Chapter 53
Evening Song
Author's Note: I'm sure some of you are wondering when I'm going to get back to Harry's PoV in this story. Unfortunately, not for a few chapters. I have big ideas for him in Godric's Hollow, but most of my plans in Christmas Break center around Hermione's PoV. So you'll just have to wait for that. Besides... I enjoy writing Hermione and Ron too much... which is sorta bad considering this is supposed to be my version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows... and should focus more on Harry. But I'm way too in love with writing Hermione and Ron scenes. Shame on me. Of course then there a few of my readers and reviewers who I know who love Ron and Hermione and would probably hate that I am planning a few Harry PoV chapters. I just can't make everyone happy, can I? But I'm happy you enjoy this story... so enjoy!
(Hermione's PoV)
Hermione figured she should have realized it was too much to ask Harry and Ginny to behave during breakfast, even with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen. She would catch Harry and Ginny glance at each other and flirt in ways she could recognize but she hoped Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could not. At one point, while Mrs. Weasley was animatedly chatting about plans for Christmas and how in the world she could possibly manage it, Hermione even thought she felt a foot on hers that definitely did not belong to Ron, because she was used to him playing with hers, and it did not feel the same. She casually stepped on the culprit's foot, hard enough to get a bit of pain out of the person who owned that foot. Harry's face contorted in a way that she knew he was the culprit, and she gave him a glare only her close personal friends could recognize. After that, his behavior improved during the remainder of the meal, as did Ginny's.
After breakfast, Hermione retreated back into the tent with Ron, Harry and Ginny. Harry and Ginny ended up at the small table in the tent's kitchen They were talking privately amongst themselves, but Hermione figured that the subject was probably more on the intimate side and not the hunt, so she ignored them for the moment.
She sat on the floor at the end of her bed, and pulled her trunk within reach of her. She heard the bed-springs behind her groan and looked over her shoulder. Ron was laying on his stomach just a few inches away from her. She could slightly feel Ron's breath on the back of her neck. As she fiddled with the lock of her trunk, trying to open it, she heard the scratching of a quill behind her and looked for the source. Ron was arched up on his elbows and his Quick-Quotes Quill was busy writing something into his journal.
"More ideas?" Hermione asked.
"No," Ron said, "I've decided if we're going to tell Mum not to worry about us, I'm going to have to figure out how to put it into words where she won't end up looking for us. Just what I need is Mum joining among the other range of people we have to avoid."
She nodded and started to rummage through her trunk, pulling out clothes and school items and books, then sorted them into piles.
"Hermione, you really need to work on your priorities," Ginny said, as she caught sight of the growing piles.
"This mess isn't my fault," Hermione said, chuckling, "Undetectable Extension Charms unfortunately make a mess because it is such a big space."
"I'm not talking about that," Ginny said. "Look around you. What do you see most?"
"If you're talking about my tiny library of books," Hermione said, "you obviously don't know me very well. I love my books, and even then I have to sort through the ones I want and the ones that can stay here."
"You have numerous books, sure," Ginny said, "But you lack in clothes."
Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked at the pile of clothes. Ginny was right: it was rather small.
"At Hogwarts, I was mostly wearing my school robes," Hermione explained.
"Exactly," Ginny said, "We're going to be camping. You don't know how long we'll be before we can find a water source to clean our clothes with magic. You need to bring a few outfits."
"Only you two would worry about clothes on a hunt like this," Ron scoffed.
Harry chuckled out loud, and Ginny smacked his hand.
"I guess I could go shopping," Hermione said.
"I think I know my sister's getting at, Hermione," Ron said. "You forget I saw a whole closet of clothes in your bedroom at your house. Remus and Dora said your house was not ransacked, and most of your belongings are there. We'll be in Oxford Friday. You could pick up a few things."
"I-I can't," Hermione said, feeling tears in her eyes, "Don't you understand, I can't? I can't go back in my bedroom. It is where my – it is where she was when it – when it happened."
Tears leaked down Hermione;s cheeks and fell onto her copy of Numerology and Grammatica. Hermione felt Ron's hand rub across her back
"Oh, Hermione," Ron said, "I apologize. I wasn't even thinking."
"It's okay, Ron," Hermione said, sniffling, "I know you meant nothing by it."
"I'm not too sure it is a good idea either, Ron," Harry said. "If you ask me, the Snatchers would be foolish not to watch her house during the holidays. The chance Hermione could return there is – well, I mean, obviously, Hermione, you don't want to, but they don't know that. I mean – it is still your home. They know that."
Hermione nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. Ginny stood up from the table and walked over to her then knelt next to her.
"How about you and I go shopping one of these days?" Ginny asked. "Dora's been saying she wants some maternity clothes, so we can go with her and shop for our own stuff. Even if it is Muggle stuff, I'm sure I can get a bit of money from Mum, or even Fred and George – they still owe me a bonus for working at their shop. We can go shopping for clothes for the trip."
Hermione nodded again.
"I'd like that," she said, "Thanks, Ginny."
"You're practically my sister, Hermione," Ginny said, grinning, "Isn't that what sisters do?"
Hermione chuckled and nodded. Ginny's eyes moved to the assortment of books and she picked up a book titled Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy.
"What's this?" Ginny asked.
"Oh," Hermione said, "I completely forgot about that book. I found it in Grimmauld Place when we were there in August. I brought it with me because it looked interesting.
"That was Sirius' book?" Harry asked, "Let me see it, Gin."
Behind Hermione, she heard Ron growl almost inaudibly. She knew why too: the nickname Gin was what he always called his sister. She knew he considered it reserved.
Ginny walked over to the table and handed the book to Harry. Hermione found the last of her books, which turned out to be The Tales of Beedle the Bard. She remembered putting it deep down in her trunk after the Hallows discussion a few weeks back, having no desire to read through the book much, even though it was a gift from Dumbledore. She looked at the large pile of books, and groaned privately as she realized she did indeed have quite a few books in her posession.
"This book has names of all the old families," Harry said.
"Is Weasley there?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," Harry said, "Weasley, Black... Peverell!"
"Oh, please, Harry," Hermione scoffed, "Not that rubbish right now."
"How long did you say you had this book, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Since that day we found Mundungus in Grimmauld Place," Hermione said.
"You had it this whole time," Harry said, "When I was researching for the Peverells, and this is exactly the type of book I needed."
"She said she forgot about it, Harry," Ron said, and Hermione heard the Quick-Quotes Quill scratching across the parchment harder, "Let it go. She's right. It is rubbish."
"Fine," Harry said, shutting the book, "I think I'll keep this one, Hermione. Seeing as it is basically mine anyway."
"One less for me to sort through," Hermione said, "Merry Christmas."
Ron chuckled behind her and the Quick-Quotes Quill calmed down. Hermione began to sort through her books, and picked up Hogwarts, A History.
"Do you think we'll go back to Hogwarts on our hunt?" Hermione asked, looking at the book.
"If there was a Horcrux there, we would have found it, Hermione," Ron said.
"Hmm, I guess... but, I think I'll take it with us anyway," she said, "I wouldn't feel right without it."
She set the book down in a portion of the floor she designated as acceptable books.
"Ugh, you still have Lockhart's books?" Ron asked, pointing a finger over Hermione's shoulder at Travels With Trolls.
Along with Travel with Trolls, she found, to her amusement, the whole collection of Gilderoy Lockhart's books all together in one section of the pile. She picked them all up and threw them in the a pile she designated as unusable on the hunt, but kept for later.
"I have all the books I collected over my years at school, Ronald," Hermione said, "You never know when you're going to need them again – ugh – or rather, most of them."
She turned up her nose at the book she found, Defensive Magical Theory, and put it in a pile she designated as trash, privately thinking it would be the only one in that pile.
"Oh, yes, I forgot," Ron said, in disgust, "If Lockhart ever wakes up from the mad world he is in right now, I'm sure he'd remember you enough to sign yet another signature on Magical Me."
"Jealous because he was my first fancy, are you?" Hermione asked, with a smirk.
"I have you," Ron said, "Why would I be jealous?"
Hermione felt heat rise to her cheeks as she felt Ron's lips on the top of her head.
"Hermione," Harry said from the table, "How long did you say Polyjuice Potion takes?"
"A month," Hermione said, "Why?"
"Just in case we need it sometime," Harry said, "You can still make it, right?"
"Doubting yourself, Prince of Potions?" Hermione asked, sarcastically; she was still bitter about his obsession with the Prince's book the previous year.
"I'm serious," Harry said.
"Yes, I could make it," Hermione said, "But Harry, some of those ingredients are rare. I doubt the Apothecary -"
"Mum has as a large assortment of ingredients," Ron said, "I have a list of them in my journal."
"You really wanna steal from Mum?" Ginny asked.
"The greater good, Gin," Ron said, "She'll probably be so happy we're safe after we come back, she'll forgive us for nicking them."
"We should take them," Hermione said, "We won't be able to get too many in Diagon Alley, I'm sure, and we're going to need to bring enough in case we have to make medical potions. Essence of Dittany is very useful."
"Essence of Dittany?" Harry asked.
"Harry, we learned about it during Potions this term!" Hermione said, annoyed at her best mate's incompetence, "Do you ever do anything in class other than day-dream of Ginny?"
"I'd like to hear this one too," Ginny said.
"Not me," Ron said.
"Did we learn it before or after we had the locket," Harry said, ignoring Ron, "Because you know I wasn't exactly the Prince of Potions when I had the locket on."
"That was your fault – and anyway," Hermione pressed on before Harry could retort, "Yes, I do think we should take the ingredients. We're going to need them, I'm sure."
"I'll find a way to distract Mum one of these days," Ron said, "And you can nick the most important ingredients."
"Distract Mum?" Ginny asked, "Yeah... good luck with that."
"Oh, I don't know, Ginny," Ron said, nastily, "I'm sure if I start with 'Harry had a ginger-haired guest that wasn't me in my bedroom Saturday night', it will be a pretty long discussion followed by another long discussion with the previously mentioned ginger."
Ginny scowled and Hermione snickered as she put Spellman's Syllabary in the acceptable pile.
"Yeah, Ron," Harry said, "I'd be happy to take part in that discussion. Because I'd get a kick out of hearing you explain exactly why how Ginny was able to get into your room without you noticing at half-past-midnight."
Ron scowled behind Hermione and she glared at Harry; only she had the right to cause Ron to make that noise... especially since she thought it was cute! She felt her cheeks grow hot again and she decided she needed to change this subject quickly.
"Shut up, Harry," she said, "Or I'll step on your foot again."
"That was you?" Harry asked.
"Do you need me to do it again just so you can make sure?" Hermione retorted.
"Why would you step on Harry's foot?" Ron asked.
"Revenge for him stepping on yours on the train," Hermione said, her white-lie escaping her lips easily, "Happy?"
"With you, my love?" Ron replied, "Always."
Hermione blushed; he definitely needed to be rewarded for that one. She laid her head back and looked at Ron and beckoned him forward with a finger. He obeyed, as she knew he would and kissed her softly. She kissed him back, though it was rather awkward since he was facing the wrong way, but enjoyed it all the same.
When she raised her head back up after a moment, she noticed that Harry and Ginny looked rather annoyed. Hermione grinned in spite of herself and very gingerly dropped The Monster Book Of Monsters into the acceptable pile.
-
(Ron's PoV)
Late Monday night, after yet another full day of preparations for the hunt, Ron was laying in Hermione's bed. He had his journal open and he was reading through some of his notes, trying to improve on them. On the other side of the tent, in the bathroom separated by a wall of canvas, he could hear the shower running. He also heard the low sound of humming, and knew it was coming from Hermione. Whenever he and Hermione would take baths together at the top of Gryffindor tower, and she was mindlessly washing herself, he could hear her humming tunes, and sometimes they were rather loud. She was apparently oblivious to the fact she would do this, and he didn't have the heart to tell her simply because he thought it was too adorable.
The water stopped running, and a moment later, to Ron's surprise, curtains surrounded the bed.
"I don't recall that curtain being in here before," Ron said.
"I put it up today," Hermione said. "For many reasons. One because I wanted to test out the shower – which works extremely well by the way – and I had a feeling you'd be in here when I took one. So of course I needed my privacy when I got dressed."
"I could have left the tent, you know," Ron said.
"Uh-huh, and will you leave the tent every time I take a shower during the hunt?" Hermione asked.
"You're right as always, love," Ron said.
"No flirting so soon after I take a shower," Hermione said, "It's not fair."
Ron snickered. He quietly put his hand up to the curtain and peeked out of it into the rest of the tent. Hermione was facing the opposite direction, her body wrapped in the towel. He could see her bare back, and he couldn't help but emit a soft moan as he looked at her.
"What was that?" Hermione said, and Ron backed away, "You better not be peeking, Ronald."
Ron cleared his throat. "What other reasons for this curtain?" he asked.
"Obvious change of subject," Hermione growled, and Ron chuckled. "Yes, other reasons. Well... there is a reason it is called a privacy curtain, love."
Ron felt his cheeks go red. "Now who is flirting?" he asked.
Hermione chuckled. Ron decided to take another chance at peeking at Hermione, and as soon as he did, the curtains pulled back. He blushed when he saw Hermione standing there, in her pyjamas, looking at him.
"Trying to peek again?" she asked.
"Can't help it," Ron said, "You look adorable in a towel."
Hermione blushed and laid down next to Ron. He put his arm around her, and as he kissed her head, he could still smell the scent of Hermione's shampoo in her damp hair. He felt his mouth-watering as he inhaled.
"An infatuation with my hair, Ron?" Hermione asked.
"You're choice of shampoo, actually," Ron said, "And you also smell really nice."
"I did just take a shower," Hermione said.
"You might have to watch how much you shower on the hunt," Ron said, "I may have a mad desire to snog you after every time you do."
Hermione chuckled. She turned her head and kissed him softly, though she backed away before he could deepen it.
"I wasn't finished," Ron said, pouting.
"Trying to find something else to put in your journal, are you?" Hermione asked.
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't," Ron said, frowning, "I have to buy another one. This one is full."
"Then maybe we should plan on going to Diagon Alley tomorrow," Hermione said.
"It was on my mind," Ron said, "At the far back... a good distance away from my growing fancy to snog you again. If you want it to come closer, I need other things pushed out of my mind."
"Fine, I'm yours," Hermione said.
Ron raised his eyebrows.
"What?" Hermione asked, a grin crossing her lips.
"That was one of the hottest things I've ever heard come out of those lips," Ron said, "Next to you humming during your baths or showers."
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, "I do not hum."
Ron grinned and tried his best to mimic the hum he heard her sing. He immediately stopped when he saw tears in Hermione's eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I really do that?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ron said, brushing a tear from Hermione's cheek, "What is it? It is beautiful."
"It is the lullaby Daddy use to sing to me," Hermione said, sniffling, "When I was sick, it would help me sleep."
"Oh, Hermione," Ron said.
She lay against his chest, and he kissed her hair, trying hard not to lose himself in the scent of shampoo again.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't know."
"I was getting better," Hermione said, and Ron heard her inhale and exhale, "But the holidays brought it all back. It is mostly why I want to see their graves on Friday. Because I need this to help me. I hope it will give me enough strength to get through the hunt."
"You will, love," Ron said, "I'll be there every step of the way."
Hermione nodded and backed away. A solitary tear ran down Hermione's cheek, and Ron leaned toward her and kissed it softly. Over Hermione's shoulder, he saw the time on the clock: it was almost ten in the evening.
"I need to go inside," Ron said, "Mum's not going to appreciate that I'm out here this late."
"Do you have to?" Hermione asked, pouting, "I just know I'm going to have trouble sleeping."
"You already look like you're about to fall asleep," Ron said, "I'm sure you'll have no problem."
"Ron," Hermione said, her voice a soft whine.
Ron could feel his stomach twist. She sounded so sad, and he hated for her to be sad for any reason. It almost broke his heart. He frowned as he tried to come up with something.
"I have an idea," Ron said, "But I'm not sure if it will help. It might make things worse."
"Tell me," Hermione said.
"That lullaby your Daddy sang to you," Ron said. "It makes you fall asleep, right?"
Hermione nodded.
"Sing it to me," Ron said, "It might help."
"I-I c-can't," Hermione said.
"Please," Ron said.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly on the cheek. She sighed and began to hum softly.
"Words, Hermione," Ron whispered into her ear.
Knowing this would calm her down, he rubbed his tongue softly against her ear-lobe. She chuckled softly and took a deep breath, then begin to sing softly:
"Now the sun is sinking
In the golden west;
Birds and bees and children
All have gone to rest:
And the merry streamlet,
As it runs along,
With a voice of sweetness
Sings its evening song."
Hermione sniffled and closed her eyes. Her breathing started to slow down.
"Thank you," Ron whispered, "It was beautiful."
"Mmm, my Daddy's favorite," Hermione said, "You're right. It helped."
"It did?" Ron asked.
"Mmhmm," Hermione said, "I'm gonna go to sleep now."
"I'll stay here until you do," Ron said.
"Mm 'kay," Hermione said.
Ron laid there for a few minutes, until Hermione's breathing steadied, gently released his arms away from Hermione and crawled out of bed. He put the blankets over her and kissed her on the forehead.
"Mmm," Hermione murmured, "Thank you, Daddy."
Ron raised his eyebrows. Her tone of voice greatly resembled that of when she was eleven years old. It was kind of spooky to hear it, but he also thought it was rather sweet. He then realized must have already fallen into a dream about her father, and thought his kiss was a part of that dream. The thought made a tear leak from one of Ron's eyes and he let it fall. He wanted to help her through all of this. Whatever it took, he would help her.
"I love you, Hermione," he said.
"My name's Mione, remember, Daddy?" Hermione murmured against her pillow.
"Mione," Ron echoed.
Hermione smiled in her sleep. Ron walked across the room toward the door and brandished his wand from his robes. He doused the lanterns. He looked toward the bed where Hermione was sleeping.
Mione. Obviously a nickname from her father when she was little. Just like he called his little sister Gin sometimes. That was private, most of the time, between the two of them. He knew Hermione's nickname was between her and her father. Unless she let him call her that, he would never let it leave his lips again. It was obviously something she cherished with her father.
"Night, Hermione," Ron said, before zipping up the tent.
He walked back toward the Burrow, and when he arrived, he saw his mother sitting at the table, drinking her traditional final cup of tea before bedtime.
"Coming in rather late, Ronald," she said.
He nodded and sat down across the table from her.
"Hermione had another one of those – bad moments – as she likes to call them," Ron said, "She would hum this song occasionally to herself, and I brought it up, because I love it. And I wish I didn't."
"Why?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"It was a lullaby her father sang to her when she was little," Ron said.
"Oh, the dear," Mrs. Weasley said.
"She was having trouble falling to sleep," Ron said, "And I convinced her to sing the song to me. It's beautiful."
He tried to remember the song, and he spoke the words to his mother. He didn't sing them, not because he was a bad singer, but because it was one of those moments he didn't want to take away from Hermione.
"It is beautiful," Mrs. Weasley said.
"I feel like I took something away from her when I asked her about it," Ron said, "There's this – it is hard to explain – this twinkle, I guess, that used to be in her eyes. Before everything happened to her a couple months ago. It was one of those things I – er –"
"You can say it in front of me, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said.
Ron sighed and nodded.
"One of those things I love about her," he said, "And I would – I would do anything to see it come back. I don't know what it is, but if there was a way to bring it back, I would. For her."
"It's called innocence, Ronald," Mrs. Weasley said. "Considering what the world is going through, you kids are lucky to keep that so long."
"Can she get it back?" Ron asked
"What do you believe?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I believe she can," Ron said.
"Then only you know how to give it back to her," Mrs. Weasley said.
"How?" Ron asked.
"I can't answer that," Mrs. Weasley said, "But I can see she loves you. She hasn't forgotten that. If you ask me, she's well on her way to getting it back."
"Do I still have it?" Ron asked.
"Only two people can answer that," Mrs. Weasley said, "You are one of them. I wish I was the other, but I'm not."
Ron raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"Do I really have to tell you who the other one is, Ronnie?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No, Mum," Ron said, "I have a good feeling I know who it is."
"That's my boy," Mrs. Weasley said, "Are you planning on going to Diagon Alley tomorrow?"
"It was on my mind," Ron said, "Why?"
"We're running out on Floo Powder," Mrs. Weasley said.
"You don't want to come along?" Ron asked.
"I already bought everyone's presents," Mrs. Weasley asked, "And how can you ever buy me a present if I'm tagging along with you?"
"I'll be sure to pick some up," Ron said, "I'm going to head off to bed. Night, Mum."
"Night, sweetheart," Mrs. Weasley said.
Ron smiled and stood up from the table, then headed off toward the stairwell and up to his room.
-
Next chapter is Diagon Alley and a few more bits of preparation for the hunt. Then the following chapter is Christmas Eve which I am excited about!
Everything in Ron's PoV came to my head as I was writing it. The Lullaby part and the "Innocence" talk surprised even me!
Lullaby: "Now The Sun Is Sinking"
