Chapter 10

Ways of Moving Forward

The sun was hot, bathing the fortress were the Dark Lord reigned. Even with the heat of the day, the room, which he occupied, was dark and cold. With the little light, you could see your breath in the air. Standing in a semicircle facing him stood his minions. Dressed in heavy hooded cloaks and wearing a mask that covered their identity and fear. In the middle, upon one knee rested an unmasked blond young man.

"Draco, I understand you are ready to prove yourself. You have failed me once and lived. That shall not happen again."

"No, Master. I shall not fail. My life is in your hands."

A cold dank laugh permeated the air. "Your life has always been in my hands. Here I was given the impression that you were smart."

A rustle of robes, and murmurs could be heard from the assembled.

"SILENCE." Standing up from his throne, the Dark Lord advanced upon the crowd. "I want Potter found. Do not try and take him. He is mine. His life like yours," pointing to each in the circle "belongs to me. I want all of you to go and find him, NOW."

Turning, each moved smartly to the doors. Draco stood to exit but was held by the repulsive and malodorous hand of Voldemort. "No, wait Draco. I have something special for you."

The smell of hot coffee and sweet cakes wafted through the hall. Sitting alone at the table was Arthur, Remus and Alastor.

"Arthur, you and I are going to have to go back soon. Since I'm a hired hand, the Minister has no hold on me, but you Arthur." Mad-Eye Moody said, while sniffing one of the cakes before taking a bite from it.

"I'm not sure I want to go back to them. I know, I know," looking wearily at the two men, "What would I do? To tell the truth, I really don't care. The last several years have been hard. My family has been torn. Just look at my son Percy. They have brain washed him." He stood and gripped the edge of the table. "Even then, they know I know where Harry is. If I refuse to answer, I could be held on charges of treason."

He started to pace with his hands clasped behind his back. With a determined look on his face, he turned back to his comrades. "No. I'm not going back."

"Who's not going back?" Molly had entered the room, hearing only the end of the conversation. "Who's not going back Arthur?" she asked, looking to her husband.

"I'm not Molly dear. I can't. I couldn't," holding his wife in his arms. "Not this time. I'm not standing back and let my family fight without me. I can't, I won't," as he buried his head into her shoulder.

"Ron, why don't you go down and eat. I'm not really hungry. One of the house elves left me some tea and cakes. I'll be fine. I might just go for a little walk."

"No, no that's fine," came a shaky voice. Ron kept taking quick glances at her. "I… I'm really not hungry either," he said turning away from her.

"Ron? Is everything okay?" she asked looking at him. Hermione Granger didn't have to be the smartest witch of her age to know that something was amiss. Standing, she walked to him and put her arms through his. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Looking down into the eyes of the one woman he knew was right for him, he smiled. Biting his upper lip, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the little velvet bag and gripped it in his hand. "Hermione. We know each other so well. You know… You're the not just a bright woman, you are the bright light that shines in my heart. I keep asking myself, 'Why would someone so beautiful, so smart and talented want someone like me?' That's when I look up and thank the Lord you came into that compartment so many years ago."

Holding her in the crook of his arm, he escorted her to a small couch. Sitting down facing her, he continued, "I really don't know where I would be if you hadn't come into my life. I know we always bicker, but I really enjoy that in a strange sort of way."

"Ron, what are your trying to say?" she said, as her eyes got misty. A small smile was curled on her face.

She watched as Ron slid from the couch and knelt upon his knee in front of her. Bringing her hand to her face, her eyes got rounder as she took in the scene before her.

"Hermione Jane Granger, what I'm trying to say is I would be the happiest man in the world if you would marry me," he said, watching her face as he emptied the bag of a small simple gold band. "Will you marry me?"

She didn't, nor could she a say a word for a moment. Tears were streaming down her face as she shook her head. "Yes…yes I will marry you, Ron."

" Your mad at me. I can tell, you're mad at me," sitting up in bed. Harry looked at Ginny who too was sitting, but facing away from him on the other side of the bed.

"Mad at you, no, I'm not mad at you Harry. I really thought you liked me, that's all. It's just you realize that we are soul mates." She had her arms crossed as she stood up and turned to face him.

Looking at her, standing there. He really wanted to, but he kept thinking to himself 'The right or the easy… the right or the easy' "True, but we could have been soul mates at 5 years old too. Just because we can do it, doesn't mean we should. Do you think you are really ready to step into your mother's shoes? I mean, really ready? I don't think I'm ready for the responsibilities that come from being a parent."

Harry looked steadily at Ginny, as he walked to her. Taking her hands in his "I love you, really I do, and I know you know it, but I'm only 16, Gin. All right, almost 17 but your only 15. I won't feel right, but worse, I won't want you hurt."

Tears started to well in her eyes as she looked up to him. "You really mean that, don't you Harry? I always thought that going to bed with a girl is what all guys wanted, but you don't because…because you really care."

"The first time we do it, it will be special. Real special. We will have waited, and be ready for all the wonderful things that can come from it. I can love you, and show my love for you without having sex. Can you accept that?"

"Accept it? Hell that's what any girl wants," hugging him, "So tell me, when did you get so smart?"

Grinning as he rested his head on hers, "I've always been smart, just blind for a long time." 'The right - YYEESSS,' he roared to himself!'

Stepping back she smiled. "You realize, that means lots of snuggling and snogging."

"S and S, I could live with that. Now don't take this wrong, but I think it also means, I need to get another room. Because this couch is going to kill my neck."

"Heh heh heh, well I don't think you'll have a problem finding one. This house is so big. I think it has hundreds."

Taking a cutting of hair, he dropped it into the mixture. The potion was just about ready. Holding his nose, he drank the concoction. He felt sick, but soon was better. Transforming his clothing to match the subject on the ground, he looked into the mirror. The face of Cornelius Fudge looked back. Digging through the cloak of the stunned and bound man on the ground, he found a wand. Tucking it into his robe, he left the room and headed towards the fireplace.

It was dark in the deepest regions of the Forbidden Forest. There stood a young centaur watching a gathering of acromantula. Thousands upon thousands of the giant spiders had gathered. Stunned by the sight before him, he did not notice as 20 or more lowered themselves above him.

Heads turned and smaller creatures fled as the sound of painful anguish echoed through the woods.

Standing deep in the shadows, he watched as the redheaded man made his way though the crowd of wizards. Under the cover of an invisibility cloak, Draco Malfoy followed his prey. Staying close to the walls, he followed him to his workstation outside the office of the Minister of Magic. He memorized the assistants every nuance. That night, another would take his place to continue to monitor this target.

Meanwhile in another part of the building, it once again slithered through the ventilation ducts. This time Nagini had a different mission.

"You know Fred, these little things may be cute, but they multiply faster then rabbits. I still can't figure out which is the male and which is the female."

"Well brother, I think the solution might be to let some of them go free. I know they sold well while the school was open, but business has been really bad. If it weren't for the owl orders from abroad, we would be out of business."

"At least we know they won't starve. They eat anything. You know, this one looks a little like Ron."

"I wonder how they're doing. I haven't heard from mum in days. Maybe we ought to pop over to the Burrow and see them."

"And have dinner too. I'm tired of cooking. Lets set a bunch loose by the forest, and then go eat."

Harry was standing at the head of the table. A big chalkboard was behind him. Ron was standing in front of it, ready to take notes.

"Has everyone brought their lists? We really need to plan this meeting with the Minister. Bill? Are you going to be all right? Maybe you and Remus should sit this one out. Just leave your notes with someone. Hermione would you get those please?