Chapter 49: Casualty Of War

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

{"You know a dream is like a river...Ever changin' as it flows...And a dreamer's just a vessel...That must follow where it goes...Trying to learn from what's behind you...And never knowing what's in store...Makes each day a constant battle...Just to stay between the shores...and I will sail my vessel...'Til the river runs dry...Like a bird upon the wind...These waters are my sky...I'll never reach my destination...If I never try...So I will sail my vessel...'Til the river runs dry...Too many times we stand aside...And let the waters slip away...'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow...Has now become today...So don't you sit upon the shoreline...And say you're satisfied...Choose to chance the rapids...And dare to dance the tide..."}The River, Garth Brooks

The Potter Residence, The Burrows, Wizarding World...

An eerie calm had greeted both Harry Potter and Hermione Granger-Weasley as they landed and made their way toward their respective homes. Despite a lot changing over the years since the second wizarding war and the both of them having families of their own, it was still a nice change of pace to find themselves stepping into the shadows of their former chaotic youth now and again.

"Blimey Hermione...once again you prove that you really are the brightest witch of your age." said Harry attempting to catch his breath.

"And once more Harry Potter you prove that you were the best seeker Hogwarts has ever seen." replied the amber eyed witch doing the same.

The two shared a warm laugh as they headed inside. Neither of them had seen hide nor hair of Regulus Snape since his altercation with Ron erupted into violence and the blue eyed wizard had taken to actually staying home for a change.

Harry had made it to his porch when he was greeted by the somber sight of Arthur Weasley standing in the semi-darkness that blanketed the burrows. He had been quite official looking as he stood in a seemingly new suit with a sorrowful expression filed across his ghastly pale face.

"Come inside Harry." said the boy-who lived's father in law. "Bring Hermione."

Harry had not known what this was all about but he did as Arthur had instructed.

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The Potter Residence, The Burrows, Wizarding World...

The emerald green eyes of Harry James Potter had been filled with wave after wave of tears as the news of Prime Minster Of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt had been murdered while he and Hermione were chasing another dead end. Regulus had warned that Ron's way of thinking would lead them no where but no one aside from Ginny and Hermione bothered to entertain that he might be right. The embittered wizard crushed the cup that had been within his grasp as he looked into the sorrowful eyes of his in-laws.

He had left Kingsley in Ron's care for this mission and Ron assured him he could handle it. The blood boiled within Harry's veins as he noted the sheer lack of competence on Ron's part, and he was suppose to be the second best Auror in office.

"Where is Ron?" asked Harry in a rather harsh tone. "He was suppose to be protecting Kingsley."

Molly Weasley burst into tears as her husband and sons attempted to comfort her. Ginny walked over to Harry braving her own sorrow to put an end to her angry husband's demands.

"Ron isn't coming Harry." said Ginny bravely.

Upon hearing this Harry narrowed his eyes at his wife.

"Don't bloody tell me he's gone back to shagging those whores at the brothel." he said angrily. "When I get a hold of him I'll let Hermione hex..."

"He's gone." said Ginny struggling with her sadness as it burst at the seams.

The frequent tears of his wife only served to confuse him all the more.

"What do you mean Ron is gone?" asked Hermione with an arched brow of her own.

Ginny could hardly look at her sister in law. It had been hard enough trying to tell Harry. Sensing the faltering of his only daughter, Arthur Weasley stepped forward to deliver the devastating news.

"Harry...Hermione...during the attack at the Ministry Of Magical offices...Ronald accompanied Kingsley insisting that he would not let the stubborn man out of his sight." said Arthur. "Arcturus attacked and it seems he killed Ronald to get to Kingsley."

"WHAT!?" asked a stunned Hermione as her knees buckled.

George raced over toward his sister in law catching her just before she hit the floor. Harry shook his head in disbelief.

"No." he said unwilling to accept what he had been told. "No that...that can't be...Ron's not..."

"He's gone Harry." said Arthur in a father-like tone as he pulled his shocked son-in law into his arms.

Hermione seemed to shut down all together as the entire Weasley family reacted to the heaviness of this most unfortunate news.

Ronald Bilius Weasley had been killed by Arcturus and this only made Harry Potter more determined to put an end to the mad wizard's antics.

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Snape's Bedroom,Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...

Regulus Snape had been in the depths of a pleasant sleep when Draco Malfoy burst into the room with a look of absolute horror filed across his pale face.

"Regulus...have you heard?...Weasel's been killed." he said unsure what to make of this new threat to the wizarding world.

Upon hearing that Ronald Weasley had been killed the son of Severus Snape sat up confused about the information he had just received.

"A-Are you sure?" He asked hoping that he had misheard his god-brother.

"It's only all over the bloody telly." replied Draco narrowing his gray eyes at Regulus. "I couldn't believe it myself after I've heard it...Weasley killed."

Regulus immediately got out of bed as this news had no affect on him aside from shock, there was at least one person whom he cared for that would be devastated beyond belief to know of this information.

"Hermione." said Regulus leaping from his father's black four poster bed and scrambling to get his clothes on.

"In a rush?" asked Draco with an arched brow.

"I have a friend who would not find this news to be a simple shock." replied the raven haired wizard.

Draco sighed knowing all too well whom he had been referring to.

"I know she won't want to hear it...but I know all to well what Granger is going through." he said surprisingly sympathetic to his former rivals plight. "Tell her she's in our prayers."

Regulus nodded having a new appreciation for Draco Malfoy. It had not been that long ago before the formerly spoiled brat of Malfoy Manor lost his own wife and found himself raising a son alone in the wake of the second wizarding war's aftermath.

"Will do Draco." said the raven haired wizard.

"You take care as well." said the Junior Malfoy with a smirk. "And do come home this time brother."

Regulus walked toward the door and tussled Draco's seemingly perfect blond hair.

"Not to worry little bro." he replied before taking his leave as Draco went about fixing his hair.

As soon as he hit the open air, Regulus disapparted from Malfoy Manor with the thought of consoling a no doubt emotionally shattered Hermione on his mind. As much as he hated Ronald Weasley, his death was never worth the pain Hermione and her children would be going through.