Chapter 15: Training?
Hermione cleared her throat and tried to break the uncomfortable silence between Harry and her…
"umm Harry I think it's time to talk about … umm talk about you know … the horcruxes …how to go about finding the rest of them" said Hermione.
Harry looked at her as if a thousand thoughts running through his mind and finally said…
"Yeah…yeah ok…so how are we actually going to do anything when we are confided in the boundaries of this room … and you know I still don't feel comfortable with you two being part of all this … I mean, I don't want…"
Hermione interrupted Harry immediately saying…
"Stop right there Harry. Don't make me repeat why we want to be with you…Enough of all that…I don't care nor Ron does. And just for the record…if either of us dies – we won't blame you…though I hope it's not Ron…never" Hermione said this in a casual way but her eyes darkened at the last thought. I would rather die than let any of my two friends die. Hermione thought.
Harry got really agitated over this and said…
"Don't you ever say that Hermione. Don't you ever say that again. I don't think I can bear it if I lost Ron…" Harry said that with so much pain in his voice and then he drifted off to the thoughts of all the deaths he had seen in past three years…when his thought process was interrupted by Hermione…
"hmm so Harry Potter will be lost without Ron Weasley and what about Hermione Granger…you won't miss her? " – asked Hermione very casually as if joking but inside she was hurting…she knew she shouldn't for Harry had not finished…at least it seemed that he had not finished talking…or else he would've mentioned her name as well. But then he always chose Ron over her…anytime.
At that very moment…before Harry could reply…Ron had entered the room…he saw that there was something wrong as Harry's mouth would open and close … Ron could see how Harry was struggling to get some words out but he was unable to…so he raised an eyebrow looking at Hermione…as if asking what's going on.
"Oh Nothing Ron…we were just talking. I was suggesting that we start working on this mission that have gotten together for", Said Hermione.
Harry kept quiet while Ron still seemed unconvinced that Hermione was not telling him the whole thing…
"Aaaannndd…?" said Ron
"Oh yeah Harry as usual started that whole not wanting us to be with him thing…and that he doesn't want to lose either of us etc etc…so I told him to stop that nonsense and that if either of us … that is you or me dies … we won't blame him …" finished Hermione with a smile on her face.
"Yeah mate…we won't blame you. Our spirits will haunt you though while Hermione will make sure you follow your school work in time…" added Ron cheerfully.
"It's not funny Ron…it is not funny at all. This is serious…deaths are nothing to be joked about…You have not witnessed what I have so stop talking as if it's a game…" then he turned his face towards Hermione "and finding horcruxes is not a piece of cake Hermione, you were not there when I went with Dumbledore so it would be quite alright if you stop treating this matter as a school homework because it is not, you won't find it in books… so it would be good if you shut up about this" , said Harry – his face was all red with anger.
"I am sorry Harry…but mate we didn't mean to make fun of death…we just didn't want you to worry about us … is all. You told us about your experience and we know it's not easy that's why we want to be with you" said Ron and raising his chin at Hermione in a manner asking her to continue…
Ron saw the look on her face and got confused because she wasn't staring at either Ron or Harry. She was looking down at the closed envelops on her lap. Then she got up silently…sent them with Hedwig and Pig. She stood at the window still not facing the two. Harry looked guiltily has her.
"Umm I am sorry guys…I just over reacted. I know you meant well…it's just that Harry continued looking at Hermione's back when got no response he turned towards Ron and continued talking…Ron! I don't want to lose you because of the battle that I have to fight. I … I just don't think you get the idea…how horrible it is to see someone die…I am sorry…I agreed with the two of you over all this and here I am repeating myself again, I know pal I won't get rid of you easily…and yeah I need you…" Harry was about to add the same bit about Hermione but was interrupted…
"Don't you need me Harry? Before Harry could correct her…Hermione continued talking…Never mind, no big deal….Anyway No Harry…I don't see all this as school homework. I am quite aware of what you have to deal with that is why Ron and I willingly joined you. You are right…you have seen more than either of us but this is what we want to share…we want to share your pain…to relief you of the load that's been put on your shoulders. You are right … it is difficult and now something that we can achieve while staying in this room….Ron pulled a chair and sat on it with his head in his hands and elbows on his knees…but we can try" finished Hermione and moved towards Ron…"You can't push us away Harry" said Hermione with a hand on Ron's shoulder, who nodded and waited for Harry to say something.
He looked at the two of them…clearly embarrassed and noticed that Hermione still was not looking at him directly in eyes … she was avoiding. He made a mental note to ignore it for the time being and he will talk to her when Ron's not there.
Harry then started talking … "Right! Thanks guys …. Umm (then looking at Hermione who was still not looking at him but out the window) … What's the plan? I mean how do we start everything? "
Hermione finally decided to look at him…but not meeting his eyes…
"Your birthday is coming…mean you will be 17 and then you have to take apparition test…Lupin took some measures for you to appear for them in safe custody and you too Ron. So the two of you I think should start working on apparating yourselves. Then I have some really good books on Defense against the dark arts and shielding spells…I think we should practice them…umm well there is this matter … well Harry you know you have to learn … well you have to learn all three of unforgivable curses (she looked in his eyes this time) … you have to well I guess even we have to … Harry held her gaze…he didn't know how to respond to it because he remembered how he tried and failed the first time because they need to come from the heart … even though Harry felt like killing Bellatrix…but he couldn't, what will make things different now. Is he really ready to take life or lives? Disturbing thoughts took over Harry's mind. I know you guys hate me for doing things like making schedules…but I have already done that … I worked on when I was with my parents…how to start everything. The first thing is for you two to clear your apparition tests…" Hermione paused to seek some sort of response from her two friends.
"We don't hate you Hermione…I don't think Harry or I could've ever cleared our OWLs had it not been for your irritating schedules (at which Hermione giggled but didn't mind)…and I think you are right…it is a war Hermione and we have to train ourselves. Things are different now" … said Ron.
"Yes … no Dumbledore, can't tell anyone about the horcruxes…silent operations to be carried out … well yeah I agree sooo lets start…where are these schedules… and can we practice apparition without any supervisor? " asked Harry.
Hermione replied in a very professional tone…"I am your supervisor…besides Lupin had it all cleared with the ministry well he didn't go directly but that guy Philip he got it cleared with ministry for all students … he thinks during these times .. the parents should train their kids and therefore it pretty much allowed." Then she moved towards her bag…took out something very tiny and then will a spell made it big. It was a bag full of books and parchments…she finally took out a thick book that Charlie had seen her reading and some parchments. She handed them over to Harry and Ron. List of initial spells they had to learn, shielding charms, transfiguration and silent spells etc. They went through it finally decided to start off. They made the room noise proof so the Dursley's were not disturbed.
The three spent the entire afternoon practicing minor jinxes…they didn't try any on Hermione though because of her wounds but rest they were doing well. Ron had to struggle but so far so good. They learned to summon things using silent spells or conjure stuff from thin air like weapons etc. They were exhausted … it seemed they had done a lot but Hermione told them that it was not.
They went down for lunch…Dudley was missing as he had gone out with his friends…while Mr. Dursley was at office so it was only Aunt Petunia and the three of them.
"So what have you three been doing all day? " asked Petunia Dursley.
"Home work Aunt Petunia…we were working on term project as well…" replied Harry.
Petunia turned towards Hermione and started talking…
"So you said you met with an accident…even then your parents let you go? And let you live at one of your guy friends to spend rest of the vacations? That is quite unusual… I mean for a girl to spend holidays at a boy's house and in the same room…I hope your parents are aware of that"
Hermione had turned really red but she straightened her shoulders and replied…
"Yes Mrs. Dursley…I met with an accident. I have my medication with me that I am taking on regular basis. As far as my parents are concerned…they trust me. They know how much integrity I have and that I will never do something that they don't approve of. That's how I have been raised. Harry and Ron are like my only two friends from school and they know it very well. So they had no problem with it…they do trust Harry a lot too, they know he is brilliant, brave and decent. Same goes for Ron … I have spent quite a few holidays at Ron's so Harry wasn't any different".
Harry could not help but admire the way Hermione answered Aunt Petunia. Then he was rather surprised that he never really met her parents, nor he ever asked how Hermione got the permission …come to think of it Harry you never asked her about the life she has outside of Hogwarts…while Harry was thinking all this…Aunt Petunia interrupted the thought process by talking to Hermione again…
"Oh that is good. We trust Dudley too. He is such an obedient kid. So where do you live … since your parents are dentists I presume your family is quite well off…"
Hermione told her where she lived and then said yes to her inquiry about being well off … "yes we do have good life. I don't about being very well off but yes I would say we manage quite well. We are one happy family."
"Do you have pool at your house…if you do then you are well off ?" said Aunt Petunia.
"Yes, we do have a swimming pool at the back side of our house…" replied Hermione who was getting quite irritated by all this interrogation.
Finally it was over; the three went out for a stroll but didn't go too far. Harry showed them Arbella Figg's house. After some time Ron was lying down on the grass while Hermione kept walking back and forth to improve her walk without the stick…and Harry just sat there twirling grass in his fingers, when pig came with yet another letter for Hermione. She opened it … went through it … the boys didn't ask for they knew she would tell them anyway.
"Hey guys it's a letter from Charlie…he will come tomorrow…I have to go with him to Grimmauld place for some stuff…she saw the questions in their eyes as to why her only… Harry and Ron – you guys can't go because of Harry's restriction. Besides you have to practice apparition. Lets go in and start on our lessons now…" suggested Hermione
"No I think for that we should wait for the dark…so we can apparate outside and inside Harry's room…"
The three went in anyway and continued practicing. They didn't ask her any more questions. Hermione continued talking less to Harry and avoided talking to him with an eye to eye contact.
Unknown to Hermione…Harry became even more determined to talk to her as soon as he gets some time alone with her … then he got a bit irritated that why is Charlie doing Hermione favors…Prof. Lupin could've taken her there.
Author's Note: THANK YOU all for such wonderful reviews. You sure are encouraging lot. Love you. Please don't hate me and be patient for H/Hr to happen :) It's coming but not before Hermione gets certain things off her chest.