Hermione automatically wrapped her hands around the figure's neck and held him close. He responded by placing his hands on her waist and nuzzled her neck. They both looked each other in the eyes, brown and blue mixed.
"How'd you find me, Ron?"
He looked down, seemingly ashamed. Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion, "Ron, what is it?"
"Well . . . I-I haven't been completely truthful with you for the past few months."
"You haven't?"
He shook his head, "No. But I'll tell you later. For now, we have to leave. Harry is outside distracting the guards."
"Harry?"
He nodded slowly, "I ran into him while I was on my way to get you."
"You didn't come together?"
Ron shook his head again, "No. But I promise you that I will explain everything when we get back to Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded her head, "Okay. How do we get out?"
"Just follow my lead."
He took Hermione by the hand and led her through the door, where, surely enough, she saw Harry, McGonagall, and Tonks fighting the few Death Eaters that were guarding her door. It took all of her strength not to run to Harry and envelope him in a bone-crushing embrace.
Ron saw Hermione looking at Harry and tugged on her hand. She looked up and him and saw the urgent look in his eyes. She needed to focus on finding a way out.
Surprisingly, it seemed that Ron knew exactly where he was going as he pulled her through the Dark Corridors. Hermione made sure to make as little noise as possible, because she had a gut feeling that the three people fighting were the only ones who had come. Besides Ron, anyways.
"Ron?" she whispered, "Are you sure you know where you're going?"
"Yeah," he whispered back.
She furrowed her brow suspiciously, but kept following his lead nonetheless. They kept on making their way through very narrow and dark corridors until she saw a door coming up in front of them.
She sighed. She was finally getting out! She could practically feel the sun beating down on her. The heat overcome her body. That was probably because they were outside within seconds, though.
She let go of Ron's hand and breathed the first amount of fresh air that she had in a long time. No more stuffy quarters . . . no more barely-there meals. "Come on." She heard Ron's voice say; "We need to get out of here as soon as possible." She nodded her head and ran right behind him.
They came to a hill and she looked back. She was right. There stood a dark and dreary looking mansion. She felt Ron's hand on her shoulder and she turned to smile at him. "Thank-you for saving me."
He smiled back at her, "No problem."
She looked behind him and saw three broomsticks. Her stomach dropped. She looked up at Ron with wide-eyes. He shrugged apologetically. "Harry said we could take his. It's the fastest way to Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded slowly. She had ridden a broomstick not to long ago . . . but that was with Harry. Not Ron. She saw him mount the broom towards the left. She stepped forward and traced the wood with her fingertips. She found the single word 'Firebolt' engraved in gold in its surface.
Ron placed his hand over hers and pulled her further forward. She reluctantly followed so as she was in the front and Ron was holding onto her stomach to balance both of them. He felt the tiny bump that was replacing Hermione's usually flat and toned stomach.
No sooner had he felt it had Hermione realized that he could easily feel the bump on her stomach. "I-I can explain . . ."
"Don't worry Herms, I know."
"Y-you know? How?"
"Again, I'll tell you later. Now hold on tight."
She felt the broom hover in midair for a few moments until it finally set off at amazing speed in the direction of Hogwarts.
Harry couldn't believe they ran into Ron when they reached Malfoy Manor. He was in a hallway and wearing a black cloak. It was a mere coincidence, he had originally thought. But how would Ron know where to go?
The only thing Ron had said to explain himself was, "I'll tell you later."
Turns out Ron knew exactly where Hermione was being kept. So the four of them made their way down the corridors until they came to a dead end where a single wooden door was.
You could barely see the door due to the three, cloaked figures guarding it. Ron had said that he would get Hermione while the three of them would distract and disarm the guards. They all agreed with the plan and soon Harry found himself in the midst of a duel with a Death Eater named Jansz . . . or so his co-workers called him when they saw them approaching.
He was a decent fighter. But Harry was better. Just an Epelliarmous and a quick Stupefy were enough to send him tumbling to the floor, unconscious. When Harry turned around, he saw Tonks send a curse towards the Death Eater she was fighting that rendered him unconscious as well. McGonagall had already finished off her opponent soon after Harry, he figured, as there was a lump on the floor not far from her.
When Harry looked at the slightly ajar door, he smiled. They had gotten away. Hermione was safe with Ron.
"Let's get out of here." Tonks said.
Both Harry and McGonagall nodded and followed Tonks down the route they had followed to get there. Soon after, they found themselves outside in the fresh air.
"We should hurry. They're gonna realize sooner or later that Hermione's missing." Harry said.
They made their way to the brooms that were atop the hill. And, just as planned, Harry's Firebolt was missing. So Harry mounted with Tonks and placed his hands on her waist. He felt a slight disfiguration on her stomach and looked up at her.
"Tonks . . . are you—"
She nodded her head, and he could sense the smile present in her voice, "I didn't want to bother anybody with it, since we have more important matters at hand."
He smiled back at her, "Congrats to you and Moony."
"I'll tell him we have your blessing."
Harry laughed just as they took off into the horizon.
Hermione paced in the Heads Common Room. They were supposed to be here by now. She was getting antsy. And Ron had refused to tell her the reason why he was there to rescue her . . . or how he knew she was pregnant until Harry and the others got there.
She sighed, catching the attention of Ron, who was sitting on the overstuffed sofa by the fire. "I'm sure there fine. Those were some pretty nasty Death Eaters guarding your door."
Hermione shook her head, "What if they didn't get past them? What if—" she gasped, "They have them captive. We have to go get them." Hermione made her way to the door, and was almost there until she felt Ron grab a hold of her wrist. "let me go. I have to save Harry!"
"Bloody hormones" Ron cursed, "They are fine. You just need to sit down and chillax."
"Clillax?" Hermione asked as Ron led her to the couch to sit next to him.
"Ginny says it now. It's kinda catchy."
Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes. Thank Merlin for mood swings, Ron thought to himself.
Hermione looked into his blue eyes, "Are you sure they're alright?"
"If I know Harry —and I do— he and the others are on there way now."
Hermione nodded her head and started fiddling with her fingers, a bad habit she had developed over the past few days. She then heard Ron move slightly to the side, away from her. Furrowing her brow, she turned towards him and he just smiled at her and pointed behind her.
She didn't even hear them come in. But she didn't care. He was there. She immediately jumped up and off the couch and hugged Harry with all of her might. He returned her hug with the same amount of enthusiasm, burring his head in her neck and kissing the exposed skin.
She sighed. Oh how much she missed that. They pulled away and looked at each other in the eyes. Longing to kiss the other.
"Just kiss already!" they heard Ron say.
Hermione and Harry smiled and leaned forward and kissed. It was filled with all of the built up passion of how much they missed each other. The worry if the other was all right. So, naturally, it was a while before they pulled up for air. They both turned to the small crowd that was watching them with mixed expressions. They varied from awed to just plain happiness.
Harry and Hermione smiled and blushed slightly.
Harry's hand found its way into Hermione's and intertwined their fingers. They both made their way to the couch and sat down. Ron sat on the table in front of them, and Tonks and McGonagall silently made their was out of the room; sensing a trio moment.
"I think you have some explaining to do." Harry said to Ron.
He just nodded, "I just have to ask you one question."
Hermione nodded, "Of course."
"Why?" he asked, "Why did you guys get together?"
Harry and Hermione looked down, ashamed at themselves. Harry was the first to look up into Ron's awaiting face, "It just sorta . . . happened."
Ron nodded, "I get it. But I didn't before . . ."
Hermione furrowed her brow, "What do you mean, Ron?"
He took a long inhale and exhale of breath before speaking, "When I fist found out you two were together —yes I knew— it was from the person that I least expected to hear it from. Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" Hermione and Harry chorused.
Ron nodded, "That day I was missing. I wasn't really taking a nap. I was Stupefied and dragged into the Slytherin Common Room. When I woke up, Malfoy told me how he saw you two snogging on the train . . ."
"Oh Ron, we're sorry we didn't tell you—"
"Let me finish." —Hermione nodded— "He made me become insanely jealous. I don't know how . . . or why . . . but I let him influence me to get revenge on the two of you. The next day I received a note from Malfoy saying he wanted me in the Slytherin Common Room. And when I got there . . . he was there."
"V-voldermort was inside Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.
Ron nodded, "Yeah. He asked me to join the Death Eaters, too. And I was still in the effect of Malfoy's little chat with me. So I accepted," —Hermione gasped— "And he gave me this."
Ron pulled up the sleeve of his jumper to reveal what seemed to be a slightly moving tattoo. It was of a skull and a snake. The Dark Mark. Hermione's eye's filled with tears. Harry just started at Ron, jaw clenched.
"A few weeks later . . . Malfoy told me of this plan that they'd come up with to capture Hermione. I agreed to it, as long as Hermione wouldn't get harmed. Malfoy assured me that you would be well taken care of. I believed him. But the day when I came to see Hermione was the day she was being interrogated. They said that once they were done with her . . . they'd—"
"Kill me." Hermione said.
"Yeah." Ron said, "It was then when I realized what a selfish git I was being. So I positioned myself by Hermione's quarters. It was by luck that Harry and the others showed up. I had been devising a plan to get Herms out of there. Having Harry, Tonks, and McGonagall there made it that much easier."
He remained silent for a moment, "So all I'm trying to say is . . . I'm sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me . . . but I just needed to tell you."
Hermione looked reproachful for a minute, while Harry just continued to stare at Ron. Not even ten seconds later, Harry's fist came back and he punched Ron in the jaw. Hermione screeched. Ron fell back onto the table, his head colliding to the oak.
While he stood up and regained his posture, he was rubbing his jaw and moving it to regain the feeling. "I suppose I deserve that."
"Oh, you deserve more than that. But since you're my best mate, I let you off easy." Harry said.
"I forgive you Ron." Hermione said, causing the two boys to look up at her with confused expressions.
"What?" they both asked.
"It's just that . . . I kinda expected Ron to get jealous. Not jealous enough to resort to that; but jealous nonetheless. I think that this could work out to our advantage."
Harry furrowed his brow, "How could this possibly help us in any way?"
Hermione just smiled knowingly, "Well . . . Voldermort still thinks you're on his side, right?"
"Right . . ." Ron said.
"Well . . . you could work as a spy for us. Much as Snape was until he k-killed Dumbledore . . . but actually working for the good side. And then in the Final Battle, you can work on our side and help us finally win."
"That just might work." Harry said.
"You're just saying that because Hermione thought of it." Ron said, smirking slightly.
"No." Harry said, returning the smirk, "It really is a genius plan. We could find out when Voldermort is planning to have the Final Battle . . . what he knows that we don't . . ."
"Exactly." Hermione said, beaming at them.
"You're a genius, Herms!" Ron said.
Hermione blushed, "Well . . . I don't know about genius."
"Yes genius." Ron said.
The trio was enveloped in a comfortable silence, until Ron spoke up, "Herms . . . have you told Harry yet?"
Hermione looked downward, "Told me what?" Harry asked.
"No." she said, "I haven't."
"Now would be a good time." Ron said to her.
"Tell me what?" Harry asked.
Hermione turned to Harry. She might as well. "Harry I'm pre—"
"Hold on." Ron said, clutching his forearm. "Something's up."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"There are some Death Eater's near . . ."
No sooner had Ron said that, they heard yelling outside the window of the room. "COME OUT, COME OUT MUDBLOOD!"
"They're here for you."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Very well spotted. But what do we do about it?"
"Go to the Room of Requirement. It is the only room that they can't get into." Harry said.
"Good idea," Ron said, "I'll wait here for you."
They both nodded and headed for the door. They heard the calls clearer now. "We'd better run for it." Harry said.
"Oh yeah."
Grabbing a hold of the other's hand, they sprinted towards the Room of Requirement. Ascending and descending the appropriate amount of stairs. They soon saw red, purple, and some green streams of light coming from behind them. Some of the spells missing by mere inches.
Hermione screamed when a leg-locker curse was thrown at her, causing her to fall to the floor. Harry stopped immediately and ran to her side. "Harry, run! I'll be okay."
He shook his head, "No, 'Mione. I'm not going to loose you again." And with that said, he picked her up and started sprinting back to the Room of Requirement.
The small detour caused the Death Eater's to become closer to them, only a few yards behind them. Harry concentrated his hardest on a room where he and Hermione could hide, and sprinted as fast has he could by the piece of wall where the entrance was supposed to appear.
He was thankful when the door appeared and he went inside. He closed the door and heard the sound of about ten Death Eaters crashing into a bit of brick wall. He set Hermione down and preformed a silent Finete.
She smiled in a thank-you while he pulled her up. They faced each other and looked into the other's eyes. Harry leaned in and kissed her briefly on the lips, only pulling away to ask her the question that remained un-answered.
"What is it that you need to tell me?"
Hermione looked him in the eyes. "You might want to sit down."
He looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face, but obeyed, sitting on the couch a few feet away from the two of them. He looked at her expectantly.
"W-well . . . I-I'm pregnant."
Harry's eye's widened. "Y-you're what?"
"Pregnant."
"H-how did this happen?"
"Oh please, Harry. You know full well how it happened. When you and I—"
"I know how it happened. It's just . . . hard to believe. We're only seventeen." He said, a hint of awe present in his voice.
"Well . . . I'm eighteen." Harry looked at her weirdly, "Sorry . . . not helping."
"You do realize what this means, don't you?" he asked her, grabbing a hold of her hands.
"N-no . . . what does it mean?"
"It means that you can't fight in the Final Battle with me." Harry stated.
Hermione wrenched her hands out of Harry's grasp, "WHAT?!" she screamed at him, "Absolutely not!"
He looked a little taken aback at Hermione's reaction. But it wasn't uncommon. He knew she would over-react . . . but he had no idea that she would react this badly. "Hermione . . . I don't want you to get hurt. You have two lives to worry about now. If I lost the both of you . . ."
"But you won't. I'm a great fighter. Even you can't deny that I am."
"No . . . but you have to think of our . . . our child's life too. Wow, that felt weird to say."
Hermione smiled, "I know . . . it's pretty unbelievable."
Harry slowly nodded his head, "Yeah. It is. But lets not stray from the subject. You're not fighting. And that's final."
Hermione hung her head, pondering his words. Should she fight, and risk not only her own life, but their unborn child's as well . . . or should she stay here and wait to hear whether Harry is alive and Voldermort is dead . . . or if Harry—no she refused to believe in any way would Harry die.
"For the sake of our c-child, I'll stay. Wow . . . it does feel weird to say." Hermione said, smiling at the end.
"So we're agreed?" Harry asked, taking her hand in his and pulling them both off of the couch.
"Yes we are." Hermione enveloped him in a hug. She wanted to stay like this forever. Nothing could ruin this moment. "Oh, and Harry?"
"Yeah?" he asked.
"You're gonna make a great dad."
She saw a single tear fall down his cheek and she wiped it away. He pulled her in for a chaste kiss, and they just stood there, holding each other. It wasn't until they heard the door of the room blow open, that they pulled apart.
A single figure erupted from the smoke and debris of brick and wood, "Sorry to interrupt this disgusting display of affection. But the Dark Lord wants the Mudblood back . . . now."