A/N: I know, I know. I promised answers and all I gave was MORE cliffhangers. Well, I promise that things will start to make sense soon…I hope…Well, on the plus side, we all know that dear old Dumbles is ok. But Ginny…Ok. I'm going to shut up.
I'm warning you that this chapter will jump around quite a bit. Please don't hurt me!
Chapter 17: Screams, Dreams, and Holiday Tears
Draco appeared in the forest with the other Death Eaters several moments after touching the portkey around his neck. Voldemort emerged from the cave dragging Ginny and Liam by the scruff of their necks. Throwing Liam on the ground, he waved his wand to tie him up. Doing the same to Ginny, he turned to face his Death Eaters.
"Now, the time has come! We now have the ability to get all the information we need! This," he said pointing to Ginny, "is Potter's girlfriend!"
The Death Eaters laughed, all except for Draco. Draco bit his lip and pretended to laugh. The less Voldemort noticed about his behavior, the better. Voldemort turned to Liam. "I must say thank you to our young Ravenclaw friend here for telling me this valuable information." Ginny turned her head. "LIAM! HOW COULD YOU?"
Voldemort hissed. "Why don't you tell the Death Eaters how you knew this?"
Liam swallowed. Trying to avoid Ginny's gaze he took a breath. "I'm in Ginny's year…I've had a crush on her since our first year and, well…I've kind of followed her around since. I couldn't deal with the torture…so I…I told him about her!" Dropping his head, silent tears slid down his cheeks.
"I can't believe you Liam. You were my FRIEND. My FRIEND. And you betrayed me. You're just like him!" Ginny shouted, pointing at Pettigrew.
Voldemort clicked his tongue. "Well, well, well…another tale of deception and lies all on my account. How about we relieve your grief Liam?" Liam looked up. Before he or Ginny could react, Voldemort raised his wand. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Liam's body went limp and Ginny screamed. "NO!"
Voldemort picked Ginny up like a sack of potatoes. Voldemort turned to Draco. "And I must say thank you to our little actor. If Draco hadn't gotten so close to Potter's mudblood friend Hermione Ganger, we never would have gotten Miss Weasley here without a full attack on the school. But don't worry. We'll have that in the end." And with that closing note, he turned and walked into the cave.
……………
Harry had gone to bed. Hermione and Ron however sat in the common room thinking. Finally Hermione voiced her thought of the past five minutes. "How could he have gotten her?"
Ron sighed. "I'm not sure. She's too smart to have done anything dumb."
Hermione nodded. "This is just too weird."
….
Run…Run…RUN! Flying…darkness…whispers…whispers…who were the whispers…
Dumbledore's eyes shot open. He looked around and slowly sat up. "Poppy! Poppy! He's awake!"
As the room came into focus, he saw Minerva leaning over him. Poppy ran over with some potion. "Here headmaster. Take this. It will help with the headache I'm sure you have."
As she said that, he realized that he did in fact have a splitting headache. "I remember a flash…We almost had it. We were almost there."
"Now, now. Lie quite Albus. Please, you must rest."
Dumbledore sat up suddenly. "HE MUST BE STOPPED!"
"Albus, you must lie down now. You're not strong enough."
"Terrible things. Terrible terrible things. They've been playing in my mind."
"Albus, you MUST calm down. It was all a dream." Minerva nodded to Poppy who slipped him some more potion.
"Terrible…Terrible things…She isn't safe…" with that Dumbledore slipped back to sleep.
…...
Draco paced his room. What have I done? How could I have done this? Why am I letting him control me? I can't do this anymore. I can't deal with this. I need Hermione back. He lied to me…HE LIED TO ME!
Draco threw the book of dark curses against the wall and dissolved to tears. I have to fix this…I have to…
Picking up a quill and parchment, he began a letter.
….
Hermione slept in Ron's arms in the common room. Ron stroked her hair. "She's so beautiful. I can't believe she's mine." he muttered.
Suddenly, Hermione grabbed her wrist. "Get off! Get off! It's mine! I will never let you have it!"
Ron's face popped in fear. "Hermione. Hermione! Wake up. You have to wake up!"
"No! NO! YOU CAN'T HAVE IT! IT'S MINE! NO! NO!" She went quiet for a moment, then- "RON!"
Ron looked even more alarmed. "Hermione, wake up. Wake up Hermione! I'm here. It's Ron. Please wake up!"
Slowly Hermione's screams quieted to mutterings and those dissolved to silence. Slowly she opened her eyes. "Ron? Oh Ron!" She threw her arms around him and cried bitterly.
"Hermione, what happened?"
"Oh Ron…It was terrible. He was trying to take the charm from me but I fought him. When I refused to give it up, he…he…Oh Ron, he killed you!" This brought a fresh stream of tears. "Hermione, it's alright. I'm here with you. I'll never leave you. Never. No matter what I will be on your side and I'll never let anything happen to you. I promise you that."
Hermione looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Ron…"
Ron leaned in and kissed her.
….
The Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross at eight o' clock two nights later. Hermione, Ron, and Harry picked up their trunks and slid through the barrier. Mrs. Weasley stood waiting for them, her eyes red with tears. She gave a small yelp and hurried over to hug them. For the first time, Ron didn't protest. "Oh Ron Professor McGonagall sent us an owl as soon as she found out. Do you have any idea what happened?"
Ron pulled away from his mother and shook his head. "Harry and I were jumped in the library and then Hermione and I found Harry in the common room with a note."
Harry looked slowly to Mrs. Weasley. He had not said much over the past few days and felt the entire ordeal was his fault. Mrs. Weasley looked around. "Come on. We'll discuss this at home. Your father is in the car."
They left the station and piled their things into the car. Mr. Weasley also bore the tell tale signs of tears. "Hello everyone. Have a nice term?" They nodded and Mr. Weasley gave a small smile. "That's good. Everyone in then? Good, let's go."
He pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the street. No one said much on the way to the Burrow. It wasn't until they had put their things away that the discussion began. Sitting around the kitchen table, Mrs. Weasley looked to Harry. "May we see the note now?"
Harry pulled the crumpled parchment from his jeans pocket and handed it to Mrs. Weasley. It was extremely difficult to read owing to the fact that Harry had read and reread the note so many times. Mrs. Weasley put the note between herself and her husband and they read it silently. Mr. Weasley looked up. "'I have taken something you'll sorely miss…' 'Sever ties with Weasley and Granger…' Whoever sent this to you Harry obviously knows you very well or else has found things out about you from another source."
Harry hung his head. Mrs. Weasley reached across the table and lifted his chin. "This is not your fault Harry. You didn't have any part in this."
"Except that I was dating her." Harry said bitterly. "I told her we should have broken up after the attack last year…But she wouldn't…"
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Maybe, but she stayed because she loved you. This is not your fault so stop blaming yourself."
Harry gave a small nod. "I'll try." he muttered.
Mr. Weasley stood up and began to pace. "Who would have been able to take her? None of this makes sense."
Ron and Hermione both shook their heads. Harry looked up to give an idea but instead he gasped and jumped backwards out of his chair and landed hard on the floor.
"What's wrong!" Everyone asked at the same time. All Harry could do was point at the window. Looking out, they all saw what he was staring at.
"Oh my…" Mrs. Weasley said quietly. Hermione could only stare. Ron's jaw dropped. "Bloody…."
Fred and George stood outside the window with two dragons on chains behind them. "What do you think?" Fred asked.
Mr. Weasley regained his senses long enough to yell, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
George took a step forward. "Calm down dad, they're not real."
"Yeah," Fred jumped in, "They're our newest creations. We came up with them especially for the ministry. It's a spell that transfigures a harmless dog into a dragon."
"They're for security…And to scare the pants off of the Death Eaters." George finished. Mr. Weasley fell into his chair. "You two…"
Hermione broke into a smile. "They're brilliant!"
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "She has a point."
Fred pulled a bag from under the window. "By the way, Happy Christmas!"
George nodded. "We came to stay for the holidays!"
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "Do you think they know?" he whispered.
Mrs. Weasley had over heard and nodded. "We told them."
Fred bowed his head. "We were trying to cheer this place up a little. Don't think we don't care about our little sister."
Suddenly there was a crack and two women appeared behind Fred and George. One was taller than the other with black hair to the middle of her back with red tips. Her green eyes sparkled and she glared at Fred with her arms crossed. The other was a little shorter with platinum blonde hair and clear blue eyes. She put her hands on her hip and stared at George. The boys took a step back, knowing they were in trouble. Suddenly the one with black hair yelled, "WHAT WERE YOU TWO THINKING?" She smacked Fred upside the head and rolled her eyes. The blonde joined in. "YOU JUST LEFT US BACK THERE!"
Mrs. Weasley looked at her sons. "And who pray tell are these lovely young ladies?"
Fred smiled. "These are our lovely girlfriends. Everyone, meet Aella." The girl with black hair gave a small nod.
George stepped forward. "And this is Ailis." The blonde gave a small wave of her hand.
Mrs. Weasley smiled. "This is Ron, Hermione, Harry, and my husband Arthur."
As they heard Harry's name, Ailis and Aella looked over and spotted the scar. Ailis looked up. "Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded. "Yea, I am."
Aella laughed. "Fred, when you told us your brother had a friend named Harry, we didn't know you meant Harry Potter!"
Fred shrugged. "Slipped my mind. So what were you two yelling about?"
Aella and Ailis looked at each other then turned to Fred and George. "YOU LEFT US IN THE SHOP WITH A BUNCH OF SCREAMING GIRLS WHO WANTED LOVE POTIONS FOR BOYS FOR SOME STUPID CHRISTMAS PARTY!"
George turned to Fred. "They're so cute when they're mad."
Ailis smacked him upside the head. "They almost broke down the storage room door!"
Aella nodded. "There was one who was really trying to get in. I think she said her name was Romilda Vane or something of the like."
Harry blushed. "I'm guessing this was at the Hogsmead branch?"
Ailis nodded. "Yes. They're all on a hormone train, I'm telling you."
Fred and George bowed towards the door. "After you ladies."
Ailis and Aella grabbed their bags of Christmas gifts and marched inside. Fred and George smiled. Mrs. Weasley pointed to the stairs. "Fred and George, you can go to your old room. Ailis and Aella can stay in Bill and Charlie's old room."
The four climbed up the stairs leaving Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley downstairs. "They seem nice." Ron said after a minute.
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Yes they do. I hope they stay. It'll be good for Fred and George to have someone."
….
That evening Mrs. Weasley made a special dinner for Christmas Eve. Hermione had spent a few hours wrapping presents and was now helping Mrs. Weasley finish dinner. Harry, Ron, Fred, and George played Quidditch in the orchard with Ailis and Aella cheering. An hour later Hermione called out "Dinner! Come on you guys!"
The boys landed and Fred and George took Aella and Ailis's hands. They sat down and Harry noticed the clock for the first time that visit. Ginny's hand was pointing at mortal peril and he couldn't bear to look at it. The dinner was quite huge. The meal consisted of turkey, puddings, potatoes, vegetables, and of course, wizard crackers. Hermione and Ron pulled one together and Ron placed a large feather hat on Hermione's head. Harry turned to Fred and George. "So you started a shop in Hogsmead?"
Fred nodded. "Eets, oin ally ood."
Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes. "Haven't you heard of swallowing, Fred?"
Fred swallowed his mouthful of pudding and started again. "Yeah. It's going really good."
Mr. Weasley was in conversation with Ailis and Aella. "So where did my boys meet you two?"
Aella swallowed some of the pudding she had tried off of Fred's plate. "We met them at a Quidditch match last summer in Monaghan."
Mr. Weasley nodded. "I'm guessing they told you they were beaters for Gryffindor for five and a half years?"
Ailis nodded. "Yeah. We heard about the, how did George put it? Oh yeah, the 'evil toad woman' that kicked them off the team."
Mr. Weasley laughed. "Yes, Delores is quite like a toad now that I think about it. What school did you two go to? Not Hogwarts or you would have met before."
Aella nodded. "We went to Beauxbatons. Our mother didn't really like the idea of us learning potions from a…well…Snape." She couldn't think of the best way to put her mother's exact words to describe Snape to Mr. Weasley. Although she had called him a "miserable excuse for a wizard who should have been thrown off the polar ice cap ages ago".
Ron looked up when he heard Beauxbatons. "Hey! Did you come to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament?"
Ailis looked over to Aella. "Well…Uh, well yes."
Aella glanced at Ron. "Wait…Weren't you that little boy who was chasing after Fleur?"
Ron turned beet red and turned away. Harry gasped. "You were the blonde twins!"
Ailis nodded. "Yeah. We didn't really pay much attention to the Hogwarts boys though. They were all obsessed with Fleur."
Fred and George held back smiles. Fred decided to break the news. "She's married to our older brother Bill."
Ailis and Aella gasped. "So that's who she was talking about!"
Mrs. Weasley butted in. "You two are twins as well?"
Aella nodded. "Yeah. I dyed my hair though because I was sick of being mixed up with Ailis."
"We looked exactly alike when we were younger. The only way our mother could tell us apart was because I kept changing my appearance every five minutes." Ailis said.
Hermione looked up. "You're a Metamorphagus?"
"Yeah. See? Check this out." Ailis scrunched her face as they had seen Tonks do so many times. A second later her blonde hair was purple, her nose was pointier with a stud through it, and her eyes were black. She changed back a minute later.
Mr. Weasley spoke up. "A good friend of ours is a Metamorphagus. Do you know Nymphadora Tonks?"
Ailis shook her head. "No I don't."
Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasley. "When are she and Professor Lupin getting married anyway?"
Mrs. Weasley swallowed her roll and closed her eyes to think. A moment later she said, "I believe Remus said something about next July. He and Tonks want to get married in the summer."
The rest of the meal was quiet and after the table was cleared, Ron took Hermione's hand and pointed outside. Hermione nodded and they slipped through the door. Snow was falling lightly and they made their way to the orchard. Sitting on a bench Ron turned to Hermione. "What do you think of Fred and George's girlfriends?"
Hermione smiled. "They seem nice. I really like them. I must admit though, you've got to agree that it was funny that they remembered you."
Ron scowled. "Oh yes. Wonderful. They remembered me as the 'little boy who was chasing after Fleur'".
Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder. "Well they didn't know your name then."
Ron was about to answer when he heard giggling from behind a bush. He put his finger to his lips to tell Hermione to stay quiet and he stood up slowly. Looking over the hedge behind the bench her saw Fred and George with Aella and Ailis. Ron put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Remembering the grief they had given him about Lavendar the previous year, Ron said very loudly, "GET A ROOM!" and quickly ducked. He timed it just right because the next second a shoe flew over the hedge right where Ron's head had been. Ron laughed. Taking Hermione's hand he said, "Come on. Let's go inside."
They walked back down to the house as the snow continued to fall.
…
Harry woke the next morning to Ron hitting him with a pillow. "Will you get up? It's Christmas! Get your butt out of bed so we can go wake up Fred and George!"
Harry pulled on his dressing gown and hurried down the hall with Ron. They threw the door open and quickly found a pair of shoes perfect for the job. It took all their will not to laugh. Fred was scrunched together like an inchworm on his stomach with his mouth hanging open. George was half hanging off the bed with a small pool of drool forming on his pillow. Taking careful aim they threw the shoes at Fred and George. The two jumped up as the shoes hit them in the head. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" Fred bellowed, holding his hand to the side of his head. Ron simply said. "It's Christmas."
Fred and George flew out of bed and ran to the next door down the hall. Banging on the door they yelled, "OY! IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Ailis and Aella walked sleepily out of the room in their nightgowns. Ailis's was a cap sleeved light purple that reached to the ground and Aella's was a knee length dark blue with spaghetti straps. Ron ran the opposite way and banged his fists on the door to Ginny's room. "Hermione wake up, it's Christmas!"
Hermione emerged wearing light blue pajama pants with a pink tank top. "I'm up, I'm up." She muttered. Ron's face fell, Why does my girlfriend have to be so darn conservative. The group hurried down stairs to find Mr. and Mrs. Weasley already sitting in the living room drinking coffee. Mr. Weasley sat his mug down. "Well, I guess that means our quiet morning is over."
Fred and George took their cue and raced to the tree faster than Ron, Harry, and Hermione put together. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, they tore open presents from their parents, Ron, Charlie, Bill, each other, and their girlfriends. After they were finished Harry, Ron and Hermione deemed it safe to take their turn. By the time there was a mountain of wrapping paper on the floor, Harry had received sweets from Hagrid, a new Quidditch tactics book from Ron, a new Defense Against the Dark Arts book from Hermione, and the usual sweater from Mrs. Weasley. Ron had received basically the same things, but Harry had given him a broom servicing kit and Hermione a Chudley Cannons scarf and sweater. Hermione had also received the same gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid, but Harry had gotten her an Arithmancy book, her parents had sent her a dentist's kit of toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Enclosed was a note. "We know you receive sweets from your friends anyway!" Hermione laughed. "That's mum and dad!"
Later that day, the Quidditch matches continued. It was all Harry could do not to think of Ginny. Where was she? Was she safe? Was she…Harry couldn't bring himself to say it…alive?
….
The next few days were quiet. Fred and George had left with Aella and Ailis and the next day Harry, Ron, and Hermione were leaving for Hogwarts. As Harry and Ron were packing their things for the return, Hermione came in and sat on Ron's bed. Sighing she began to speak. "I'm worried about Ginny."
Harry turned away from her and took a deep breath to keep from crying. Ron nodded. "I am too…But she's tough. Whatever's going on…she can handle it."
Harry nodded slowly. "But that doesn't make me feel any better."
Hermione stood up slowly. Standing in front of the small window Hermione leaned on the window sill. "Maybe they've heard something back at school."
Harry wanted to scream "Then why haven't they told us anything? I mean, this is her family!" but instead he kept calm. "Then why haven't they sent an owl?" Hermione turned quickly. "I was just trying to stay optimistic!"
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry…"
Ron walked over and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's not your fault mate. And you know my parents don't blame you at all."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I know…"
Hermione started to wind up to smack him upside the head, but lowered her arm. "Please Harry. We don't need a repeat of fifth year. This isn't going to come out all right just because you're blaming yourself. So please let the angst go away. It's not helping."
Harry nodded again. Ron snapped his trunk shut. "Done!"
Hermione smiled. "Good. So what did you two think of Ailis and Aella?"
Harry shrugged as he threw some robes back into his trunk. "They seemed nice. What about you, Ron?"
Ron nodded. "Yeah. They're just like Fred and George, huh?"
Hermione smiled. "I think they're perfect for Fred and George. I think it's wicked that they're twins as well."
Just then Mrs. Weasley called upstairs, "All right! All of you to bed! It's an early morning tomorrow!"
Hermione sighed. "Fine…" Ron gave Harry a look that plainly said, "Excuse me." and he followed Hermione to her room. Hermione opened the door and Ron slipped inside after her. Sitting down on the bed with Hermione, he stroked her hair. "Well, it's back to the grindstone tomorrow."
Hermione sighed. "I know…"
Ron looked around at her. "What's wrong? You love school."
Hermione laid her head on Ron's shoulder. "I know, but…I don't know. It's just…too much stress you know? With N.E.W.T.S coming and all…"
Ron turned her head towards his. "Hermione, you will be fine. You've always done wonderfully on exams. Look at the O.W.L.S. You had how many?"
Hermione smiled. "Ron…"
He put his finger to his lips to silence her. "You know, I meant it when I said I loved you." He put his lips to hers. Hermione didn't know what was happening, but soon the kissing intensified. Finally her brain began to work again. "Ron…" She pulled away and realized that her sweatshirt was on the bed. "Ron!" She gasped. "I…no. I…I love you too, but no. No. No. No. Kissing is fine…But nothing more."
Ron nodded. "I don't know what happened. I'm really sorry Hermione." He and Hermione stood up. Ron gave her a small kiss. "Goodnight. Sleep tight. Don't let the ghoul in the attic bite!"
Hermione smacked his arm. "Good night silly." Ron left the room and Hermione sank down onto the bed. What happened? How did….Did we almost…Oh my gosh…
Hermione pulled her pajamas on and slid into bed.
…
Ron lay awake long after Harry had drifted to sleep. Did we almost…What if she hadn't…I can't… Ron was terrified by what had almost happened. Pulling his blankets over his head he forced himself to sleep.
…
The next morning was hectic to say the least. After several scratches from Crookshanks, an owl hissy fit from Pig, and Hedwig being…well, Hedwig, it was four very disgruntled wizards who climbed into Mr. Weasley's flying car. "HURRY UP RONALD!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. Ron had decided to pop back into the house for a piece of toast…At 10:30.
"RON WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" Harry yelled.
"RON! PLEASE HURRY UP!" Hermione yelled. Naturally, Ron came running.
"I'M COMING! I'M COMING!" Ron yelled back. "Jeeze, it's a flying car. It's takes how long to get to London?"
"We also have to get your things on a trolley and you on the train! Now HURRY!" Mrs. Weasley yelled back. Ron grumbled as he climbed into the car next to Hermione and slid his arm around her shoulder.
The ride to the station was quiet. As they pulled into the parking lot, Ron laughed. "See mum? Fifteen minutes to spare!" Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes. "Let's go you three."
No one quite knew what to say as the trio wheeled their trolleys around to face the barrier. Harry turned and gave Mrs. Weasley a hug. "I'll write if we hear anything, I promise."
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Thank you Harry. You know how much that means."
Harry turned back around. "Let's go guys."
A/N: HAPPY CHRISTMAS! This is my present to you since I won't be updating until about the second week of January. (Don't you just love District orchestra?) Anyway, I hope you like it! The next chapter will…hopefully…be in the works a little after New Years, so…YAY! Again, Happy Christmas everyone. (I don't play into political correctness. As soon as I catch wind that they want to change it from Snowmen to Snowpeople, I'm catching a plane to the U.K.) What was I saying? Oh yes!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM UNDOMIEL8 AND SCORPIO SORCERESS!
ATTENTION: I just found out that our school has BLOCKED fan fiction, so I have to go to the library to update. I'm really sorry, but this way I can give you much longer chapters. Sorry everyone.
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND AN AWESOME NEW YEAR!
