Hermione looked down at her own chest, sure that there would be a gaping hole to match the one that had caved in Ron's chest. She realized she almost wished there was one. The blazing pain in her chest taunted her with the wound she wanted so badly.
She wanted
(needed)
to die with Ron. For the first time since the establishment of their bond, Ron was missing in her head. There was no presence of the man she had come to love. He was gone.
But he wasn't, not really. He still was twitching on the floor of her parents bedroom, blood pooled around him in a fan shape. She could rush over and hug him to her chest and heal him the way he had once healed her.
She gathered herself up to run to him when a wave of despair crashed over her. It was useless. Ron was going to die. The pool of blood around his body was too big. His skin had turned a sickly, pale color and his lips were blue. His eyes were huge and she could see he was looking directly at her. He twitched slightly and his hand opened and closed as if he were trying to hold onto his last moments of life for as long as possible. He was dying and Hermione couldn't do anything about it.
She shook her head and tried to clear it. It seemed as if a dark cloud had seized her mind. She pushed at the cloud mentally, and it seemed to shatter. She looked down at her bleeding love and what she had been thinking hit her. Why had she given up?
She ran over to Ron and knelt down next to him. His eyes followed her as she went to him. He smiled weakly and tried to speak, but all that came out was a wet gargle as his mouth filled with blood.
Hermione's despair seemed to return. Ron was gone. It was over.
The dark cloud had returned and Hermione pushed it away so violently that it seemed to disintegrate. Ron grunted from below her.
Hermione realized what was going on and her love of Ron doubled. Even with his last moments, he was trying to protect his love. He had been using the bond to convince her it was hopeless, so that she wouldn't try and heal him. She could feel his fear for her through the bond, but she ignored.
(Stop that, Ron.) she sent waspishly.
(hermione) she heard softly in her head. (stop. it's too late.)
"Shut up, Ron!" she snarled audibly. "You're not going to die."
(i'm too far gone) he sent back. (if you try to heal me, it will just take you down with me.)
I'd die anyway, she thought to herself. Hermione knew she couldn't live without Ron.
She quickly stripped off the T-shirt she had been wearing and cradled Ron in her arms. From the first moment she touched him, she could feel her energy being sapped. She ignored this and pulled Ron's bleeding chest to her own. When her chest came in contact with his, she felt her head explode as their bond became the doorway of her strength.
Within seconds, she felt as if she had run several miles. Her chest heaved against Ron's. His blood flowed freely down her stomach and the feel of it made her ill. As the strength left her arms, she knew she wouldn't be able to hold him for much longer.
Even though her eyes were open, all she saw was darkness. She knew that as long she held Ron, that darkness would only grow more vast, as her own life left her body. It didn't matter. Ron was her life.
She could hear
(feel)
Ron's heartbeat. She felt her own heart beat in her ears and knew that the two beats were slowly converging, becoming more and more like each other.
Deep in the darkness, Hermione saw a white light slowly begin to build. IT started as little more than a candle in the distance, but as more and more strength left Hermione and flew into Ron, the light became almost to bright to look at.
Hermione felt something small and hard poking into her chest, but couldn't look down to see the bullet slowly lifting out of Ron's diminishing wound. She couldn't look down to see the look of horror on Ron's face as the one he loved was saving his life. He knew if this continued, she would die in his place, but he didn't have the strength to push her away.
((()))
Harry had heard the gun shot and Hermione's scream from his room. He ripped his door open and began to run towards the sounds. From behind him, he heard Ginny scream.
"Harry! What's going on?"
Harry turned his head as he ran. "Stay in your room, Ginny!"
Ginny, of course, ignored his words and ran after him. Harry couldn't help but smile at her actions. He hadn't really expected her to stay in her room, but he had thought to give a try. Ginny's independence was one of the reasons that he loved her.
Harry reached Hermione's bedroom in seconds, Ginny at his heels. The door was open slightly and Harry shouldered it the rest of the way open. The scene in front of him had the feel of a nightmare. Hermione's father was holding his sobbing wife in his arms. Her shoulders trembled violently and Peter Granger was running a reassuring hand through her hair. Across the room lay an old man. His legs were both bent at a strange angle and Harry could tell they were both broken. The man had passed out from his pain. Harry would have recognized him if he hadn't been so preoccupied with what else was happening in front of him.
Hermione was one her knees, holding a very bloody Ron Weasley. Her bra was soaked and crimson. There was blood everywhere. Harry, who knew very little about wounds, knew that someone who had lost that much blood was not going to live.
And even though it was obviously Ron who had been shot, Hermione looked even worse. She was staring blankly in front of her. Harry could tell that she could see very little of the world. Her eyes were like huge, icy pools. She was swaying back and forth as if holding Ron was taking all of her effort. Her face was haggard and Harry could see lines in it that had never been there before.
But the thing that bothered Harry the most about the scene in front of him was the look of absolute horror on Ron's face. His mouth was open and chest heaved up and down. Ron had his hands on Hermione's shoulders and was weakly pushing her away. Hermione, in her current state couldn't feel his hands.
Harry knew something very bad was happening. Ever since Ron had returned from the Sentinels, there had been little that could frighten him. Ron had charged head-first into a fortress of evil wizards and hadn't shown a moment's fear. Something was scaring him now.
Harry ran to the hugging couple and grabbed Hermione around her shoulders. As soon as his hands came into contact with her bare skin he felt a jolt. Something was happening here, and Harry didn't like it. He pulled her away from Ron violently.
A wave of…something ran through the room. Harry was thrown back and he fell onto his back. Ginny and Hermione's parents also fell to the floor. Harry heard a thump and saw that Hermione had fallen face-first to the floor. She wasn't moving.
As soon as the contact with Hermione was broken, Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head. He looked fine. He was covered with his own blood, but Harry could see that no new blood was coming from him.
With strength that he hadn't had moments before, Ron moved and gathered Hermione into his arms. Harry could see tears in his eyes.
"No!" Ron screamed. He ran his fingers over Hermione's face. She remained motionless. Ron lifted her from the floor easily and moved to the bed. He laid her out on it. "Hermione!" he sobbed. "Oh God, please be OK."
Harry got up to his feet and ran to the bed. Hermione looked dead, but when Harry put a hand to her neck, he could feel a weak pulse. "She's alive." he said with relief.
Ron didn't seem surprised by the news. But then again, he could probably feel her life through the bond. He didn't seem any happier with the announcement. "I told her not to do it." He said weakly as if talking to himself.
Ginny came forward and put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "What are you talking about, Ron?"
Ron's eyes were glazed and it took him a moment to answer. "I was dying. I tried to make her let me go, but she came anyway. I took too much from her."
Ginny looked as confused as Harry felt. "What do you mean?"
Ron looked at him with despair. "The healing took too much out of her. I was too far gone. She almost died. If you hadn't forced us apart…" he left the rest unsaid.
"But she'll be OK, right?" Ginny asked.
Ron shrugged and fresh tears ran down his face. "I don't know. I can barely feel her. She's almost gone."
Hermione's father came over to the bed. He seemed to see his daughter for the first time. "What the hell has happened?" he asked fearfully.
Ron looked up at him and seemed about to answer when a loud pop rang through the room. Suddenly there were three more people in the room.
Harry had seen Aurors before, but these three looked even more dangerous than any others. They were dressed in all black robes and were wearing black leather gloves. Two men and one woman. They looked at the surrounding scene with no emotion, as if they were used to seeing such horrible things. They all had their wands leveled at Ron.
"Nobody move." One of the men said in a quiet voice. He spoke with a voice that was used to instant obedience. For good reason, as no one in the room even twitched.
The man who had spoken looked over his shoulder at the female Auror. He gave her a slight nod and the woman pocketed her wand. When her hand came back out, she was holding what looked to a small Christmas light bulb. She held the bulb out in front of her and began moving about the room.
The man looked back at the others. His eyes swept over them and Harry could tell he was absorbing every detail of their persons. Harry had never seen such a deadly look on any one except Voldemort. The man's eyes paused slightly on Harry's scar. He seemed to recognize what that scar meant, but he showed no emotion at coming across the famous Harry Potter.
Harry stared back and was surprised. The man in front of them, who was obviously in control of the Auror team, looked to be barely twenty years old. His cold, gray eyes gave him the impression of being much older, but Harry could still see the features of youth in his face. "Now," he said quietly. "One of you gets to tell me exactly what happened here."
Ron continued to stroke Hermione's shoulder and didn't seem to be willing or able to talk. Hermione's parents stared in confusion of all that was happening. No help, there, Harry thought.
Harry took a step forward and the third Auror, a man in his mid thirties moved his wand threateningly from Ron to Harry. Harry put his hands up in subjugation, but didn't step back. "I guess I'm the one."
The man/boy nodded slightly at the third Auror and the man dropped his hand.
Harry took a deep breath. "I wasn't here in the beginning but I think I can piece most of it together."
The man/boy nodded.
Harry pointed to the old man that he now recognized as Henry, the gate guard. "This man attacked some one. I'm not sure who it was, but it seems he was intent on murder. My friend Ron moved to stop him, as the man's broken legs can attest. The man shot him. That where all the blood comes from."
The man/boy seemed to absorb all this information in moments. "And then?"
"I assume Ron was bleeding to death when Hermione," Harry motioned to Hermione's till form on the bed. "moved to help him."
Harry paused here. He didn't know how much the Aurors knew about Sentinel magic. It was a completely different magic than most wizards knew about.
The man/boy seemed to recognize Harry's hesitance. "So the girl used their bond to heal him?"
Harry was surprised at the man's knowledge, but was able to nod. "Yeah. She used the bond to heal him and it seems like it drained her almost to the point of death." Harry again motioned to Hermione. "And that's where you came in."
The female Auror, who had been stalking around the room, looking down at her light bulb stopped over the huge pool of blood. The bulb was glowing a pale blue. "Ian." she said.
The man/boy looked back at her and she nodded. "They're telling the truth. This entire room has been touched by the Sentinel's magic."
Ian seemed to come to a decision. He looked back at the third Auror. "See to the girl." He commanded.
The third Auror nodded and began to walk to the bed he had almost reached Hermione when he saw Ron's glare. Everyone in the room saw Ron's glare. Hermione's mother cringed away from his cold, blue eyes. Apparently, Ian wasn't the only dangerous man in the room.
There was a blatant threat in Ron's face, but he reiterated it. "Touch her and you lose a hand." He said, not taking his eyes away from the man.
The third Auror froze in mid-step and looked back at the one called Ian. There was uncertainty in his face.
Ian looked to Ron. "No fears, Hahm-Jang. Hajek knows what is best. Your bond-mate will live through this day."
Ron's eyes has widened when Ian had called him Hahm-Jang, whatever that meant. Ron seemed to recognize the title and allowed the third Auror, Hajek, to approach the bed.
Hajek reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a huge ruby. He knelt next to the bed and put the ruby on Hermione's barely moving chest. He then began to make strange gestures over the ruby. The ruby suddenly shown brightly, leaving the rest of the room with a slightly red tinge.
Ian looked back at Harry. "We felt a disturbance at the Ministry and came to investigate. I should have known from the grain of the wave that this was Sentinel magic, but it was so powerful that it left doubts."
Harry nodded. "Who are you exactly?"
Ian shrugged slightly. "We're just Aurors."
Ian obviously saw the doubt on Harry's face because he continued. "We're a specially trained unit that tracks down large disturbances in the magic world. We have been trained for a specific task. To find and kill Voldemort."
Harry nodded slightly. "So when you felt this…disturbance, you thought it was Voldemort."
Ian nodded back. "It was powerful enough to be the Black Wizard. That's why we came in with wands raised. We thought that Voldemort had finally made a mistake."
Ian looked over to where Ron sat with Hermione in his arms. "To think that it came from a fledgling Sentinel…" He smiled for the first time and his hard exterior melted away. "I've never heard of one so young, let alone so powerful."
Harry, who had just barely come to understand what Ron was capable said, "He's become their Grand Master."
Ian's eyes widened violently. "Him? He's beaten Dent in combat?"
Harry nodded.
Ian shook his head. "These are strange times, indeed. The boyhood friend of Harry Potter becomes one of the most powerful men alive."
Harry didn't know what to say, so he kept silent. Ian turned back to the female Auror and said, "Gather up all the servants. They saw more than they should have. Alter their memories and make sure they don't remember anything that happened here."
The female nodded and head to the door, but Ian stopped just short of it.
"Oh, and Kathryn," he said.
The female turned back.
Ian motioned to Henry, who still lay motionless on the ground. "See that he gets to the Ministry. The healers there will fix him up. We wouldn't like him going jail with his legs like that."
The door burst open and Draco ran into the room. He was panting heavily as if he had been running for a long time. "What happened?" he asked.
((()))
Hours past, and Hajek never stopped his strange hand motions over the ruby on Hermione's chest. As the time went by, color slowly returned to her face and the deep line faded. Ron, who never left her side, looked more and more relieved.
Draco had been informed about what had happened and once he found out that no one was in any immediate danger, he slunk over to one corner of the room and sat in it. As the time past, his face became more and more agitated.
Hermione's father had recovered enough to start asking questions. He and Ian began an in-depth conversation of what exactly had happened. For a Muggle, Harry thought, Peter Granger accepted the magiks that had happened that day with surprising ease. He was mainly just worried about his daughter.
Ian explained the bond to Hermione's parents away from rest of the group. He told them about the connection the Ron and Hermione shared and how close they had to be to form such a bond.
Hermione's father looked appraisingly at Ron across the room. Ron, who hadn't heard the conversation continued to stare down at Hermione. There was worry in his features and he still refused to let go of Hermione's shoulders.
Peter evidently saw something he approved of because he nodded slightly and turned back to Ian to question him further about the bond. "What is he capable of?" he asked quietly.
For the first time, Ian looked like he didn't have all the answers. He shrugged slightly. "The Hahm-Jang have been known to impossible things in defense of their bond-mates. You saw this earlier. By your accounts, Weasley leapt up from the ground outside and through the window. That's a good twenty-five foot jump. The amazing thing is that he did while his bond-mate wasn't even in direct danger. While I've never heard of such a feat, Hahm-Jang do whatever it takes to protect their loves."
Ian turned his head to examine Ron. "Weasley is more powerful than any Hahm-Jang I've ever heard of. This could be a result of his power being released at such a young age. What I do know is that his release of magic was powerful enough for the Ministry to think it was Voldemort. In answer to your question, Mr. Weasley, I have absolutely no idea what he is capable of."
"Why do you keep calling him Hahm-Jang?" Harry asked.
Ian sighed heavily. "There was a time when the Sentinels and Aurors worked as one unit to bring down the forces of evil. That pairing had been invincible. But then the Sentinel became overprotective of their bond-mates and broke from the Aurors. The Aurors, in their own fault, began to hate the Sentinels unknown magic.
The term Hahm-Jang Jang comes from the years of peace when the two groups worked together. In the old language it means war brother or war mate."
Peter nodded. "So, he loves my daughter, does he?"
Ian smiled. "More than you can possibly imagine."
"And she loves him?" Hermione's mother asked.
"Absolutely. The bond could not have been formed any other way."
Hermione's mother nodded and moved toward Ron.
((()))
Ron looked up from Hermione's face when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Hermione's mother staring down at him, her face unsure.
Ron gave her small smile and she returned it.
She looked away from him, searching for words. "I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me."
Ron didn't know what to say, so he merely nodded.
Hermione's mother crossed her arms beneath her breasts and squeezed herself. "I've never been so scared in my life. I know that if you hadn't shown up, I would probably be dead."
Ron knew she wanted him to say something. "I didn't really think about it. I just…acted."
Hermione's mother nodded. "You would have done the same thing for her?" she asked looking down at her daughter.
Ron looked down at Hermione. He pushed a lock of her frizzy hair out of her face. "If that man had been threatening her, I wouldn't have just broken his legs."
As morbid as that statement was, it seemed to comfort Hermione's mother. She bent over and kissed Ron lightly on his forehead. She pulled back and Ron saw tears in her eyes. "You're a good man, Ronald Weasley. Barely sixteen but I can see your more a man than most are. And I see that you'll be a good husband."
Ron's head whipped up to her. His eyes widened.
Karen nodded and turned to return to her husband, leaving Ron thinking on what she had said. She approved!
Almost as if Hermione could feel Ron's excitement she muttered something unintelligible and her eyes opened. She looked up at Ron and smiled before her eyes closed again, carried back into sleep.
((()))
About an hour after that, Hermione woke for good. Her eyes opened and she looked directly at Ron. She smiled widely at seeing he was fine and pulled him down into a frantic embrace. The ruby on her chest rolled to the floor and Hajek ceased his hand motions, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Kathryn, the female Auror had spent her time cleaning up the room. She had mended the broken window and cleaned up the blood. Earlier, she had gathered up all of the servants and altered their memories, erasing everything they had seen that afternoon.
Now, she turned to Ian. "We should get back, Ian. They'll be waiting for a report."
Ian nodded. He turned to Hajek and nodded. The older man stood up and disapparated. Kathryn soon followed. Ian turned back to Harry. He held out his hand and Harry shook it. Ian then turned to Ron. He held his hand up in a fist and pumped it into the air. "We are the Wall. We are its last defense."
Ron lifted his own fist. "We die gladly defending it." he said. To Harry, their words had the feel of some ancient ritual. How Ron knew it, Harry had no idea.
Ian smiled. "Carry on, Hahm-Jang."
Ian closed his eyes and seemed to be about to disapparate when Ron stopped him.
"Ian." Ron said, his face emotionless. "Hahm-Jang zendah basha. Zendegee sare shumah basha."
Ian seemed surprised. He bowed deeply at the waist. When he straightened, he looked at Ron for a moment and then said, "The old magic dies hard." Then he disappeared with out a sound.
Harry shook his head at the strangeness of the day and walked over to where Draco sat in his corner. Draco looked up at Harry and nodded. Harry slid down the wall and sat next to his one-time rival. Draco still looked bothered over something.
"You wanna talk about it?" Harry asked.
Draco looked surprised and then a smile crept over his pale features. "I never would have thought I would discuss my relationship problems with you, Potter."
"Girl problems, huh?" Harry snorted. "I'm not exactly the one you should be asking. I don't have a very good track record with girls."
"You have Ginny, don't you?"
"Yes, but that…just happened. We knew we loved each other before that awkward 'getting to know you' stage."
"I think I might in love." Draco admitted.
Harry clapped him on the shoulder. "Good man! Who is it? Do I know her? Don't tell me it's Milicent Bullstrode."
Draco chuckled. "No, it isn't Bullstrode."
"Who is it, then?"
"I…don't know her name."
Harry's chin dropped. "What?! You don't know her name?"
Draco shook his head. "She works here. In the garden, I think. She ran into me."
"And then you were hooked."
Draco nodded. "I've never felt like this before."
"We'll figure it out somehow." Harry said. "She is Muggle, you know. I understand that love knows no bound but she can't be told what we are."
Draco nodded sadly. "I know. That's what makes this so hard."
Hermione's father turned away from his daughter and Ron and said, "Well, this certainly has been an eventful day, hasn't it? Why don't we all go downstairs and get a bit to eat." He glanced over his shoulder at Ron and Hermione. "I think we all have some discussing to do."
((()))
About twenty minutes later, everyone sat around the huge dining room table, waiting for dinner to be brought in. There was light conversation, but no one touched on the thing that was really on everyone's mind: the fact that Ron and Hermione were in love. Hermione's parents must have known that they would be asking for their permission to be wed, but no talked about it.
Hermione was telling her parents all about what really had happened during their time in America. "And then Harry decided to get Ron back. So the rest of us, including Ron's older brothers came up with a plan to get him out."
"Why didn't you just tell one of your teachers about it? I'm sure they could have done something about it." Hermione's father asked.
"They knew about it." Hermione asked. "But they all thought that the Sentinels would just give him back after he had completed their test. So we had to do it ourselves."
Hermione's father studied Ron. "You must be a good friend for the others to risk their lives in saving you."
Ron shrugged. "They would have the same for any of us."
Whatever Peter was about to say was cut off by the entrance of the servants with the food. An elderly man pushed a tray full of dishes and a younger, striking girl followed him, carrying the drinks on a tray.
Harry heard Draco gasp from beside him. Harry looked over to him and saw that he was staring at the young girl, totally engrossed. Harry glanced back over to the girl and realized that this was the girl Draco had become infatuated with. She certainly was beautiful.
The girl noticed Draco's open look and blushed a bright red. When she brought over the drinks, she fumbled and almost spilt one of the cups. She began to blush even brighter. She looked up at Draco and gave him an accusing glare, as if it had been his fault that she had fumbled. Draco merely stared back.
Once the food was put out in front of them, the old man and young girl left the room. But before exiting, the girl threw one more glance over her shoulder at Draco.
Harry leaned over to Draco and whispered, "Now your chance, mate. Go after her."
Draco looked down into his food and said, "No. I'm hungry."
Harry chuckled. "I'm sure you'll be fine if you miss a meal. Go after her."
Draco squared his shoulders and stood up from the table. He looked up to Hermione's father and said, "Excuse my rudeness, but I'm not all that hungry. May I leave without insult?"
Hermione's father smiled. "Of course, my boy."
Draco nodded and left the room to follow after the girl.
Bad ending to the chapter, I know, but, once again, I have too much to write in one chapter. Tell me what you think about the chapter. I know I left some things unexplained, but it couldn't be helped. Didn't have time to proofread. I know there are mistakes. Sorry.
She wanted
(needed)
to die with Ron. For the first time since the establishment of their bond, Ron was missing in her head. There was no presence of the man she had come to love. He was gone.
But he wasn't, not really. He still was twitching on the floor of her parents bedroom, blood pooled around him in a fan shape. She could rush over and hug him to her chest and heal him the way he had once healed her.
She gathered herself up to run to him when a wave of despair crashed over her. It was useless. Ron was going to die. The pool of blood around his body was too big. His skin had turned a sickly, pale color and his lips were blue. His eyes were huge and she could see he was looking directly at her. He twitched slightly and his hand opened and closed as if he were trying to hold onto his last moments of life for as long as possible. He was dying and Hermione couldn't do anything about it.
She shook her head and tried to clear it. It seemed as if a dark cloud had seized her mind. She pushed at the cloud mentally, and it seemed to shatter. She looked down at her bleeding love and what she had been thinking hit her. Why had she given up?
She ran over to Ron and knelt down next to him. His eyes followed her as she went to him. He smiled weakly and tried to speak, but all that came out was a wet gargle as his mouth filled with blood.
Hermione's despair seemed to return. Ron was gone. It was over.
The dark cloud had returned and Hermione pushed it away so violently that it seemed to disintegrate. Ron grunted from below her.
Hermione realized what was going on and her love of Ron doubled. Even with his last moments, he was trying to protect his love. He had been using the bond to convince her it was hopeless, so that she wouldn't try and heal him. She could feel his fear for her through the bond, but she ignored.
(Stop that, Ron.) she sent waspishly.
(hermione) she heard softly in her head. (stop. it's too late.)
"Shut up, Ron!" she snarled audibly. "You're not going to die."
(i'm too far gone) he sent back. (if you try to heal me, it will just take you down with me.)
I'd die anyway, she thought to herself. Hermione knew she couldn't live without Ron.
She quickly stripped off the T-shirt she had been wearing and cradled Ron in her arms. From the first moment she touched him, she could feel her energy being sapped. She ignored this and pulled Ron's bleeding chest to her own. When her chest came in contact with his, she felt her head explode as their bond became the doorway of her strength.
Within seconds, she felt as if she had run several miles. Her chest heaved against Ron's. His blood flowed freely down her stomach and the feel of it made her ill. As the strength left her arms, she knew she wouldn't be able to hold him for much longer.
Even though her eyes were open, all she saw was darkness. She knew that as long she held Ron, that darkness would only grow more vast, as her own life left her body. It didn't matter. Ron was her life.
She could hear
(feel)
Ron's heartbeat. She felt her own heart beat in her ears and knew that the two beats were slowly converging, becoming more and more like each other.
Deep in the darkness, Hermione saw a white light slowly begin to build. IT started as little more than a candle in the distance, but as more and more strength left Hermione and flew into Ron, the light became almost to bright to look at.
Hermione felt something small and hard poking into her chest, but couldn't look down to see the bullet slowly lifting out of Ron's diminishing wound. She couldn't look down to see the look of horror on Ron's face as the one he loved was saving his life. He knew if this continued, she would die in his place, but he didn't have the strength to push her away.
((()))
Harry had heard the gun shot and Hermione's scream from his room. He ripped his door open and began to run towards the sounds. From behind him, he heard Ginny scream.
"Harry! What's going on?"
Harry turned his head as he ran. "Stay in your room, Ginny!"
Ginny, of course, ignored his words and ran after him. Harry couldn't help but smile at her actions. He hadn't really expected her to stay in her room, but he had thought to give a try. Ginny's independence was one of the reasons that he loved her.
Harry reached Hermione's bedroom in seconds, Ginny at his heels. The door was open slightly and Harry shouldered it the rest of the way open. The scene in front of him had the feel of a nightmare. Hermione's father was holding his sobbing wife in his arms. Her shoulders trembled violently and Peter Granger was running a reassuring hand through her hair. Across the room lay an old man. His legs were both bent at a strange angle and Harry could tell they were both broken. The man had passed out from his pain. Harry would have recognized him if he hadn't been so preoccupied with what else was happening in front of him.
Hermione was one her knees, holding a very bloody Ron Weasley. Her bra was soaked and crimson. There was blood everywhere. Harry, who knew very little about wounds, knew that someone who had lost that much blood was not going to live.
And even though it was obviously Ron who had been shot, Hermione looked even worse. She was staring blankly in front of her. Harry could tell that she could see very little of the world. Her eyes were like huge, icy pools. She was swaying back and forth as if holding Ron was taking all of her effort. Her face was haggard and Harry could see lines in it that had never been there before.
But the thing that bothered Harry the most about the scene in front of him was the look of absolute horror on Ron's face. His mouth was open and chest heaved up and down. Ron had his hands on Hermione's shoulders and was weakly pushing her away. Hermione, in her current state couldn't feel his hands.
Harry knew something very bad was happening. Ever since Ron had returned from the Sentinels, there had been little that could frighten him. Ron had charged head-first into a fortress of evil wizards and hadn't shown a moment's fear. Something was scaring him now.
Harry ran to the hugging couple and grabbed Hermione around her shoulders. As soon as his hands came into contact with her bare skin he felt a jolt. Something was happening here, and Harry didn't like it. He pulled her away from Ron violently.
A wave of…something ran through the room. Harry was thrown back and he fell onto his back. Ginny and Hermione's parents also fell to the floor. Harry heard a thump and saw that Hermione had fallen face-first to the floor. She wasn't moving.
As soon as the contact with Hermione was broken, Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head. He looked fine. He was covered with his own blood, but Harry could see that no new blood was coming from him.
With strength that he hadn't had moments before, Ron moved and gathered Hermione into his arms. Harry could see tears in his eyes.
"No!" Ron screamed. He ran his fingers over Hermione's face. She remained motionless. Ron lifted her from the floor easily and moved to the bed. He laid her out on it. "Hermione!" he sobbed. "Oh God, please be OK."
Harry got up to his feet and ran to the bed. Hermione looked dead, but when Harry put a hand to her neck, he could feel a weak pulse. "She's alive." he said with relief.
Ron didn't seem surprised by the news. But then again, he could probably feel her life through the bond. He didn't seem any happier with the announcement. "I told her not to do it." He said weakly as if talking to himself.
Ginny came forward and put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "What are you talking about, Ron?"
Ron's eyes were glazed and it took him a moment to answer. "I was dying. I tried to make her let me go, but she came anyway. I took too much from her."
Ginny looked as confused as Harry felt. "What do you mean?"
Ron looked at him with despair. "The healing took too much out of her. I was too far gone. She almost died. If you hadn't forced us apart…" he left the rest unsaid.
"But she'll be OK, right?" Ginny asked.
Ron shrugged and fresh tears ran down his face. "I don't know. I can barely feel her. She's almost gone."
Hermione's father came over to the bed. He seemed to see his daughter for the first time. "What the hell has happened?" he asked fearfully.
Ron looked up at him and seemed about to answer when a loud pop rang through the room. Suddenly there were three more people in the room.
Harry had seen Aurors before, but these three looked even more dangerous than any others. They were dressed in all black robes and were wearing black leather gloves. Two men and one woman. They looked at the surrounding scene with no emotion, as if they were used to seeing such horrible things. They all had their wands leveled at Ron.
"Nobody move." One of the men said in a quiet voice. He spoke with a voice that was used to instant obedience. For good reason, as no one in the room even twitched.
The man who had spoken looked over his shoulder at the female Auror. He gave her a slight nod and the woman pocketed her wand. When her hand came back out, she was holding what looked to a small Christmas light bulb. She held the bulb out in front of her and began moving about the room.
The man looked back at the others. His eyes swept over them and Harry could tell he was absorbing every detail of their persons. Harry had never seen such a deadly look on any one except Voldemort. The man's eyes paused slightly on Harry's scar. He seemed to recognize what that scar meant, but he showed no emotion at coming across the famous Harry Potter.
Harry stared back and was surprised. The man in front of them, who was obviously in control of the Auror team, looked to be barely twenty years old. His cold, gray eyes gave him the impression of being much older, but Harry could still see the features of youth in his face. "Now," he said quietly. "One of you gets to tell me exactly what happened here."
Ron continued to stroke Hermione's shoulder and didn't seem to be willing or able to talk. Hermione's parents stared in confusion of all that was happening. No help, there, Harry thought.
Harry took a step forward and the third Auror, a man in his mid thirties moved his wand threateningly from Ron to Harry. Harry put his hands up in subjugation, but didn't step back. "I guess I'm the one."
The man/boy nodded slightly at the third Auror and the man dropped his hand.
Harry took a deep breath. "I wasn't here in the beginning but I think I can piece most of it together."
The man/boy nodded.
Harry pointed to the old man that he now recognized as Henry, the gate guard. "This man attacked some one. I'm not sure who it was, but it seems he was intent on murder. My friend Ron moved to stop him, as the man's broken legs can attest. The man shot him. That where all the blood comes from."
The man/boy seemed to absorb all this information in moments. "And then?"
"I assume Ron was bleeding to death when Hermione," Harry motioned to Hermione's till form on the bed. "moved to help him."
Harry paused here. He didn't know how much the Aurors knew about Sentinel magic. It was a completely different magic than most wizards knew about.
The man/boy seemed to recognize Harry's hesitance. "So the girl used their bond to heal him?"
Harry was surprised at the man's knowledge, but was able to nod. "Yeah. She used the bond to heal him and it seems like it drained her almost to the point of death." Harry again motioned to Hermione. "And that's where you came in."
The female Auror, who had been stalking around the room, looking down at her light bulb stopped over the huge pool of blood. The bulb was glowing a pale blue. "Ian." she said.
The man/boy looked back at her and she nodded. "They're telling the truth. This entire room has been touched by the Sentinel's magic."
Ian seemed to come to a decision. He looked back at the third Auror. "See to the girl." He commanded.
The third Auror nodded and began to walk to the bed he had almost reached Hermione when he saw Ron's glare. Everyone in the room saw Ron's glare. Hermione's mother cringed away from his cold, blue eyes. Apparently, Ian wasn't the only dangerous man in the room.
There was a blatant threat in Ron's face, but he reiterated it. "Touch her and you lose a hand." He said, not taking his eyes away from the man.
The third Auror froze in mid-step and looked back at the one called Ian. There was uncertainty in his face.
Ian looked to Ron. "No fears, Hahm-Jang. Hajek knows what is best. Your bond-mate will live through this day."
Ron's eyes has widened when Ian had called him Hahm-Jang, whatever that meant. Ron seemed to recognize the title and allowed the third Auror, Hajek, to approach the bed.
Hajek reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a huge ruby. He knelt next to the bed and put the ruby on Hermione's barely moving chest. He then began to make strange gestures over the ruby. The ruby suddenly shown brightly, leaving the rest of the room with a slightly red tinge.
Ian looked back at Harry. "We felt a disturbance at the Ministry and came to investigate. I should have known from the grain of the wave that this was Sentinel magic, but it was so powerful that it left doubts."
Harry nodded. "Who are you exactly?"
Ian shrugged slightly. "We're just Aurors."
Ian obviously saw the doubt on Harry's face because he continued. "We're a specially trained unit that tracks down large disturbances in the magic world. We have been trained for a specific task. To find and kill Voldemort."
Harry nodded slightly. "So when you felt this…disturbance, you thought it was Voldemort."
Ian nodded back. "It was powerful enough to be the Black Wizard. That's why we came in with wands raised. We thought that Voldemort had finally made a mistake."
Ian looked over to where Ron sat with Hermione in his arms. "To think that it came from a fledgling Sentinel…" He smiled for the first time and his hard exterior melted away. "I've never heard of one so young, let alone so powerful."
Harry, who had just barely come to understand what Ron was capable said, "He's become their Grand Master."
Ian's eyes widened violently. "Him? He's beaten Dent in combat?"
Harry nodded.
Ian shook his head. "These are strange times, indeed. The boyhood friend of Harry Potter becomes one of the most powerful men alive."
Harry didn't know what to say, so he kept silent. Ian turned back to the female Auror and said, "Gather up all the servants. They saw more than they should have. Alter their memories and make sure they don't remember anything that happened here."
The female nodded and head to the door, but Ian stopped just short of it.
"Oh, and Kathryn," he said.
The female turned back.
Ian motioned to Henry, who still lay motionless on the ground. "See that he gets to the Ministry. The healers there will fix him up. We wouldn't like him going jail with his legs like that."
The door burst open and Draco ran into the room. He was panting heavily as if he had been running for a long time. "What happened?" he asked.
((()))
Hours past, and Hajek never stopped his strange hand motions over the ruby on Hermione's chest. As the time went by, color slowly returned to her face and the deep line faded. Ron, who never left her side, looked more and more relieved.
Draco had been informed about what had happened and once he found out that no one was in any immediate danger, he slunk over to one corner of the room and sat in it. As the time past, his face became more and more agitated.
Hermione's father had recovered enough to start asking questions. He and Ian began an in-depth conversation of what exactly had happened. For a Muggle, Harry thought, Peter Granger accepted the magiks that had happened that day with surprising ease. He was mainly just worried about his daughter.
Ian explained the bond to Hermione's parents away from rest of the group. He told them about the connection the Ron and Hermione shared and how close they had to be to form such a bond.
Hermione's father looked appraisingly at Ron across the room. Ron, who hadn't heard the conversation continued to stare down at Hermione. There was worry in his features and he still refused to let go of Hermione's shoulders.
Peter evidently saw something he approved of because he nodded slightly and turned back to Ian to question him further about the bond. "What is he capable of?" he asked quietly.
For the first time, Ian looked like he didn't have all the answers. He shrugged slightly. "The Hahm-Jang have been known to impossible things in defense of their bond-mates. You saw this earlier. By your accounts, Weasley leapt up from the ground outside and through the window. That's a good twenty-five foot jump. The amazing thing is that he did while his bond-mate wasn't even in direct danger. While I've never heard of such a feat, Hahm-Jang do whatever it takes to protect their loves."
Ian turned his head to examine Ron. "Weasley is more powerful than any Hahm-Jang I've ever heard of. This could be a result of his power being released at such a young age. What I do know is that his release of magic was powerful enough for the Ministry to think it was Voldemort. In answer to your question, Mr. Weasley, I have absolutely no idea what he is capable of."
"Why do you keep calling him Hahm-Jang?" Harry asked.
Ian sighed heavily. "There was a time when the Sentinels and Aurors worked as one unit to bring down the forces of evil. That pairing had been invincible. But then the Sentinel became overprotective of their bond-mates and broke from the Aurors. The Aurors, in their own fault, began to hate the Sentinels unknown magic.
The term Hahm-Jang Jang comes from the years of peace when the two groups worked together. In the old language it means war brother or war mate."
Peter nodded. "So, he loves my daughter, does he?"
Ian smiled. "More than you can possibly imagine."
"And she loves him?" Hermione's mother asked.
"Absolutely. The bond could not have been formed any other way."
Hermione's mother nodded and moved toward Ron.
((()))
Ron looked up from Hermione's face when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Hermione's mother staring down at him, her face unsure.
Ron gave her small smile and she returned it.
She looked away from him, searching for words. "I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me."
Ron didn't know what to say, so he merely nodded.
Hermione's mother crossed her arms beneath her breasts and squeezed herself. "I've never been so scared in my life. I know that if you hadn't shown up, I would probably be dead."
Ron knew she wanted him to say something. "I didn't really think about it. I just…acted."
Hermione's mother nodded. "You would have done the same thing for her?" she asked looking down at her daughter.
Ron looked down at Hermione. He pushed a lock of her frizzy hair out of her face. "If that man had been threatening her, I wouldn't have just broken his legs."
As morbid as that statement was, it seemed to comfort Hermione's mother. She bent over and kissed Ron lightly on his forehead. She pulled back and Ron saw tears in her eyes. "You're a good man, Ronald Weasley. Barely sixteen but I can see your more a man than most are. And I see that you'll be a good husband."
Ron's head whipped up to her. His eyes widened.
Karen nodded and turned to return to her husband, leaving Ron thinking on what she had said. She approved!
Almost as if Hermione could feel Ron's excitement she muttered something unintelligible and her eyes opened. She looked up at Ron and smiled before her eyes closed again, carried back into sleep.
((()))
About an hour after that, Hermione woke for good. Her eyes opened and she looked directly at Ron. She smiled widely at seeing he was fine and pulled him down into a frantic embrace. The ruby on her chest rolled to the floor and Hajek ceased his hand motions, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Kathryn, the female Auror had spent her time cleaning up the room. She had mended the broken window and cleaned up the blood. Earlier, she had gathered up all of the servants and altered their memories, erasing everything they had seen that afternoon.
Now, she turned to Ian. "We should get back, Ian. They'll be waiting for a report."
Ian nodded. He turned to Hajek and nodded. The older man stood up and disapparated. Kathryn soon followed. Ian turned back to Harry. He held out his hand and Harry shook it. Ian then turned to Ron. He held his hand up in a fist and pumped it into the air. "We are the Wall. We are its last defense."
Ron lifted his own fist. "We die gladly defending it." he said. To Harry, their words had the feel of some ancient ritual. How Ron knew it, Harry had no idea.
Ian smiled. "Carry on, Hahm-Jang."
Ian closed his eyes and seemed to be about to disapparate when Ron stopped him.
"Ian." Ron said, his face emotionless. "Hahm-Jang zendah basha. Zendegee sare shumah basha."
Ian seemed surprised. He bowed deeply at the waist. When he straightened, he looked at Ron for a moment and then said, "The old magic dies hard." Then he disappeared with out a sound.
Harry shook his head at the strangeness of the day and walked over to where Draco sat in his corner. Draco looked up at Harry and nodded. Harry slid down the wall and sat next to his one-time rival. Draco still looked bothered over something.
"You wanna talk about it?" Harry asked.
Draco looked surprised and then a smile crept over his pale features. "I never would have thought I would discuss my relationship problems with you, Potter."
"Girl problems, huh?" Harry snorted. "I'm not exactly the one you should be asking. I don't have a very good track record with girls."
"You have Ginny, don't you?"
"Yes, but that…just happened. We knew we loved each other before that awkward 'getting to know you' stage."
"I think I might in love." Draco admitted.
Harry clapped him on the shoulder. "Good man! Who is it? Do I know her? Don't tell me it's Milicent Bullstrode."
Draco chuckled. "No, it isn't Bullstrode."
"Who is it, then?"
"I…don't know her name."
Harry's chin dropped. "What?! You don't know her name?"
Draco shook his head. "She works here. In the garden, I think. She ran into me."
"And then you were hooked."
Draco nodded. "I've never felt like this before."
"We'll figure it out somehow." Harry said. "She is Muggle, you know. I understand that love knows no bound but she can't be told what we are."
Draco nodded sadly. "I know. That's what makes this so hard."
Hermione's father turned away from his daughter and Ron and said, "Well, this certainly has been an eventful day, hasn't it? Why don't we all go downstairs and get a bit to eat." He glanced over his shoulder at Ron and Hermione. "I think we all have some discussing to do."
((()))
About twenty minutes later, everyone sat around the huge dining room table, waiting for dinner to be brought in. There was light conversation, but no one touched on the thing that was really on everyone's mind: the fact that Ron and Hermione were in love. Hermione's parents must have known that they would be asking for their permission to be wed, but no talked about it.
Hermione was telling her parents all about what really had happened during their time in America. "And then Harry decided to get Ron back. So the rest of us, including Ron's older brothers came up with a plan to get him out."
"Why didn't you just tell one of your teachers about it? I'm sure they could have done something about it." Hermione's father asked.
"They knew about it." Hermione asked. "But they all thought that the Sentinels would just give him back after he had completed their test. So we had to do it ourselves."
Hermione's father studied Ron. "You must be a good friend for the others to risk their lives in saving you."
Ron shrugged. "They would have the same for any of us."
Whatever Peter was about to say was cut off by the entrance of the servants with the food. An elderly man pushed a tray full of dishes and a younger, striking girl followed him, carrying the drinks on a tray.
Harry heard Draco gasp from beside him. Harry looked over to him and saw that he was staring at the young girl, totally engrossed. Harry glanced back over to the girl and realized that this was the girl Draco had become infatuated with. She certainly was beautiful.
The girl noticed Draco's open look and blushed a bright red. When she brought over the drinks, she fumbled and almost spilt one of the cups. She began to blush even brighter. She looked up at Draco and gave him an accusing glare, as if it had been his fault that she had fumbled. Draco merely stared back.
Once the food was put out in front of them, the old man and young girl left the room. But before exiting, the girl threw one more glance over her shoulder at Draco.
Harry leaned over to Draco and whispered, "Now your chance, mate. Go after her."
Draco looked down into his food and said, "No. I'm hungry."
Harry chuckled. "I'm sure you'll be fine if you miss a meal. Go after her."
Draco squared his shoulders and stood up from the table. He looked up to Hermione's father and said, "Excuse my rudeness, but I'm not all that hungry. May I leave without insult?"
Hermione's father smiled. "Of course, my boy."
Draco nodded and left the room to follow after the girl.
Bad ending to the chapter, I know, but, once again, I have too much to write in one chapter. Tell me what you think about the chapter. I know I left some things unexplained, but it couldn't be helped. Didn't have time to proofread. I know there are mistakes. Sorry.