Chapter Five
Taking It Home
August 26-Hermione was frantic. Her trip to a different library yielded nothing.
She wants to go back to the library to see the book for herself. Obviously it isn't enough to just have a copy of the page.
Anyways, the books have enchantments on them, stopping anyone from taking them out of the library without permission. I think that she wants to go 'steal' that book. If the looks on Ginny and Hermione's faces have anything to say about it.
They are the brains in this operation. Me and Ron are the bodies…err…the brawns.
August 27-So, when all is said and done the girls are gone to the library and me and Ron are playing exploding snap…
The door practically dented the wall when they returned. They both mumbled something about damn libraries…then left to their bedrooms…
Later, they came out of their hideout and finally told us what happened at the library earlier.
It so happened that they got in the restricted section just fine, they also found the book aptly named Deadly and Sinister Devices: A Survivors Handbook. They also read the passage we found. Hermione's upset about the enchantments. It took her days to figure out the counter charms on the restricted sections. The foundations are the same, but there are also several tricks added that differ at each place.
But I digress. Her main problem is that she couldn't identify the charms on that book. It looks like there aren't any at all. But even I know that a very talented witch or wizard could cast a spell without it showing when you tried a countercharm.
So, again we have several options. Either try every countercharm we know…or assume the book is free of enchantments and just steal the damn thing…
August 30-Hermione assaulted Ron the other day and now both of them are at the library constantly trying to figure out the book's enchantments.
The book doesn't upset me much though. Either way we already have the info. What really bugs me is the fact that we won't know if we can perform the Horcrux spell correctly and then we need to do it on Voldemort…and get away alive.
I fully believe that we can get away alive if we set up to meet him. But this will involve countless Death Eaters. And I won't be able to perform the spell because my wand is Voldemort's brother wand. Add this to the fact that none of us can yet apperate…and have no way to do our tests…This will take lots of planning.
August 31-I have brought up my fears to them but only Ginny seems to care. Hermione says we can deal with that when we need to and Ron….well, he's Ron.
Because us guys are the brawns we were forced to go to the library. Hermione and Ginny have written up a list of over 200 countercharms, but they want to perform them themselves.
So we, Ron and I, have to go check out and see when the book was bought and placed in the library. Ron agreed with Hermione on this. They think , because the book is so old, that maybe the charms wore off. And, if they did, casting countercharms could possibly destroy the book. Therefore we have to go check out the inventory. Either that, or the book was just left there. I hope that the book was just left there…make it easier. Though every expressed their doubts on that theory.
"Are you ready?" Ron asked sitting at a table, a book propped open in front of him.
I sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be…" I stand and walk towards the inventory cabinets. "Do you think they'll even have restricted books listed in here?"
"Dunno…hope so."
I just stood there staring at the endless cabinets. Ron's hands stilled where they were flipping through the cards. "Why are you so against taking this book Harry?"
I raise an eyebrow. "When did you get so serious Ron?"
"Honestly…Answer my question honestly…"
I return my hands to my side and look up to Ron. I say nothing.
"I mean, Harry" His eyes meet mine, dead serious, "I don't like spending day after day hunting this book either, but you know as well as I do, it's this or the Order…Wait!" He added, halting my reply. "I don't want to go back to them, tale between my legs, and then have to add insult to injury by explaining everything to them then get treated like a kid. No way. But we need this book. If someone finds out we know about the Horcrux, don't you think they'll tell Voldemort? Then where will be? Don't look at me like that Harry. You know there are ways to figure out just who and when they touched something." He finished seeing my anger. "So…Honestly Harry…"
I sigh deeply and lower my eyes to the floor. "I dunno Ron. I guess it's not the book, per se. But more the time. You read what the book said. We have to be face to face with Voldemort, cast a curse we don't know if we can even cast properly! Then-" I stop and take a breath, becoming more and more aggravated, "THEN we have to somehow get away…ALIVE!. All without knowing how to apperate. Now," I add starting to calm down, "I'm sure with Hermione, we could learn. But that's beside the point."
There was silence for a few moments before Ron removes his hands from among the cards and squeezes my shoulder. "It'll be Ok Harry…You'll see…It'll be Ok…"
He seemed to be reassuring himself just as much as me…
An hour later we still hadn't found a trace of that book. Earlier, we had decided to look up another restricted book, Unforgivables and their usage in Everyday Life.
I'm wasn't and am still not sure whether it was how not to get caught…or just about not using on humans…I didn't open the book.
Since that book was in the inventory, and we still hadn't found the Horcrux book. We gave up.
"Screw this!" I said. "It's not here"
Ron paused. He hesitated for a brief moment before he headed towards the restricted section, stopping behind a rack of books. With a few swishes and flicks he disarmed the wards around the restricted section and walked in. I follow.
"So. Do you want to take the book…or me?"
Without hesitation I respond. "I will Ron. It was my idea. Besides," I add with a mirthless laugh, "I'm famous. If I get caught stealing the book, they'll probably give me the damn thing. And besides, I'm sure we can get away from here fast enough after they get their autographs."
I turned to go get the book when I paused.
"Err…Ron…" I have no clue where Ginny found the book last time and Ron has been here almost every day for the last few weeks…
"Oh!" He hurried to somewhere in the back with me behind him. "There" He gestured to a row of books.
I raise an eyebrow and, getting the idea, he backs off somewhere out of sight.
I pick up the book and disillusion it.
"Good thinking!" came a muffled response just in my hearing range.
"Can you get any more obvious Ron!"
I got a muffled laugh in response. I shook my head and turned towards the door. I open the door and hesitate just for a moment in the doorway. With a resigned smile I step through.
Nothing happened.
With a huge grin I head straight towards the table we had occupied earlier and sat down.
Ron met me a few minutes later with an identical grin. Grins which where mirrored on the girls faces a half an hour later. Accompanied by Ron and Hermione leaving into the girls room…DAMN I'm jealous!
Ginny just gave me a chaste kiss and asked how we did it. Of course I had to exaggerate.
September 1-Hmm…School starts tomorrow. I don't know if I'm relived that I don't have to study NEWT's this year…or if I'm a little disappointed. Hermione is disappointed. Ginny, I don't think she really cares. Ron…well he's ecstatic. He keeps going on about no school, tests and studying.
Snape…I wonder what happened to him, Don't think I care. No…maybe we can smoke him out along with Voldemort. Then we can get some revenge…
Hermione is locked in her bedroom with Ginny. We asked, but they still
won't let us guys in. I'm rolling my eyes right now at their
stubbornness. I don't see why we can't help them. Wouldn't it save them
time by not having to explain it afterwards? I don't think I'll ever
truly understand girls…
A/N: Sorry this seems like a filler, but it is important later. You'll see. I know...it's a bit short. But they'll get longer. I promise.
