These chapters are closing in quick! The final test will probably come forward in the next chapter and if not definitely the chapter after that. I'm sorry I can't update faster but I do have school full-time, a job, and a life. I'll try to keep some kind of schedule going. Still there's only a couple chapters left so no worries! Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this chapter.
Mac- Yeah, I thought it made more sense too. Plus, gut wrenching shocks are great at any time of day!
MmmMmmGood- Yeah, you were pretty much supposed to know that Ron was going to purpose. It was Hermione's answer that was the shocker. Forgive me for almost giving you a heart attack, dear.
Harrysmom- Yeah, I think Hermione is actually a very insecure character just like Ron. That's why she was worried about the curse being his reason. I'm glad you liked Ron's overzealous declaration of love.
Lovelyloey- You're definitely right, there could have been more development. Honestly it's my own fault that there wasn't. I was drawing a blank. Oh well.
Lucidity- I'm honestly not sure yet how many weddings there will be, or if they'll be written out. I'm kind of making this up as I go along, which is absolutely terrible LOL! I guess everyone will just have to keep reading and find out!
Shayla- You'll figure it out soon. I update about every two weeks so be on the lookout.
Angel and Devil- It is a rocky road indeed, but aren't all great love stories? I think getting through the bad times is what makes the good times so great.
Cursed Wedlock by MyKonstantine.
Chapter 14: The Whispering Light
"Where am I putting this?" Ron grunted as he pointed his wand at a couch in midair.
Ginny untangled herself from a pile of curtains as she attempted to hang them from the windows. A pile of dust shot out and she sneezed overzealously.
"Ginny, this levitation spell isn't going to hold much longer." Ron wasn't sure why he'd agreed to help Harry and Ginny into their new house on moving day.
Hermione walked into the room to help Ginny fix up the curtains. Ginny only patted her protruding belly and mumbled something about her feet killing her. Neither of them paid much attention to Ron.
The couch dropped about a foot in the air. "I'm about to drop your bloody couch, Ginevra!"
That one got her attention. Ginny pointed at the empty space across from where she stood. "Just put it over there!"
The couch flew across the room at an impressive speed and dropped into place with a ground-shattering THUD! Hermione chuckled disapprovingly. Ron didn't care.
"When do I get to go in the room?" Ginny whined softly as she straightened out the curtains she'd just hung.
Ron knew Ginny was referring to the baby's room. Harry was doing some work on it, and he made Ginny promise not to go in there until he gave her the okay. Ginny agreed despite her lack of faith in Harry's decorating skills.
Of course, Ron and Hermione knew exactly what he was doing. Hermione had actually helped him plan it.
"Be patient." Hermione sighed, sounding a bit impatient herself. "I'll make you some tea."
"Yes, you make tea and I'll keep moving furniture." Ron laughed. He tried to take amusement in the fact that the girls made him do all the work. He should have expected it, after all.
The past week had been one of the best of Ron's life, so he couldn't complain. His mum positively bawled when Ron and Hermione finally came back to The Burrow engaged. She then went on for hours about how she'd known since the day she'd first seen them together at age twelve.
The next night, there was a feast in celebration of the newly engaged at The Burrow. Even though Charlie couldn't make it from Romania, Bill managed to come up from Egypt for the remainder of the week. The look of shock on Ron's face must have been priceless.
Now two days later, he was helping Harry and Ginny into their first home. It was a charming venue not too far for The Burrow. There was a small country road in front and a wide green forest in back with just enough grass to play quidditch in the shade.
Ron completed the living room not long after, as Harry and Ginny still had very little furniture. He was just about to retire for tea with the ladies, when he bumped into Harry in the staircase.
"It's finished!" Harry grinned triumphantly. "It's brilliant!"
Ron was going to reply, but another voice called out "It is? Let's have a look then."
Ginny had ears like a bat. She could hear noises from miles away.
She also had the speed of a snitch, because she was flying up the stairs in a matter of seconds with Harry and Hermione right at her heels.
Harry squeezed in close to the door and opened it, swinging out his arm in a sign of welcoming. "Here it is."
"Oh, Harry!" Ginny gasped, her eyes scanning the room over and over again.
It was a summer's day. Soft baby blue paint covered the walls and ceiling. On the ceiling, puffs of white clouds looked down upon them. Green grass was painted over the trim that led down to the green carpet.
Behind the grass, Harry had stenciled out a white picket fence with ivy crawling along it. When it reached the baby's ivory crib in the corner, the ivy design snaked along that. The rest of the room had little white furniture and a lush blue chair for mum and dad.
"Well planning it out is nothing like seeing it." Hermione stated looking quite impressed at what Harry had managed to accomplish over the last few days.
"You knew about this?" Ginny directed the question to both Hermione and Ron. They nodded with identical smug grins on their face. Ginny looked like she was about simultaneously laugh and cry.
Harry stretched his shoulders quickly. "Now on to all the other rooms."
"They're all set, mate." Ron was feeling rather accomplished.
"Except for our bedroom that is." Ginny added.
Forget accomplished, Ron was feeling rather ill now. They may have been getting married and having a baby, but they were still Harry and Ginny, his best friend and little sister.
Ron took Hermione's hand and made a move for the door. "That's our cue to leave, then!"
Generally, a comment like this would at least get a smile or a giggle from one of his dear friends, but it didn't. Everyone seemed to be far too preoccupied with Hermione's sweater.
"Hermione, you're glowing." Ron said, his eyes glued to the green light emitted from the pocket of Hermione's sweater.
"Really?" She growled sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed!"
"What are you doing carrying around that crystal all day?" Harry inquired without even seeing the crystal.
Hermione shrugged as if it was so obvious, but men were too thick. "In case something like this happens. I couldn't have left it unattended at The Burrow in such an unstable state."
She grasped inside her pocket and yanked out the now emerald stone. It had glowed before, but always for a purpose. Nobody could think of a purpose for it now.
"What's that all about?" Ginny asked quietly.
It took mere seconds before her questions were answered.
The green ivy painted around the crib lit up in the same sparkling green color. Ginny took a step back, but Harry moved a step looker.
"Don't touch it!" Hermione chided.
Harry was no fool. Hermione had more knowledge of the scenario that anyone else and she probably knew what was best for him. Still, they could all tell he was willing to take the risk.
Ron hoped that the light would disappear quickly, but it shone firmly for several more tense moments before anyone dared to move.
Hermione inched closer to the crib, stretching her hand slowly.
Fear shot up through Ron's body as he began to realize what she intended to do. He rushed over in two wide strides and clasped her arms down by her side, moving her away from the crib.
"You told Harry not to touch and now you're about to do the same damn thing?" Ron's voice was harsh, but he thought it was justifiably so.
"Desulva temis." Hermione whispered.
Ron shook her shoulders quickly. "Hermione what are you talking about?"
"I don't know, Ron! I don't know, but I know what I'm doing!" Hermione sighed.
"No, you don't! You've got a hunch but you don't know what could happen to you!"
Suddenly, the room was much darker. The light from the crystal and the crib had completely faded.
Hermione glared at Ron with a look of utmost anger. "Now look what you've gone and done!"
"Yeah, I possibly saved your life. What an arse I am." He spat back, his blood boiling with a strange feeling of love mixed with distress that only Hermione could produce from him.
"Let's not argue!" Ginny called out, trying her best to avoid the inevitable. "Let's snatch some food from the Leaky Cauldron and bring it back here to eat instead!"
After moving almost all the furniture in the house, neither Ron nor Hermione could argue with the idea of a full meal.
"That'd be lovely." Hermione agreed. Her head snapped towards Ginny's tall brother. "Unless Ron thinks a fork is too dangerous for me to touch, of course."
"Only if the fork is glowing with the bloody light of impending doom." Ron shot back, turning his back out the door and finally exiting.
How could she not understand? He was only protecting her. She had a lot weighing on her shoulders and she couldn't screw it all over by taking risks.
Dinner was ordered through Harry, who went by floo to retrieve it. The period during which he was gone was gut wrenching. Hermione made idle conversation with Ginny and completely ignored Ron. Nobody was willing to discuss the events that occurred only a few minutes before.
Hearing Harry's entrance was a breath of fresh air. The wafting smell of fresh food didn't hurt much either. However, Ron still stayed as silent as possible. For once he realized that talking would do him no good. If he mentioned anything about Hermione's strange words, they would be an argument.
"..'Mione?" Ginny's voice was little a meek. "I have to ask? You whispered something in the room. Something I didn't understand. What was it?"
Hermione swallowed a bit of food and hung her head. "Desulva temis. I don't know what it is. It just kind of came to me."
No fair! Ginny got an answer without any trouble whatsoever! Ron felt a slight resentment of his bold little sister who had used her femininity to her advantage.
"Are you sure you don't know where it's from?" Harry asked in a smooth, calm tone.
"I haven't a clue." Hermione replied after a moment of deep thought.
Ron thought this was a good time to inject a few words of comfort. "Well, if you think of anything, you can always talk to us about it."
"I know Ronald. I'm not daft." Hermione didn't exactly lash out at Ron, but she wasn't as calm and polite as she had been with Harry and Ginny. Go figure.
The table creaked. Harry coughed. Ron's bladder sloshed uncomfortably. Hermione's head shot up quickly. Almost too quickly for Ron's liking.
"I'll be right back. I have to go to the loo." Hermione told them firmly. With her hands in her pockets, she escaped down into the other room and took a right.
"Isn't the loo on the left?" Ginny giggled in question.
Harry shrugged. "I think so. I haven't been here long enough to be positive." For a brief moment, a smile that highlighted Harry's new beginnings lit up his face. "She'll find her way."
"Well she better hurry up." Ron grunted, feeling the tingling in his bladder increase to an uncomfortable level. "I could use the facilities myself."
Harry chewed his food quickly, pointing up at the ceiling rather frantically. He swallowed with a loud gulp before announcing that there was a bathroom upstairs that he'd gotten very familiar with while decorating the baby's room.
"It's not as big as the other," he explained, "but I'm sure you won't mind."
"Not at all." Ron smiled, already rising from his seat and heading for the stairs. He took a sharp right and headed toward the stairs without a second thought. After rushing up the stairs, he quickly found the bathroom Harry spoke of.
When Ron finally turned off the faucet minutes later, he was really starting to like Harry and Ginny's new home. It was warm and welcoming, just like the couple themselves. He knew their family would thrive here.
Lost in his thoughts, Ron barely noticed the bright green light shining through the crack in the nursery doorway.
His breath hitched. Nothing in that room was safe, but he had to know what was happening. He had to get Hermione.
His feet tumbled down the stairs at a disastrous rate. He couldn't possibly go into the room on his own, but he didn't know how long the light would last. He turned into the kitchen to find something that shocked him even more.
Harry and Ginny sat alone at the kitchen table.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron shouted, though he was positive that he already knew the answer.
Ginny looked confused beyond belief. "She's still in the loo, I suppose. Why?"
"Shite!" With that, Ron was running up the stairs once again. After a moment of hesitation, he could hear Harry and Ginny running up behind him.
The light was still growing strong when Ron's hand clutched the doorknob and firmly swung the door open.
The eerie green light enveloped the crib once again. In front of it stood Hermione looking brave yet reserved. In one hand she held the lime Lucidare crystal. She held her fingers of the hand mere centimeters away from the crib. Ron entered just in time to see her fingers slowly closing the gap.
"Hermione, no!" Ron yelled out.
He tried to pull her away again by grabbing her free that was hand by her side, but at the same time Hermione came in contact with the glowing green leaves of the Potter baby's crib.
Ron felt an extraordinary pain until anything he'd ever felt before. His body felt like it was on fire with the intense heat surrounding him. His skin was blistering and his insides were melting. Shocks shot through his body, making every fiber of his body ache.
The last thing he heard were the words "Desulva temis" before everything went black.
Several hours later, a red-haired boy woke up on a long green couch. His eyes were weak, but he was able to open them and study the scene.
Night had fallen over the Potter house. A fire was lit and a bushy-haired woman stared into it with a look of unease on a chair next to him. She looked as if she'd been crying quite recently.
Ron attempted to lay a hand on Hermione's knee. However, after only a few inches of stretching he felt a stabbing pain in his muscles and let out a painful grunt.
"Ron!" Hermione jumped up out of the seat. "Don't move!"
Ron definitely hadn't planned on moving. He learned his lesson the first time. Instead he watched as Hermione rushed over to the nearest table and picked up a teacup.
"Here," she motioned, bringing the cup to his lips, "drink this."
Great. Bloody health potions. He wasn't happy, but Ron still managed to do what Hermione said with little difficulty.
Surprisingly, the potion wasn't as God-awful as most. The taste was similar to overly sweetened Butterbeer. Ron would need to thoroughly brush his teeth to get rid of the aftertaste, but he realized it was worth it when he felt his muscles begin to loosen up.
"Hi, love." He squeaked out with a weak smile.
Hermione returned his smile tenfold. "Hi."
"What happened?" Ron said in a groggy sounding voice.
"Ron, you weren't supposed to touch me, but you did." Hermione said as if she'd known that all along. "Therefore the pain transferred to you."
"Well why would you touch that thing just to feel pain?" Ron shot back in a confused voice. He was trying to stay on his best behavior because he could see the guilt in Hermione's eyes.
Hermione shook her head. "I didn't just feel pain. I spoke to the Peregrinus."
"What?!"
"I spoke to the Peregrinus the original cursed Weasley siblings, Robertus and Gweneveire. Well, technically I only heard their voices."
Ron's eyes were wide with shock. "What did they say?"
"Robertus wanted to kill me, Ron." Hermione heaved, the tears welling up in her eyes. "He knew only the guardian could have made it this far. But the Peregrinus couldn't kill me. Gweneveire wouldn't allow it."
Ron suddenly held a grudge against one ancient ancestor and a deep love for another. That still left him with nothing to say. "Go on."
"They could feel you touching my hand, Ron. They could feel your emotions. Your love." A single tear slipped down her cheek. "So they decided that there was only one way prove that me, you, Harry and Ginny really love each other. They're going to give us a test."
Ron blinked twice, then slowly nodded. "What kind of test?"
"I don't know."
"What if we don't pass?"
Hermione's breath shuddered as she sucked it in. "They'll destroy us."