Author's Notes: Holy crap! Nothing for nearly a month and now 2 chapters in one day!!!! Hurray.
Ugh, the angst is palpable in this one, kids. I get teary-eyed every time I read it.
I am a little concerned that some of the characters are out of character. Let me know what you think! Honestly, this was the hardest freakin' thing to write! All the other chapters seem so much easier now.
Props, as always to my hard-working beta, Kiri, without who's help none of this would be possible.
Enjoy…
Ron pulled Hermione to him so forcefully that the sound of her cheek colliding with his sweaty chest was a slippery thwack.
"Oops," Hermione giggled, throwing exhausted arms around his back.
"Sorry," Ron replied, breathing in deeply.
They had finally, finally gotten the opportunity to be together again like they had been in early January. Ron tightened his arms around his girlfriend. This was all he had wanted last time, just the chance to cuddle and enjoy the afterglow. But he had to go and develop invasive mutant abilities and ruin everything. Thankfully, things seemed to be a bit more under control now.
"Do you ever…"
"What?" Ron asked her when Hermione seemed unwilling to answer, "I know you're thinking something, I don't have to be telepathic to figure that. Spit it out."
"And Harry said I was the bully."
"Well, I learned the best."
"Do you ever regret taking our relationship to this level?"
There was silence for a few moments while Ron tried to figure out his response.
"I take it you have regrets?" Ron asked, glad she couldn't see the frown on his face.
"Not regrets, per se…but it's a lot. And sometimes I wonder if maybe we should have waited."
"Like we're too young?"
"A bit. But then I think that it's for the best that we didn't. We don't know what may happen tomorrow, and since I won't be going with you…"
"Don't talk like that. I haven't made my decision yet," Ron interrupted. Was five minutes of quiet cuddling too much to ask?
"Oh Ron…," Hermione sighed, "you have to go."
"The decision to leave you isn't that easy."
"It's not about me and you; it's bigger than that," she sighed and moved to sit up, which was not the best idea, since Ron would have to concentrate on not staring at her breasts. Brilliantly, Hermione pulled up a sheet to cover herself, "you have to go. They need you, Harry needs you, the war needs you. You can't just stay here because you think that's what I want you to do."
"Well, what about you?"
"What about me?" Hermione sadly wrapped her arms around her knees and laid her head on her arms, "I get to stay behind and pretend to be the happy college co-ed."
"I hate this."
"I know you do, and I love you for it. But you can't make this decision based on your feelings for me."
"But Hermione, I can't even write you while we're away. I can't promise you I'd come back. I can't ask you to wait for me…"
"I wouldn't want you to do any of those things. When you go, you need to focus on being there, forget everything else. The only things you have to worry about are doing your job and surviving."
"I'm not supposed to worry about Harry?" Ron said with a small smile.
"No, Harry should worry about Harry. And besides, it's not as though you'd listen if I told you not to worry about him. I just want you to watch out for yourself. I love Harry, but you're more important to me."
Sitting up, he hugged her again.
"Why does this have to be so hard?" he whispered.
"Because we're supposed to be grownups," Hermione answered, before really giving it some thought, "but honestly, when have things ever been easy?"
"True."
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Harry was napping. Granted his head was resting on Hermione's hip as she reclined on the couch reading. He had become a bit more obsessed over the last few days. Ever since he had learned that Hermione was not invited to join the task force, he had been regretting his decision to sign up. He had never thought that she wouldn't be involved. It defied logic.
Hermione had come through it gracefully, encouraging Ron to join up, not grousing over the hand that she had been dealt. In the meantime, she tried to make things go back to normal.
Harry couldn't stand it. He had come to depend on her so much. Honestly, his affection for her had grown exponentially over the past year, especially since her promise that his importance in her life wouldn't change had come true. He needed her. Hermione was his left hand. The more he had seriously considered the hows of mounting a real campaign, the more he realized how right Ron and Hermione were. He was absolutely dependent on them.
Fucking Malcolm. He had screwed everything up. How was Harry supposed to work effectively with Draco Malfoy? Especially without Hermione there to keep the choad in check?
He heard the door slam but refused to open his eyes. Maybe if he pretended, everyone would believe he was asleep and leave him alone.
"No such luck, Harry," Ron said as he flopped into the chair, "I know you're awake."
Harry cracked open one eye.
"You really read me?" that was disturbing, "I didn't even notice."
"You have too many things on your mind. Careful, there."
"Oh, I'd know if it were someone less than reputable. They leave a bad taste in your mouth."
"Really?" Hermione asked, pushing Harry's hair back from his face, not that the black mop allowed that to make any difference.
"Ever suck on a pence? Kinda like that."
"Pence?" Ron asked.
"Knut, then."
"I'm more concerned with you having coins in your mouth," Hermione added dryly.
"Well, I didn't choke, so all's well."
"How was the prefect meeting, Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, fine. Malfoy did fine. I don't even think anyone noticed that he's wound so tight he'll likely snap before the week is out."
"He's not happy, that's for sure."
"What's his problem?" Harry asked, wondering why he even cared.
"He doesn't like the fact that from where he sits, people are dictating his life to him," Hermione sighed, "it's understandably frustrating. And he was just starting to get out from under Lucius' shadow."
"Has he said anything else about joining up?" Ron asked.
"No. I just hope that he doesn't stay out of it to spite everyone."
"Who cares?" Harry groused, "we're better off without him."
"Malcolm wanted him for a reason, Harry. He knows something that could be useful."
"Let's talk about something else," begged Ron.
The three of them hadn't hashed the whole situation out yet. Each was avoiding it when the other two were around. Ron and Hermione had spoken about it together. Harry and Ron had spoken about it together. But anytime Harry was around Hermione, he was too upset at the reality of the situation to bring it up. Why ruin what little time they had left?
All the women in his life where leaving, either by fate or choice. The only one he had left was Luna, who didn't really count. He didn't love her, except as a friend; she didn't love him.
Would he be sad to leave her in July? Would he see her again after the school term ended in 2 months? Did he even care?
He should care, at least.
But he didn't.
What a mess.
At least he wouldn't be worried about her safety, as he was still worried about Ginny's.
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How could I be late?!?!
Hermione ran into her bedroom and threw her books on the desk. If she was really quick, she could make it to the pitch before the game actually started.
It was the final Griffyndor/Slytherin game of the regular season and a lot was riding on it. She had asked Ron and Harry not to come up to the Head Suite and instead had become something of a more regular fixture in the Griffyndor common room. She wasn't going to cheer for anything but her house team, but she still had to live with Draco.
Draco had been left with very little talent from which to form a quiddich team. He had recruited basically every upper classmen from his House, including Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabbini. They actually weren't doing that badly, but were a far cry from the athletic powerhouse Slytherin had been last year.
He had been a mess all month in preparation for the game. Hermione spent as much time away from him as possible, since her very presence seemed to set him off. She was perfectly willing to do that as she only wanted to preserve the peace.
All three boys, and Ginny, had been in the locker rooms since early morning, leaving Hermione with the whole morning to herself. Wanting to get a jump start on some final paper research, she had gone to the library. Unfortunately, she had lost track of time and was now in danger of missing the beginning of the game.
She was pulling her trainers on as she hopped toward the door when a knock nearly scared her into a faint. Shoes on, she walked to the door. Opening it revealed Luna Lovegoode.
"Luna," Hermione said, out of breath, "What can I do for you?"
"Oh, hello, Hermione," right now, Luna's far-off look was very irritating, "I noticed that you weren't at the game and decided to come up and see if I could find you. Ronald will be very disappointed if you aren't there."
"I was just on my way."
"Smashing," Luna turned and began walking away without looking to see if Hermione was following her. Daft bird.
Finally getting both shoes on, Hermione made her way down the spiral staircase behind Luna.
She was fortunate; Hermione was seated comfortably before the teams left the locker room. Settling herself beside Neville, she prepared for an exciting game. Upper classman status, and the fact that Hermione was Ron's girlfriend and Neville was his roommate, granted them first row seats.
Two hours in found Hermione gripping the bar in front of her with white knuckles. Honestly, she would have one reason to be happy when school was over; she wouldn't have to worry about Harry, Ron, or Ginny injuring themselves playing Quidditch anymore. Oh God, what if one of them decided to pursue it professionally?
Things were going well for Gryffindor, but the Slytherin team was putting up a fight. Currently, Pansy was in possession of the quaffle and was flying as hard as she could toward Ron while the Gryffindor beaters tried to knock her back. When she got within range, she hurled the ball toward the center ring.
Ron didn't even flinch as the ball flew over his shoulder and, thankfully, between two of the goal posts. He merely sat on his broom, unmoving.
"What's the matter with him?" Neville whispered to Hermione.
"I don't know," Hermione replied without thinking, concern taking over her mental capacity.
"Does it feel colder to anyone else?" she heard Parvati ask from her other side.
Out of season lightning cracked above their heads as all eyes in the stadium looked up, trying to figure out where the bizarre weather pattern was coming from. Hermione felt a tug on her right hand.
"We have to get out of here," a voice hissed.
Turning her head, Hermione saw Luna standing beside her, pulling on her hand.
"Luna, what's going on?" Neville asked.
"Don't you get it?" she answered intensely, "They're coming for you." Now she stared at Hermione.
"Luna, who's coming?"
"No time for talk," she turned and yanked on Hermione's arm to force her to follow, "we have to get back into the school."
High above the crowd, Harry was trying to get a response from his Keeper.
"Oy, Ron…" he snapped his fingers in front of Ron's face, not getting any reaction, "come on mate. You're starting to scare me."
"Harry, what's wrong with him?" he had never heard Ginny use such a terrified tone of voice.
"Hey, Potter, Hooch is calling you down," Draco floated ten feet away, trying to make sure that he didn't look too concerned.
"He's not answering," Demelza poked at Ron's arm. The Gryffindor team massed around their teammate.
"We've got to get him down from here," Harry said, taking hold of Ron's upper arm.
Upon contact, Ron went rigid and grabbed Harry's hand.
"They're here," he said, then blinked and looked at Harry and Ginny.
"Who's here?" Ginny asked, unable to get the sound of tears out of her voice.
Whatever answer she was going to receive was obliterated by the sound of one of the doors at Hogwarts exploding. Looking toward the school, all that could be visually made out was a sea of black.
"What the fuck is that?" screamed Blaise.
"Deatheaters," Draco answered quietly. He had moved closer to Ginny and Harry so that only they would be able to hear him.
"Shite, Harry, what are we going to do?" Ginny looked up at him. Everyone else mimicked her.
"I don't know!" he cried, heart beating so loudly he was amazed he could hear anything else.
"Well, you had better figure it out," Draco hissed.
"We have to get the students somewhere safe," Ginny began.
"The forest," Draco suggested, oddly, "if we keep them in groups but dispersed near the edge, we'll be alright."
"Good," Harry blinked, getting himself back together, "Ron, you and Ginny help the students. Find any DA members you come across and have them lead individual groups.
"What are you going to do?" Ginny asked, reaching out to touch Harry's hand.
"I'm going to go to the professors and find out what they are doing. If He's here, that's where I need to be." Ginny sadly nodded her head. "Go, they're getting closer."
Ginny began her descent, but Ron remained still.
"Ron, go," Harry commanded. Cold eyes were turned to look at him.
"No."
"Ron, this isn't the time to argue. I'm not going off by myself, I'll be with the professors. Go."
"No. This isn't about you. Hermione's in the castle."
"That's crazy," Harry shouted, "she was just there…"
Turning his head, he realized that Hermione's spot in the stands was empty.
"I'm going after her," Ron said, eyes turned toward the castle.
"I'll go with you," Harry replied.
"Someone has to go with Ginny," Ron said dully, "she'll need help."
"I'll go," the words were out of his mouth before Draco even knew he was speaking. The other two merely stared at him, "hell, it was my idea to begin with."
"Fine, let's go." The two Gryffindors and the Slytherin parted ways.
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Slightly before the door exploded, Luna pushed Hermione against the exterior wall of the castle. They were out of harm's way and out of eyeshot when the Deatheaters began streaming past. Hermione's hand immediately reached for her wand, but Luna's arm thrown across her torso stopped her action.
After what felt like hours, the last of the Deatheaters walked out the door and Luna silently motioned them to move. Hermione remain quiet until they were inside.
"Luna, what are we doing?!? Those were Deatheaters! We should be outside, helping."
"No, they are here specifically for you, Hermione. We have to keep you away from them."
"I'm not going to let other people fight my battles for me, Luna," Hermione stopped walking and glared at the younger girl, "if they're here for me, then I should be out there."
"Don't be stupid, Hermione," Luna returned the glare, "you have no idea how important you are in what's to come. I can't just sit by and let something happen to you."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not important. Just trust me."
Hermione continued to stand there.
"Look, I know that you are not my best friend right now, but everything happens for a reason. If you don't trust me, too bad. Let's go." She reached out and once more took Hermione's arm, only a bit rougher this time.
"Let me go or I'll hex you," Hermione growled, wand aimed.
Luna laughed. "No you won't."
Huffing, Hermione followed as Luna led her through the halls.
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It took them very little time to reach their destination: the Astronomy Tower. Looking out, Hermione watched as Deatheaters battled professors and chased her schoolmates into the Forbidden Forest. She felt her heart clench, knowing that she could be doing something. Something other than sitting there, useless, like a princess in a tower from one of her Muggle fairy tales.
"You should try to contact Ronald," Luna said from her seated position on the floor.
"How exactly am I supposed to do that?" Hermione replied sarcastically.
"Reach out to him with your thoughts."
"Pardon?"
"He's telepathic," Luna reasoned, "he'll hear you."
"Harry told you all that?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Harry doesn't tell me anything," Luna replied, "he doesn't have to."
"Then how do you know all this?"
"I'm a seer, I've seen you call out to Ron."
Hermione just stood there for a moment, looking at her. Well, that did make sense, if anything in this bizarre situation did.
"I don't know how" Hermione replied quietly.
"Calm yourself, and call out to him with your thoughts. He'll hear you."
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Ron. Ron. I'm in the castle with Luna. We are in the Astronomy Tower.
She didn't get a response, but she didn't know if she was supposed to.
"Nothing's happening," she groused.
"Stop complaining. Just keep trying."
She kept at it for several minutes. Things seemed to move so slowly now that she was removed from the action. Hermione couldn't look out the windows anymore; it was just too frustrating and upsetting.
Her existence became a pattern of inhale, think, exhale, repeat as she paced the length of the room, eyes trained on the floor. Her concentration was broken when Luna suddenly leapt to her feet.
"It was all for nothing," she heard Luna whisper, "they've got us."
The door was thrown open with a thunderous crash and two masked Deatheaters appeared in the open doorway.
RON! RON! LUNA AND I ARE IN THE ASTRONOMY TOWER! THERE ARE DEATHEATERS!!! GET HELP!!!!!
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Ron stopped running and sagged against the wall, clutching his skull.
"Ron?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Ugh…stop screaming!" he muttered. Ron shook his head and stood. "I didn't get everything, say again…"
He appeared to be staring at nothing, mouth agape.
"Err…Ron?" Harry tried again. Ron shook his head once more and turned frightened eyes on Harry.
"Hermione and Luna…they're in the Astronomy Tower. There are Deatheaters there."
Ron and Harry spun on their heels and ran back toward the door. Mounting their brooms, they flew towards the Tower.
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"Thank you so much for your help, Miss Lovegoode. It would have taken so much longer to find the mudblood without it," a heavily accented voiced slithered beneath the mask.
Hermione wouldn't look at Luna, whatever the implications. She gripped her wand in her right hand, hiding it behind her leg.
"She thinks she'll duel us," cackled the other, separating from his companion and inching closer to Luna.
"I've done it before, Wormtail," Hermione regarded the Deatheater who had just spoken, "I can do it again."
"So the cat has claws," the first wheezed.
"You should have killed me the first time, Dolohov," Hermione said, thrusting her wand out to send a petrificus in his direction. It was blocked, while Hermione was hit with a hex from Pettigrew. Luna joined the fray, but it became obvious to the two girls very quickly that they were in over their heads. While they were successfully deflecting hexes thrown directly at them, the confined, curved space of the room allowed spells to be ricocheted off the walls to hit them from behind. Eventually, Hermione and Luna were huddled by a window, the open space at least leaving their backs ironically safe.
"Turn into a bird," Luna hissed, "fly away."
"I'm not going to just leave you here!"
Luna, patience worn out, rushed toward Hermione and pushed her out the window.
For the first few seconds of freefall, Hermione could do nothing but stare blankly at the oncoming ground in shock. Finally, instinct took over and she took on her falcon form. She glided on air currents and turned in the direction of the battle raging by the edges of the forest.
Maintaining her animal form, she dove at the heads of Deatheaters, trying to pull off as many masks and generally be as debilitating as possible. After several minutes of this, she was hit with a stunning hex and crashed into a tree.
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When Hermione awoke again, it was night. She was in the hospital wing, and if the sounds of the breathing were any indication, most, if not all, of the beds were full. She very gently turned her aching head to the left. Her neighbor was Luna.
"Luna?"
She blinked and slowly turned her face to meet Hermione's. Hermione gasped when she saw the cuts and bruises on the other girl's face.
"Oh God…what did they do to you?"
"Several cutting curses, got thrown into the walls several times, I don't understand why they didn't just kill me," she croaked, took a deep breath, then continued, "maybe they were working up to it. Unfortunately most of the damage I did myself."
"What happened?"
"I figured I had the right idea, sending you out the window. So I jumped."
"Oh, Luna…"
"It was either that or let them have the satisfaction of killing me, or something worse. But most of the damage I sustained was from hitting three or four eaves on the way down. I fell about forty feet before Harry caught me."
"He caught you?"
"Yes, he and Ron were on brooms flying up to the Tower to rescue us. How heroic. Ron was in quite a state when he got to the top and couldn't find you. He chased Dolohov and Pettigrew through about four floors before they finally hit him with something to slow him down."
"Oh God, is he alright?!?!"
"I think so. I heard the ruckus as Harry was carrying me here. Neville found him, apparently. If he's still here, I'm sure you'll find out about it in the morning."
Hermione rolled her head back to look at the ceiling. Ron.
"I told you he would hear you," Luna whispered.
"Anyone else? Did you hear about anyone else?" Hermione asked.
"Madame Pomfrey started working on me after that, so most is a blur. But like I said, you'll find out tomorrow, I'm sure," she yawned.
"I'm sorry, I'm keeping you from your rest," Hermione whispered.
Luna cracked a bizarre smile, "oh, don't worry on it. I'll be in for a good long sleep in no time at all."
A few seconds went by in silence.
"Hermione?"
"Yes."
"Would you keep talking to me? I don't really like the quiet."
"Sure. What do you want to talk about?"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't really know."
"Sure you do."
"What do you think, then?"
"I think you want to ask me about Harry."
"Isn't that too personal?"
"It's not as though you're someone off the street, you know?"
"Do you love him?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because he needed it, and I wanted to do my part for the war effort. Not every relationship is meant to be like you and Ronald."
"Ron and I."
"Yeah, you know…A love for the ages that will stand the test of time…"
"Right…"
"You forget, I'm a seer, I've seen it."
"Seen it?"
"Yes. And let your daughter sleep with a nightlight. She'll really be scared of the dark, but she'll be trying hard to be brave, so she won't want you to know."
Hermione struggled over the lump in her throat. Her daughter. Ron's daughter. She couldn't think about that now.
"If you can see the future, why didn't you tell us about the attack?"
"Some things are set in stone, others aren't. Some things I don't get until just before they happen, like today. I should have known that something would happen though," she faded off for a second, "just a few more weeks and I would have been certain; I could have told him. Maybe it's for the best this way."
"Could have told him what?"
"It's not important now. Or at least, it won't be by morning. I want you to tell Harry something, though."
"Yes."
"He's not alone. He never will be; and it goes against his nature to use his most powerful gift."
"His most powerful gift?"
"You, and Ron, his friends."
"I don't know how helpful I'll be. They're going off; I'm staying here."
"I told you you were important," Luna replied quietly, "what difference does it make where you are?"
"How am I supposed to help if I'm not there and can't contact them?"
"You'll figure it out."
Another few moments went by as the conversation lulled.
"What's being a bird like?" Luna whispered.
"It's amazing, and terrifying. Oddly, the best part about it is flying. I can't understand why I am so terrified of flying on a broom, but as a bird, it makes me very content. Maybe it's instinct, I don't know. I love the speed, the different sensations, the heightened senses. It's scary though, too. McGonagall said that if we do it too much, or stay in our animal form for too long, we won't want to turn back into a human. Or we'll forget how. Imagine, forgetting to be a human, when that is what…" Hermione turned her head again to look at Luna. She noticed that the girl had closed her eyes.
She didn't know how she knew, but she did. Somehow.
Luna wasn't sleeping.