This journey that's taken Hermione away from the comforts of family and home has not been easy. It's dangerous and difficult, making her appreciate those things she's taken for granted more than ever. In fact, the easiest thing in the world to do would be to give up. Anyone can do so, and Ron did. He quit when the going got really tough, and truth be told, she hasn't quite forgiven him for that yet.
The sting of abandonment resonated in Harry and Hermione for days. Both knew what it felt like to be alone in the world in some form or another. But having their friend, their good friend, leave them in the middle of the most significant search in history sucks. That kind of desertion left them with a bone-deep disappointment reserved for people they've trusted in the past, who've let them down.
And it made Hermione wonder why she wanted so badly for Ron to stay in the first place. What does Ronald really bring to the group? The only answer she could come up with was to know they were not entirely alone, to have another person to lean on in the quest, to have safety in numbers, for witty comments, and his strategical mind (when he's not being a total prat). Truthfully it only serves to make her see the kind of person he is on the inside.
Yes, Ron was wearing the horcrux, but it magnifies a person's weaknesses. It brings out those imperfections from within, which (in Ron's heart) have always been jealousy and inferiority. But to leave them at this point in time is just low and cruel. It makes Hermione realize that fake friends are the worst people in the world, more so than enemies. Some people are only loyal for what they need of you. When those needs change, or expectations, so does loyalty.
True strength is holding it all together when everything around you falls apart. And that's what Hermione is trying to do. She's trying to keep it together for Harry and herself. Being negative only delays them and makes the journey more challenging. This whole episode is nothing more than a giant cactus in a desert full of cacti. So, she decided not to sit on the stupid thing but move past it. That began when the locket warmed on her chest, alerting her to a new message.
It served to remind the witch that she and Harry were not alone. They have others fighting for them and helping them, not only Ron. After taking the note out, enlarging it, and reading it, a gasp left her mouth. The message alerted her to Voldemort's goal of eternal life, horcruxes, and the deathly hallows. Just like that, the note turned on the light in her mind. Her inner warrior was ready to do battle, and it changed everything.
In a flash, Hermione jumped up and raced to her beaded bag. Like Mary Poppins, she began taking out item upon item until finally, the witch found what she was looking for- what had been forgotten. "Ah-ha!" she exclaimed, holding a book.
Harry took one look at his friend and shook his head. He told her, "Only you would find amusement in a book at a moment like this."
That was when she shared the letter. The inspired witch explained what her Slytherins knew regarding Voldemort's goal and the horcruxes. It made Harry blurt out, "Well, that makes sense. It goes along with what we know. What have they realized about the evil one looking for eternal life? Any new ideas?"
He sat down beside her on the cot and stared at the open children's book in her hands. Hermione conveyed what both Marcus and Graham told her. "They compiled a list of magical objects, besides horcruxes, that can grant everlasting life in some form or another. The main ones are the Preeminent Elixir (which they're looking into), the horcruxes (which we're looking into), powder of life (which Marcus is taking care of), and a final thing."
All of those dreadful items made Harry's stomach bunch up like the sleeves of his shirt. But what humbled him was the group of Slytherins aiding their quest under the radar. Never in a million years would he have thought four of the roughest, toughest Slytherins would be helping him to take down Voldemort. And yet, here they are, aiding from afar. After being abandoned by a friend he considered a brother, this was the kind of encouragement he needed. "So what's the final thing?" Harry dared to ask.
That's when Hermione showed him the book. "The deathly hallows, Harry. It's three things, but I don't entirely understand them. I suppose I could write Marcus or his grandmother, but I think I know someone closer to home we could ask." Her words wandered away with her thoughts. Before she could go off on a tangent, Harry nudged her to tell what the hallows were.
Using the book Dumbledore left as a guide, Hermione explained, "The hallows are three objects. One is the resurrection stone. Another is the elder wand. And a final is something Marcus is sure you have." Harry's eyebrows shot way up at that comment, and his hand ran through his messy hair. "The cloak of invisibility," she stated.
Harry jumped down and went to retrieve the cloak. He brought it over to the cot and examined it. Holding it gave him chills because now there was a new possibility surrounding the hand-me-down item. "This old thing can't possibly be a deathly hallow. It's old and was left to me," he stupidly declared.
They decided to table the discussion of the cloak for another time. Worn out and drained from the day's activity, the duo concluded they must go to Godric's Hollow. With that destination fixed, the pair settled in for the night with a meal. And after dinner, Hermione replied to Marcus and made him promise to be careful in whatever he was planning with the powder.
He'll get himself captured if he's not attentive, and that's the last thing she needs to hear. If anything were to happen to him, it would kill her. The simple way is not for them. Everything seems to challenge their relationship, yet they've found ways to rise above all obstacles. That's what love does. It pushes on in spite of problems and comes out victorious.
Thinking of him makes her miss Marcus all the more. Whenever she misses him too much, she looks inside her heart because it's the only place she can find him. And when that doesn't work, she looks at a picture. So, Hermione dug into her bag again and brought out a picture frame. Inside the silver frame lies her favorite photograph. Unknown to them, a sneaky Topsy took it during summer break last year. Marcus's arms are around her, and their foreheads are resting together. It's a beautiful reminder of their love, and it makes her remember one of the reasons she's helping Harry- to live in a world where she and Marcus can love openly. A couple of tears fell down her cheeks, and she wiped them away before putting the picture up and falling asleep.
The coming days saw the duo go to Godric's Hollow, where they found more deathly hallow symbols, were attacked by a fake Bathilda Bagshot and recognized a portrait of Grindlewald. All of that led to retrieving Gryffindor's sword with Ron's surprising help. He had decided to return. After destroying the first horcrux, the trio knew they needed to visit Mr. Lovegood. Ron's presence irritated Hermione because he waltzed right back into the same position he had occupied before leaving. And the problem with that is he vanished and now thinks he should be automatically forgiven. But she kept it to herself until she could write it in a note to Marcus. And when she did, the annoyed witch vented full stop only to have him reply, "Damn fool of a Weasley." Hermione knew her boyfriend probably had other choice words regarding Ron but only wrote those five.
They learned a couple of things at Mr. Lovegood's house. First, the trio listened to Luna's father explain the deathly hallows in depth. When Hermione saw Harry's face, she knew he had realized he owned the invisibility cloak. They also learned that death eaters had captured Luna. That made Hermione's throat close up and tears spring to her eyes. Her dear, sweet-hearted, blonde friend had been taken captive! A sick, sick feeling washed over her, and she prayed Luna was alright.
But the true disturbance began when Mr. Lovegood summoned the death eaters to take Harry in exchange for his daughter. By the skin of their teeth, they escaped, but only just, and landed in what they thought was safety. It felt like they could breathe for a moment until fate intervened with its cruel timing once again, for the snatchers captured them. The dreadful fear that had been stirring settled in the pit of Hermione's stomach, and her thoughts centered on trying to escape. But it was all for naught because the smelly snatchers took them to Malfoy Manor.
Having never seen the large manor up close until then, the petite witch thought it was ostentatious and ugly. It's exactly like Draco's personality, which is fitting, she supposes. This manor is nothing like the welcoming environment of Fawley Manor or Rose House. Why should it be with the likes of the Malfoy family and death eaters inside it? The whole house reeks of dark magic.
The dark magic is so strong and so putrid that it almost makes Hermione want to gag. That's when she felt it- the deep magic calling to her.
It thrummed in her veins and washed over her spirit, bringing peace. That is the only reason she didn't freak out because the deep magic is with her. Deep magic beats dark magic any day of the week. So the petite Gryffindor stood confident in the face of fear and evil, in the face of Bellatrix Lestrange. The deep magic surrounded her when it was only herself left in the room with the vile woman and the Malfoys. It kept her grounded, and Hermione believes it kept her mind intact through the torture.
They say torment comes in many forms, and it leaves its mark. Hermione just never knew what true torment was until the torture of Bellatrix. Monsters don't live under her bed. They're right in front of her. Never had she ever met a nastier woman, and the young witch realized that having an aunt like her and a father like Lucius, Draco didn't have a prayer of turning out decent. When her childhood enemy turned to look at her, his face was drawn, and he seemed to be in more agony than she was at the moment.
Deep in the walls of a picture-perfect life, lives tormented souls bound and gagged and chained by things people could never understand. An attractive prison is still a prison all the same. Tears leaked out of her eyes for people like Draco and Marcus. At least her guy had his Gram. As the wicked witch cackled with glee at the curses she cast, the magic in Hermione's jewelry protected her mind and spirit even more. But the one thing it couldn't keep safe was her arm.
Seeing the mad woman come at her with the knife made her guts churn. She thought the end was near, and everything left unsaid to Marcus, left undone, began to eat her up. You never realize how much life means to you when you're at the point of almost losing it. Those feelings leaked out of her eyes. Though the jewelry kept the pain at bay, knowing what was happening produced greater agony. The fear held her captive. That's when the deep magic grew stronger and whispered courage, for the girl who believed and kept hoping, even when others gave up... courage.
That's how the witch stayed alive. When the fear hurt so much, Hermione couldn't bear to breathe; her survival instincts kicked in. Whatever's broken can be fixed. Whatever's damaged can be healed. No matter how dark it gets, there's light to be found. So no. She doesn't get to give up! She doesn't get to break down because there's still a chance to overcome. That's letting the fighting spirit break through and push past this difficulty.
But then the cutting stopped, and a gruesome expression flickered on Bellatrix's cruel face. Her mad eyes darted to Hermione's wrist, and her boney finger pointed. "That bracelet, the one with the roses. Where did you get it?" she insisted.
Somewhere in between conscious and unconsciousness, Hermione knew the woman spoke of the bracelet Ms. CC gave her. Before the tired girl could respond, the foul creature shrieked and grabbed her hair tightly by the hand. It hurt. The evil witch spoke venomous words. "A filthy mudblood like you shouldn't have that bracelet! It's pure. It's everything you're not and from one of those Rose women. You stole it just like you stole my sword! It's mine now!"
The hateful, detestable woman tried to take it from Hermione. Except something happened, something that seemed straight out of the Wizard of OZ. The bracelet warmed to the touch and sent sparks to Bellatrix's hands. Then it sent the witch flying backward into the nearest wall. And while those in the room were tending to the fallen woman, Dobby came to Hermione's aid. The next thing she knew, Fleur ordered her not to get up from the bed she was lying in.
With a raspy voice, the sore witch asked, "Where am I? How long have I been here?"
Fleur Weasley wiped the girl's brow with a cool cloth. Her thick French voice replied, "Two days, Hermione. How you survived what you did, I don't know. You're a strong woman. But-" Her voice trailed off.
Looking at the kind woman, Hermione wondered, "But what, Fleur?"
The newest Weasley member pointed to the brunette's arm, which she had covered in a bandage. The blonde veela explained after shaking her head, "Your arm. It's badly damaged from the cursed blade. We tried to heal it, but the curse wouldn't let it. So I did the best I could and healed the wound instead. I'm sorry, Hermione."
Truth hurts. It's absolute and never changes. Somehow she knew the truth was there on her arm. The brunette knew what she would find underneath that bandage. Carefully, the wound dressing came off, and the truth still hurt when it did. That word mudblood stared at her ugly, raised, and red. In an instant, the words of Ms. Cecilia popped into her mind... Be content with who you are. You come from more honorable blood than most purebloods I know.
Crying cleanses the soul, so Hermione cried. Staring at the damage from the tears, she knew most people have scars in unpredictable places. Marcus does; she's seen his. Scars are a map that tells a story of a person's history. Some histories heal. Others are carried everywhere and are felt deep in the soul. Even though the wound is healed, the scar lingers. But the ones that mean the most are the ones that make you realize you're not just a survivor. You're stronger than anything life throws at you.
Yes. That word, mudblood, is burned into her arm for the rest of her life. But Hermione's not going to let it get her down. The truth is not what's written on her arm. The truth is that word is about them- the death eaters, the purebloods, those who tease her. It's about who they are. They're the ones who hate, divide, and stoke discouragement. Silence only makes them stronger. People will always label you in one way or another. It's what you do with it that matters.
And that thought alone gave her the strength to get out of bed. Hermione willed herself up to fight. When she stood, the lion inside her became alive. It roared, and was ready to beat these devils at their own game.
