A/N: Thank you to 1991, tiffanythibedeau, and the Guest who commented on the last chapter.
I also want to apologize for the lateness of this chapter, and to be honest, I had been finding it difficult to write for the past few weeks but I'm hoping that I can get back on track.
Thank you all for your patience.
Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter
And as always, enjoy!
Chapter 22
Early October— Present
By the time Hermione woke, the sun had fallen. It was dark in the room, but before she dared open her eyes, she could hear whispering.
"What do you think, Ron?" Harry whispered.
"Don't know, mate," the red-head answered, "Maybe we should ask."
Hermione groaned and pushed herself up into a sitting position, and despite her growing belly, she sat up relatively easy.
"What are we asking who?" Hermione asked groggily.
Harry and Ron's heads snapped her way, Ron's face not surprisingly stuffed with food.
"I hope you saved me some," Hermione muttered, standing and shuffling over.
Harry pointed to a plate of fish and chips under a stasis charm and her eyes lit up at the sight. She took the plate picked a chip from the plate, popping it into her mouth happily. Then another.
"Hungry, 'Mione?" Ron laughed.
Hermione scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out at the red-head, taking a bite of crispy fish. Harry chuckled at Hermione's behavior and finished off his own plate.
"So, what were you two taking about?" Hermione asked, taking another bite of fish.
Harry shrugged, "We thought that we can just ask the man at the bar about what he saw and where he saw it went," he began, "but it sounded like the bird flew to Godoric's Hollow, so that might be our next stop."
Hermione almost choked on her mouthful, couching awkwardly into a flimsy napkin. Ron poured the witch a glass of water and handed it to her. Hermione chugged it down, giving him a grateful smile when she finished.
"You all right there?" Harry asked, his brows furrowed in worry.
"Yeah," Hermione said, "it went down the wrong pipe."
The boys shrugged, and once Hermione finished, they clean their plates and headed downstairs after Hermione had the chance to freshen up. As the boys hoped, the drunk was still at the bar, nursing another tumbler of whiskey, awake.
Hermione slid the dirty dished onto the counter, thanking Harold for the food. He only muttered and walked away, leaving the trio and the drunk in the front room alone. Harry slipped beside the man one side, Ron on the other and Hermione could honestly day that they boys didn't have any idea what they were doing.
"So, what do you recommend here?" Harry asked tapping his fingers on on the bar.
Hermione rolled her eyes, gave Harry a look.
Instead of talking, the drunk only took a sip from his tumbler, scoffing.
"What do you want kid?" The man asked.
Harry looked over to Ron, who in turn turned to look at Hermione.
"You said something about a fire bird earlier," Ron said, "We wanted to know what that was about. "
The man scoffed, "So you can laugh at me too?"
"Er— no," Harry said, "we have a vested interest in the bird."
The man turned to look at Hermione, then eyes her stomach. His eyes almost softening, then immediately hardening, "It flew to Godric's Hollow, there was someone chasing it but he didn't get very far."
Harry nodded, Hermione was the one to speak, "Did you see who was chasing it by any chance?"
The man shook his head, "Only a man in a hood."
Ron stood from his seat, Harry following after, muttering a quick thank you before taking Hermione's hand and pulling her into the broom closet with them.
"So we're going to Godric's Hollow after all," Harry muttered.
"You're right mate," Ron said, "when do we leave?"
"I dont know," Harry said, "but we'll be able to ficus on the last Horcrux once Fawkes is gone."
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione who shot them both a guilty look. The tensioned in the room thickened. The last time Hermione was there, Nagini had attacked them. It was right after Ron had left and though she was glad to be there for him, she couldn't keep lying to him. To either of them.
"I know what the other Horcrux is," Hermione said, her lower lip quivering.
Harry's face fell, "Well, that is it then?"
Hermione muttered something.
Ron and Harry moved closer.
"What?" Ron asked, scratching the back of his head.
Hermione made a sound in the back of her throat, tears threatening to spill over her cheeks.
"It's your mum, Harry," Hermione said.
Her stomach turned at the way Harry's eyes widened then glossed over.
"What do you mean, Mione?" Harry asked, "What do you mean its my mum."
Hermione's heart stopped at the way Harry's voice broke.
"Hermione, are you sure?" Ron whispered.
Hermione nodded. She wrapped her arms around herself and when Harry opened his mouth to speak, only to shut it in disbelief.
"How are you sure?" Ron asked.
"Think about it," Hermione said, "She stood against Riddle, she would do anything for Harry— She— she's the reason people trusted Dumbledore because her death proved that he was right. Harry I'm so sorry."
Hermione couldn't stop herself, she wrapped her arms around Harry, Ron followed after and wrapped his arms around the both of them. Harry broke, a wretched sob torn from him, he buried his face in Hermione's hair and held her tight.
"Why would he do that?" He choked, "Why would he do that to my mum?"
Ron tightened his hold, "I'm sorry, mate."
They gave Harry a moment to feel his hurt, the moments ticking by as his grief grew. Hermione had started to get worried when his cries finally fell.
"Let's go," Harry whispered.
Ron looked at Hermione and they understood. They needed to do this, and they needed to do it together.
They stumbled out of the closet and snuck upstairs to gather the little things that they had before they moved on.
It was too quiet in the room, but Hermione and Ron packed while Harry stared blankly at his hands. Hermione could see the wheels turning in his head.
"We're ready," Ron whispered. He left a few muggle notes on the nightstand before they left the inn behind for good.
"I want him dead," Harry whispered before the trio walked into the forest, the village not too far ahead.