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Chapter 24

"I hate him, Hermione…I just hate him…"

"No you don't, Ginny." Hermione said for the third time since she and Ginny entered their small room on the first floor. She actually wasn't sure if Ginny were talking about her brother or Harry. Regardless, Hermione knew that Ginny didn't hate either one of them.

Hatred was not the issue…no, thought Hermione. The issue was being completely aghast and outraged at the man you love, which was what both she and Ginny were at the moment. Hermione still could not believe that Ron would ask Harry to expose his mind to the darkest wizard of all time! It was outrageous, despicable, irresponsible, and absolutely wonderful…

Hermione had never had an inner battle of anger and love fighting like this before. She was delighted at the thought of Ron loving her so much that he would not stop at anything to protect her. However, she was fuming at the thought of him jeopardizing their friend's life! Had he jeopardized Harry's life? Hermione wasn't sure. She knew that it jeopardized Harry's emotional and mental wellbeing, but she couldn't even begin to fully understand his curse scar and connections to Voldemort. But the point was, Ron didn't understand it either, and he was acting as if he did. Thus, Hermione was aghast and outraged at Ron Weasley.

Ginny on the other hand, was aghast and outraged at Harry Potter. Hermione was sitting on the edge of Ginny's bed, stroking her friend's long, crimson hair as she continued to cry. Although her loud sobs had subsided, there was still a steady stream of tears falling from Ginny's eyes followed by an occasional hiccup. All Hermione knew was that Harry had seen something involving Ginny that had caused him to refuse her, but she knew little else for she was waiting on Ginny to be able to talk about it.

Hermione's patience was rewarded a few moments later when Ginny sat up slowly and leaned back against her headboard, clutching tightly to her pillow. She suddenly reminded Hermione of the little girl that she had been a few years ago.

"Hermione," Ginny began, sounding a bit hoarse as she wiped at her eyes, "Do you know what he saw?"

"No." Hermione replied softly as she shook her head.

"He saw jagged rocks everywhere, but he didn't recognize the place…I was holding my arm…it was bloody, and I was screaming for him." She said blandly. It seemed as though she had cried until her emotions were too raw and exhausted to show through.

"But, Ginny," Hermione began softly, "It's impossible for that to be a true vision. You're here. I don't underst-…"

"Hermione, he knows that... I know that," Ginny said in the same insipid voice, "But he said it didn't matter. He said that Voldemort must know how much I mean to him or else he wouldn't have shown him that vision."

"So he feels like you're safer if you aren't involved with him." Hermione said quietly. Ginny merely sighed pitifully in response. Hermione's heart was breaking for Ginny and Harry. It wasn't fair that this was happening to two beautiful people.

Knock. Knock. Knock… "Hermione?"

Ron. Hermione looked at Ginny, who was now wearing a furrowed-brow, thin-mouthed expression. "I can't see him right now. Please don't let him in here, Hermione."

Hermione nodded, and rose to go to the door. She opened it a fraction of an inch and peered outside. Tears began stinging the backs of her eyes at the mere sight of him. He looked absolutely miserable. His beautiful blue eyes were sad, timid, and apprehensive. It tore at her heart.

Opening the door a bit more, she asked quietly, "What is it, Ron?"

"Hermione, I understand if you don't want to talk to me right now, but Harry needs you." He said in a deep whisper that sent chills down Hermione's body despite her anger, sadness, and now fear.

"What do you mean he needs me?" She asked hurriedly before turning to check that Ginny was not overhearing them. She had lain down again, and her back was facing the door. Hermione turned back around to Ron.

"He…" Ron began; he sighed heavily, "When he came back to our room, he laid down on his bed and now…I think he's crying."

Hermione's heartbeat seemed to pause. "Crying?" She whispered.

Ron nodded, "Hermione, me and Harry…we don't really cry in front of each other. But I think it might be good if you talked to him, you know?"

"Alright." Hermione replied, looking into Ron's troubled eyes. She looked down quickly; he was pulling her in with that gaze, but she was still mad at him. "Let me say something to Ginny." She made to turn, but Ron grabbed her hand, causing her heart to beat a bit quicker.

"Don't tell her Harry's crying…he wouldn't want her to know."

"I know." She whispered sadly.

Ron released Hermione's hand and she disappeared into her room. As he waited out in the corridor, Ron tried to make sense of the last hour. He had done some really stupid things in his life. Incredibly stupid things that had made him feel really, really bad… But right now, Ron felt worse than he had in his whole life, for doing something that he knew in his heart wasn't stupid.

He had promised Hermione at the beginning of the term that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. And he had meant it! He would not lose her…he couldn't. Ron had been hoping that Harry might be able to open his mind once a week or so. Hadn't Harry said a few days ago that he worried Occlumency might result in him missing something important? My father would be dead right now if Harry hadn't had the vision of that snake attack! Ron thought. But apparently, he was going to have to use other means to ensure Hermione's safety. No more asking Harry to drop his defenses. Not after seeing the pain it had caused his best friend, his sister, and his love.

Ginny had slapped him in the face, but Hermione might as well have. When she walked out of the room without responding to his call…when she'd flinched at his touch…that had hurt much more than a slap in the face. She was furious with him. She saw his actions at trying to be her protector as irresponsible and selfish. Exactly how mad was she? Mad enough to tell him to leave her alone for good?

Ron's heart clamped painfully as the door opened a bit wider and Hermione slipped through the crack. She then shut the door quietly behind her. Ron looked down at her, and he felt that awful stab of guilt as she looked up at him with weary eyes.

"Has Harry told you what he saw?" She asked quietly as they began walking toward the stairs. Ron didn't like the tone of her voice. It was distant…like she would rather be doing anything else in the world than talking to him at that moment.

"No." He responded truthfully. Harry hadn't said one word to him. He had just walked in like a zombie to collapse on his bed. Ron had initially decided to go fetch Hermione to beg for her forgiveness. It wasn't until he left the room and heard Harry's gut-wrenching sob that he decided to, instead, ask Hermione to talk to Harry.

As he and Hermione neared the door to the second floor bedroom, she quickly described Harry's vision of Ginny's injury. Ron was listening intently, but…something seemed to be missing from the story. How could Voldemort already know about Harry and Ginny? They hadn't really begun much of a more-than-friendly relationship until the Christmas holiday. Surely Malfoy hadn't noticed anything between them…unless he noticed them sitting together at meals.

But why wouldn't Voldemort just show Harry a vision of Hermione in danger? Or me? And…what good would it do Voldemort to show Harry a vision involving a place that he's never seen…jagged rocks? When he showed Harry Sirius, it was because he knew Harry would come to the Department of Mysteries… Did Voldemort expect Harry just to up and say, 'Ah, well…I guess I'll go search all the jagged rocks I can find.' Something wasn't adding up.

Ron and Hermione came to a halt outside the bedroom door. Ron strained his ears, but he couldn't hear any sniffs or sobs…just silence.

"I guess I should go in alone then." Hermione whispered, looking up at Ron with an unreadable stare. He considered reaching out a hand to her, but he didn't think he could stand seeing her flinch from his touch again. So, he simply nodded before turning to head for the stairs.

Well, he had wondered if he were ready for a serious relationship with Hermione…he had wondered how long it would take him to botch things up. Apparently it only took him around forty-eight hours. Wow, he thought, I must be setting a new record.

"Ron?"

Ron turned back around, slightly startled out of his thoughts, to see Hermione staring at him, her expression still unreadable. "Could you stay outside the door? Just in case he needs you?"

Ron highly doubted Harry would want or need to see him tonight, but he nodded and took a few steps closer to the door. Hermione had begun twirling one of her brown curls around one of her delicate fingers, and she looked as if she might say something more, but she then turned and quickly entered the dark bedroom.

Ron sighed and leaned against the wall. This was completely dreadful. Ginny was angry with him for presumably causing Harry to call their relationship quits. Hermione was angry with him for presumably 'putting Harry's life in danger.' Harry was surely, at least, a bit resentful toward him for asking him to drop his defenses to his mortal enemy. And Ron was torn between self-disgust and feeling as though he had done what he had to do.

It took Hermione's eyes a moment to focus in the semi-dark room, but when they did, she saw Harry's form stretched out atop his bed. He was lying on his back, but Hermione couldn't tell if his eyes were open. Although, open or not, she knew he wasn't asleep.

"Harry?" She said quietly, inching her way closer to his bed.

At first she wasn't sure if he'd heard her, but then she heard his tired, emotionless voice. "Hermione, I know what I did was stupid and dangerous, but I really don't feel like being reprimanded right now."

"Harry, I haven't come to reprimand you."

"Then why did you come?"

"I came to see if you wanted to talk about anything."

"I don't."

Hermione leaned against one of the posts at the foot of his bed and looked down at Harry's shadowed face. She could now see that his eyes were open and his brow furrowed. It had been thoughtful of Ron to come and get her for Harry, but maybe Ron had been wrong. Maybe Harry just needed to be alone right now. Hermione sighed and slowly turned to walk for the door.

"I'm not going to tell Dumbledore…or the Order."

Hermione stopped in her tracks. She turned back around to Harry's bed. He was pushing himself up into a seated position so that his legs hung off the edge. Hermione went to sit beside him. Okay, she thought, maybe Ron was right. She allowed her silence to prompt Harry into revealing his thoughts and feelings.

"I know it was a false vision, Hermione. My scar didn't hurt at all…Ginny was right in front of me when it happened. There's no point in telling Dumbledore or the Order. Dumbledore would just be disappointed in me. I've promised him that I would never drop my defenses. And as for the Order…I don't want to upset Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."

"I agree. I think telling Dumbledore and the Order would be pointless." She said quietly. Harry looked up at her.

"You agree?" He scoffed, "Wow. That's sort of rare."

Hermione smiled slightly, but then swallowing hard she decided to push her luck. "Harry…um…there is one thing that I don't agree with, however." She admitted apprehensively.

"I don't want to talk about Ginny, alright? I've made up my mind. The less involved she is with me…the safer she is." He said sternly. "That goes for everyone…you should understand more than anyone, Hermione."

Ignoring this last comment, Hermione continued, "She loves you, Harry. And I know that you love-…"

"Stop, Hermione." Harry said quietly. This time it wasn't a stern command…it was a plea. Hermione took a deep breath, swallowed the lump in her throat, and took a hold of Harry's hand. He looked up at her.

"I didn't get to tell you how proud I am of everything you've learned with Dumbledore and Lupin." Hermione said, trying to sound a bit more light-hearted. "Your Animagus form is beautiful."

"Thank you." Harry said softly. Hermione could tell by his voice that he was more so thanking her for changing the subject. "It's been really good for me, you know?" He continued, "All these things I'm learning are giving me this…thirst…to find him."

Hermione felt an unpleasant chill move down her spine. She could only nod in response. …A thirst to find Voldemort? It made Hermione's stomach lurch. She wanted to say, 'Harry, you don't have to find him.'…but she couldn't say that…because it wasn't true.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Oh…um…he's about." Hermione replied, trying to sound casual.

To Hermione's surprise, Harry chuckled slightly before calling out, "Ron, you can stop hiding out in the hallway!"

Hermione's surprised expression toward Harry quickly turned into a smile as a timid-faced Ron peeked around the doorframe. He slowly walked into the room and came to stand before them, his hands shoved into his jeans' pockets and his head down. He looked so pitiful, but Hermione could tell by Harry's expression that he wasn't mad at Ron.

Suddenly Hermione had a strong urge to embrace her two friends. She stood up quickly and grabbed a hold of Ron's hand, one hand still clasping Harry's. Ron looked a bit startled…as if he were surprised that Hermione would touch him. It made her want to cry, but instead she looked deep into his blue eyes.A strange shiver moved through her when she felt him squeeze her hand gently.

"Can we please have a group hug?" Hermione asked, tearing her eyes away from Ron's to look down at Harry.

She felt a bit silly asking this question. Boys were strange, and she was probably succeeding in creating an awkward moment for Harry and Ron…but she didn't care! Harry actually smiled slightly, standing up to put one arm around her shoulders and the other around Ron's. This was probably the first time they had ever hugged each other all at one time.

Before she was crushed in between them, she caught an immensely relieved look overcome Ron's face. She knew that Ron felt awfully guilty, and she was thankful that Harry wasn't making him feel any worse. Although…Hermione felt a twinge of anger at herself for not attempting to sooth Ron in the hallway. She had contemplated it, but she had let her frustration at him win out.

Suddenly, however, Ron grazed his hand down her back to her waist, where he then began rubbing his fingers over the side of her stomach. The warm contact was sending a pleasant current through her body, and Hermione knew that he was using this contact as a way to apologize to her…seeing as how they didn't know when they might be alone again. To show her acceptance of this silent apology, she slid her hand from Ron's shoulder down to his waist, where she squeezed him a couple of times.

Slowly, she, Ron, and Harry pulled away from one another. Hermione chanced a glance at Ron, and to her delight, he gave her a small smile and winked at her. It still made her heart skip a beat when he did that. She felt herself blush as she looked away to see Harry sliding his trunk out from under his bed.

"Um…Harry?" She asked curiously. He opened his trunk, reached inside, and then stood up suddenly, with a box in his hands. It was the box Lupin had brought Harry on Christmas Eve.

Harry set the box on his bed before turning to look at her and Ron, "I have something I want to give each of you."

Ron was a bit taken aback at Harry's statement. Wasn't that the box with all of Sirius' belongings? Harry opened the top of the box and began rummaging through it.

"Last year Sirius gave me something. He said to use it if I ever needed him." Harry began quietly; he pulled out two objects wrapped in brown paper. "I forgot about it until after he died. It might have been the difference between him living or dying…but that's neither here nor there, I guess." Harry's eyes were sad as he began unwrapping one of the objects, "Here."

Harry thrust the unwrapped object into Ron's hands. It was a small, square mirror. Ron, feeling more than a bit confused, looked up to see Harry unwrapping the second object and then handing Hermione an identical mirror.

"I've never seen them work before, but apparently you can look into the mirror, say the name of the owner of its twin, and use them to communicate. My dad and Sirius used to use them while they were in detention."

"Harry," Hermione began in a whisper, "You're giving these to us? But, you should have them. You could give one to Dumbledore or-…"

"No." Harry said plainly. "I really don't want them. It just reminds me that I…" He stopped abruptly and Ron noticed his eyes becoming glossy before he swallowed and resumed, smiling weakly. "It doesn't matter. They're yours now. I…er…actually broke one and had to use Reparo on it. You might want to try them out before you thank me for them."

"Thanks, man." Ron said, slapping Harry on the arm. Hermione then hugged Harry around the neck. Ron knew she was probably trying very hard not to cry so he decided to avoid an awkward silence by filling it. "So … uh … let's try these out, shall we? I'll go out into the hall and call your name, alright, Hermione?"

Ron had begun making his way to the door as he was talking, but he stopped suddenly as his mirror began glowing. A bit alarmed, Ron peered into the looking glass. The actual glass was glowing with a dim blue light, but he could still see his reflection; Ron looked over to see that Hermione's was doing the same. When Ron looked back down, however, the blue glow was fading and he watched as his reflection became very blurry. When the blurred reflection came back into focus, he found himself staring down at a lovely young lady. Ron smiled, and Hermione's reflection smiled back at him brightly.

"Brilliant, Harry." He breathed, looking up at Harry, who gave him a 'no-problem' shrug. When Ron looked back down, he was once again looking at his own reflection.

"You know, Harry." Hermione began, suddenly sounding excited, "I've read about these types of devices in Magical-…"

Hermione's voice hummed on in the background, but Ron was suddenly filled with a rush of excitement. And it had nothing to do with what Hermione had read in some book. It did, however, have everything to do with the fact that he was now holding something that gave him unlimited access to Hermione's whereabouts as long as she held the twin to this mirror.

Smiling to himself Ron turned to look at Harry and Hermione. His smile quickly faded, however, as he saw Harry standing in front of a wide-eyed Hermione with an opened ring box in his hand. It looked like an engagement ring. Obviously Harry wasn't proposing to Hermione, but something about seeing her standing in front of that ring made Ron's stomach cramp.

"Ron, come look!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly. Ron walked toward her slowly, and peered down at the ring. It was a thin, gold band with a solitary diamond shining in the middle. On either side of the diamond were two rubies. Ron didn't know anything about rings, but he guessed it was pretty enough.

"It was my mother's." Harry said softly, before looking up into Hermione's still-smiling face. He chuckled and removed the ring from its velvet box, "Hermione, would you like to try it on? I don't mind."

Ron watched as Hermione's smile faded slightly, and her face turned a bright pink. She glanced up at Ron for a split-second before looking to Harry and shaking her head. "Oh no…no. Really, I just like looking at it, Harry. It's very beautiful."

Harry shrugged and returned the ring to its box, snapping the lid closed. Why had Hermione become so flustered when asked to try on a ring? Granted, Ron was glad that she refused. The stomach cramp he had received when seeing Harry holding that box in front of her had increased tenfold when Harry had offered to place the ring on her finger.

"Yeah…" Harry began suddenly, "I was surprised that Sirius had it. Lupin said my mother gave it to him before she and my dad went into hiding."

Ron realized that he hadn't even commented on the ring. With a sudden revelation, he said, "Yeah…uh…I guess your dad knew how to pick out jewelry. That gold would go really well with someone with long, red hair."

"Ron…" Harry said somewhat sternly.

"Shutting up." Ron said quickly, looking away from Harry's eyes…but not before he caught a glimpse of a faint green glow…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okie dokie. I somehow managed to balance my time today to where I could study and write a chapter. So yay! I feel like I am not giving my readers much in this chapter, but there are many important things here and there that will come into later chapters.. Speaking of chapters, I don't' know what I was thinking when I said 10! Ha! I'll never manage to fit the rest of the story into ten...it'll be more than that. I'm not sure how many more though b/c it depends on the length of each chapter. Anyway! Thanks a bunch for all of the great reviews! They have been very inspiring and well-appreciated. I hope everyone continues to read and review, and most importantly...enjoy!