Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Paradise Lost

Chapter Seven: A Wand in the Dark

"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not. Neither was their place found anymore in Heaven. And the Great Dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the Earth and his angels were cast out with him."
Revelations 12:7-9

"I'm in love with Ron." Hermione repeated.

"I heard you, well… Actually I suspected… But…" Harry paused.

"But…?" Hermione prompted.

Harry gazed past Hermione and saw Ron walking towards them.

"Speak of the Devil."

"You two aren't by any chance talking about me? Good things I hope."

Harry nodded. "As always."

"Good, good. Well, be had better get going. Mum says that we have to catch up on the homework, and then we have to have a visit from my gran."

Hermione shuddered.

"How do you know his Gran, Hermione?" asked Harry.

"That time in Grimmauld Place, I was dragged to his grandmother. It smelt just like I imagined it was."

"And how did it smell." Harry asked.

"Like boiled cabbage and this fish thing."

"It is Norwegian, ghastly. Lute Fish is what they call it. It is disgusting. Poisoned fish then made in this jelly stuff. Only had it is once." Ron then did an impression of what happened next, all is needed to be known is that Harry would never, ever, eat it.

"My ickle Ronniekins. I have a present for you." Ron's gran treated him like he was five. Ron looked as if he could smack her.

"And Hermione, so good to see you, precious." She pinched Hermione's cheeks. Hermione forced herself to smile.

"And you are?" when she got to Harry.

"Harry Potter." He said.

The old woman's eyes widened.

"Ron… You're friends with the Harry Potter, how spiffingly excellent, I am Dolores Weasley, how do you do."

"How come she talks to you as if your older, and to me like I'm five." Ron moaned.

Hermione nor Harry had an answer for that.

"She is such a flipping pain the arse." Ron mumbled so only Harry could hear him.

The next few evenings were filled with them enjoying themselves to the highest that they possibly could. Harry almost defeated Ron at chess – but almost is a key word in that sentence.

"You're getting good." Ron told him. "Finally, I have a worthy opponent."

Hermione glared at him. "And what about me?"

"Hermione, I beat you in a whole five moves." Ron said.

"Well… that was a long time ago…" Hermione said quickly.

Ron turned to Harry.

"Yeah, a week is a really long time."

Harry slept in Ron's Room. He really loved being in that room, he felt like he was home.

"G'night Harry." Ron said, after he yawned for the hundredth time that night.

"Night Ron." Harry answered.

There was a brief silence then Ron spoke again.

"Look Harry, I'm sorry about what I said."

Harry turned and looked at Ron.

"Sorry about what?" Harry asked.

Ron closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He re-opened his eyes.

"What I said that night. After I got bitten."

Harry smiled. "No need."

"No, there is a need. I feel awful." Ron climbed out of his bed and sat on Harry's bed.

"I have felt so bad, because… It reminded me of what happened in forth year… and now that Remus has gone. It is just that…"

Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder.

"Look mate, I… I…" Tears began to well up in his eyes. "I have lost every piece of family that I have, and those who were close to them… My parents… Sirius… Remus… Hermione and You are all I have." Harry sniffed, and after wiping his eyes, he continued. "But you have to promise me something."

Ron nodded.

Harry took Ron's hand, and said: "You have to promise me, that you will never ever die or leave me. Even if I go crazy and beg you to; don't."

Ron saw the raw emotion in Harry's eyes, the desperation. They had never shared this type of conversation. Ron embraced Harry and said: "I will never leave you, unless…"

"Ron… don't you dare say it… Please."

"Look, Harry I cannot promise that I will never…"

Harry pulled away and stared at Ron, Harry looked as if his anger was beyond rage, mixed with tears. "Don't you say it."

"Look every one has to die… and I cannot promise that I won't."

Harry made a noise, a half cry and a half scream. He turned and was about to walk out when he came face-to-face with Hermione.

"What do you want?" Harry snapped at her.

"I heard you shouting." Hermione said simply.

"Oh did you, that is nice. Now move." Harry ordered.

"Look, since we have the house to ourselves, it is a good thing, because we can now at least get one thing straight." Hermione said.

"And what is that?" asked Harry, who said it as if he wouldn't care whatever it was.

"That you are not to take out your anger and grief out on us. We love you so much, and we understand…"

"No, you don't." Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Oh I don't?" Hermione said hotly. "My twin sister died of cancer when I was nine."

Harry eyes widened, and his mouth made an O shape – as did Ron.

"I never old you, because that is how I handle grief, I keep it locked away. I eventually snapped, so my parents took me to see a therapist.

"The therapist helped me to control my emotions, and enabled me to work with the grief correctly; to suit my needs."

Harry stood there in shock. He suddenly felt all the anger evaporate, and he then stepped forward and hugged Hermione tightly, sobbing into her neck.

Ron looked at the two of them, Hermione was also crying. Unlike he usually did, he didn't feel the pang of jealousy that he normally would feel. He just wanted to comfort them both.

"Ron, I am the one that should be sorry…" Harry said, when they both stopped crying.

"No… There is no need." Ron said.

"Yes there is…"

Hermione sighed. "You two do realise that you two did the same thing, but opposite earlier?"

Harry and Ron looked at her, and smiled.

"Yeah." Harry said, and laughed.

"What a bunch of idiots, we are." Ron laughed.

"Yeah, well, I am off to bed." Hermione announced. "Good Nigh-ahhhh!" Hermione screamed when she walked into the door.

"Uh, Hermione, love… You have to open the door." Ron said, who then blushed – he had called her love.

"I know that. Now, good night."

Harry, Ron and Hermione were all asleep in their designated beds. They were all dreaming of things that had nothing to do with Lord Voldemort or anything that could be called a nightmare. But instead, a couple of shadowy figures watched.

"When do we wake them?" Draco asked. "Because I gather that we will not kill them when they are asleep – too cowardly."

"Right you are, Draco." Said his father. "They will wake up." Lucius looked out of the window, where he found the dark mark hover over the burrow. There would be torture that evening, one way or another.

"You remember what you must do?"

Draco nodded.

"And do make sure you don't get hit. When we practised you got hit five times in a row."

Draco shivered at the memory.

"Just get Potter as angry as possible – which judging by the last encounter is not very hard."

"Yes, father." Draco said, as if he were a robot.

"And if he doesn't hit Weasley or Granger at the first attempt, then you will be punished – this plan must not fail. I know the Aurors are on their way."

Draco nodded.

There was a loud crash that woke Harry. He reached out for his glasses without opening his eyes; but when he felt them, he accidentally pushed them off the table, while trying to grab them.

"Ron… Ron…"

"Wha…?" muttered Ron.

"I just broke my glasses."

"No matter, I can help." Harry and Ron sat up like a bolt of lightning.

"Reparo. There you go, Potter. Good as new. What? You're not going to take it?"

"What the fuck are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"Oh, you know the usual. Cause a little distress. Look I haven't cursed them… Scouts Honour."

Harry kicked Malfoy in the abdomen, and grabbed his glasses. He heard Ron shout: "Expelliarmus" sending Malfoy on top of Harry.

"Thanks a bunch Ron." Harry pushed Malfoy off him, and then followed Ron out of the room.

"Hello, Po…" Harry sent a full-body binding spell and then ran down the stairs.

"What the f…" Hermione started.

But Ron cut her off. "Just run." Hermione didn't need to be told twice.

They pushed open the door to the veranda. When they reached the door to the garden, Harry had trouble opening it. When they did, they raced out of the garden, but were cut off by Lucius.

"Tut, tut. I have no time for hide 'n' seek. This just isn't like you, Potter." Lucius taunted. Draco stood in between Harry and Ron.

"Get the fuck out of the way." Harry shouted seethingly.

"How about: No." Draco said. "Hmm… But how about…" He turned to Ron and shouted: "Crucio." Ron let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Hermione cried out in shock, and Harry looked horrified.

"Now, it is your turn."

Ron, who had regained his mental state, tried to protest. But Draco turned to Hermione and shouted: "Crucio." Hermione, like Ron, let out a scream, which also like Ron, sound bloodcurdling.

"Stop this." Harry screamed at Lucius.

"No."

Harry glared at Lucius Malfoy with pure loathing and disgust. He turned to Draco Malfoy and shouted: "CRUCIO!" Draco Malfoy fell to the ground and poor Ron was stood behind Malfoy.

The two Malfoys apparated out of garden, as a massive herd of Aurors came from inside the house. What they saw was Harry pointing his wand at Ron, who was screaming from the curse. They hadn't seen what happened.