Some chapters can be written in about one sitting. This chapter took me
about ten. No lie! What can I say? I'm a busy girl! I made sure this
chapter had a little excitement and a little mystery to it. I'm answering
questions about the plot that I've gotten in reviews slowly, but that's
half the fun! Hopefully this chapter won't disappoint you!
Lucidity- Yeah, you need a chapter where nothing happens so that it'll be interesting when something does. As for you hunch about the information, you took the ideas right out of my head! I think Hermione's angry, because her natural way around things. He's a bit on the slow side and she snaps him back to reality.
Marie Lexis- Thanks! I try to keep those classic scenes that could actually happen in real life. Goodness knows how many times I've fallen down some stairs or tipped a chair back too much!
Asia Cwiakala- Oh, the banter is my favorite part to write. I'm glad that it entertains others as well.
Sgtpepper- I'm sorry I'm driving you crazy! But you'll find out in this chapter how the ships really going to start coming along! Woo!
Marygirl1118- You said the curse was fabricated to move the plot along. Well, it is. I'm not denying it. I wanted something that didn't directly effect Hermione, but effected the Weasleys. If that's the only way I can be satisfied with the plot, that's how I'm going to do it. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of the story, and I'll try my best to keep everyone in character.
Spidermonkeesrkewl- It's only that you didn't review! I'm just glad that you've been reading still! I honestly think the idea of Harry getting his ass kicked is overrated. Girls with brothers get pregnant, but it's only like 10% of the time that the guys who got her pregnant actually get beat up for it. Plus, the Weasleys respect Harry, even though he completely screwed up.
Angus Hardie- I'm glad you think so. I really try to keep the story on the right track with no loose ends or anything. I'm glad you enjoy the Ron/Hermione scenes because there will be plenty more to come!
PaulaS- Yeah, the teasing is one of the part I love, because I could really imagine people I know doing that to each other.
Mione- Enthusiastic, are we? Very nice! It's good that you find the plot original because I work hard to keep it that way!
Cursed Wedlock by MyKonstantine.
Chapter 5: Discovering Lucidare
Sooty and strung out, the foursome individually pranced out of the fireplace and into the Entrance Hall.
"I'm not a git!" Ron whined to Hermione, but she didn't seem to care.
The sight of Hogwarts had caught Hermione's eye and she was swept away. She had roamed through these halls only two years ago but seeing it again was still a breath of fresh air.
"I'm sorry, Ron." Hermione muttered, not even paying attention to her words. By then, he seemed to have caught himself in the school's magic and could only nod and he observed the room happily.
"So," A voice interrupted their daze. Hermione recognized it as Harry. "Hermione, you know best where the library is. Lead the way."
"Perhaps we should see Dumbledore first." Hermione suggested, her voice still a bit breathy.
"There will be no need for that, Miss Granger, as he already knows that you've arrived." A strong, solid voice said from the staircase of the Entrance Hall. The young adults immediately whirled around to face the friendly tone of Albus Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Ginny called out, smiling insanely. She walked over and quickly hugged her old Headmaster. The old man with the half-moon spectacles looked shocked for a moment before relaxing and gently hugging her back.
Dumbledore had put his full trust in Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. His help was perhaps the only reason why they survive through the war. This had given them an even deeper respect for him, but it also helped them mark themselves as Dumbledore's equal.
When Ginny backed away, blushing furiously, the trio gave their greetings to the Professor in a much calmer fashion.
"I heard word of your engagement." Dumbledore said to Harry, smiling graciously. He then took Ginny's left hand and surveyed the ring. "Congratulations, about the engagement and the child, of course."
"How did you know?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Words travels around the Ministry of Magic quite quickly, Mrs. Potter." Dumbledore said with a wink. Ginny blushed once again when she heard him call her 'Mrs. Potter.'
The headmaster turned to Hermione and Ron. "Congratulations to you two as well."
Ron pulled an indescribable face. "For what, exactly?" The old man chuckled. "Your engagement, of course! I heard that you two may be marrying!"
There was uncomfortable silence before Hermione let out an unsettled laugh. "Oh professor, Ron and I aren't engaged! Ron might be getting married soon, but we're hoping to avoid that."
"See, Professor. There's this curse." Ron began, but Dumbledore put up a hand to silence him.
"I knew that you came here with a purpose. Actually, three purposes, I believe." Dumbledore said, glancing over at Harry and Ginny who were whispering quickly and excitedly.
"Well, I only came here to break this bloody curse." Ron grumbled. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Ginny and I were actually wondering if we could also look around the grounds, for a place to hold the wedding." Harry was surprised to see Ron and Hermione turned around in shock.
"And I was hoping to see Madam Pomfrey about the baby." Ginny said, causing Harry to also look in surprise. It was apparent that they hadn't discussed plans thoroughly before arriving.
"I think Harry and Ginny should worry about the wedding and the baby, and Ron and I will research." Hermione said, grabbing Ron firmly by the arm and starting up the stairs. "No time to waste!"
"It's funny that Dumbledore thought we were engaged, isn't it?" Ron said uneasily minutes later as they shuffled through books in the library's restricted section.
"Yeah, that was awfully strange of him." Hermione replied, a bit too preoccupied by her books to truly discuss the subject.
"I mean, why would you marry a guy like me?" This caused them both to pause for a second and take a deep breath. Hermione put her back to the bookcase as close to Ron as she could get.
"Why wouldn't I marry a guy like you?" Hermione tried to keep her voice smooth and sultry, but it shook a little as she talked.
She waited anxiously for his answer, but as if by some miracle, Ronald Weasley stood speechless for once in his life. Blue eyes bore into brown. Hermione trembled in the silent intensity and placed her hand on the book behind her to steady herself.
Just as everything seemed to come together, that single touch of a book made it all fall apart. Pain shot viciously through Hermione's hand as she involuntarily clutched the spine of the book. It crawled up her arm and throughout her body until her blood boiled and the pain was unbearable.
Hermione fell to the floor with the book still tight in her hand. She could hear Ron calling her name, but it all seemed so distant.
Then her eyes rolled back and a vision hit her like a pile of bricks. Ron stood on the Hogwarts grounds in a tuxedo with Harry. He was smiling, but there was a glint of disappointment in his eye. The area was covered in snow and ice, but she felt pleasant warmth in the air.
The view suddenly shifted downwards until she was staring at a bouquet of white roses grasped firmly in perfectly manicured hands. On the left hand, there was no ring, but a glowing circle where the ring should be placed.
The bright, perfectly balanced colors began to blur in a whirlwind. She came back into her body, taking a long deep gasp. She felt a flood of emotion crash over her as she looked wide-eyed at Ron, but then lost herself within it and went limp.
"C'mon, Hermione. Wake up!" Hermione could hear a voice saying. It seemed far away at first but rapidly got closer.
"Wake up!" The voice called again, but this time it was practically screaming in her ear.
Hermione jumped upright in the hospital bed, but fell backwards again after hitting something very solid.
"Jesus H. Christ!" Ron yelled out. Hermione's eyes fluttered open to see him with a hand over his face. Blood slowly oozed down his fingers. Apparently, the solid object her head had crashed into was Ron's nose.
"Mr. Weasley!" Madam Pomfrey called out sharply. She walked over to scold him for his language, but stopped when she saw Hermione wake and alert.
"Oh! Miss Granger! You're awake!" The nurse shuffled out of sight again and came back with a wavy glass bottle filled with a vile looking pink potion.
"That is, if Miss Granger is still your name." Madam Pomfrey looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione then smiled.
"Yes, I'm still unmarried. Not even dating anyone, for that matter." Wow, she felt ridiculous saying that. However, she felt it necessary for her old school nurse to know that nothing was going to between her and Ron. Why did everyone think that?
"Ron's still bleeding, you know!" A rough male voice called out from behind them. Madam Pomfrey shushed him, then turned around to stop the bleeding with a quick flick of her wand.
"Well, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley told me you had a bit of trouble in the library." She poured the odd pink potion into a small cup. "This should help."
Hermione reluctantly took the cup, grimacing at the rancid fumes it produced. She pinched her nose together with two fingers, and put the potion to her lips at a painstakingly slow pace. The potion went down her throat surprisingly smoothly, but it left a bitter aftertaste.
"You'll be fine now. I have to get back to Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley now."
When Madam Pomfrey left, Hermione's attentions went back to Ron. "Harry and Ginny are here already? I thought they had to scope out the grounds first."
"They did already, Hermione." Ron told her in a soothing voice that people would usually only use with small, panicking children. "You've been out for hours."
She tried to recall exactly what had happened, exactly how she felt, but all she remembered was her inexplicable vision. "What happened?"
Ron reached down on the floor before seating himself on the side of her bed. He held up the book from the restricted section of the library in his hand. "I dunno. You touched this and just started to have this fit. I got it out of yours hands, and then you just passed out."
"Can I see it?" Hermione asked curiously. She reached for the book, but Ron leapt up out of her hand before she got to it.
"No!" He shouted. "There's no way you're going to touch this and start seizing again!"
Hermione, who felt better after the potion began to take effect, promptly got out of bed and snatched the book from his hands. Nothing happened.
Ignoring her own fear, Hermione looked over at Ron. "Oh, don't be a baby."
She sat with the book on her lap for a few moments, unsure of what would happen if she opened it. Maybe it would be best if she didn't open it. Maybe Ron should. Yes, Ron should open it. He was cursed anyway, so it couldn't get much worse, now could it?
"Ron, I need you to open this book to a random page." "Why?" "It's woman's intuition." She lied. "Just open it."
Ron let out a long breath of air before taking the book back. He opened the book lazily, but his eyes bugged out of his head when he looked down at the page.
"Look at this, Hermione! Curse Guardians!" He chuckled in a triumphant manner. "Your woman's intuition blubber might've caught on to something!"
Hermione smiled innocently. She knew she should probably tell Ron that it was not her true intuition at all, but a stroke of his own luck, but why ruin the fun?
Ron began to read the context of the book. "In the case of most Life and Death Curses, the cursed person or group of persons is assigned a guardian. The identity of each generation's guardian is passed down from the elder generation's guardian, but in some ancient curses, the identities have been lost through death or other obstacles."
He sunk back next to Hermione on her bed. "But we already know the guardian's identity has been lost!"
"Shut up and keep reading!" Hermione said, not willing to give up just yet. The page was crammed with sentences, and Ron had only read the first few.
He skimmed down the page "This part's just a bunch of rubbish about how nobody knows the power of a guardians, because all their powers are different, apparently. That's lots of help." He began to squint at the beginning of a paragraph near the end of the page. "This might be something!"
"A guardian can only be revealed when the cursed or one of the cursed touches the Lucidare Crystal, an ancient artifact that was rumored to have been buried in the tomb of King Tut."
"You know what that means, right?" Hermione said, taking the book out of Ron's hands and shutting it.
Ron nodded continuously before slowly stopping and saying "No, not really. What does it mean?"
"It means that we have to find that stone and the Weasley family guardian before Ginny has that baby."
"I know that, Hermione, but that stone could be anywhere!" Ron said.
Hermione shook her head, laughing. "Ron, where is King Tut's tomb?"
Ron thought hard for a second. "The desert?"
Hermione let out a grunt. "Let's try this again! What does your brother Bill work in?"
"Tombs." Ron replied obviously. Hermione nodded along. "Now what country does he work in?"
"Egypt." "Good! So where are we going?" "Egypt?" "Exactly!"
Ron sighed. "When we get home I'll have to owl Bill and see if he can get the four of us a place to stay."
It was at that moment that the curtain in the middle of the room pulled back. Harry stood curiously on the other side.
"The four of us?" Harry said as if it was the most radical idea he'd ever heard. Ginny was slowly getting out of the bed behind Harry. "Ginny can't apparate to Egypt! She's two months pregnant!"
"Two months?" Ron growled at Harry. He pointed his finger back and forth between Harry and Ginny. "This new.. activity of yours.. has been going on for at least two months?!"
Ginny decided it was her turn to be smug with him. "Actually Ronald, it's been going on for about six months."
"OH GOD! I didn't really need to know that, Ginevra!"
While everyone else seemed amused, Hermione was quiet and concerned.
"We've got less time than I thought." She whispered.
"The baby's due the first week of March." Harry informed her. "So, Ginny and I should at least be married by the third week in February, just in case."
They all gave quiet words of agreement. Hermione got out of the hospital bed, leaving the mystical book behind.
"Let's go home." She suggested to the others. "We've got tons of planning to do."
Ron raised an eyebrow at her. "So we're still going?"
"Well, you're one of the cursed, so if you touch the crystal, it should reveal the guardian." Hermione said, straightening out her clothes and pushing a brown lock of frizzy hair behind her ear.
"Gee, thanks for reminding me!" Ron's voice was bitter and sarcastic. Harry and Ginny could be heard sniggering in the background as Ron and Hermione went back and forth, but Ron and Hermione had learned the subtle art of ignoring the lovebirds.
It took a walk back to the Great Hall for him to recover. He looked up at Hermione, defeat shining through his eyes.
"So we're going to Egypt, then?"
"Yes Ron, just me and you."
So what do you think of that chapter? Better than the last? Is the Egypt idea too far out there? I'd love to hear any constructive input you may have!
Lucidity- Yeah, you need a chapter where nothing happens so that it'll be interesting when something does. As for you hunch about the information, you took the ideas right out of my head! I think Hermione's angry, because her natural way around things. He's a bit on the slow side and she snaps him back to reality.
Marie Lexis- Thanks! I try to keep those classic scenes that could actually happen in real life. Goodness knows how many times I've fallen down some stairs or tipped a chair back too much!
Asia Cwiakala- Oh, the banter is my favorite part to write. I'm glad that it entertains others as well.
Sgtpepper- I'm sorry I'm driving you crazy! But you'll find out in this chapter how the ships really going to start coming along! Woo!
Marygirl1118- You said the curse was fabricated to move the plot along. Well, it is. I'm not denying it. I wanted something that didn't directly effect Hermione, but effected the Weasleys. If that's the only way I can be satisfied with the plot, that's how I'm going to do it. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of the story, and I'll try my best to keep everyone in character.
Spidermonkeesrkewl- It's only that you didn't review! I'm just glad that you've been reading still! I honestly think the idea of Harry getting his ass kicked is overrated. Girls with brothers get pregnant, but it's only like 10% of the time that the guys who got her pregnant actually get beat up for it. Plus, the Weasleys respect Harry, even though he completely screwed up.
Angus Hardie- I'm glad you think so. I really try to keep the story on the right track with no loose ends or anything. I'm glad you enjoy the Ron/Hermione scenes because there will be plenty more to come!
PaulaS- Yeah, the teasing is one of the part I love, because I could really imagine people I know doing that to each other.
Mione- Enthusiastic, are we? Very nice! It's good that you find the plot original because I work hard to keep it that way!
Cursed Wedlock by MyKonstantine.
Chapter 5: Discovering Lucidare
Sooty and strung out, the foursome individually pranced out of the fireplace and into the Entrance Hall.
"I'm not a git!" Ron whined to Hermione, but she didn't seem to care.
The sight of Hogwarts had caught Hermione's eye and she was swept away. She had roamed through these halls only two years ago but seeing it again was still a breath of fresh air.
"I'm sorry, Ron." Hermione muttered, not even paying attention to her words. By then, he seemed to have caught himself in the school's magic and could only nod and he observed the room happily.
"So," A voice interrupted their daze. Hermione recognized it as Harry. "Hermione, you know best where the library is. Lead the way."
"Perhaps we should see Dumbledore first." Hermione suggested, her voice still a bit breathy.
"There will be no need for that, Miss Granger, as he already knows that you've arrived." A strong, solid voice said from the staircase of the Entrance Hall. The young adults immediately whirled around to face the friendly tone of Albus Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Ginny called out, smiling insanely. She walked over and quickly hugged her old Headmaster. The old man with the half-moon spectacles looked shocked for a moment before relaxing and gently hugging her back.
Dumbledore had put his full trust in Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. His help was perhaps the only reason why they survive through the war. This had given them an even deeper respect for him, but it also helped them mark themselves as Dumbledore's equal.
When Ginny backed away, blushing furiously, the trio gave their greetings to the Professor in a much calmer fashion.
"I heard word of your engagement." Dumbledore said to Harry, smiling graciously. He then took Ginny's left hand and surveyed the ring. "Congratulations, about the engagement and the child, of course."
"How did you know?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Words travels around the Ministry of Magic quite quickly, Mrs. Potter." Dumbledore said with a wink. Ginny blushed once again when she heard him call her 'Mrs. Potter.'
The headmaster turned to Hermione and Ron. "Congratulations to you two as well."
Ron pulled an indescribable face. "For what, exactly?" The old man chuckled. "Your engagement, of course! I heard that you two may be marrying!"
There was uncomfortable silence before Hermione let out an unsettled laugh. "Oh professor, Ron and I aren't engaged! Ron might be getting married soon, but we're hoping to avoid that."
"See, Professor. There's this curse." Ron began, but Dumbledore put up a hand to silence him.
"I knew that you came here with a purpose. Actually, three purposes, I believe." Dumbledore said, glancing over at Harry and Ginny who were whispering quickly and excitedly.
"Well, I only came here to break this bloody curse." Ron grumbled. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Ginny and I were actually wondering if we could also look around the grounds, for a place to hold the wedding." Harry was surprised to see Ron and Hermione turned around in shock.
"And I was hoping to see Madam Pomfrey about the baby." Ginny said, causing Harry to also look in surprise. It was apparent that they hadn't discussed plans thoroughly before arriving.
"I think Harry and Ginny should worry about the wedding and the baby, and Ron and I will research." Hermione said, grabbing Ron firmly by the arm and starting up the stairs. "No time to waste!"
"It's funny that Dumbledore thought we were engaged, isn't it?" Ron said uneasily minutes later as they shuffled through books in the library's restricted section.
"Yeah, that was awfully strange of him." Hermione replied, a bit too preoccupied by her books to truly discuss the subject.
"I mean, why would you marry a guy like me?" This caused them both to pause for a second and take a deep breath. Hermione put her back to the bookcase as close to Ron as she could get.
"Why wouldn't I marry a guy like you?" Hermione tried to keep her voice smooth and sultry, but it shook a little as she talked.
She waited anxiously for his answer, but as if by some miracle, Ronald Weasley stood speechless for once in his life. Blue eyes bore into brown. Hermione trembled in the silent intensity and placed her hand on the book behind her to steady herself.
Just as everything seemed to come together, that single touch of a book made it all fall apart. Pain shot viciously through Hermione's hand as she involuntarily clutched the spine of the book. It crawled up her arm and throughout her body until her blood boiled and the pain was unbearable.
Hermione fell to the floor with the book still tight in her hand. She could hear Ron calling her name, but it all seemed so distant.
Then her eyes rolled back and a vision hit her like a pile of bricks. Ron stood on the Hogwarts grounds in a tuxedo with Harry. He was smiling, but there was a glint of disappointment in his eye. The area was covered in snow and ice, but she felt pleasant warmth in the air.
The view suddenly shifted downwards until she was staring at a bouquet of white roses grasped firmly in perfectly manicured hands. On the left hand, there was no ring, but a glowing circle where the ring should be placed.
The bright, perfectly balanced colors began to blur in a whirlwind. She came back into her body, taking a long deep gasp. She felt a flood of emotion crash over her as she looked wide-eyed at Ron, but then lost herself within it and went limp.
"C'mon, Hermione. Wake up!" Hermione could hear a voice saying. It seemed far away at first but rapidly got closer.
"Wake up!" The voice called again, but this time it was practically screaming in her ear.
Hermione jumped upright in the hospital bed, but fell backwards again after hitting something very solid.
"Jesus H. Christ!" Ron yelled out. Hermione's eyes fluttered open to see him with a hand over his face. Blood slowly oozed down his fingers. Apparently, the solid object her head had crashed into was Ron's nose.
"Mr. Weasley!" Madam Pomfrey called out sharply. She walked over to scold him for his language, but stopped when she saw Hermione wake and alert.
"Oh! Miss Granger! You're awake!" The nurse shuffled out of sight again and came back with a wavy glass bottle filled with a vile looking pink potion.
"That is, if Miss Granger is still your name." Madam Pomfrey looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione then smiled.
"Yes, I'm still unmarried. Not even dating anyone, for that matter." Wow, she felt ridiculous saying that. However, she felt it necessary for her old school nurse to know that nothing was going to between her and Ron. Why did everyone think that?
"Ron's still bleeding, you know!" A rough male voice called out from behind them. Madam Pomfrey shushed him, then turned around to stop the bleeding with a quick flick of her wand.
"Well, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley told me you had a bit of trouble in the library." She poured the odd pink potion into a small cup. "This should help."
Hermione reluctantly took the cup, grimacing at the rancid fumes it produced. She pinched her nose together with two fingers, and put the potion to her lips at a painstakingly slow pace. The potion went down her throat surprisingly smoothly, but it left a bitter aftertaste.
"You'll be fine now. I have to get back to Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley now."
When Madam Pomfrey left, Hermione's attentions went back to Ron. "Harry and Ginny are here already? I thought they had to scope out the grounds first."
"They did already, Hermione." Ron told her in a soothing voice that people would usually only use with small, panicking children. "You've been out for hours."
She tried to recall exactly what had happened, exactly how she felt, but all she remembered was her inexplicable vision. "What happened?"
Ron reached down on the floor before seating himself on the side of her bed. He held up the book from the restricted section of the library in his hand. "I dunno. You touched this and just started to have this fit. I got it out of yours hands, and then you just passed out."
"Can I see it?" Hermione asked curiously. She reached for the book, but Ron leapt up out of her hand before she got to it.
"No!" He shouted. "There's no way you're going to touch this and start seizing again!"
Hermione, who felt better after the potion began to take effect, promptly got out of bed and snatched the book from his hands. Nothing happened.
Ignoring her own fear, Hermione looked over at Ron. "Oh, don't be a baby."
She sat with the book on her lap for a few moments, unsure of what would happen if she opened it. Maybe it would be best if she didn't open it. Maybe Ron should. Yes, Ron should open it. He was cursed anyway, so it couldn't get much worse, now could it?
"Ron, I need you to open this book to a random page." "Why?" "It's woman's intuition." She lied. "Just open it."
Ron let out a long breath of air before taking the book back. He opened the book lazily, but his eyes bugged out of his head when he looked down at the page.
"Look at this, Hermione! Curse Guardians!" He chuckled in a triumphant manner. "Your woman's intuition blubber might've caught on to something!"
Hermione smiled innocently. She knew she should probably tell Ron that it was not her true intuition at all, but a stroke of his own luck, but why ruin the fun?
Ron began to read the context of the book. "In the case of most Life and Death Curses, the cursed person or group of persons is assigned a guardian. The identity of each generation's guardian is passed down from the elder generation's guardian, but in some ancient curses, the identities have been lost through death or other obstacles."
He sunk back next to Hermione on her bed. "But we already know the guardian's identity has been lost!"
"Shut up and keep reading!" Hermione said, not willing to give up just yet. The page was crammed with sentences, and Ron had only read the first few.
He skimmed down the page "This part's just a bunch of rubbish about how nobody knows the power of a guardians, because all their powers are different, apparently. That's lots of help." He began to squint at the beginning of a paragraph near the end of the page. "This might be something!"
"A guardian can only be revealed when the cursed or one of the cursed touches the Lucidare Crystal, an ancient artifact that was rumored to have been buried in the tomb of King Tut."
"You know what that means, right?" Hermione said, taking the book out of Ron's hands and shutting it.
Ron nodded continuously before slowly stopping and saying "No, not really. What does it mean?"
"It means that we have to find that stone and the Weasley family guardian before Ginny has that baby."
"I know that, Hermione, but that stone could be anywhere!" Ron said.
Hermione shook her head, laughing. "Ron, where is King Tut's tomb?"
Ron thought hard for a second. "The desert?"
Hermione let out a grunt. "Let's try this again! What does your brother Bill work in?"
"Tombs." Ron replied obviously. Hermione nodded along. "Now what country does he work in?"
"Egypt." "Good! So where are we going?" "Egypt?" "Exactly!"
Ron sighed. "When we get home I'll have to owl Bill and see if he can get the four of us a place to stay."
It was at that moment that the curtain in the middle of the room pulled back. Harry stood curiously on the other side.
"The four of us?" Harry said as if it was the most radical idea he'd ever heard. Ginny was slowly getting out of the bed behind Harry. "Ginny can't apparate to Egypt! She's two months pregnant!"
"Two months?" Ron growled at Harry. He pointed his finger back and forth between Harry and Ginny. "This new.. activity of yours.. has been going on for at least two months?!"
Ginny decided it was her turn to be smug with him. "Actually Ronald, it's been going on for about six months."
"OH GOD! I didn't really need to know that, Ginevra!"
While everyone else seemed amused, Hermione was quiet and concerned.
"We've got less time than I thought." She whispered.
"The baby's due the first week of March." Harry informed her. "So, Ginny and I should at least be married by the third week in February, just in case."
They all gave quiet words of agreement. Hermione got out of the hospital bed, leaving the mystical book behind.
"Let's go home." She suggested to the others. "We've got tons of planning to do."
Ron raised an eyebrow at her. "So we're still going?"
"Well, you're one of the cursed, so if you touch the crystal, it should reveal the guardian." Hermione said, straightening out her clothes and pushing a brown lock of frizzy hair behind her ear.
"Gee, thanks for reminding me!" Ron's voice was bitter and sarcastic. Harry and Ginny could be heard sniggering in the background as Ron and Hermione went back and forth, but Ron and Hermione had learned the subtle art of ignoring the lovebirds.
It took a walk back to the Great Hall for him to recover. He looked up at Hermione, defeat shining through his eyes.
"So we're going to Egypt, then?"
"Yes Ron, just me and you."
So what do you think of that chapter? Better than the last? Is the Egypt idea too far out there? I'd love to hear any constructive input you may have!