Chapter 7- An Urgent Meeting

Luna conjured a stretcher for Dean and lifted him up, with Ron's help, "I don't know why Dean has been in trouble so much lately," she wondered. She tapped some areas of Dean's body and flicked her wand. Ron assumed that it was to fix Dean's bones. "They're just permanent." Luna muttered to Ron dully. "We still need to take him to my room."

Ron looked closely at Dean. His breathing had eased a little but it looked like he was still in great pain. He was dripping with sweat, which Luna constantly wiped with a cloth, and felt warmer than usual. Once or twice he would twitch. Ron tilted his head in concern. He glanced sideways for Hermione and Cho, who were huddled together biting their nails nervously.

"Let's go," ordered Luna.

Hermione moved forward and took Ron's hand. It felt cold and tense. Ron squeezed it gently and smiled at her. "Take my hand," she reached out her other arm for Luna to take. "Hold on tight." Hermione closed her eyes and concentrated.

"Hey wait!" Cho jumped at them. Hermione, Ron, and Luna jumped in turn, surprised. Hermione clasped her hand on her head. She frowned at Cho.

"Sorry, Cho."

"No, it's quite alright. Just forget me here, I can take care of myself when any other dark monstrous things come out." Cho replied sarcastically. She snatched Hermione's arm and held on to it tight glaring at her. Hermione sighed and closed her eyes again. Once or twice she would tip toe as though she was about to float but nothing happened. Cho, Ron, and Luna looked at Hermione expectantly. She did a half-smile and shrugged.

"I don't know why it's not working." Hermione said feeling embarrassed. Luna rolled her eyes.

A few minutes had passed by; Hermione was humming to herself and jumping up and down. Everyone was feeling very tired and cranky; Cho kept on scratching her leg, and stomping her feet in frustration. Ron was thinking very hard. How did Hermione suddenly appear in front of him in a burst of light? No answer came to him. He thought of how he was feeling at that time: he was getting worried of Hermione. He knew she was out somewhere looking for the legendary jewels she was talking about. He was talking to Dumbledore about the charm that Harry's mother cast on Harry:

"With Lily's sacrifice, the spell was completed," informed Dumbledore, staring into space.

"So you intend to use that charm on Voldemort?" Ron's head was pounding. He shook it but the pain didn't go away.

"Yes, but put my own twist to it." Dumbledore replied calmly smiling.

"Every ancient spell needs a blood sacrifice? Even the good ones?" Ron inquired.

"Yes... every ancient spell," answered Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye.

Ron was trying to comprehend everything Dumbledore was telling him when a burst of red light interrupted his thoughts and Hermione was suddenly clinging to his arms and kissing him passionately. The warmth of her lips as they touched his face, the evident feeling of relief on her skin as he hugged him tightly (almost choking him). Ron could feel a strange aura around Hermione.

Then as though a light bulb was clicked on, on his head, Ron turned to Hermione and asked, "Hermione..." he began, "I know this sounds weird but..." Hermione was now listening closely, although trying once in a while to tip toe and levitate. Ron continued, "How were you feeling... and really tell me how... when you appeared right in front of me?" Hermione stopped concentrating and turned her head around to face Ron. She smiled. Ron was taken aback; suddenly Hermione had become absolutely stunning. Her lips sparkled with beauty, her eyes opened and closed with grace. She had the most beautiful smile.

"I felt that I had to be with you. I loved you and nothing would ever keep us apart." Hermione looked down in sudden comprehension. "Of course!" She closed her eyes again and breathed deeply.

"So I guess we're finally getting home?" asked Luna turning her head slightly towards Dean with a look of slight concern.

Hermione concentrated really hard. I'm the only one who can save Dean, she told herself, if I can't do this right now, he will die. I must save him. Suzaku, help me save my friend. I love him and I don't want him to die. She was suddenly overcome with emotion. She hardly knew Dean Thomas when she had first come in to Hogwarts. However, the five years of Voldemort's reign had changed their relationship completely. Dean was suddenly like a brother to her. He helped them escape Voldemort when he found out they were about to be attacked by his Death Eaters. He was a friendly face. He was very helpful. At times, he would be stubborn, but it always turned out to be for the good of everyone. Hermione felt that she could never forgive herself if Dean died because he couldn't get help when help was so close. She was the one who led Dean into this trouble by agreeing to let him come. It mustn't happen this way! We must get to the tunnel!

The five that were standing there became covered with a blinding red light, and they were back at the tunnel greeted by surprised looks and a warm smile from Dumbledore. Luna ignored everyone and motioned for Ron to help her carry Dean and then hurried quickly to the magical door on the wall. The door shrank then vanished.

"I guess you've actually convinced them, Hermione." Dumbledore said gesturing to the crowd in the meeting room. "I had called an urgent meeting." He chuckled. "You can see that some of the attendees look quite impatient." He looked at the crowd, "so I am sorry."

"That was quite an entrance, Granger," growled Malfoy, "but not all of us have time enough to plan spectacular appearances that might get us into trouble." He glowered at Hermione but was ignored.

"So you've proven that there is a legend." It was Seamus Finnigan who rose from one of the seats and spoke. "But how are we going to collect them all?" He looked around flinging his arms. "I mean, just getting the first one and you're popping in and out in huge explosions of red light! I mean what would happen if you get everything else?" He clasped both of his hands on his head. "Our cover could be blown. Volde..." he winced a bit and shook his head, "Voldemort could just bust in here and blast us into oblivion!"

Hermione looked down on the damp tunnel ground and thought. She didn't think about it before but Seamus had a point. The magic they were dealing with was ancient, unknown, and undetectable. But was it controllable?

She looked up at the expectant crowd and worded her response carefully, "I think that all of us have a dream. Even at a time as dark as this: we all have a dream. I have my own dream: I dream of a peaceful life with my love Ron; I dream of having children with him; they would all be sent to Hogwarts; we will all be happy with our lives. Yet, this cannot be so. Voldemort has destroyed our lives. Yes, Voldemort. No longer the You-Know-Who we fear but Voldemort, the one who stands in the way of peace and happiness. Many of our friends sacrificed themselves. It might look like they all died in vain but they all gave us a lesson to learn. It is that we must never give up. I may be holding on to a legend: something of the past; it might not work. But I have this feeling in my heart, this writhing in my gut. And it says to me..." she stifled a sob, "it says to me that this could work. I will risk everything, and you must too. You must hold on to this hope with me. Believe that we might risk exposure and death... anything. We must believe this because we know that we can win. We must sometimes make a sacrifice, even oneself, for the greater good of all. This legend has proven to be true. If you lend me your aid, then together we can make this work." She paused to let her words sink in to the thoughts of the listeners. For a while they were silent and unmoving. Then the clapping began, starting with Cho who hugged her affectionately. Hermione felt herself blush. She was a little embarrassed but it was all worth it. She had told the group how she really felt, and they all seemed to agree.

After a thunder of clapping had subsided, a shaky and emotional Dennis Creevey stood up, "Hermione, I will assist you in any way I can." He brandished his wand and smiled. "And that way happens to be the magic of invisibility." A round of applause ended Dennis' pledge. He sat down grinning happily.

"I will assist you with my mastery in Transfiguration!" said Seamus, then another applause.

"I have always supported and believed you, Hermione," said Cho.

Every single person in the crowd began standing up and offering their services to Hermione. Applause and cheers rang the tunnel. Hermione was bright red after the fourth row of seats had been done standing up, followed yet again by applause.

"Hey, what's going on?" It was Ron. He and Luna had just come out of the hidden door on the wall. He looked around the room in awe. Luna stared blankly at the crowd. Hermione walked towards Ron and kissed him. Everyone laughed and applauded.

"Hey! It's not finished yet! Terry Boot is here to help too."

The roar of applause and the wave of people standing up continued again. Hermione couldn't help but grin at the enthusiasm that the group was showing.

"You must've really said something to them," Ron whispered to Hermione amidst the din. Hermione rubbed his hair and giggled.

"This must be a very emotional and joyous moment," interrupted Draco with a snap. Everyone turned to him and became quiet, contempt in their eyes. "I guess I might as well say something," he shrugged, "I'll try my best to keep the Death Eaters away from wherever you're planning to go." He looked up thinking. "I'll think of any kind of distraction. You have my word."

The applause that Draco Malfoy received could've been heard all over England. This was the first time that any of them had heard Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter's biggest rival in Hogwarts, offered any help to anyone, especially a "mud-blood" like Hermione Granger. Everyone looked proudly at Malfoy who became buried in the red of his blood. He waved his hand, prompting the crowd to stop clapping. His usual snarl of a face was replaced with a timid-like smile.

"You really did say something!" whispered Ron again to Hermione, feeling quite taken aback at what her love had just said. Hermione shoved Ron playfully.

"I just did a little speech," Hermione whispered back between giggles. She was a little uncertain why the sound of Ron's voice sounded so amusing to her. He was always funny; from the time she met him until now. Even in the worst times, he could still bring out the humor of things.

The clapping subsided about half an hour later. Everyone got up- feeling very tired- and began walking to their rooms. Some of them shook hands with Hermione, as though she was some celebrity, for a while before they proceeded. Hermione just couldn't wipe off the grin in her face. She felt so happy: everyone was in support of her. Collecting the seven stones would be an cinch with everyone helping along. All of her worries were over, and the worries of everyone else would soon be once she summoned Suzaku and rid of Voldemort. Ron would become very happy again.

Then a darker thought struck her: would Ron really be happy? Would he enjoy life all alone, regretting the time he had allowed his love to die for the greater good? Hermione was sure that Ron would not be depressed because Hermione had sacrificed herself for the greater good. However, she was quite sure that he would be lonely if he were alone by himself with no one to hug or kiss, no warmth to feel when the cold is too strong to overcome... no love.

This could not be the future of her love. She could not just leave him in the dark. Once again she was filled with the desire to give Ron a baby. She wanted him to have somebody to love and care for, like he had cared for her. She walked slowly into her room with Ron and turned off the lights with the flick of her wand.