A/N: I'm sorry this has been taking so long. I've been so incredibly busy lately that I haven't had time to update. Thanks for being patient with me guys!
ALSO: To fix the continuity problem between chapter 17-20, Dumbledore extended the holiday for a few days because of the Horcruxes. THANKS! ((blows a kiss)) MWAH!
Chapter 19: When Words Run Dry
Ron sat in the common room with Hermione as they waited for Harry to return. Hermione stared into the fire while Ron absentmindedly stroked her hair. Finally Hermione broke the silence.
"Ron…We need to talk about what happened over the holiday."
Ron sighed and sat up as Hermione turned to face him. "Hermione…I don't know what happened. I really don't. All I know is that one minute we were kissing and the next your sweatshirt was on the bed."
Hermione nodded. "I know…But…What if…What if we had?..." she trailed off. Ron took over as he could tell she was uncomfortable. He shook his head. "Hermione…"
"Ron. Wait. This is it isn't it?" Hermione said. "Like in The Phantom of the Opera. 'To the moment when words run dry'. It's just…I don't know. I love you. Don't get me wrong, but…I'm not ready."
Ron heaved a sigh of relief. "Neither am I."
Hermione gave him a hug and pulled him close. "I know."
Ron looked down and said, "Well can I still do this?" Ron kissed her and Hermione seemed to melt, he kissed her so sweetly. Breaking the kiss, she looked up and smiled at him. "Yes, you can still do that."
Ron grinned and kissed her again. Hermione looked up to the window. "I'm getting worried…Where is Harry?"
Ron wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm not sure…I'm positive he went with Professor Dumbledore though, so it had to have been for a Horcrux."
Hermione nodded and laid her head on Ron's shoulder. "You said they left around midnight, right?"
"Yes." Ron said as Hermione lifted her head.
"Ron, it's almost 3:30…"
"Hermione, calm down. I'm sure they're fine. After all, Harry's with Dumbledore isn't he?"
Hermione sighed and placed her head back on Ron's shoulder. "I guess you're right…"
Ron leaned his head on top of Hermione's. "Tell you what Hermione. You go ahead and go to sleep. I'll keep watch and let you know if I see any sign of anything, alright?"
Hermione nodded while stifling a yawn. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep.
-
"I said, what do you think you're doing!" The owner of the dark cloaked face said.
Dumbledore straightened. "You are not supposed to be here."
Again the voice rang, "I don't care! I want to know! What are you doing?"
Dumbledore sighed. Harry looked from one wizard to the other. "Um…Professor? What's going on?"
Dumbledore took a step forward. "Lower your hood and let him see."
The figure waited a moment, then lowered the hood that covered its face. There, with long, dark blue hair and matching eyes, stood Tonks. "What did you do to that locket!" she demanded again.
Dumbledore sighed. "Nymphadora, you can not possibly understand what just happened. All I will tell you is that in destroying that locket, we brought ourselves one step closer to defeating Lord Voldemort."
Tonks shuddered at the mention of Voldemort's name, but continued. "That belonged to my family and you just destroyed it!"
Harry looked to Dumbledore. "Maybe a Fidelius Charm?"
Dumbledore nodded excitedly. "Perfect idea my boy!" Taking his wand from his pocket, Dumbledore said to Tonks, "If you want to know, it has to be under a Fidelius Charm."
Tonks stood for a moment, staring at the old man as if he was mad. Finally she said, "Fine."
Dumbledore took her hand and pulled Harry's in also. "Now," he said, "I will tell you what I did. That locket contained a bit of Lord Voldemort's soul. It was an object called a Horcrux and we can not kill Voldemort until all seven are destroyed." Tapping his wand onto their hands he said, "Fidelieas!" A silver chain appeared around their hands and made it's way to Dumbledore's heart. Once it disappeared, he continued, "I am now Secret Keeper of this information. No one will be able to torture it out of you and only I can tell the other." Tonks nodded, slightly pale from learning what had been contained in the headquarters. Swallowing she said, "So how many of those…Horcruzes are left?"
Dumbledore smiled. "There are three more Horcruxes left. We have destroyed four of them. The only ones left are the cup of Helga Hufflepuff, The Dark Lord's snake, Nagini, and The Dark Lord himself. Now my dear, please return to the meeting. Harry and I must go. By the way…I must ask…Why did you follow us in the first place?"
Tonks grinned. "Harry dropped this in there. I thought maybe it was yours." Tonks pulled out Harry's wand from a pocket. "Wotcher Harry!" Tonks turned and walked back into Grimmauld Place as it shrank back down to invisible. Dumbledore smiled. "Now we can leave Harry."
They mounted their brooms and launched themselves quickly back to Hogwarts.
-
"Hermione? Hermione, wake up!" Hermione lifted her head and look around. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily. Ron smiled. "About 4:15. I thought maybe you would like to know that Harry is coming through the portrait hole right now."
Hermione sat up and jumped from the couch. "Oh Harry! You're alright!"
Harry smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Actually, I'm great! We destroyed another Horcrux, Dumbledore destroyed one over break, and we've only got three more- the cup, the snake, and Voldemort!"
Hermione smiled. "You're a bit too excited Harry. I think sleep deprivation is setting in. You'd better go to bed."
"Yeah…Yeah, bed…Alright…Ok then…See you all in the morning…" Harry slowly climbed the stairs to the boy's dorm and Ron started to follow him. "Goodnight love. I'll see you in the morning."
Hermione smiled. "Goodnight." She turned and made her way to her own dorm in the quiet of the very early morning.
A/N: How do you like it? I'm really hoping you do! If you've got any suggestions, I'm open to them, just hit the review button! (hint hint hint!)
Thank you to Scorpio Sorceress who read and edited this chapter! You rock!
