I don't own any of the Harry Potter Characters they are the rightful property of JK Rowlings, nor do I own any of the Irish or Star Wars songs on this page, they are the rightful property of the Brobdingnagian Bards. No harm is intended by this fanfic is its, as always, just for fun.

Chapter 27, A short Honeymoon

After Ron and Hermione Weasley shared a romantic dance to the muggle song "All My Life," the Nasserites began a quite enthusiastic reception in the great hall as two Irish Nasserites took the stage with various instruments and began to play assorted drinking songs which the Nasserites, being unable to drink themselves, found quite amusing. To Ron and Hermione's dismay as they listened to the Nasserites enjoyment of an Irish party in their honor, Harry and Reverend Ewls had left after the dance, and were absent from the festivities.

"Some friends and I in a public house
Was playing a game of chance one night
When into the pub a fireman ran
His face all a chalky white.
"What's up", says Brown, "Have you seen a ghost,
Or have you seen your Aunt Mariah?"
"Me Aunt Mariah be buggered!", says he,
"The bleedin' pub's on fire!"

"And there was Brown upside down
Lappin' up the whiskey on the floor.
'Booze, booze!' The firemen cried
As they came knockin' on the door (clap clap)
Oh don't let 'em in till it's all drunk up
And somebody shouted MacIntyre!"

"MACINTYRE!" shouted all the Nasserites in the room.


And we all got blue-blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire."

The two Irish Nasserites had quite humorous dispositions, one of them played a mandolin, the other a guitar. The one playing a mandolin had long brown hair with a long beard; it was he who was the lead singer of this particular number. The other was clean-shaven, having a much more pronounced Irish Accent, playing a guitar with an Irish recorder hung around his neck. Both of them carried with them an air similar to Fred and George, which caused Hermione and Ron to love them, they were absolutely hilarious to be around.

The scene reminded Ron and Hermione of the night the Ewls children entertained the entirety of the Gryffindor common-room with Irish Music. Hermione wondered if that was the reason why Harry and especially Reverend Ewls could not stand to be in the room as the festivities took place, knowing what had just happened to everyone they knew at the school. Hermione surprisingly found herself trying to suppress these emotions and enjoy the music, to which random Nasserites who obviously couldn't dance broke into very bad Irish Jigs.

"Later that night, when the fire was out
We came up from the cellar below.
Our pub was burned. Our booze was drunk.
Our heads was hanging low.
"Oh look", says Brown with a look quite queer.
Seems something raised his ire.
"Now we gotta get down to Murphy's Pub,
It closes on the hour!"

"And there was Brown upside down
Lappin up the whiskey on the floor.
'Booze, booze!' The firemen cried
As they came knockin' on the door (clap clap)
Oh don't let 'em in till it's all drunk up
And somebody shouted MacIntyre!"

"MACINTYRE!" shouted all the Nasserites in the room.


And we all got blue-blind paralytic drunk
When the Old Dun Cow caught fire."

After this song ended, the two Nasserites (A/N these two characters are based loosely on a musical duo called the Brobdingnagian Bards, I mean no offense to this group should they happen to, by some chance, read this. For those of you out there who have not been introduced to these wonderful musicians, I highly suggest them, they are AWESOME! http/ broke into a musical sound in an Irish Accent which Hermione recognized immediately, Ron however did not. Once she heard the music, Hermione could not contain herself and began to laugh hysterically.

Ron gave his wife's laughter a strange look several Nasserites jigged around them.

"Oh, right, you've never seen Star Wars!" she laughed.

"Muggle stuff," shrugged Ron.

"I sat down beside him and looked him in the eye
He broke the silence, said you judge me by my size
Obi-Wan said careful, for Yoda is the best
I said ok shorty, bring on the test
Well I could tell you how it ended, I could tell you some lies Let's just say, on that night the force was on his side
I got all riled up, and they threw me in jail
I said I don't believe it, Yoda said that's why I failed"

"I had one pint of beer, and one shot of scotch,
I had one bottle of wine, and bourbon on the rocks
I had one lassie on me right, another on the left,
I looked that puppet in the eye and said give me the test"

The two went through several more Irish Drinking Songs before one of the Nasserites quite casually shouted…

"The Soul of a Christian!"

The expressions in the eyes of the two Nasserite Bards quickly became grave. The musician with long brown hair and a beard approached the shouter.

"I don't think this is the right time for that, Silas,"

"Come on McNamara, it's a good song," protested Silas.

The other musician addressed Ron and Hermione…

"Our esteemed colleague is asking us to sing a song that is quite a bit more serious than what we have hitherto been singing, it's a beautiful song, but…"

Hermione nodded, "It's okay."

"You sure," asked McNamara.

"Yes, it'll be fine," said Hermione.

McNamara shrugged, "alright then Walt, let's do it."

The two then began the introduction to a song with a much slower, more contemplative, definitely not humorous tone. It was soft, yet passionate; indeed it was beautiful, yet as Ron and Hermione listened, they could not but help to be moved to tears. The mood of all Nasserites present had also just become much more serious, even prayerful.

"Oh, they say 'tis a hanging that soon I will be--
My body a-twistin from yonder oak tree--
For daring to think that a man could live free...
but though I may die, 'tis a Christian I'll be."

(A/N, this song is based on an Irish song entitled "The Soul of a Harper," the lyrics have been altered by me, I mean no harm to the author of this song or the Brobdingnagian Bards, this is just for fun, consider it a fanfic of the song.)

The songs of my hear will never be stilled
while the cross of the savior still stands on the hill
for the music of Jesus gives a strength to my will
and the soul of a Christian, no mortal can kill.

Both Hermione and Ron listened and were moved to tears, though they were both thankful for the requester of this highly inspirational song. Suddenly, Ron noticed Harry standing next to him, tears also welding in his own eyes as he listened to the song. Reverend Ewls stood next to Hermione and also listened attentively.

For a man of the cross, death holds no sting.
'Tis another adventure--a wonderous thing.
And I know that the Gospel will evermore ring
in the hearts and the bosoms of each Christian's dreams.

The songs of my heart will never be stilled
while the cross of the savior still stands on the hill
for the music of Jesus gives a strength to my will
and the soul of a Christian, no mortal can kill.

After the song ended, Reverend Ewls interrupted the proceedings with the announcement that the "surprise" was almost ready. The Nasserites seemed to understand that this meant that the festivities were over as most of them dispersed, but not before giving final words of congratulations to the bride and groom.

Ewls and Harry then led Hermione and Ron out of the great hall and into a dark corridor lit by candles.

"The room is ready reverend," Harry said as they walked.

"The room?" asked Ron.

"Can't rightly have a wedding without a honeymoon, can we?" Harry responded.

"But we can't have a honeymoon, we don't have time," Hermione protested.

Ewls and Harry continued to lead the couple further into the dark corridor, Ewls spoke as he walked.

"You can take three measly hours out of this war to enjoy your first few days of marriage together." said Ewls as the four came upon a wooden door.

Rod didn't exactly catch the flaw in Reverend Ewls' reasoning. Hermione did however.

"Reverend what exactly do you mean?" she asked. "…three measly hours to enjoy the first few days of our marriage?"

Ewls grinned as Harry gave a chuckle. The four now stood in front of the wooden door, it was clear to the couple that whatever Ron and Reverend Ewls had planned for them was on the other side of the door.

"You don't' miss a thing Hermione," Ewls said. "To you, it won't seem like three hours at all."

Reverend Ewls opened the door revealing a luxurious yet empty room with a king-sized for poster bed at the other end of the room. To their right as they entered, was a window overlooking the ocean, at the end of the room opposite the window was a huge opened walk-in closet. There was another door right beside the door through which they came. As the four entered the room, Hermione and Ron were absolutely amazed at its utter luxury.

"The order uses this room for meditation, it usually looks like a chapel but we had it, how shall we say, modified for your purposes. In here, time moves much more slowly, so that a minute out there is an hour in here. So when I say that you have three hours together, what I really mean is that you have seven and a half days together."

"My God!" Hermione exclaimed, a look of excitement in her eyes.

"I love magic," said Ron, smiling with a chuckle.

"You will have everything you need in here," Harry continued. "Luxurious food and clothing," Harry pointed to the door aside the one from which they came. "Through that door there is an entire world to yourself, you'll find a warm beach and a swimming pool, and just about anything you'd want. In here you'll have toiletries, and of course…" Harry paused before continuing as a smirk grazed his lips. "How shall we say, safety and preparation equipment," Harry gave a wink as he finished this statement.

"Now, If you'll excuse us," said Ewls. "Harry and I will get out of your way, have a wonderful honeymoon, I'll see you in three hours, or to you, seven days."

"Have fun you two," said Harry with a sarcastic smile as he and Ewls left, closing the door behind them.

Ron wasted no time voicing his excitement to his bride, "This place is incredible, it's all so real."

Hermione walked into the walk-in closet and went to one of the dressers which sat therein. Upon opening the drawer, she found various potion-vials waiting for her. Picking up one of the vials and examining the label, she noticed the words, "Anti-Fertility Potion." She smiled and gave a chuckle, turning to Ron who was looking out the window at the other end of the room, outside the closet.

"I see what he meant by safety and preparation equipment," she said.

Ron turned and noticed the potion vial. Giving a chuckle, he approached Hermione and examined it himself.

"I didn't know that we Christians believed in that sort of thing," he wondered aloud as he took the vial from her.

"One of the advantages of not being Catholic I guess." (A/N: The previous statement was in no way intended to offend any catholic readers, in fact a protagonist character which has yet to be introduced is, in fact, a Roman Catholic Priest, and it is strongly implied that there are Catholic Nasserites.)

Ron and Hermione then caught each other's eyes, finally realizing emotionally the subject of the conversation in which they had been engaging for the past few seconds. They found themselves locked in each other's eyes, realizing how physically beautiful as well as inwardly beautiful they each were. Ron then closed the small gap between them, bringing his lips to Hermione's, who without hesitation, kissed back softly, gently. Before knowing it, they were locked in each other's arm's, Hermione's hand still clutching the potion vial.

--------------------

Time seemed to lose its meaning for newlyweds, it was impossible for them to calculate in their heads the chronology of the past few hours they had spent together. What they were sure of, however, was that Hermione dropped the potion and did not take it. This did not stop them; they were guided, not by passion and lust, but by feeling, emotion, attachment to one another.

Day, in their imaginary world, turned to night without them noticing. They laid awake in bed together, covered only by their sheets. Ron laid flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, breathing heavily, Hermione was on her side, resting against Ron, stroking his face, kissing his bare shoulders. Ron's arm cradled Hermione's head in his shoulder, the hand of the other arm across from her was stroking her hair which had returned to its status of bushiness and uncontrollability.

Hermione was much more calm than Ron, not breathing as heavily, but still shaken up by their recent experience. This worried Ron as their experience was positively overwhelming for him. They stared directly into each other's eyes, as if each trying to see deep into the other's soul.

"My God," Ron breathed.

"That was interesting," said Hermione, shaken up but definitely not as much as Ron.

Ron began to chuckle, as did Hermione. Ron brought Hermione's lips to his own with an upward movement of his shoulder. The two enjoyed an intimate kiss for a few seconds before their lips broke apart.

"Ron, when you were dating Lavender," Hermione began in a voice of slight nervousness as if she did not know how Ron would take what she was about to ask. "Did you two ever… you know."

"No," Ron whispered without hesitation, his voice was resolved and solemn. "I'm a virgin… well,"

Ron and Hermione began to laugh.

"I was, just a few hours ago," Ron clarified. "I wonder if we'll get pregnant."

Hermione shook her head, "Doubtful, that's harder than you think, Ron."

Ron's reaction to their recent experience was one of utter physical and emotional daze, Hermione seemed much more controlled and in her right mind, which worried Ron, was it as enjoyable for her as it was for him?

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Ron began, Hermione's expression was attentive, sympathetic. "I'm concerned, How… well…" Ron took a deep breath. "How was it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… was I… you know… any good?"

At this, Hermione paused for a few seconds before beginning to chuckle, a few seconds after that, her chuckle became a hard laugh. Ron rolled his eyes, he did not honestly know how to respond to this but his guess was pessimistic, Hermione's experience was no where near as powerful or enjoyable as his was.

"I knew I must not have been that great," Ron said in despair. "It was my first time."

"Ron, you were wonderful," Hermione said comfortingly. "Though I must admit that I've never had sex with anyone else either so…"

Hermione realized the accidental falsehood of what she had just said. She had almost forgotten the nature of how her wonderful son had come into her life, she could not remember at all the experience of what had happened between her and Lord Voldemort, but she assumed it must have been terrible. As enjoyable as her experience with her husband was, she could not help but be reminded that it was not her first experience with a man. A tear welded in her eye, Ron noticed this and repositioned himself so that he was on his side facing Hermione, his arms rapped around her comfortingly, as Hermione began to cry into his shoulder.

"Hey, It wasn't your fault," Ron began. "You did nothing wrong."

"I had forgotten about it," Hermione sobbed. "I still don't remember a thing about what happened, I don't want to remember."

"You don't have to, in my mind you were a virgin," Ron said solemnly. "We went to the altar together as virgins, and we shared that special part of ourselves with only each other."

Hermione was thankful for her husband's comforting words, but she could not bring herself to stop crying.

"You know I think about little Harry, how precious he is," she sobbed. "And yet what a terrible thing had to occur before he could be brought into the world."

Ron pulled partly away from Hermione in order that he could look her directly in the eyes. Their gazes caught each other, penetrating their respective souls.

"I love you Hermione, I love Harry Ronald, I love you both so much, you are my all-in-all," Ron proclaimed. "I don't care what happened in the past that wasn't our fault, I care about what lies in front of me right now, the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes on. And I wonder, how did I ever get so lucky. I remember how I used to look at you and dream, then I thought of all the men who'd get to hold you, who'd make you laugh, who'd make love to you, I thought about how lucky they were," tears of his own were now welding in Ron's eyes. "Now I'm the one lying next to you. And I thank God for that, every second I thank God for you."

Hermione's tears were no longer of anguish but of thanksgiving. As they two embraced and laid together in the silence of the night, she prayed silently in thanksgiving for her Son, her Husband, her Family.

--------------------

They had fallen asleep rapped in each other's arms that night. As Hermione lay asleep resting in Ron's tight embrace, she began to twitch. In the depths of her sub-conscious, images were running through, similar but much more quick-paced than the recurrent dream she had been having since the last summer.

These images suddenly ceased. Arms pinned to the grassy ground, pinned by unfriendly hands. The huge torso of a man laying on top of her. Not Fear, Terror! Unimaginable Terror spread through her heart as she looked up into the face of the man lay atop her, entrapping her on the ground, she immediately recognized the face of the man she had never seen but had dreaded since her first year at Hogwarts. She tried to control herself but she could not help screaming.

"Silencio" came the familiar voice of Lucius Malfoy.

She could not make a sound as Voldemort's hand moved slowly down her stomach toward the zipper of her pants. Her arm was free, but she could not move it, she was petrified, she could do nothing. She felt the latch and zipper to her pants undone, her head twisted to her left as she beheld the unconscious body of Ron, his hand clutching his wand, not two meters away from her. Her pants and underwear began to slide from her legs uncontrollably.

"No! No! Please!" she thought but could not say on the count of the silencing charm. Her terrified expression and tears screamed these words louder than her mouth could have. Beholding this, both Voldemort, who laid atop her, and Lucius Malfoy, who watched, laughed.

(A/N, this get's pretty bad from here, I have included this for realism's sake but if you are offended by it please don't read the next four paragraphs. I apologize if I have offended anyone, this is why the fanfic is rated M.)

A hard, warm mass worked its way slowly up the side of her legs. She twisted and wiggled to no avail, nothing could save her as the mass reached its destination. Pain! Unbearable Pain! Tears freely flowed from her eyes. She had no choice but to wait, "soon it would be over," she thought. Undoubtedly he would kill her afterward, this must have just been a way for him to have fun with a filthy mud-blood before killing her. Hermione resigned herself to her fate as Voldemort thrust into her for several painful minutes.

When the warm mass left her, Voldemort recovered himself and stood. He took his wand from his robe pocket and aimed it at her. "This was it," Hermione thought. Her mind was absolutely certain that she was now going to die. She was petrified, her wand was several feet from her, even if she could bring herself to move, she did not have enough time to obtain it before Voldemort finished the curse.

"When you wake up you filthy mud-blood whore," Voldemort's calm, high-pitched voice said. "You won't remember a Thing!"

A wave of his wand, a bright blue light, and… a new familiar voice invading her mind…

"Hermione!" the voice called.

Her eyes opened, she suddenly found herself in bed, around her body rapped the loving arms of her husband.

"Hermione!" His voice said again.

Hermione breathed heavily, her tears had created a giant wet spot on the sheets of their bed, and still flowed freely down her cheeks. Her entire body shook as she brought her head to Ron's shoulder and cried aloud, not just sobs, but a hard cry. She now knew, she now understood what had happened to her. Only now did she realize that she did not want to know. Ron's arms stroked her hair and back comfortingly, but even that did not calm her.

"It's okay," came Ron's voice. "I'm here, I'm here."

As the sun slowly rose over the ocean outside their window, and the black sky disappeared, she quite literally cried her eyes out into the loving shoulder of her newlywed husband. It was at least an hour before she had finally cried all she could cry, and lay calm, resting her head in Ron's shoulder.

"What happened Hermione," Ron asked. "What we're you dreaming about."

"It wasn't a dream," Hermione said. "I remember now, I remember everything, I remember how he smelled, how he looked, how he felt, I remember feeling the hatred that came from him." Her tears returned to her. "He entered me, he violated me, I remember it all."

She broke down again into his shoulder. His hands resumed stroking her, comforting her.

"Hermione, it's okay, it's over now, you're safe now, you're with me."

"Oh Ron, I remember it hurt," she cried. "It hurt, I… I tried to fight him but I couldn't, and the more I fought him, the more it hurt. It was in the grass near the creek by your cottage, exactly as I now remember it. It was the night that we remember falling asleep together by the creek, what really happened is that you were stunned…"

A look of realization came over Ron.

"I remember waking up beside you thinking we had just been out late and had fallen asleep by the Creek," Ron confirmed. "Then mum yelled at us for sleeping together. I'm sorry, maybe tonight wasn't the right time for us to make love."

Hermione gained control of her tears and repositioned herself to where they once again looked each other directly in the eye.

"Don't say that," she told him sternly. "I would never regret making love to you, Let's not dwell on what happened, I want to enjoy the rest of our honeymoon.

Hermione brought her lips to Ron's for a short peck. Ron repositioned himself so that he was lying flat on his back, Hermione rested her head upon his chest. The couple fell asleep together.

It was all they could have dreamt of in a honeymoon, they awoke late that afternoon and swam together in the ocean created for the room. After which they wandered the room which seemed to have no end. They spent days together, enjoying every second, wishing it would never end. They had lost track of time. In the backs of both of their minds however, the war raged, they knew that they would have to inevitably return in order to fight; this was their responsibility, their obligation. They also knew that probability dictated that one of them was probably going to die. They tried to put this out of their mind in order to enjoy what little time they had together.

"This place is so incredible," exclaimed Ron as the couple walked hand-in-hand on the beach.

"How long have we been here now?"

"Could it be possible that Hermione Granger has lost track of time?" Ron joked, Hermione gave him a comically dirty look. "Three Days I think, according to us."

Hermione's expression became serious, solemn, contemplative.

"Time, here it seems so far away doesn't it," said Hermione. While still holding on to Ron's hand she sat down on the sand. Ron sat down with her, detecting her solemnity and placing his arms around her. "The entire world is hexing itself to pieces out there and here we are spending what seems like days of paradise alone together. If I didn't know about how time passes in here I'd feel guilty, I almost do anyways. People have died and are dying out there Ron, people who were our friends. I feel lazy Ron."

Ron's expression became equally solemn.

"Honestly I have had that feeling too," said Ron. "Even if it is only a few hours, you're right we can't stay here, people need our help." Ron paused for a second, tears came to his eyes. "I wonder if we'll die too. One of us has to make it Herm, for Harry Ronald, one of us has to survive no matter what happens."

Hermione nodded, "But let's make a pact together Ron, that no matter what happens, the cause is more important."

The two nodded, brought their lips together and enjoyed a slow, soft kiss, signifying their acceptance of their new agreement. When they broke apart, both of them had expressions of both fear and resolve.

"I love you Hermione."

"I love you too Ron," Hermione paused, her eyes caught Ron's, her look was as resolved as ever. "Ron, make love to me again, one more time, in case this is the last time."

Ron brought his lips to hers, they kissed softly, slowly, romantically.

--------------------

Harry and Reverend Ewls waited in the small, dark, hallway adjacent to the room in which Ron and Hermione enjoyed their honeymoon.

"How long have they been in there?" asked Harry.

"Over and hour and a half," Ewls responded. "More than three days now to them."

Immediately after Ewls finished saying this, the door opened. Hermione and Ron came out hand-in-hand. Their expressions bore resemblance of the subjects they had been contemplating before deciding to leave the room.

"Well that didn't take you long you were only in there for an ninety minutes," Ewls said. "What happened?"

"We decided that its time for us to return to where we belong, but thank you for the room reverend," Said Hermione as she glanced over at Ron, a grin beginning to graze her lips. "It was wonderful."

"There is a floo connection in the great hall waiting for you, it leads back to the burrow, that's the only place we could get a secure connection to," said Reverend Ewls as the four began to walk back toward the great hall. "You might want to have your wands ready, I seriously doubt that your family is still there Ron, Voldemort knows that your father is an enemy and he knows where he lives, so it is possible that Death Eaters could be there."

"Any news of what happened to them?" asked Ron.

"Father Bates has been trying to find out anything he can about your family, with the exception of public executions, Voldemort has been very secretive about his operations."

"If the Death Eaters are there, I just hope that mum and dad got out of there before they arrived."

"So do I, but be ready," said Ewls.

"Yes indeed you two," came a voice to their side as they entered the great hall. Harry's heart leapt as he recognized the voice immediately. "Be ready."

R.J. Lupin approached the four, giving Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Reverend Ewls a handshake. Father Bates stood behind Lupin.

"It's good to see you again Harry," said Lupin. "Good to see you all." He turned to Reverend Ewls, "How are you Thomas?"

"Good to see you again Remus," said Ewls.

Lupin's expression became apologetic.

"I heard about your family, I'm so sorry," said Lupin. Ewls nodded, his expression became slightly more saddened. Lupin turned to Hermione and Ron who were still holding hands. "Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger how are you?"

"That would be Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sir," boasted Hermione.

Lupin suddenly beamed, he gave a chuckle.

"You didn't? Congratulations!" he said. "You know I saw that one coming. I'm happy for both of you; I wish that your marriage could've come at a better time."

"I found him in Southern France, trying to make it here," said Father Bates.

"What are you doing here?" asked Harry.

"I never did tell you that I was a Nasserite did I?" Lupin replied. "I thought eventually you'd be one, I hear now that you've begun your training, I wish that we had time to train you more effectively."

"We have more time than R.J. realizes," Father Bates clarified. "Or rather we need more time. We cannot attack now R.J. we are under-strength and Voldemort is employing Nephezites, he is perhaps even one himself."

"We cannot wait here, every day brings news of more defeats," Lupin protested. "Severus Snape has finally organized, a resistance strong enough to pose a minor threat to the Death Eaters, but their attempt to capture the ministry of magic will fail unless we aid them."

"Robert, perhaps Remus is right," Ewls broke in.

"No Thomas, we must train our new apprentices," Bates responded. "The New Nasserites, like Harry, are no where near ready for battle, and I will not divide our forces."

"Excuse me, sir," Ron broke in with a confused expression. "Did you say that Severus Snape was organizing a resistance?"

"Yes I did, it seems as though he was a spy for Dumbledore all along," said Lupin.

"But sir, he still killed Dumbledore," protested Hermione.

"No Hermione, see I have seen the correspondence which took between Dumbledore and Snape over the Summer Holiday before your sixth year, his own death was part of the plan all along," Lupin turned to Harry. "Dumbledore sacrificed his own life for Harry, and so that Snape could prove his loyalty to the Death Eaters, and it was something that Snape did not go along with easily. Dumbledore felt his life a worthwhile sacrifice. Apparently Snape tried to warn the ministry about Voldemort's plot with your child Ms. Gran… Mrs. Weasley." Lupin then turned to Father Bates, his expression was one of resolved protestation. "Robert, if you'll not be aiding the resistance, I cannot stay, my place is in Britain."

"It's unfortunate that you feel that way R.J. but I understand," said Bates.

"Reverend," Hermione broke in, speaking to Ewls. "Before we leave, there is one more thing that we must do."

--------------------

The Nasserites held Liturgy every day at the temple, having noticed the time a few minutes after emerging from the room, and that she and Ron would be leaving the temple in only minutes, Hermione decided that this was the perfect time to have something done that neither she nor Ron particularly wanted to miss. The minister presiding over the liturgy was Barnabas McNamara, one of the two bards who had sang at Ron and Hermione's wedding reception.

Hermione had only ever attended few liturgies in her life. She found that the ones she had attended prior to her conversion to be mundane and pointless, however after she had become a Christian on what would have been her deathbed, worship took on a whole new meaning for her. It became something with purpose and power, something she enjoyed doing. Like, Harry, She especially took a liking to the hymns.

She, Joined by Ron, Harry, R.J. Lupin, and Reverend Ewls listened to, and sang "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" with the congregation of Nasserites sitting throughout the chapel in which Hermione and Ron were married. Resting in Hermione's arms was her son, Harry Ronald. Her heart was at peace as she enjoyed both worship and holding her newborn child who typically cried uncontrollably unless held by either she or Ron. In midst of singing, Ron would occasionally reach his finger to the baby and ever so gently stroke the baby's face.

After the music stopped, McNamara returned to the front and began to address the congregation. Hermione, however, leaned to her husband and whispered to him. Reverend Ewls and Harry evidently heard as they leaned toward the couple.

"I never fully experienced how beautiful these hymns were until after I believed," Hermione whispered.

"They certainly can have a powerful effect on believers," whispered Ewls, who sat on the other side of Ron.

"I remember so clearly the hymn that inspired me to believe, 'Amazing Grace,' my favorite one," said Ron at a low whisper.

"I always loved 'Be thou My Vision.'" said Harry, other Nasserites were beginning to notice their conversation and were turning around and observing them with cold looks expressing their desire that the four should "be quiet!"

"It was always 'Come thou fount of Every Blessing' for me," said Ewls.

McNamara, maintaining his comical nature—even causing the congregation to laugh occasionally—had been addressing the congregation about children and the importance of raising them in the church. Although Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Reverend Ewls had been whispering during his address, they loosely followed him, especially as he transitioned into how Harry Ronald was to be dedicated.

"…If the child's parents and Godparent will bring him forward," said McNamara.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood and approached McNamara who stood in front of the altar in the front of the Chapel. Hermione carried Harry Ronald who was as quiet as he had been during the hymn. Thus far he had, in fact, been an unusually quiet baby.

"Brother and Sister Ron and Hermione Weasley," Began McNamara. "Who, having recently born this child into the world, have now made the decision to come before God, and dedicate him to Christ our Lord, and to give him a Godfather. Who is the man who shall stand as Godfather to this child?"

"It is I, Harry James Potter," said Harry who stood to Hermione's left, while Ron stood to her right.

"Harry James Potter," McNamara began. "Do you take within your care, the Christian life of this Child, Harry Ronald Granger Weasley, do you promise to guide him in his walk of faith, to share the love of God with him, and to always be an example of faith and good works for him, and to see to it that when he is able to confess and believe in the name of the Lord Jesus, that he shall be baptized and fully join the body of Christ."

"I do," said Harry.

"Then let it be so, that in the eyes of the Church you, Harry James Potter, are now Godfather to Harry Ronald Granger Weasley," said McNamara. "Will you assist me in blessing this child and dedicating him to the Lord?"

Hermione then handed Harry Ronald to Harry Potter. Immediately after entering his Godfather's arms, as expected, the child began to cry. McNamara, his comical nature not being changed by the solemnity of the ritual he was performing, gave a smile at the fact that the child seemed to demand that it not be held by anyone but its mother. McNamara, from his robe-pocket, drew a small vial and emptied the contents onto Harry Ronald's head, after so doing, he placed a hand gently upon the baby's forehead.

"Harry Ronald Granger Weasley," McNamara began. "By the authority of the Holy Priesthood of God, which is granted to all who confess the name of the Lord Jesus, I anoint your head with sacred and consecrated oil, and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. Harry Weasley know always that the Lord will be with you, that he will always love you, and shall be if you desire him to be, a guiding light to you in a world of darkness, a constant in a world of change. We bless you, and dedicate you to the Lord as a child who shall be raised among the Body of Christ, that when you are ready you shall take your place in the waters of baptism, and fully join as a brother. Until that day you are hereby dedicated to God, we seal this blessing upon your head in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

After McNamara was finished, Harry handed the crying baby back to its mother, after which, Harry Ronald immediately quieted down. Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved to sit back at the pew in which they had originally sat. After they were settled back into their pew, Reverend Ewls began to whisper to Hermione…

"Hermione, I had them do this next hymn for you, I thought you'd appreciate it greatly seeing what you've been through."

"And now let us stand together and sing our communion hymn, which is hymn number 573, 'All Creatures of our God and King.'"

The congregation stood and the organ immediately began to play the tune to "All Creatures of our God and King." Ewls was quite right, Hermione enjoyed the hymn quite thoroughly, but she did not quite understand how it related to her directly until they came to the fifth verse.

"And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care:
Alleluia, alleluia, O Praise him! O praise him! alleluia!"

"Ye who long pain and sorrows bear, praise God and on him cast your care" did in fact bring a tear to Hermione's eye, however the next verse would make her break down.

"And thou, most kind and gentle death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord thy way hath trod:
Alleluia, alleluia, O Praise him! O praise him! alleluia!"

The lyrics regarding death were so true to Hermione who had experienced them first-hand. Since her conversion and recent mystical experience, she truly did no longer have any fear of passing through the veil. For her, death truly was that which leads home the child of God. When she sang of death being kind and gentle, waiting to hush her last breath she could no longer hold her son, she began to sob openly. Ron almost instinctively took Harry Ronald from her arms as she continued to sob as she attempted to sing the next lyrics concerning being lead home by death, which were even more powerful to her. By the next and final verse, she had resolved her sobbing and returned to singing the hymn in a resolved voice.

"Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three-in-One"
Alleluia, alleluia, O Praise him! O praise him! alleluia!"

---------------------

After the Communion and dismissal, Ron, Hermione, and R.J. Lupin were lead by Harry and Reverend Ewls to the great hall in which was the fireplace that they would employ to return to England. Hermione, Ron, and Harry all shared a hint of anxiety as for all each of them knew, this could very well be the last time they would all three be together. None of their eyes were dry; they were, however, glad that Hermione realized what time it was prior to departing in order that they could dedicate Harry Ronald and worship together before two of them departed.

"Good luck you three, God be with you till we meet again," said Harry through the tears which were rolling down his face.

Hermione still cradled in her arms her son. Before handing the small child to his godfather, she fixed her gaze upon its eyes which looked up at her in a kind of blank, curious stare. Hermione's expression, however was tearful, anxious. Her son might very well, never see her again. Ron, also in tears, stood with one arm around his wife's shoulder, the hand of this other arm extended its pointer finger to the baby which took it in his palm. Hermione began to whisper to him through her tears…

"Harry, it's your Mum, we've got to go for a while," she paused for a second as she began to sob while she spoke. "And there's a chance that one of us, or maybe even both of us won't come back. We're sorry that we have to go, but I hope someday you'll understand that sometimes we have to do the right thing, even if it costs us all we have. If we don't make it back, know that we love you so much, that we'll always be with you."

Hermione brought the child's tiny forehead to her lips, giving it a small peck before handing the baby to Ron.

"Harry, it's your dad," Ron whispered through his own tears. "I want you to know that I am here for you, in spirit if not in actuality. I want you to know that I love you, and that if we don't make it back, we're sorry that we won't get to see you grow into the wonderful man you'll become. There's so much I can't wait to do with you, get you your first broom, help you learn to play quiddich, wrestle around on the floor with you while mum reads her bloody books." Hermione gave a chuckle through her tears. "If God wills it so, we will come back, but if not, know that God loves you, so much, as do we."

After finishing, Ron brought Harry Ronald's forehead to his lips, and then handed him to Harry. Harry Ronald immediately knew that he was nowhere near his mother's arms and began to scream at the top of his infant lungs. This screaming did not help his mother's anxiety as Ron aided her into the fireplace with Lupin.

"Take care of him Harry," Hermione sobbed.

"I will,"

Lupin's hand had been grasping a handful of floo powder, he brought it up to his chin-level, extending it in front of him several inches.

"The Burrow!" said Lupin loudly and clearly, throwing down the powder to the fireplace.

A green flame arose engulfing Hermione, Ron, and Lupin. In a split second they were gone. A powerful realization came over Harry as he held the crying Harry Ronald Weasley in his arms, a realization that he now felt completely alone. Reverend Ewls' company proved to not be as comforting as his two friends' or Dumbledore's would have been. His faith, however, told him that his God was with him, as were his parents, his godfather, and his old headmaster through his God. He drew what little comfort he could from this cognition, though realizing also the awesome responsibility his God had called him to, he felt the weight of the universe suddenly pile on his shoulders.

"Come now Harry," came Reverend Ewls' solemn voice. "The time has come to complete your training."