Chapter 25
Hermione came to a halting stop at the end of the street. She, Ginny and George had finally made it to the main road. Frustration erupted inside her as she looked down the street. No cars were coming from either direction, let alone any taxis.
George ran out to the middle of the road. "Where the hell are all the cars?" he shouted.
Hermione was going to answer him but noticed Ginny out of the corner of her eyes. Every couple of seconds she would cast an anxious look back down Privet Drive.
"George?" Hermione called out to him. She knew why Ginny was so anxious. She was beginning to feel anxious herself. George looked over at her. He didn't have to say anything, Hermione knew he was listening. "Where are Ron and Harry?" she asked.
George ran his hand through his hair. He shook his head. "They'll be here. Don't worry."
Hermione copied Ginny and cast a look down the street. She couldn't see them. Hermione didn't like this. Ron said he'd be there in a minute. Harry said that he'd be right behind them. George paced back and forth. He remained in the middle of the road, no cars in sight.
"Stop that George," Ginny mumbled. It had been the first time she spoke since she left the house. George came to a halt and looked at Ginny questioningly. "You're making me nervous," Ginny trembled. As quickly as she had spoken Ginny burst into tears. She collapsed to her knees and sobbed.
Both Hermione and George rushed to her side. Hermione dropped down beside her and wrapped her in a hug. "Oh Ginny," she stroked her friend's head. "It's going to be alright. Everything's going to be fine."
George sat down on the ground next to Hermione and looked up at the night sky. "Why are you doing this?" he shouted loudly. "Why is this happening?"
Hermione glanced at the houses lining the streets nervously. George was shouting loudly and Hermione wasn't sure what they'd do if a curious muggle came outside to inspect what was going on.
"George, shush," she muttered as she looked at the houses more closely. Her mind began to work furiously. Something wasn't right.
George stopped and looked at Hermione. "What is it?" he questioned, knowing she was thinking something important. Ginny took in a deep breath and her sobs started to die down.
"Don't you find it odd?" Hermione let go of Ginny and stood up. "None of the muggles have realized anything is going on. We haven't been doing a very good job at keeping everything quiet."
George's eyes widened. "You don't think?" he asked, cluing in on her train of thoughts.
Hermione looked down at him. "Could they do that?"
"Could who do what?" Ginny piped in, not following what Hermione and George was talking about.
George nodded, totally ignoring his sister. "They're here."
Hermione's heart stopped. Ron. Harry. They were still back at the house.
"What is going on," Ginny asked again, upset at being left out.
"The dark wizards Ginny, they're here. They've done something to the neighborhood. The muggles don't know what's going on," George snapped.
"What is going on?" Hermione's eyes lingered around her.
"Where in Merlin's name is Fred?" George jumped to his feet. Ginny remained kneeled on the ground looking up at her brother and best friend. Her eyes were wide with horror.
Hermione's heart raced. She didn't like this. She pondered the decision in her head. She looked at George, who was looked at her sadly and at Ginny, whose face shone with fear.
"George," Hermione stepped forward and took one of his hands in hers. "Can you promise me something?"
George shook his head. "No. You aren't going anywhere. I'm not letting you."
A tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. "I can't lose another brother. I can't lose my sister. Promise me you'll watch over each other and get yourselves out of here."
"We aren't going anywhere without you, Harry and Ron Hermione," George replied sternly.
"You know George. You know how it's supposed to end. You know that the worst has finally come and we can't stop it," Hermione dropped his hand.
George looked as if he were on the edge of a breakdown. He pulled Hermione into a tight hug. "You go and you bring the other two back. We'll be waiting right here for you," George whispered in her ear. Hermione nodded against his shoulder. After a moment she pulled away from him and bent down beside Ginny.
Ginny looked at her, not able to say anything. "I swear to you I'll bring him back," Hermione spoke in a hushed tone. She stood up.
"Wait," Ginny called after her. "You make sure you being yourself and Ron back too."
Hermione smiled sadly. Turning away from the two Weasley's Hermione took off running down the street.
Hermione reached number 4 Privet Drive quickly. She stopped at the driveway, her hands on her knees trying to catch a breath. Once her breathing became steady Hermione stood up and cautiously headed to the front door. She pulled her wand out, holding it firmly in her hand.
She reached the front door and tried to turn the handle. It wouldn't move. She was just about to say the unlocking charm when she caught sight of the front window. It had been smashed and a large hole now stood in its place. Hermione's heart leapt into her throat. This wasn't good.
She rapidly did the unlocking charm only to find the door still wouldn't budge. With no other choice Hermione headed to the large hole. Wand raised high in front of her she peered into the house. None of the lights were on. She stared into total darkness. Fear engulfed her but she proceeded through the window, stumbling into the house. Her eyes took a minute to get adjusted to the lack of light.
Carefully she continued onward. Suddenly her foot hit something hard and she almost fell. Looking down Hermione forced herself not to scream. Lucious Malfoy looked up at her. His eyes were open and alert but the rest of his was frozen in place. She guessed he had been stunned.
Now Hermione was even more scared. Who knew who else was in the house? You're just going to get Ron and Harry. You're going to find them and you are going to go back to Ginny and George, Hermione thought to herself.
She reached the stairs. The loomed before her like a mountain. She slowly lifted one of her feet and placed it on the stair. Her hand holding her wand shook. Her heart felt like it was going to explode. Her breathing quickened.
Closing her eyes Hermione pictured her mum and dad. She pictured Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She pictured Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, Ginny, Lupin, Tonks, Dumbledore, McGonagall, even Snape and Mad-Eye. She pictured Harry and finally she pictured Ron. His freckly face smiled at her.
She took another step. She was going to do this. She had to do this. And then she felt it. It was if a wave of water had crashed on top of her. She fell backwards and everything around her began to fade.
"Hermione," she heard someone call out in the distance. Hermione opened one eye. Everything around her was bright. Sunlight poured in around her. Hermione pulled herself to her feet and realized she had been lying at the bottom of the stairs. "Hermione," she heard again.
"Over here," she called. Fred Weasley came running around the corner.
"Hermione," he called rushing to her and lifting her up in his arms. Behind him Hermione could see a whole army of wizards and witches seep into the house. One grabbed Lucious and pulled him up.
"George and Ginny? Harry? Ron?" she questioned pulling away from Fred as he placed her on her feet.
Fred tilted his head to the side, his face falling. "They aren't with you?"
Hermione was about to answer when she noticed the wizard who held onto Lucious muttered something and Lucious seemed revived.
"Thank you," he smiled at the wizard.
"Fred?" Hermione's voice quivered as her heart dropped.
Fred turned and looked at the wizards behind him. When he turned back his eyes were dark and bloodshot. Hermione screamed and took a step back, tripping on the stairs and falling backwards.
"I'm sorry Hermione," he ginned evilly.
Hermione's eyes popped open. Her head was throbbing. She turned her head to the side. She lay at the bottom of the stairs. Everything around her was still dark. Had she been dreaming?
She tried to get up but a pain like none she had ever felt ripped through her head. She remembered coming back to the house. She remembered coming up the stairs and then the wave. Something had happened.
With every ounce of power she had left Hermione lifted herself off the ground. She felt the pain pierce the back of her head. She lifted her hand and touched it softly. She quickly pulled her hand away since the contact made it feel worse. She felt something warm touch her fingers and when she looked down at her hand she knew what it was. Deep crimson liquid covered her hand. Shit. She was bleeding.
Hermione grabbed hold of the stair rail. Her wand, she thought in horror. She was relieved to find it lying on the floor next to her. She bent down and retrieved it but when she stood back up she felt instantly dizzy. Oh Merlin she was going to throw up. Hermione closed her eyes and stood, grasping the stair rail with one hand, her wand in the other. She didn't know how long she was standing there but finally wrenched open her eyes. It wasn't much difference as the house was still completely dark.
Whatever happened earlier she had to get upstairs. Slowly but surely she quietly clambered up them. When she reached the top Hermione quickly turned down the hall. She had no time to waste. All the doors stood open except for the one at the end of the hall. It was Harry's Uncle and Aunt's room. Whatever she was looking for lay behind those doors. Death lay behind those doors.
Hermione's head was now numb. Her eyes shifting in and out of focus. She made her way down the hall, raising her wand in front of her. She inhaled sharply. She placed her hand on the door handle; it was hot and burned her skin. Hermione didn't care. This was it. Hermione couldn't feel anything. She couldn't think. She stood frozen outside that door.
Then Ron's face flashed before her again. "It's ok Hermione," he smiled. "I love you and I will love you always."
This more than anything pushed Hermione to turn the door handle. The door slowly creaked open. Hermione felt cold wind hit her in the face. She first noticed the window open, wind howling in, the curtains flying up in the wind.
Hermione looked down and saw him. He lay sprawled on the floor, his eyes were closed and blood seeped down his forehead.
"Ron," Hermione cried throwing herself down beside him. "Ron get up," she couldn't stop the tears that began to flow. She reached down and grabbed his hand. It was ice cold. "Ron please," she begged. She pressed his hand against her cheek.
"Her…Her…Hermione," a weak, barely audible voice sounded from across the room.
Hermione got up and spun around. Harry lay on the ground behind the open door. His face was severely cut. His body positioned in a way Hermione could only think his back was broken. His legs bent, distorted to his body.
"Harry?" Hermione reached down and placed a hand on his cheek.
"Gone," Harry spoke. Hermione could see he was in a lot of pain and it took a lot of effort for him to speak.
Hermione trembled. "Who's gone?"
"Voldermort…" Harry stopped. It took him a long time before he could speak again. "Voldermort is gone."
Hermione nodded. "Are you sure Harry?"
Another long minute passed before Harry could speak again. "I killed him."
Hermione choked up. Was this really all over?
"Harry, just hold on. Help is coming," Hermione spoke shakily.
"Ginny? Fred and George?" Harry asked, a look of fear on his face.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. George and Ginny were fine when I left. I don't know Harry."
"Ron," Harry tried to lift his head up and look over at his friend but Hermione forced him back down. "Hermione is he…" he couldn't allow himself to finish.
"I don't know," Hermione stuttered in-between sobs.
"Go," Harry closed his eyes. "Stay with him."
"I can't leave you here," Hermione forced the words out.
"I'm fine. I'm going to be fine," Harry spoke forcefully. "Go to him."
Hermione had to wrench herself away from Harry and stumbled over to Ron. She had no more energy left. Her head pulsed. She dropped herself down beside Ron. Lying beside him she wrapped her arm around him and pulled herself close to him. "I love you too," she whispered. Everything around her went black.
O.O.O.O.
Hermione felt something warm stroke her cheek. When she went to open her eyes they seemed glued shut. She winced. Not knowing what was going on.
"Mione," she heard.
"Ron?" with all her might Hermione ripped her eyes open.
She was braced up against the wall near Harry, wrapped in Ron's arms. He looked down at her, a small smile on his lips. Hermione blinked. Was she dreaming again? She reached up and touched Ron's face. This certainly felt real. Sunlight streamed in though the windows. Harry lay beside them, his breathing rough. At least he was breathing.
Ron kissed her forehead lightly. She felt something soft wrapped around her head.
"When I woke up and found you beside me, I thought maybe I was in heaven, dreaming of you. I thought maybe I was given another chance to be with you. I don't know what I thought. I kissed you. I called you. You wouldn't wake up. I didn't know what was wrong. I noticed the pool of blood around your head. I thought I lost you. I pulled my shirt off and wrapped it around your head to stop the bleeding although I didn't know if you had any blood left to lose. I saw Harry. He was awake but barely. I lifted you up and brought you here. It's been about one day since I woke up, I don't know how long it's been though, since you passed out," Ron looked deeply into her eyes.
Hermione remained quiet, trying to process everything Ron had just said.
"I don't…" she started but Ron stopped her.
"I don't know what happened either. All I know is that this is real. We're ok," he leaned closer to her. "We made it through the worst."
Hermione was going to speak but then stopped herself. Leaning in she placed her lips against Ron's. She kissed him long and hard. She had never shared a more passionate kiss with anyone ever. She pulled herself up onto her knees. She forgot all about everything and pressed herself into Ron. He kissed her back, matching her passion.
"Um…" a small voice whispered. "I think I've been scared for life." Hermione pulled away from Ron and turned her head. Harry lay next to them, a faint smile on his face.
Then Hermione did something she never thought she would do again. She laughed. She just burst into a fit of laughter. She heard Ron's hearty laugh and saw Harry chuckle a bit. Bending down she pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead and then straightened up and pressed one against Ron's lips. The three of them just sat, or lay in Harry's case, there and laughed. Ron was right. They had made it though the worst.
Author's Note - I know this took me forever to get up. But arent you proud of me. This is the longest chapter i have ever written. I really hope you loved this chapter. I think is one of my most favourite chapters i have ever written. I just loved the way it goes. Finally, a spark of light in the story, a glimmer of hope. Love and happiness. One more chapter left to go. I'm going to try my hardest to have it posted by Sunday. Thanks so much to everyone. Pleave don't forget to review. It will brighten up my day. :)
