Holding Back Tears

Ch. 4

By: Tiffiany Hargis

A/N: Well, hello all!!! I know you are all like, "Well that took long enough. You writing an epic or somethin'?" Well no it's not an epic, but due to busy college life and being diagnosed with malignant laziness also contributed to the long delay.

But never fear this should be this best chapter yet. You know why? Because I'm special and have a beta reader now. Her name is Mione Weasley the writer of Things Aren't Always What They Seem. I want to give a big credit to her, because she is taking time out of her life to help me out, and she is a life saver. I've never been that confident in my work, and now that she is helping me I feel 10xs better than all the other postings combined!!!

A/N A/N: There is a man named Chthon Styx. I couldn't think of a name so I looked up some Greek Myth. On the internet and found these two words that meant pretty much evil so I just used them for his name. Ok, Ok, now on to the story!!!!

Disclaim: Ha ha, fooled ya. You have to read the disclaimer first. Well, guess what, J.K. Rowling didn't call me this month. I have no idea what's going on in my beloved Ron's life. I'm in near tears; I feel torn in half. I'm not really living. I'm a shell, going through the daily motions, but I'm never really there. I haven't been the same since the day he was taken away from me. My only consolation is Rupert Grint which all my waking hours are devoted to him, but there is one HUGE problem. I LIVE IN TEXAS!!!! I'm no where near ever seeing my red haired love. OHH the pain, ohhhhh the agony. (In short, Rowling still owns everything.)

            All Hermione could see were flashes of green light as she was flung from side to side. The light seemed to form a tunnel, and she, Ron, and Harry seemed to be falling down it at an incredible rate. But at the same time she wasn't really falling because her body felt weightless.

Suddenly there was a shock and she could feel her body begin to be under her control again. Her centre of gravity was returning, and before she could completely register what was going on she felt the ground come underneath her feet with a jolt. At this unexpected lurch she lost her footing and she fell right into the back of Ron.

She steadied herself by holding onto him, but when he turned to make sure she was alright she almost lost her balance again. Her legs felt like she had just ran a million bleachers, and she didn't feel like she'd ever stand right again. To make sure she didn't become better acquainted with the ground Ron held on to her waist as he surveyed their surroundings. 

When she felt she could divert her complete attention from standing upright she glanced around. Harry was standing to the left of Ron and her, and was completely bewildered about this change in environment. When she looked around she found out why.

They had landed in the middle of a suburban street. There were similar houses on either side of them as far as they could see in each direction. Each house was trimmed in different colors, had a slightly different looking garden, and well kept lawns. They were right under a street lamp, and about every thirty yards another yellow light could be seen. If you looked past them you could see a faint little glow from the moon being absorbed by the clouds, but there was no other light except for the radiance from the surrounding street lamps.

After the hectic and theatrical ride it took to get there the place seemed a little anti-climatic and peaceful.

"What do you think is going on?" Hermione asked timidly as to not break the silence of the little community.

"I don't know, but it's probably nothing good." replied Ron with a frown. He seemed on edge like he was ready to pounce at any moment. She looked at his eyes and saw they were concentrating on the unseen beyond the light suspiciously. When he noticed she was looking at him he returned her gaze and it softened instantly. He seemed worried, but not for himself but for her. Hermione instinctively moved closer to Ron, where she always seemed to feel safe, to show him she was alright. She realized his arm was still around her waist.

As she pressed her side to his he tightened his grip around her. She knew this wasn't the best time, but having Ron hold her was like a dream come true. She could feel the heat of his body through his robe, and she was close enough to his chest that she could faintly hear his heart pounding as hard as hers.

"What do you think Harry?" Ron asked.

When Harry didn't reply right away Hermione broke her surveillance of the surrounding area to look at him. He was starring at something in the distance under the next light in front of them. She saw an outline of a sign that was white with gold letters, but it was illegible from where she stood.

They walked toward the sign in unison without any verbal communication. When they reached the light they saw the gold letters shining like bright aureate stars contrasting on a dark black sky. They were thick, bold, and all capital letters that read: GODRICK'S HOLLOW.

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath in shock. Ron let go of her and took a step back from the sign and into the direct ray of light of the lamp above them. His hand moved discreetly to his robes where his wand lay. Hermione backed up after him, and she now felt a lot colder now that Ron wasn't holding her. A distinct shiver ran through her body.

Contradictorily, Harry walked towards the sign and outlined the letters with his finger.

Harry was at a place he hadn't been in sixteen years; a place that changed his life forever.

"This is where my parents died," Harry said unnecessarily with a hollow voice. He seemed as if he was in a kind of trance.

"Yes, this is where your parents died that night you got that scar, and tonight the curse that gave it to you is going to finally do what it was supposed to sixteen years ago," said a voice in the darkness beyond the light of the lamp. The trio to jumped as chills traveled up their backs caused by the harsh piercing sound. Hermione and Harry grabbed for their wands while Ron was already pointing his in the direction of the mysterious voice.

Voldemort stepped halfway into the light, casting shadows over his repulsive face, giving it an even more sinister look.

The three subconsciously moved towards each other. Ron looked as if he was about to curse Voldemort, but the Dark Lord smiled and nodded his head to an unseen person behind him. Suddenly they were surrounded by a dozen Death Eaters all pointing their wands at them.

Without warning there were shouts of "Exspelliarmus!" and they were left defenseless with now empty hands.

            Hermione was getting really scared now. Even with Ron at her right she didn't feel very secure.

"I don't need the other two, I asked for only you Potter, but we'll have to make due won't we," Voldemort starred menacingly at Harry and glanced at the two by his side. There was a loud popping sound, and a smile appeared on Voldemort's face that made him even more detestable.

"There is my servant now. I would like you to meet Chthon Styx. I don't believe you've been formally introduced."

The photographer at the graduation ceremony stepped into the light, but his uniform and camera were absent and replaced with a black Death Eater cloak. His mask and hood were also not over his head. His face was twisted into a malicious smile as he looked over his abductees.

"I'm sorry master. The boy was always around someone, and I wanted to stick to the schedule so I had to include the other two.

"That is quite alright Chthon they are easily disposed of," Voldemort said in a chilling voice that sent more shivers up Hermione's spine. Her fear was bordering panic now. For once in her life her mind was blank, they were cornered with nowhere to run.

"Grab Potter and get him ready for the night's festivities" Voldemort ordered Chthon.

Harry moved closer to Ron and Hermione and looked ready to fight just as the other two were. As Chthon approached Harry, the teenager took a swing at him and hit the imposter photographer on the left cheek. But he quickly recovered and grabbed the struggling Harry in a death grip. However Ron was on him in an instant. Ron had hit the man in the stomach and then the other cheek before a red beam of light hit him, sent him flying in the air, and landed at a Death Eaters feet with a thud.

"Potter, come quietly or your friends will be tortured worst than your wildest dreams can conceive," Voldemort shouted in the silence that followed Ron hitting the pavement.

Ron slowly got to his feet a starred directly into Harry's eyes as the dark haired boy ceased his struggles. Hermione just looked from one to the other with tears in her eyes. She felt like she was frozen; she hadn't moved since they had been surrounded by all the Death Eaters. Her fear was paralyzing; her body heaved painfully with each breath as she watched Chthon drag a complacent Harry out of the circle.

Voldemort followed Harry and Chthon as they made their way in between two houses behind the sign. Before Voldemort passed the gardens of the houses he shouted to the Death Eaters, "Kill the other two. We won't need them!"

They heard Harry scream "NO!!!" and saw him pull against his capture's clutch, but his attempts were futile and he was wrenched out of sight.

Hermione wasn't breathing anymore as the Death Eaters circled in around them. She instinctively backed up, backing straight into Ron who had made his way over to her while Harry was being drug away. He put his arms around her from behind, and in a second every moment that she had ever spent with Ron flashed in front of her eyes: When she met him on the train, when he knocked out the troll, when he was her knight on the life size chess board, their times in Hogsmeade, their summers together, their time alone doing homework together in the common room, when they were fighting, when they went to the Valentine's Ball a couple of months ago together as friends, and then it ended at earlier that day when she kissed him on the cheek.

She turned and looked into his eyes and he looked as lost and helpless as she. He took her hand and she saw tears in his eyes; they spoke of love lost before it was ever theirs. Hermione became encouraged; she was not going to give up without a fight. She was not going to let her love for Ron die without doing everything she could to save it. Hermione looked to the sky, but the stars where still hidden beneath the clouds, and there was no guidance offered from the heavens. The only light she saw was from the street light over head. Then it happened, she had an idea.

She squeezed Ron's hand and looked at the light, but he didn't seem to understand. Everything happened in slow motion, as the Death Eaters raised their wands to shout their various spells; she unexpectedly took off her shoe and threw it at the light in one fluid motion. She was never good at throwing things, but this night her aim was perfect. The shoe flew toward the light and it hit the bulb and engulfed the area in darkness.

There were multicolored flashes that were from the Death Eaters previous spells, but that was all that was seen.

All that could be heard was the scamper of feet and a loud "URGHHHH" as a body hit the ground.

A/N – Hey guys!!!! Another cliff hanger; I know I'm evil. I really believe that someone that updates more than I are allowed to do cliff hangers, but I had no where else to end this chapter. I'm really sorry; I hope you all forgive me. If it is any consolation I've already started writing the 5th chapter, so it shouldn't really be THAT long until you all find out what happens. I want to say thanks again to Mione Weasley! The same as in the past, please feel free to criticize me. Anything is welcome; it really helps if you tell me what you like and what you don't!!! Have a great day, and God Bless!!! J