Chapter 41

Disclaimer: I still don't own the world of Harry Potter. So much for creative disclaimers. I'm tired, people.

A/N: Once again, sorry for the delay. Life seems to be swallowing me whole lately. I have yet ANOTHER paper due Friday. I'm also juggling another fanfic and claustrophobia caused by the dorm rooms. Without further ado, here it is.

Sorry! This was going to be posted last night, but the site wouldn't let me upload documents. I also tried about ten times earlier today. Special thanks to Leoneow for letting me know it was working!

8888888888888888888888888888

Lavender screamed in horror as the door caved in.

An assortment of Death Eaters, masked and hooded, came barreling into the flat. Immediately curses and hexes began flying.

Ron pushed Fred behind him, who, without a wand, was entirely defenseless. Hermione began yelling instructions at him. "Watch the journal, Ron. The journal!"

Lavender went for it, but she was spotted. One of the brawnier (which actually wasn't saying very much—these Death Eaters were in bad shape) aimed his wand at her.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"NO!" Hermione screamed.

"LAVENDER, MOVE!" Ron bellowed.

But it was too late. The green sparks from the wand hit her square in the chest, and she fell over, a look of surprise evident on her face. Lavender Brown was dead.

Hermione was now sufficiently angered. She started throwing hexes with a renewed vigor.

"AVADA…"

"PROTEGO!"

"CRU…"

"STUPIFY!" Ron cried. He looked down at the stunned Death Eater. "No one crucios Hermione."

He pushed Fred under the table. "Stay there."

Fred didn't fight him. He didn't feel like dying today. He hid like the Muggles did from earthquakes in the pictures he'd seen in Muggle Studies. And prayed to whatever higher powers he could think of.

Ron began to try every spell he could think of. Remembering first year, he used a well-placed Levitation Charm to knock out the Death Eater who had killed Lavender with a very nice Ming vase. It, of course, was a casualty to the battle. Not that it mattered, for Lavender would no longer be requiring it. He also took a page out of Ginny's book and threw a couple of Bat-Bogey Hexes.

Hermione had managed to disarm one Death Eater. "Incarcerous!" she cried. Ropes appeared out of the end of her wand and restrained him/her. Finally, only a few were left.

Ron tossed Hermione the journal. "Take Fred and Apparate out of here!" She opened her mouth to argue, but he wouldn't let her. "No arguing! I'm an Auror, get out of here!"

She reluctantly agreed, grabbing Fred in one hand and the journal in the other and Disapparating, leaving Ron to face the remaining three Death Eaters.

All she and Fred could do was wait. She floo-called the Aurors, who assured her they were on their way. But she still was worried. Stubborn git.

"He'll be fine, Hermione," Fred soothed.

"What's wrong?" Harry Potter himself asked.

"What are you doing here? You should be on your way to help Ron!" Hermione cried.

"What? I'm off today, so I was visiting Ginny…"

"More like torturing me," Ginny said, walking into the room, but Hermione could tell she didn't really mean it. "What about Ron? Is he giving someone a hard time about Fred?"

"Try fighting Death Eaters," Fred replied.

"What?" the two cried in unison.

Hermione nodded. "And Lavender Brown is dead."

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed. "It's a long story."

An owl pecking on the window soon interrupted them. Harry went and got the message. "It's for me. The Aurors on duty captured the stunned Death Eaters." Hermione's poignant look was not lost on him. "Ron's okay." She sighed in relief. "He's being checked out at St. Mungo's for some minor spell damage, but it looks like he'll be out by tomorrow."

He sat down across from Hermione. "So tell me what's going on."

"Tell me too." A voice said from behind them. It was Mr. Weasley and George.

Hermione sighed. "You sit down too, Mr. Weasley and George. This will be both long and shocking."

88888888888888888888888888

Meanwhile, Ron was in the hospital—the one place he absolutely hated. And now they had the gall to give him a psychological examination.

"How have you been feeling lately, Mr. Weasley?" the healer asked.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, considering I just had a battle with about a dozen Death Eaters, I feel wonderful."

"Don't be snippy with me. I have to do this."

Ron sighed. "Just get it over with. I'm not crazy."

"But your family members all are."

"Don't you dare bring them up! This is about me. Besides, I have two family members that are quite fine, thank you very much."

"Your children? How do you feel about them?"

Ron smiled. "You know, they're like a gift. I never thought I could have something so wonderful…"

The healer smiled. "I have three of my own—all boys, though. Children truly are remarkable. They make us appreciate so much."

"Yes."

"So how are things between you and their mother?"

"Hermione?"

The healer nodded.

Ron just grinned.

"Oh. Oh. I see," the healer said quickly, blushing.

Ron sighed. "Listen, she'll kill me if I don't get home soon. Can we cut this short?"

The healer smiled. "Yes. Go back to your lady. I can sympathize. I'd kill my husband if he didn't contact me after being in a fight with Death Eaters. Go ahead. I pronounce you quite sane."

Ron sighed and finally Apparated to his flat. Everyone (plus Harry) was sitting in the living room.

"Ron!" Hermione cried and immediately fell to kissing him. Ron immediately responded, in more ways than one. He was glad he was wearing robes.

"HEY! No snogging!" George cried.

"Yeah, you two need a room," Fred teased.

"Well, get out then," Ron rebutted, though his ears were turning their trademark red. "What's going on here?"

"I just explained everything to them," Hermione replied. "Apparently the Aurors have some good leads as to the other Death Eaters and their whereabouts?"

Ron nodded. "The ones we caught are spilling their guts out. I reckon we'll catch them all before the week's out."

"And if not, we have the journal," Fred added, holding it up.

Hermione smiled. "Good." She sighed. "We need to go pick up the girls from Remus and Tonks."

"Remus and Tonks have the kids?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Last night was a full moon."

"What?" Ron and Hermione cried in horror.

"I'm sure they're fine," George assured them. "After all, they have their own kids. However, Tonks is going to kill you two."

Hermione sighed. "We might as well get it over with."

Ron pouted, so she kissed him into submission. "Come on, Ron."

88888888888888888888

A/N: I apologize for the delay. Writer's block has been the bane of my existence lately. After the cliffie that wrote itself last chapter, this one didn't want to come. Once I got the battle over with, it flowed, though, so I guess it's all good.

Thanks to my beta jwoods471. Read her stories Opportune Mistake and Forgotten Memory. Also hello to JohnCardy87. Can you find the comment that was written in just for you?

Please review! Please?