I know that I said this would be the last chapter but there will be another before the epilogue. I didn't want to rush this and I felt there was too much to squeeze into one chapter. Sorry for the delay but my life's been mad the last few months and I have a lot going on but this story will be finished, I'm making it my priority now, over Finding Who You Lost, since I want it finished before 2013. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 29
Hermione's POV
Hermione rolled over on the bed, and jolted awake when she collided with Ron's chest. She quickly glanced up to see if he had woken, but he remained sleeping soundly.
She smiled to herself as she watched him; he was simply adorable when he was sleeping. Her smile grew as the events of last night came rushing back to her mind, she was engaged! To Ron.
She and Ron were going to get married.
It was unbelievable. She found herself glancing at the ring on her finger before she could help herself. It was beautiful, and she hadn't been able to fully appreciate that last night. The band was gold, in the centre was a rather large diamond, surrounded by tiny pale blue diamonds. She loved it; it was perfect, and classic.
Hermione shifted closer to Ron, her happiness radiating from off her, she couldn't believe the changes in her life, compared to a few months ago. Just yesterday, she had been worrying about the future, and about how long she and Ron's relationship would last after this, and then he had proposed, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.
She remembered always scoffing when people said, in those ridiculously cheesy shows her mother would watch, that when you knew, you knew, and time didn't matter. She had always convinced herself that before one should even consider getting married they should be dating their partner for at least three years.
But when she was with Ron she forgot all of that, and simply focused on the moment, something she had never been able to do. They balanced each other out, Ron taught her how to relax, to be spontaneous and to make decisions based on what she felt, they were complete opposites, and that used to terrify her. Now, it was her favourite thing about them.
Hermione glanced over at the clock, and was alarmed to see that it was already eight o'clock, and suddenly, the other events of yesterday made themselves known on her mind.
Today was the day.
They were facing Lestrange again, they were going to fight. Her stomach lurched uncomfortably at the prospect. Nerves running through her veins, how would she do this, how would she face him?
She shut her eyes tightly, trying to push away the images of Benjamin Lestrange's sneering face; she wouldn't allow him to destroy her happiness.
She sat up, knowing that she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep now, she was too anxious. That was probably a god thing. She didn't want to be caught in Ron's bed again, even though they were engaged now.
She hid a smile, thinking about how their family would react to that, it would certainly surprise everyone, maybe they would think it too soon but Hermione didn't really care, she was glad that this as happening, it gave her something to fight for.
She quickly climbed out of Ron's bed, and grabbed her pyjamas, that had been discarded at some stage last, she quickly shook Ron awake,
"What?" He demanded groggily, then opened his eyes fully when he realized she was leaving, "Where're you going?"
"I don't want to be seen in here again, by any of your brothers, thank you very much." She grinned at him, and watched as his body relaxed.
"Suppose."
"I'll see you later." Hermione said, leaning down to kiss him.
Ron quickly pulled her down onto the bed, and she ended up sitting on his lap, straddling him, as the kiss deepened even further, and Hermione found she was getting lost in it, and the feel of her fiancé beneath her.
A few minutes, she pulled away, reluctantly,
"Ron, as much as I would love to continue this, I don't think you would like my father to see this, again."
Ron laughed, but he did release her.
"See you soon, fiancé." He called to her, as she was leaving. Hermione turned around to face him again, and beamed at him.
"Sure, fiancé."
oo00OO00oo
Ron's POV
Coming down the stairs, Ron was met with the reality of the day. He had been able to forget, so far, what was going to happen today because he had been basking in happiness all morning since Hermione had said yes.
It was impossible for him to process, he had been planning on proposing sure, but he had also been planning on waiting until this mess with Lestrange was over, but…last night, it seemed perfect.
He knew that he sounded like a prat for even thinking this, but last night, in that small room, squeezed into the bed, and trying to reassure each other that everything would be ok, symbolized their relationship. The only calm in a life of madness, and comfort, that only they could offer each other. It had been the perfect moment, sure he could've taken her out to dinner, and practised a speech, but what he had said last night meant more, to both of them, he knew. It had felt right to propose last night, and should the worst happen today, at least they knew how they felt about each other.
But as he came to the bottom of the stairs, he was met with the reality of today. They would be facing Lestrange, they would end this today. He just hoped that it ended well.
The house was packed tight with people. A large group had gathered at the door, and Ron assumed these were the people from the other orders that were here to help them, and then there were the Order members that Ron already knew, rushing about trying to prepare.
"Hey, mate," Harry greeted, "Have you gotten breakfast? No, well, once you get it can you gather your team, tell them the plan? Then me, you and Hermione can talk."
Ron nodded, not needing to ask what the three of them would be discussing.
"Sure, are all of these from the other orders?"
"Yeah, big numbers, huh?" Harry said looking delighted at the help they would be getting.
"Ronnie!"
Ron turned, as Harry walked away, and saw his mother gesturing him over to her.
"Morning, mum." He grinned at her.
"Yes, good morning ,dear, you seem awfully happy this morning." She said, looking at his oddly.
"Just looking forward to putting this behind us." He lied effortlessly.
"Hmmm, sure, aren't we all? I know that I can't wait to be back at the burrow, although I'm sure that there are some repairs needed, what with the attack and that." His mum babbled on, "But, nevertheless, it should be better than here. We could just stay with one of you for a few days."
Ron nodded, knowing full well that he would make sure that his parents stayed with Bill, or maybe Harry (perfect revenge for marrying his baby sister). There was no way that he was having his mum and dad staying at his apartment when he finally gets his privacy back.
And he very much doubted that Hermione would appreciate that either.
"Anyway, dear, you need to go and get some breakfast. Hermione's just come down too, and there's stuff on the table."
The way that his mother was eying him suspiciously told Ron that she thought it was no coincidence that Hermione arrived downstairs moments before Ron, and he feigned a look of innocence, since this was technically true.
"Her parents are there too though."
Ron threw his mother a knowing look, as she grinned mischievously at him. Honestly, she really did surprise him sometimes.
"I'll keep that in mind," He muttered, as he entered the dining room.
Hermione was indeed sitting with her parents, but George and Freddie were there too.
Ron sighed, resignedly. George had made a habit out of sitting as close to them as possible in the morning. Ron suspected that they were his source of entertainment, being shut up here all day. For some reason, he enjoyed riling Hermione up, and since that usually involved embarrassing Ron, it was a win-win for George.
"Morning." Ron said, sitting down beside his fiancé.
Merlin, he loved that.
Hermione smiled at him, while her parent nodded in his direction.
"Good morning, dear Ronniekins. Are you excited?" George began.
"Yep, just like an auror mission. You?" Ron said, determined to ignore how annoying his brother was.
"Yes, you see, I'm in Hermione's team. It's going to be fun, right Hermy?"
"Don't call me that Georgie." Hermione replied sweetly.
George ignored this, as Ron knew he would.
"Sorry, Hermy-"
"Excuse me," Jean interrupted, "I'd prefer you didn't call my daughter that, Hermione is the name I choose."
George looked like he had been slapped, and Ron bit back a laugh, as his brother quickly left the table.
Robert began to laugh too, while Hermione smiled at her mother.
"Brilliant, Jean! He's terrified!" Ron chuckled, helping himself to some toast.
"Yes, it's always fun to wind up your brothers, I must say."
Ron agreed, none of his brothers knew how to take Jean, they never could tell if she was joking or serious.
"So," Robert said, "This attack today, how bad is it going to be?"
"It's going to be fine, Dad," Hermione reassured, "We have a good plan, right Ron?"
"Yeah," Ron said quietly, "It'll be fine."
Hermione threw him an annoyed look, for not being more reassuring likely, but Ron gave her a stern look in return which certainly didn't happen often. She always sheltered her parents, too much in Ron's opinion. And what good would it do them in the long run?
"So no one's going to get hurt?" Jean asked worriedly, her eyes glued to her daughter.
Ron knew that she was thinking of the kidnapping, and how much pain Hermione had been in and he felt his stomach squirm, hopefully nothing like that would happen today.
"Course not, Mum." Hermione said dismissively.
Ron was about to tell her that there was a small chance that someone could be hurt but, before he could, he noticed Harry motioning them over.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron said, pulling at her arm reluctantly, "We have to talk to Harry."
Hermione nodded and rose, giving both her parents a quick kiss on the cheek. Ron tried not to stare as he noticed both their eyes becoming misty. He couldn't imagine how awful it must be for them, to let their daughter live in a world that they could never be a part of and watch her go out and face wars and battles that they didn't even understand.
"Be safe," Richard said, "Both of you."
"Always, Dad." Hermione smiled, as her father wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Meanwhile, Jean turned to Ron, tears threatening to fall.
"Look after my daughter," She whispered pleadingly.
"Always." Ron said softly, as Jean smiled warmly at him.
"Come on Ron, we have to go." Hermione said.
"Yeah, 'cos it was me holding us back." Ron said, rolling his eyes and forcing his tone to be jovial, trying to ease some of the tension.
oo00OO00oo
Harry's POV
"So, Hermione's team, you are going through the back door. Wait at least 5 minutes before entering the battle, no matter what." Harry said to the group.
"What about if something happens? And you all need us?" Penelope demanded.
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but Hermione had no such trouble.
"It's five minutes," She said, "Nothing can happen in that space; if we enter too early we will lose the advantage. It won't come as much of a shock to them, but if we wait then they will be surprised, and overwhelmed by the numbers."
"Right," Ron cleared his throat, "My team are going to jump down from the foyer, the true element of surprise, and I want you to wait at least ten minutes before joining the battle. We are entering with Hermione's team, but we will leave them and go upstairs to wait above the hall."
Harry could see the eyes of Ron's team widening at the mention of jumping down from an above level, particular Audrey and Cho, but they kept their mouths shut, probably realizing that their fear of heights were not as worrying as Benjamin Lestrange.
Needless to say, Hermione had gotten her way and didn't have to jump down from a balcony, mainly because Ron wouldn't tell her that she had to. Harry had told her that, since it was her idea, it was only fair that she done it but Ron hadn't been able tell her that, and so he volunteered himself.
Harry lost all respect for him in that moment, and hadn't waited to tell Ron so.
Honestly though, Harry was still in shock at how this had turned out. A few months ago he had been worried about getting through a meeting with the two of them in that same room ,and now he was still worried about getting through a meeting but only because they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
He remembered being nervous about them meeting up but using Lestrange as a way to bring them back together. He was like a child trying to force his parents back together and he hadn't even considered Lestrange as a big deal.
"So that leaves my team, we are going to go first, through the front door and cause a scene. Start fighting straight away, anyone you manage to get, send them to the ministry with a portkey." Harry said.
"There are a few, uh, finer elements to the plan too though." Hermione said, addressing the whole room.
"Praise Merlin! I thought that was the best that three war heroes could come up with for a moment!" Aberforth grunted from the back, to many sniggers.
"Don't worry, Ab, we've got it covered." Ron winked at him. "We need three volunteers."
Everyone stared at them for a moment, looking untrusting.
"While I have no problem volunteering for the Order," Neville began, "I would like to know what I'm volunteering for because, and I think I speak for everyone here when I say, you three are up to something."
Several seemed to agree, and someone, likely George, shouted out "Hear, hear!"
Ron rolled his eyes, but none of the trio could deny it.
"Fine," Hermione said briskly, "We are going to ask three of you to take Polyjuice, and be us."
There was a bewildered silence.
"Why?" Percy asked, looking like a bludger had just hit him on the head.
"Because," Ron said, "It will look immediately suspicious if only one of us were involved in the initial attack, Lestrange will know that there are people missing."
"Yes, because no one can do anything without the Golden Trio." George snorted.
"Exactly."
"Hermy, what's happened to you? You've changed." George said theatrically, placing a hand in his forehead.
Harry chuckled, before bringing the meeting back to order, "Calm down, and let's get back to topic. So, our impersonators just needed to fight, try and stay away from Lestrange because he will be targeting us but we think that Lestrange will run into a certain room. So me, Ron and Hermione are going to find him."
"And you have a plan for that?" asked someone in the back, Harry assumed it was someone from the other orders.
"Of course we do." Ron said defensively.
Harry sighed a little, the trio had spent a long time debating the plan they had come up with and Harry was still not happy with it but when Ron and Hermione decided to team up there was no stopping them.
"Right, so we are waiting on the signal from our source then we'll leave."
oo00OO00oo
Hermione could feel her heart beating in her chest as she stared up at the mansion before her. Could she handle this?
She heard someone approach her and tensed but relaxed almost immediately.
It was Ron.
"You ok?" He whispered to her, making sure that no Order members were eavesdropping.
Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand.
"I'm fine. Just nervous."
"Me too. But, at least it'll be over soon." Ron comforted her.
"Yes," Hermione smiled, "And then the only thing we'll have to do is tell everyone we're engaged."
Ron shuddered.
"Let's focus on one life threatening mission at a time, eh? I don't want to think about telling your Dad."
Hermione let out a small chuckle in spite of herself.
"Ready guys?" Harry called to them from a few metres away.
Hermione felt her heart speed up again, the panic must've shown on her face because Ron squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"We'll be fine."
Hermione nodded,
"I love you."
"I love you too." Ron smiled, surprised at her outburst.
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck quickly as he placed a tender kiss to her head. She tilted her head and captured his lips, reminding herself what they were fighting for. They broke apart soon after, as Harry became more persistent.
"Merlin, what's wrong with that bloke? Have you no timing, mate?" Ron grinned while Harry just rolled his eyes.
"Ready now?" He demanded, though the anger didn't reach his eyes.
"Yes, Harry. We were waiting on you."
Harry looked at her incredulously but she ignored him.
"My team," She called, "Come on, I'm going to take you to our entrance and then Angelina-Me will lead you all during the battle."
"Did the aurors get called?" Ron asked Harry.
"Yes, I told Kingsley. They're going to come in about half an hour."
"Good." Ron said and Hermione had to admit he was a different person when he was in auror mode. "My team, follow me, we're going to the same place as Hermione's first."
oo00OO00oo
Hermione shushed the crowd behind her as she pointed her wand at the wards. It took her a few minutes but she manages to take them down using the spells Bill had taught her.
Her nerves increased as they approached the building, invisible under the disillusion charms.
"STUPEFY!"
Ron's voice broke through the silence, and Hermione watched as a Doom Soldier flew to the ground.
"Someone was slacking," George commented, as he set up a portkey for the man, "Looks like he was sleeping on Guard Duty."
"That's a good sign, Weasley." Minerva said sternly, "It means they are unprepared, and not expecting us."
"Alohomora." Hermione said, pointing towards the door in front of them. It opened easily.
All too soon the large group found themselves in a large corridor. In the slender hall Hermione noticed how big their numbers were, and this was only two-thirds of them. She was filled with a new confidence.
Hermione looked around and spotted a door on the right, the door that would lead them to the main room where Harry's team were going to enter. There was also a staircase beside the door.
"Right, my team, this way please." Ron said pointing to the stairs.
His group quickly rushed up the stairs, disappearing after a few minutes. Hermione continued too monitor the hall, making sure that no Doom Soldiers had heard them.
She turned as the sounds of feet on stairs disappeared. She felt her stomach drop when she realized that Ron wasn't here anymore, suddenly she wished that they hadn't been disillusioned, she wanted to see him once more, just in case…
"Right, this is a matter of waiting. Once we hear Harry's team, we need to make sure that every Doom Soldier is in the room before we enter. So clear some space beside the door in case they come running down here."
Hermione's thoughts left her as she heard a stampede coming from the next room. Battle sounds filled the air and she felt her hands begin to shake. She yearned to run into the room right now, to help, to fight and to make sure that Harry and his team were safe.
Footsteps echoed down the hall, and Hermione barely had time to bark an order for her team and clear the hall before about twelve Doom Soldiers rushed down the hall, and into the room. As the door opened she could see flashed of red and green light but she tried not to dwell on this.
"Is that them all?" Michael asked cautiously.
"I would think so, Malfoy said there was a meeting but that there would be about ten or so guarding." Hermione answered.
"How long's it been?" George asked, for once his face was serious.
"Four minutes." A woman that Hermione didn't recognise answered.
Hermione sighed,
"Ok, Angelina, take the Polyjuice now." Hermione began, facing her team. "I want everyone to be careful, be on guard and make sure that we get them all. This is important, after today this will be over and we need to be the ones to win. Follow the plan, make sure only Lestrange leaves that room, organize portkeys for everyone who is captured, do not forget anyone and above all, stay safe. Thank you all. Take off the charms now."
Hermione sensed a change in the atmosphere. The nervous energy was gone, replaced with a calm acceptance that only those who fought in a war knew. This was their element, they were a team, they had a plan and they were determined to win.
She looked at each face in turn; George, Charlie, Dennis, Parvati, Padma, Kate, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Aberforth, Anthony, Dirk, Oliver, Penelope and the brave people who volunteered to help out people they didn't even know. They could do this, she was sure of it. Because she couldn't stand to lose any of them.
"Ok, go. And good luck." Hermione said.
They rushed past her but she was surprised when George turned back to her,
"You too, Hermione. Make sure Harry and Ron are safe."
Hermione nodded and smiled, giving George a quick hug.
Hermione waited a few moments before she too entered the room but she kept the disillusion charm on. Her eyes widened in shock, unprepared for the scene before her.
The mass of the Doom Soldiers paralysed her, she knew for certain that this was all of them because there couldn't be many more. There were nearly two hundred of them. Chills descended down her spine when she recognised so many of them. There was Goyle, Nott, Yaxley's son…and there were the ones who had tortured her. Hermione couldn't make her feet move, the sight of them terrified her and suddenly, for the first time in her life, she wanted to run away and pretend that this wasn't happening.
A green light flew past her head, jerking her awake. Fury build inside her as she realized that the Doom Soldiers were back to their usual strategy; aim to kill. She watched as her team joined Harry's in battle, and she was relieved to see that, so far, no one had been hurt from what she could tell.
Hermione scanned the room, searching for Lestrange. She needed to find him before he could hurt anyone else. She needed to get revenge.
He was there, just watching them all. It reminded her so much of Voldemort, the way that he too would allow his fighters to die for him without offering any assistance.
He sat on a large chair, much too like a throne for her liking, which seemed to be the only remaining furniture in the large room. Lestrange's dark hair looked greasy, his eyes were full of malice and there was something in his smile that was twisted. It was all just as she remembered. He was playing idly with his wand, surveying them. Hermione's heart leaped to her chest when she realized that it wasn't the Elder Wand but the wand he had used to torture her with not so long ago. Draco had been right! Maybe their plan would succeed now, everything was in pace after all.
She was nervous. What if their plan failed? What would they do? Would they have to go back too Grimmauld Place, again, tonight? Would they spend another two months making flimsy plans, rallying troops…hearing names of innocent victims? No. They couldn't do that. She wasn't strong enough to go through another way
Hermione ran through their plan again in her mind, just as Ron's team entered. They jumped into the room, shocking the Doom Soldiers.
Gasps of shock emitted form the crowd, and Hermione could see the lack of green light but increase in red in those few moments. She could hear more and more portkeys being made and she was thankful that their last team had created such as excellent diversion.
She didn't have much more time to ponder this, as a Doom Soldier rushed towards her. Hermione thought that he must've seen her, maybe the hazy outline, but then she realized that his eyes were fixed on someone else.
She looked over her shoulder and realized that he was running towards Aberforth.
Hermione opened her mouth to shout at him, to warn him. But she was too late. She was knocked off her feet as the Doom Soldier flew past her but she didn't care. She could only watch in horror as the Doom Soldier raised his wand and uttered the most deadly of spells.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Aberforth's body slumped to the ground, as the spell hit him directly in the chest. His eyes widened in realization before a permanent look of calm etched itself on his face.
Hermione screamed in agony but no one heard her cry over the sounds of the battle.
"STUPEFY!"
Her voice was laced with anger and she felt a sick sense of satisfaction at the sight of the Doom Soldier falling to the ground.
Hermione quickly made a portkey out of an object on the ground, in too much shock to register what it was, while tears fell relentlessly from her eyes. She placed the portkey into Aberforth's hand, giving it a small squeeze as he disappeared. She wiped tears from her eyes as she stood up.
Hermione was furious, absolutely furious. Another innocent life had been taken by these vicious, evil, inhumane murders. Aberforth, who had helped the Order so much, who had helped the trio in their ultimate time of need, who lived a lonely life…was dead.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, forcing herself to focus.
Hermione panicked when she realized that Lestrange was no longer where she last saw him. She remembered their plan and hoped with all her heart that she hadn't messed it up. She couldn't allow Aberforth to be dead for nothing.
She ran, as fast as her feet could possibly carry her. She pushed through the fighter, enemies and friends, determined to reach the other end of the hall. She dodged every spell that flew past her, and she let out a string of curse words that Ron would've been proud of when she got hit by a cutting curse in the arm.
Finally! Hermione reached the door. Quickly taking down the disillusion charm, she threw it open with all the strength she had and ran through it.
"Hermione!"
She jumped in shock as she felt someone collapse into her, then relaxed a second later when she realized the voice belonged to Ron. A few seconds later another set of arms, Harry's she assumed, were wrapped around them.
"Where were you?" Ron demanded as they pulled away. "We were worried."
Hermione's eyes began to fill with tears again as she remembered the horrific event that had held her up.
Ron's eyes softened immediately when he noticed her tears and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder comfortingly.
"It's ok," he whispered, "We've still got time."
Hermione didn't respond but she saw Harry and Ron exchange a look over her shoulder.
"Hermione?" Harry asked gently.
She met his eyes reluctantly,
"A-aberforth. He's…he's g-gone." She said, tears leaking from her eyes as she leaned into Ron.
Harry's face hardened in anger and grief while Ron's arm became rigid around her.
"We'll get them. I swear to Merlin, we're going to get them." Harry said his voice full of purpose.
"Come on," Ron said. "We need to go now."
Hermione nodded, concentrating at the task on hand.
"Where is he? I lost track of him." She said, running a hand through her hair.
"He ran down this hall a few minutes ago," Harry informed her, "I think Malfoy was right, he panicked when he saw that he was beginning to lose and he's away to get the Elder wand."
Ron shook his head,
"His big plan of hiding the wand until he needs it is about to backfire."
"Ready then?" Hermione asked.
"Ok, same plan. We've got him isolated now; we know what he's going to attempt to do so we just have to stop him. We can do this." Ron said.
"Let's just make sure he doesn't become the master of that bloody wand." Harry grinned. "Let's go. He's upstairs, second door on the right."
"We know, Harry." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
Ron grabbed her hand, and in turn she grabbed Harry's before the set off in a run down the corridor.
Hermione felt the adrenaline course through her bones and for the first time that day, she felt completely confident that they could do this. She squeezed both her boys' hands as they stood outside the door. The door which was the only thing separating them from Lestrange.
