Chapter 16 Shadows

Hermione watched the entire selection process from the grandstand. When she saw the look in Ginny's eyes as she realized Harry had saved her from peril, once again. 'Was there room for more than one girl in her heart? Or was Harry just toying with her until he figured it all out that Ginny and he we're supposed to be together.'

The tall brunette quitted her mind and walked over to Harry and asked him if he needed help.

"Moinie, can I just say how much I appreciate not having to save you all the time. Ginny has a habit of almost dying all the time." Harry grimaced thru the pain.

Hermione saw the hurt in Harry's face as she helped him up the castle steps. "Harry, I just want you to know that when your ready… I well, um. " Hermione stuttered through her words, "I kind of like know Ginny has a thing for you again. I saw it in her eyes."

Harry was shocked. "How can you say that? Hermione, I like Ginny as a sister. She is a friend. Ginny needs to realize we are over." Harry torted his face in pain as he realized the pain pills were wearing off quickly and he was starting to feel lightheaded. "Come on. I need to get to see that nurse now."

The rest of the walk was in silence as the two Gryffindors walked down the hallway. Along the way they saw a closet door crack open and they both darted inside of an empty classroom. Both of them watched cautiously in case there were Slytherin's about in the hallway. Leslie and Jon sneaked out of a broom closet with Jon's tie undone and Leslie's hair messed up. Both Harry and Hermione giggled as they moved dangerously close to each other.

The pain in Harry's arm was intensifying as he tried to bring Hermione closer towards him. He needed to hold her and touch her everywhere. Harry's hormones took over as he began to kiss Hermione passionately. Hermione lost control of everything at that moment as she pulled his body closer to hers. "Harry", Moinie breathed, "We need to stop this now or else we are going to do something we both aren't ready for."

Harry pulled away from her and shook his head. "Your probably right," then Harry whispered, "but I promise when the time is right, I will treat you like the princess you are and make you the lady you should become."

"Harold James Potter, where did you get that cheesy line?" Hermione was trying not to bust out in laughter.

Harry straightened up and said, "Well, I read it out of my Aunt Petunia's romance book?" Then with Potter charm he added, "Did it work?"

Hermione smiled at Harry, "Wouldn't you like to know. Well, Come on. Let's get you bandaged up."

Harry and Hermione walked out of the room holding hands towards the Infirmary.


Meanwhile…
A crazy celebration was underway in the Gryffindor Common Room. Ronald Weasley was drunker than he had ever been. He was the life of the party having made the most amazing grab and save a keeper had ever made in a noncompetitive situation. At 9:00 he wandered outside of the common room singing old drinking songs to himself. He was walking down the hallway when he bumped into Jon Clift on the second floor. "Oh sorry mate," Ron said slurring his speech, "Didn't see you there."

"It's okay man." Smelling the butterbeer and fire whisky on Ron's breath, "Hey, are you going to be alright?"

"Of course I am. I am peeerfectly fine. I was hit by a bludger, drunken up by my brothers, and now I'm so bombed I can't feel my toes." Ron swayed from side to side. "Hey have you seen MMMoooinie?"

Jon knew Ron was a prefect, but there was no reason in both of them being busted for drinking after hours, let alone being caught after dark outside without a note, "Nah, I haven't seen her. Hey, I herd that Harry was slammed pretty hard though into the ground. Did you check the Nurse's Station?"

Ron took another belt of the whisky, "Nope. I think I will go there next."

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Harry didn't want to let go of Hermione as they stood outside of the Infirmary door. He brought her lips closer to his as he felt his hormones run hot thru him. He pulled Hermione tightly into him. She could feel his muscles hold her as he bit and nibbled down her neck. Hermione wanted nothing better than to go find an empty classroom and give herself totally to Harry, but someone was watching from the end of the hallway, dark in the shadows.

Shadows were creeping up the hallway, "Yeah. Defending myself against Pomfrey shouldn't be too much trouble. " Harry whispered as his eyes caught Moinie's and they both looked at the shadows that seemed to be moving. "Yeah no one should be BOUND to their beds like that." And at that moment both of them knew what each others reactions would be.

Harry took a step towards Hermione and gave her a kiss as they both spun at once as, Harry erected a defense shield and Hermione fired a body bind.

A loud thump hit the floor as Harry called out, "Lumos" and found none other than a drunken Ronald Weasley crying and stuck to the floor.

Hermione only could stare in disbelief as she realized she had just hurt Ron horribly. "Ron I am so sorry." Escaped her mouth as a whisper.

Harry kneeled down and realized Ron from the body bind. Ron stood up and couldn't do anything but stare at them both.

Stricken with heartache Ron managed to get out, "H-H-How long?"

Harry knew this would damage them forever and stood to face his music, "Since the beginning of term."

Ron shifted his gaze to Hermione, "Do you love him?" Ron felt the tears well up in his eyes....

Hermione shifted her gaze from Ron to Harry. She felt her stomach twist into knots as Ron was torn in two with the anticipation of her answerer. Harry looked at his feet as he was nervous also of her answer, "Yes, I do."

For the moment Ron looked broken and twisted. Slowly the gravity of the moment consumed his inner most thoughts. She was no longer his. Too stunned to move and too hurt to think, Ron felt like he was going to vomit as he couldn't bear to be around either of them. The last thing he remembered was the floor calling to him as he fell to his knees in heartache and sobs cracking his head against the stone walls as he fell.

A subtle swoosh of water could be herd thru the walls at Hogwarts as a shadowy figure smiled and knew that this was the moment they had been waiting for.

Harry tried to carry his broken and bloody friend in to see Madam Pomfrey. She could tell by the smell of him that he had way too much liquor inside of him. While the nurse tended to Ron, Harry got changed and waited for news about Ron. They sat in silence for a very long time. Hermione was too petrified to speak and Harry was scared as well. Silently Harry cursed himself at being so nonchalant and careless over his best friends feelings. He had just destroyed the balance of friendship between the three of them. His only hope was that the damage he had caused could be repaired.

Ron came out of the nurse's office about 30 minutes later.

Harry was the first to speak, "Ron, are you okay?"

Ron stared blankly at Harry now standing in front of him. "What was so special with him anyway", he thought, "He looks scrawny and now that tramp of a girl had been seduced by him as well. What a crock of…"

Gently Hermione walked over to Ron and placed an arm on his shoulder, "Ron. Can you speak?"

He stared at her open mouthed for a moment. It felt like an eternity as Hermione waited for his response. Her touch had felt warm & inviting, but now that touch felt painful & callous. She was addressing him… how dare she. That sweet girl who he wanted to be all his so very dearly. Harry had corrupted everything he touched. His parents, his godfather, his sister, and now his girl. Ron realized he couldn't speak to either of them and walked blankly thru Hermione's icy touch and headed towards the common room.

Too stunned to think, Harry wanted to run and speak to Ron. But his shoulder would have him doing otherwise. The nurse made it a point to have Mr. Potter tend to his rotator and she dismissed Ms. Granger before either of them could say otherwise.

The darkness of the hallways of Hogwarts caused an eerie silence as Harry was forced to drink this nasty purple syrup called Ligamentoritous. The syrup made Harry dizzy and as he fell asleep he watched his beloved Hermione walk into the same shadowy halls that Ron had just crossed into. The silence of the night called to Harry as he slept and worried restlessly about the three of them.

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Ron Weasley sulked down a hallway trying to keep his head up. The inner thoughts of his mind were torturing his own psyche. He knew he needed a good cry in a private place. He felt so betrayed he walked into an open office and sat down and started to cry. Silently the shadows seemed to come alive as Ron began to cry and ask "Why" aloud. The slithering shadows seemed to ask him if he loved her, and all Ron could do was cry.

Draco Malfoy had a banner day that evening. He had tortured 3 first years and taken 11 Galleons and 3 sickles from each of them. Flanked by his henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, he was feeling quite proud of himself as he her crying from a nearby classroom.

Curious and yet aware this could be a prank Draco drew his wand and walked in and called, "Lumos". They're teary eyed and broken, Ron Weasley came face to face with the only person who could have made his situation any worse.

"Ahhh a Weasel." Noticing the crying flowing from Ron he added, "What did that dirty mudblood finally betray you with that Potter freak?"

Ron stopped crying and rubbed his eyes and didn't address Draco. He was trying to think of a great hex to throw and how he could escape Draco's goons that encircled him now from the doorway.

Draco added snottily. "No matter. I have tried a thousand times Weasley to tell you that your better then they both are. Your pure blood you know. It is a shame that good blood went to waste with those people you protect and love."

Ron stood up now and swallowed and continued to be stone faced.

"Ahh, well, let me let you get back to your crying then. I have had far too good of a day to worry about any pathetic things Potter and the Mudblood have done to you." Draco turned and started to walk away with the goons falling in place.

Ron looked at them as he realized that Crabbe and Goyle may be dumb, as rocks, but they would never be disappointed in Draco's friendship. He would never betray either of them due to pure blood loyalty. Just before Draco left the room Ron blurted out, "She left me for Potter."

Draco just stopped and turned and walked back over to Ron. "I caught them making out in the hallway. I thought they were my friends, but it turns out that I was wrong."

Draco turned away from Ron for the moment and asked his henchmen to shut and bolt the door. Ron realized that he may be in for the beating of his life now that he had gotten Draco's attention.

Draco pulled up his paint leg and pulled out a flask with the two snakes encircled on it. Without words, Draco handed Ron the flask and finally spoke; "You need this more than I do mate. Come sit and tell us everything."

Shaking from fear & exhaustion, Ron sat down and belted the spicy Fire Whisky down his throat and began to tell Draco everything.

Hermione Granger walked silently that night down the long hallways. The entire evening had been such a whirlwind to her. She had come clean and expressed her innermost feelings for Harry. Though something wasn't quite right with the way things had been left. She felt the hall of portraits whisper as she walked by. Once she even thought they were calling her a mudblood. No matter though, she was just about to turn towards the Gryffindor Common Room corridor when she saw Ginny Weasley standing by the portrait organizing what looked like a group of people. With a bit of gloomy curiosity, Hermione wandered over to Ginny.

"Okay, well, Seamus, you lead team a back to the pitch and see if Ron is still there drunk. Neville you're in charge of manipulating some sort of Herbology potion for him if we find him before he losses points for the house. Oh hey. Hermione" Ginny called, "We could use your help also. Ron has gone missing and we're going to look for him. Any ideas where he could be?" Hermione looked at her feet and could feel the eyes of everyone in the circle looking at her in judgment. She called Ginny over and whispered to her what had happened. Waiting for Ginny's reaction above the whispers of the crowd. Ginny turned red with anger and yet understood what was happening now. Ginny straightened up and fixed her robes, "Well, I expect nothing else other than your full cooperation in finding Ron then." In that brief moment Hermione had finally understood why Harry had cared for Ginny, she truly was her mother's daughter. Maybe he truly would be happier with her.

The search party had set off in search for Ron. They were off going to the different directions of the castle. Hermione however, broke away from the parties and set out on her own.

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Ron Weasley was drunk.

Ron couldn't believe his dumb luck of hanging our with Draco Malfoy. He truly was a good guy after a few belts of fire whiskey. It was even harder to believe that Ron, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle all were having a great time with everything.

Draco's eyes narrowed to tiny slits as he stared at Ron, "Not to bring up a sore subject mate, but what are you going to do when you run into her again."

Ron looked shocked and was freaked out by his own thoughts of revenge. Trying to cover up the conversation real quickly he added, "I dunno. Tell you one thing I haven't really thought about it
much."

Draco took another belt and paused for a moment as the whiskey filled his stomach with warmth and ease "I'll tell you what, If it were me I would teach that girl and potter a lesson they both won't soon forget."

Ron looked at the whiskey bottle now over half gone and belted another round, "Really. So let's just say what would you do, hypothetically speaking that is, if you were me."

Crabbe spoke up now and broke the silence as he belted the last of the whiskey, in one huge chug, "I would have my way with her and let Potter clean it up."

Ron shook his head, he couldn't think straight, "Nah man. Harry would kill me."

Draco looked at Crabbe with sheer joy in his eye, "He wouldn't know, now would he?"

Sounds of creeping could be herd in the room and Draco quickly said, "Silencio! Goyle, put that light out!" and drew his wand. The entire room went into a silent mode and not a sound could be herd by anyone in the room.
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Hermione wandered down a darkened hallway with nothing to help her other than her wand. She herd voices carrying on from the far end of the hall. She couldn't make them out. Slowly she crept up to the door to get a better look at who was speaking. Then just as quick as she heard the voices, the lights went out and in the darkness her world was about to change.

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Giggling could be herd from another broom closet as Ginny Weasley and the search party pulled the door open.

Jon Clift and Leslie Parsons fell out the door and spilled out in front of Ginny Weasley. Jon sprang up and blushed as Leslie fumbled around trying to button her cloak.

Ginny looked miffed that they hadn't found Ron, "Jon! Can't you just get a room or something?!?" Realizing she sounded like her mother Ginny added, "By the way Leslie, your shirt is on backwards."

Jon realized that there was an awful lot of Gryffindor's out of the common room so very late. "Umm would someone like to tell me what's going on? You seemed to have caught me at a improper time." Casting his gaze to Leslie the both of them smiled and laughed.

Ginny rolled her eyes, blushed, and began to tell Jon everything.
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Hermione Granger doesn't know exactly what happened next. She remembers being stunned from her shoulders to her hips. What happened next could and should never be described again. She saw 4 boys with their cloaks pulled up over their heads grab her and take her into the room. The shorter one wrote down on a piece of paper, "No one say a word this room has been silenced by me. Communicate by tapping each other. New friend, this is your big chance."

And with that Hermione Granger's worst nightmare began to happen. She felt her jeans ripped off of her, as she began to feel the tears well up in her eyes. Hermione realized there was no way she could get out of this without help.

When they were finished the last boy looked at her with tears in his eyes. He looked at her ravaged body and he saw the bruises beginning to form. He wrote on the paper, "I am so sorry. I just cannot do this to you."

The short one looked at this one with a questioning gaze pushed him aside and took her again. Once he was done he conjured her pants back to normal and levitated them back onto her.

The boys all left the room and spoke only once they were down the hallway. Draco turned and pinned Ron against the wall; "Your fingerprints were on her as well Weasley. You're in this with us as deep as we all are." Releasing Ron they all went their separate ways. Ron Weasley realized his life would never be the same again and his nightmare was only at the beginning.


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Harry was having nightmares about Hermione all night long, but the sleeping aide he took for his shoulder wouldn't allow him to wake up. Red tears fell from his eyes and coated his pillow as he witnessed his girlfriend's humiliation from her point of view.


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Harry woke up with a start. It was like all of his senses were tuned in at once. He noticed the white sheet dividers put up across from him. Tears were in his eyes as he pulled them back to reveal Hermione. She slept dreamlessly. He knew though the dreamless sleep would only delay her tormenting mind as he knew what had happened to her. Cautiously he took her hand and kissed it mumbling to her how deeply he loved her and how she was going to get over this.

After a few minutes Harry was startled by another presence. Professor Dumbledore glided in and rested his hand on her shoulder.

Harry looked up at his headmaster with tears in his eyes, "Professor Dumbledore sir," he croaked out, "who did this to her."

Dumbledore looked at Harry gravely as he adjusted his spectacles and took his time to ponder his answer. "Do you love her Harry?"

Harry looked at Hermione as he answered, "Yes sir. Very, very much."

"Well then, who shouldn't be the question you are asking. The question should be how can I help her understand and get over her grief." Dumbledore replied.

Harry wept silently to himself as he spoke, "Sir. I saw what happened to her. I can't explain it. Hermione and I are linked somehow mentally."

Dumbledore replied coolly, "Love Harry, is the ultimate spell. It can tie you to someone forever." Them the old headmaster sat down on Harry's level, "You Harry have found your soulmate."

Harry looked at Dumbledore with his eyes wide in shock, "Sir, are you saying Hermione and I, well, are meant to be together."

Dumbledore shook his head, "No Harry. It's just that you could be linked to her the same as your mother and father was. It is up to you and Miss Granger whether you choose to take that leap into each others lives together."

Harry processed his thoughts as Dumbledore spoke again to Harry, "Now Harry. How deep is your connection with Miss Granger?"

"Well sir, I can tell you that Moinie is thinking about me right now. She knows I saw who or what did this to her last night. She is trying to hide it from me right now."

The light in Dumbledore's eyes dimmed a bit as he pondered the implications of what he had just herd. "Well then Harry, I think your Occlumency lessons need to be started then immediately. But with a small twist." Harry listened intuitively, "Miss Granger also needs to attend."

Harry looked questioned, so Dumbledore spoke up, "Voldermort is a master at Occlumency. Since you are connected to him, and she is connected to you…"

Harry finished his sentence for the headmaster, "Blimey…Voldermort can now be connected to Hermione."

Harry uncomfortably shifted his seat as Hermione silently stirred awake.