AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this took so long, but I haven't been much in the mood
for fan fiction lately. I've been spending most of my time over at
but anyway, here's the next chapter. ENJOY! And thanks
for your patience.
Hermoine paced the kitchen of the old Black Residence, "I don't understand. Why would Malfoy want me?"
Lupin popped a small piece of fruit in his mouth and slowly chewed. "We really aren't sure. But considering the fact that you are a very powerful witch clearly has something to do with it."
Ginny sat down next to Lupin, "Hermoine PLEASE stop pacing."
"I can't."
Ginny sighed, "Malfoy's become well, obsessed, with you. Or rather, your power."
"My power?"
Lupin nodded, "Yes, we think we have it figured out. There is an ancient, mind you VERY ancient, spell that can make a wizard, or witch, absorb another's power."
"How exactly does murdering Ron get this done?"
"He needs to anger you," Ginny said, "You need to feel vulnerable and a serious loss of control."
Hermoine pulled her wand out of her robes and snapped it in half. "HERMOINE!" Lupin screamed, "You need that."
"If Malfoy wants loss of control he's going to get loss of control." She turned to leave as Ginny shot up from her chair.
"Hermoine, you can't just go and attack him, what good will that do? It will enable him to capture your power and then we'll all be screwed."
"I'm going to kill both him and that lying bitch Cho for what they've done."
"I'm not all entirely convinced it's Cho's fault," Neville commented, standing in the doorway, thus blocking Hermoine's way out.
"I SAW him in bed with her, don't give me that crap," Hermoine snapped.
"Hermoine, we think Cho might be dead." Ginny said.
"Dead?"
Lupin nodded, "Cho was gone for many years after her graduation from Hogwarts and then about a year before your return she just showed up. Granted, we found it odd but we accepted it and really didn't dwell too much on it."
Hermoine turned her head away from the group and studied the cabinets for a moment before turning back, "Any way to know for sure?"
"We're working on it."
Ginny sat on the stone cold floor, meditating when Neville entered the room, "If Hermoine keeps up this angry act Malfoy's going to get exactly what he wants."
Ginny slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. He was so cute. He tussled hair, which used to be so neat and prim back in his school days, his once cubby face as slimed up a bit and his eyes sparkled where once they had been dark. Neville had changed so much since Hogwarts, but traces of the fun loving Neville certainly did remain. His face was still round and still had traces of it's youth, he still forgot things and magical relapses.
"I know."
Neville sat down next to her and gathered her in his arms. Ginny rested her head on his chest. It felt so good to be held, she hadn't been held like this since, well since Harry. But Harry was gone and Neville was here. Neville kissed the top of her head, "We'll make things work out."
Ginny sighed, she couldn't help it. She was thinking about all that could have been and that would be. No matter how hard she tried or how much she cared for Neville, Harry was there. He would always be there.
She missed him. His quirks, his smile, the way he smelled, and made her heart race. The way he kissed her and the way he fought. She missed the dark color of his hair and the beautiful green of his eyes. She missed his temper and his thoughtfulness, and most of all she missed having him hold her.
Ginny stood up and lent Neville her hand. With a confused expression he accepted it and Ginny led him to the warm bed. She laid down and brought him next to her. "Ginny-"
"Sssh..." Ginny whispered and rested her head on his chest, "I just want you to hold me."
And so he did.
Hermoine studied the ancient spell book in front of her, "These spells were thought to be lost."
"Malfoy managed to get a copy of this somewhere. We found it in home when we sacked it." Lupin commented.
"Did Dumbledore get anything out of Cho or Malfoy yet?"
"Not anything we don't already know. It isn't the real Cho. It's a shape shifter witch, a long time lover of Malfoy's and Malfoy is trying to use this spell to get to you."
Hermoine slammed the book shut, dust floating up everywhere. "I feel so lost."
"About this?" Lupin asked, pointing to the book, "Or about Ginny?"
"What do you mean, about Ginny?"
"Hermoine it's no secret you were deeply in love with Harry." He whispered.
Hermoine hung her head, "I feel ashamed."
"Don't. Harry wasn't oblivious to your feelings but he had to pretend to be for Ginny's sake. He really did love her."
A small tear slipped down Hermoine's cheek, "I know and that's what makes it so shameful. I had this relationship with Ron and while I loved it so much it truly was just a friend thing and Ron knew it. He warned me to stay away from Harry."
Lupin reached over and squeezed Hermoine's hand, "Well it really doesn't matter anymore."
Hermoine squeezed his hand back, "Yes. It does."
Lupin pulled his hand back and studied her, "Well Ginny's doing her best to let go."
"What do you mean?"
"She's trying to begin a relationship with Neville."
Neville watched Ginny sleep. He loved her, he truly did. But he knew that her heart would only ever belong Harry, no matter how hard he would try to convince her.
Neville thought of the foolish boy he once was and the man he had become. He reflected upon all the crushes he had ever had and how he loved Ginny so much. Harry had been one of those few people in Neville's life whom he had truly trusted. He didn't think he could have a relationship with Ginny while he had all this guilt racked up inside of him.
Ginny turned over with a groan, her eyes fluttered open and a small smile came to her face, "Hey there."
"Hey."
Ginny stretched out, "Any news yet?"
"Well Cho isn't Cho. The real Cho has been dead for years. The one we thought was the real Cho really was a shape-shifter."
"I don't get it then," Ginny said, sitting up on her elbows, "Shape- shifters can only look and sound like the real deal, they can't exactly do the things that the person they are imitating can. I mean Cho, real or not, has been play Quidditch for England. You just don't fake talent like that."
Neville shrugged and climbed out of the bed, "I'm not quite sure how to respond to that. We are struggling now with resources and Hermoine's got a complete and utter lack of control."
Ginny stared at him and Neville pulled a shirt over his head, "Well he's certainly going to get that."
"Ding-dong. Happy New Year," Neville said with sarcasm.
Ginny climbed out bed after him and wrapped her arms solidly around Neville's torso. His body was warm and smelled like peppermint. "We've come this far, we won't be defeated yet."
Neville turned around and popped a kiss on her forehead, "I've got to get home." Within the span of a few seconds Ginny was standing alone in the bedroom. She sighed. Sometimes she hated her life. She really did.
After Neville left Ginny made another trip to Saint Mungos. Security on Harry's room was tripled since Ron's murder. Ginny sat down next to Harry and squeezed his hand, "Hey there."
He didn't move, not that Ginny had expected any differently. "Ron's funeral is in two days. I wish you could be there."
"I don't."
Ginny spun, in utter shock, towards the voice. "Ron..."
Ron smiled at his baby sister, "Hi."
"What... How... What...."
"Don't be too overjoyed, I'm just a ghost. A temporary ghost."
"What do you mean a temporary ghost?"
"Let's just say I was given special permission to come to help you on your mission before I move on."
"Huh?"
Ron's floating form moved towards, he seemed so incredibly sad and serious all at once. "Give Draco what he wants."
"What do you mean, Hermoine?"
Ron nodded.
"Ron I know you're pissed at her about the whole Harry issue but-"
Ron shook his head and moved to touch her but pulled back. He couldn't touch her. It hurt both of them. "Hermoine's power will overpower and destroy Draco. In doing such he will destroy those who are bound to him and free Harry."
Something clicked in Ginny's head. "You mean killing Draco is the only way to save Harry?"
Ron nodded, "They are bound together. Harry sees and feels everything Draco does. Knowing that there's evil out there and that he's stuck in a bed, literally bound to do nothing, is a worse torture for him that it is being dead. Draco saw death as far too easy."
"How do you know all of this?" Ginny asked, small suspicions raising her mind.
"You get a chance to see a lot of things once you're dead," Ron said. He leaned forward and pecked Ginny's forehead, at least as well as he could. Ron's ghostly body touching Ginny's was cold and yet oddly comforting. "Take care of Hermoine for me. Your answer lies in your dreams." And with those final, parting words, Ron faded away.
Ginny stared the spot where her dead brother had just been standing, or floating, or whatever the hell he had been doing. "Your answer lies in your dreams. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Hermoine finished grading the papers on trolls when she felt a presence behind her. She jumped. "Ron!" She ran to him, only to find herself running right through him. She paused, "You're a ghost." She turned to look at him. Tears welled her eyes, "I am SO sorry."
Ron turned to her and smiled that smile that made him a heartbreaker during their finale year at Hogwarts. "It wasn't your fault. You know that. Deep down inside you know that."
"But somehow I feel so alone and so lost."
"Don't," Ron said, "I've given Ginny all the information she needs to save Harry and you. Listen to her. Please." He flickered. "Oh and Hermoine?"
"Yes?"
"I love you." Ron slowly faded away into history.
Hermoine fell on her bed and sobbed, "I love you, Ron."
Ginny called an emergency meeting at the Black Residence, "This will be our last meeting."
"Whoa, what do you mean last?" Lee asked, "What is going on?"
"Either we win and survive what we are about to do or we win and die with what we are about to do."
"There is no losing option?" George asked.
"No." Ginny glanced at Hermoine, who stood, sullenly watching the crew. "Hermoine, I need you to volunteer for this. This isn't something I would ask, or even order you to do."
"I'm in."
"I didn't even tell you what I've planned yet."
Hermoine glanced down and then back up at Ginny, "Let's just say I had a visit from someone very special. Someone I thought I would never see or even speak to again."
Ginny eyes were as wide as plate saucers. Ron. She too had seen Ron. "Okay, here is what I have planned. We've learned that Draco has secured an orb to transfer Hermoine's power to him, all he needs is her consent. Which she will give him."
"Ginny-" Lavender started to protest.
"I've learned that Hermoine' s power will overpower Draco. That is one reason why such pains were taken to hide this type of magic. It usually took out the people who performed the spell."
Hermoine paced the kitchen of the old Black Residence, "I don't understand. Why would Malfoy want me?"
Lupin popped a small piece of fruit in his mouth and slowly chewed. "We really aren't sure. But considering the fact that you are a very powerful witch clearly has something to do with it."
Ginny sat down next to Lupin, "Hermoine PLEASE stop pacing."
"I can't."
Ginny sighed, "Malfoy's become well, obsessed, with you. Or rather, your power."
"My power?"
Lupin nodded, "Yes, we think we have it figured out. There is an ancient, mind you VERY ancient, spell that can make a wizard, or witch, absorb another's power."
"How exactly does murdering Ron get this done?"
"He needs to anger you," Ginny said, "You need to feel vulnerable and a serious loss of control."
Hermoine pulled her wand out of her robes and snapped it in half. "HERMOINE!" Lupin screamed, "You need that."
"If Malfoy wants loss of control he's going to get loss of control." She turned to leave as Ginny shot up from her chair.
"Hermoine, you can't just go and attack him, what good will that do? It will enable him to capture your power and then we'll all be screwed."
"I'm going to kill both him and that lying bitch Cho for what they've done."
"I'm not all entirely convinced it's Cho's fault," Neville commented, standing in the doorway, thus blocking Hermoine's way out.
"I SAW him in bed with her, don't give me that crap," Hermoine snapped.
"Hermoine, we think Cho might be dead." Ginny said.
"Dead?"
Lupin nodded, "Cho was gone for many years after her graduation from Hogwarts and then about a year before your return she just showed up. Granted, we found it odd but we accepted it and really didn't dwell too much on it."
Hermoine turned her head away from the group and studied the cabinets for a moment before turning back, "Any way to know for sure?"
"We're working on it."
Ginny sat on the stone cold floor, meditating when Neville entered the room, "If Hermoine keeps up this angry act Malfoy's going to get exactly what he wants."
Ginny slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. He was so cute. He tussled hair, which used to be so neat and prim back in his school days, his once cubby face as slimed up a bit and his eyes sparkled where once they had been dark. Neville had changed so much since Hogwarts, but traces of the fun loving Neville certainly did remain. His face was still round and still had traces of it's youth, he still forgot things and magical relapses.
"I know."
Neville sat down next to her and gathered her in his arms. Ginny rested her head on his chest. It felt so good to be held, she hadn't been held like this since, well since Harry. But Harry was gone and Neville was here. Neville kissed the top of her head, "We'll make things work out."
Ginny sighed, she couldn't help it. She was thinking about all that could have been and that would be. No matter how hard she tried or how much she cared for Neville, Harry was there. He would always be there.
She missed him. His quirks, his smile, the way he smelled, and made her heart race. The way he kissed her and the way he fought. She missed the dark color of his hair and the beautiful green of his eyes. She missed his temper and his thoughtfulness, and most of all she missed having him hold her.
Ginny stood up and lent Neville her hand. With a confused expression he accepted it and Ginny led him to the warm bed. She laid down and brought him next to her. "Ginny-"
"Sssh..." Ginny whispered and rested her head on his chest, "I just want you to hold me."
And so he did.
Hermoine studied the ancient spell book in front of her, "These spells were thought to be lost."
"Malfoy managed to get a copy of this somewhere. We found it in home when we sacked it." Lupin commented.
"Did Dumbledore get anything out of Cho or Malfoy yet?"
"Not anything we don't already know. It isn't the real Cho. It's a shape shifter witch, a long time lover of Malfoy's and Malfoy is trying to use this spell to get to you."
Hermoine slammed the book shut, dust floating up everywhere. "I feel so lost."
"About this?" Lupin asked, pointing to the book, "Or about Ginny?"
"What do you mean, about Ginny?"
"Hermoine it's no secret you were deeply in love with Harry." He whispered.
Hermoine hung her head, "I feel ashamed."
"Don't. Harry wasn't oblivious to your feelings but he had to pretend to be for Ginny's sake. He really did love her."
A small tear slipped down Hermoine's cheek, "I know and that's what makes it so shameful. I had this relationship with Ron and while I loved it so much it truly was just a friend thing and Ron knew it. He warned me to stay away from Harry."
Lupin reached over and squeezed Hermoine's hand, "Well it really doesn't matter anymore."
Hermoine squeezed his hand back, "Yes. It does."
Lupin pulled his hand back and studied her, "Well Ginny's doing her best to let go."
"What do you mean?"
"She's trying to begin a relationship with Neville."
Neville watched Ginny sleep. He loved her, he truly did. But he knew that her heart would only ever belong Harry, no matter how hard he would try to convince her.
Neville thought of the foolish boy he once was and the man he had become. He reflected upon all the crushes he had ever had and how he loved Ginny so much. Harry had been one of those few people in Neville's life whom he had truly trusted. He didn't think he could have a relationship with Ginny while he had all this guilt racked up inside of him.
Ginny turned over with a groan, her eyes fluttered open and a small smile came to her face, "Hey there."
"Hey."
Ginny stretched out, "Any news yet?"
"Well Cho isn't Cho. The real Cho has been dead for years. The one we thought was the real Cho really was a shape-shifter."
"I don't get it then," Ginny said, sitting up on her elbows, "Shape- shifters can only look and sound like the real deal, they can't exactly do the things that the person they are imitating can. I mean Cho, real or not, has been play Quidditch for England. You just don't fake talent like that."
Neville shrugged and climbed out of the bed, "I'm not quite sure how to respond to that. We are struggling now with resources and Hermoine's got a complete and utter lack of control."
Ginny stared at him and Neville pulled a shirt over his head, "Well he's certainly going to get that."
"Ding-dong. Happy New Year," Neville said with sarcasm.
Ginny climbed out bed after him and wrapped her arms solidly around Neville's torso. His body was warm and smelled like peppermint. "We've come this far, we won't be defeated yet."
Neville turned around and popped a kiss on her forehead, "I've got to get home." Within the span of a few seconds Ginny was standing alone in the bedroom. She sighed. Sometimes she hated her life. She really did.
After Neville left Ginny made another trip to Saint Mungos. Security on Harry's room was tripled since Ron's murder. Ginny sat down next to Harry and squeezed his hand, "Hey there."
He didn't move, not that Ginny had expected any differently. "Ron's funeral is in two days. I wish you could be there."
"I don't."
Ginny spun, in utter shock, towards the voice. "Ron..."
Ron smiled at his baby sister, "Hi."
"What... How... What...."
"Don't be too overjoyed, I'm just a ghost. A temporary ghost."
"What do you mean a temporary ghost?"
"Let's just say I was given special permission to come to help you on your mission before I move on."
"Huh?"
Ron's floating form moved towards, he seemed so incredibly sad and serious all at once. "Give Draco what he wants."
"What do you mean, Hermoine?"
Ron nodded.
"Ron I know you're pissed at her about the whole Harry issue but-"
Ron shook his head and moved to touch her but pulled back. He couldn't touch her. It hurt both of them. "Hermoine's power will overpower and destroy Draco. In doing such he will destroy those who are bound to him and free Harry."
Something clicked in Ginny's head. "You mean killing Draco is the only way to save Harry?"
Ron nodded, "They are bound together. Harry sees and feels everything Draco does. Knowing that there's evil out there and that he's stuck in a bed, literally bound to do nothing, is a worse torture for him that it is being dead. Draco saw death as far too easy."
"How do you know all of this?" Ginny asked, small suspicions raising her mind.
"You get a chance to see a lot of things once you're dead," Ron said. He leaned forward and pecked Ginny's forehead, at least as well as he could. Ron's ghostly body touching Ginny's was cold and yet oddly comforting. "Take care of Hermoine for me. Your answer lies in your dreams." And with those final, parting words, Ron faded away.
Ginny stared the spot where her dead brother had just been standing, or floating, or whatever the hell he had been doing. "Your answer lies in your dreams. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Hermoine finished grading the papers on trolls when she felt a presence behind her. She jumped. "Ron!" She ran to him, only to find herself running right through him. She paused, "You're a ghost." She turned to look at him. Tears welled her eyes, "I am SO sorry."
Ron turned to her and smiled that smile that made him a heartbreaker during their finale year at Hogwarts. "It wasn't your fault. You know that. Deep down inside you know that."
"But somehow I feel so alone and so lost."
"Don't," Ron said, "I've given Ginny all the information she needs to save Harry and you. Listen to her. Please." He flickered. "Oh and Hermoine?"
"Yes?"
"I love you." Ron slowly faded away into history.
Hermoine fell on her bed and sobbed, "I love you, Ron."
Ginny called an emergency meeting at the Black Residence, "This will be our last meeting."
"Whoa, what do you mean last?" Lee asked, "What is going on?"
"Either we win and survive what we are about to do or we win and die with what we are about to do."
"There is no losing option?" George asked.
"No." Ginny glanced at Hermoine, who stood, sullenly watching the crew. "Hermoine, I need you to volunteer for this. This isn't something I would ask, or even order you to do."
"I'm in."
"I didn't even tell you what I've planned yet."
Hermoine glanced down and then back up at Ginny, "Let's just say I had a visit from someone very special. Someone I thought I would never see or even speak to again."
Ginny eyes were as wide as plate saucers. Ron. She too had seen Ron. "Okay, here is what I have planned. We've learned that Draco has secured an orb to transfer Hermoine's power to him, all he needs is her consent. Which she will give him."
"Ginny-" Lavender started to protest.
"I've learned that Hermoine' s power will overpower Draco. That is one reason why such pains were taken to hide this type of magic. It usually took out the people who performed the spell."