Hello, my freaky darlings. Happy Saturday. Warning: This little chappie has major plot points and ends on a bit of a cliffe. I am not sorry. If you hate cliffies, you should wait until the next chapter goes up to read this one, too. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 31 It All Hits the Fan
Attending the Malfoy Masked Ball with Thorfinn might have been the most magical night of her life. It had been leaps better than the Yule Ball with Neville. Since her mask changed her hair to a sophisticated blonde updo, no one even suspected little Ginny Weasley had breached their walls. She couldn't stop grinning, it had been magical. Rowle insisted on leaving early for their own more private celebration. Ginny deflated slightly, Harry had been feeling ill more often than not lately. She needed to step things back up with him. She knew she had been neglecting him as of late, but her new romance was more exciting than stolen exchanges hidden away in the shadows. Rowle took her shopping at exclusive shops, to posh restaurants that ensured privacy, and all the exciting hanky panky one could get up to with said privacy.
Some day all of this would be a distant memory. She would be a housewife managing the house elves and popping out a kid every so often to ensure her meal ticket continued. Not as many as her mother, perhaps, but more than one. The family Harry desperately wanted. But when she felt old, she could pull out these exciting memories and feel young again. But before that could happen she needed to land her husband. While Harry hadn't seemed interested in her, he hadn't seemed interested in anyone else either. If this illness was related to Voldemort it might be better for her to get pregnant, his child could claim Harry's estate, the Potter fortunes and the Blacks. She had her future to consider.
Harry felt feverish, he hadn't felt well in months. Often he felt weak and dizzy. He hadn't felt well in months. His thoughts felt fuzzy. Sometimes he loved Ron and Ginny, other times he hated them. And he was always aroused, sometimes painfully so. But he lacked the energy to perform properly most of the time. Not that either lover seemed to care. Scratching the itch felt better and lasted longer with a partner. If neither partner minded the brevity of the act or lack of enthusiasm, why should he? A few moments of squishy movements then blessed relief for at least twenty-four hours.
Harry groaned and rolled over using the momentum to sit up. Molly would have breakfast ready soon, food helped soothe him most of the time. He stumbled downstairs towards the delicious beckoning aromas wafting from the kitchen. He slid into the seat next to Ginny and rested his forehead against the cool wood of the tabletop. "Too much celebration last night, sweetie?" Ginny asked handing him a glass of pumpkin juice. She winked playfully at him.
"Something like that," he sipped the pumpkin juice. It tasted off, but everything did lately. Molly placed a plate of food in front of Harry. He began eating, feeling better as he filled his stomach.
Ginny picked up the morning newspaper. She couldn't help herself, she flipped to the gossip columns to see if any of them mentioned Thorfinn Rowle's mystery woman. She didn't want to deal with the fallout from her family being identified would bring, but she would enjoy a little speculation. She scowled at the paper. Not a single mention of her resplendent gown. But plenty about the radiant Hermione Lestrange. Circe's tit she hated that name. It sounded so pretentious. Everywhere she went someone was singing the witch's praises. Like they did with the other Hermione she knew.
In the back of her mind, a small voice admitted she was misplacing her annoyance with Rowle for refusing to introduce her to anyone of note. Sugar babies got to go places not make friends apparently. Ron snatched the paper from her. "Hey! What's got your knickers in a twist?"
He read the article again before exploding in a rage, "That whore! How dare she consort with the enemy?"
"What?" asked Ginny.
"RON!" Harry yelled after him as the redhead burst from the house and headed for the Lovegoods.
Molly picked up the discarded paper, "'Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood and Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Montague announce the engagement of their children Luna Odette Lovegood and Graham Thaddeus Montague. A winter wedding is expected.' Oh, that foolish man, tying his child to Death Eaters."
Harry leapt to his feet and took off after Ron. Once clear of the house, he apparated as far as he could towards the Rookery to make up for lost time. He landed on the front steps. Behind him, he could see Ron breaking through the trees bordering the property. "Treacherous whore! Come out here and answer for yourself!" he roared.
"Ron, Luna doesn't answer to us," Harry protested, making soothing motions at Ron.
"She's supposed to be one of us. She's supposed to do as she's told." Harry kept Ron from pushing past him as Luna opened the front door.
"Harry? Ron, what?" Luna looked about from the open door.
"How could you betray us, slag?" spit from Ron's mouth.
Luna took a step back into the house, "Why are you so angry? You never liked me anyway."
"You're a Death Eater's whore! You are fucking the enemy." Ron bellowed.
"Ron, calm down," Harry pleaded, moving in front of the door and Luna.
Several things happened at once. Luna clutched the snowflake charm around her neck. Ron slammed into Harry forcing Luna to grab Harry as he fell back into her as she said, "Sanctuary." Ginny's stunning spell missed Ron and hit Harry, and Ron fired off a spell. The energy of the spell was pulled into the portkey vortex.
-oOoOo-
Rabastan invited several of the next generation to Lestrange Hall after the Ministry event to discuss the coming changes and Voldemort's expectations of his followers. They entered the front hall discussing the various ministry officials that might need replacing sooner rather than later. Hermione froze, "Luna." She took off running, her feet barely touching the stairs.
When she hit the carpeting, Luna released Harry, who slumped to the floor. The spell slammed into the wall behind them cracking a picture frame. The pieces crashed to the floor.
The door flew open, Hermione, Graham, and Marcus rushed in, Rodolphus and Rabastan right behind them. "Luna," cried Hermione, "what happened?"
"Ron showed up screaming about how I betrayed them and was a slag. Harry tried to defend me when Ron attacked." Marcus looked at Graham who nodded. In unison, they turned and collected Peregrine as they exited.
"Are you okay?" Rabastan knelt next to Luna, while Hermione and Rodolphus looked over Harry.
"Yes, just shaken. I thought I had seen the worst of Ron's temper. He was out of control."
Harry stirred, "Luna?"
"I'm okay, Harry. We're safe, we're with friends."
"Good, good," Harry slumped back down.
"He looks rather rough," Rodolphus noted.
"Can you summon a discrete healer? He's still wanted for questioning."
"You're not suggesting we keep this from the Dark Lord?" Rodolphus looked conflicted.
"Of course not, but he may not want everyone and their brother to know." She looked over at Luna. "A healer for both of them first, notify Lord Voldemort second."
"MacLellan's a healer, "Cassius offered from the doorway." He's downstairs."
"Get him," Rodolphus. "I will summon him."
Rabastan helped Luna to stand, "Let's give you a calming draught."
-oOoOo-
They landed just outside the front door of the tower. A man and woman could be heard shouting not far away. Peregrine rapidly disguised their features. "Don't want them flipping the script on us." They followed the voices to the trees marking the property lines.
"Come on, Ron, if Luna is in cahoots with Death Eaters they'll be here any minute," pleaded Ginny.
"No, we need to follow that portkey and punish her."
"For what? Getting engaged? Not a crime. And being a Slytherin doesn't equal Death Eater or evil." She yanked him along. "Mum will die if you get yourself killed over this."
"She needs to be stopped. She's evil now, we can't ignore her disobedience." The redhead froze, "Oh fuck! She took Harry with her." They stared at each other in horror. They ran back to the Burrow.
Graham moved to follow, but Marcus grabbed him. "I'll let you pound the ginger git later. Hell, I'll hold him for you. But we need to report this. Luna is safe. But the Order knowing we have Potter will make them act."
With a growl, Graham jerked his arm out of Marcus's grip. "Damnit, you're right." They returned to Lestrange Hall. Graham immediately sought out his fiancee.
Marcus and Peregrine joined the Lestranges and Voldemort waiting in the study. Peregrine reported the overheard conversation. Voldemort looked at Hermione. She pursed her lips, "They'll gather the ranks and start looking. I'll try to contact one of the twins as soon as we have a plan."
"We do have a plan, per your demands." Voldemort reminded her.
Rabastan looked at her in confusion, "Despite my annoyance, he deserves to know the truth and make his own choices, free from machinations. He'll want time to think. We'll have to keep him hidden."
"While I would suggest guards, I would exclude dungeons," Rabastan remarked. "We need to be the good guys here." Hermione nodded in agreement.
Voldemort looked at Peregrine, "Contact Avery, instruct him to arrange for guards." He turned to Rabastan, "You will have to reschedule your informal meeting with a formal one."
"So it would seem, my lord."
MacLellan came downstairs shaking his head, "For members of the self-proclaimed light side, they use a lot of manipulation potions and charms. Lad's got charms to make him more susceptible to suggestions from certain people, and suspicious of others. He's been given two different love potions and lust powder or potions for quite some time. I removed the charms and started purging his system. A full detox will take about a day. He'll be rather weak for a bit. He's unconscious but stable right now."
Voldemort nodded, "Go call in for the next week and pack a bag. Wherever we send Potter, you go until he's healthy."
"Yes, sir," he raced off to comply.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," Hermione swore.
"Careful," teased Voldemort, "your Irish muggle is showing."
"I wish I could say I cannot believe this, but Molly once admitted to us she potioned Arthur to get his attention. Her youngest two would see no issues with taking the easy path," she frowned.
"The twins' shop sells love potions," pointed out Marcus.
"Yes, but they cause glaringly obvious symptoms and last for about an hour to an hour and a half. I don't particularly like them, but they aren't at a level where one needs a permit to sell them."
"The real conversation we need to be having is where to house him while he recovers." Voldemort refocused their attention on the issue at hand.
"It should be somewhere he'll feel safe, and not obvious to the Order." Rodolphus mused.
"Most followers would be willing to host someone for me," Voldemort said, "Still who would they least suspect?"
"Is there anyone that could be put under Fidelus charm and not be noticed?" questioned Rabastan.
They sat in silence, pondering the conundrum before Marcus looked at Hermione, "Does anyone in the Order know where your parents lived?"
"Only Professor McGonagall, she brought my letter. Why?" She scrunched up her face."Oh, oh, that is brilliant." Marcus beamed at her praise as she leapt forward and kissed him soundly.
"What is brilliant?" asked Rodolphus, ignoring Hermione's display.
"My childhood home is at the end of the road. It is already on Notice Me Not charms and Muggle repelling charms. Have Snape alter the records and modify McGongagall's memories. We wouldn't even need the Fidelus charm."
Voldemort considered it, "None of them would believe we would use a muggle residence. You would allow guards?"
"Reserving the right to refuse or revoke access, yes. Though while they are staying there, so will I."
"I'll send Varl to help Maisie," Rodolphus told her.
Voldemort nodded, "I'm certain Lucius would spare Bee to assist her beloved Missy Hermy."
"I'm sure," Hermione laughed. "I'm headed to the house to set the house up for guests."
"We shall gather volunteers for guard duty. Let Rodolphus know when you are ready," Voldemort ordered.
At No 6 Courtenay Ave, Hermione moved through the house casting protection spells on family heirlooms. She removed her personal items from her childhood room. Then moved further into the room to her reading nook. The nook was nearly a separate room at the back of her bedroom. Built-in bookcases covered the hexagonal walls. The long rectangle windows reached from the top of the bookcases to the crown molding. While they let light in, they did not open. It would be the ideal area to put Harry and his healer. She transfigured two large wing chairs into a bed and bedding.
Next, she moved into the master bedroom, "Time to take over the master suite," she told herself. She removed the personal items she did not wish to keep and replaced them with her own. She looked about with a touch of melancholy.
Maisie popped in, "Why is mistress doing Maisie's work?"
"I am not, I promise. I was finishing a personal task. I was just about to call you. Would you please change all the sheets? And prepare the guest rooms?"
"Right away, mistress."
In the kitchen, Varl began stocking the pantries. Hermione explained the fridge and appliances. "I will make sures Maisie and Bee understands."
"Thank you, Varl," Hermione smiled at him. "And do not let the visiting wizards be rude to you."
"Yes, Missy Hermy."
Content with the preparations, Hermione returned to Lestrange Hall. "My old room is ready for Harry and MacKellan, you can go ahead and move him."
A smokey hyena loped into the room. "We need to talk, Mione." George's voice came out of his mouth. "Shop ten minutes."
"Go we will finalize the arrangements when you return." Voldemort nodded to her.
Hermione slipped on a disguise, just in case the twins weren't alone. She hurried into Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. "George? Fred? Are you here?"
"We're in the back," one of the twins replied. She slipped through the curtains into the stockroom. "Oi, who's..." The speaker stopped when her disguise fell.
"Wotcher, Hermione," Tonks greeted her quietly.
"Only you and George?"
"Remus and Fred are out searching for Harry. What happened?"
"You tell me what you know because I don't know much."
George sighed, "Gin said she was reading the paper when Ron lost the plot. Started yelling about Luna betraying them and being a whore. When he stormed over there Harry chased him and tried to stop him. Ron says Harry collapsed and Luna grabbed him and used a portkey before Ron could stop her."
"Ugh, Ron, why are you so dim-witted? He saw Luna and Graham's engagement announcement."
"Which he would see as a betrayal," George admitted.
"Luna says Ron threw curses, one of which hit Harry. Harry collapsed into her when she activated her emergency portkey. Since she was holding onto him he came with her."
"How is she? How is he?" asked Tonks.
" Luna says she's fine, but shaken. She's never seen Ron in a true strop. Harry will be okay. He collapsed because he's been dosed with multiple love potions and lust compounds. Very potent ones. The potions were keyed to two different people. For quite some time."
"Who?" demanded George.
"Guessing here, but Ron and Ginny. I know he had something going on with Ron. That's why I left," she whispered the last part.
"Oh, wow," responded George, his voice soft, "Mione..."
"Nope, it's the past and not your fault. Harry is safe and hidden while he recovers. Once he's strong enough I will tell him everything and he makes his own decisions. Let the Order keep looking. We're in a holding pattern until then."
"What about Ron attacking Luna?" asked Tonks. "Would it be better if she made a report? Or let Ron live in fear of retaliation?"
"I feel like that needs to be Luna's decision. She was the one attacked."
"Can we go back to why you left?" George asked. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Until an hour ago I thought they were a couple with mutual natural feelings. Outting them would be sharing a secret that wasn't mine to tell."
"I suppose I understand and respect that."
"Thank you, I suppose. I'm going to check on Luna, and let you all get back out there. If Luna wants to make a report I will have her contact you."
"Sounds good. Molly will be on the warpath if we don't protect her baby. Even though what he did was illegal and uncivilized," Tonks grumbled.
"And hypocritical, can you imagine if someone attacked her children in such an unprovoked manner?" Hermione looked at George.
"Well, Ginny and Ron anyway," he admitted. They made their farewells and returned to their assigned tasks.
Deciding to treat Luna, Hermione popped into muggle London for Dim Sum and egg rolls, Luna's favorites. She returned to Lestrange Hall to talk to her best friend. "I come bearing gifts." She handed over the food.
Luna looked in the bag, "Do I get my favorite because Ron is an arse that attacked me, or because you want something?"
"So cynical. I would never be so insulting as to attempt to bribe you. You get your favorites because I love you. And Ron can be a monster. If you want to make a report, we'll make a report." Hermione paused, "We'll plan it out to cover all the bases, but that is only to protect you and our allies. The choice is yours."
Luna nibbled on a dumpling while she thought. "The report might make me feel better for a minute. But if something came of it, it could compromise Tonks and Shacklebolt. And I don't want that."
"If you make the report to Tonks she can 'fix it' like Molly would expect."
"How dare Ron face the full consequences of his actions," Luna groused.
"Right?"
"What would I say about Harry?" Luna questioned nervously chewing on a lock of hair.
"You landed hard because of the second hex, when you came to he was gone. You have no idea where he is."
"Which is technically true," Luna's lips tipped up in a tiny smile.
Graham's frown deepened, and he slammed his fist on the arm of the couch, startling Luna, "Damnit!"
"What's wrong?" Luna cried.
"I cannot believe I am suggesting this, and if we go this route you and your father will be staying away from the Rookery for a while, but it might be best if you told one of safer Weasleys you won't press charges this time. I don't have the Mark. You understand the stress of the last year is getting to everyone. You're going to him one last chance." Graham told her.
"He's still going to lose the plot over all of this," protested Luna.
"You're not telling him, you're telling Bill, or Fleur, at Gringotts," Hermione told her.
Luna nodded, "I can do that." She looked at Graham, "You'll come with me?"
"Of course." He kissed her softly.
Luna turned back to Hermione, "How is Harry?"
"Really sick. We think are both Ron and Ginny were feeding him strong love and lust potions, which have been interacting with each other. He'll recover. Then I'll tell him everything and he can talk to Voldemort, or not."
"If he chooses the Order and to fight?" Luna asked in a sad little voice.
"We all had the same information and chances. You and I picked our side. He doesn't have to join the Death Eaters to end the war. He gets to pick his path with all the information. If he decides that's what he needs to do, so be it."
Luna sighed, "I suppose that's fair."
Hermione hugged her friend, "I want him to join your neutrality, too. I have to go. Owl Roddy if you need me. Owls won't be able to get into the safe house."
"I will. Be careful."
"Don't worry, no one will find this place."
"I'm still going to worry. I've never seen Ron so out of control. He raved about betrayal and how I needed to obey. I love you. I worry what happens when he finds you and you don't obey him."
"I am more than a match for Ronald Bilius Weasley. Moreover, I am ready for him." She hugged Luna again, "But I promise to be careful, I promise."
"You had better."
Hermione stopped by her room and collected some essentials and her familiars. "What are we doing, little witch?" Rabastan inquired leaning against the wall.
"If you think those goons are getting free run of my house you have another thing coming. I said I was staying, too. And we don't need them offing Harry before Voldemort questions him."
Rabastan frowned, "Hermione."
"Don't you 'Hermione' me. I am capable of defending myself. Also, I can harm them, but they can't touch me. Even if that wasn't the case, I am not the damsel in distress type."
"I still don't like it, and neither will Rod."
"Don't care," she singsonged, "still going."
"Not alone," she looked up and saw Voldemort in the doorway, "someone needs to protect my followers from that delightful violent streak of yours." She laughed. "I insisted at least one of your friends accompany you. Unsurprising, Mr. Flint has volunteered his evenings."
"Hopefully this doesn't go on too long," she sighed.
"Indeed. Mr. Flint awaits you downstairs with this evening's guards."
She met them in the foyer. "House rules are simple, don't touch anything you don't understand how it works, and be polite to my elves or I will be very impolite to you." Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Felix Rosier, and Derrick Vaisey nodded their understanding and departed silently.
Thirty six hours and one exploded toaster later Harry woke up.
A/N: For those of you that guess Ginny WAS the Thorfinn's date, good job! And yes, it is mean of me to end it where I did. That said, I could have ended it a sentence earlier, and we wouldn't know IF he was waking up.