Slowly Professor McGonigal's gaze left Ron's and drifted instead to the portrait of Dumbledore. "Dumbledore, what do you think regarding the matter?"
"Minerva, you are very right, but I also I believe that Voldermort had a connection with these objects that he never had with anyone or anything else. Voldermort had never had any true friends; he had many followers but no one that he regarded as friends.
He chooses these objects for a reason. The diary is obvious; he placed the deepest confidence in it by bearing his soul and deepest desires in to it.
The locket and ring are harder. He probably felt that they belonged rightfully to him, being part of his heritage. They are part of who he is." Heads of the former head masters and headmistress were shaking in agreement.
Professor McGonigal on the other hand was pacing back and forth listening to what Dumbledore was saying. Dumbledore pressed on "the goblet belonged to Hufflepuff and as a founder of Hogwarts Voldermort thought it should be his. Mind you that I am only guessing."
"What about the snake" Ron broke in?
"Mr. Weasley" Dumbledore began "I believe that he used the snake out of absolute necessity. When he had been stripped of his powers I believe that he made yet another Hexocrux when he felt his powers were weakening and that he was soon going to die. It is possible and I have wondered for many years if Harry is in fact another Hexocrux."
Ron knew somehow that Dumbledore was right and that Harry was in fact a Hexocrux that neither Harry nor Voldermort knew anything about. Whether or not Voldermort knew about it Ron couldn't say. Ron and Hermione left without another word. McGonigal had excused them from all their classes that day so that they might have a chance to come to the realization of what they had been asked.
Hermione and Ron made their way up the stairs to Ron's room so they might be able to speak in privacy. Ron sat at the foot of his bed head bowed and Hermione sat in deep thought on the windowsill. Somehow the air had become deep and heavy, heavy with the possibilities of what the future held. They sat in silence for a long while until they could bear it no longer. "Ron, how can they expect us to tell Harry the possibility that he could be the very thing keeping from defeating Voldermort?" Ron could hear the emotion in Hermione's voice, he felt the longing the dread and for once the fear in the air.
The mood was broken thankfully when a light knock came to the door. At first Ron thought that he had imagined it but then it came a second time, not any harder or any loader but persistent nonetheless. Who could that be? Ron opened the door not knowing whom to expect. To his amazement the door way stood empty, or was it? "Hello is anyone there?"
"Ron get in we need to talk." Ron should have known it would be Harry; he had a way of showing up when Ron and Hermione needed him lately. Harry sat in shock had Ron and Hermione just told him what he thought he had? The words echoed in his mind "Harry you could be an additional hexocrux." The words resounded time and time again.
"Is that actually possible?" Harry had finally spoken.
"Yes, it is." Hermione whispered.
"How can we know for sure?" Harry questioned.
"Well um…" Ron and Hermione stumbled; did they want to tell him? They new he deserved to hear the truth so Hermione pressed on, "Harry the only well to know for sure is to try and… destroy you."
Harry's jaw dropped, how could anyone ask this of anyone especially him? Harry had already sacrificed so much for the wizarding world. His parents had given their lives for him and the preservation of the world, as they knew it. He had sacrificed his childhood the moment he had entered into Hogwarts gates, and now was he truly being asked to sacrifice his life, as he knew it and those that he loved?
Hermione's face streamed with tears now uncontrollably. The tears probed a question "Why? Why me?"
"Hey mate' no one really knows but we do know that it has something to do with the killing curse that Voldermort did all those years ago. McGonigal thinks that if you are in fact a hexocrux that you are one of the weakest in the sense of evil magic because you have your free will and your own personality. Besides you have the ability to touch people, making it so that you can love those around you" Ron's voice cracked giving way to the damn of emotions just waiting to erupt. Ron knew that if anything were to happen to Harry that he would be losing his best mate and Ginny would be so distraught. I don't know what I would do if I lost Harry and then had to comfort Ginny.
As if by reading his thoughts Harry asked "have you told Ginny?"
"No you and Professor McGonigal are the only one's that know. We thought we should tell you first, we only just found out today." Harry's eyes began to water. Was it possible that Harry would have to give up all he knew to be able to kill Voldermort?
The three of them sat and talked for a couple of hours discussing the possibilities until Harry finally said, "I have to go guys. I will be in contact but please keep looking in the Room of requirement." With that he disappeared under the invisibility cloak and into the emptiness of possibilities. Harry wanted to know for sure before he told Ginny but Hermione knew better, she knew that Ginny would find out and she would be furious when she did, but she had promised Harry so she would not tell her.
Ron and Hermione spent the rest of the day in the Room of requirement; upon entrance they realized the huge task before them. very little of the room was clutter free there were things everywhere in ever crack and crevasse and yet there was a feeling of hope. No one could explain it yet it was ever present there was hope that things would work out all right and hope that they were in the right place.
Day after day Ron and Hermione filtered through disregarded junk that had been left and forgotten. There were times that the task seemed hopeless but others that the ray of hope shone brighter then anything around them. Ron didn't mind the many times of hopelessness because he was with Hermione that in its self brightened his day. There was very little talk except for the occasional "hey look at this," or "what's this suppose to be?" The silence between them was almost soothing for Ron simply because he didn't have to think up things to say and not be afraid of sounding stupid, besides Ron enjoyed spending the time with Hermione not necessarily speaking but feeling her presence.
It had been three weeks since Harry had last spoken to either of them and they were beginning to worry about him. Secretly Ron was dreading the worst, but he had put on a brave face not only for Hermione but his sister Ginny. Ginny knew something was up but as of yet she didn't know what. Ron's big brother instincts were kicking into high gear, he wanted nothing more then to protect his baby sister. Ron knew that when Ginny found out that he would be on the wrong end of her bogy bat hex. Still he thought it would be worth it if only to protect her for a little while.
Ron sighed a lot louder then he had intended which not only brought him back from his reverie but caught the attention of Hermione. Hermione turned to look at Ron, "Ron are you alright?" Instead of turning to look at her Ron fiddled with yet more junk that the room had to offer.
"Yeah" he said unconvincingly, "I was just thinking."
"About Harry and Ginny?"
"Yeah I'm worried about the both of them but I also don't want either of them to get hurt. I have also been thinking."
"Really about what?"
"The prophecy. I know that Dumbledore said that it only pertains to Harry because of the scar. But what if... what if Neville is also a part of it: Hermione's eyes glistened in the light, she herself had been wondering the very same aspect. What if Neville as of yet still had a part to play?
"Hermione?" Ron had turned to face her and was sitting on a crumpling box looking at her. Hermione shook her head in an attempt to clear her head of all thoughts that had just been present. "Do you remember what the Prophecy said? All that it said?"
"Yes" she blushed uncontrollably before she pressed on . "The prophecy said the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. The Dark Lord will mark him as his own equal, but will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies. Why did you want to know?"
Ron ignored her question how does she remember things so thoroughly? Ron's face showed that he was deep in thought and concentration. Ron looked up and their eyes meet Ron suddenly jumped up with excitement "Hermione I need to show you something." Quickly he grabbed her had and pulled her through the door shutting it behind them. Instead of going somewhere he let go of her hand and began to pace in from of the hidden entrance. Once again the door appeared Ron pushed Hermione inside. Ron raced to the far side of the room where a chalk board was placed. Hermione looked around the room it was completely empty except for the chalk board.
"Ron what is all this about?" Ron once again ignored her and continued drawing or writing on the chalk board. Finally he turned to look at her, he was smiling like a little boy who had caught his first gnome.
"Kay Hermione I was thinking about the prophecy." Ron pointed to one side of the chalk board that he had written out the prophecy on. Hermione was so tempted to retort with sarcasm but decided against it. "When Voldermort heard the prophecy from Snape, he was told only part of the prophecy right?"
"Yeah I guess."
Ron drew a line separating the parts of the prophecy. "Well Voldermort had two choices with the information that he was given Harry or Neville."
"Ron we both already know that. Does this actually have a point?" Hermione was getting flustered again.
Ron didn't seem to realize her intrusion and pressed on "well this triangle" for the first time Hermione saw what had been drawn on the other half of the chalk board. "represents Voldermort at the top, Harry and Neville are the bottom corners. They are all connected. Harry and Neville through friendship and love, Harry and Voldermort through the scar, and Voldermort and Neville through Belatrix Longstrain who as we know drove Neville's parents to St. Mungos."
"Still not fallowing Ron."
"Voldermort choose Harry and gave him his scar marking him as an equal making the connection stronger. What power does Harry have that Voldermort doesn't have or understand?" Ron didn't give Hermione time to answer "love and true friendship. Both Harry and Neville have that power they have people that were and are willing to sacrifice all they can for their protection." Ron began to slow down and look at Hermione before pressing on. "We all know it will be Harry or Neville to kill Voldermort but Neville will play a part on the out come.
I think that the prophecy more or less is talking about a sacrifice that is made for love. That is made to remove the evil marking Voldermort did. I believe that Harry must make that sacrifice, in the end I am not sure who will kill Voldermort but I do know that both have key parts to play." Hermione was astonished Ron had in fact successfully interpreted the prophecy when Hermione had failed.
"Ron we really need to tell Harry."
"Yeah I know, I've been kinda avoiding it, don't want to make things worse."
"Lets go tell McGonigal, she will know were we can contact Harry." Ron grabbed Hermione by the hand and helped her to her feet. Looking at her he realized how serious Hermione had become those last couple of weeks. Ron was beginning to miss her fun loving, bossy attitude that he had grown to love and adore about her. Instead of heading to the door Ron pushed Hermione into a corner, "Ron? What are you doing?" Hermione squealed in delight.
"Kissing you!" With that Ron bent his head quickly planting a soft and quick kiss on her very tender lips. After he had kissed her Ron began to trace Hermione's lips, finding each line and curve in her lips. Hermione sighed deeply as if giving Ron permission. Instantly Ron's open mouth and Hermione's connected feeling as hungry as there first kiss but ever more passionate feeling the wetness of their mouths connecting. Lip to lip tongue to tongue their motions matched in passion and desire.
The inexperience of the both of them made it all the better. Smells and aromas of one another passed through the air and it felt like nothing could ever come between them. The hunger was devouring Ron he wanted nothing between them as he caressed her face, her body and her love he dove in more vigorously. The kiss became frantic as if afraid they would miss this moment if they let it pass. Neither one of them had ever felt so much love communicated by a single kiss as they had now. Gasping for breath for more then one reason Ron broke the kiss between them.
Hermione's love communicated only seconds before had in its self taken all air out of his body. Hermione's fingers found there way to Ron's face tracing the lines that she had grown to know is it possible to love someone as much as I love Hermione? It was in moments like this that Ron often wondered if Hermione knew how he felt. I have told her that I love her but does she know it goes so much deeper? Hermione raised her head and caressed Ron's lips with her own. Brushing her lips across his not once but twice, the feeling of want and desire had returned. Once again they were sharing much more then a passionate kiss, it felt like they were sharing there very souls. Ron broke away from the kiss and the connection of love and fear, fear of losing so much. Not because he was out of breath but because he knew himself and his weeknesses. He knew that if he didn't stop now he would get himself into trouble. Ron stood there looking down at her and whispered ever so slightly "we should go talk to McGonigal."
"Yeah I know, your right" he could hear the disappointment in her voice she had enjoyed the snogging just as much as he had. Slowly there fingers intertwined one with another walking twords the headmistresses office. They walked ever so slowly hoping that time would simply pass them by leaving them behind.
Twenty minutes later Ron and Hermione were sprinting twords Griffindor common room apparently Harry was there waiting for them. They burst into Ron's room quite out of breath seeing Ginny sitting on the edge of the bed with Harry bending down on one knee presenting Ginny with a ring. Ron and Hermione quickly entered the room remaining silent, breathing deeply trying to regain their breath. Hermione smiling at the sight before them.
Ginny was in tears, her flaming hair framing her delicate face. Harry was looking at her smiling as broadly as he could. As if in slow motion Harry took the ring from the box and slide it on to Ginny's slender finger and stood in front of her gazing into her eyes. Ginny stood and there lips touched but before the kiss could become passionate in any sense Ron made their presence acknowledged. "Hughm hum."