Half an hour later the three of them were back in the living room watching a repeat of a soap Hermione and her parents watch in the evenings.
"Nice to see you again, Harry. Oh, and friends too." Rose said. She had, as before caught them completely by surprise.
The trio jumped to their feet withdrawing their wands.
"Oh, please…" said Rose lazily. She waved her wand and muttered an incantation.
Ron and Hermione flew backwards and hit the wall with a loud thump.
They struggled against an unseen force; Harry could see their mouths moving pleading for his help but no sound came out. She had performed a non-verbal silencing charm too.
"Let them go!" Harry yelled.
All she did was smile evilly. She raised her wand and before Harry could try to disarm her she had already muttered Expelliarmous.
"Why you little -" And he froze. Literally. She had immobilised him. How could he have let her do that? How could he have been so stupid? Now he'd put not only his life in danger, but Ron's and Hermione's lives. And then he realised he could control his mouth. Strange, he thought. No ordinary spell can do that. And then he remembered what she said. 'In my spare time I have created many'
"And now Harry," he heard her say, bending down to pick up his wand. She put it in her pocket. "It's time to pay…"
"But what have I done?" Harry said. "What have I ever done to you?"
"Does that matter?" she said, turning away from him. "What your ancestors did to me was unforgivable… I had to get back at them…"
"But what did they do?" Harry asked, thinking furiously, trying to buy time.
She spun back round to face him her face white with anger, building up inside her. "They locked me up! Kept me prisoner! In my own home. Then, when everyone had left to eat out one night I managed to escape, so I disappeared abroad for a few years. I had been thinking about returning for a while and then I found out that everyone in the Potter line was dead."
"But… whatever happened to you wasn't my fault!"
"It was everyoneelse's fault! The whole family was to blame. I swore to myself I would kill every last Potter if I could. Obviously someone" she paused. "Had already finished James and his wife off and everyone else had already past on. And then I found out that there was one Potter left. You."
Harry gaped at her. "Clearly, Dumbledore, yes Harry, Dumbledore," he looked dumbstruck. "missed out a few pieces of the story."
"But -"
"Enough!" she snapped. "It's payback time. You have to make one last choice before you die Harry to make this all the more fun. Give you a taste of the pain I had to bear. Which one of your friends do you wish for me let live? Will it Ron or Hermione?" She said emphasising the two names. "Which one was it that was dearest to you in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament? Oh yes, how could I forget? Ron."
Harry stood, still frozen, speechless. And then out the corner of his eye he saw Ron move a little. He was fighting the jinx.
"Ten seconds to choose." She said nastily. "Ten… nine…"
Oh God, Harry thought panicking. I can't make that sort of choice!
He looked to his friends and saw Hermione looking down at the floor. The expression on her face showed she was thinking furiously. She looked up as if sensing his gaze and gave him a weak smile.
"Five… four…"
NO! This couldn't be happening.
"Two… One. Tut, tut, Harry. Such a powerful wizard, incapable of making a simple choice. I guess the one to sacrifice will have to be the girl…" she raised her wand, and Hermione stared at her terrified.
"No you can't!" Harry cried, trying with all his might to fight the jinx.
"Oh, but I can Harry." She told him still looking at Hermione. "So hopeless… and she's the cleverest witch of your age too unless I'm mistaken?"
Harry didn't answer.
"Everything must come to death, Harry. Everything and everybody dies eventually."
Harry was shaking his head muttering Hermione's name wordlessly. Every cell in his body was wishing and wishing for her to fight the jinx and free herself.
But she didn't.
"Avada Kedavra." She said.
Hermione was thrown to the side and lay still, eyes closed.
"NO!" Harry cried. He tried to speak again but she had already said Silencio.
"Muggles." Rose muttered in annoyance. Hermione's parents were home.
"You're coming with me." She said quietly, grabbing Harry's arm. The last thing Harry saw through his teary eyes as they left was Ron looking in horror at Hermione.
Hermione! Oh no! What will happen next? Don't give up I'm near the end!