I'd like to comment on something here. Feel free to skip this…
On a different note, I've received a review from a person named Jarno. This person made some comments that really lowered my self-esteem. I know this person was probably just trying to help and state their opinion, but it still made me feel bad. If you just don't like my story, you don't have to read it, and most certainly do not have to review. If you review and leave nothing but degrading comments, in a way that's much worse than not getting any reviews.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is this: I have mentioned my hatred for flaming, but somehow getting a review like the one stated above makes me feel worse. Flames I can toss away without a second thought; these really hit a writer where it hurts. I'm not going to stop writing because of this, as I've gotten some great feedback so far. (Thank you to all my wonderful supporters!) Still, as many people throughout time have advised: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything". Scream into your pillow or something instead.
The person also said that the characters are very OoC. I know that this is an AU story, but I do try to stay true to the books. I was under the impression that I was doing an okay job of it up until now. For example, chapter 5 was fairly easy to write because I can see Ginny doing those things. She talked to Harry in much the same way at the end of HBP, so I was mainly bringing those moments away from that.
I am not the judge of my own writing, though. So now I ask this: what do other people think of my characters? Are they really that badly OoC? Or is it just the wild rants of one reader? Let me know. I'm trying to keep this canon, and all is not milk and cookies with Ron and Hermione…
To round this off with a lighter comment, I am really enjoying writing this story, and I hope you get the same pleasure in reading it. The chapter will begin right after where chapter 8 left off.
There he was. Just up the aisle. Hermione could see him beaming, messy red hair falling into his face. All the other guests were blurred and indistinct; the only people that mattered were her and Ron. She glided down the aisle, taking no notice of anything around her. The soft, floaty white dress billowed around her as she walked faster and faster, finally breaking into a run. She flung herself into his arms, and he picked her up and spun her around, laughing. He set her down and slid the ring onto her finger as she looked into his eyes.
Suddenly a shadow passed over them. Hermione looked round to see all the other guests simply vanish. Hermione tried to scream, but no sound came out. Ron held her tightly as the shadows came nearer. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment, and when she opened them, everything was gone. They were standing in a graveyard filled with dry leaves. Hermione clung to Ron, but could feel herself getting yanked off by a cold, clammy hand. She shrieked as she watched hooded figures surround a frightened Ron. She screamed and screamed, tears pouring down her face, as they aimed their wands at him.
A blast of green light, and Ron was lying on the ground in a crumpled, unmoving heap. The cloaked figures laughed coldly and released her. She fell to her knees next to his lifeless body, feeling her heart shatter and her soul break into a million pieces.
"No!" she managed to choke out through her tears. "No, Ron, please wake up! NO!"
"Hermione!"
Somebody was shaking her violently. Hermione's eyes fluttered open. It was only a dream. Only a dream. And there, leaning over her, looking worried, was Ron.
"Oh, Ron!" Hermione sobbed, and threw her arms around his neck. Ron seemed surprised, but held her gently while she cried.
"Shh…it's okay, I'm here…what's the matter?"
Hermione gulped and drew away so she could look him in the eye.
"Ron…it was awful…"
"What was?" Ron asked, concern filling his eyes. "You were screaming for me…"
"Yes." Hermione took a shuddering breath. "It was—I don't know what was happening, we all seemed so happy, and then…shadows came…we were in this graveyard…and—I think there were Death Eaters there, Ron, and it was only the two of us…they…they killed you, I had to watch…oh, Ron, it was the worst nightmare…"
Ron looked sad. "I'm here. Don't worry. I'm never leaving you."
She sniffled and smiled at him. "I feel better already…but oh, it was so terrible…"
"I know," Ron said, bringing her back into a hug.
"Y-You do?" Hermione was surprised.
"Yeah." Ron chuckled weakly. "I have them almost every night now…I've kind of gotten used to them…now I know how Harry feels, though."
"What are they like?" Her question was a shadow of a whisper.
Ron took a breath. "They're always the same. Malfoy…he comes to your house, breaks the gate…then you come out and—and—you put up a fight. But…there are more Death Eaters…Ginny and Harry are there too, all my family…tied up…tied to their own gravestones…" Ron stopped and looked at her.
Her face crumpled. "Ron…I never knew."
He smiled faintly. "I didn't want to tell you about them because…well…"
"It's all right," she said quietly. "I understand. But—Ron, I'm so scared…do you think you could…stay here with me? I mean…"
Ron reddened, but nodded. "I can if you want me to."
Hermione shifted over and Ron climbed uncomfortably under the covers. She scooted close to him, taking in his warmth. Ron suddenly felt a surge of fright as he thought about everything that had happened, and shrunk into her, too. They huddled there together for some time before their eyelids finally drooped closed.
"What the bloody hell? Them, too?" A voice whispered through a crack in the door.
"Shut up, Fred! Don't want to break up their little lovefest…"
"All right, keep your knickers on…why couldn't Harry have brought one of those Muggle things…a carmara?"
The sound of the twin's snickers seemed to be magnified by ten times in the early morning rays of the sun. Ron groaned and opened his eyes resentfully. What were they on about? He turned over and found his face inches from Hermione's, her eyes still closed. He yelped and jumped back, causing him to stumble out of bed and hit his head hard on the nightstand. He cursed repetitively as he got up, rubbing his head.
Hermione muttered something and opened her eyes. They widened in horror as they found Fred and George, peeking in, identical mischievous grins on their freckled faces.
"Woo hoo!" Fred catcalled.
"So you two finally got it on?" teased George.
"BOYS!" Mrs. Weasley's angry voice reached their ears. "Leave Ron and Hermione alo—" She was cut off as she pushed past them and walked into the room. Her eyes flew from Ginny's bed, which was unoccupied, to Ron, who was standing in his pajamas, to Hermione, who was sitting on the edge of her bed, rubbing her eyes. Mrs. Weasley looked surprised, angry and, somehow, slightly amused, all at the same time.
"What is going on here?" Mrs. Weasley wanted to know. Ron gasped; he knew that his mother would assume the worst.
"Mum—no!" he cried quickly. "No, it's not what you think, it's just that, well, I couldn't sleep in my room, because—"—Harry might kill him if he told the truth, and they could tell it themselves, so he could bend it a little—"—because, um, well, I just couldn't…so I came here, and Ginny wasn't here, so I slept in her bed…"
"But I had a nightmare," Hermione cut in. "It was terrible, and—I asked Ron if he could stay here with me. Mrs. Weasley, we're so, so sorry, but…it really was awful, and…Ron and I aren't together, or anything, so…"
Mrs. Weasley nodded, worry lines creasing her forehead. "I understand. I'm sorry. And, please, dear, call me Molly…I've already told Harry to…and I wonder where Ginny went?"
"I'm right here," Ginny said bravely from behind them. She was standing boldly in the doorway, clad in her green nightgown, looking determined. "Mum, I was with Harry all night…but I promise you nothing happened. I promise. I-I just needed to be with him…"
"I don't think I need to remind you of our situation, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, appearing and putting an arm around Ginny, who was looking very upset. "I'm sorry, but Ginny's not coming with us, and—"
"It's all right," Mrs. Weasley said, holding up a hand to silence everybody and wiping a tear away from her eye. Harry hurried over to comfort the closest thing he had to a mother. The twins' happy expressions had long left their faces, leaving them sober and sad-looking.
"I'll fix breakfast," she said, and bustled away. The twins made a hasty departure, leaving Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny standing in Ginny's room in their nightclothes, feeling uncomfortable.
"I think Harry needs to talk with Ginny," Hermione said quietly.
Harry nodded. "Gin, after we change, can we go for a walk?"
Ginny bobbed her head up and down, trying to look happy but not managing it. Ron and Harry left quickly, leaving the girls to stare after them in silence for a long time.
When Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny were gathered around the table, Mrs. Weasley set warm plates heaped with sausages and eggs in front of them. She turned to Ginny, whose long hair was brushed and who was dressed as if she was accompanying Harry on his quest as well.
"Oh, Ginny…" she said sadly. "My little girl."
Ginny tried to ignore this, picking at her food gloomily. Ron shoved a forkful of eggs into his mouth but couldn't seem to swallow properly. Hermione took tiny bits of sausage and let them drop back onto her plate aimlessly.. Harry seemed to have lost his ability to stomach anything. A heavy, depressing silence hung over them. Mrs. Weasley sighed.
"Please eat something," she begged them. "You need it…goodness knows what you'll be eating…" She said it as if it was a comment of no real importance, but it seemed to bring back down to earth the harsh conditions which they might face.
They obliged silently, chewing with no emotion in their eyes, swallowing with some difficulty. When Ginny had had one full sausage and two large bites of egg, she shoved her plate away as if it was contaminated.
"I'll be outside," she said in a small voice. Harry looked at her sadly. What had happened to the happy, cheerful, spunky Ginny that he knew so well?
Harry stood to follow her, having eaten little more than she. "Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Weasley," he said politely, before hurrying after Ginny's retreating back, disappearing through the back door and out into the morning air.
Mrs. Weasley stared after them with a weary sigh. "My little girl," she repeated, in a shadow of a whisper.
After Ron and Hermione had given up eating anything several minutes later, it was time to pack. They trudged slowly up the stairs, not making eye contact, each mired in their own swamp of thought.
Ten minutes later, they had managed to fit everything they could into the backpacks that Hermione had provided (she had had to explain their function to an amazed Ron). Upon reaching the bottom step, they could see Mr. Weasley sitting in the kitchen with a steaming mug in front of him, looking out of the window. Ron and Hermione approached him cautiously.
"Dad?" Ron asked slowly. He jumped and turned.
"Oh, it's you, son," he said, as if he had been expecting somebody else. "I was just watching—" Mr. Weasley indicated out of the window. Ron and Hermione could see Harry and Ginny. Harry was holding her tightly. It was hard to tell from that distance, but they assumed that Ginny was crying; her shoulders seemed to be shaking uncontrollably.
"She's not the same Ginny anymore," Mr. Weasley said sadly. "I can't imagine what this is going to be like for her. She's being left behind."
"Dad…" Ron said uncomfortably. "This is important to Harry. I don't want her to go, either…I mean, she's too young…"
"She's only just becoming a woman," Mr. Weasley cut his son off. "She needs to have something to fight for."
Ron gave up, and sighed. "We—We should probably get ready to go." His voice was wobbling, despite his efforts to remain cool.
Mr. Weasley stood automatically. "Yes," he said unfathomably. "Yes, I suppose you should."
Ironically enough, when they emerged from the house, the sun was shining cheerful light on the world. However, it failed to lighten the spirits of the group of people gathered in the garden.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now, Harry mate," Fred said solemnly, shaking Harry's hand.
"Yeah. Thanks for…everything," George finished lamely, taking his turn. The twins then faced Ron.
"Keep your chin up, bro'," Fred said, clapping him on the back.
"Don't do anything we wouldn't do."
When the twins had bid Hermione goodbye, it was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's turn.
"Oh, Harry dear…" Mrs. Weasley burst into tears and hugged Harry tightly. "Be careful…"
"I will, Mrs. Weasley," he said, trying to be calm. Mr. Weasley shook his hand firmly and said nothing.
"Oh, Ronnie…my son…my little boy…" Mrs. Weasley clamped her youngest son into a hug, weeping. Ron could do nothing but return it.
"Mum…it's okay…we're going to be fine, okay?"
Mrs. Weasley nodded dumbly, taking a shuddering breath. Arthur then took his turn at hugging his son, while Hermione vanished in Mrs. Weasley's arms.
"Oh, my dear, please be careful…"
"I'm going to protect her," Ron said stubbornly, apparently not aware of what he was saying.
Mrs. Weasley nodded again. "I know, son. Keep each other safe. We're always watching over you."
Finally, Ginny emerged. "I-I'll miss you, Hermione," she choked out, hugging her friend. When they broke apart both girls had tears in their eyes.
"Erm…bye, sis," Ron said lamely. Ginny rushed forward and crushed him in a death grip.
"Oh, Ron…I'll miss you, too…I promise I won't move my stuff into your room while you're go—away…"
Lastly, Ginny was encircled in Harry's arms. "Please come back," she whispered. "Promise me you won't leave me. None of you will leave me."
"We promise," Harry said to her. Just as she broke away from him, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear.
"I love you."
Then, with one last look behind them, the trio adjusted their backpacks, turned on the spot and vanished. They got one last glimpse of the people whom they might never see again before they felt the familiar rush of air and the terrible, yet wonderful sensation of another adventure.
There you have it. This chapter was shorter—sorry! I had a really hard time writing the last half, and I really think it's too cheesy, but I hope you liked it…if you didn't I hereby give you permission to stop reading, and ask that you don't review just to tell me it's crap. If you do think it is but are above flaming, try to tell me in a nice way, and if you can't find anything at all good about it, then I suggest you just don't review. I'm not forcing you to, and I really don't want to get reviews that make me feel bad about my writing and about myself.
GryffindorRulez-Aw, thanks! A new supporter! Yay!
Jarno-I believe that I've said something in response to your review already, but I must add something. I cannot believe that you would say something like this with no way to back yourself up. What makes you think that way? I know that everybody has a right to his or her opinion, but when you say it like that I have really no idea where you are coming from. And a tip: before you start rambling about the faults of other people's stories, try writing one yourself. It isn't that easy. If you didn't like the story you could have just kept quiet about it. Your review did not help me to improve my story at all.
Sorry if I was a little harsh sounding, but I'm not going to let it slide.
Chapter 10 coming soon to a computer near you…