Chapter 9:
"Well, I haven't actually thought that far ahead yet," Harry said sheepishly. "I was planning on just winging it."
"That's why I'm here," Sirius boasted as he pulled out a sheet of parchment from his robes. "I figured you two would be along sooner or later."
Harry shot Sirius a look, but snatched the paper from his hands. Hermione looked down to see the paper but was surprised when a trace of deep red caught her eye.
"Harry! You're bleeding!"
Harry looked down at his hand and shrugged.
"Doesn't hurt at all. I must have cut it on the way down the mountain."
"But it could get infected!"
"Oh, Merlin, here we go!" Ron hissed.
"How many times have I told you not leave a cut like that open?"
"Like a million, Hermione."
"I'm going to bandage it for you. Hold on."
Hermione took a clean cloth from her pack and started to dress Harry's wound.
"If you're going to be a bit, I'm going to write to Bill to let him know we found them."
Hermione nodded quickly before turning back to Harry's hand.
"It really doesn't hurt, Hermione. I don't see why you're making such a big deal about a small cut."
"Because, in a few days, if you leave it open like this, it's going to get infected. And I don't have anything to take care of that kind of a thing with me. We'd have to wait until we got home. And then, you would have gotten Gangrene and we'd have to take your hand off. "
Harry rolled his but rested himself on his other palm and watched as Hermione wrapped his hand, thankful that she was there.
*~*~*~*~*
"Alright Hannah! This is the last time I'm going to ask you. Where are they?"
Ginny stared at Hannah, eyes set. Remus looked at the girl too, arms crossed in front of his chest.
Hannah mumbled something incoherently.
"Excuse me?"
"I said they went to follow Harry."
Even though Ginny had known the answer to her question from the beginning, a jolt of anger flew through her as Hannah finally confirmed it. They had gone after him. Without her. And they hadn't even told her.
Hannah had done a job keeping Ginny's suspicion in check for the past week, but it was getting increasingly harder as the days went on. She had shown up this morning, Remus in tow, demanding to know where Hermione and her brother had gotten off to. Ginny had the secret hope that maybe they had eloped or something along those lines, but deep down she had known. She had known all along that they were going to follow him. But she was damned if she was going to let them do it without her.
Ginny turned sharply from the conversation and bounded to Harry's room.
"Where do you think you're going?" Hannah yelled, following up the stairs behind her.
"Where else? I have to find them."
"In a pig's ear you are! I'll have Bill here faster than you can say 'Quidditch' if you take one more step towards that dresser."
Ginny threw Hannah a skeptical look and started back towards her dresser. She heard Hannah mumble something under her breath, but before she could turn around to ask her what she said, a familiar 'pop' broke her train of thought.
There stood Bill, long hair and all, staring at his only sister.
"Put it down, Ginny."
"Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Your older brother. Now put down the shirt and get back downstairs." Bill stared at her hardly. Ginny stood her ground for a few more seconds before dropping the shirt and heading back towards the stairs.
Bill followed heavily, Hannah taking up the tail end. Ginny deposited herself back onto the couch next to her old teacher who looked lost in thought.
"Now, listen to me. Neither of you are going anywhere."
"Now wait just one minute here, Bill. I'm a grown man and I make my own decisions."
"Sit down, Remus. You may make your own decisions, but right now, you're not capable of making any good ones."
Remus glared at the younger man, but sat down.
"Hermione and Ron went after Harry and Sirius. They left about a week ago, and I know they've found him, as I just got a letter from Ron this morning. They're both fine, as are Harry and Sirius, though from the way Ron was going on about Hermione, I think Harry may have cut himself a little. Something about not being able to do anything since Hermione was bandaging Harry's hand.
"So, anyway, they're all safe, and you're not to go chasing after them. Especially you, Ginny."
"Why especially me? What am I going to do to hinder anything?"
"You'll distract Harry. If he thinks you're in danger, he's not going to have his mind on the task at hand. You're better off here, where you're safe. According to Hermione, you're to stay here, where the wards can protect you. You also, Remus, as the wards in Godric's Hollow just aren't as strong as the ones Hermione and Dumbledore set-up here.
"That's all I know, so don't press me for anymore details. I'll let you know if I hear anything from them. Ginny, you'll be working here from now on, and sending your work in through Hannah. Remus, I can't make you stay, as I know Sirius left the office in your hands, but be careful please. I'm only a quick call away though." Bill gave Hannah a purposeful look, to which she nodded in agreement. "I'm leaving."
Bill gave Ginny a quick hug before turning and apparating back to his job.
*~*~*~*~*
"All set. Now, according to Sirius' map, we're only about a day's walk from the chamber. Any idea how we're going to beat him?"
Sirius was at a loss for words. None of the research he and Harry had done had given any inkling as to what would kill You-Know-Who.
"Who knows if an IAvadaI will even touch him, much less kill him. And unless I have some secret powers that I'm unaware of, that's the best I've got. We're not exactly Aurors here. Sure, Sirius and I can duel, and Ron has had a bit of practice, and Hermione can hold her own, but against him? Who knows if he can even die?"
"Well, we'll never know until we try. Let's go."
Ron started off down the cave, Hermione following him and Harry and Sirius bringing up the end.
"They mean well, Harry."
"I know they do, Sirius. But what I am going to do if one of them gets hurts?"
"They won't get hurt, Harry. They can watch themselves."
As if on cue, they heard Ron's voice shouting "IStupefyI". They ran to meet Hermione and Ron, who were standing face-to-face with about five or six Deatheaters. They looked expectantly at the foursome, as one Deatheater lay unconscious on the cold ground. A flash of magic whizzed by Harry's ear, blowing a chunk of rock away from behind him.
"They must have heard us while Hermione were bandaging Harry's hand," Sirius shouted, ducking as one very determined Deatheater shot the Cruciatus Curse at him.
"Good going, 'Mione. Way to give us away!" Ron yelled at Hermione, tossing a Deatheater aside before turning to face another one.
Harry looked at his friends and Godfather quickly before reaching into his backpack. "Thank Gods for Willow Bode and her mandatory Muggle weapons training," Harry whispered, pulling a knife out of the bag. With the quickness borne from several hours of training at the start of his employment at the Ministry, Harry flicked his knife at an advancing Deatheater, landing it in its stomach. The Deatheater lurched to stop and fell to the ground.
Harry reluctantly pulled the knife out and turned back to the fight, but saw it had been finished quickly. A couple of well placed Full Body Binds from Hermione and Ron, and a Killing Curse from Sirius (the only one besides Harry who was allowed to use the curse) had disabled the rest of their attackers. Ron, Hermione and Sirius stood looking at Harry.
"That was bloody brilliant, Harry. Where did you learn that?" Ron exclaimed, as Harry wiped the blood from his knife.
"Training with Willow. Makes us all do it before we start working for her. I Permio. I" The binds set on Hermione and Ron's attackers grew more solid at Harry's words.
"Let's move. It's only a matter of time before more show up, and I'm not really too keen on doing that many more times."
Ron and Hermione, still dumbfounded, nodded and followed after Harry.
*~*
Several hours later found them tracking across an underwater spring. Harry had noticed torchlight from a corridor down to their left.
"I keep expecting to find a Balrog down here," Hermione said, walking up next to Harry.
"Right. Bring on the orcs," Harry chuckled. "At least they can't use magic."
"What are you two babbling on about now?"
"A book, Ron. Or rather, a series of books," Hermione answered, smiling at her boyfriend.
"Ah, that would explain it."
"He kinda reminds me of Sam," Harry mused, looking fondly at Ron. "Or perhaps Peregrin Took."
Hermione giggled at this. "And who does that make me?"
"Why, Merry, of course. Level headed, yet never one to turn down a good time." Harry threw Hermione an amused look. He turned to walk backwards and look at Sirius. "And you, my dear Godfather, are Strider, the ranger, heir to the throne of men. Sirius, son of Bob."
Sirius chuckled at Harry's good-natured attempts to keep their spirits high.
"And I, am Frodo Baggins. Horribly misguided, possessed by a piece of jewelry, and so obviously gay."
Hermione snorted loudly at this. "How do you figure? I would figure Samwise for the gay one if any."
"Bah! Sam got married to Rosie. Frodo left Middle-Earth because he was jealous."
"And not because he was emotionally exhausted, right Harry? Remind me to never ask for your literary analysis ever again. One of the bravest heroes of British literature, and you think he's gay? Seriously, Harry!"
They walked a bit farther in silence.
"I think I shall call Ron Pippin from now on."
*~*
Harry's hand raked through his hair as he crept closer to the opening of the cavern. He tried furiously to slow and quiet his breathing, but to no avail. A disturbing voice echoed through the cave walls.
"Young Mister Potter. Such a pleasure to see you again."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Well, I haven't actually thought that far ahead yet," Harry said sheepishly. "I was planning on just winging it."
"That's why I'm here," Sirius boasted as he pulled out a sheet of parchment from his robes. "I figured you two would be along sooner or later."
Harry shot Sirius a look, but snatched the paper from his hands. Hermione looked down to see the paper but was surprised when a trace of deep red caught her eye.
"Harry! You're bleeding!"
Harry looked down at his hand and shrugged.
"Doesn't hurt at all. I must have cut it on the way down the mountain."
"But it could get infected!"
"Oh, Merlin, here we go!" Ron hissed.
"How many times have I told you not leave a cut like that open?"
"Like a million, Hermione."
"I'm going to bandage it for you. Hold on."
Hermione took a clean cloth from her pack and started to dress Harry's wound.
"If you're going to be a bit, I'm going to write to Bill to let him know we found them."
Hermione nodded quickly before turning back to Harry's hand.
"It really doesn't hurt, Hermione. I don't see why you're making such a big deal about a small cut."
"Because, in a few days, if you leave it open like this, it's going to get infected. And I don't have anything to take care of that kind of a thing with me. We'd have to wait until we got home. And then, you would have gotten Gangrene and we'd have to take your hand off. "
Harry rolled his but rested himself on his other palm and watched as Hermione wrapped his hand, thankful that she was there.
*~*~*~*~*
"Alright Hannah! This is the last time I'm going to ask you. Where are they?"
Ginny stared at Hannah, eyes set. Remus looked at the girl too, arms crossed in front of his chest.
Hannah mumbled something incoherently.
"Excuse me?"
"I said they went to follow Harry."
Even though Ginny had known the answer to her question from the beginning, a jolt of anger flew through her as Hannah finally confirmed it. They had gone after him. Without her. And they hadn't even told her.
Hannah had done a job keeping Ginny's suspicion in check for the past week, but it was getting increasingly harder as the days went on. She had shown up this morning, Remus in tow, demanding to know where Hermione and her brother had gotten off to. Ginny had the secret hope that maybe they had eloped or something along those lines, but deep down she had known. She had known all along that they were going to follow him. But she was damned if she was going to let them do it without her.
Ginny turned sharply from the conversation and bounded to Harry's room.
"Where do you think you're going?" Hannah yelled, following up the stairs behind her.
"Where else? I have to find them."
"In a pig's ear you are! I'll have Bill here faster than you can say 'Quidditch' if you take one more step towards that dresser."
Ginny threw Hannah a skeptical look and started back towards her dresser. She heard Hannah mumble something under her breath, but before she could turn around to ask her what she said, a familiar 'pop' broke her train of thought.
There stood Bill, long hair and all, staring at his only sister.
"Put it down, Ginny."
"Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Your older brother. Now put down the shirt and get back downstairs." Bill stared at her hardly. Ginny stood her ground for a few more seconds before dropping the shirt and heading back towards the stairs.
Bill followed heavily, Hannah taking up the tail end. Ginny deposited herself back onto the couch next to her old teacher who looked lost in thought.
"Now, listen to me. Neither of you are going anywhere."
"Now wait just one minute here, Bill. I'm a grown man and I make my own decisions."
"Sit down, Remus. You may make your own decisions, but right now, you're not capable of making any good ones."
Remus glared at the younger man, but sat down.
"Hermione and Ron went after Harry and Sirius. They left about a week ago, and I know they've found him, as I just got a letter from Ron this morning. They're both fine, as are Harry and Sirius, though from the way Ron was going on about Hermione, I think Harry may have cut himself a little. Something about not being able to do anything since Hermione was bandaging Harry's hand.
"So, anyway, they're all safe, and you're not to go chasing after them. Especially you, Ginny."
"Why especially me? What am I going to do to hinder anything?"
"You'll distract Harry. If he thinks you're in danger, he's not going to have his mind on the task at hand. You're better off here, where you're safe. According to Hermione, you're to stay here, where the wards can protect you. You also, Remus, as the wards in Godric's Hollow just aren't as strong as the ones Hermione and Dumbledore set-up here.
"That's all I know, so don't press me for anymore details. I'll let you know if I hear anything from them. Ginny, you'll be working here from now on, and sending your work in through Hannah. Remus, I can't make you stay, as I know Sirius left the office in your hands, but be careful please. I'm only a quick call away though." Bill gave Hannah a purposeful look, to which she nodded in agreement. "I'm leaving."
Bill gave Ginny a quick hug before turning and apparating back to his job.
*~*~*~*~*
"All set. Now, according to Sirius' map, we're only about a day's walk from the chamber. Any idea how we're going to beat him?"
Sirius was at a loss for words. None of the research he and Harry had done had given any inkling as to what would kill You-Know-Who.
"Who knows if an IAvadaI will even touch him, much less kill him. And unless I have some secret powers that I'm unaware of, that's the best I've got. We're not exactly Aurors here. Sure, Sirius and I can duel, and Ron has had a bit of practice, and Hermione can hold her own, but against him? Who knows if he can even die?"
"Well, we'll never know until we try. Let's go."
Ron started off down the cave, Hermione following him and Harry and Sirius bringing up the end.
"They mean well, Harry."
"I know they do, Sirius. But what I am going to do if one of them gets hurts?"
"They won't get hurt, Harry. They can watch themselves."
As if on cue, they heard Ron's voice shouting "IStupefyI". They ran to meet Hermione and Ron, who were standing face-to-face with about five or six Deatheaters. They looked expectantly at the foursome, as one Deatheater lay unconscious on the cold ground. A flash of magic whizzed by Harry's ear, blowing a chunk of rock away from behind him.
"They must have heard us while Hermione were bandaging Harry's hand," Sirius shouted, ducking as one very determined Deatheater shot the Cruciatus Curse at him.
"Good going, 'Mione. Way to give us away!" Ron yelled at Hermione, tossing a Deatheater aside before turning to face another one.
Harry looked at his friends and Godfather quickly before reaching into his backpack. "Thank Gods for Willow Bode and her mandatory Muggle weapons training," Harry whispered, pulling a knife out of the bag. With the quickness borne from several hours of training at the start of his employment at the Ministry, Harry flicked his knife at an advancing Deatheater, landing it in its stomach. The Deatheater lurched to stop and fell to the ground.
Harry reluctantly pulled the knife out and turned back to the fight, but saw it had been finished quickly. A couple of well placed Full Body Binds from Hermione and Ron, and a Killing Curse from Sirius (the only one besides Harry who was allowed to use the curse) had disabled the rest of their attackers. Ron, Hermione and Sirius stood looking at Harry.
"That was bloody brilliant, Harry. Where did you learn that?" Ron exclaimed, as Harry wiped the blood from his knife.
"Training with Willow. Makes us all do it before we start working for her. I Permio. I" The binds set on Hermione and Ron's attackers grew more solid at Harry's words.
"Let's move. It's only a matter of time before more show up, and I'm not really too keen on doing that many more times."
Ron and Hermione, still dumbfounded, nodded and followed after Harry.
*~*
Several hours later found them tracking across an underwater spring. Harry had noticed torchlight from a corridor down to their left.
"I keep expecting to find a Balrog down here," Hermione said, walking up next to Harry.
"Right. Bring on the orcs," Harry chuckled. "At least they can't use magic."
"What are you two babbling on about now?"
"A book, Ron. Or rather, a series of books," Hermione answered, smiling at her boyfriend.
"Ah, that would explain it."
"He kinda reminds me of Sam," Harry mused, looking fondly at Ron. "Or perhaps Peregrin Took."
Hermione giggled at this. "And who does that make me?"
"Why, Merry, of course. Level headed, yet never one to turn down a good time." Harry threw Hermione an amused look. He turned to walk backwards and look at Sirius. "And you, my dear Godfather, are Strider, the ranger, heir to the throne of men. Sirius, son of Bob."
Sirius chuckled at Harry's good-natured attempts to keep their spirits high.
"And I, am Frodo Baggins. Horribly misguided, possessed by a piece of jewelry, and so obviously gay."
Hermione snorted loudly at this. "How do you figure? I would figure Samwise for the gay one if any."
"Bah! Sam got married to Rosie. Frodo left Middle-Earth because he was jealous."
"And not because he was emotionally exhausted, right Harry? Remind me to never ask for your literary analysis ever again. One of the bravest heroes of British literature, and you think he's gay? Seriously, Harry!"
They walked a bit farther in silence.
"I think I shall call Ron Pippin from now on."
*~*
Harry's hand raked through his hair as he crept closer to the opening of the cavern. He tried furiously to slow and quiet his breathing, but to no avail. A disturbing voice echoed through the cave walls.
"Young Mister Potter. Such a pleasure to see you again."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*