AN: I'm not completely happy with this chapter but I think it may start to answer some questions. Then again, it may create some but more shall be revealed as the story continues. Again, thanks for the support. For those who are wondering about Hermione, be patient and let it unfold as it will.
AN2: I've been distracted by a project and my focus has slipped a little from writing. All this means is that I'm going to slow down my posting speed by a few days so I can stay ahead.
Chapter 5
Around the country, there were different reactions. In the Creevey house, all were thankful to the two men who came and saved them. Colin sat in his room and prayed for Moody and Harry, asking the higher powers to watch over them and keep them safe as they tried to rid the world of the evil that was infesting it. While he was big brother to three others, in his mind, it was Harry who he thought of as his big brother. He knew he annoyed Harry at times but unlike others, Harry was usually patient and kind. The last year was hard on him as he dealt with the loss of his hero but it was more than that. Things had changed and not for the good long before Harry disappeared.
He shook his head to get back on track and resume his prayers. They then turned to Hermione Granger. He didn't know what happened but she changed and not for the better. He prayed for her heart and soul. He knew that something was wrong when she turned on Harry and put her attention on Ron Weasley. He wasn't learned enough or maybe he was just to naive to suspect foul play but he knew something happened and it revolved around Harry and Hermione. Ginny also changed during that time and became more positive and assured that Harry would be hers. Colin knew it was a pipe dream as Harry never looked at her that way...ever. However, the looks of love and hurt he gave Hermione told a different story.
Ron Weasley also changed during that time and became more sure of himself...or was it pride. Pride that he split the amazing couple of Harry and Hermione. The two true leaders of Gryffindor and who were becoming the power couple of Hogwarts as a whole. And then the split, why had she done it? Why would she leave Harry who Colin was positive loved her with his entire being for Ron Weasley who showed nothing but hate.
And then there was this last year. Hermione seemed happy to be Ron's girl now. The only thing was that she changed. She was no longer the kind and patient person from before. She was now more like Ron. Not only that, it seemed as if her intelligence was diminished. Colin snorted. Being around Ron would do that to you especially without Harry there to balance things out.
Colin knew Ron Weasley was a self centered, selfish, and idiotic person. He was not someone to look up to. In fact, there wasn't anyone in Gryffindor who could step into Harry's shoes even though Ron tried. The DA was a brilliant idea and Colin thought maybe the old Hermione was returning but it was not to be. It quickly became the Ron Weasley show where he tried to lie to everyone saying he was the brain behind Harry. When no one really believed him, he resorted to bad-mouthing Harry and it hurt to see Hermione stand there and do nothing to defend Harry. It was a real eye-opener for him and he was proud of himself when he followed Neville and Susan out of that DA meeting. It was the right thing to do. It was what Harry would have done and Colin was secretly glad when they got caught and punished. The ones that stayed were never really Harry's friends but he knew he was and he'd keep whatever secret he needed to just for the simple fact that Harry saved him and his family. He would keep the faith for he knew that a day of reckoning would come to those who chose the easy path and they would not only have to answer to the Great Father but to Harry as well.
**ALM**
The Grangers were ensconced in Grimmauld Place and were thankful they were no where near their home last night. They asked Remus to go check on their house and the only real damage he could report were a torn up yard and a couple of broken windows which he repaired with a spell. It was a relief to them that they still had a home at this point but didn't hold out any hope that it would remain that way throughout the war.
Hermione's father read the article and was quite sure what was the cause of the so called new spell but didn't voice his opinion among the magicals. A quick glance at his wife assured him she also knew that many of the DE's were killed by bullets instead of spells but also held her tongue.
The one they were worried about was Hermione. She had changed a lot over the last two years and her mother was aware that Hermione was sexually active with the weasel boy. It broke her heart when she knew her daughter had a wonderful relationship building with Harry before fourth year. She still didn't understand how her focus had turned almost overnight and wondered if there might be foul play involved. The Grangers were smart enough to never bring anything up because they were now here at the mercy of the Headmaster's vigilante group. They had no doubts that if they made trouble or accused any of the group of wrong doing to their daughter, they would probably disappear.
In the quiet of their room that night, they made some painful decisions. They knew they would never get Hermione away from these people and thought she was relatively safe among them as she had completely absorbed herself into the magical world but the Granger adults were leaving the next day. Jake was an only child and the last generation of male Grangers. Through this, he had inherited several properties from his family some of which Hermione had never visited or knew anything about. They were going into hiding again but this time it would be in their own world that they knew they could navigate easily while the magicals could not.
The news about the aborted attacks also gave them hope that they could defend themselves if it came down to it as both were still crack shots from their time in the military. Jake was glad he drove them over in his car so that they could leave the same way claiming they had some business to attend to dealing with their dental practice.
They weren't too bothered by lying to the people in the house as the welcome they received when they arrived was cool at best and they could tell they were only being tolerated because of their daughter. Their first stop in the morning would be to their house to pick up more clothes and supplies and to empty the gun vault in the basement. From that point on, they would lie low until the magical war blew over and hopefully be able to reunite with their daughter.
They both cried that night at the thought of leaving their daughter behind but Jake felt she was already lost to them and he needed to take care of himself and Miranda. The decision wasn't made lightly but the way Hermione had pretty much left them to fend for themselves ever since arriving at the dark manor house, they knew it was the right one. They didn't plan to tell Hermione of their decision as they weren't sure they could trust her to not inform the others. The next morning was difficult for them as it was hard to act normally as they lied to the group around them. They heard the platitudes and condescending remarks that they wouldn't last a day without their protection but Jake and Miranda knew better and refused whatever protection was offered while they were away from the dark manor. With the exception of a few, these wizards couldn't cope with the real world and couldn't function in it but it was home and real life for them. They pulled it off though and were able to hide the pain of leaving their beloved daughter behind as they escaped the magical world. They only hoped she would be kept safe.
**ALM**
The others in Grimmauld Place felt the first stirrings of hope in the war ever since the loss of Harry. Moody and whoever his partner was was out there taking down DE's like they should be instead of hiding in this hell hole of a house. Some wished they could contact Moody and join the fight but he had made himself virtually untraceable and never came to meetings anymore. The only magical who realized how the DE's were taken down was Hermione but she had long learned to keep her mouth shut about muggle abilities. Every time in the past, she was brushed off and called barmy for even suggesting the muggles could easily take down wizards. Besides, things were so much easier for her when Ron was happy.
**ALM**
In a castle in Scotland, the teachers were sitting around the breakfast table reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. One was fuming and saying how he needed to get Alastor under control. He asked Fawkes to take him a message asking for a meeting. When the Phoenix returned, he brought an answer that sent Albus further over the edge.
Dumbledore,
I have no interest in listening to you say how disappointed you are in me. I also don't want to hear how those animals could be redeemed. They set out to attack unarmed and innocent people and they lost their rights to a peaceful life when they took his mark. We will continue to fight this war as we see fit. Our way is saving innocent lives unlike your stun policy. How many has the Order lost because you don't have the stones to take the fight to them?
On a second note, if you value your pet Death Eater, you'd better keep him close to you as we see him as an enemy combatant and will take him out just like the rest of the low life scum he hangs out with.
Bugger Off,
A. Moody
Albus was furious after this and asked Fawkes to take him straight to Moody. Fawkes gave him a long look and flamed away making the refusal obvious. The others at the table watched the whole thing with some concern as it looked like Albus was losing the plot. Minerva and Poppy shared a glance. Both knew they would be taking a trip either tonight or the next to have dinner with the boys and find out just what all they've been up to since the last time they saw them.
Albus stormed from the Great Hall and headed out towards the grounds. He was attempting to go and confront Moody at that very moment and made it about halfway across the grounds before realizing he had no idea where Moody was currently holed up. He stopped dead in his tracks and threw his hands up in frustration before turning and walking slowly back to the castle as Minerva and Poppy watched from a window up on the grand staircase. Minerva sometimes wondered if Albus had an inkling that Harry was still alive but was keeping it hidden as he did with most other things he deemed important. If that was the case then she had the idea that maybe Albus was more upset at Alastor turning Harry into a warrior rather than the pacifist he wanted the boy-who-lived to be. It would explain Harry's isolation and upbringing but not the things he allowed to happen to Harry while at Hogwarts. Maybe Albus was just a senile old coot that wasn't playing with a full deck as Harry often said. She always defended Albus in the past before the end of Harry's fourth year and ever since then, she'd seen him as he was and as Harry saw him.
**ALM**
As the day passed at Grimmauld Place, Hermione became increasingly worried about her parents when they didn't return. Ron tried to sooth her and get her mind on other things but nothing seemed to work which caused his anger to erupt. He tried to order her to forget about them and come to his room but her concern for her parents was overriding his control over her and her mind began to clear somewhat of the haze that was caused by the binding. It was then that she remembered her bond with Harry and how she destroyed it by being weak and allowing Ron to separate them. In her brief moment of clarity, she remembered it was permanent and that she belonged to Ron now. With her mind focused, she ran to Remus and begged him to take her to her parent's home to make sure they were okay.
She remembered the article in the Daily Prophet from yesterday along with the look on her father's face. She had a suspicion they returned there today to get the things from the secret room in the basement where she knew her dad kept things that could be used to protect themselves.
Hermione was almost in hysterics and the only way Remus could think to settle her down was to take her. It was convenient that Tonks was back from her day shift as an Auror and with an extra wand available, she went along. Upon arriving in the backyard, Hermione hurried around the front and saw that her parents' car was not there it was then she noticed where the bullets had struck the house. As she looked around the yard, she could see signs that something happened but the Ministry response team must have cleaned most everything up. She almost ran into Remus and Dora as she ran back around the house to enter through the back door but stopped dead.
Remus paused for a second. "I didn't say anything back at the house but those are bullet holes."
Hermione nodded. "I noticed. Who would Mr. Moody associate with who would fight a wizard war with muggle weapons?"
Tonks snorted. "Don't put anything past ole Mad-Eye. I've met some of his friends before. They're all hard cases like Moody. I don't think they'd have any problems taking out the DE's any way they could."
"Is that who is helping him?"
Tonks shrugged. "Don't know. All his friends are old men. All the Creeveys would say that it was a younger man who left before the Aurors got there. The family was quite grateful and the oldest...Colin I think basically handled everything with the investigation and he wouldn't say a thing about the guy."
Hermione looked confused for a minute. "That's how he was with Harry too. Wouldn't hear a word spoken against him and definitely would never turn on him."
They all got a sad look on their faces when Harry's name was mentioned. Each one of them knew they had failed him in some way and the whole situation was strange. There was no way Harry wouldn't and couldn't have fought off the dementors. No one had access to Harry ever since he came back after the third task so it was impossible to judge his state of mind. Did his breakup with Hermione push him over the edge along with seeing Voldemort reborn? These were questions Remus wanted answers to but the only one who could do that was dead. Or was he? At the time Remus thought the will reading was a prank and now he was almost assured it was. He knew the small amounts given out at the will reading were nothing compared to what was available to Harry. He did grow up with James and visit his home so he knew what kind of money James had. And he also knew Harry was the sole heir to that estate. If that wasn't enough, he knew Harry was also given the Black Estate with the exception of Grimmauld Place as that was left to Remus. Since then, there has been no mention of what happened to either the Black or Potter Estate. It was like they just ceased to exist or the Goblins were very effectively hiding something. He shook off his thoughts and focused on the task at hand.
They followed Hermione through the back door once she produced her key and unlocked it. Not knowing what was going on but seeing the hurried and frantic way she moved, they followed her. She headed down a hallway and then pushed in on the wall at a certain point and then slid a door aside. She reached out and flipped on a light switch and made her way down a set of stairs. She moved with purpose as she revealed another hidden door with a safe behind it. Hermione immediately set to work on the combination and once she was done, she moved the handle to the up position and pulled the door open which caused the lights inside to come on. The inside was empty except for a table where she knew her dad took care of his guns. The only thing on the table was an envelope with her name on it.
With shaking hands, she opened the envelope and fell into a chair to read.
Hermione,
If you are reading this then you figured out that we had to move on. We no longer felt safe there and we weren't about to rely on those people for our safety when it was only a matter of time before you returned to school. Know that we are safe and well hidden as even you don't know of all of the places we have available to us through your dad's family.
I know this hurts you to know we left you behind but we didn't see any choice if we wanted to live. It was a hard decision to make and believe me we cried about it all that last night but we couldn't trust you with the knowledge as you would have told them and they would have held us as prisoners. You may not see it that way but we did.
You see, there was once a little girl who got whisked away to a magical place. Things were not so great at first but then she found her knight and life was much better. The knight was a good man and stayed by her side through everything just as the princess did for him. They protected and loved each other deeply and even at a young age, committed themselves to each other. Their love and devotion to each other was becoming legendary Sadly, there was a friend of the knight who was not such a good man. The friend was jealous of the knight and princess and did everything he could to separate them since he wanted what the knight had including the princess for himself. Nothing would work and the bad friend grew more jealous and angry that he couldn't have the princess so he ran to his mother and asked for her help.
The evil mother told of a potion he could give the princess to make him hers and he willingly did it. At the same time, the little sister of the bad friend wanted the knight for herself so he was also given a potion to make the knight fall for her. Throughout their fourth year together, the potion was being slipped into their drinks and sadly the princess began to fall under its effects. It hurt the knight because he didn't know what was going on and the potion had no effect on him as his love was true.
Under the influence of the potion, the princess changed. The once true love she had for the knight became tainted. She grew distant from the knight and then took up with the bad friend. She changed so much that no one knew who she was anymore, even the king and queen and it concerned them greatly because for the first time in the princess' life, the king and queen no longer trusted her and didn't tell her things so that they would be safe.
At the end of their fourth year, the princess broke her commitment to the knight and gave herself to the bad friend and forever became his for even if she got away from the bad friend, she could never have the knight once again as his love would not accept her. Even through the pain of losing his princess, the knight only showed love for the princess and took the pain of the loss upon himself.
If all this was not bad enough, the unthinkable happened and the knight was slayed in battle. The bad friend was happy about it because jealousy and greed were the only emotions he knew. The princess was sad at first but the bad friend made her forget all about the knight.
To this day, the knight haunts the kingdom and especially the princess' dreams of a promising life lost.
My daughter, you know this story to be true as I've heard others in that house speak of it. I've heard the viewpoint of the knight from someone who cared greatly for him.
I love you dearly. How could I not when I almost gave my life to bring you into this world? Despite our love for you, we cannot accept your choices. We know something happened to change you. We also know what happened to you and that you had to accept it willingly. We wish you well and if the Good Lord is willing, maybe one day we will see each other again.
Love,
Mum & Dad
Tears were already leaking down her face as she read the letter but she completely broke down once she finished. The letter fell out of her hands and hit the floor as her head landed in her hands on the table and she wept for the life she had lost and the loss of her parents.
Tonks reached down and picked up the letter and quickly scanned it. It wasn't until the end that she realized it wasn't a fairy tale told by her mother but the story of Hermione's life since coming to the magical world. She shook her head and asked. "Blimey Hermione, what did you do?"
Hermione sat there sobbing for a minute before what Tonks asked registered. She then stood slowly and turned to Tonks. "I...I betrayed Harry. I didn't want to at first but then it just seemed right. I pledged my virginity to Harry and then slept with Ron hurting Harry even more."
"I was potioned until my will weakened and I gave in. At the same time, Harry was potioned and he never faltered or gave in. His love remained true to me despite what I did to him. The pledge we made would cause immense pain to whoever broke it. I never felt a thing so Harry took all the pain into himself. And now I'm paying for it."
Tonks snorted. "Harry had unimaginable pain and you're just paying for it by feeling guilty. Doesn't sound like much of a penance."
Hermione scowled and began unbuttoning her shirt. Once done she pulled it off and turned around showing the tattoos marking her as someone's slave.
Tonks and Remus gasped. "Why in the hell would you do that? And with Weasley of all people?"
She turned back and looked them in the eye. "I was potioned in increasingly high amounts. They weren't concerned if something happened to me as long as I was separated from Harry. The dosage finally was increased to the point where it broke my will and I slept with Ron. Ronald is so stupid that I had to teach him the spells to bind me. Being a slave to that worthless human being is the only way I can live my life knowing what I did to Harry. It is how I punish myself for allowing myself to betray him. It is the only way I can atone for the pain I caused him."
Tonks sputtered. "But they did that to you!"
Hermione snapped back. "It was my fault! The Weasleys may have started it but it showed how weak I was when I didn't fight it off or fight for Harry. It proved I wasn't the strong woman Harry needed...I should have went to Harry or Madam Pomphrey when I noticed something wasn't right but I didn't and for that reason alone, I know the blame lies with me."
Remus was shocked at her admission but asked. "But how can you seem so happy normally?"
Hermione looked down. "My emotions are controlled by my master. If he's happy then so am I and you know Ron is a simpleton. As long as he's being fed and having sex, he's happy."
They just stood there staring at her as there was nothing they could say. If they were willing to go to such lengths then Remus was about to force them back to the Burrow as he didn't want people like that in his house. Hermione could see them thinking and brought them out of it. "My parents are gone and won't be found until they are ready to be. Even by me. I think it's time to go back. My master is showing anxiety at my being out of his sight and I'd prefer not to get a beating for it tonight."
She shooed them back out of the house locking everything behind her as she went. Once outside, she held out the key to Tonks. "Vanish this please. I don't think I'll need it again and I don't want Ron getting his hands on it and getting ideas."
She did as asked and then grabbed Hermione's arm and disappeared. When they reached the door, she quietly said "Thank You" before walking in and going to Ron.
That night at dinner, Remus looked at everyone sitting at the table and made his decision. "I think I'd like for all of you to move back to your own homes. Your presence here is quickly depleting the funds Sirius left me to maintain the house by feeding you all." He looked at Ron. "Some more than others."
Molly screeched. "You can't do that. Albus gave us permission to be here."
Remus snarled. "Albus doesn't own this house. I do. And as the owner, I have heard things over the last few months that make me question whose side you are on. Oh...that's right...you're on Dumbledore's side and your own. Get out of my house and tell your master the Order is no longer welcome here."
Ron stupidly asked. "If you're kicking us out, whose side are you on?"
"Harry's"
Ron snorted. "Harry's dead!"
"Exactly...thanks to Albus and the Order. I refuse to sit around here and play house with you when I could actually be doing something to end this war. The wards will change at midnight. Anyone not approved by me will be tossed out. I suggest you get packing."
Molly stormed out of the kitchen and went straight to the floo to call Albus. When it wouldn't work for her, she turned on Remus. "What's wrong with the floo?"
"It's locked."
"Well unlock it!"
"It isn't your house Molly. If you want to use the floo, by all means do so...at your own house."
She sobbed. "We're not as protected there."
Remus coldly said. "It's not my problem."
"Why are you doing this?" She sobbed out.
The amber in his eyes flared letting her know he was so angry the wolf was coming to the surface so she took a step back.
"I know Molly...and Arthur would be so proud of you."
She asked in a scared voice. "Know what?"
"I know about the potions you were feeding my nephew and Miss Granger. I know you and your family did everything you could to break their bond. I know you could have killed Harry by causing him to be distracted during the tournament. And I know you will rot in hell for breaking that bond and I hope your son and daughter are right there beside you. I think it's only fitting seeing how your actions sentenced Hermione to the same fate. YOU are as dark as they come with your plans to trap two children in your web. I'm almost happy that Harry is no longer with us so that he didn't have to go through that and for that reason, I will not have you in MY house any longer."
"But...it was for the Greater Good. Albus said so."
Remus snarled at her and only Tonks grabbing him stopped him from throttling the woman. She turned on Molly. "If you are not gone tonight, I will personally escort Remus to Amelia and help him file charges against you. What you did to Hermione and Harry is unforgivable."
As Remus and Tonks turned around, they found the twins standing there holding their wands. Both looked at them in suspicion when Fred spoke. "Remus...Tonks...we swear we didn't know. Harry and Hermione were like our sister and brother and we already know we screwed up with Harry this past year. We'd hoped to make things right with him when we went back to school but it was already too late. We'd never let something like that happen to them if we knew."
Remus nodded but it was Tonks who spoke. "Thanks guys but what's done is done."
The normally exuberant teens were all business and for that alone, they knew the twins were telling the truth. "We know and we're sorry for not watching better. We feel responsible for what happened because we didn't pay attention just like Ginny in her first year."
Tonks said. "Hindsight and all that. Maybe it'd be better if you moved into the flat above your store. You can't stay here anymore but I wouldn't want to live in that house either with those traitors."
George nodded. "We understand and will be gone tonight. Um...if you're going to go on the offensive...we'd like to help. We need to get rid of Voldemort first and then we can clean up the rest of the trash."
Molly started to rant at them as they had all but forgotten she was still there. Fred cut her off. "You may be our mother but we are of age and can make our own decisions from now on."
George jumped in. " And you can count on us speaking to our brothers about what we learned tonight. Now that dad in gone, thanks to your insistence that we all follow that whiskered old wanker, William is the head of the family now and won't think too much of what you and your children have done to two we thought of as our own."
With that, they turned and went to their rooms to pack and were gone within fifteen minutes.
**ALM**
Moody and Harry sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast the next morning when an owl found its way through the wards and landed in front of Moody. He cast a quick scan of it before untying the letter and sending the owl on its way.
He read the letter and chuckled a bit before a scowl came across his face and he slammed the letter down. It broke Harry out of his own thoughts and he said "What?"
"Freaking Weasleys. Freaking Albus. Damn the lot of them."
"What happened now?"
"Shit...too much." He looked at Harry for a minute before deciding to tell him what the letter said.
"Remus kicked everyone out of headquarters last night and quit the Order. Tonks too."
"Why?"
"It seems the Weasleys were in on a plot to separate you and Granger. They potioned you both. She got influenced. You didn't. It's what caused her to change"
Harry shook his head but didn't say anything for a minute. "Who did it?"
"Molly brewed them, Ginny wanted you so was all for it. Ronald slipped both of you the potions. Albus was in on it somehow but in what way is not known at the moment."
Harry stood and started pacing. "The twins? Arthur?"
"Don't think Arthur would be a part of something like that. Just my take on him. The twins swore they didn't know. Said you were like a brother to them and wouldn't let something like that happen if they knew. Even planned to make things right with you when school started back but you died."
Harry only nodded. "Hermione?"
"The potions...they took control of her. Broke her down and made her willing for the little bastard. She is paying for her betrayal."
"How? Does she think feeling guilty about it is enough? Does she think the broken bond didn't about kill me?"
Moody sighed. "She knew what she did when she did it but couldn't stop it. She thinks that's part of the reason why you didn't fight back against the dementors. She knew she was damned once she could think about breaking the bond. Just like those who helped break it. They'll burn for it son."
"Yeah but in the meantime...I have to live with the pain. I had to die to escape what everyone was doing to me."
"She's paying son...believe me."
Harry stopped and glared at him. "You said that before. What are you talking about?"
Moody slammed his fist down. Angry at what all had happened and at Albus for allowing it. "She bound herself to the little bastard. She's his freaking slave now to use as he pleases. She did it so she'd never have to feel the pain of what she did to you anymore."
Harry shouted. "That slave crap is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard of."
"She's bound as his sex slave son. Her emotions are now tied to his. She told Tonks that as long as the little bastard is fed and getting some, he's happy so she is too."
"Merlin Pops...does magic make everyone freaking stupid?"
Moody chuckled. "Maybe so. Her parents left without her. They escaped 'protective custody'."
Harry chuckled. "They are smart people. They probably felt threatened. They wrote me during fourth year wanting to know what was wrong with their daughter. If they felt threatened, and they did at times, Jake would have taken Miranda and ran. She is his life. If Hermione acted with them like she did with me, they probably felt they didn't have a choice. She would have told someone they were planning to leave."
"Yeah...Tonks pretty much confirmed everything you said. Remus suspects something. He says he wants to help me and my partner."
"What do you think?"
"I don't know. At least he's sober now and seeing things the way they really are. He's expecting Albus to try and talk to him this morning. He's preparing himself for the 'disappointed in you' speech."
Harry chuckled now that he'd calmed down. "Don't miss those at all."
"Me either"
"Pops?"
"Yeah?"
"When this is all over, I'm gonna pull that crazy assed house down on top of them. Maybe I'll get them all."
Moody looked thoughtful. "What about Granger?"
"If the prick is dead, she'd be free wouldn't she?"
"You'd take her back?"
"As a friend...maybe. But never more. The way we worded the bond...if one of us betrayed the other...there could never be love between us again. I don't think I'd want her anyway after she's been with him."
"Point. I'll probably help you pull the Burrow down. From what I read. Remus and Tonks would too as would the twins. The twins said they wanted to help get rid of Voldy and then take out the rest of the trash."
Harry chuckled. "I need to blow something up. Anything on the alert wards?"
Moody nodded. "The wards on both places were probed last night. My guess is any time now. Now that she has Fudge gelded for the moment, Amelia is going through the Ministry and cleaning out the threats. He'll go after her sooner than later."
"Pop? Something is bothering me about the whole Hermione thing."
"What's that?"
"The potion didn't effect me."
"Yeah so...it shows you were truly in love with her and were able to fight off the potion."
"Then why did it effect her?"
Moody shook his head. "Remus said they increased her dosage until she broke. They didn't care whether it hurt her or not so they kept going until she slept with Ron. I'm guessing they wouldn't risk harming you by increasing yours. Albus probably wouldn't allow it either."
Harry nodded. "So she was collateral damage in the battle to gain control of Harry Potter. Anything else is just too unsettling to consider."
"Aye...I see your point. It'd take pretty dark magic or high powered potions to fool a bond. That's why the penalty is so high magically when you do so but the results are the same either way. You burn in the end."
"But..."
Moody held up his hand. "I know son. She wasn't truly responsible. Maybe the Magical Goddess and the Great Father will see it for what it was as well as what she did to try and atone for it. Despite your anger, I know you still care for her but we won't really know until we know."
Harry nodded. "Alright pops. It's not like I can do anything about it at this point anyway."