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A continuation of Harry potter and the Dark Lord's Heir
"Dark Lord dead!" Harry froze stiff.
No! This couldn't be right, this couldn't happen. He grasped the paper with both hands and began to read the article.
"In the late hours of this morning, the Dark Lords layer was penetrated;The layer in the town of Dunadee in a remote location in Ireland. Rita Skeeter reports an eye witness account of the capture of many Death Eaters caught in the protection of the castle that the Dark Lord was supposedly hiding. The ministry of magics, Cornelius Fudge entered the castle along with other members of the dark force defense league. Loud bangs erupted from the halls within. After returning out the minister for magic gave only one statement to the witch weekly; "His Raine of terror is over".
Yet many Wizards have admitted to seeing the Dark Lord here in England, even so there are no confirmed reports and if the rumors are justified then this is indeed a great day for all wizard kind".
Harry couldn't believe it, is that why Voldemort hadn't wrote yet? Or had he fled to England. Harry was sick to the bone. He had to write to Sirus, maybe he would know?
"Harry?" said Hermione but he didn't speak. How could he? The thought of Voldemort dead was too hurtful to admit. With that Ron stood up from the table.
"I'll see what I can find out. I'll meet you both in the leaky Cauldron in an hour" he said.
"Where are you going?" hissed Hermione in an angry way.
"If I can get to a Muggle phone I can ring my dad" he said and with that he shoved his way past the wizards around and was gone.
Harry put his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands.
"Harry" her voice broke as she said it.
"It's not true. It can't be. Dumbledore would have contacted me wouldn't he? He'd have told me right?" He looked at her.
She put a hand on his and lowered it to the table. "I'm sure he's fine. You know Rita Skeeter, she'll say anything to get you to read one of her stories".
Harry sighed and nodded. Hermione was right. It was far too easy. The was no way the ministry members would have made a move so bold, and even if they did Harry was sure none of them would have made it out alive had Voldemort been there. What to even stop Voldemort from apparating out during the attack?
"Yeah, your right. There's no way he could've been there. If he had fudge would have been in pieces by now".
She smiled encouragingly. "Come on, let's go for quick shop while we wait for Ron".
Harry nodded and smiled just grateful to have her with him. "Alright".
Minutes later they were making their way down the main street of shops. Harry stopped and pointed to one shop a little further up. "What's that? I've never noticed that shop before".
Hermione followed his gaze and shrugged. "I don't know but lets take a look".
As they drew closer Harry realized it was in fact a jewelry shop. They entered. Inside the shop consisted of glass cases filled with all a sorts of rings, chains, pins, bracelets and watches. Except for the odd merchandise Harry didn't think it all that different from Muggle Jewelry shops. A sudden thought struck him and Harry turned to Hermione who was eying up the broaches. "I'm just going to go ask about the watches" Harry spoke and made his way up the empty counter. He pressed the buzzer. Suddenly a women appeared from under the counter. Harry almost fell back with the shock.
"Why hello there deary! How can I help you?" She was tall and thin with neat fitting spectacles and a hat that reminded him of Professor MacGonigall.
"Em, I'm looking for something nice for my girlfriend" Harry whispered. The kind looking witch peeked behind him and smiled. "Say no more my dear. Were you thinking a chain? A bracelet or maybe some earrings perhaps?".
"Actually I was thinking a ring" Harry Replied. Without another word the quirky witch disappeared in behind the counter and again and moments later popped up with a little red box.
"This" she said opening the box and turning it around for him to see "is a special one indeed. It's 160 sickles, rather expensive really but worth every sickle". Harry bent in for a closer inspection. The ring was gold in color and consisted of two hands reaching in to hold a crystal shaped heart in the center with a crown on top of it. Instantly Harry knew Hermione would love it. "I'll take it" he said.
The witch nodded and closed the box. "She'd want to hang onto you" she said smiling again. "Do you it wrapped? Or a singing inscription made maybe?".
Harry was confused. "Er, no thanks, that's ok". He reached into his pocket and withdrew some coins. Counting out the correct amount he handed the money to the witch and slipped the ring inside his jeans pocket. "She's a lucky lass, that ring is a magical claddagh ring" the witch said while counting out the coins in her hand.
"A what?" Harry asked not liking the sound of it.
"You give it to someone you love and they're not around it glows when you think of them".
Harry nodded but in the next moment Hermione appeared at his side. "Find something?" She asked.
Harry shook his head and smiled at the witch who winked goodbye as they exited. "Nope, nothing I liked". As the made their way down towards the Leaky Cauldron Harry thought to himself. Did he love Hermione? He felt his stomach flutter at the thought of it. It's true he was happiest when he was with her.
As they reached the Leaky Cauldron and entered they searched for Ron but he was nowhere to be found. "Where is he?" Hermione asked. "He said he'd be here".
Harry shook his head eyes roaming over the heads at the bar and tables. "Maybe he went looking for us in the main street" Harry said.
They were just getting ready to leave when the barman called his name. Harry made his way back into Paul.
"Your friend Ron was here" he said pouring a firewhiskey and placing it in front of one very lax looking old wizard. "Where is he now?" asked Hermione but in the next second Ron came running out of wizards bathroom to their left. "Harry!" he shouted as he made his way over.
He grabbed Harry's forearm. "Where were you?" asked Hermione.
Ron ignored her and lent in close to Harry. "Come to the toilets with me".
"What?" Harry asked but Ron was already making his way back through the sea of bodies and towards the bathroom.
Harry turned to Hermione and lent in to kiss her cheek. " I won't be long. I'll just go see what's wrong wit him and be straight back out".
Hermione didn't look overly happy but nodded an ok. Harry made his way to the bathroom door and opened it. "Ron? You there?" Ron was standing facing a cubicle and appeared to be staring in at something. "What going on?" Harry asked making his way over. Ron waas truely transfixed and Harry gazed around the cubicle door. Someone was lying on the floor of the cubicle unconscious.
"Dad!" Harry shouted running to Voldemorts aid. Harry was in shock but there was no time for that. Voldemort was hurt and hurt bad.
"Ron what happened?!" Harry gasped. He raised a hand to Voldemorts neck and felt for a pulse, he was alive but it faint. His hands was gripping his stomach. As Harry pulled it away he felt his heart stop. Blood soaked out.
"It came in waiting for you two and I just found him there!" Ron spoke looking pale.
"Ron give me your hand" Harry shot. He took Ron's hand and pressed it to the wound. "Keep pressure on that. I'll be right back". Ron looked horrified but Harry was up and racing back out.
He pushed his way up the bar and called Paul.
"I'll need a room for tonight, no, make that two nights" Harry spoke. Paul nodded taking out a ledger and scribbling in it. Harry handed him a few sickles and Paul surrendered a key. "Room four".
"Harry?" Hermione was at his side. "What on earth are you doing?". Harry turned to her and took her forearms. She frowned. "What going on?"
"Can't talk. Be right back" He took off at a run but came to a skidding halt. "Hermione! Will you run down to Gabels and Floristers and pick up some bandages?" Harry asked pressing money into her hand.
"Harry what?" She went to argue.
Harry shook his head. "I'll explain later I promise. When you get back we'll be in room four".
Harry didn't wait for a reply he turned a disappeared back inside the bathrooms. Ron was sitting in the same position with Voldemort.
"Where were you?!" He asked. Harry pulled Voldemorts hood up over his head.
"Give me a hand Ron" Harry looped an arm around Voldemorts waist and Ron followed suit. The two groaned as the hoisted the unconscious Voldemort to his feet.
"This way" Harry said and they struggled out the bathroom door and across the pub. The barman Paul eyes them suspiciously. Harry smiled at him and laugh. "Drank himself unconscious".
Paul chuckled and nodded. Harry gave a sigh as they struggled down the hall to the rooms. They leaned Voldemort against the wall as Harry opened the door and carried him in.
"On the bed" Harry gasped. As they laid Voldemort down on his back and Harry lifted his feet onto the mattress they heard a knock at the door and in came Hermione.
"Harry I got the..." she stopped short seeing Voldemort on the bed and dropping everything on the floor ran over to join them. Harry took hold of where the cloth was torn and ripped. A large slash covered his right side. It bleed heavily. Returning to grab the water and a cloth Harry began to wipe the wound. Only then did they realize the extent of his injury.
"Stand back" Hermione shot and whipped out her wand. She pressed it to the wound and yelled "Baladerium!". Instantly the blood stopped flowing and the skin healed over to reveal a very ugly scab.
Harry ad Ron were in shock and Harry took Voldemort by the arm and bandaged the wound around his midriff. Once finished Harry sat at the end of the bed and sighed. His heart thumped so loudly he was sure Hermione and Ron could hear it.
Ron reached across and check Voldemorts pulse. He nodded and Harry "He's ok".
Harry sighed. As Ron filled Hermione in on what happened Harry disappeared over to the sink to wash the blood off his hands.
"Ron thank you. If you hadn't found him" Harry spoke but Ron held up a hand.
"It's no problem mate but how did he even get here?"
Harry shook his head thinking. "He must have been hurt in the attack this morning and decided to hide here but collapsed just after he got here".
Harry sat down at the table. He was in utter shock. Firstly that they'd even found Voldemort. If they hadn't he probably would've bled to death. Harry looked to Hermione and felt a wash of affection flood him. "Hermione if you hadn't..."
Hermione smiled. "Don't mention it".
After Ron had left to get them some drinks Harry took the opportunity to speak to her.
He smiled and nodded taking her hand. "I love you, you know that?"
Hermione's eyes widened. Harry nodded
"If you hadn't been here he'd have died. Only you knew that spell". He said.
Hermione blushed and Harry reached into his Jeans pocket and extracted the ring. He smiled and handed it to her.
A look of confusion crossed her features. "I picked this up for you in the jewelers".
Shock cross her features and she opened the box. Immediately her eyes lit up on the ring.
"Oh Harry, this must have cost a fortune" she said but Harry dismissed her.
"You deserve it" He said and with that she smiled and stood up. Her hands slipped around his waist and she lent up on her tip toes to kiss him. "Thank you. I love it" she smiled.
Harry nodded. He took the ring, put it on her finger and gave her another kiss. "Good, I'm glad".
Harry thought he knew now. He did love her.
Just at that moment Ron returned to the room with a big pot of tea. He spotted the two of them break apart and groaned. "Oh please!" Hermione giggled and Harry smiled.
He picked up nearby clean cloth and while Hermione and Ron drank tea he returned to Voldemort's unconscious form. He felt his forehead. He was burning up. Dipping the cloth in the bowl of water beside the bed Harry placed the cloth on his forehead. After two hours of repeating this Hermione and Ron had fallen asleep.
Harry wondered to himself what would have happened if her and Ron hadn't been their to help him.
An "Er" alerted Harry to the fact that Voldemort was waking up.