(A/N: Wow, I can't believe I'm finally updating! It's been five weeks….a terrible, terrible, record for me to have set. Though two of those weeks I had family business to attend to, and school to start, I must admit this chapter was a killer to write. Though it's not one of my favorite chapters, hopefully you'll all enjoy it and it'll be worth the wait (though five weeks is pretty hard to justify). Anyways, there are several matters at hand that need to be addressed. First off there has been talk that fanfiction has now forbidden authors to reply to their reviews. Yes, I know. I'm not 100 sure if this is true but I don't want to risk having my story pulled, so for now if you have a question that you want answered you can either give me your e-mail address, or if you have a story I can answer it in a review, or if it's a popular question I can make a general announcement about it. It sucks but we'll just have to play it by ear until I know I'm not going against any rules here. I'm sorry! Secondly, I don't think I've addressed HBP. If you haven't finished it yet don't worry (Amazing book!) but I just want to let you all know that this story won't change because of anything that has happened in HBP (including the character who died). Thirdly, because of the classes that I'm taking this year, I really need to devote some serious time towards school. So from now on, I'd probably expect an update anywhere between 2-4 weeks. That's pretty much the speed I've been updating anyway, so that shouldn't change anything. Fourthy, THANK YOU! You all have been absolutely AMAZING! I'm blown away each chapter by the amount of support I receive from you all! New reviewers and reader, welcome! Thanks for taking the time to read this fic! This story wouldn't have gone past a few chapters if it weren't for you all. So thank you, you've all put up with a lot from me. Thank you Thank you Thank you! This chapter is 20 pages, so it's extra long for you all! Hope you enjoy it! Much Love, Haystack)
….and so the story continues….
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: BONDS OF FOREVER
For the first time in Ron's life, he wasn't hungry.
There were mountains and mountains of food, stretching all the way down the magically enhanced table, but all he could do was pick at his pudding while his stomach was busy doing flip flops. Of course, Ron had been forced to eat something, he was after all sitting next to his mum, but his mind was miles away.
Ron had returned to Hermione's room after his talk with Ginny, his mind numb and eagerly looking forward to a long nap only to find a frantic Mrs. Weasley wondering where he'd gone. He'd then had 15 minutes to get ready before dinner, enough time—in Ron's book for a quick nap, as he'd told his Mum who had then given him a disapproving look. However, it appeared that everything ran on Mrs. Weasley's time schedule tonight as dinner appeared exactly at six—a time Ron had made by two minutes.
He'd slipped into the chair next to Hermione who looked particularly beautiful tonight just in time to hear his Dad make the toast. Hermione didn't ask where he'd been.
Ron watched with a familiar kind of awe as Hermione smiled and laughed throughout the meal, playing her part perfectly. If Ron hadn't known any better, he would have believed her to be as carefree and blissful as she led everyone on to believing. Ron however, knew she was petrified.
Announcing to your family and closest friends that your best mate was dead was frightening in more ways then one but the fact that he and Hermione hadn't even discussed how they'd go about doing it added another level to Ron's fear.
He'd watched Hermione carefully throughout the whole meal to see if there was any way she was trying to pass along a message to him, but she made a pretty good point of avoiding his eyes throughout the dinner.
In addition to watching Hermione, Ron also kept a close eye on Ginny. She, like Ron, had come in late, slipping in and sitting in the corner where no one paid her any attention. It was beyond Ron, how his parents could sit through a whole dinner without looking at their daughter, who had once been the center of every meal.
"Attention!" Mrs. Weasley cried, raising her glass into the air. All conversations simmered down as everyone turned to Mrs. Weasley, who was beaming. "Yes, well, Arthur and I had something to say" Molly said, giving her husband a look that got him up in a second.
"Firstly, I just would like to thank you all for celebrating with us tonight. This engagement means a lot to m—us. I-I don't think it could have come at a better time, and well…I'm just so happy." Molly said, looking around the table fondly. Everyone was smiling….everyone except Ginny.
His mum continued with her little speech but Ron didn't hear another word of it as Hermione's hand found his under the table. Sensing something was wrong, Ron looked up at her.
Hermione was smiling at him, but Ron could tell it was a fake smile; to throw everyone off. Her eyes were filled with fear and sadness and the way her hand gripped his own convinced him that something was indeed wrong.
Quickly tuning back into what his mother was saying, he heard, "…so glad that everyone is here, together and safe. Well—of course not everyone, but anyways…thank you all!"
"To Ron and Hermione!" Arthur said, cutting his wife off and raising his glass
"To Ron and Hermione!" Everyone echoed.
Ron followed Hermione's lead and took a sip of pumpkin juice, lifting the goblet up with both hands. But as the sweet liquid slid down his throat, Ron felt sick. For he knew that within a few minutes, no one would be smiling, and the war would once again set itself upon those he loved…tearing them apart or destroying them completely.
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Everyone was to retire into the sitting room after dinner. As guests mingled and chatted with each other, slowly the table was emptied and Ron was left with Hermione, as his Mum continued to whisk dishes off the table—using magic of course.
It wasn't much time, as Fred poked his head in the room, telling them both to hurry up and get down there, but it was all Ron needed.
Pulling Hermione's elbow to get her closer to him, he leaned in and whispered quickly, "What's the plan?"
"I don't know." Hermione whispered back, her eyes alert "I fell asleep before I had time to think about it. And when I woke up your Mum hurried me away to dinner."
Ron nodded his understanding but couldn't help feeling disappointed. Hermione usually was the one to come up with the foolproof plans Ron loved to follow. He'd have paid quite a lot for her to have one prepared for tonight.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair, "What's the best way to go about this then?"
Hermione bit her lip and shrugged, "I honestly don't know Ron. I-I mean we could just wait until it comes up but--"
"Harry's not going to pop up in conversation tonight 'Mione"
"I know that" She snapped, "I meant the war. Surely people will ask us how we survived and such. We can just tell a brief overview and drop the bomb within that."
"But that doesn't--"
"Finally! All done!" A beaming Molly Weasley exclaimed, her voice coming out of the kitchen.
"Let's go" Ron said quickly, steering Hermione out of the room
"Oh are you two still here?" Molly asked, poking her head through the kitchen doorframe.
"No Mum we were just leaving!" Ron called out over his shoulder as they disappeared through the doorway and down the dark hallway.
"Ron! What are you doing! We still have to figure out what we're going to do about Harry!" Hermione cried, as she hurried up to catch up with Ron's long strides.
"We'll just have to play it by ear. Like you said. Just make sure you stay by me the whole time." Ron said, pausing outside the sitting room's doors. It was a short walk.
"Well I would have done that anyways" Hermione said quietly, blushing a little as she said it.
Ron smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "You ready?" He asked, one hand on the doorknob.
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded her head. And with that, Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and pushed open the door.
"AH THE NEWLYWEDS!"
"THE HAPPY COUPLE!"
"AH HOW SWEET FRED! LOOK! THEY'RE BLUSHING!"
"RIGHT ON GEORGE! LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE BEAMING!"
Ron shot a quick glance at Hermione. He wasn't sure what Fred and George were playing at but her face didn't look happy at all…in fact it looked an awful lot like what Ron's face felt like. If grimacing at the sudden explosion of noise and attention counted as beaming…then well, he supposed they were beaming.
"Ron! Hermione! Over here!" An overly excited Tonks said, waving her arm dramatically to motion them over to the couch where she and some others were sitting.
Walking over to Tonks who was sitting with a gloomy looking Ginny, Ron distantly noticed how much Tonks was glowing. He supposed her glittery bubble gum pink hair and her sequined outfit had something to do with it, but as Ron got closer he noticed just how alive Tonks looked. Her smile said it all.
Remus Lupin was sitting on the couch opposite Tonks and looked much worse than the last time Ron had seen him. However, the old Professor managed to conjure up a genuine smile for the 'happy couple' as they sat down next to him.
"Tonks! Wow, it's been a while!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione smiled warmly.
"How are you Tonks?" She asked
"Oh I'm doing all right. Much better since I found out you both were alive. And getting married! That was the happiest news." Tonks said, her face bright and happy.
"Yes, we all were quite surprised by the news but it was by far the best we've heard." Lupin said sincerely.
Exchanging looks, Ron and Hermione smiled at the two. "We weren't sure if people would think it rash" Hermione finally said, looking around at the other people seated on the couch; Mr. Weasley, Fred and George, Kingsley, Mad Eye Moody, and some other Order members.
"Oh rubbish! I always had a feeling…never quite sure…but the feeling was always there. You've known each other long enough and you're practically adults now! Both of age….there's no reason why you should have waited. Especially in times like this." Tonks said
Ron grimaced. Once ….just once, he wished he could have an ordinary conversation. Like the ones he used to have before the war. Even on a night like tonight…their engagement dinner…the war always lurked. The unhappy guest that pouted in the corner and ruined the evening.
"Yea…" He said, not really wanting to go in the direction this conversation was heading, "Nasty times."
"You're not hurt or anything are you? Lupin didn't mention exactly what happened to you." Hermione asked, concerned. Ron wished she hadn't asked.
"N-No, I'm not hurt" Tonks said slowly, apparently not interested in going down this path either. "I was on the battlefield though. Saw enough to give me nightmares for life. I was one of the Order members trying to put out the fire in Hogwarts. After it collapsed, I was summoned back to Headquarters to help with the wounded who were coming in."
For a long minute, no one spoke. Finally, it was Hermione who broke the silence.
"Have any of you heard anything about Neville?" She asked timidly, sensing the tension in the air. "We'd heard he'd been injured or something but we weren't sure."
"We saw him" Fred said, his eyes downcast. "It didn't look like anything real serious. Just a couple of scratches, maybe a few bones broken."
"Came across him in the forest. That Loony girl was with him." George said,
"Luna" Ron corrected
"Yea her. I think he's okay. I wouldn't worry too much about either one of them. Apparently Hagrid was with them."
"Is Hagrid here?" Hermione asked curiously
"Not right now," Mr. Weasley said "But he should be coming with Dumbledore tomorrow."
Hermione nodded.
"So what is Dumbledore doing?" Ron asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Mr. Weasley hesitated, looking around as if to seek permission. "Go on Arthur. We're all in the Order here." A middle-aged witch said, whom Ron recognized as Hestia Jones.
"Been trying to locate students. Sent out some emergency notices to the Ministry and to families. He still is Headmaster. Even if his school is burnt to the ground." Arthur said
"and…" George coaxed dully, as if this was routine.
"And well" Arthur's face turned red, "looking for Harry."
It was as if time had stopped. The world and everything in it had suddenly and miraculously frozen; leaving Ron mobile while everyone else was not. His heart had stopped yet his mind raced miles and miles ahead of himself. Hermione's grip on his hand tightened and Ron knew she was frozen as well.
Looking for Harry! How could Dumbledore (the greatest headmaster Hogwarts had ever known) not know that Harry was dead! How had he not heard! How had he not seen! And most importantly, why had Lupin not told him!
"W-w-what!" Hermione stuttered, her eyes wide and fearful.
"He and Hagrid had been searching for a few days under invisibility cloaks. They never found a body so they've been assuming he's alive." Mr. Weasley continued, confused at their reactions. "But when they heard you both survived, they decided to come back. They want to ask you both some questions about where you think he might be. He is, after all, our hope."
No! No! NO! Ron's mind screamed. You're hope is dead! Harry's dead!
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Tonks asked, concerned. Ron turned to look at her.
Hermione simply had her head in her hands. She was shaking. Not really thinking about what he was doing, he reached out to her, grabbing her hand. Taking that as an invitation, Hermione leaned onto Ron's shoulder.
He couldn't believe it. Searching for days…haven't found a body….well of course they hadn't found a body! Harry was still in their prison cell! He was sick…this made things much worse.
Finally having the courage to look up, he was met with ten perplexed and confused faces.
"What's going on?" Fred asked slowly, his eyes darting between Hermione and Ron.
"Do you know something about Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked slowly, comprehension dawning on his face.
Ron scanned each face quickly. Tonks, her face twisted into a mix of concern. Mad Eye and Kingsley's emotionless but all business faces, Mr. Weasley's suspicious face, Fred and George's faces much like their father, and Ginny…she was looking at Ron….but he could tell she wasn't really seeing him. She'd crawled back into that protective shell and her face was as blank as anyone's. Ron sighed and nodded.
His dad's eyes grew wide. "What is it?"
Desperate, Ron turned to Lupin. The man only looked up at Ron with sad eyes. He wasn't going to help.
Hermione, who had sat up now, looked him in the eyes. There was no denying the panic there but Ron also saw a firm determination and he knew that she'd made his decision for him. They had to tell them.
"What is it?" Mr. Weasley repeated, his eyes urgent
Taking a deep breath and trying to disconnect himself from the words and their meaning, Ron cleared his face of all emotion and said, "Harry's dead."
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It was as if everyone had been slapped in the face. No one moved, no one spoke; it appeared that everyone had also forgotten to breathe. All were staring straight at Ron and Hermione, tears welling up in some eyes and anger brewing in others.
"No…no that can't be true!" Emmeline Vance, an Order member cried. "Dumbledore would have known!"
Ron shook his head, "Obviously he doesn't. W-we saw it with our own eyes."
"Ron…" George said weakly, "It can't be true."
"Why not?" Ron asked, reminding himself of the eerie way in which Ginny had spoken about Dean.
"Because" Fred finished for his twin, "It can't be"
"It's true" Hermione said quietly, "We wouldn't say something like that about Harry if it weren't"
All color drained from his face, hands shaking, Mr. Weasley leaned forwards, "H-How?" He breathed
All were silent, waiting for the answer.
"I would have thought that'd be obvious." Hermione whispered, "Voldemort."
Several Order members gasped. The others simply stared, their eyes wide and fearful. "No!" Mad Eye growled, "That would mean that Voldemort…"
"Won?" Hermione finished for him, "He did. He has."
"This can't be true. How are we supposed to beat back Voldemort without Harry?" An Order member asked, shaking with the reality of it
Ron and Hermione looked at each other sadly. "I don't know" Ron finally said.
"Are you sure Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked slowly, "Maybe it was a trick of the light or something. Maybe he was transported somewhere with the spell. You said you saw it?"
Here we go, Ron thought bitterly.
"R-Ron and I were in that makeshift prison when it happened." Hermione said quietly
"You were?" Kingsley asked, apparently shocked. "No one came out of there alive! How did you…?"
"Escape?" Lupin finished for him. He sighed, "I've had a lot of questions for these two myself. Perhaps maybe it might be easier to start from the beginning?" He suggested
Ron nodded slowly and took a deep breath. "McGonagall pulled the three of us out of the common room right after the attack started." He said, "Took us down to see Dumbledore. After that, Harry told us he wanted to go out alone, didn't want us to be near him in case Voldemort captured us or killed us."
"Ron put up a fight, b-but we eventually let him go." Hermione said resentfully, "Once the war really started, Ron and I…we…we were separated." She finished lamely
"What do you mean separated?" Kingsley asked
"I mean…" Ron looked nervously at Hermione. She had asked him not to mention Aragog but how could he explain it without…
"Ron left me with Aragog." Hermione suddenly said
"Who's Aragog?" Mr. Weasley asked suspiciously
"Hagrid's old spider. Harry and I met him in the Forbidden Forest second year." Ron said
"Is he dangerous?" Mad Eye asked, his eyes darkening
"No…well yes. He was. But he agreed to keep Hermione safe until I came back for her or the war was over"
"No you didn't!" Tonks cried, horrified, "You were going to leave her there alone!"
"You were going to leave her with a potentially dangerous animal?" Kingsley asked, "Ron, that was a very stupid thing to do. It could have gotten Hermione killed."
"I know" Ron said guiltily, "But we got reunited"
"How?" Fred asked shocked, "I couldn't find anyone. I can't imagine trying to find someone again."
"W-Well um…she kind of came to me." Ron admitted
All eyes went to Hermione. She blushed. "I-I realized I had some things left to say to him." She said softly
"You loved him!" Tonks shrieked, "Oh that is so romantic!" Hermione blushed a scarlet red and shifted her weight uncomfortably. Mad Eye snorted.
"Yes well anyways," Ron said, trying to steer the conversation back to Harry, "Once Hermione dug me out then we started looking for Harry."
"Dig you out?" George repeated, "Dig you out of what?"
"A building collapsed on me while I was dueling Pettigrew."
"Peter!" Lupin suddenly cried, his eyes alert and his face red with an anger that surprised Ron. "Did you get him? Is he gone?"
Ron shook his head, "He got away before the building collapsed."
"What building collapsed!" A sudden high-pitched voice cried. Ron internally cursed because standing in the doorway with her hand on her hips stood Mrs. Weasley, her face stern.
"A building collapsed on top of Ron." Mr. Weasley explained, standing up and offering his wife his seat on the couch.
"Are you alright!" Molly asked, coming closer to examine Ron.
"I'm fine"
"A whole building Ron?" She asked weakly
"Part of one," He admitted.
"Goodness! You should have told me that when you first came in! I would have checked you more thoroughly!"
"I'm fine Mum!" Ron said, annoyed, "That's the least of your worries" He added under his breath
"What was that Ronald?" Ron cursed. His mother always had acute ears…always knew everything that was said.
No one said anything. Flustered, she said in a discipline manner, "Why are we talking of such things on such a happy occasion? Hermione why don't you tell us your ideas for the wedding!"
All eyes went to Hermione. "No Mrs. Weasley. Ron and I are telling everyone what happened during the war."
"Hermione dear there's plenty of time for that later. We can--"
"Harry's dead" Hermione said quickly, staring her future mother-in-law in the face.
Slowly, all eyes went to Mrs. Weasley—the woman who had been most like a mother to Harry, the woman who'd taken him in and treated him like her own son—all eyes went to Mrs. Weasley, but slowly the eyes returned, the look on her face too unbearable to watch.
Molly had frozen, not understanding; but slowly realization dawned on her face. It was as if her face was shrinking; her eyes were closed, her trembling lips pressed together….it was as if she was shrinking away from the news, the world…reality.
And maybe, Ron thought, that was what they all were doing. Hiding down below the ground, celebrating and having a jolly time while people were still dying above them; while Harry's corpse lay (rotten by now) forgotten and now just another face. His face, the face that had been both a blessing and a curse to him from the age of eleven, was now unrecognizable. He was one of many; Harry had not been the immortal hero many believed him to be. He was dead wasn't he?
When Molly did open her eyes again, they were shimmering with tears. Whispering in a choked voice, all she said was one word, "H-How?"
Ron looked down at his hands. "Voldemort killed him, Mum," He said softly
Nodding, Molly Weasley sank heavily onto the couch and began to cry. Big, fat, tears made their way down his mother's face and although Ron had seen his Mum cry before, it had always been large wailing sobs. This…it hurt him to watch, because he knew that his Mum was hurting. Hurting in a way she'd never hurt before, even after everything she'd been through, the two wars she'd seen…Molly Weasley had never lost a son. And suddenly Ron realized just how deeply his family's love for Harry had run. It was beyond the point of pretending. Harry really had been a part of his family.
"Why don't you two pick up where you left off?" Lupin encouraged gently, looking somber as he said it.
"Um…yea. Okay" Ron said quietly, his voice sounding strange over the silence. He turned to Hermione. "W-Where were we?"
"Why don't we just skip to the important part? With Harry." Hermione suggested softly, her eyes locked on Ron's. Turning back to his audience, he noticed all eagerness had left their eyes, and only despair and sadness remained.
Ron sighed, "Why don't you pick it up?" He asked, turning to Hermione.
Hermione nodded her agreement and even though it had been her suggestion, she found herself at a loss of words. Closing her eyes for a moment, she thought back…it seemed so long ago….to the moment that changed everything; the worst moment of her life.
Harry was levitated into the air, his hands to his neck and his legs kicking wildly about. He looked as though he were choking, his face was a reddish purple. His eyes darted around, terrified and completely at the mercy of the monster who ruled his life.
"THERE YOU HAVE IT!" Voldemort's voice boomed "HERE FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE IS THE-BOY-WHO-LIVED, THE HERO, THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH FOR DUMBLEDORE AND HIS LITTLE ARMY! TAKE A GOOD LOOK EVERYONE! REMEMBER HIM AND THIS LAST MOMENT WHEN LORD VOLDEMORT HAD HIM CORNERED AND BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE! THIS BOY MAY BE A HERO TO SOME BUT HE IS HUMAN! HE IS SIMPLY A HUMAN WHO HAS NEVER STOOD A CHANCE AGAINST ALL THE POWERS OF LORD VOLDEMORT! SO NOW MY FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS, HERE IS THE GRAND FINALE TO A WONDERFUL SHOW TONIGHT! SAY GOOD-BYE TO HARRY POTTER!"
"No…" Hermione breathed, grasping Ron's hand so tight, his knuckles turned white.
The world went silent as Voldemort's wand tossed Harry into the air. His body rose gracefully, reaching its peak, and falling back towards the ground, where Voldemort shouted something inaudible to Hermione, and Harry, her best friend, disappeared into thin air as a brilliant gold flash of light blinded her.
"Hermione?"
"Is she okay?"
As Ron looked over to Hermione, he found her crying. Her eyes were squeezed shut painfully and a hand was covering her mouth. Everyone else was looking at her, concern and confusion in their eyes. No one but Ron understood. A sudden wave of tenderness washed over him and silently, without a word, he gathered her up in a hug. Melting into his arms, Hermione held on tightly, her face buried in his shoulder, her tears wetting his shirt.
"Shh…" Ron whispered, kissing the top of her head like he used to do back in school, "It's okay."
Pulling back, Hermione sniffed and wiped at her puffy eyes. "I-I'm sorry…" She said, to the group. "It's just that…"
"We understand dear," Mrs. Weasley said softly
"W-Was it really that bad?" George asked quietly
Lip trembling, Hermione bit it to stop more tears from coming. She could only nod.
"'Mione you want me to--"
"No. It's fine." She whispered, trying her hardest to give him a smile,
"Are you sure?" He asked protectively. He hated watching her like this.
"Yea" She said, wiping at the remaining tears on her cheeks. "I'm fine."
"Alright" He said, unsure. He still held her hand.
Everyone waited for her to begin. "H-Harry…." Hermione said, voice trembling "was in trouble." She paused, waiting for a reaction. When she got none, she continued, her voice growing steadier, "Dean came and told us so. Ron and I were running towards him when we got stuck in the debris from Hogwarts. By the time we got there, Voldemort had him at wandpoint. His glasses broke and--"
"I always told him not to wear glasses during battle" Mad Eye Moody growled
"Yes well, he probably should have listened." Hermione said sadly
"Why?" Lupin asked
"Because…" Hermione said slowly, "the glass pierced his eye. It was bleeding all over the place. He was screaming…wouldn't stop screaming."
"What did you do?" Tonks asked breathlessly,
"We tried to run." Hermione exclaimed, "but I screamed to him and all these Death Eaters came out of no where. They captured us and brought us to that prison"
Mr. Weasley and Kingsley inhaled quickly. Mrs. Weasley, who had been absent for this part of the discussion, gasped.
"B-But…how?" She sputtered
"Our cell had a window." Hermione continued ignoring Mrs. Weasley's question, "We heard a scream and ran to it. We saw Harry."
"What was he doing?"
"He couldn't breathe." Hermione said, her voice sounding particularly strained, "Voldemort had him up in the air. He was kicking his feet about trying to escape. Voldemort said a speech and…he was gone."
"He was gone?" Mr. Weasley repeated
"Yea." Ron said quietly, "Fell to the ground. He was dead."
"B-But how do you know!" Fred exclaimed, "Maybe he's just 'gone'!"
"No" Hermione said softly shaking her head
"Why not?" George challenged
"Because we know," Ron said
"How!" The two twins cried out together
"Because we saw him," Ron said
"We know that!" Kingsley snapped
"No. You don't understand" Hermione said sadly, "We saw him. We touched him."
"What do you mean?" Mr. Weasley asked
"Voldemort put Harry's body in our cell" Ron said hollowly. His response was met with silence.
It was several minutes before anyone was able to speak again. But the first to speak was Mrs. Weasley, "What!" She cried out, horrified, as if it was a delayed reaction.
"You can't be serious!" Tonks exclaimed
"We are"
"B-But why! Why would he do something like that!" Mad Eye shouted
"Punishment. He knew it would drive us insane. Almost did" Ron replied
"We escaped once. We were being tortured in this torture chamber and--"
"You WHAT!" Mrs. Weasley cried
"That's impossible" Kingsley said
"Why?" Hermione asked
"Because no one comes back alive from there. That's been a proven fact. In the first war, all torture chambers were death chambers." Mad Eye growled
"Well we did" Ron said stubbornly, "They tortured us pretty badly, but we managed to kill them. We ran for it of course, but got caught."
"What did Voldemort do?" Tonks asked breathlessly, shaking as she thought of the possibly answers
"Put Harry's body in there for one" Hermione said, "Then I was to come to Voldemort's room the next night to…you know"
"But you didn't! Right?" Tonks gasped, understanding what Hermione had meant.
"No" Ron shook his head. "Because that night Seamus and Lavender came for us and got us out. There was a hole in the bottom of our cell and he enlarged it since he still had his wand with him."
"So you escaped…" Mrs. Weasley breathed
"Yea we did." Ron said quietly
"Did they go with you?" An Order Member asked, "Seamus and Lavender"
"Of course" Hermione said
"Then…where are they?"
Ron choked on the lump in his throat. He hadn't thought they'd be talking about Seamus and Lavender tonight. It was almost worse than talking about Harry; because Ron knew he and Hermione were responsible for their deaths. That guilt…knowing he'd killed off the only other two people…the two people who rescued them when it could have meant their own lives, who saved them from death and Hermione from worse things…he was sure he'd never ever forgive himself. He'd been surprised by how easily he came to love Seamus and Lavender. Lavender had annoyed him back in Hogwarts with her pettiness and obsession with looks, and Seamus…he'd shared a dorm with him for seven years and he'd never really bothered to get to know him that well; been annoyed beyond imagination by him. And now, he was in pain from their deaths. Life could be ironic in the cruelest ways.
"T-They're dead" Hermione said, trying to disguise the pain in her voice, but not succeeding.
"Oh" The Order member said, shrinking away from her question because she no longer wanted to hear the answer.
No one said anything but Ron could tell by the tapping of some feet and the twisting of some hands that everyone was itching to know what had happened to their two friends. He sighed, "Do you want to know what happened?"
"Only if you want to tell us" Mr. Weasley said
Ron stole a glance at Hermione. Did they want to tell them? Hermione's watery eyes told him that she wouldn't say a word. It was too personal for her to share. It had been her idea after all. Sighing, Ron settled himself in for a long story.
"We'd come back to England and were looking for you all." He began "We were trying to think of where the Order would base its Headquarters. We decided to try the huge pile of ashes that had once been Hogwarts, figured it was a pretty clever idea of yours. We decided that two of us should go up and look, while two of us stayed behind."
"Let me guess, you two stayed behind" An Order member said with a sad expression on his face
"Yea" Ron said quietly, "They began digging through the pile and we lost sight of them. Then suddenly they came up screaming and trying to run away, but something had Seamus's foot caught. By the time Lavender got him out and they tried to run away, Death Eaters popped up out of the ashes and had them surrounded. Voldemort himself appeared moments later. But two of you had Hermione and I, even though we were fighting to try to get to them. We heard their screams as we were transported here."
"Wow" Tonks breathed, her face contorted into one of shock
"I-I didn't know that," Lupin muttered quietly, "I'm so sorry. They were good people."
"Yea" Ron said, his voice thick with emotion, "They were great"
A soft response from their audience was heard, everyone quietly saying their apologizes. But for some reason…all of the, 'I'm sorry's' only made Ron feel worse. Don't apologize to me! He thought, I'm the one who killed them!
It was quiet for a few moments afterward before Fred asked, "Where did you go when you all escaped?"
"Bulgaria" Hermione said, exhaustion evident in her voice
"But how!" George asked, stunned, "How did you get all the way to Bulgaria!"
"We ran to Kings Cross and took a train there."
"Why Bulgaria?" Kingsley asked, confused
"Because," Hermione said reasonably, "It was far enough from England, Voldemort wasn't likely to suspect it, and….well….I had a friend there that we stayed with."
"Wh--" Mr. Weasley started
"Krum!" George shouted triumphantly
"Krum!" Fred grinned broadly, staring at Ron "Ronnie and Hermione in a house with Viktor! I can't believe it!"
"Shut up" Ron mumbled, his ears turning red as Hermione gave a look to the twins
"Yes well as a matter of fact, Ron and Viktor ended up being friends" Hermione said, sticking her chin up in the air, "I don't understand what you Weasleys have against Viktor. He's a perfectly nice--"
"It's because Ron's been insanely jealous of Viktor for three years!" George cried,
"Yes! Because he was madly in love with you the whole time!" Fred agreed, waiting for Hermione to give some kind of reaction. When she gave nothing but a small knowing smile, Fred's face fell. "Bugger! He's already told her! You told her all that Ronniekins!"
"Um…yea. I did" Ron mumbled, his ears and face bright red. Hermione smiled at him.
"Bloody Hell! We've waited years to share that little piece of information with you, and now when our shining moment comes, you already know! I swear, we tried everything! Even had Harry in on it but…." Fred trailed off, his face now serious. Everyone noticed and fell silent.
"It's okay Fred," Hermione said softly. "It's hard to get used to."
"Yea…" He said quietly, "It is"
"I just can't believe it" Mrs. Weasley mumbled to herself, "I always believed we'd win"
"I know what you mean," Tonks said, her face somber "I can't comprehend evil winning over good. That just doesn't happen."
"I feel so helpless," Hestia Jones said, "What are we supposed to do? Just hide forever?"
"I don't know," Mr. Weasley sighed, "There are still people alive that need to be rescued."
"You think so?" An Order member asked
"There has to be" Mr. Weasley said, trying to sound sure of himself. Ron could tell he wasn't.
The conversation went on for a few more moments, all words spoken in a quiet whispered tone, when Ron saw Ginny leave. Startled, Ron simply sat and watched as his sister walked to the door and shut it behind her without a second glance back. She hadn't been crying or anything.
Hurt and confused, Ron rose from his seat. Hermione automatically stood up as well…she'd seen Ginny leave too.
"You're leaving?" Mrs. Weasley asked, surprised
"Yea, we're a bit tired. Going to head off early. Thanks for dinner Mum" Ron said as he kissed his mother on the cheek. "Goodnight everyone"
"Goodnight" came the mumbled reply
"Yes, thank you Mrs. Weasley, it was lovely" Hermione said trying to sound cheerful, as they left their guests practically in tears.
Now in the dark and deserted hallway, Ron let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. The worst was over now. Hermione turned to face him.
"We made it," She whispered, putting her hands on his face and pressing their foreheads together.
"Yea" He breathed, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground so that their faces were level. "We did."
"How are you doing?" Hermione asked, running her hand through his hair
"Eh…I'm feeling better now that that's over with" He said honestly,
"Yea…me too" Hermione replied,
"It was such a question answer thing. Bloody exhausting" He said
"I feel bad for them though. That wasn't an easy way to find out."
"Better that way then the way we found out"
"I suppose you're right" She sighed
"Haven't heard those words in a while" Ron smiled softly
"Well I don't want to spoil you do I?" She teased, dropping her head onto his shoulder and hugging him. "Wouldn't want you getting full of yourself"
"You don't have to worry about that," He whispered, breathing in her scent.
"Good. I like you just the way you are." She said sweetly
"Just like? I thought you loved me," He teased
Hermione laughed softly, a sound that literally made Ron's heart leap. It had been so long…
"I do love you, you pompous git." She laughed
"Really? I might need to hear you say that again, didn't quite catch all of it."
This time, Hermione smiled a full smile. One of those smiles that had entranced him as a young boy, one of those smiles that still had him trapped in wonder all these years later. It was the smile he'd fallen in love with. And seeing it now made Ron feel like everything was right with the world again. "I love you," She said seriously, staring into his eyes
Ron felt his body tingle as he saw the love pouring through her eyes. It was amazing that those words still held just as much meaning as the first time he'd heard them. "Good." He whispered, "Because I'm crazy about you."
Hermione kissed him then. A soft and gentle kiss that couldn't be described as anything but loving. When they broke apart, they both were smiling. "Come on" Ron said, putting her back on the ground and taking her hand. "Let's go to our room"
"Wait Ron. Not yet" She said, pulling on his hand, "We still have to find Ginny"
"She probably went to her room for some alone time. I'll talk to her tomorrow when she's more calm."
"Ron! I want to see her too!" She cried, "I want to make sure she's okay" She added, much more quietly
"Fine but this will probably end in another full blown drama. I'm warning you ahead of time." Ron said, sighing
"Please, I've roomed with Ginny for six summers in a row. She's one of my best friends. There's nothing I can't handle with her"
"Whatever you say 'Mione. Or need I remind you that you two currently aren't speaking"
Ron didn't say a word more as Hermione shot him one of her famous, I-can't-believe-you-just-said-that looks, as they began walking towards Ginny's room.
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As Ron lifted his hand to knock on his sister's door for the second time that day, he sighed, remembering his last visit here. He knocked three times and then stepped back from the door.
No one answered.
Hermione shot him a concerned look. "What do you think is wrong?" She asked
Ron shrugged.
Her face still twisted into one of concern, Hermione bent down and pressed her ear against the door. "What are you doing?" He whispered, confused
"Shh!" She said, pressing a finger to her lips.
"What are you listening for?" He asked, still confused and slightly annoyed by her brush off.
Without another word, Hermione slowly opened the door to the room and stepped inside. "Ginny?" She asked softly, approaching the bed in the middle of the room.
The moment Ron stepped foot into the room, he understood what Hermione had been listening for. He could hear clearly now the sobs of his little sister, echoing a bit off the hollow walls.
"Oh Ginny" Hermione whispered, as she sat lightly on the edge of the bed, next to Ginny whose face was buried in a pillow, her back to the world. Hermione instinctively reached out her hand to rub her friend's back as she cried.
"Shh….it'll be okay" Hermione whispered sweetly as she rubbed Ginny's back. Ginny hadn't said a word yet, but Hermione's clear presence seemed to make her cry even harder. "What's wrong? Please tell me. Sh….it's okay. Don't worry" Hermione whispered, wiping a stray piece of hair off Ginny's face.
"I---I--- feel so---bad" Ginny said through broken sobs
Hermione looked up at Ron who was still standing in the doorway as though asking him to decode what his sister meant. Once again, Ron shrugged. He had no idea.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked patiently
It took Ginny several moments to quiet her sobs enough to talk. But when she did, she at least turned her head to face Hermione. "I-I'm sorry," She said, choking back another sob.
This time, Hermione didn't try to hide her confusion. "For what?" She asked, not understanding.
This only seemed to make Ginny feel worse as her shoulders started to shake again, and the sound of her weeping filled the room. Hermione looked up at Ron again, this time her eyes begging for him to help. Taking another step into the room and closing the door, he sat in a nearby chair. Leaning forwards, close enough to Hermione to smell her hair, he said in a quiet voice filled with intensity, "Gin, tell us what's wrong"
Ginny, seemingly unaware that Ron had been in the room at all, whipped her head around to face him. He tried to give her a small smile but to him it felt more like a grimace. Ginny closed her eyes, as if his smile/grimace was the most painful thing she'd ever seen, and took a deep shaky breath. "I-I'm sorry" She repeated, her face screwed up as tears still ran down her face, but her voice much more steady.
"Why?" Hermione whispered, taking a bit of her sleeve and dabbing at some of the tears on Ginny's face
The gesture seemed to make Ginny want to cry all over again, but taking another deep breath she managed to make it through the lump in her throat to talk; though the lump had grown increasingly bigger. "I-I didn't know…" She choked, "I didn't know"
"Didn't know what?" Ron asked, quietly, trying his best to be patient
Ginny's eyes welled with tears, "I didn't know what you went through," She whispered
"That's understandable, we never told you" Hermione said
Ginny shook her head ferociously, "No, no…I was acting like--like I was the only one. You went through worse. Much worse."
"Oh Ginny don't say that" Hermione cried
"Why? I-It's true. At least I didn't see….didn't see him die" Ginny whispered, her eyes closed as though the words cut at her.
"G-Gin…" Ron began, his voice thick "Don't be--"
"I never saw Voldemort Ron. I wasn't in that horrid prison."
"Yes but Ginny, I wasn't raped." Hermione said softly
"You were bloody well close to it at times" Ron growled
Hermione shot him another one of her famous, You're-not-helping-the-situation looks and Ron shut up.
"Ginny…Ron and I had each other. And we escaped. We'd been living like kings for days at Viktors. You were out there alone the whole time."
Ginny kept shaking her head. "No…you're not listening…I-I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…the way I treated you--" Ginny couldn't finish her sentence as another wave of tears hit her and she succumbed into them.
"Shh…it's okay. It shouldn't matter anymore. We're safe now,"
"D-do you think there's a-any way h-he could have sur-vived?" Ginny sobbed
"No Ginny," Hermione said her voice pained, "He's never coming back."
As Ginny dissolved into her tears, and Hermione reached out and hugged her, Ron stopped for a moment, watching the two girls who hadn't been talking in days, hug and cry together.
And suddenly, Ron understood the impact Harry's absence would have on the rest of their lives. Besides the fact that he wasn't here, Harry would forever bond the three of them together…despite everything else. The Order, their friends and family…they would forever be connected by the sacrifice of one life. Of the Boy-who-lived and now the Boy-who-died. Harry was supposed to have been the hope for the world. Now, even though he was gone, he seemed to be the only thing still holding it together. That even in times like these, when nothing in the world seemed right, ultimately things righted themselves out and forgiveness always won.
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(A/N: What do you think? Let me know! Hugs, Haystack)