The Romanticism of Simplicity
Chapter Seven
Sunday morning came and went without a hitch, allowing Ron and Gemma the entire afternoon to themselves. Harry had gone to an early practice and Hermione had accompanied him. "Who knows," she had whispered to Gemma on her way out. "Maybe I'll meet someone."
Around six, everyone was back at Harry's flat relaxing with some leftover butter beer when another owl came tapping at the window. 'Please let it be for him' Gemma pleaded in her mind. 'Please, please, please'. But her prayers were to no avail. Harry handed her a yellow envelope with violet ink and a ministry seal.
"Not again," Ron moaned, peering over her shoulder as she broke it open and began to read.
Miss Herrin,
Come immediately to The Three Broomsticks. I trust you know where it is. A few fellow aurors will be awaiting your arrival. Come with your wand at the ready.
Yours Sincerely,
Cornelius Fudge
The Minister of Magic
"Well," she sighed, rising to her feet. "I'm off to save the day."
"Just come home in one peice all right?" Harry winked.
"I'll do my best," she laughed.
"Send for us if things get out of hand," Hermione commanded. "Fudge seems to have forgottent that we're both aurors as well."
Ron followed her down to her flat and made sure she had what she needed.
"Don't worry," she comforted him. "Nothing's going to happen."
"I can't help it," he frowned.
"Try to think about something else while I'm gone. Go hang out with Harry or go dancing or something."
He laughed at the thought of himself at a night club. "I think I'll wait right here thank you."
She shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"What can I say? I'm a worrier."
"Oh c'mere you big softy," Gemma grinned, taking hold of his shirt and drawing him to her. "I'll be home before you even get up for work."
"You better be."
She kissed him as tenderly and reassuringly as she could, intending to relieve his fear, but as he slid his arms around her shoulders, it was she who became enveloped with a sense of peace. She breathed him in deeply, letting his warmth course through her veins, into her heart, until she could have sworn he'd become a part of her.
"You better go now, or I won't be able to let you leave," he groaned, keeping their foreheads together.
She nodded slightly and kissed him once more.
"I love you," he said.
"I know," she smirked, stepping back. "I love you too."
With a quick, loud "pop" she was gone and a few seconds later had apparated into The Three Broomsticks, right in front of the counter. This was hardly a danger zone though, with cooky old witches and wizards lounging at every table and trickling in one by one from the doorway. She listened for any sound of fighting, but heard nothing, not even a cross word.
"Lost?" a slightly hoarse voice sounded from behind her.
She turned quickly to meet the eyes of Remus Lupin sitting on one of the stools at the counter, looking his same old, shabby self.
"Professor Lupin!" she scrame excitiedly. "How are you?"
"At the moment...good."
"I wish I had more time to catch up, but I'm supposed to be meeting some people here." She glanced around the room again, thinking that Fudge might have been mistaken. 'I'm going to love rubbing this in his face' she thought. "You haven't by any chance seen James Wills in here today have you?"
He got up, throwing a few knuts on the counter. "Actually I have. I was sent to pick you up," he explained, ushering her towards the door.
She wasn't sure she was hearing him correctly. "You were sent to pick me up? By who?"
"Fudge. The others are already there."
"Wait a second. I was told to come with my wand "at the ready"," she quoted, doing her best Fudge impression. "What the hell was that all about?"
"He always has been keen on over exagerating things," he sighed, keeping close to her side as they made their way through the tiny streets of Hogsmeade. "Probably thought he was throwing you off the track."
"So then what is going on?"
"A meeting."
"A meeting?"
"Yes."
"For what?" she asked, a bit annoyed by the short notice.
"To discuss the blokes that have been prancing up and down London blowing things up," he answered.
"Where's this meeting at?"
"Hogwart's."
They reached the old crossroads sign that informed them that the large castle to their left was none other than the legendary Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Why Hogwart's?"
"Second safest place on earth," he declared matter-of-factly, placing a hand on her back and continuing up the hill.
Once inside, she trailed behind, giggling to herself at all the old memories that came peeking out from around corners. It was almost as if the walls could talk, whispering faintly in her ear of dropped ink wells and stained shirts, of secret crushes and juicy gossip. Long forgotten sentiments cascaded down from the tall, cathedral ceiling, soaking her to her very core in many happy returns and doleful farewells.
"This is it," Lupin said, ripping her from her reflections. "They're all in here."
He opened the doors to the Great Hall and she stepped inside, scrutinizing the scene. The four long tables had been replaced by a single, round one and seated around it were fifteen witches and wizards, not including Dumbledore, who had stood up to greet her.
"Miss. Herrin," he smiled, winking his misty blue eyes.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore," she beamed.
He turned his attention to Lupin, who had already joined the others at the table. "Thank you Remus."
"No problem Professor."
Dumbledore showed her to her seat and she let her eyes wander around the table. To her left was Alastor Moody, Nymphadora "Tonks" Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore and Hestia Jones. 'Oh my god' she bellowed in her mind. 'It's the Order of the Pheonix'. On her right was Severus Snape (not her most favorite person in the world), Minerva McGonagall, Arthur and Molly Weasley (Arthur waved feverishly at her), Mundungus Fletcher, Sirius Black and last but not least...
"Harry? When did you get here?"
"I got another letter right after you left," he clarified.
Not that she cared, but "Where's James?" she asked, scanning the group.
"Kindly running an errand for me," Dumbledore told her, taking his own seat.
She suddenly felt like every eye in the room was on her. "What's going on?"
"We've just been discussing the men you had the pleasure of battling two nights ago."
"Okay..."
"They are a powerful group of wizards, Gemma. A group that is growing rapidly even as we speak."
"Who are they?"
"They are what's left of Voldemort's following."
No one was saying anything so she figured she was suppose to do all of the talking. "What's our plan?"
"I am grieved to say that we have few options. But they are options just the same and we intend to follow through with them to the best of our ability."
A few of them uttered agreements.
"So what's the procedure?"
"I am sure, Miss Herrin, that you are well aware that there are familiar faces among their crowd."
She nodded, thinking of Ty.
"Then you must also know that what has to be done will not be an effortless undertaking."
She nodded again.
"Simply put, it is us or them."
"So what's the plan?" she repeated, feeling anxious and wishing everyone would stop staring.
He hesitated, but continued with unwavering certainty. "We have a service to ask of you. A service that is both alarming and admirable."
She caught Harry out of the corner of her eye, fidgeting nervously and looking as though he was about to burst any second.
"I'm listening," she spoke.
"It was brought to our attention that one of the young men in their group is none other than Ty Morrow."
Her heart leapt into her throat. "Yes..."
"We are also aware of the relationship the two of you once shared."
'Oh God!' she bellowed in her mind, feeling the heat rise to her ears. 'Please let me die! Right here, right now!'
"If you are willing, we are respectively asking you to consider using this to gain access into their assembly."
"I-I..." she studdered.
Dumbledore held up his long hand. "We are merely asking you to consider it. Without your consent this admonition will go no further."
Her face was burning with red hot mortification. "I d-don't understand. You want me to..." the right words didn't seem to want to present themselves. "To...to pursue him?" She hoped that didn't sound as stupid as she thought it did.
"What do you say Gemma?" Lupin chimed in. "Are you up for it?"
"You d-don't understand how, how," she struggled to find the right explanation. "You just don't understand."
"You're too good at what you do to let a few bad memories get in the way of what needs done," Moody added.
"This is more than that," she asserted, sounding a little more flustered than she would have liked. "I c-can't..."
"You can do anything you set your mind to!" he pledged. "This little git won't even know what hit him!"
"You don't know what you're asking me to do!"
"We're asking you to smash these bastards into dust once and for all!"
Gemma got up from her chair, turning her back to them and raking both hands through her hair desparingly. How could they ask her to go running into the arms of someone she had fought aimlessly for nearly five years to forget? How could she possibly put herself thorugh that? What if something went wrong? What if he found out and threw Avada Kedavra at her while she was sleeping or something? What if she accidently fell in love with him and became one of them? What if she had to sleep with him again? What if Ron couldn't forgive her? What if...
"Gemma," Dumbledore began, reeling her back in. "I know that it is alot to ask of one person, but it is extremely important that you consider it."
"We'd make sure you were safe," Tonks added, doing her best to sound convincing.
"Tonks is right Gemma," Sirius agreed. "We'd be just around the corner the entire time."
"It's not that," she muttered, turning back around. "I just...I..."
"We wouldn't have asked you if we didn't know for sure that it could be done," Lupin stated, standing up next to her.
She looked up into his surprisingly bright, brown eyes and couldn't help but feel herself ease-up slightly. "This is the only option isn't it?"
They all regarded eachother and nodded simultaneously.
She let out an exasperated breath. "Then...then who am I to say no?"
"Attagirl!" Arthur whooped.
"Tell me it'll all work," she begged Harry as they all talked amongst themselves.
He looked very somber indeed. "I can't."
"Tell me anyway."
Harry scooped her up and held her close. "It'll all work out."
"That's crazy!" Ron exclaimed when Gemma and Harry had indulged him and Hermione in the goings on of the meeting.
"It's necessary," she said.
"You're telling me that eighteen of the world's greatest witches and wizards couldn't come up with a better solution to this problem than to send you straight into the middle of it!? You could be killed Gemma!"
"If something goes awry they'll pull me out before they can ruffle a single hair on my head."
"What if they can't get to you in time? What then? Or what if there's too many of them to fight off, huh?"
She took his hands and looked him square in the face. "I need you to be positive Ron. If not for you then for me. Tell me you trust me. Tell me you believe in me. Tell me anything just, please, be positive!"
"Gemma I-I just, I..." words couldn't express what she meant to him. If he were to ever lose her...
She scooted closer, cupping his face. "I know Ron."
"I can't live without you Gemma."
"You won't have to."
Harry and Hermione escorted themelves out, sensing their need to be alone.
"Just promise me something," Ron continued.
"What's that?"
"When this is all said and done, when everything gets back to normal..."
"Um huh."
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to his. "I want you to marry me Gemma. Promise me you'll marry me."
She stared, unbelieving, at the man in front of her. "W-what?"
"You're everything to me. Promise me we'll come out of this together. Promise me you'll be my wife."
Hot tears were stinging the corners of her eyes. "Of course I'll marry you Ron."
"You, you will?" he asked, stunned.
"Yes," she nodded, kissing him passionately. "I love you."
"I-I..." he was speechless.
"I know Ron," she smiled.
Chapter Seven
Sunday morning came and went without a hitch, allowing Ron and Gemma the entire afternoon to themselves. Harry had gone to an early practice and Hermione had accompanied him. "Who knows," she had whispered to Gemma on her way out. "Maybe I'll meet someone."
Around six, everyone was back at Harry's flat relaxing with some leftover butter beer when another owl came tapping at the window. 'Please let it be for him' Gemma pleaded in her mind. 'Please, please, please'. But her prayers were to no avail. Harry handed her a yellow envelope with violet ink and a ministry seal.
"Not again," Ron moaned, peering over her shoulder as she broke it open and began to read.
Miss Herrin,
Come immediately to The Three Broomsticks. I trust you know where it is. A few fellow aurors will be awaiting your arrival. Come with your wand at the ready.
Yours Sincerely,
Cornelius Fudge
The Minister of Magic
"Well," she sighed, rising to her feet. "I'm off to save the day."
"Just come home in one peice all right?" Harry winked.
"I'll do my best," she laughed.
"Send for us if things get out of hand," Hermione commanded. "Fudge seems to have forgottent that we're both aurors as well."
Ron followed her down to her flat and made sure she had what she needed.
"Don't worry," she comforted him. "Nothing's going to happen."
"I can't help it," he frowned.
"Try to think about something else while I'm gone. Go hang out with Harry or go dancing or something."
He laughed at the thought of himself at a night club. "I think I'll wait right here thank you."
She shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"What can I say? I'm a worrier."
"Oh c'mere you big softy," Gemma grinned, taking hold of his shirt and drawing him to her. "I'll be home before you even get up for work."
"You better be."
She kissed him as tenderly and reassuringly as she could, intending to relieve his fear, but as he slid his arms around her shoulders, it was she who became enveloped with a sense of peace. She breathed him in deeply, letting his warmth course through her veins, into her heart, until she could have sworn he'd become a part of her.
"You better go now, or I won't be able to let you leave," he groaned, keeping their foreheads together.
She nodded slightly and kissed him once more.
"I love you," he said.
"I know," she smirked, stepping back. "I love you too."
With a quick, loud "pop" she was gone and a few seconds later had apparated into The Three Broomsticks, right in front of the counter. This was hardly a danger zone though, with cooky old witches and wizards lounging at every table and trickling in one by one from the doorway. She listened for any sound of fighting, but heard nothing, not even a cross word.
"Lost?" a slightly hoarse voice sounded from behind her.
She turned quickly to meet the eyes of Remus Lupin sitting on one of the stools at the counter, looking his same old, shabby self.
"Professor Lupin!" she scrame excitiedly. "How are you?"
"At the moment...good."
"I wish I had more time to catch up, but I'm supposed to be meeting some people here." She glanced around the room again, thinking that Fudge might have been mistaken. 'I'm going to love rubbing this in his face' she thought. "You haven't by any chance seen James Wills in here today have you?"
He got up, throwing a few knuts on the counter. "Actually I have. I was sent to pick you up," he explained, ushering her towards the door.
She wasn't sure she was hearing him correctly. "You were sent to pick me up? By who?"
"Fudge. The others are already there."
"Wait a second. I was told to come with my wand "at the ready"," she quoted, doing her best Fudge impression. "What the hell was that all about?"
"He always has been keen on over exagerating things," he sighed, keeping close to her side as they made their way through the tiny streets of Hogsmeade. "Probably thought he was throwing you off the track."
"So then what is going on?"
"A meeting."
"A meeting?"
"Yes."
"For what?" she asked, a bit annoyed by the short notice.
"To discuss the blokes that have been prancing up and down London blowing things up," he answered.
"Where's this meeting at?"
"Hogwart's."
They reached the old crossroads sign that informed them that the large castle to their left was none other than the legendary Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Why Hogwart's?"
"Second safest place on earth," he declared matter-of-factly, placing a hand on her back and continuing up the hill.
Once inside, she trailed behind, giggling to herself at all the old memories that came peeking out from around corners. It was almost as if the walls could talk, whispering faintly in her ear of dropped ink wells and stained shirts, of secret crushes and juicy gossip. Long forgotten sentiments cascaded down from the tall, cathedral ceiling, soaking her to her very core in many happy returns and doleful farewells.
"This is it," Lupin said, ripping her from her reflections. "They're all in here."
He opened the doors to the Great Hall and she stepped inside, scrutinizing the scene. The four long tables had been replaced by a single, round one and seated around it were fifteen witches and wizards, not including Dumbledore, who had stood up to greet her.
"Miss. Herrin," he smiled, winking his misty blue eyes.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore," she beamed.
He turned his attention to Lupin, who had already joined the others at the table. "Thank you Remus."
"No problem Professor."
Dumbledore showed her to her seat and she let her eyes wander around the table. To her left was Alastor Moody, Nymphadora "Tonks" Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore and Hestia Jones. 'Oh my god' she bellowed in her mind. 'It's the Order of the Pheonix'. On her right was Severus Snape (not her most favorite person in the world), Minerva McGonagall, Arthur and Molly Weasley (Arthur waved feverishly at her), Mundungus Fletcher, Sirius Black and last but not least...
"Harry? When did you get here?"
"I got another letter right after you left," he clarified.
Not that she cared, but "Where's James?" she asked, scanning the group.
"Kindly running an errand for me," Dumbledore told her, taking his own seat.
She suddenly felt like every eye in the room was on her. "What's going on?"
"We've just been discussing the men you had the pleasure of battling two nights ago."
"Okay..."
"They are a powerful group of wizards, Gemma. A group that is growing rapidly even as we speak."
"Who are they?"
"They are what's left of Voldemort's following."
No one was saying anything so she figured she was suppose to do all of the talking. "What's our plan?"
"I am grieved to say that we have few options. But they are options just the same and we intend to follow through with them to the best of our ability."
A few of them uttered agreements.
"So what's the procedure?"
"I am sure, Miss Herrin, that you are well aware that there are familiar faces among their crowd."
She nodded, thinking of Ty.
"Then you must also know that what has to be done will not be an effortless undertaking."
She nodded again.
"Simply put, it is us or them."
"So what's the plan?" she repeated, feeling anxious and wishing everyone would stop staring.
He hesitated, but continued with unwavering certainty. "We have a service to ask of you. A service that is both alarming and admirable."
She caught Harry out of the corner of her eye, fidgeting nervously and looking as though he was about to burst any second.
"I'm listening," she spoke.
"It was brought to our attention that one of the young men in their group is none other than Ty Morrow."
Her heart leapt into her throat. "Yes..."
"We are also aware of the relationship the two of you once shared."
'Oh God!' she bellowed in her mind, feeling the heat rise to her ears. 'Please let me die! Right here, right now!'
"If you are willing, we are respectively asking you to consider using this to gain access into their assembly."
"I-I..." she studdered.
Dumbledore held up his long hand. "We are merely asking you to consider it. Without your consent this admonition will go no further."
Her face was burning with red hot mortification. "I d-don't understand. You want me to..." the right words didn't seem to want to present themselves. "To...to pursue him?" She hoped that didn't sound as stupid as she thought it did.
"What do you say Gemma?" Lupin chimed in. "Are you up for it?"
"You d-don't understand how, how," she struggled to find the right explanation. "You just don't understand."
"You're too good at what you do to let a few bad memories get in the way of what needs done," Moody added.
"This is more than that," she asserted, sounding a little more flustered than she would have liked. "I c-can't..."
"You can do anything you set your mind to!" he pledged. "This little git won't even know what hit him!"
"You don't know what you're asking me to do!"
"We're asking you to smash these bastards into dust once and for all!"
Gemma got up from her chair, turning her back to them and raking both hands through her hair desparingly. How could they ask her to go running into the arms of someone she had fought aimlessly for nearly five years to forget? How could she possibly put herself thorugh that? What if something went wrong? What if he found out and threw Avada Kedavra at her while she was sleeping or something? What if she accidently fell in love with him and became one of them? What if she had to sleep with him again? What if Ron couldn't forgive her? What if...
"Gemma," Dumbledore began, reeling her back in. "I know that it is alot to ask of one person, but it is extremely important that you consider it."
"We'd make sure you were safe," Tonks added, doing her best to sound convincing.
"Tonks is right Gemma," Sirius agreed. "We'd be just around the corner the entire time."
"It's not that," she muttered, turning back around. "I just...I..."
"We wouldn't have asked you if we didn't know for sure that it could be done," Lupin stated, standing up next to her.
She looked up into his surprisingly bright, brown eyes and couldn't help but feel herself ease-up slightly. "This is the only option isn't it?"
They all regarded eachother and nodded simultaneously.
She let out an exasperated breath. "Then...then who am I to say no?"
"Attagirl!" Arthur whooped.
"Tell me it'll all work," she begged Harry as they all talked amongst themselves.
He looked very somber indeed. "I can't."
"Tell me anyway."
Harry scooped her up and held her close. "It'll all work out."
"That's crazy!" Ron exclaimed when Gemma and Harry had indulged him and Hermione in the goings on of the meeting.
"It's necessary," she said.
"You're telling me that eighteen of the world's greatest witches and wizards couldn't come up with a better solution to this problem than to send you straight into the middle of it!? You could be killed Gemma!"
"If something goes awry they'll pull me out before they can ruffle a single hair on my head."
"What if they can't get to you in time? What then? Or what if there's too many of them to fight off, huh?"
She took his hands and looked him square in the face. "I need you to be positive Ron. If not for you then for me. Tell me you trust me. Tell me you believe in me. Tell me anything just, please, be positive!"
"Gemma I-I just, I..." words couldn't express what she meant to him. If he were to ever lose her...
She scooted closer, cupping his face. "I know Ron."
"I can't live without you Gemma."
"You won't have to."
Harry and Hermione escorted themelves out, sensing their need to be alone.
"Just promise me something," Ron continued.
"What's that?"
"When this is all said and done, when everything gets back to normal..."
"Um huh."
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to his. "I want you to marry me Gemma. Promise me you'll marry me."
She stared, unbelieving, at the man in front of her. "W-what?"
"You're everything to me. Promise me we'll come out of this together. Promise me you'll be my wife."
Hot tears were stinging the corners of her eyes. "Of course I'll marry you Ron."
"You, you will?" he asked, stunned.
"Yes," she nodded, kissing him passionately. "I love you."
"I-I..." he was speechless.
"I know Ron," she smiled.