and had only marked one possible spell out of the hundreds between the two books. They sat next to her as she stared out over the lake. She had clearly hurt Ron and she felt so bad about it. She hadn't meant anything against him; she only wanted to help them both. She knew they didn't have long before the exams and they still hadn't even started on the seventh year content. She let out a deep sigh and pressed the back of her head against the bark. She drew her legs closer towards her chest; there was a slight breeze and she wasn't exactly in the most suitable of clothes, only a pair of shorts and a thin crewneck sweatshirt. She stared up into the branches above her and closed her eyes mulling over her thoughts.
"I thought I might find you here," a voice filled Hermione's ears. A voice she hadn't heard in four days, a voice she couldn't have been happier to hear. Hermione opened her eyes and looked to where the voice had come from. She smiled when their eyes made contact.
"You're not going to hex me if I come and sit next to you are you?" he asked tentatively not moving any closer. Hermione laughed but shook her head so Charlie took two steps to reach her and sat down on the grass next to her. He joined her in staring out over the shimmering lake. Charlie heard a sniff and without thinking he wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder and pulled her into him.
"Ron's a git, don't let anyone make you think otherwise," Charlie finally said after a few minutes of them just sitting there at peace with the chirping birds and the surroundings.
"You know what happened?" Hermione said lifting her head off of his shoulder and looking up at his face.
"I didn't need to ask for the whole story to get the picture," Charlie smiled looking down at Hermione. "Hermione, listen to me. Everyone knows you are doing everything you can to help Harry and Ron. Ron's just frustrated he's forgotten everything so please don't take it to heart. He didn't mean anything; trust me. I'm his older brother and I've witnessed him in a grump and storm away but there hasn't been a time when he hasn't come back. Give him a little while to come to his senses and he'll realise he can't do anything without you and he'll be back begging to let you help him." Hermione sighed deeply and nuzzled her head into Charlie's neck. He was radiating a calm, soothing warmth that made Hermione feel so much safer than she had this past week. Charlie stroked her arm and planted a soft kiss on the top of her head, taking in her shampoo's distinctive smell of apple and mint he had missed so much while he was in Romania.
"I guess it all just reminded me of when he left last year," Hermione said quietly breaking the peaceful silence between the two of them.
"What?" Charlie asked sternly sitting upright. Hermione pulled herself away from Charlie and looked straight into his dark eyes that were suddenly flashing with anger.
"He…he left Harry and me for about two months over Christmas," Hermione said.
"He did not," Charlie growled looking as if he was ready to strangle his brother.
"Charlie, it's fine he had been wearing the locket all day and was just agitated at how we had had no success. He tried to find us as soon as he left but couldn't find us with our protective charms. But he did come back," Hermione told him.
"That's not the point, Hermione. He left you and Harry to try and tackle the Horcruxes. What if he hadn't come back? What if he had no intention of finding you?" Charlie snarled. Hermione went to touch his arm but he shook it off.
"Charlie, please don't be angry with him. He made a mistake. We forgave him and we knew it wouldn't happen again. I guess him getting angry with me at the NEWT work just reminded me that he had done it before," Hermione said slowly looking down at the grass.
"Hmmm…I guess if you managed to forgive the prat I might be able to," Charlie pondered. They both sat there in silence, Hermione fiddling with the grass and Charlie watching her intently, unbeknownst to her. He watched how soft and gentle her fingers where as she played with the grass and daisies. He marveled at how her hair was falling over her face and radiating of the low, sunrays and how the sleeve of her top was falling slightly off her shoulder exposing a browning shoulder. He admired her long, skinny legs stretched out in front of her, her shorts ever so slightly riding up her thighs.
"Charlie?" Hermione's question interrupted Charlie's thoughts on her perfect and comfortable she seemed.
"Yes?"
"Um…do you mind me asking you something?" Hermione asked tentatively not raising her eyes from the ground.
"I guess that wouldn't be the end of the world," a smirk spread across his face.
"Um…did you have any success?"
"Success? Oh as in the spell?" Hermione nodded nervously. "Well, as you asked I suppose I could tell you." Hermione looked anxiously up at Charlie's dark brown eyes, who smiled back down at her for a few moments.
"Oh, come just tell me if you found anything," Hermione pleaded.
"Well, I may have had some success-"
"Really" Hermione squealed excitedly.
"I'm not 100 % sure so you may need to double check them."
"Them?" Hermione questioned confusion etched on her face.
"Yes, there were about three that fit your description."
"Has anyone told you how amazing you are?" Hermione exclaimed excitedly as she flung her arms around Charlie's neck.
"Apparently not," Charlie laughed blushing slightly. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and pulled her closer into him taking in the apple and mint smell of her long, bushy hair. Hermione rested her head against his strong chest and smelt his aftershave, one of lime. Hermione felt incredibly safe in his strong hold and could have stayed there for hours but Charlie lifted his head and pulled away slightly, not completely letting go of her.
"I can feel you shivering you know, maybe we should head back in now that it's dark," Charlie said. Hermione wasn't even aware she was cold whilst she was wrapped in his arms but now Charlie had mentioned it she really was quite chilly in the evening air.
{-/-} [-\-] {-/-}
'Here you go," Charlie said passing Hermione a ham sandwich. The kitchen and living room were deserted as everyone had headed off to bed. He summoned some left over chilli con carne from supper and started to eat.
"How come I don't get any?" Hermione asked nodding at the chilli.
"You don't like it Mione, why would you want it?" Charlie replied glancing at her.
"I know that, but thought you would have at least asked," Hermione said huffily.
"I guess I know you a lot more than you thought I did," Charlie stated.
"Apparently you do," Hermione smiled. "But I don't know much about you."
"What do you want to know?" Charlie asked taking a large mouthful.
"There must be some foods you don't like, and love."
"Chilli con carne is probably my favourite meal, but I would never say no to a casserole, steak and ale pie or scampi and chips. As for what I don't like, don't even get me started on brussels sprouts –"
"Brussels sprouts? How do you hate them, they're so delicious."
"They're disgusting, you must be the first person I've ever met to like them."
"That's great, all the more for me then," Hermione grinned and Charlie noticed a glint in her eyes. "That can't be the only thing you don't like?"
"I won't touch cucumber or soft cheese. Jelly makes me feel sick and I refuse to even go near peas or kiwi," Charlie told her.
"Wow, that's quite the odd list," Hermione said honestly.
"There must be some more things, besides chillli con carne, you don't like," Charlie stated.
"I can't say I'm a fan of beef-"
"Beef? You don't like beef? What? How?" Charlie asked stunned a forkful of food near his open mouth. Hermione laughed at how shocked he was.
"I didn't realise it was illegal not to like beef," Hermione said.
"It's not…it's just I've never heard anyone not liking it," Charlie shook his head disbelievingly. Hermione laughed. Charlie and Hermione sat there chatting for a while after and it wasn't until Hermione yawned did they head off to bed at 1 o'clock in the morning. It was their first late night conversation, but it certainly wasn't their last.
{-/-} [-\-] {-/-}
Hermione was standing outside, in the dead of night, looking around. She noticed a faint glowing light in the distance and slowly made her way over to it feeling something cold and prickly on her feet. Looking down she realised she was bare-footed and it was just the cold, damp grass curling up over her toes. Perplexed by the light, Hermione slowly walked across the soft ground towards the distant glow. As she got closer it grew larger and it wasn't until she was a few metres away did she notice it was light spreading around a door. Slowing down she crept towards the door in which she could hear voices. She pressed her ear to the door and listened in.
"You failed me-"
"I'm sorry, my Lord. I can't apologise enough," a weak voice replied.
"I don't need an apology. I need success," a stronger, male voice said.
"And success I shall give you. I will get her through her weakness."
"Her weakness?" the elder man enquired.
"Her love," the younger man said quietly.
"Potter?"
"Oh no, an elder Weasley." A sudden blinding white light spread through the gaps between the door and the frame and Hermione squeezed her eyes closed just before hearing a thump from the room.
"She's found love with him," the first man exclaimed. Hermione then heard him let out a loud laugh sending and uncomfortable shiver down Hermione's spine, "Charlie Weasley – who would have thought?"
"What do you want?" Hermione almost let out a shout upon hearing Charlie's voice from inside the room.
"We don't want you, we want your lover, Miss Granger,"
"Hermione is not my lover, we're just friends." Hermione heard another laugh. A laugh very familiar to Hermione – a laugh belonging to none other than Draco Malfoy.
"I would disagree," Malfoy said.
"Malfoy, I don't need your input," the other man said.
"Where am I?" Charlie asked, trying to make his voice sound strong.
"Not important."
"Who are you?"
"Not important."
"What are you doing?"
"Not important."
"What am I to do?"
"Now that is a more interesting question. Shall we have some story-time? Right, so as we all know, none other than Harry Potter murdered our Dark Lord. And now we have no leader but I am going to be the new leader. However, I need help. I hate to accept that fact, but I am not as clever as him but Miss Granger is. I was the one who hit her with that curse two years ago. I am the one who knows the consequences of it-"
"Tell me that curse and those consequences now," Charlie demanded, almost shouting.
"Since when does anyone interrupt story time?" the elder man jeered. Hermione could sense him fiddling with his wand. There was silence before he continued.
"As I was saying, I know the curse and I knew the consequences. I knew where she was during the battle. I ensured the ceiling fell down. I made her decide to save your brother and take the hit herself. I knew there would be a consequence. I also knew she would want to solve out what was going on. I knew she would head to Hogwarts. I placed a spell on Hogwarts to tell this young man, and another, she was there. They paid a visit. They would capture her and bring her to me and they would get the books about Horcruxes for me. But they failed and now you are here to bring her to me-"
"Never in hell would I put her in danger and bring her to you," Charlie said strongly.
"Oh but you don't know the spell and you don't know the consequences. She doesn't have long and only I can save her."
"But I found the spell in a book. I know how to save her," Charlie said pointedly.
"But you don't. You don't because I made up the spell and only I know how to reverse it."
"Hermione's smart, she'll be able to figure it out."
"What in 10 years? Do you not realise she has very little time left? With each 'attack' she has more and more of her is being taken from inside of her and she is getting weaker and weaker. She isn't going to last much longer."
"But I'll help her. I'll get the Healers to help her. I'll get the Ministry to help her."
"No you won't because if you do you shall experience this again. Crucio." Hermione heard Charlie scream in agony and knew he was writhing in pain. She could hear his shout and shrieks that lasted a minute before the curse was lifted. It took a lot of strength for Hermione not to burst straight into the room. She could hear Charlie's rapid and shallow breaths.
"Now do you understand? You will bring Miss Granger to me; you have five days because that is all she has and if you tell anyone about me or anything I have told you, you shall be tortured to death. If you don't bring her here then she shall die herself. You don't have much of a choice Charlie Weasley, but I hope you choose wisely."
"I have one last question," Charlie said weakly, "what do you want with Hermione?"
"She has the knowledge of making Horcruxes and that with some adaption stored in some people is stronger than object. She also has the genes to pass onto hers' and my children to continue my legacy. Now leave." There was another blinding white light and Hermione knew Charlie was no longer inside. Her knees collapsed and she fell to the ground before everything blacked out and she knew no more.
(A/N hope you enjoyed this chapter & a few questions were answered! As ever please leave a review :) )