The Price of a World
Chapter Seven
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Harry waited until he heard Ron and Ginny close the door to the kitchen below. He crept up the stairs and up to the landing outside the attic door. His hand rested on the door handle. He turned it slowly and opened the door.
"Buckbeak?" Harry whispered. He slinked in and closed the door. Buckbeak was lying in the corner of the room clawing the floor. Harry inched over; when Buckbeak laid eyes on Harry he stopped. Harry looked right in Buckbeak's eyes, he wasn't going to break eye contact. Slowly he bowed keeping his eyes on Buckbeak the whole time. He waited. Buckbeak rose and advanced towards Harry. He looked furious. Harry didn't move, he knew that if he moved it would be considered rude and he would be lucky to get out of the attic alive. Buckbeak came closer and closer. He sniffed the air and huffed. His head lowered, the beast bowed. Harry rose and petted the animal.
"I bet you miss Sirius…" Harry whispered and in return the animal whined. Harry stroked the animal affectionately. He put both his arms around Buckbeak's neck and hugged him. He buried his head amongst the mass of feathers and fur. Buckbeak nibbled at Harry's collar. He laughed and reached into his pocket. He withdrew a few cracker biscuits and gave them to the animal. A knock at the front door rung through out the house. Harry frowned and left the room. He took the stairs two at a time all the way down to the front door. Lupin was there already.
"Wait Harry…"
"Why?"
"We don't know who it is… we weren't expecting anyone today."
** * **
"Hermione,
I heard that you were home early. Harry, Ron and Ginny are staying here with me for the remainder of the holidays. I'm inviting you as well. I'm sure Harry misses you and you him. Please reply with your answer,
R. Lupin
Hermione read the letter. 'I forgot all about Harry.' She thought. 'Some girlfriend I am…'
"Mother! I'm going to stay with Harry and Ron for the remainder of the holidays." She called out.
"Okay dear. I'll drive you in half an hour." Hermione started packing everything into her trunk.
Within an hour she was standing on the doorstep of 12 Grimmauld place. She knocked at the door gently as not to wake Mrs. Blacks' portrait. She heard whispers from inside.
"Lupin? Lupin its Hermione." The door opened. There stood Harry and Lupin. Harry had a smile across his face from ear to ear.
"Hermione!" Hermione ran into Harry's embrace. Lupin collected Hermione's trunk, brought it inside and closed the door. By now everyone was in the hallway.
"HARRY YOUR ALRIGHT!" Hermione kissed him.
"Everyone back down stairs…" Lupin whispered.
"Why?" Ron enquired.
"Let the love birds have a few minutes together…" Charlie whispered and shoved his brother back down into the kitchen. When everyone was gone Harry spoke.
"What do you mean I'm alright?"
"Oh Harry I had the worst night mare. That you almost died, and that I saved you but I almost died. Harry it was terrible!" Hermione snuggled into Harry. He rested his hand on Hermione's cheek. Harry leaned down and started to kiss Hermione long and slow on the lips. Hermione pulled away instantly when she realised Harry was kissing her.
"Hermione what's the matter?"
'Oh shit… He's supposed to kiss me. Shit shit shit. I can't kiss him, its too awkward. Oh my god, I kissed him before! Draco's kissing is so different to Harry's. Harry's is sloppy compared to Draco's.' She thought.
"Hermione? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Harry pulled Hermione in closer to him.
"I missed you so much, and I don't know. I just… the dream felt so real…" Harry knew what she was talking about. He had almost died and he had dreamt that Hermione had saved him. So it obviously wasn't a dream. The thought confused and scared Harry and he thought it best not to mention it. Harry was silent and Hermione felt as if she had seriously hurt his feelings. She knew Harry needed her support more than anything at the moment. And she didn't want to break his heart right before his life or death battle against Voldemort. Hermione reached up and kissed him gently on the lips. 'Forgive me…' She thought to herself. Harry kissed her back and instantly forgot about Hermione's strange behaviour.
"Come on! Ron, Ginny, Charlie, Fred, George and Moody are here!" Harry took her by the hand and pulled her down the hallway and into the kitchen. Everyone greeted Hermione with a warm smile and friendly conversation. The grandfather clock struck five pm.
"Five, four, three, two…" Lupin counted down. "One." Tonks shot out of the fireplace.
"Hello everyone," She said getting up and dusting herself off. "My golly. We have visitors. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry. Hello all."
"Tonks!" they all exclaimed. Everyone loved Tonks; she was funny, exuberant and bubbly. She was just a fun person to be around. She smiled her big goofy smile, which made Ginny giggle.
"Work was hell today!" She explained.
"Oh?" Lupin looked surprised. "How so?"
"Percy is just being a pain in the arse. Still carrying on about how everyone is unprepared. How we should've listened to Crouch right from the beginning."
"That's Percy for you…" Charlie added.
"Oh im so sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect towards your family…" Charlie laughed.
"No harm done, he doesn't want to be a-part of our family so why should we take offence to his bullsh - "
"CHARLIE! Percy is out brother! Don't you ever talk about him like that! Everyone does bad things and makes mistakes. So don't hold a grudge." Ginny warned her oldest brother. Ron, Fred and George muffled their laughter.
"Right well… how does a chicken roast sound?" Lupin asked cheerily.
"Sounds great…" Moody said. Everyone was given a chore to do to help out with dinner. Once they all got their acts together dinner was on the table and the 10 friends all sat down to an enjoyable meal. Harry admitted to himself that it was the happiest time he had had since Sirius had gone.
** * **
A few days had passed. Starting at 10am Lupin, Harry and Moody would lock themselves away in the office. No one saw them until 4pm when Harry's lesson was over. Harry never told anyone about what they did in there, either did Lupin or Moody. Harry wasn't the same since he had started his lessons. He became extremely tired, he was irritated easily and he was very serious and quiet. Charlie was given a job to do at the Three Broomsticks. It was kept secret between Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Charlie. But what Harry could gather Charlie was to spend all day everyday for a week sitting in a cloak keeping a low profile. He was to listen into strange conversations and catch any rumours or information from Death Eaters whom drunk there. Tonks of course went to work at the Ministry and didn't get home till late afternoon. Fred and George stayed for the first few days but they got bored and went back to work at their Joke Shop. So it was only Ron, Ginny and Hermione left. They spent their time reading, playing card games or playing with the lonely Buckbeak up in the attic. One morning Hermione woke early. The sun had only just risen. Ginny was still sound asleep. She tiptoed down the stairs, past Harry and Ron's room. She could hear Ron's snoring. She continued down the next flight of stairs. Down the hallway and into the kitchen. It shocked her when she saw Tonks sitting at the table dressed drinking a cup of coffee. Today Tonks' hair was blonde. She suited being a blonde; maybe that was her natural hair colour?
"Morning Hermione." She looked up and smiled.
"Morning Tonks. Your up early."
"Have to be for work. I could say the same thing about you… Didn't you sleep well?"
"I always get up early. It's a habit I guess."
"Hmm…" Tonks drained the rest of her coffee. She put the mug in the sink. "Oh, and you received a letter this morning. A gorgeous eagle dropped it off." Tonks drew a letter from out of her robes and handed it to Hermione. "Your lucky I was the only one awake, its not every day one of us receives a letter containing a D. Malfoy crested wax seal." Tonks winked at her and dissapperated with a loud pop. Hermione stood shocked.
'Oh god. Tonks knows about Draco and me. Oh no… she wouldn't tell anyone, would she?' Hermione thought to herself. She looked down at the letter in her hand. She sat down at the table and read.
"Hermione,
I want to meet you in London. I need to tell you something.
Draco."
Hermione looked at the letter. Her heart was torn between Draco and Harry. She scrunched up the letter and threw it into the fire. She sat and watched the paper brown, shrivel, blacken and burn into ashes. Hermione made herself some breakfast and curled up in a chair by the fire in the lounge room and read. The clock chimed 9am and the clatter of feet on the floor above told her that Harry, Ginny, Ron, Lupin and Moody were awake. Hermione got out of her chair to greet them in the kitchen. One by one they came thumping down the stairs and into the kitchen. All but Lupin.
"Where's Lupin?" Hermione enquired.
"He has to meet with Dumbledore today." Moody answered, Hermione had their breakfasts ready and she sat and watched as they devoured it.
"Harry what do you say to starting your training now? And you can get it over and done with, be finished that extra hour early?" Moody asked.
"Yeah sounds good."
"Moody can we join in? It's getting extremely boring for us three. You all go off and leave us out." Hermione whined. Moody seemed to consider Hermione's request.
"Alright, but just for today." Ginny, Ron and Hermione all exchanged excited glances with each other and thanked moody profoundly. Harry on the other hand sat quietly.
"Right is everyone ready?" Moody asked.
"Sure are," Ron replied. Moody stood and led the way to the office. Once everyone was inside Moody closed and locked the door.
"Hermione, Ron and Ginny. What you are about to learn is very advanced and extremely strenuous. And everything you see and learn in here is to be kept strictly secret. You are not to use any of the spells until the time if right."
"When will the time be right?" Ginny asked.
"When we are battling Voldemort head to head…" Harry muttered the answer. He sat in the back of the office by the window.
"Right Harry," Signalled Moody. Harry stood and closed the blinds. He pushed the desk and lounge chairs over to the side of the room. He then walked and stood in the middle of the room.
"Okay," A loud clatter came from outside the window. Moody went over, drew back the blinds and opened the window. A large brown owl flew in, it had a letter in his hand. Moody opened it and read.
"Right, I have to go meet Lupin in at the ministry. Some thing has come up. Harry this doesn't mean you stop training. I want you to teach these three what you have learnt already." With out another word Moody dissapperated out of the room.
"Right, do you want to start with defence, attack or- " Harry stopped. "Never mind." Ron was about to ask what the 'or' was but Hermione kicked him in the shins and he stopped.
"Defence will be good for starters Harry." Ginny said as politely as possible.
"Uh okay. Well there is a basic spell that deflects a hex that is thrown at you… Uh I'll show you." Harry took three steps away from Hermione, Ron and Ginny. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He drew his wand.
"Terpelium!" A blue mist poured from Harry's wand tip. It clouded together and formed a shield around Harry.
"Oh wow…" Hermione breathed.
"Telpelium" Harry said plainly and the shield disappeared. "Usually you wouldn't have to use the finishing spell to get rid of the shield. Once a hex hits it, it will reflect and disappear.
"Right, sounds easy enough." Ron said pulling out his wand.
"NO WAIT! Ron you can't just pull out your wand and have a go. If you get it wrong you could blow this whole room to pieces!" Ron stood shocked.
"Uh okay then. How do you expect us to do the spell if we can even practise it?" Ginny asked sarcastically.
"I'll put a shield around you so if you do screw up it wont tear the room apart…"
"Oh that's great. We can kill ourselves instead." Ron rolled his eyes; he was getting really annoyed at Harry's sudden cocky, know-it-all attitude.
"No, the spell is a defence. It cant hurt you because you're the one who conducted it." Ron felt extremely stupid from that point on and didn't say much after that. Harry put a small shield around Ginny, one around Hermione and one around Ron.
"Okay have a go at it." Hermione got it straight off, hers was a purple colour. It took a while but when Ron got it his shield was red. Ginny on the other hand kept trying and trying. She stood silent for a minute, Hermione watched her. Ginny was breathing heavily. This spell sure was taking a lot out of her. Ginny's head finally rose. Her eyes were filled with determination. She pointed out her wand and screamed the spell. An explosion sounded from inside Ginny's shield. She had created her shield; it was a gorgeous pink colour. Hermione, Harry and Ron stood waiting for the mist to clear so they could see Ginny. When the mist finally cleared Ginny had collapsed on the floor.
"GINNY! Terpelium!" The shield disappeared. Harry ran over to Ginny's collapsed body. He touched her forehead. "It's okay. She has just fainted from exhaustion." Harry scooped up Ginny's small, delicate body in his arms and carried her up to her room. He laid her on her bed and went back to the office where Hermione and Ron were waiting.
"Ok if either of you are feeling tired don't persist. Just tell me and we can have a break. Trust me, I had at least four or five breaks when I first started these sort of spells."
"Sure,"
"Okay, how about a heeling spell? It's a little hard. But I'm sure you two could get it."
"What type of heeling?"
"Well… say you have a minor cut or something. It can work on that. But it's mainly for broken or fractured bones. Apparently it's a new spell created by some Italian guy."
"We don't have anyone with a minor cut or broken anything…" Harry just smirked at Hermione. He pointed his wand at his leg and yelled.
"Kir sereg" A small crack and Harry's leg was broken. Harry grinded his teeth in pain.
"Harry! What's the spell! Hurry!" Hermione ran and sat next to him. She tried to comfort him as much as she could. She kissed his face frantically trying to take away his pain. Harry pulled out his wand.
"Kir tel" He muttered through grit teeth. And he relaxed as the pain left and his leg healed.
"Jesus Christ Harry don't ever do that to me again." Hermione hugged him. "It scared me seeing you in so much pain." Harry just laughed and stood up. Yeah well kir tel is the healing spell."
"How'd you break you leg like that?" Ron asked amazed.
"Well I know two spells. I can break bones or leaves cuts."
"Coooool…" Ron breathed.
"Honestly, any spell that involves violence and blood interests you Ron." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Hey Ron you want me to teach you?" Harry asked enthusiastically.
"Oh yer!"
"I'll be in the kitchen." Hermione left the two boys to their blood and guts hexes. She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where she slumped into the nearest chair. It was only when she sat down that she realised how tired she was. She was considering going to sleep when she realised she had to write a reply to Draco. She used a piece of paper from the lounge room desk and a quill she found lying in a box on the kitchen bench.
"Dear Draco,
That was a close one. I'm staying with Harry, Ron, Ginny and lots of other people at the moment. I can't say where. It's all about the big battle coming up between Harry and your side. I know there is things you cant tell me about what your side are doing and that's the same with me. One of my friends staying here, Tonks; knows about us now. She got the letter. But it's okay. She won't tell anyone. I can't meet you, im so sorry. I miss you a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing you at Diagon Alley. It might be a problem for me to get away from Harry but I'm still thinking. Love always,
Hermione."
She folded the paper and ran up stairs into Harry's room. She took Hedwig out of her cage and tied the letter to her leg.
"Take this to Draco." She opened the window and let Hedwig fly out and off into the distance.
** * **
//A.N- Heya, im sorry this chapter is abit boring. I promise it'll get better. My story needed this chapter though to explain things. You'll understand later. I know how the rest of the story is going to go, I just have to write it. Enjoy and plz review//