Chapter 13- The Oath

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Hmm I will not be surprised if you all hate me and refuse to read this chapter after the length of time I took to upload it but I do have excuses. Firstly FF.net has been down, secondly my computer has been down, thirdly I was in the school musical with rehearsals every night until after 11:00, fourthly I had exams and fifthly I got a lead role in the school play (Yay for me!) and I have been going to those rehearsals. So you see it has been kind of difficult to find the time. Also although this chapter is Christmas Eve it is only the morning so the date with Ronan doesn't happen yet…it will though rest assured.

Disclaimer: too tired to write anything witty, it isn't mine…promise.

'-'=thoughts

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***

Harry and Ron left the table wordlessly after breakfast the next day while Hermione was deep in conversation with Casey. Harry and Ron entered an empty classroom and Harry sat on a desk while Ron marched up and down seemingly searching for the right words. Harry stared out of the window and thought back to the fateful day when Harry and Ron had spoken an oath binding the golden trio together forever.

***

Flashback

"Ron! Harry!"

"Hermione!"

The three friends collided on the platform in a big hug.

"Oh I've missed you guys so much!" Hermione squealed, "Our fifth year is going to be the best yet… I just know it!"

Harry and Ron grinned at each other over her head, overjoyed at being reunited again after the long summer. Once they were settled into a carriage of The Hogwarts Express they fell to discussing their holidays. Hermione had travelled to Germany with her parents, Ron had visited Charlie in Romania and Harry had, of course, spent a horrible couple of months with the Dursley's.

"It wasn't too bad, though." He said as he saw his friends sympathetic faces. He was lying but he didn't want them to know how he had spent many sleepless nights reliving Cedric's death over and over. Nor did he want to tell them about what was really troubling him. Halfway through the summer break his nightmares had changed into something which disturbed him even more. Cedric had disappeared and instead Hermione had appeared in his dreams being killed in Cedric's place. Sensing something of his thoughts Ron looked at him curiously.

"What's wrong Harry? You look awful."

"Ron!" Hermione admonished.

"Well he does, look at the bags under his eyes, haven't you been sleeping well?"

Harry answered shortly to try and dissuade Ron. "No."

Ron was about to open his mouth to ask why he hadn't been sleeping well but at that moment Crookshanks leapt out of Hermione's arms and scampered out of the carriage door.

"Oh no!" Hermione gasped jumping up and following the cat quickly.

Ron turned to Harry. "So?"

Harry told him everything and Ron's face grew grimmer and grimmer until when Harry had finished he looked as haggard as Harry did.

"So, what are we going to do?" he asked when Harry stopped talking.

Harry had thought about this already and had an answer all ready. "when we get to Hogwarts we will search the library for protection spells. Even if it wasn't for my dreams Voldemort is getting stronger and Hermione is a muggle-born no matter how great a witch she is. We need to ensure her safety before anyone else's."

"Right." Ron agreed

Hermione re-entered with Crookshanks tucked under her arms

"Thanks for all your help guys." She said sarcastically.

Ron and Harry apologised and soon they were all caught up in a wild game of gobstones. Hermione knew that something had happened while she had been out of the compartment by their dismal faces but she thought if it was anything very important they would tell her when they were ready.

***

A few days later…

Ron leaned back in his chair and, wincing, massaged the back of his neck.

"Urgh this is hopeless." He complained to Harry who was poring over a book next to him. "We must have looked through every book in here for a protection spell but they're all too difficult, we need Hermione for this sort of thing!" Harry slammed the heavy volume shut and glared at his red head friend.

"You know we can't involve her." He snapped taking Ron by surprise. "I don't want her to know about my dreams and everything."

"Calm down Harry I was simply making an observation!"

Harry sighed and ruffled his already tousled hair.

"I know, I know." He said exhaustedly "It's just that I've had enough you know?"

Ron patted Harry awkwardly on the shoulder.

Harry dropped his tired eyes back onto the cover of the book in front of him. "If only there was an easier spell…hang on!" Ron sat up straight at his cry.

"What?"

But Harry had risen from his chair and was searching the shelves to their right. "Harry what is it?" asked Ron again.

Harry didn't answer him and instead ran his fingers along the bindings of the books.

"Aha!" he said triumphantly pulling a heavy green leather book into his arms. "I checked this out last year for charms."

Ron looked inquisitively at the title "So You Want An Easier Way Out?" he read out loud. "Cool, it has easy protection spells?"

"Not exactly." Harry was now feverishly flipping through the pages searching for something. "Here it is! The Threalert charm." He moved his finger along the page and read out to Ron "This charm is often used by husbands or lovers…"

Ron interrupted with a "Yuk! We aren't married or sleeping with her!" Harry ignored him and continued:

"…because it requires large amounts of love and commitment. Not so much a protection spell it is designed to let the caster of the spell know if the subject feels in any way threatened. The subject's knowledge or approval is not needed…

"Perfect!" Ron interjected "you know how Hermione would object."

"…and even though this spell is not difficult to perform constant re-castings every month are essential to its success. If the subject feels at risk then the caster's wand will send off red sparks and spin around to point in the direction the subject is in." Harry sat back and grinned at Ron. "I think we've found it!" he said excitedly.

End Flashback

***

Ron turned abruptly to Harry and slapped his hand down on one of the desks.

"What are we going to do?" he roared.

Harry faced him calmly. "Nothing Ron. There is nothing we can do. We already know she doesn't feel threatened by him and maybe it really was an accident."

"You don't make the same mistake twice." Ron said darkly "I can't believe you are taking all this so calmly. What happened to the Harry of last year? The Harry who didn't sleep for three nights straight practising the Threalert charm?"

"He grew older and wiser." Harry said tiredly "Come on Ron don't you think you are taking this a bit far? I love Hermione just as much as you do but I honestly think she has to work through this on her own."

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Ron shouted suddenly "don't you see what is happening? Draco is trying to lure her away so we are weakened when we finally have to face Voldemort even Hermione thinks so."

"How can you be so sure?" Harry shouted back suddenly becoming angry.

"Because I've been with her, I've been there. I haven't been sneaking off into the woods with Cho every night, performing dark spells and wearing myself into exhaustion. Am I the only one who cares anymore? Merlin Harry you are too selfish! The entire wizarding world is depending on you, on us…"

"Well that's not my fault is it?!" Harry interrupted "I didn't ask to be the boy who lived, I didn't ask for any of it."

"Well ask or not you got it! Stop behaving like a spoilt brat!"

"Me? A spoilt brat? Listen to yourself Ron! I have never had a family or half the stuff that you have!"

"But you've got us." Said a soft voice behind them. They both whirled around to see Hermione in the doorway. "Please don't fight." She whispered dejectedly.

"How long have you been there?" sighed Ron slumping against a desk.

"Long enough." She replied "I can't believe you are fighting about me. I'll be alright everything will be okay just don't fight." Ron crossed over to her and wrapped his arms around her, after a moments hesitation Harry followed suit.

"Everything will be okay." He repeated

***

Lying on his bed Draco turned the Mind Invader off with a sigh. 'How very interesting.' He thought. He had watched Harry's memory with curiosity at first but then with growing anger. How was he supposed to do his job properly now? He slipped off the bed and went down to the library. He nodded curtly at Madam Pince and wandered over to the shelves on the right. In a few minutes he found the book he was looking for he seated himself at a table and read the title, a soft smile curling the corners of his lips…So You Want An Easier Way Out? 'Never was a truer thing said' he thought.

***

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Argh boring explanation chapter! Well now the oath has been explained and I can go on to a nice silly little chapter about Hermione's date in Hogsmeade. I can't wait. Hopefully I will update next weekend because I don't have any rehearsals then. It is so good to be back on FF.net and I am ashamed I have taken so long! My thankyous are as follows:

Couch-potato: unfortunately you did have to wait…a ridiculously long amount of time. Thankyou for reviewing, that makes you nice! =)

Laureacale: No I didn't realise but I think that it is excellent that you counted. Wow 10,000 words? That is a lot, a third of my actual story?! Oh dear so my chapters aren't as long as I thought! Thanks for letting me know though, and for saying my story is great that is really sweet. Interesting name by the way, it is really pretty.

Vixen: Wow your review really makes me realise how long it has been since I posted! I hated that the Brazilians won the World Cup and it is great to find a fellow England supporter! Coolio is such an excellent word and I am honoured that you used it to describe my story! It was so nice of you to say Ron was kind of in character and that I was doing amazing work. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

Harriet Vane: I really couldn't have had Ron as simply a background character because I love him too much! I really am trying with Draco but I find him hard even though he is my favourite to write about. Ah if only I had your skills, I am so envious! Yes it was awfully sad that both England and Ireland were knocked out, I wasn't going for the USA but I didn't hate them and I would have rathered they win then Brazil! I'm sure you'll figure out what to do next and I will be looking forward to it! Love your story and so glad you reviewed mine!

Dracocrazy: You thought it was a great chapter?! Thankyou so much and it is nice to think that you are sticking with me even when I take so long to update. Thankyou again!

Olya(*): I understood you very well and thank you very much for giving me your opinion. I agree that Hermione and Draco are a nice couple. Thankyou again.

Arwen: I really liked that line too and even though it didn't really match the mood I thought I'd throw it in! Don't thank me! I'm supposed to thankyou! Never mind it was lovely of you to say it was marvellous…doesn't everything seem cooler in a different language? Your review was a el placer para leer! (I think that is right anyway…still learning!)

Ruler of the World: Be patient…you are going to have to wait a while in this story! Yay a fellow Harry hater! Though to be fair I don't hate him I just think he is weak! Thankyou for reviewing!

TFG:  You love my story? Shucks that is so nice of you! I will write more and with manners like that who could refuse?!

Magisch Machen: I'm sorry that you did have to wait for so long. Yes I rather enjoyed writing the beating up scene too!

Sailor Earth: I agree with you 100%, but what can you do?! I liked the idea of Ron taking his frustration out on something of Malfoy's because I don't want him to actually hurt him too badly. It is like with the Victor Krum model thing he is petty in destroying things like that, well that is my reasoning anyway. I will continue it and hopefully quicker then last time! Thankyou for continuing to review.

Kasey: Thankyou so much that is so nice of you to say. I wouldn't go as far as saying I am a talented writer but I do my best! Well now that would be telling you will just have to wait and see… are you mad at me now?! Thankyou so much for reviewing and I will do my best to update soon.

Heather the Hobbit: I think it is excellent that you really like my story, thankyou so much for saying so!

Stephanie: It was my pleasure to email you back and feel free email me again whenever you please. It was nice of you to say it was a lovely chapter. I didn't think much of it myself but you are the people that matter! Thankyou for reviewing.

Kate: Thankyou very much for saying so and I will update as quickly as possible…promise!

Thankyou very much to everyone for being so patient, love you all and please review!

Jess/star123