― CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN ―
As Jaquenetta closed the basement kitchen door behind her she was hesitant being in the meeting, having been told that they would simply be going over the plans of the ministry and seeing as Jaquenetta would be back at Hogwarts by the time they began she would not be needed.
'Ah Jaquenetta' Mr Weasley greeted her warmly 'sorry about dragging you down but just wanted a quick word before dinner' leading her to the end of the table away from where Moody and Bill Weasley were looking over some building plans.
'Of course Mr Weasley' said Jaquenetta as she sat across from the older Weasley.
'This isn't official Order business so please don't feel as if you are obligated. But I can't help, with everything that has happened last year with... You-Know-Who...'
Jaquenetta nodded, almost certain where this was going.
'...and I know that you will be under immense pressure with your N.E.W.T studies but a few years ago... I'm not sure if anyone told you... but Ginny's first year was hard on her... and I just' Mr Weasley trailed off, his voice breaking at the emotion he was trying to keep in check.
'Mr Weasley' Jaquenetta began 'I will look out for Ginny, I promise. She is a very capable Witch, but I will be there if she needs, if any of them need.' She finished with a smile.
'Thankyou Jaquenetta, that means a great deal to Molly and me'
'Not at all Mr Weasley I...'
'JAQUENETTA SIROUN!'
What Jaquenetta had been about to say to Mr Weasley was cut off short by the sound of her girlfriend... her very angry girlfriend... who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Jaquenetta slowly stood up from her seat to face Hermione, whose eyes were blazing as she slowly started walking towards Jaquenetta.
'Uh...' Jaquenetta was frozen to the spot, unable to move from under the glare of her girlfriend.
'Hermione dear, what's...' Mrs Weasley tried to diffuse the situation, having never seen Hermione like this before, but her concern caught in her throat as she saw small birds flying around the upset girls shoulder.
'You said you would never put yourself in danger' Hermione spoke, trying to calm herself.
'I wasn't in danger' Jaquenetta answered unconsciously raising her hands in front of her, her wand left in the pocket of her jacket.
'719 feet...' began Hermione
'Uh...' Uh oh...
'719 feet, you could have fallen off!'
'Well... I, um' Jaquenetta was gradually backing away from her girlfriend, ensuring she kept the birds in her sight also as they were also eying her in a disconcerting way.
'How did you even get up there? Climb!'
'I... uh... apparated, actually' Jaquenetta said, instantly regretting the answer.
'You could've been killed! How could you do that to...' Hermione's anger wracked her body and tears started to fall.
Before Jaquenetta could move to comfort her girlfriend the birds, those cute little birds that had been flying around suddenly launched an attack flying straight for her. With no wand or time, Jaquenetta closed her eyes and allowed them to hit, the force only pushing her slightly backwards. She opened her eyes in time to see Hermione run from the room.
'Well, at least we didn't miss it' Fred said.
Jaquenetta shot him a look as she raced passed trying to catch up to Hermione.
'Hermione, Hermione wait please'
Jaquenetta raced up the flights of stairs only stopping once she saw Hermione, who was sitting against the door to her room on the third floor, head in her hands and shoulders shaking.
'Hermione please' Jaquenetta whispered as she sat down next to the distraught Witch, tentatively placing a hand on her knee 'I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't even know I was going to be up there until we all were leaving to get Harry.'
Hermione looked up at Jaquenetta with red eyes, and tear stained cheeks 'you could have died, you could have fallen off and I'd never have gotten to... to say that...' Hermione trailed off, tears escaping her eyes once more.
Jaquenetta was certain, in that moment, that if her heart could physically break in two that it was doing so right then. She pulled Hermione into her embrace, feeling an ache in her heart she wished she could repair.
'I'm sorry Hermione. I'm not going to leave you, and I am so sorry that I scared you' Jaquenetta whispered into Hermione's ear as she held the younger Witch tightly in her arms.
Hermione's shoulder stopped trembling and the younger girl looked up 'I'm sorry, I just... the thought of losing you, and never being able to tell you, I just...' Hermione broke off, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, before opening them again to look into Jaquenetta's eyes, warmth spreading through them both as their breathing slowed.
'I was scared that I'd never get to tell you... that I love you'
The breath in Jaquenetta's through hitched, and her heart was most certainly about to beat its way out through her chest any moment. Jaquenetta was at a loss for words, an occurrence which was becoming more and more frequent whenever Hermione locked onto her gaze with those piercing chocolate brown eyes.
A smile spread across her face as she remembered when this new confession had been her own...
'They love you' Jaquenetta said softly as she gently lifted Hermione's chin upwards
'I know' Hermione replied, anxiety and uncertainty still evident in her eyes. Jaquenetta leant in slowly and placed a soft kiss on Hermione's lips before pulling back to appraise her from a distance again.
'I love you' Jaquenetta spoke even softer, her voice catching in her throat.
Jaquenetta could hear Hermione's breath hitch in her chest and her eyes widen just slightly as they locked eyes. 'I... perhaps it is too soon but I just needed you to know, with everything that has happened last year... I don't want to spend my time waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself and miss the chance to ever do so, for I feel so much it is a wonder that it can stay contained within me'
Hermione smiled at the words yet also with fondness of the rambling that seems to take hold of Jaquenetta 'I... you know I'
Jaquenetta cut Hermione off, placing a finger over her lips 'I know.' She said, before leaning closer to claim Hermione's lips once more.
...Jaquenetta turned her attention back to her girlfriend, pulling her even closer, wiping away the last of the tears that had all but dried up. Taking Hermione's hand in her own she gently ran her free hand across the younger witches back.
'I love you too, Hermione'
After dinner that night, and the information that they had all finally been made privy to, the Weasley's, Harry, Hermione and Jaquenetta were once again in the older Witches room. It seemed as if an unspoken agreement had been made by the Hogwarts students to meet there, to discuss what they had just heard. Ginny, determined as ever to not be left out, was already waiting in the room when they came in.
'What do you reckon it is, the weapon Sirius mentioned?' said Harry.
'Let slip, more like.' said Fred.
'Could be anything' said Ron
The boys all turned to Jaquenetta 'what's the weapon Jaq? Surely you must know' asked George.
While Jaquenetta had not been made privy to what the actual weapon was that the Order would soon be guarding she knew that they were referring to the prophecy. Shrugging her shoulders, feigning ignorance she replied 'I don't know any more than you do now, just that it's a weapon but they will not tell me exactly. I'd guess that Dumbledore believes the less people who actually know what it is the better. After all it is possible to guard something without knowing what it is.'
The next hour saw a retelling of the meeting for Ginny's benefit and wild speculation from all in the room as to what the weapon was with each occupant wondering what horrors the weapon could perpetrate.
Noting that it was well past midnight Jaquenetta shooed the Weasley children and Harry out of her room to avoid them all being caught out of bed by Mrs Weasley when she did her nightly checks. As she turned back from the closed door Jaquenetta noticed Hermione sitting on the edge of the bed, a troubled look on her face.
A pang of sorrow pinched Jaquenetta's heart, she slowly walked to where Hermione, deep in thought, did not notice Jaquenetta had sat next to her until her hands were enveloped with that familiar warmth.
A smile tugged at the edges of her mouth as she faced Jaquenetta 'I remember the first time you touched my hand in the library right before the second task.'
Jaquenetta nodded, remembering the electric surge that passed through her hand at the sudden contact.
'I thought you may have been coming down with a fever you felt so war' Hermione continued 'I realised soon after that it's not a warmth of illness at all. It's almost…' Hermione trailed off, searching for the right word.
'Calming?' Jaquenetta offered.
'Yes, I suppose so' Hermione agreed 'I've never experienced it before. It's almost like a transference of energy' Hermione said, absentmindedly running the fingers of her right hand over Jaquenetta's left palm.
'Perhaps it's a connection of magic' Jaquenetta stipulated, as she felt the familiar warmth spread through her hand.
The two witches sat in silence, each marvelling at the warmth in their hands. Hermione's head resting on Jaquenetta's shoulder, each content to their own thoughts.
'I'm sorry about the birds' Hermione said solemnly, looking into Jaquenetta's eyes with much remorse.
Jaquenetta kissed Hermione on the forehead before turning to face her 'I'm sorry I caused you pain.'
As Jaquenetta looked into Hermione's eyes she knew that with the uncertainty of the future now was possibly the best time to give the necklace to Hermione and explain its significance. Jaquenetta got up and walked to her desk draw and removed the case before returning to sit by Hermione again.
'I was going to give this to you for your birthday, but in light of recent events it would seem that there really is no better time than the present.' Jaquenetta placed the case on the bed grasped both of Hermione's hands as she spoke 'I know that Hogwarts is the safest place for any of us, except perhaps this house, but who knows what may happen in the future. While Dumbledore has assured me I will not be called upon during the school year there is always a possibility of me being needed outside the castle walls and I would never be able to forgive myself if I was not there when you needed me.'
Hermione had been listening to Jaquenetta, a tightness growing in her chest at the words spoken. Her eyes kept flicking to the case on the bed, her interest growing with curiosity and also with hesitation due to the solemn words Jaquenetta was speaking.
Surely she cannot be saying that she may be going off to fight dementors…
Jaquenetta opened the case and removed one of the necklaces 'this is a Kunzite crystal. In the 1500s witches and wizards used these crystals to hold the Invito charm'
'It's beautiful' Hermione said, in awe of the transparent pink crystal that had been placed in her hand.
'The charm is placed within the crystal and when worn around the neck allows the witch to summon a loved one to them' Jaquenetta explained as she secured the chain around Hermione's neck 'the spell required to attune the crystal to someone is also used to summon them, all you need to do is repeat the incantation after me, okay?' Jaquenetta asked.
'Yes' Hermione picked up her wand, ready to do as Jaquenetta asked, her mind buzzing with the possibility of using a 400 year old charm.
Jaquenetta told her the incantation and explained that once attuned the spell can be said either verbally or non-verbally, and then wrapped her hand around the crystal, holding it firmly but not pulling on the chain.
Hermione pointed her wand at the crystal, a little hesitant of the possibility of injuring Jaquenetta, and cleared her mind.
'Te Accerso' she cast, her eyes widening as the crystal briefly glowed a rich lilac before returning to the washed pink. 'So what does this mean?' Hermione asked, her mind ever working ever absorbing always thirsty for more knowledge.
Jaquenetta removed her hand from the crystal and took both of Hermione's in her own, a smile on her lips and sincerity in her eyes 'it means, whenever you need me all you have to do is summon me. I will always come when you need me.'
The air grew thick as Hermione looked deep into those grey eyes, eyes that always showed more than the owner would seemingly wish. As beautiful and touching a present as it was Hermione knew that there a more serious depth to it.
'But what if you need me' Hermione asked, relishing in the surprising warmth of the crystal against her skin.
Jaquenetta smiled and pulled out an almost identical crystal necklace from the case, smiling 'I always do'
The young witches had spent the next hour discussing the charm with Jaquenetta showing Hermione the charms book Dumbledore had given her.
'So the person being summoned does not need to be able to apparate for this to work?'
'No' Jaquenetta explained 'that is why it was used most readily before locater spells for young children. The parent could just summon them back if they ever got lost.'
Hermione considered this for a moment before asking another question, one that she felt the need to know the answer to, as if it was important, even if she did not know why at present.
'What if there are anti-apparating charms in place, like at Hogwarts?'
Jaquenetta smiled, having asked Dumbledore the same question when she went to him with the charm…
'Professor, I understand how the charm negates the need for the summoned to be able to apparate but I do have a question'
'Of course, if I can be of assistance to you I will Miss Siroun' Dumbledore had said, a twinkle in his eye that always caused Jaquenetta to pause and question whether Dumbledore already knew the questions he was about to be asked.
'If the place the wearer of the crystal is located is protected by anti-apparating spells, like at Hogwarts for instance, will the charm still work?' Jaquenetta asked, while images of the department of mysteries ran through her head.
'The beauty of these old charms is in the robustness they have to modern counter-spells. Who would consider a practically extinct 400 year old spell when fortifying their walls? But to answer your question more directly, the same graces that allowed you safe passage into Hogwarts will also grant you leave.'