Chapter 21: Limbo

'Mione, let me in please. I haven't seen you since breakfast. Clearly something is up. Is it that hair...pin thing? You've never been worried about something so trivial before. Bloody hell, just talk to me!'

Ron was trying to yell through the portrait door, but he didn't even know if he was heard or not. He felt lonely. Harry and Ginny were not themselves and Hermione had been so wrapped up in everything Malfoy (the thought alone made him slightly cringe). He really needed to talk to her, he was growing impatient with this whole thing. The two of them could put their heads together and figure this out. He wanted his best friend and his annoying little sister back.

The redhead slammed a fist into the portrait and pressed his forehead against it while exhaling a frustrated breath.

'Hey! I'm in here you know, don't just slam your filthy hands here, young man!' huffed the enraged portrait.

He was about to give up and go when the it opened and a nonchalant Malfoy walked out.

'Malfoy, hey!' he called and the blonde stopped and turned towards him with a disgusted look.

'What do you want Weasley?' he snarled and Ron was taken aback. Whoa, what happened to Malfoy? He was different somehow.

"When did you revert back to being an arseface?" Ron thought but decided to ask a different question. 'How is Mione? Why hasn't she been to lunch and dinner?'

Draco shrugged.

'Isn't she your girlfriend, shouldn't you care?' he was clenching his fists, they were becoming particularly itchy.

'So? That means I fuck her, not that I care about her.' The blonde spat out and turned on his heel to continue walking.

Oh yes, that itch was getting stronger. The one that could only be relieved by making contact with that ferret's face. However the door was closing again and he had to get in there if he wanted to see his friend. The itch would have to wait. Hopefully not long. He could already feel the satisfaction that would come of punching Malfoy.

Ron managed to squeeze in just in time before the door was shut behind him. He looked at both doors and turned towards the shut one. He knocked lightly, but when he heard silent sobs, he didn't wait long to come in.

Hermione was on the floor next to her bed, hugging her knees. Tears were drenching her clothes and staining her face. He never really knew how to handle crying women. If it was his mother, his sister or Hermione he still felt at a loss every time they shed tears. Was he supposed to come to her or turn away and leave her alone?

While he was standing and silently deliberating, she turned her brown reddened. eyes towards him and began to furiously wipe her tears away. He was left there in the same spot like a deer caught in the headlights.

'Ron, sorry I didn't hear you come in. What can I do for you?' her voice low and broken, it didn't suit her. He felt a painful pang in his chest. The redhead moved until he was sitting next to her on the floor.

'You're really something Mione. Here you are crying your eyes out and you're asking me, what you can do for me?' he smiled and she finally smiled a little back.

'Oh Ron... I'm sorry you had to see me like this. It's just that that hairpin was important to me and…'

'Mione.' He looked at her sternly and she stopped talking. 'I've known you for a long time. That's not what's bothering you. I saw Malfoy just now. It's gotten him too, hasn't it? Whatever it is that is with Harry and Ginny. We need to do something about it and soon. This is getting worse.'

Hermione surprised him with a giant bear hug which caused him to tumble and almost fall down.

'Whoa there Mione!'

'People don't give you enough credit, Ronald Weasley.' She finally let go of him and he was blushing slightly. 'Today I hadn't actually lost a hairpin. You see it was all an act.'

'Okay, go on...'

'Well...' she began but then her eyes drifted towards her door which was still open. Not taking any chances, she took her wand and with a wave shut her door and cast a muffliato. 'Draco noticed before that certain people were reacting strangely to some things. Theodore Nott and Harry couldn't touch the snitch and so we looked it up and found that it was a magical allergy. We have a theory that someone, who is controlling Harry and Theodore, Ginny and others has the same one and it's given to the ones she controls. So today we tested to see what exactly was causing the allergy and we also wanted to see how many are controlled in total.'

Ron looked to be concentrating and she could tell his focus was shifting. She had to get to the point.

'It's 27 people in total. 27! And who knows If the teachers are affected or not. We couldn't test it out on them… Oh and the thing causing the allergy is copper.'

'We have to tell McGonagall..' he said, but she shook her head.

'I don't know if the headmistress is affected as well or not.'

'Allright, but what can we do? We don't know who is doing this.'

'Oh we do.' Hermione smiled. 'It's professor Trelawney.'

'WHAT? No, it's not possible! Why would that crazy teacher do something like that? She's harmless! I've never actually seen her perform any magic. And to control 27 students...that's… do you have any proof Mione? We can't just attack someone based on speculation.'

Her face softened considerably before she spoke next. 'Draco sent me a patronus telling me just before he was taken. And she was the one who followed him and Blaise and that student.'

'Bloody hell. What if someone is framing her? What if he sent that patronus after he was taken?' Ron tried, but she shook her head.

'I know it's her. I know the message was real.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'I am. Trust me on this.'

He leaned back against the bed.

'Are we going to attack her? Bring her in to justice? Kill her…?What should we do? It feels weird without Harry here guiding us...'

Hermione took his hand into hers and squeezed gently. 'I know Ron, believe me I know. But I do have a plan. We will use this magical allergy against her. I will need you to do some things for me. And I will need you to trust me.'

His nod was immediate. 'Of course.'

Ron was almost at the door to his common room when he finally stopped to think. The things she asked were very strange indeed. He was asked not to question her and was even told that it was better he didn't know anything just in case he would be caught in the middle of it all. What she wanted was: 9 specific people to show up at the room of requirement at midnight tonight without anyone else hearing or finding out. 2. Tomorrow during the potion's lesson use a confundus charm on Slughorn just before the grading and then to undo it just as it ends. the lesson get into close contact with Draco Malfoy and bring her whatever he has in his right pocket of his robes. 4. If anything goes wrong at attacking Trelawney, hide under the invisibility cloak (which Hermione told him she would bring tonight to the meeting) and apparate straight to the ministry to gather forces and attack Trelawney and her followers. 5. Not tell anyone any of these things.

The list of people really bothered him and when they were all finally gathered he couldn't help but criticize her pick of the group. Four slytherins: Daphne Greengrass, whom he knew, and three others he didn't (a girl with blonde hair much younger than them and two fifth year guys); five ravenclaws: Luna, Padma and three guys he knew from quidditch. No other gryffindors or hufflepuffs.

While he was sitting quietly in a corner spacing out, Hermione was explaining about the allergy and everything else they knew.

'That is why I have chosen all of you as strong fighters and trustworthy allies to help us in this mission. We have to bring Trelawney down and return the students back to their selves.'

'Trustworthy? These slytherins can't be trusted with anything.' Mumbled one of the ravenclaw guys and the four on the other side gave him dirty looks.

'As if anyone could trust a ravenclaw. You only care about your own arses. At least we protect each other.'

'Stop fighting this instant.' The head girl's authoritative voice rang. 'We are all here because I have decided that this group is the one that can do this, so pipe down. We can't wait much longer and we must plan this attack tomorrow evening after the divination's lesson. That is when she is alone in the classroom tidying up.'

'Why not tonight? We could get to her when she is sleeping and spare us the wait and the trouble not to be seen tomorrow.' Daphne said and the other nodded as well.

'No, that won't do. We need to gather the copper objects so that each one of us has one just in case the others fail. One person using it should be enough, but just in case she is protected we all need to have a chance.'

'That's rational, but who would be protecting her? The students that you have mentioned that are supposedly under her control all attend lessons as if nothing was happening. It's not like they will get to her in time if we surprise attack.' Someone else said.

'She has Ethereals guarding her.' Luna spoke for the first time in an eerily calm voice, attracting attention towards herself.

'What are ethereals?' Hermione asked.

'Snape is one of those. They are spirit like things that take a partly human form. Quite rare as I've never seen them before now. '

'Okay... what else can you tell us about them, Luna?'

'Not much.' The blonde girl smiled widely and twirled a strange poufy pink thing with her finger. 'They have magic but they can't be harmed with magic and they come to be when a spirit has a strong connection to the living world. Someone has to wish them there.'

Luna cast a glance towards her right, eyeing a specific person there and smiled back eerily. The people closest to her pulled away a bit.

Hermione stood silent deep in thought.

'Sorry, but I don't really care about what Loony Lovegood is chattering.' One of the slytherins said nonchalantly. 'She's bonkers.' The ravenclaws and Hermione all looked at him sternly and he just shrugged. 'What, it's true! I don't know why she's here if you need good fighters. Why are we here for that matter?'

'I told you that I need a group to attack Trelawney and..'

'Yeah, I got that. Why us? I don't want anything to do with this. Can't you just get your merry band of gryffindors like always and save the day yada yada? Why in Salazar's name do we have to participate?'

Ron stood up from his spot and looked sternly at the group.

'Because Hermione thinks that you are most capable for some reason and I trust her decision. Hell, she has always been right before so I don't have it in me to question her judgement. And if you want something for motivation, then how about this: Harry Potter, the one who defeated Voldemort is under her control and we can't do a thing about it. You could be next and you might be forced to kill others, like your friends and family for example. We don't know what that woman is capable of. If you want an example I think Pansy Parkinson is a damn good one.'

The slytherin who had talked so bravely before bit his lip and looked down to the ground. A couple of minutes passed in silence before anyone spoke.

'Wasn't Astoria the one who killed Pansy?' a ravenclaw asked.

'It's possible that she was being controlled by Trelawney at that point is it not?' Hermione answered. 'I don't want anyone else to suffer and I really want my friends back.' After a while she added. 'And Draco.'

'What, Malfoy is one of them now? Damn… we do have no choice. We're in then Granger. '

Both Ron and Hermione were surprised at this. Draco Malfoy had more allies than he probably knew. It warmed the girl's heart a little.

'Us too, so let's finish this quickly now.' Padma added getting approval from her group.

'Okay then, we meet tomorrow in the evening. I will hand out the copper items and the exact time and place will be told you tomorrow, just in case something happens to any of you before that.' the head girl said and everyone began to leave, but she stopped Luna by taking hold of her hand. 'Luna, I need to speak to you.'

'Sure Hermione.' The blonde smiled at her. 'How can I help you?'

Ron stayed behind as well and wondered what this was about.

'Can you tell me more about the Ethereals?'

'Hm... I wish I could, but I've already said everything I know. They're fascinating, if you ask me.'

'Okay.. I see.'

'I'm heading off then Hermione. Don't worry it will go the way it's supposed to.' And with a strange knowing look she left the two gryffindors standing there.

'What do you think she meant by that?' Ron said close to Hermione and she practically jumped. 'We'd better head off too then. I'll walk you to your dorm.'

They walked in silence, glancing around if it was safe until they stopped in front of the head dorm room entry.

'Mione.'

The girl turned to look at her ginger friend and he was yet again surprisingly serious.

'I have a feeling.. you're not telling me something.'

The girl in question blinked and then looked back into his eyes.

'Whatever makes you say that?'

He paused to inspect her face and even though she looked perfectly calm, he could see something underneath it all that unsettled him.

'Because you look like Harry did when he knew he was going to die and didn't tell us.'

A smile appeared that didn't quite reach her eyes.

'Nonsense, Ronald. You're imagining things.'

'Okay. Maybe I am. But… know that you can tell me anything. I will help you with whatever you need. You're my best friend Mione, just like Harry is.' His honest words almost broke her heart and she hated herself for it.

'Just do what I asked you please and we'll be fine.' She stepped in and closed the door behind her. Then she pressed her back against it and sighted. A few long moments passed while her gaze lingered on nothing particular on the ceiling.

'I'm sorry Ron, but its better that you don't know.'

It was a long while before she went to sleep that night. And her dreams were nothing but nightmares.

xxxxx

The most painful headache he had ever felt was followed by a strange feeling of floating. It was like he was a feather, being blissfully carried away by the wind through the meadow. He felt light, as if he hardly weighed anything at all. Was this what death was like? Was he dead?

The feeling of weightlessness slowly dissipated and he landed on something soft. He couldn't figure out how to move or open his eyes. Still he knew he existed, he knew he hadn't just vanished.

When he finally pealed his eyes open he saw a lot of white. Four figures were next to him and they were talking.

'Now all my hopes of escaping this have gone out the window.' Said the one closest to him, definitely male.

'Hermione is still there and Ron, they will figure this out.' Another male, but this voice somehow annoyed him.

'Like hell I'm putting my hopes into a Weasley.' This one was less annoying and was becoming familiar.

'You'd better take that back. I'm a Weasley, if you recall.' A female said and he could almost feel a name forming on the tip of his tongue.

'And you're here, so that shows how capable you lot are.'

'Well you're here as well, you arse, so when I get my body back I'm going to make you so sorry you ever said that.'

'Potter, rein in your girlfriend, there is no point in this fighting.'

'For once I agree with you.' A deep sigh of the annoying voice.

'…would everyone just shut the fuck up..' Draco slowly blinked a couple more times but he still couldn't fully distinguish the faces of the people in front of him. The layout of this place reminded him of a train station, he thought trying to look around.

'Is this heaven? No wait... I'm here so it can't be. Hell…then?' His eyes fell on the shape with the voice that annoyed him and even though he couldn't see the face, he knew who this was. 'Saint Potter? Wait, maybe you aren't such a saint after all. If you're in hell with me, then you have been a bad boy. I wish I knew what you did.' He smirked towards the raven haired boy with the glasses who looked very annoyed. The one next to him chuckled and gave him a hand to help him stand up.

'Not hell and not heaven either, mate. Something in between. Welcome to limbo.' The smile on this face was becoming familiar.

'Blaise?'

'Yo, short time no see. Sorry to see that you ended up here as well.' Blaise said. Draco rubbed his head and looked around. He recognized the female as Potter's girlfriend Weaslette and the last one was Theo. A bit further was a larger group of others.

'It's not your fault. Wait…well technically it is.' The blonde looked at his best friend, who rubbed a hand behind his head.

'Well I'm not in control of that sorry. Our bodies run without us on a kind of automatic. Until she gives an order that is.' Blaise still looked guilty even though in Draco's opinion he had nothing to be guilty of.

'I'm not blaming you, you dolt. What do you mean we run on automatic?' the blonde asked.

'We'll explain everything in time, but please tell me Malfoy, did you and Hermione think of some plan to stop her? Is there a chance Hermione will succeed?' Harry looked at the slytherin like he was hoping he had the answers to everything. He did not.

'Well we figured out the allergy thing, but we didn't come up with any kind of plan yet. And if she actually does what I asked her to, she'll run, not fight.' Draco's grey eyes became hard and he turned away from the disappointed green eyes of Harry Potter.

'You really do have a thing for Hermione, don't you?' Ginny inquired.

Draco felt like she was penetrating and analyzing him with that stare. Geesh, what is it with those gryffindors and their stares?

Before he could answer Theo put a hand over his shoulder and lead him away.

'Give the guy a break. He's in the same boat now, lay off it for a while. Let the living do the living and deal with everything. We don't fuss.' The taller slytherin said and though Draco Malfoy was very tempted to shove that arm away, he really wanted to escape those stares.

'Fine, let's go join the others.' Harry conceded and the five of them continued onward.

Some of the others greeted him briefly, but paid no real attention to him. There were people of all ages here. Some from Hogwarts, but some he didn't even know. Older ones, younger ones. In total a lot more than they had counted at Hogwarts. It made him worried. He wanted to go back and help Hermione. He needed answers and explanations and maybe he could go back. Seeing Potter here though didn't really give him much hope. If the boy wonder couldn't return, then there was a high chance he couldn't either.

'So...this is limbo? As in…' he began, hoping someone would fill him in.

'As in the place for souls who temporarily have nowhere to go. We're not dead yet, so hell or heaven can't accept us, but we are not in control of our bodies, so we need a place to stay. Thus- limbo.' Blaise finished.

'That blood magic is one fucked up deal then...' Draco put his head in his hands.

'Don't worry you'll get used to it. There hardly is anything else to do, Malfoy. You can only watch what your body sees and keep hoping that someone will find a way to free us all.' Harry said, gazing off into the distance.

'Wait, what? We can see what our bodies see? How does that work?' he lifted his head to look at Potter, who only nodded.

'That's what I said. You just need to close your eyes and you can see everything as if you're there, though you can't actually do or say anything. You're just an observer. Kind of like a pensive, except its happening right now.'

There was a pause as Draco sat up straight and closed his eyes to try and concentrate. Immediately he was transported into his body, but he felt like something was pulling him by the strings like a puppet.

'What do you see?' Blaise asked him and Draco stayed silent for a moment until he burst out laughing.

'What's so funny?' Theo asked inching closer.

'My body is talking to the weasel king and well... he looks like he's about to deck me.'

'Well your body is operating fine without you then. Are you sure you were in there before? You always did seem like a soulless bastard to me.' Ginny smirked at him and Draco's face turned into a scowl immediately.

'Shut it Weaslette. Okay...I didn't get hit. Though I'm interested to know if I would have felt it.'

Theo cut in. 'You wouldn't. A girl kissed me and I couldn't feel a thing. A shame that is.'

'Not such a shame if you get punched though. Wait, someone kissed you while you were here? As in your body without a soul..?' Harry asked and Theo just shrugged.

'When you have it, you have it.'

'By having it do you mean that girls are attracted to your looks and don't care that it's a soulless shell?' Draco asked to which Blaise snickered.

'When you say it like that, it doesn't sound so great.' Theo said and the next ten minutes he was sulking in a corner somewhere away from the group.

The blonde opened his eyes again and looked at the group.

'Is there a way to return to your body at least temporarily?' he asked hopefully and the whole group looked down sadly.

'I've been trying ever since...coming here, but I can only get in a few seconds.' Harry replied. Ginny was curled up in his lap and he was gently caressing her hair.

'How…' Malfoy began, but was interrupted by a voice he really wasn't expecting here.

'Draco.' The eyes of the group all turned towards the new presence, which was rather striking in comparison to the others around him.

'Father.' Draco greeted.

(cliffhanger much? Well it was this or another bigger cliffhanger, but I have to put that other one in somewhere in the middle of the next chapter, so let's end this way then. Oh no, Lucius is here in limbo as well? What does this mean? Gasp gasp gasp. Okay I know what this means! It means things are getting interesting..hopefully and that I only need a few more chapters to wrap this up. Thank you for reading and please review. I really really love it when you do! It means the world to me. Bye. Oh and p.s. I refuse to make Ron a bad guy just so Hermione can be with Draco. That seems to be the idea in 95 percent of the stories about them, and I disagree. Ron doesn't have to be the bad guy for Hermione to fall for Draco.)

Idile