Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any of these characters. That belongs to JKR, Scholastic Books, Warner Brothers, etc.
Chapter Twenty Two : Go A Long Way Around
When Harry awoke the next morning, the first thing he did was glance at Hermione's side of the bed. She was still there. He could breathe again. He had woken up many times during the night to check upon her, to make sure she wasn't gone again. They hadn't been able to do much last night when it came to figuring out what had happened, as they were too busy trying to comfort one another. She had finally managed to convince him that she was unharmed, and for that, he was eternally grateful.
That didn't mean he wasn't going to seriously hurt the person who did this to Hermione, however.
Harry turned over in bed, casually throwing an arm around Hermione to pull her closer. She snuggled up to him, a small smile playing on her lips. She was so beautiful, though she wouldn't believe that if you told her. Maybe that was part of her charm. Regardless, Harry was happy to have her and happy to be able to see her once again. Normally by now, he would have already been in the kitchen, making breakfast for the two of them, but he wanted to stay her by her side. For reassurance. Everything seemed all right, but the same could have said moments before she disappeared.
After an eternity of watching her sleep, Hermione gradually woke up. She blinked her eyes, as if trying to figure out where she was, before turning to kiss him. "Good morning," she said.
"Good morning," he replied. That was another thing that he noticed. He was apparently more shaken from the whole ordeal than she was. Which was a good thing, as he didn't want anything bad to have happened to her. He wondered if that was what Hermione must have felt like back when they were in school, and all she could do was wait for him to come back. He hated that feeling, though he only experienced it once. He had felt so helpless, so useless. He felt the same now as he didn't know what he would do if she disappeared on him again. Though he supposed that perhaps she was more upset than she let on, and she was just hiding her feelings to make him feel better. That thought made him feel even worse, as if he were not just useless but a burden on her.
"How about we get dressed and see about breakfast?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded his head. He followed Hermione as she swung herself out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth, with him doing the latter as well. She didn't say a word about that, merely lifting an eyebrow at his behavior. When she finished, she walked over at him, looking to her right and then at him expectantly. Harry stood there, not sure at what she was getting at. Finally, she heaved a sigh and gently pushed him outside, before closing the bathroom door. Harry flushed when he realized what she had wanted a bit of privacy for.
When she had finished in there, it was back to her bedroom to get dressed. Harry followed her in there too, and she blushed as she changed clothes. That was charming. That after they had known each other for so long and had been together – well, that wasn't as long but long enough for them to have seen everything – she still blushed when she caught him looking at her. Harry wondered if she would eventually move past that shyness of hers as the years past on, and thought that he would miss her blush if it happened. Which he kind of hoped would happen as that would mean they were at another level of closeness, but he would miss it. He supposed he would just have to find another way to make her turn red.
After they had both dressed for the day, it was on to the kitchen. Harry suggested that they eat out, as it was rather late, but Hermione shook her head and said that she preferred to stay him. If that was what she wanted, that was what she would get. However, they found that they had a visitor this morning waiting for them on the couch.
"Good morning, you two," Ron called cheerfully from his seat as he looked up from a copy of the Prophet. Harry noted that it seemed to be their copy, which Ron must have picked up. He shuffled to one side of the couch, giving them room to sit down. "I hope you don't mind but I let myself in." He nodded at the fireplace, letting them know how he had arrived. "How are you two?"
"As well as can be expected." She walked over to the couch and took a seat, and Harry did the same, slinging an arm around her. "Any particular reason for you to drop by? Or do you just miss us?"
Ron shrugged. "I do kind of miss seeing you two each and every morning – though I don't miss Hermione nagging me at the breakfast table! But I would think you would know why I'm here this early."
Harry echoed Hermione's sigh. Yes, he knew why Ron was here. And he supposed that it was best that they got to the bottom of this mess so that it wouldn't happen again. Because they couldn't know that Hermione would return safely again. And he wouldn't be able to live in a world like that.
"So Hermione, where did you wind up last night?" Ron asked the question that Harry had been putting off.
"I was . . . that is to say . . . okay, don't jump to any conclusions," she said. "I don't know how it happened, but somehow, I wound up at Malfoy's."
"That bastard!" Ron exclaimed. He leaped out of his seat and began pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
"Do you know where he lives?" Harry asked, casually reaching for his wand. When he found that it wasn't in his pocket, he summoned it from his room, ready to go out and let Malfoy how much he appreciated him trying to steal Hermione away from him by foul means. "I think I'd like to show him how much I've improved when it comes to hexes over the years."
"I said don't jump to conclusions!" Hermione glared at the two of them and crossed her arms. "There's no reason to—"
"No reason to go after him?" Ron said. "Or no reason to think that he was behind all of this? Because I think he's the prime suspect."
Harry nodded. "He wants you so he puts a spell on you so he can have you. Why else would you disappear last night like that?"
"I don't know. But I don't think it was him. He was so surprised when I appeared. And he didn't look as if he had been plotting anything against us," Hermione said.
"Of course, he looked surprised! It was an act!" Harry said.
"It didn't look like an act," Hermione insisted.
"Then it was a very good act."
"Look here, Hermione. I know you don't like to think about this," Ron said, "but it's rather obvious that Malfoy has got it bad for you. He fancies you. Look at the way he left so quickly after you and Harry kissed like that. I frankly was wondering when he would try to pull something like this."
Hermione had the grace to look embarrassed, while Harry pummeled his memory for that fact. He hadn't noticed Malfoy doing that at the time – well, he had noticed him leaving but Harry hadn't realized that Malfoy had left because of that kiss, though that did make too sense. He supposed he was too caught up in Hermione at the time, which wasn't a bad thing, per se, unless it put her in danger. Clearly, he should have been paying attention more. Harry only wished they could make her see that Malfoy was not someone you could trust.
"I still don't think it was him," Hermione stated again. "Maybe that is true . . . but I don't think he would do that. It's not in character for him."
"True," Harry said bitterly. "Considering he's a Slytherin and the fact that he knows the Potions Master so well, a love potion would be more up his alley."
"Harry! That's an awful thing to say!"
"I can't help but wonder if he's already given you one the way you're acting, the way you're defending him!"
"You weren't there last night! He was so surprised. Besides, he has wards up to prevent magical transportation just like you."
Harry scoffed. "Those wards can be modified by the maker to allow select people in. As we have done ourselves. So that doesn't mean a thing. And is there any way we can check for a love potion, Ron?"
Hermione bit her lip. "Harry! I am not under the influence of any—"
"Really? So why are you yelling at me like you hate me?"
"I am not yelling at you!" she exclaimed. "And I don't hate you. You should know that. You know I love you, but I can't let you jump to conclusions like that. I wish you would trust my instincts by now."
"I did, Hermione! Up until the bit where you vanish from our flat to wind up in that bastard's lap." Hermione blushed, and Harry saw red. So she had wound up in his lap. He wondered what else happened while she was gone. He got up and stalked towards the door. "That's it. I'm killing the bastard for laying a hand on you."
"Harry!" Hermione was suddenly at his side, tugging at his arm. "He did nothing to me . . ."
"Nothing that you didn't want to happen?" he asked.
"Yes! I mean, no! I mean . . . oh!" She stomped her foot. "You are being impossible, you do know that, right? Nothing happened. We were only talking about how I could have arrived there with all the wards around his flat and ours. And stop being so stupid! You're the one I love, you're the one I live with, you're the one I want and have always wanted!" She was almost sobbing by now, and Harry valiantly tried to push back the tears as well. He knew that she loved him, certainly she had shown that countless times, but it still hurt, the way she refused to see his point of view. He wish he could make her understand that Malfoy was not a nice wizard and was out to have her, at all costs.
"Okay, kiddies, time to take a break," Ron interrupted them. He pulled them both back away from the door, stopping in front of the couch, where he glared at them until they sat down. "Hermione, will you agree that it is not outside the realm of possibility that Malfoy is behind all this?"
Hermione frowned. "No, I suppose not." She looked up. "But I don't think that—"
"I think we've already established that, thank you very much." Ron massaged his temples. "And I think I'm getting a headache from listening to the two of you. I had better get named the godfather of your first child after this." The two of them blushed furiously at the suggestion. "Though I can see that will be some time yet. Anyway, back to the matter at hand, will you agree that if we eliminate all other possibilities, then it must be Malfoy?"
"Well, there could be possibilities that we don't think of," Hermione said.
Ron sighed wearily. "Yes, there's always that, but if we eliminate everything else that all three of us can think of, then it seems logical that Malfoy would become the prime suspect, right?" Hermione nodded slowly. "Good. Then let's put the whole Malfoy thing aside from now . . . and no, Harry, I don't think he's innocent either. I would be more than happy to hold your cloak while you go and beat the living daylights out of him, but I don't think that would be legal."
Harry swore. That was right. He could see the headlines now if that happened. And knowing certain reporters in the field, they would probably proclaim that he had done it out of jealousy. Which wasn't true. Well, not exactly true. He wasn't jealous of Malfoy because he had Hermione and Hermione's love, but he didn't like what happened last night.
"Okay, so let's start eliminating possibilities. Hermione, did anyone give you anything this week? Something that might have been a portkey?" Hermione shook her head on. "Come on, Hermione. I mean, anything could be a portkey," Ron said.
"I know that, Ron," Hermione said a bit testily. "And no, I didn't get any surprise gifts or anything like that."
"Fine, I guess that rules that theory out." Ron leaned back against the wall. "Did you feel any charms or spells being cast on you during the week?"
"No, and I think I would have noticed that and done something about it before now."
"True, true. And I'm quickly running out of ideas," said Ron.
However, Harry had just had an idea, after Ron had mentioned any charms or spells being cast on Hermione. This had happened before. And Hermione had been secretive about how it had happened. He didn't want to push her about the matter, as he figured she would tell him in her own time, but given the current situation, it seemed that he had to bring it up. "Is it maybe somehow connected to last time?" he asked.
"Last time?" Ron asked. "This has happened before?"
"No, it hasn't," Hermione said with a puzzled look on her face. "And I should know as I was the only person who was transported by whatever."
"I was talking about the time you suddenly appeared here. In my bed," Harry added. Looking back, that was a lost opportunity. If she appeared like that in his bed now, he knew he would have a very hard time keeping his hands to himself.
"But that was—" Hermione suddenly paled.
"What is it?" Harry asked, moving closer to her. "Hermione, what is it?"
"Yes, do tell. The suspense is killing me," Ron said.
"I . . . I need to get to a library!" Hermione said, standing up.
"Hermione!" Harry followed her back to her room, motioning at Ron to follow. "What has got into you?"
Hermione was frantically searching for her wand. "I told you, I need to get to the library. Right away. And I need my wand. To Apparate. And—"
Harry walked up to her, grasping her by the arms and shaking her. "Hermione! You're not making any sense here. Please tell me. What's wrong? What do you think—" To his shock, he saw that she was crying. "Oh Hermione!" He embraced her, awkwardly patting her on her back. He hated it when girls cried. He never knew what to do. "Please don't cry. Did I do anything? Did I—"
"No, not you. Me. I'm so stupid, Harry! And I'm sorry, so sorry," she said as her tears quickly soaked up his shirt. Harry continued to try to comfort her, but inwardly, he felt a bit of glee. Finally, she had seen the light. Finally, she knew that Malfoy was up to no good.
"No need for apologies," he said. "I know you like to think the best of people."
"What does that have to— " she started. "Oh no, Harry. Not that. It's . . . it's not his fault." She gulped, as if afraid to continue. "And you're going to be so mad."
"Hermione, enough with the dramatics, just tell us what it is!" Ron nearly shouted at her. "As you're driving me batty with all this."
"It's me. It's my fault. It's my charm, and it's my fault," she finally told them.
"Your charm?" Harry asked dumbly. Evidently, she had cast the spell that had made her vanish yesterday. "You wanted to go to Malfoy's like that?" he asked, a feeling of gloom settling on his chest.
"No! I always want to be with you! Unless you don't want me after this," Hermione said.
"That will never happen," Harry told her. "But if you didn't want to go, then why did you cast a charm on yourself like that?"
"No, I . . . it's a charm, you see. To take you where you're needed the most. And it took me here and I was so happy to know that you needed me," Hermione said, smiling up at him through her tears. He smiled hesitantly at her. "I thought it only worked once, but it's the only thing that I can think of that could do that. And I'm sorry! I didn't mean to worry you, to make you made, or anything like that!" She dissolved into tears again, and he held her close, trying to communicate without words just how much he loved her. He wasn't sure still why she thought it was all her fault, but that didn't matter right now. What mattered was making her tears stop and then stopping whatever was moving her around like that.
"I think the library at Hogwarts would be the best," said Ron as he looked in at them from the door. "Best wards against magical transportation there as well," he added.
"Yes," Harry agreed. "Do you want to go there, Hermione?" he asked.
She sniffed and nodded her head and that was that. They would be
going to Hogwarts to see if Hermione's theory was right. And later,
he would have to take the time to convince her that he wasn't upset with
her. After all, if the charm had taken her to him, it couldn't have
been all bad.
Author's note: That's the beginning of the explanation. The next chapter will be up at the usual time. I hope you liked this one, and I'd appreciate it if you could let me know what you thought by leaving a review. Finally, I'd like to thank danielerin, cmt0125, jennymay (I don't classify fics wrong), ExcalibursZone, Sheilalein (it does have nothing to do with Draco, as it's about the charm. He's just the unintended beneficiary of Hermione's mistake for one evening), Singtoangels1 (yes, intellectually they are good for each other, but the problem with that is the fact that Hermione is in love with Harry. Kind of hard for her to ignore that), udderpd, shaznay17 (yes, you and everyone else ^_^) , Angelic Demon16, PrincessME, mikeus (not quite), Star19 (yes but she's the closest one to him at the moment), Fatima, Shawn Pickett, Izabel, Daintress, lee74, Bladefanatic, CookiMonstr08, Bulma Queen of Saiya-jin, SilverFoot (read much angst?), Pickels, Leah6, RogueBHS (yes), Wirez, spacey-me90, hpfanmelissa, xxbabysparklesxx, juliet's rose, EuphoniumGurl0, bishtawiman, rochele-88 (there'll be more on that in later chapters. And only way chapters will get longer is for me to update every other week instead of every week), ravenclaw's heir (right on both counts), Sarmi, TheWraith1, Blood57, TsuQ, malu, Mandy, chris-warren876, Orlando's Gurl, myman-harry526, FinalFantasyGoddess (you're not wrong), Mistress Desdemona (no, Hermione wouldn't like it very much and would sit on him. Which would lead to other things), Ramy, PoTtErSPaYnE, Korine (Harry's always able to distract her), Avelynn Tame (yes. And while I like the ship. D/Hr is very hard for me to write--at least happily--because of my ship preferences, though I have done it), sally, LuluIsALobster, B-Rocs, casey windsor, augusam, Velvetrose786, sunne1, pangs1 (what goes around comes around, and right now, that's Hermione), sweetchild, Jen (you are there in the last one, right after Leah6), tigrrgirl13, Animagus-Steph (yup and of course, they won't take that news well), Zekintha, and Cynthia21 (thanks! I'm glad you like Ron, because I want him to be likeable ^_^) for their reviews of the last chapter. Reading them really made my day. Thanks!