FB: Chapter 7: Into the woods
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Bunny- here it is, finally!
Disclaimer: see chapter 1
"So why do you think Malfoy did it afterall?" Ron asked, after Harry had filled him in.
"Dunno," Harry said, frowning.
"Well, I guess we're all so shocked because he fit the perfect stereotype," Hermione mumbled. "But I'm glad… he did… what he did,"
Harry kept glancing over his shoulder. Anything or anyone was liable to attack you in the Forbidden Forest.
"Harry, where do you reckon the Portkey is that Ginny found?" Ron asked.
Harry stopped completely and shut his eyes, deep in concentration. "A little further I think," he said, marching on.
"We'll never find it," Ron moaned. "The Portkey can be anything!
"We'll find it, Ron," Hermione encouraged. As they walked, she was getting her strength back.
"One time, I remember, when I was little," Ron continued. "We were going to my first Chudley Cannons game… and the Portkey turned out to be a used tissue."
Hermione and Harry glanced at each other, and then to Ron. They were speechless.
Harry heard something…. Something oddly familiar. He reached out an arm to stop Ron and Hermione. "Shh. I hear something!"
"Ginny?" Ron asked.
"Shh!"
"Dinner has arrived." A voice echoed through the darkness.
Ron felt a prickly feeling on the back of his neck. "Feels like tiny little spiders are crawling all over me!"
He was close.
"Aragog!" Harry cried. Through the darkness, he could see the huge spider towering over them.
"Sieze them," he ordered.
Six spiders, a little smaller than Aragog pounced on them.
"Stop!" Harry shouted, as the six spiders began cornering them, right into a web. "we're Hagrid's friends, remember?"
"Hargid is no longer here," Aragog said. "You are trespassing in the woods. You are dinner now."
"You're going to go against Hagrid's loyalty in raising you all those years ago by eating us!?" Ron cried.
Hermione yanked out her wand. "Velnusca!" she shouted, and a small glowing orb formed around the trio.
"Hermione, what did you do?" Harry asked, watching the spiders come closer and closer.
"Bought us a little more time to think of a plan," she said.
"This isn't good," Ron said, watching the spiders advance.
Harry closed his eyes, trying to force his brain into forming a plan. Unfortunately, it was blank.
"If only our car was still stuck in the forest!" Ron cried.
The spiders were now at the edge of their little shield. A spider stuck out one of it's legs and poked it. It went right through.
"We have like 2.5 seconds," Hermione moaned.
"Nice knowing you," Ron mumbled.
"Stupefy!" Hermione cried, wand aimed at the closest spider. It skittered back, and got right back up again.
Aragog was laughing.
Harry took out his own wand. "Avada Kedavra!" and that was it… the spider lay motionless.
"I'm IMPRESSED!" Hermione cried. "I can't do that spell!"
Harry grinned.
"Me either," Ron moaned.
A few Avada Kedavras later, the six spiders were dead, and Hermione's forcefield flickered and went out.
Harry turned to Aragog. "We're leaving."
"I best hurry young Potter," Aragog growled. "I will not let you live for long in my forest."
Hermione, Harry and Ron didn't wait around. They galloped past Aragog.
They walked a little ways, until Harry stopped dead once again.
"Not Aragog again?" Ron asked.
Harry shut his eyes. His dream replayed through his mind. This spot looked familiar. "This is it," he said. "This is the spot where Ginny was taken. The Portkey has to be here."
"How will we know what it looks like?" Hermione asked. "I've read about Portkeys, but it didn't say anything about identifiying them."
"I'll know when we've found it," Ron said proudly. "Years of Portkey travel."
"Harry, I've been meaning to talk to you," Hermione said quietly as they searched the ground for the Portkey.
"I'll just plug my ears," Ron said irritably.
Harry turned to her. He was startled to see her beautiful amber eyes shining with tears. "I've been thinking…"
"Thinking about what?"
"Us. And… I… we can't be together." She said, staring at the ground.
"What?" Harry and Ron both cried out in unison.
Harry and Hermione turned to him.
"Sorry," he mumbled, and went back to searching the ground.
"God knows I love you, Harry. I always have." She said, putting her hand to his face. "But sometimes love isn't enough. This whole thing with Ginny… is because of my love for you."
"Hermione, wait. I don't love Ginny…" Harry started.
"Yes you do," Hermione said. "There's a reason you bought her dress robes, there's a reason you went to the dance with her. Because deep down you love her."
"As a friend!"
"Do you know who she has plastered all over her wall?"
"No." he said.
"You," she replied. "she has pictures and pictures of you. She has loved you since the moment you stepped into her life. And I've seen the way you act around her, the smiles you give her… she completes you."
"No, Hermione don't do this now, please…"
"It's okay," she said, wiping her eyes. "some people live their whole life and never fall in love. I've lived my life and have fell in love. But as I said, sometimes love isn't enough."
"But I want to be with you!"
"Oh Harry, don't you see?" she asked. "If I had never interfered and went to the ball, Ginny would still be here, and with you!"
"But you did come, and if you never did, I would have told you I loved you anyway!"
"Can't you see this is killing me?" Hermione asked, waterfalls of tears traveling down her face. "To give you up? To give you up to another? But I know it's the only way… Ginny loves you too much for me to take you from her."
"She doesn't have me!" Harry cried, outraged.
"EUREKA!" Ron cried.
Harry and Hermione turned to him.
"Found it," Ron said, pointing to an old rubber glove. "That's it alright,"
Harry sighed heavily, and walked over to Ron. "I want you two to stay here."
"No way!" Ron shouted.
"No, don't stay here… it's not safe. Go back to the school. Run past Aragog." Harry said.
"That's my sister!"
"And it's my fight," Harry said. "Voldemort took everything away from me, Ron. It's my job to at least get vengence."
"Harry," Hermione said, tightening her grip on his arm.
"As soon as I leave, you two go." Harry said.
Ron stared at him dumbfounded. "Good luck, man." He said, thumping him on the back. "You two get back safe."
"I'll bring her back," Harry vowed.
Hermione and Harry stared at each other. And then, she flung her arms around his neck. "I love you. Always remember that."
"I love you too, Herm." He gave her a fast hug, then stepped back from them. "Go back to the school," he said, picking up the glove and vanishing.
Endddd of chapter 7!! revieeeeew