Grave Revelation

By Redd Butterfly

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's. Not mine.

Chapter 7: Revelations

Ron and Hermione entered the living room only to find everyone on their feet. Mr. Granger looked as if he wanted to hit Mr. Weasley, while Mrs. Granger held him back. Mrs. Weasley was doing the same to her husband, while Ginny was trying to hold her brothers back and shut them up from their rude remarks.

"Everyone stop!" Hermione yelled. "What is going on here?!"

They stopped and faced her.

"Could we please sit down and discuss this civilly?!" Again, everyone did as she said and sat down, Ron and Hermione taking the seat they left earlier.

"Hermione, sweetie," Mrs. Granger said. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley just...informed us about the...the dangers that are going on in the wizarding world."

"Oh, come off it, Susan," Mr. Granger said bitterly. "Say it as it is." Then turning to Hermione, "They said there's a dark wizard loose, and he's going to kill us because we're muggles and you're muggle-born."

"I did not say it like that," Mr. Weasley protested. "I said that all of us, whether magic or muggle, are in danger. But Voldemort is specifically resentful towards muggles. However, Headmaster Dumbledore is working very hard to organize a group of trustworthy wizards and witches, my wife and I included, to fight him and his followers."

There was silence again.

"But still, I don't want my daughter going back to that," Mr. Granger said.

"Daddy! I want to go—"

"No!" Mrs. Granger lost the soft tone she used just recently. "I've heard about all the things you and your friends get into. Nearly getting killed by a troll, petrified for months, bruises, scars...uh.... No more! We couldn't prevent the danger you went through then, but we sure can do it now, so you are not going back to the wizarding world."

Hermione began to cry.

"Don't you get it," she said slowly, looking down at the table. "It doesn't matter where I am. They'll look for me."

"But why," Mr. Granger asked. "Why you?" Then he looked as if he just figured something out. "It's that Harry boy's fault, isn't it?"

"Daddy, don't you ever say that again!" She was standing now. "He doesn't deserve anything he's been through. He didn't ask for it. And no matter what you say, I'm going back. I can't leave him....or Ron." She whispered the last part.

"Wait," said Mrs. Granger. "Isn't Ron Harry's best friend, too?"

"Yes, ma'am," Ron replied.

"Then wouldn't he be in as much danger as Hermione? I mean, pure-blood or not, being Harry's best friend would come first if you asked me."

The Weasleys looked as if they just realized that.

Seeing the look on the faces of his parents, Ron knew that they were starting to think the same way as the Grangers were.

"No! No, no, no," he yelled to his parents and stood up next to Hermione. "I am going back to Hogwarts." He turned to the Grangers. "We...," he said pointing at himself and Hermione, "...are going back to Hogwarts. We can't leave Harry alone. He needs us!"

"But what about you're safety," asked Mr. Granger. "If we can prevent you from getting hurt, we will. We'll...we'll...we'll move to...America."

"Daddy, please." A new line of tears started to make their way down Hermione's face. "Please understand. These are my friends. This is my world. Please don't take me away from it."

"Ron, Hermione," Mr. Weasley began. "I think Cris has a point. You both don't have to be a part of this—"

"Yes we do!" Ron yelled. "I am not leaving Harry alone in this. We three have been through everything together. And I will not leave Harry when he needs us the most." He stopped to catch his breath. Then, more softly, said, "I'd rather die knowing that I did something than live the rest of my life regretting that I didn't."

Everyone stared at him in shock.

~ * ~

He'd...he'd rather die.

His words left me stunned. I didn't know what to say, but it didn't matter because he continued.

"Look, I've thought about this a lot. Everyone knows Harry's going to fight Voldemort." He looked towards his parents. "And I'll be right there by his side."

Then he turned to mine.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, please don't take Hermione away from us."

Ron was begging my parents. Can he be anymore perfect?

"You have no idea how much we need her with us."

Oh, yeah. He can.

Ron had me in awe. Here he stood right beside me, only fifteen years old and already he accepted death. Only fifteen and he already pledge his life away. I looked at him, and for the first time this entire day, I realized that he was no longer a boy.

He'd grown up. And not just in the physical sense. I just realized it now, while I was thinking back on this day's events and the events that took place when we parted at Kings Cross. He was different—no longer the immature, childish, annoying....

I started feeling silly. There I was making myself crazy with my fears, while he was resolving them.

At that moment, I decided to grow up as well.

~ * ~

I broke the silence by clearing my throat. Everyone looked at me. For some reason, I was nervous. So nervous, in fact, that my body began trembling. I tried my hardest to keep my voice calm as I spoke.

"I admit, I was afraid. Well...I still am. But I'm tired of being afraid. On September first, I will board the Hogwarts Express, Ron and Harry by my side. I will help them, no matter what dangers are to come. And, like Ron did, I pledge my life to Harry's effort in defeating Voldemort." I said this all slowly but forcefully.

Then I started to cry again.

"I'm sorry, Mum...Daddy. I won't leave my friends. I need them as much as they need me."

Silence again. Then the other ladies in the room began to cry silently as well, while the guys just sat in silence, as if they were deep in thought.

After a few more minutes, Daddy cleared his throat.

"So Ron," he began. "Take care of my little girl when you get back to school, okay," he finished smiling.

"Of course, sir," Ron responded. He did not stutter, or blink, or blush. He was very serious.

"And Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said. "Make sure the boys, especially Ron, don't goof around too much. The O.W.L.s are coming soon, as you may be well aware of."

"Yes, Mrs. Wea—I mean, Molly."

"Okay," said Mr. Weasley standing up. "I guess we'd better go. Maybe we'd all feel better after a good night's sleep."

Everyone stood up—the Weasleys to leave and my parents and I to escort them, even if the fireplace was just right there.

Ron was the last to go, and as soon as he did, my parents bade me a good night and walked up the stairs.

But I didn't feel like sleeping. Sure, it was already ten o'clock, but I just felt so...so great. Well, greater than I've been feeling for a while. I'm no longer worried, no longer afraid, and no longer depressed.

So, not wanting to go upstairs yet, I looked around the room for something for me to do when I spotted my copy of Hogwarts, A History on the coffee table. I picked it up, and read.

Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a pop coming from the fireplace, and the sleep was startled away from me. I stood up and turned around to see who the intruder was when found myself face to face with Ron.

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Please Review. Thanks for reading. Just one more chapter left. ~ Redd