Disclaimer: Any characters found in J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series belong to her. The plot and any characters other than the aforementioned characters belong to me (unless otherwise stated). I am not making any profit off this work.
Author's Note: Wow sorry it has been so long since I updated but life has just been brutal. I'm on break right now so I should be able to finish up this story right away quick. I don't think that it will be much more than one more chapter. MAYBE two but its already longer than I thought it was going to be and I can see the end in sight so probably one more chapter that should be up soon, if everything goes according to plan. Although I have been inspired to come back to my creative roots after seeing the trailer a hundred times for the new movie and also because I got my David Bowie Reality tour tickets. Not that anybody cares about David Bowie. But I do, Yea David Bowie! On to the chapter.
Fearing Simple Chapter 3
"Hermione, wait!" Ron called, racing after her into the dining room. "I'm so sorry; I couldn't stop her Har…"
"Ron, who are you talking to?" Hermione asked confusion in her voice.
"Um, no one, sorry," Ron mumbled, quickly scanning the empty room with anxious eyes. He relaxed when he saw no trace of Harry.
"Ron, you're acting very strangely. I'm worried about you, maybe you should come back to the hospital with me – I don't like the thought of leaving you alone when you're like this." Hermione moved to sit at the table.
"I'm fine Hermione, I just need to get a goodnight sleep and maybe fix up the house to keep busy for the rest of the week." Ron gave her to most sincere smile he could muster, making sure to add in his innocent gaze for extra effectiveness.
"Well, I suppose…" Hermione trailed off as a bracelet around her wrist began to glow and pulsate. "Darn, I've got to run Ron. I really just popped in to say I missed you and remind you that Draco is going to come by either today or tomorrow to update you on our current situation regarding Hogwarts' recruits." Hermione continued hurriedly, rising from her chair to collect her cloak from the kitchen. Seconds later, she was back in the dining room standing directly in front of Ron. Hermione leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Ron's mouth, "I love you, and be safe; if you change your mind come to the hospital."
"I love you too 'Mione, don't worry about me. You'd better get going." Ron leaned in for a last kiss. Hermione smiled softly at him and then slipped out the front door, past the wards so that she could apparate.
Ron leaned against the front door and let out a large sigh. His eyes moved to the stairs, where Harry sat in the shadows. "Well Harry, that was close! Although I don't understand why you couldn't just let her know you're here." Ron said stubbornly.
Harry shook his head slightly, "I think lunch is ready."
Ron shot Harry a glare and hurried into the kitchen to rescue his creation. Harry glanced back at the front door, which stood firmly shut, and ran the back of his hand across his face to catch the falling tears. Once he had regained control of his emotions, Harry straightened up his clothing, cleared his throat and descended the stairs. Pausing at the threshold to the kitchen Harry glanced back at the front door for a final moment. "I'm sorry Hermione, I wish things could be different," Harry whispered reaching out a hand towards the spot Hermione had stood moments before. Harry snapped himself out of his stupor and snatched his hand back. Shaking his head, Harry turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
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Ron took his time setting out the lunch dishes, desperately truing to delay the inevitable conversation that was going to take place. A glance at Harry's face told Ron the other boy was getting highly irritated; but Ron wanted more time to pretend everything was normal again in his world. Before being thrown back into reality and war.
"Ron, we really don't have that much time! You have to act within the week, any later than that and Voldemort will be ready!" Harry urged, giving Ron a pointed look.
"Right, okay," Ron conceded, placing the remainder of the dishes on the table and dinking down into a chair. "I'm ready; tell me the brilliant plan that will finally save us all."
"Ron, this isn't funny, I'm trying to save lives here. I need you to do this; you're the only one who can." Harry snapped emotionally, his eyes shining with tears.
"Why Harry? Why am I the only one? You're here! You could do it if it truly mattered enough. What are you afraid of?" Ron bellowed, slamming his fist down on the table. "Why are you continuing to hurt everyone this way? It's not fair Harry, it's not fair! They need you, 'Mione needs you, Drake needs you, and I need you. You're being so selfish. I want to help you, god I do; and I will, you're my best friend, but I can't let you hurt the other people that mean something to you!" Ron raged, pacing back and forth across the floor.
"Ronald Weasley calm down!" Harry sighed wearily, "there is no time, and we must act now. Ron can't you see it better if only you know that I'm here. It saves us precious time – and we have so little time left. I need your forces determined, focused and one hundred percent aimed at the task. Most of the troops aren't fighting because they're courageous Ron, they're fighting for revenge; to pay Voldemort back for the wrongs he committed against them. Anger and sadness fuel their spirits – and as much as I hate to admit it, my capture fanned those flames. That will be Voldemort's downfall! Don't you see, he's unknowingly given us the greatest weapon. With my information on his plans and weaknesses, we'll finish him off for good. But I can't do this Ron; it has to be you, and I know you'll save them all, even if there are those who can no longer be saved." Harry finished his speech with a soft voice and turned his eyes to stare at the floor beneath the table.
"Yeah, there's no hope for all those slimy wizards who ran back to Voldemort when you disappeared." Ron fumed to himself.
"And the dead…" Harry whispered.
"What was that Harry?" Ron asked, breaking out of the trance he had been in.
"Nothing, nothing at all, so you'll help me Ron?"
"You don't even have to ask Potter." Ron ghosted a smile.
"Right," Harry pulled a map laid out on the table towards him. "This is where Voldemort has been keeping prisoners; only the highly valuable have been kept alive – he slaughtered the rest…" Harry paused, tears filling his eyes at the memories. "Sorry, so where was I? Ah – he's operating his chain of command from Malfoy Mansion, but he murdered Lucius about two years ago. He's got sentries posted at the corners of the roof facing each direction, but they've got heavy magic concealing them – you can't even tell from the outside that Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy don't live there anymore. If you take out those 14 wizards, you cut off his eyes and ears to the outside. Then he'll rally the main guard to cover all the exits. There are about two hundred of them, but they are not highly trained and they are clumsy with their curses. They should be no problem for even your school age recruits, as long as they've had some sort of training…"
"Draco trains them," Ron broke in suddenly, "ever since… it keeps him sane."
Harry's mind traveled to his blonde lover, and a sad smile crossed his face. "Then I'm sure they'll have no problems. So all you have to worry about after that is the elite guard and the nobles. If you can get through those witches and wizards, Voldemort will fall." Harry pulled out a piece of paper and a quill and handed them to Ron; telling him to jot down key points about each member of the guard and nobles.
"Why don't you just write this?" Ron asked rubbing his sore hand two hours later.
"Because Ron, everyone who matters will know that's not your handwriting – but they'll know exactly whose it is!" Harry replied hastily.
"Fine" Ron grumped.
When Harry had finished unfurling his plan, Ron looked up at him with serious eyes, "Do you really think this will work?"
"It has to Ronald, it has to," Harry replied. Harry heaved a huge sigh and sunk backwards into his chair. "This is one of the things I'll miss the most!" Harry mumbled reveling in the comfort surrounding him. "I mean, missed the most!" Harry rushed to correct himself at Ron's raised eyebrow.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the sound of the front door slamming inwards. Ron's eyes snapped to Harry's and the two boys shared a panicked look.
"Ron, where the hell are you hiding?" Draco's voiced floated down the hall.
Ron's expression relaxed and he turned to see Harry's reaction. Harry's eyes had fill with tears and his head was turned expectantly towards the dining room door. Moments later, the sound of footfalls snapped Harry from his stupor. Rising, he pointed to the finalized plans and mouthed 'show him' before bolting through the veranda doors into the backyard.
"Oh here you are! Why didn't you answer when I called?" Draco asked petulantly
"Hmm sorry, I was really absorbed in these plans w – I've been working on." Ron gestured for Draco to seat himself across from him.
"Well, what have we got here?" Draco perked up at the mention of plans.
"The end of the war Dray, it's the end of the war; courtesy of Harry." Ron smiled.
"Yeah, for Harry!" Draco whispered emphatically. "We'll get them for you baby – I'll make him pay." Draco vowed to the air.
Ron faltered at the pain lacing Draco's words. How could he keep Harry a secret? It wasn't right. "Draco, Harry is alive, I know it."
Draco's head snapped up, rage twisting across his features. "Don't Ron! Don't give me false hope. I've been through losing him once and I won't survive losing him again, even if it's just the hope that he's alive. The only reason I've made it this far is to see Voldemort pay. If ruined my life Ron, so just don't, please."
"But…" Ron trailed off as Harry's words floated through his mind 'they aren't fighting because they're courageous Ron, they're fighting for revenge… he's unknowingly given us the greatest weapon. "You're right, I'm sorry Draco."
Draco's shoulders shook with sobs as he laid his head in his arms on the table. His breathing was ragged as he struggled to pull air into his lungs around the violent hiccups. "It's not fair Ron; I was happy; so happy. It was so damned perfect, then he was gone, and now I'm empty. It'll never stop hurting Ron, Voldemort has to pay, he can't get way with this. Please Ron, please."
Ron couldn't stand the heartbreak in his friend's voice. He rose and moved to place his arm around Draco. "I promise you Dray; for Harry. This is how we're going to do it…" Ron pulled the piece of paper closer and began recounting Harry's plan. It was dark before Ron had finished detailing the strategy. When he was done, he turned to Draco for approval.
"Merlin Ron, this is it. This is really it! Where did you get all this information?"
"A reliable source," Ron replied shortly. Draco raised his eyebrow but didn't push the subject.
"Now," Ron said loudly with a clap of his hands, "are you going to stay for dinner?"
Draco shook his head, "No, I have to take this to Dumbledore and brief the troops. I want to get this mobilized within 48 hours."
Ron sighed, "Well, it's probably for the best. No, it is for the best. Fine, you run along ahead and I'll meet up with you at Hogwarts tomorrow evening."
"Ron… you're a genius, I just… god! I know Harry would be so grateful that you were the one that orchestrated the demise of Tom Riddle. Also, it just means so much to me too. Thank you." Draco wiped the moisture from the corner of his eye and sniffled. He gathered the role of parchment and the stack of weakness files. With a last glance backward and a grateful smile, he disappeared through the door into the hall. Moments later the front door gently clicked shut.
"You almost told him Ron," Harry's accusing voice came from the shadows behind him.
"He's in so much pain; it's so hard to keep it a secret from him." Ron sighed.
"It's hard for me too Ron. God, I love him with every molecule in my body and I can't even let him see me, I can't touch him. I hurt too Ron!" Harry's voice grew louder and began cracking.
"You're right, I'm sorry Harry. Do you want dinner?" Harry shook his head no, "me neither, I think I'll head to bed. I trust you remember where the guest room is?"
Harry nodded and Ron got out of his chair and padded out of the room. Harry followed him with his eyes. "I wish it didn't have to be this way…"
TBC