Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. They belong to J. K. Rowling. Please don't sue.
Chapter 5: Talk about unexpected things!!!
Silence reigned throughout Hogwarts. The sun commenced its travel, lighting the night sky with its shining light. The darkness gave way to the different shades of blues and reds that appeared as the sun emerged in the horizon. A soft breeze traveled swiftly through the castle entering through the window of Hermione Granger. Her quiet form lay placidly amidst the covers. Her dreams filled with different shades of reds and gold. She didn't want to wake up, though she knew that she would not remember the dream in the morning, she wanted to feel safe in the fire. She knew not why but it seemed to her that the fire had a soft voice, a warm voice.
As the first rays of the sun reached Hermione, her eyes opened slowly, revealing a quiet calm in her countenance. The remnants of her dream were rapidly vanishing and she was left with a sense of loss.
'Today is All Hallows Eve. Today we are going to help Harry. No wonder it is a beautiful day.' Hermione thought and smiled. 'I wonder if the guys are up?' she thought as she rose from her bed.
Hermione looked at her reflection in the mirror. She saw just a petite girl with simple brown hair, big eyes, and an average mouth. She was so average. She hadn't really noticed before how little she had cared for her appearance. 'I wonder if Ron thinks I am pretty.' Hermione was shocked at the thought and wondered where it had come from. She had never thought of whether or not the guys, especially Ron, though of her as pretty. Not dwelling on the thought anymore as she looked at the clock on her desk, she just shrugged the thought away and focused on the party later that night.
It was such a beautiful day. The halls of Hogwarts were filled with laughter, though the classes seemed to last forever. Hermione, Ron and Harry couldn't wait for the party. Each of them was looking forward to it, though for very different reasons. As the day progressed and they had put behind them the potions class with Snape they headed for the Gryffindor common room. Everyone there seemed so excited about the big banquet that was going to take place that night during dinner.
Ron sat on the common room sofa and sighed wholeheartedly. "Boy! Am I glad that it is Friday!"
"Ron, you'd better …" started Hermione but was interrupted by Ron.
"If the word homework comes out of your mouth Hermione, I swear I'll…I'll…"
"What Ron? What will you do to Hermione?" Harry asked slyly.
Ron looked at Harry and blushed, "…I'll… I'll tickle her 'till her stomach hurts!"
Hermione and Harry looked at each other and started laughing. Ron just looked at them quietly. He liked it when his friends were happy. He liked to see Mione smile, because when she did, she seemed so soft and beautiful. 'I wonder what her hair feels like.' Ron could barely contain his shock at the thought. Thankfully Harry and Mione were still laughing and hadn't noticed anything. Ron knew there were things better not to be thought about, and thinking about Mione in a way other than friends was one of those things.
"Oh, Ron! What would I do without you?" Hermione asked, not realizing that she had not included Harry in her comment. But Harry had noticed, and smiled softly. It was amusing to see his friends dance around their feelings yet being so close all the time. He didn't mind that they cared for each other, he was just sad that because of him they did nothing about their feelings. Harry wished that they could be happy. They deserved to be happy.
"Well, you guys, I have to go and get everything ready for tonight. Remember that it is at 10 pm."
"Yes Mione. I could never forget our date tonight" answered Ron wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"Please Ron, get over yourself." Hermione answered, rolling her eyes at him.
"We'll see you later Hermione." Harry intervened before a new argument started and ruined the future party.
Hermione walked out of the Grifindor common room, through the portrait of the fat lady. Ron watched her leave and all of a sudden he felt as if something within him was missing.
Harry looked at Ron and asked, "Are you ok Ron?"
Ron blushed, but he did not evade Harry's eyes. "Yes mate. Everything is fine. I am just a bit tired. What with Quiditch practices and all." Ron answered nonchalantly.
Harry just nodded in understanding. "Well Ron, lets get started on our homework, before Hermione cames back and lectures us about the 'N.E.W.T.S.'"
With a smile and fake horror Ron answered as he walked to one of the tables in the common room right by one of the windows, "Heaven forbid Harry."
The hours passed and the duo barely noticed the light diminishing through the window. For a brief moment Ron raised his head from his two foot long essay on the properties of the eye of newt for potions class, and he beheld the change of the sky. He saw the sun setting on the horizon fighting a losing battle against the darkness that was enfolding the sky. He saw the first stars appear as the reds and oranges in the horizon started to fade. He turned his head to look at Harry and thought about what Hermione, Draco and him were going to do that night. He wanted everything to turn out right.
When 10 o'clock came around, Harry and Ron were very anxious to be on their way. Harry took out his invisibility cloak and pulled it over Ron and himself, it amazed Harry that they both could fit inside the cloak and still be covered invisible by it. They were no longer children. Harry was at lest 5'10" and Ron was a bit over 6 feet. Quiditch practices had filled-in their bodies in what the girls constantly said was all the 'right places'. It always surprised Harry that he was considered a handsome man he certainly didn't think so. His friend Ron on the other hand, was a handsome fellow. He had the Weasley charm; he was loyal, warm and honest. Girls flocked to him, not because he was the friend of the Boy-Who-Lived, but because he was funny and caring. But Ron never noticed the girls' attention since, he only had eyes for Hermione.
Ron and Harry walked out of their dorm and exited the Grifindor common room. They walked as silently as possible towards Hermione's room. Once they had reached her door, Ron whispered her password, "Kiwi Pastries" and the door opened for them.
"Honey we are home!!" Ron yelled with a smile.
"Weasley! Can't you ever be quiet?" Draco asked from Hermione's sofa.
"Draco, what are you doing here?" asked a surprised Harry.
"Well, Hermione invited me over for the party. She asked so nicely that I accepted."
"Glad that you could make it you guys." Hermione said looking at Ron, who at the moment was looking intensely at her. Hermione blushed and turned her eyes to look at Harry, who had a knowing smirk on his face.
Taking pity on both Ron and Hermione, Harry walked into the room pulling Ron along and asked, "So, what do we do now? Any ideas?"
Hermione walked towards them looking at Ron and at Draco pointedly. "Harry, there is one reason why we are all here right now." Hermione began.
"The truth is mate, that we have been worried about you for a long time now and…we thought that maybe we could find a way to help you." Ron said and was stopped by Draco.
"We are here because we have found a way to protect you from Voldermort."
Harry could not believe what he was hearing. His friends had been doing this behind his back.
"And you thought what?" asked Harry in a cold tone. "Do you really think that you can prevent anyone from getting hurt just because you found a way to protect me? Tell that to those people that have died so far at the hands of Voldermort.!!! What about them?" Harry yelled, unable to contain his anger anymore.
Ron caught him as Harry tried to flee the room.
"Sorry mate, but we have to do this for you, and for all those people that depend on you to defeat Voldermort." Ron told Harry in a calm voice.
"Harry, I know that you never wanted this responsibility, but the truth of the matter is that it IS your responsibility. We are just trying to make things a bit easier for you. We love you Harry. You are our best friend." As Hermione said this she had come near Harry and held him to her, showing him how much she cared for him.
"Look Harry, we are not trying to control your life, we just want you to be well." Draco said as he looked at the scene before him from the sofa.
Harry closed his arms around Ron and Hermione, held them tight and whispered "Thank you guys and I'm sorry."
As Hermione and Ron let go of him, they saw Harry smile. "So what is this plan of yours?" asked Harry coming closer to the table where food was arranged for them to eat. He took one of the pastries and went to sit next to Draco on the sofa.
Hermione began to explain how Ron and her had searched for a way to help him, and how all of a sudden they had found the book of true spells. Draco told Harry what he had heard his father say about the book. When they finished telling the story, it was already 11:30. Hermione looked worriedly at the clock and said in a whisper, "It is almost time Harry. Are you willing to go through with this?"
"Well, Hermione. I trust you guys with my life. If you think that this might help us against Voldemort, then let's do it."
"That's the spirit Mate," replied Ron with a grin, as he saw Draco pull out a bottle from one of his pockets.
Draco handed the bottle to Harry and looked at Ron and Hermione, "Are you guys ready?"
Ron and Hermione looked at each other with unease and both answered in unison, "Yes."
Hermione looked at Harry and said, "Ron bring that chair to the middle of the room. Harry sit on the chair."
As Ron and Harry did as Hermione requested, she had gone to her desk. She looked through the paper there and picked three pieces of parchment. She took a moment to compose herself. She didn't want the boys to know that she was scared. Hermione, the smartest kid in Hogwarts was scared. She straightened her shoulders, turned around with a smile, and walked towards her friends.
Ron saw her and understood her feelings. He knew she was scared. Hell!! He was scared, but they had to do something, there was no one else to do it. He saw her gain control of her emotions and was proud of her.
Draco looked at Hermione and understood why Ron cared so much for her. She was one strong lady. If only things had been different. Maybe if he had met her before she had laid eyes on Ron, he would have had a chance. But now, she only had eyes for Ron. Draco just hoped that Ron realized how lucky he was. He knew that Ron and Hermione belonged together though they just hadn't admitted it to themselves yet.
"Ok guys. We'll stand around Harry and we'll say the incantation as soon as Harry has taken the potion. After that we will see what the book says," Hermione said a bit nervously.
Harry saw how tense his friends were and finally realized how much they were risking, for him. His friends were willing to risk their life to do a spell in order to protect him. Indeed, he was a very lucky guy, and in that moment of realization, he promised himself that he would do everything in his power to make them happy.
With these thoughts in mind Harry heard the sound of the clock strike midnight. He took the cap off the bottle and with a smile, drank the whole content. He opened his eyes in amazement at the taste. He had expected a bitter taste, but instead a sweet and warm liquid covered his throat. It was soft and soothing and filled with life. As he looked at his friends, he reassured them that he was ok with a nod of his head. And then he heard their words.
All three voices, united, filled with energy and as the words left their mouths Harry saw a light cover each one of them, and to Harry's surprise it was the same light that had kept him safe during his dreams of the past two days. He felt himself lulled to sleep by the sound of their voices until everything seemed like a dream.
Veritas Amicitia
Veritas Sinus
Veritas Amo
Veritas Anima
Libenter nos venio
Protego quos nos amo
Est nos fides
Est nos vincula
IAM NOS EST UNA!!!
To be continued....
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Hello everyone!!
I want to thank all of you who have read and reviewed my story. Thank you for your support and your comments. It is much appreciated. I do take your comments and suggestions into account, which is why I have revised all my chapters and have updated them. I also want to thank those who read the story but did not review I hope that all you have enjoyed it so far.
Sorry that it took me this long to update the story, but life has been getting in the way. I really hope that you liked this chapter.
The incantation does have a meaning. I must confess that I do not know Latin, so if one of you does, please forgive any mistakes I might have made on its structure. Let me know if you want me to post the meaning of the incantation in the next chapter.
Sincerely,
Ednyadove