Chapter Thirty

"I still don't know what you needed me for," said Harry.

He and Ron had just left their third store in Diagon Alley and Ron was still no closer to finding a gift then when they had started.

"I told you I could use your advice on what to get Hermione for our anniversary," said Ron, sounding as he had already given Harry that particular answer five times already. "This is the first time I've had a decent amount of money to call my own and I want to get her something she deserves." It was true that thanks to his Auror's salary he was making enough money to pay rent to Harry every month and still have a comfortable amount left. He would probably never be as rich as Harry was but he didn't care about things like that anymore. Most of the money Harry had he gotten because people had died, and Ron wasn't stupid enough to be jealous of that anymore.

"Why don't you get her some books?" Harry suggested as they were coming to Florish and Blotts.

Ron gave him an incredulous look. "That's got to be the least romantic thing I cold get her. At least I don't have to worry about what you buy Ginny," he added as an afterthought.

"Hermione's not like other girls," Harry insisted. "She doesn't like all that fancy stuff. I'm telling you, Ron, she's not going to care what you get her as long as it comes from you."

Ron didn't seem to be listening to him and kept on walking. He was starting to regret bringing Harry along. Hermione had said he needed to get out of the house because he was going to worry himself to death over Remus. Ron found that rather ironic since Hermione seemed to be doing a lot of worrying herself, not just over Lupin but over what had happened at St. Mungo's with that Healer specialist. She had actually wanted to go back and try again, and so far he had succeeded in keeping her from doing just that. If it had caused her that much pain the first time around, it would probably only get worse if she tried again.

In order to get Harry to leave the house initially, Ron had said suggested they head out to Quality Quidditch Supplies to see the latest brooms and equipment for the upcoming season. It had taken some persuading, but Ron had finally managed to drag him out of the house.

After they only spent about an hour at the Quidditch store, Ron had to think quickly about somewhere else for them to go because Harry would undoubtedly want to go straight home. That was when Ron got the idea to start looking around for an anniversary gift for Hermione. It was still a couple months off but this would be one thing he would not want to put off until the last minute like he did with everything else in his life.

Trying not to make it seem like he was following Harry's earlier advice, Ron headed towards the new section where they had recently expanded Diagon Alley.

With fewer witches and wizards shopping every day, to try and give them a reason to shop – while recovering lost sales – a whole new section of specialty stores had opened up over the last few months. Most of them carried exotic items and goods not available anywhere in Britain. There was a rainforest store that allowed you to take home a piece of the South American rainforest. Hermione had dragged him in there once and it was so humid he thought he was going to pass out. You couldn't even see where you were going the trees were so tall and thick.

He thought his best bet to find her something would be to go in the archaeologist shop that sold artifacts, books, and all other trinkets that were more than a thousand years old. They passed by the shop's display window on their way in that was offering a fully preserved mummy half off.

Ron felt completely out of place from the moment he stepped in the shop. Everyone in there looked like they held some sort of scholarly or archaeological position. The shop was divided up into historical sections, like Ancient Egypt, Babylon, Roman Times, and the aisles went on and on. Ron wracked his brain trying to remember what Hermione had talked about from her Ancient Runes texts, but for the most part he had just feigned interest and now it was coming back to bite him in the arse because he had no clue what parts of Ancient Runes she was interested in. But knowing Hermione, she probably found it all equally fascinating.

They passed by the Prehistoric section where a pterodactyl egg was on display for purchase. Ron kept walking until they happened upon the Ancient Egypt section. He remembered how Hermione had pumped him for information about his family's trip to Egypt back in third year after she had started her Ancient Runes class. He decided Ancient Egypt might be a safe bet then.

The only problem was there was so much stuff he was going to have a hard time choosing. There was a build your own pyramid kit, complete burial chambers, and pharaoh clothing just to name a few. Ron picked up a book called Hieroglyphs – Their Meaning and Place in Egyptian Society and started leafing through it. He was pretty sure she didn't have a book like this.

"Look at that, Ron reading when he doesn't have to. Never thought I'd see the day," said a singsong voice behind him.

Ron's head snapped up and he glared at Fred and George.

"Mum, would be impressed," George said.

"Shut it, you two," Ron growled, placing the book back on the shelf. "What are you doing here?"

"It's been awhile since we added to our own product line," Fred began. "Egyptian gag items would make a great fit. If they work, we'll buy a handful of mummies for Halloween."

"Shopping for Hermione?" George asked him a second later.

Ron didn't ask how he knew that because it was obvious he wouldn't come in to a store like this for himself.

"So what are you going to get her?" Fred asked.

"Dunno. I haven't decided yet."

Fred arched an eyebrow. "Don't you even know what she likes?"

"Of course I do," said Ron, growing irritated. "She likes books."

"And?"

"And reading."

"Oi, you need to get away from the books theme, little brother," said Fred with a shake of his head. "What would Hermione say if she knew all you thought she was nothing more than a bookworm?"

"I do not!" Ron practically shouted.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," George taunted. "Just because your brothers know your girlfriend better than you do," he said with a wink.

"We'll be going now," Fred announced, having sufficiently aggravated their younger brother for the day. "Time is money, after all and we've only just begun our shopping."

They took off down the dinosaur section and Ron muttered under his breath, "bastards."

"They're just messing with your head," Harry said to him.

Ron grumbled an incoherent reply and walked further down the aisle. While part of him knew the twins were just trying to get a rise out of him, he also knew they were partially right. Outside of books and school he really didn't know what else Hermione liked. It had never bothered him before. Then again, he had never thought about it much before now.

Harry, predictably followed after him a few moments later, and that reminded Ron that he was supposed to talk to him about something. Hermione thought he should be the one to talk to him about Ginny, while he had adamantly stated that blokes just don't talk about their feelings and stuff like that. Hermione had gotten huffy by that point and said there was nothing wrong with two best friends talking about what was bothering one of them. Ron had really put his foot in his mouth then when he had suggested she talk to Harry if it was so important to her. Hermione had pointed out that he would probably feel more comfortable talking to Ron than her, something he didn't understand. Now he had to say something because he knew Hermione was going to ask how it went afterwards.

"Er, so I haven't seen much of Ginny at our place lately," he started awkwardly. It didn't help that Harry merely shrugged in response.

"Are you two still in a row?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Listen, Harry, what you said about Percy – "

"I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have said anything when there's no evidence that points to Percy joining up with the Death Eaters."

"I mean, yeah, there's no evidence but it doesn't make it not true. I'll never tell my mum that but it's not as if any of us knew what Percy had been doing these last few months."

Harry was slightly surprised to hear Ron agreeing with him, but it made him feel a little better.

"You know how Ginny gets," Ron continued. "She can be a bit sensitive and fly off the handle sometimes. And she has the trademark Weasley stubbornness but she'll come around eventually."

If the imprint she had left on Harry's face was any indication, he wouldn't hold his breath.

A short while later, Ron came to the conclusion he wasn't going to find the perfect gift for Hermione, at least not today. Deciding he had got Harry out the house long enough, Ron suggested they go home. By leaving now, it meant he and Harry still had plenty of time to catch the start of the Chudley Canons match on the wireless.

When Hermione showed up at their flat hours later, the match was still going on. Ron was getting up to stretch his legs in the middle of a short break when he almost collided with her.

He recovered from his slightly startled state and kissed her in greeting.

When he pulled away, her face was scrunched up. "You taste like – "

"Beer?"

"I was going to say alcohol but I would still be right." She took in the sight of the ten or so beer bottles scattered around the coffee table and arched an eyebrow at Ron. "What exactly have you two been doing all day?"

Ron steered her in the direction of the kitchen, so Harry wouldn't hear them. He was suddenly aware of how dark it was so he turned on some lights. "You said I should get him out of the house, so I did. Then we came back and started listening to the match. So, are you going to stay?" He said to her.

"I've got some reading I could do," she said, trying to not make it too obvious that she'd rather spend time with him then do a bit of homework.

"The match will be over soon, I promise," he said to her. "Another hour tops." With the weather conditions they were playing in the match could go all night, it could even go on for weeks. If that happened, he probably wouldn't have a girlfriend by the end of it.

"All right," she agreed.

He was surprised by how easily she'd given in, so he hoped the Canons wouldn't turn him into a liar by making this match go on for much longer.

Hermione followed him back to the living room, where they found Harry sitting up and listening to the wireless in rapt attention. Ron was going to ask if someone had spotted the Snitch when the voice on the wireless didn't sound like any of the announcers.

"What happened to the match?"

Harry waved him silent and Ron tuned in to what the newswoman was saying.

" – Law Enforcement Squad is asking everyone to remain calm and stay inside their homes. The Aurors have been called as well and are currently dealing with this werewolf sighting. Two mauled bodies have already been discovered east of Manchester, but Aurors appear to have the situation contained now at the Manchester private school. The Ministry of Magic has urged those living in or near wizarding communities in the area, to stay inside their homes. We'll return to the Chudley Canons match now and once we have more news – "

Harry jumped off the couch, nearly knocking over Ron and Hermione in his haste to get passed them.

"Harry, wait!" Hermione called as she and Ron ran after him.

But he had already apparated away by the time they made it outside.

Harry reappeared at the Manchester private school. He expected to only find the Aurors on scene but everyone seemed to have ignored the broadcaster's warning over the wireless for the chance to see a real life werewolf.

He swore because the Aurors had put up barriers to keep anyone from getting too close, and anyone who attempted to cross it was stunned unconscious. Even with the barrier, the Ministry wasn't taking any chances. While the Aurors were busy with the werewolf, the Magical Law Enforcement Squad was standing close to the barrier in case anyone created an opening and got through.

"Harry!"

He could hear Ron calling his name but didn't turn around. He could barely see anything with all the people but he could still hear. The werewolf was howling more loudly now.

"We can't get through," he told his friends when they reached his side.

"Harry," Hermione started gently, laying a hand on his arm. "I know you want it to be Remus but he's not the only werewolf in Britain."

He shrugged off her touch. "When was the last time you heard of a werewolf attack happening?" He snapped. "It has to be him. He must have broken out when the sun went down."

He was already moving away from his friends before they could disagree with him. He recognized the Auror giving instructions to one of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad wizards.

"Tonks!" He yelled before she could disappear again. He had to yell her name three more times before she finally heard him and moved towards the side of the barrier that was nearly devoid of anyone.

"Harry, we won't know if it's Remus until the morning," she said, not the least bit surprised to see him.

"What are they going to do with him in the meantime?" Hermione asked, rejoining Harry's side with Ron.

"They'll stun him unconscious and then bring him back to the Ministry where he'll be held in custody until they decide what to do with him."

"Tonks, that's a human being under there. He's not an animal for Christ's sake!" said Harry furious.

"I know that as well as you three but the Aurors aren't trained to think that way. You should know that, Harry. The werewolf is a threat, and no matter who it is underneath, they have to treat it as such. I will be there when the werewolf changes back, and if it is Remus I'll do everything I can to help him. Now, I need to get back there and you guys need to get out of here, all right?"

She was already jogging back to the other Aurors before waiting for their response.

There was a pop sound as Harry disapparated, leaving his friends there.

Harry was on his third cup of coffee that morning and already feeling the jittery effects of the caffeine when Hermione joined him in the kitchen.

"Has there been any news?" She asked him.

Harry shook his head. "I was up when Ron left this morning. He said he'd let us know once he heard something."

She nodded. "I was wondering if you could do something for me," she said, voicing what she had been going over in her head the last few days.

"Name it."

"You've mastered Occlumency for the most part and because of your abilities you can already reach into other people's minds," she started quickly before she lost her nerve. "I need you to help me remember whatever it was that happened that day I was missing."

"You already tried that hypnosis thing and it didn't work. Ron said you almost passed out the pain was so bad."

"And there's a reason that happened," she persisted. "I overheard the Healer tell Tonks he thinks the pain has been preprogrammed in my mind to stop me from remembering."

"How many times have you gone on about how complicated the mind is and it's not something to be tampered with?" He said, trying to dissuade her.

"Harry, please, I need to do this."

"How can you even ask me to mess around in your head like that? I wouldn't do something like this to anyone, and especially not to my best friend. Have you even thought about what kind of damage I could do to you?"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take," she said stubbornly.

"Well, I'm not!" Harry shouted.

"You won't hurt me," she said confidently.

This was insane. "You know I'd do anything for you – anything except this."

"You hated Dumbledore keeping secrets from you all these years. Things that you had a right to know. Harry, I need to know," she pleaded with him.

"I won't know what I'm doing," he told her.

"That doesn't matter. I trust you, Harry."

After much deliberation, he said, "the second I feel something's wrong, I'm going to stop."

She nodded her head, accepting his terms.

Already regretting agreeing to what he was about to do, he led Hermione over to the table and made her sit across from him. They sat so close together their knees were almost touching.

"I'm not going to be able to control what I see in your head," he warned her.

She nodded, giving him her consent. Harry closed his eyes and then told her to relax and do the same.

He wasn't exactly sure what to do. He had invaded minds before but they had been Death Eaters and he hadn't been too concerned about causing them harm. He figured the best thing to do was to slowly go through her more recent memories until he found what he was looking for. When he came to the memory where Ron had lost consciousness and she was continuing without him, he heard her gasp out in pain and some unseen force tried to push him out of her head.

Hermione clutched his hand, silently telling him to keep going. He did, being even more cautious then before. He pushed passed the wall her mind had formed to keep him out. Hermione was trembling in pain at this point but she urged him on.

He suddenly found himself bombarded with flashes of memory before his scar felt like it was on fire and he had to pull out. He stood up so fast he was off balance and sent the chair tumbling to the ground. Clutching his scar, he stared back at Hermione who was also wide-eyed.

Harry couldn't move or breathe. It was her. It was Hermione who had been feeding information to Voldemort all this time.