Harry of Hog and the Saga of Hogswarth

A/N: Sorry for the wait everybody! My life has been a real whirlwind these last few weeks, I've found work completely exhausting, and I'm so afraid of writing myself into a corner that I'm half afraid to write anything at all! But wow, I think I broke my own record with the last chapter… it was really really long! I hope not too long. When I read fics I usually like a standard-ish length on chapters, whether they are long or short… I think last chapter was a few - or, four - thousand words longer than most… but I don't know, I kept having things to write about, what with the introduction of all those new characters! It's amazing, I spent most of last summer writing a 4000 word essay, and now I am writing tens of thousands of words for this story just for fun! :P Well this is a relatively short chapter really, but… as a reward for waiting so long: yes. The moment has come. They could wait no longer… and here you have it. This is Ron and Hermione, and how they deal back in the camp, with failing Harry and preparing for the battle to come. Enjoy! Chapter title is pretty self-explanatory, but I am very happy with it as I was struggling to find an appropriate phrase to describe this chapter, and this just seems to cover every aspect of what happens. :)

Extra disclaimer: In the beginning of this story I gave all credit to Jo Rowling for the characters of this story, but now there are some other people I need to credit as well. Some of the lines found in this chapter are taken from/inspired by the Disney movie Princess of Thieves, they do not belong to me. I would be more specific, but as I claim no rights to anything at all in this story, I felt it was most important to just acknowledge the connection, and not give too much away.

Avanell: Thank you! Yeah, how could I not throw a little girl power in there? ;) Riddle I guess recognized Harry, maybe not for who he was but as a potential enemy, and wanted to find an excuse for getting rid of him.

Jessica: Thank you, and I totally agree about love at first sight. If you were corny I wouldn't notice, lol!

maddie: Um… sorry, I guess I didn't meet your demand… I swear I will strive to update much more often, and I hope you are still reading! :)

Cynthia: Oh he'll be fine… eventually ;) Thanks!

MagikCat: Don't worry about it! I wasn't angry, lol! But I'm happy that you are still reading my story :D Hope you are happy with where you've moved to! I wish I could move too, sigh.

rweasley: Thank you thank you thank you! Your reviews make me warm inside ^_^ I'm glad you didn't think it was too long… Hmm, though, Luna… I hadn't even thought about putting her in here! Oops. lol, Don't expect anything… but I'll try and fit her in somewhere! I've always been a bit of a Neville/Luna shipper, so… we'll see. :)

Thanks for sticking with me guys, it means so much to me that someone is actually reading and enjoying this story!

Chapter 11: Interlude

When they returned, dirty and exhausted from running through the forest without stop, at first the other rebels didn't notice anything odd. Three had gone and three returned, after all, and it was only when Neville had lifted his face and begun to look around him that the uproar started. Lupin was brought out, and Hermione, though hardly able to stand upright from exhaustion, dutifully recounted everything that had happened after Ron, Harry and herself had arrived at the castle, including the unfortunate events leading to Harry's capture.

After she had finished, Lupin merely looked at Ron and Hermione for a long moment. Hermione was shaking slightly and avoiding Lupin's eye, and when Ron tried to take her hand she snatched it away. But when Lupin spoke it was not unkindly.

"Take a bath," he told them. "I will talk a bit with Neville here, and find him a place to sleep. You two should get some rest as well," he said pointedly to Ron, but indicating the both of them. Ron understood; they both knew Hermione well enough to know that she would not want to sleep, she would want to go back for Harry right away. And sure enough Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Lupin continued, "We will need everyone at the height of their strength tomorrow, that includes the two of you. We are going to get Harry."

At this Hermione seemed to relax slightly, and with a nod to Lupin she turned towards the washing area. Ron made to follow, but Lupin held him back.

"It was not your fault, Ron, neither of you should blame yourselves. Riddle must have recognised something about Harry, we should have been more conscious of that fact. If we are lucky he has not yet put together the pieces… but we must act quickly. Do get some sleep Ron, there really is nothing more you can do tonight."

Ron nodded, but did not speak. When Lupin turned to Neville Ron headed for the washing area, where he knew Hermione must be.

Ron knew Harry well enough to know that he would not be so stupid as to tell them of his true origin. They would get him back, he was sure of it. Harry was meant to fight in this war. Harry was not whom he was most worried about just now.

He found Hermione in the washing room as he had expected, using a bowl of water to clean her face of grime and sweat. But he wasn't sure that it was only the water that dampened her face.

She turned when she noticed him watching her. "Do you need this?" she asked, throwing a cloth his way without meeting his eye.

"Hermione…" Ron started.

"Big fight tomorrow then," Hermione interrupted, trying and failing to sound offhand about it. "Time to right our mistake."

Ron couldn't stop himself. "Excuse me, our mistake? We did not cause Harry's capture, Hermione!" he said heatedly. "Also, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it was you, not I, who fired that arrow!" he couldn't help but add.

Hermione looked at him indignantly. "Well I am sorry if I am a better shot than you Ron, I sure couldn't have seen you making it!" She was stunned. She wasn't sure what she had expected from Ron… comfort maybe, understanding… but this?

"That's not the point, Hermione!" Ron said, raising his voice in anger.

Hermione's face was livid. "No, the point is that I messed up, right? Well you know what Ron? If you don't want my help then don't seek my company," she said icily, attempting to hide the hurt in her voice. Before Ron could say anything else she had brushed past him out of the tent. He stood for a while, not knowing what to do. Why were they even arguing? He knew the words had not come out the way he intended them to, but she had not even given him the chance to explain! Should he let her leave? He very much felt like it. But another part of him ached to be screaming at her again, to be doing something, anything – so he turned.

"You could have died!" Ron roared, storming after her, into the now deserted camp – in his anger Ron vaguely registered that everyone else had gone to bed, it was quite late after all.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same thing Ronald," Hermione said angrily, turning round to face him.

"That's…" That was true. "That's different," Ron stammered.

"Different! Different because I'm a girl, right? I am not supposed to throw myself into danger, I am not allowed to be brave!"

"There's a difference between being brave and being stupid!" Ron retorted. "You have to know your limits."

Hermione's mouth dropped open in indignation. "So now you're calling me stupid!" she cried. "And besides, it worked, didn't it? Riddle was onto him, by directing some attention on us I probably saved Harry's life, are you honestly reproving me for that?"

"Harry was taken capture!" Ron exclaimed, exasperated.

"Well at least I did something!" Hermione cried, tears now streaming down her face. "And now Harry is captured and it's all my fault, are you happy now?"

Ron looked at her for a moment, not quite sure what to say now, after that abrupt change in her behaviour. Then he said more softly, "I just… you could have gotten hurt. You nearly died, Hermione. I was… Weren't you afraid?"

"I don't want to be afraid of anything," Hermione said defiantly, though her tone had softened slightly, too.

"Call me a coward then," Ron said quietly, dropping his gaze.

"Why were you afraid?" Hermione demanded. "Ron we are fighting a war here, and people are going to die! If you can't accept that-"

"Well maybe I don't want to lose you!" Ron said, firing up at once. "Maybe people don't matter to you, but I care about my friends! I worry for Harry, and I spend every waking moment fearing for your life, because damn it Hermione, I care about you!"

While they had been arguing, Ron and Hermione had instinctively been moving closer together, and their faces were now inches apart. Hermione felt a strange sensation somewhere near her racing heart, and found herself unable to look away from Ron's blazing eyes.

"Are you a master of your destiny or a slave to your fear?" Hermione whispered, holding his gaze.

Ron hesitated for a moment, his breath slightly ragged, his eyes a much darker shade of blue than usual. Then before Hermione knew what was happening, he had closed the distance between them, crushing his lips to hers and pushing her forcefully up against the nearest tree. Hermione moaned against his lips in surprise and excitement and opened her mouth to meet him, and soon they were kissing fiercely, pulling each ever other closer, Ron crushing her body with his as her knees buckled, thankfully he was holding on to her arms tightly so she managed to stay upright.

Finally they pulled apart, panting heavily, Hermione leaning against the tree for support.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, Hermione," Ron whispered, still breathless, before Hermione pulled him down for another kiss, not being able to stand the separation from him.

"What is it then?" Hermione panted as they came up for air again.

"It is… knowing something else… is more important," Ron murmured in between kisses.

Somehow, without them knowing how, they had reached Hermione's hut. They broke apart, Ron searching Hermione's eyes for permission. The slight inclination of her head was all he needed, and he quickly found her mouth once more, lifting her up and navigating them over to her bed, where they came crashing down.

Ron was not sure what was happening. Hagrid had not been too keen on explaining this particular aspect of life. All Ron knew was that something inside him had come to life when he had first seen Hermione, and it had continued to grow and grow in his stomach until he felt he would burst from longing, without quite knowing what he longed for. He knew now that this must be it, being with Hermione this way, their mouths and limbs entangled, grasping at each other, breathing together.

They lay together in silence, their fingers entwined. Their breathing had calmed now, and although it was a strange sensation for them both, it was like a weight had lifted somehow. It was peaceful now, despite the war they were facing.

Hermione turned her head to Ron, who was staring at the ceiling. He turned his head when he noticed her looking, and smiled at her.

"Ron," she said quietly, "What you said before…" She searched her mind, which was still a bit clouded, "That something else is more important. What did you mean?"

There was a slight pause. "Duty," Ron said softly. "Honour… This," he finished, tightening his grip on Hermione's hand, and she leaned in to kiss him softly.

Hermione sighed as they pulled apart. "Tomorrow… tomorrow this won't help us win the war."

"Tomorrow will come in due time, and we will face it together," Ron whispered. "Tonight is ours."

And he kissed her again.

A/N: So… what did y'all think? :)