WRITTEN FOR QLFC, SEASON 9

Book Club: Cemetery Boys

Prompt:

5. (scenario) performing a ritual

After drawing the runes around Fred's grave, Hermione wiped the sweat off her brow and stepped back to inspect them, her satchel swinging against her thigh. Each rune needed to be perfectly inscribed on the ground; otherwise, the ritual wouldn't work.

"It looks fine to me," Ron said, tilting his head. Dressed in black robes like the rest, he stood nearby with Harry, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Percy.

"Everything looks fine to you, Ron," Percy and Hermione said in unison and shared a small smile.

Harry patted Ron's shoulder and said, "Let the geniuses handle this. Remember we're only here to watch."

Ron harrumphed but stood still as Hermione and Percy inspected the runes once more. Hermione looked up at the moon and said, "It's almost midnight. Hold hands and stand in a circle around the grave. Do not let go no matter what happens."

"Uhh... what can happen?" Neville asked worriedly. He may have killed Nagini himself, but he had always been cautious. And the ritual Hermione intended on performing was bordering on Dark magic.

"You may experience a mild to severe pain in one part of your head, nausea, vomiting, or extreme sensitivity to light and sound," Percy recited without hesitation, which made Hermione smile.

"It's like Voldemort all over again," Harry said with a snort before his face reddened at his inappropriate joke. He grabbed Neville's hand. "Forget I said anything, please."

Before they could get in place, Percy caught Hermione's wrist. When she looked up at him, he swallowed before he murmured, "Could I perform the ritual? I know you researched this for so long just for George's birthday, but..."

She knew what he wanted to say. The two of them had spent hours studying the ritual to bring Fred back from the dead for just a day. It had been Hermione's idea initially, but Percy had helped just as much. She knew he felt guilty for Fred's death and wanted to right his wrongs any way he could.

Hermione nodded and handed him her satchel. "Go for it, Percy." Her cheeks reddened at the look Percy gave her.

Fortunately, Luna interrupted them. "It's almost midnight."

Once they were in place, Percy lit six candles and handed them one each. He pulled out a goat's bloody heart from Hermione's satchel. Ron and Neville looked ready to faint, but Ginny squeezed their hands to stop them from running away in fear.

Percy dipped his finger into the blood and walked around the circle, drawing the runes of protection and rebirth on everyone's foreheads. Turning towards the grave, he began chanting the spell.

The wind picked up, and dark clouds appeared in the sky. Hermione held onto Luna's and Harry's hands, watching Percy, who was pouring the blood onto Fred's grave.

The trees swayed in the wind just before lightning crashed onto the gravestone. The impact almost caused Percy to fall to his knees, but he didn't stop chanting. The group stumbled as a whirlwind of dust and leaves surrounded them.

It was almost impossible for Hermione to hold onto her friends' hands, but she reminded herself of the dire consequences if anything were to go wrong. Her nails were imbedded in Harry's hand, but he held on just as tightly.

Finally, the dust settled and the leaves floated back down to the earth. Percy continued chanting the spell on his knees, his head bowed.

And then, a ghostly apparition started crawling out of the grave. Everyone stopped breathing as the figure rose to its full height, flesh and bones developing on its lithe form.

Hermione's heart was in her throat when she found Fred's grinning face staring back at them.

"Percy," Hermione whispered, unable to believe they'd done it. Everyone was stunned, unable to speak.

When Percy looked up, his eyes widened and he stumbled backwards onto his bottom.

Fred broke the silence by laughing heartily. "Same old Percy," he teased, his hand extended towards Percy to help him up.

There were no dry eyes in the graveyard when Percy lunged into Fred's arms and sobbed with relief. As one by one, the group greeted Fred with hugs and kisses, Hermione smiled as she imagined George's reaction.