Chapter 7 -- Consequences
"Hermione," said Harry, "How could you be so dumb? DUDLEY?"
"Everyone I cared about in Gryffindor treated me like a sister," said Hermione. "You and Ron treated me like a smart big sister who could help with homework. Dudley cared about me as a woman. He said I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever known."
"You ought to know not to believe guys who talk that way. He didn't mean it," said Harry.
"Thanks a lot," said Hermione sharply.
"Didn't you use any protection?" asked Harry.
"I'm not a complete idiot. I used an Anti-Conception Charm. I thought I had it right..." said Hermione.
"I guess for once in your life you made a mistake. It saved our lives, but... Hermione, this is going to have huge consequences."
"Consequences?" said Hermione. She hadn't thought that far ahead yet.
"For starters, you'll probably be expelled," said Harry.
Hermione gasped. "W-will they do that?"
"Hogwarts is a strict school," said Harry.
"But it's not fair! I've got my OWLs back and they're straight O's," said Hermione.
"That doesn't matter. Remember Blaise Zabini last year? Everyone was talking about her," said Harry.
Hermione gasped in a breath and began sobbing loudly.
"Oh Hermione, come on. We've got to get out of these ropes. Try to reach my wand out of my pocket. Your hand's nearly there," said Harry.
Still sobbing, Hermione stretched her fingertips to the end of the wand and shakily extracted it. She could barely keep her voice steady for an unbinding spell, but at last she managed to say it right and the ropes fell to the ground.
"Come on! There may still be a chance to save the Dursleys!" said Harry as he rushed for the stairs. Hermione followed, putting her misery aside for the moment.
Down the flights of stairs they rushed, heading to the mansion's front door. And there they found Dudley crumpled in a corner, shivering.
"Dudley, what happened?" said Harry.
"It was terrible," said Dudley. "This woman came to us, told us she was from the police, sent to rescue us from being kidnapped. We believed her that it was safe to get away. We went running out down the road, towards what we thought was a police car. I was behind them, holding back 'cause I wanted to go back for 'Mione, or at least tell her goodbye. It was a trap! People jumped out the the car and these green rays started flying and Mom and Dad were both hit. I ran like hell and just got back into the house. Mom and Dad didn't come back. I think they're d-dead."
Harry went to the front window and looked out. In the middle of the street, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia lay unmoving. In the sky above them was a blazing emerald skull, the Dark Mark.
He went back to Dudley. Hermione had her arm around his shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"Dudley, this could be important. How long have you been back in the house?" asked Harry.
"I don't know. Maybe ten minutes.... Why?" said Dudley.
Harry looked into Hermione's tear-streaked face. "Better get tested. You may be all right after all."
"My folks are dead, aren't they? Where are all your friends who were supposed to be protecting us?" demanded Dudley.
"That's a good question," said Harry.
The house was strangely silent. Where were the others?
"Hermione," said Harry, "How could you be so dumb? DUDLEY?"
"Everyone I cared about in Gryffindor treated me like a sister," said Hermione. "You and Ron treated me like a smart big sister who could help with homework. Dudley cared about me as a woman. He said I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever known."
"You ought to know not to believe guys who talk that way. He didn't mean it," said Harry.
"Thanks a lot," said Hermione sharply.
"Didn't you use any protection?" asked Harry.
"I'm not a complete idiot. I used an Anti-Conception Charm. I thought I had it right..." said Hermione.
"I guess for once in your life you made a mistake. It saved our lives, but... Hermione, this is going to have huge consequences."
"Consequences?" said Hermione. She hadn't thought that far ahead yet.
"For starters, you'll probably be expelled," said Harry.
Hermione gasped. "W-will they do that?"
"Hogwarts is a strict school," said Harry.
"But it's not fair! I've got my OWLs back and they're straight O's," said Hermione.
"That doesn't matter. Remember Blaise Zabini last year? Everyone was talking about her," said Harry.
Hermione gasped in a breath and began sobbing loudly.
"Oh Hermione, come on. We've got to get out of these ropes. Try to reach my wand out of my pocket. Your hand's nearly there," said Harry.
Still sobbing, Hermione stretched her fingertips to the end of the wand and shakily extracted it. She could barely keep her voice steady for an unbinding spell, but at last she managed to say it right and the ropes fell to the ground.
"Come on! There may still be a chance to save the Dursleys!" said Harry as he rushed for the stairs. Hermione followed, putting her misery aside for the moment.
Down the flights of stairs they rushed, heading to the mansion's front door. And there they found Dudley crumpled in a corner, shivering.
"Dudley, what happened?" said Harry.
"It was terrible," said Dudley. "This woman came to us, told us she was from the police, sent to rescue us from being kidnapped. We believed her that it was safe to get away. We went running out down the road, towards what we thought was a police car. I was behind them, holding back 'cause I wanted to go back for 'Mione, or at least tell her goodbye. It was a trap! People jumped out the the car and these green rays started flying and Mom and Dad were both hit. I ran like hell and just got back into the house. Mom and Dad didn't come back. I think they're d-dead."
Harry went to the front window and looked out. In the middle of the street, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia lay unmoving. In the sky above them was a blazing emerald skull, the Dark Mark.
He went back to Dudley. Hermione had her arm around his shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"Dudley, this could be important. How long have you been back in the house?" asked Harry.
"I don't know. Maybe ten minutes.... Why?" said Dudley.
Harry looked into Hermione's tear-streaked face. "Better get tested. You may be all right after all."
"My folks are dead, aren't they? Where are all your friends who were supposed to be protecting us?" demanded Dudley.
"That's a good question," said Harry.
The house was strangely silent. Where were the others?