Chapter 2: A Doe and a Weasley
Shivering, biting coldness. Little food. Pitch black forest. Moonless night. Not the best of conditions to survive in. But the couple sitting in front of a small tent, cuddling together by the warm fire, seemed rather content considering their situation.
Both looked the worse for wear. Dark circles were under their eyes, indicating a lack of sleep. Their stomachs were growling in hunger. The flicker of firelight was visible in their eyes. A light snowfall was cascading down upon them and was sticking in their hair.
They were both sitting on a dark blue blanket, their knees pressed against their chests. Harry had is left arm around Hermione, pulling her in tightly against him, trying to share warmth. She had both had hands wrapped around Harry's free hand, occasionally rubbing it for some cheap friction heat. Her head was tucked into the crook of his shoulder. Another blue blanket was draped around them, shielding them from falling snow.
Harry looked down at the girl in his arms, and couldn't help but smile. 'What won't this girl do for me?' he thought, taking his right hand out of hers and rubbed his chest over his heart, where there was now an oval shaped scar. As he did so, she shifted her head, and noticed where he was rubbing. She put her hand over his, and intertwined their fingers.
"I'm so sorry Harry..." she said, sniffling as her nose was running from being cold. Harry leaned his head down, softly kissing her forehead, and then pressed his against hers. He stared deeply into her eyes, which were filled with sorrow, remorse, regret, and something else... but what he didn't know.
"Hermione, I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you. I owe you everything. You have nothing to be sorry for. It should be me apologizing to you, for putting you in danger like that... I...mmph" he said, but was abruptly cut off by his lips being crushed by hers, causing his glasses to be pushed askew on the bridge of his nose. After releasing his lips, she smiled widely.
"I will, willingly, walk with you into a mob of Dementors and Death Eaters, and not think twice about it. And I know that you don't want me in danger, but if you think I came all this way to leave you when it matters most, then you're just as delusional as Romilda Vane," she said, and both chuckled at the mention of the obsessed girl who always seemed to fancy Harry, though he paid no attention to her.
Harry was in awe of the spirit and loyalty emanating from the girl in his arms. What made him smile even broader, was the fact that she meant every word, and would fight him if he were to ever try and shut her out. He gave her a quick peck on her forehead, and then on her lips.
"And I know that if I tried to push you away, you'd just hex me and tell me what a complete prat I was being," he said as they both chuckled. She simply smiled and nodded, affirming his accusation. He sighed, and continued. "When I broke up with Ginny, I thought she'd fight me, beg me not to. But she didn't. At the time, I was glad. I don't know if I could have kept it up. But now, with you, it makes me wonder why she didn't."
"I don't know," Hermione shrugged. "Maybe she thought by letting you be the hero again, it was the way to your heart. But if you try that stunt with me, I'll make sure your new roommate will be Gilderoy Lockhart," she said, batting her eyelashes and a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. He couldn't help but laugh as he leaned over and kissed her.
"I don't know what I'd do without you Hermione," he smiled as she put her head back into the crook of his shoulder. He laid his head on top of hers, and they sat in that position, in front of the warm fire for quite awhile before he spoke again. "Hey, why don't you try and get some sleep? I'll keep watch. It's a pretty quiet night."
"Ok, I'll try. But you know I don't sleep well when you're not there. I've gotten used to my big teddy bear keeping the scary monsters away," she said teasingly as she unwrapped herself from the blanket. She kissed him on the cheek, and went inside the tent.
Harry turned his attention back to the fire, watching the flames flicker and dance as his thoughts drifted to a multitude of topics. He wondered how exactly he and Hermione were going to destroy the locket. They had decided that it was best not to wear it anymore, agreeing it did no good to do so. Losing Ron was hard; losing each other would be devastating. 'I don't want to lose her, ever...'
After a while, Harry thought about how Ron and Ginny would take the unexpected news of his relationship with Hermione. He hoped that they would understand, but he knew that a rough spot would ensue before things would be righted, if ever. He knew that Ron fancied Hermione, and had for a long time. And judging by her reaction last year to the snog fest that happened between Ron and Lavender, it appeared the feeling was mutual. Hermione didn't elaborate on her feelings for Ron since the night they decided on being a couple, and Harry didn't pry. He decided that ignorance was truly bliss in this matter. What mattered now was that she was his girlfriend, and she made him happy.
Something that both bothered and excited him at the same time were his growing feelings toward Hermione. His current relationship had now lasted just over a week longer than his previous one. And yet his feelings were immensely more intense now than they ever were for Ginny. He thought quite a bit about just why this was. What it boiled down to it seemed, was the bond that was already there with Hermione, was now intensified ten fold.
His new relationship was amazing. Harry and Hermione both worried about the same thing when they started: that their recently developed romantic feelings would compromise their wonderful friendship and comfortableness. Luckily for them, their worries were quite unfounded. Their newfound intimacy only served to greatly increase the strength of their bond. Now they were learning things about each other they never knew before.
Harry enjoyed running his hands through Hermione's sometimes-uncontrollable hair. He loved waking up and smelling her vanilla scented locks. She had a giggle that he never heard before, which made his heart flutter ever time he heard it. He noticed the different ways her face contorted when she bit her lower lip; whether it be reading a book, being nervous about something, or feeling slightly amused by him: each one had a different accompanying look, but always with that trademark lip biting.
He thought back to just a couple of weeks prior, to Godric's Hollow. She had saved his life. She tended to his wounds, and nursed him back to relative health. She stood along side him, holding his hand, when they found his parents graves. They laid a Christmas wreath and a bouquet of lilies on the tombstones. He introduced his parents to Hermione, talking to them as if they were there. He told them how wonderful she was, and how proud he was of her. As they were leaving, they stopped beneath the kissing gate to share a tender kiss.
Harry continued to gaze into the flames; only the sound of the crackling fire accompanied him until he saw something move. It was bright, whatever it was. 'It can't be...' he thought to himself. But there, standing in a small clearing, was a doe. Not just any doe, but a patronus. Its eyes were staring directly at Harry, piercing his own. 'Surely, no Death Eater has a doe for a patronus, it must be someone from the Order.'
He cast aside the warm blanket, and ran towards the doe. With Hermione's wand, he cast a 'Lumos' spell, needing the light on this moonless night. Much to his dismay, the doe ran. 'Why is my life so bloody hard? Why can't it just sit there and help me?' Harry thought as he ran after the glowing patronus, running through branches and bushes, which were constantly whipping him in the face. He threw up his arms, trying to deflect the wooden weapons that were in his way.
Finally, the doe stopped near a small pond, which was frozen over. Harry looked down at the sheet of ice, and saw below it, the Sword of Gryffindor. 'Bloody hell! The Sword! But… how?' He looked around for the source of the patronus, but could see hardly anything. The doe provided enough light to see the glistening jewels of the sword below.
Harry knew he couldn't simply summon the sword, seeing as it was under a thick sheet of ice. Thinking quickly, he pointed his borrowed wand at the ice right above the sword, and casted a fire spell, trying to melt the ice. 'Come on, come on... I'm freezing my bloody bollocks off here...' Finally, the small blue flame fell through the ice. Much to Harry's disappointment, the hole that was caused by the flame, while large enough to stick his arm down, was not nearly big enough for the sword. 'Posh. This is ridiculous.' Harry stared at the small hole, wondering just how he was going to get the sword.
"Isn't it easier to catch fish when there's water, not ice?" a voice Harry hadn't heard in over a month said from the surrounding darkness. His head snapped around, and saw a tall, lanky red-head staring at him, half confused and half amused. A huge smile grew on Harry's face as he ran over to the boy standing just off the ice.
"Ron! What are you doing here? How'd you find us?" Harry asked excitedly.
"Long story mate. Just what are you doing out here on an icy pond in the middle of nowhere?" Harry reached out and grabbed Ron's arm and dragged him over to the spot he had been standing in. He pointed to the hole he had made, and Ron's eyes bugged out. "Woah, is that...?"
"Yeah, the Sword of Gryffindor. Mind giving me a hand getting it?" Harry asked, a small smile cracking his face. Ron nodded enthusiastically. Both of them pointed their wands towards the ice, both casting the fire spell, melting the ice. Soon, the hole was large enough to dive into.
Harry threw off his clothes, down to his boxers, handed his glasses to Ron, and jumped in. The water was freezing cold, causing Harry to shiver violently. The sword wasn't very deep, but would require him to dive under water to get it. He took a couple of deep breaths, trying to steady his shaking body, and submerged himself. He flipped over, swimming downward. The coldness of the water was taking its toll on Harry, causing his fingers and toes to go numb. His hands grabbed for the hilt, and he pulled upwards. The sword came easily, and Harry made for the surface.
As soon as he broke through, he screamed, "Cold, really cold!" as he let out a huge gasp. Ron laid down on the ice, and reached out his right hand toward Harry. Harry grabbed onto his friends arm with a death grip, his other hand was still clutching the sword. Ron pulled with all his might to get Harry out of the water. Harry slid on the ice, and quickly stood up. Ron conjured a towel and a blanket to wrap Harry in.
Ron picked up Harry's clothes, handed back his glasses, and the two of them made their way back towards the tent, where the once roaring fire was now barely going. With a flick ofHermione's wand, Harry put a couple more logs on the fire, which returned it to its former glory. They had walked in silence back to the tent, unsure of what to say to each other, both feeling resentment and remorse.
Harry was excited at first to see Ron, but now he felt uncomfortable, knowing what laid ahead. He remembered the intensity of that night. He wanted to yell and scream at Ron, but there was something else that was bothering him more. Ron had hurt Hermione. Badly. Now, here he was, hoping to make amends with her. But she was Harry's girlfriend now. 'How is he going to take it? Will he leave again?'
Harry reached to opening of the tent, and turned to face Ron. "Stay out here for a little bit, I don't know if Hermione is too keen on seeing your face right now." Ron simply nodded, his face showing his inner depression. He knew what he had done; he was only hoping now to right his wrongs.
As Harry walked into his temporary home, he used Hermione's wand to light the small lanterns that were around the tent. He looked over to the bed that he and her had been sharing since Ron left. She was curled up under the blankets, facing away the entrance of the tent, but he could tell that she wasn't asleep. He watched her body rise and fall as she inhaled and exhaled. It wasn't the rhythmic pattern of her deep sleep, but the chaotic stuttering of her restless kips. He dried himself with the towel Ron had conjured, and dressed himself in clean clothes. He heard her stirring in bed, and she turned over to look at him.
Hermione's eyes were squinting due to the light. She looked over at Harry and smiled. "Why did you light the lanterns?" she asked in a sleepy, raspy voice.
"I have a couple presents for you," he said, picking up the Sword of Gryffindor that he had set on the floor while he was dressing himself. At first glance, she didn't recognize it, but after a few seconds, she threw off her blankets and sat up quickly, her eyes wide in shock. "Yes Hermione, it's the sword."
"Where did you get it?" she asked excitedly. Harry sat down on the bed next to her, and she threw her legs out from under the blankets and over the edge of the bed. She scooted right next to him, a big smile on her face.
"Well, before I say, I have something else to show you. An even bigger surprise," he said while nodding his head towards the front on the tent. He then shouted, "Come on in!" She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, curious as to why he was yelling. Just then, the tent opened, and Ron walked in.
Ron and Hermione's eyes met for the first time. A look of shame and sorrow filled the bright blue eyes of the youngest male Weasley. But a completely different look would describe the young witch sitting beside Harry. She coldly stared at the redheaded one. Her eyebrows narrowed, which in the dim light, made her look scarier than the Dark Lord himself. She got up, and stiffly walked towards Ron. Her steps were loud and thunderous, stomping all the way across the tent. She stopped right in front of him, an arms length away, her eyes boring into him, a scowl firmly etched on her face. He tried to give her a faint smile.
SMACK!
Hermione's right hand met Ron's cheek with all the force she could muster. She brought her hand up and examined it as he brought a hand to his face, lightly touching where she had connected.
"I'm considering slapping you again, but my bloody hand stings too much at the moment," Hermione growled through her teeth. Harry quickly got up and raced over to his two friends. He stood next to them, not wanting any more physicality to go on.
"Listen, before we have a knock-down, drag-out row, I'd like to make sure this is the real sword, and I'd like to destroy the Horcrux if you don't mind?" Harry said in a calm tone. His two friends looked at him, then back to each other. A silent truce was agreed to after a few seconds. Harry walked over the the locket, which if he didn't know any better, seemed to be trembling. He picked it up off the chair it was laying on, conjured a simple, flat table, and set the Horcrux on it.
"Alright, I might need your help. I'm going to open it."
"How Harry? We've yet to even figure that out!" Hermione reasoned.
"I think I know how. Simple really, now that I think about it." Both of his friends looked at him inquisitively. "It's Slytherin's locket, right?" Both nodded. "Ok, the Chamber of Secrets was created by him, and the only way to access it was to speak Parseltongue. I'm guessing this is similar. So get ready, I don't know what to expect." Harry turned his attention back to the locket. Closing his eyes, he imagined a snake coiled up on the table. And in Parseltongue, he said, "Open."
As his eyes reopened, nothing could prepare him for what he saw. The locket had opened, and inside were two glass windows. Hiding behind them, were the red, penetrating eyes of Tom Riddle. A low, hissing sound began to emanate from the locket.
"Yesss... Harry Potter..." Harry stared directly into Riddle's eyes, and brought the sword high over his head, ready to strike down and destroy the Horcrux. "Harry Potter... what is your weakness? Ah yes... love... you know in your mind that no one loves you... Dumbledore used you... the Weasley boy abandoned you... the Weasley girl let you leave... the Granger girl is only using you to get over her own heartbreak... no... no one loves the Boy-Who-Lived... so how can you possibly use love to defeat me when no one loves you?"
"No Harry! Don't listen to it!" Hermione pleaded.
But Harry didn't seem to hear her. Instead, he saw the face of Hermione inside the locket, mocking him, screaming at him. "How could I love you? You chose the redhead over me. Me, who waited for you. Me, who helped you. I love Ron, not you. Never you!" Tears were forming in Harry's eyes, watching the face of his girlfriend telling him she didn't love him and could never. His arms were trembling, barely holding up the sword that was above his head.
Hermione, sensing his weakness, jumped in to help. "No, Harry, listen to me!" She cupped his face with her hands, and turned his head to look into his eyes. What she saw frightened her. His wonderful, bright green eyes were now dimmer, his pupils now red like Riddle's. Finding a powerful inner strength, she let out her deepest feelings.
"Harry, I love you... I love you..."
Harry blinked.
He blinked again.
And the red in his eyes suddenly waned, and the spark of life that was once a fixture returned. He blinked again, seeming to regain his composure. He looked deep into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes, and saw the look that he had seen earlier by the fire, the look he didn't know how to describe. It was love. She loved him. She loved him. And he could see it so readily in her eyes.
Without hesitating a moment more, he plunged the sword into the dark object, piercing the windows inside it. The dark Hermione inside it let out a terrible scream, forcing everyone to cover their ears. Soon, the locket cracked and hissed, and quickly died. The three friends stared at the now defunct Horcrux, amazed that it was finally destroyed.
Harry tossed the sword aside; his shoulders slumping in relief, a small smile curling on his lips. Hermione lunged at Harry, throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him in tight. She had tears running down her cheeks, her face buried in his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her, holding her, trying to comfort her.
Ron stared bewildered at the affection being shown by the two people standing before him. His jaw was slacked, mouth ajar, eyes wide. He shook his head, snapping himself out of whatever daze he was in. He walked tentatively over to his two friends, and put his arms around the two of them. They in turn opened themselves, Harry putting his left arm around him, Hermione her right. And the three stood there, embracing for the first time as a trio in over a month.
They finally broke apart, standing in a small circle, looking at each other. Hermione spoke first. "Don't think this lets you off the hook Ron," she said calmly, still sniffling from the tears she had been shedding.
Ron nodded, acknowledging the accuracy of her statement. After what felt like an eternity, he opened his mouth, his eyes suddenly very interested in his shoes. "I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I know you can't immediately forgive me, put I hope you can in time. I want to help. I was a prat. Huge prat. I'm sorry."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, their eyes flickering in silent communication. Soon, Harry turned his attention back to the redhead. "Ron, I think we will be able to forgive you, but there's something you need to know," Harry said, now looking directly into Ron's eyes. He reached out with his right hand hesitantly as Hermione reached out with her left hand, and without looking, found each other's hand and intertwined their fingers. Ron watched this simple gesture, and his eyes went wide, and his mouth fell open in shock.
"I want to know something before we forgive you Ron," Harry said timidly. "Do you want me to be happy?" Ron nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the linked hands of his best friends. "Do you want Hermione to be happy?" Again, Ron nodded.
"Then please," Harry began softly, trying to explain his feelings to his best friend. "Just, try to understand. Ron, Hermione is the most important person in my life. Everyone I've loved has died. My parents, Sirius, Dumbledore. What about you? Have you lost anyone? You have your Mum, your Dad, Bill and Charlie, the twins and Ginny. I have Hermione. I love Hermione. She loves me apparently too," he paused, "I had you."
Harry and Ron were looking each other square in the eye. Harry saw the hurt and the pain within them. But there was just as much suffering in his own, which were now welling up with tears. "Please, don't leave us again, because of this," he said, holding up his hand that was attached to Hermione's. "We need you. I need you. I love you. You're my brother. Please don't let a girl we both fancy come between us," Harry said pleadingly.
Ron, still in shock at his two best friends holding hands, chanced a look at the girl he had quite a fondness for. "Hermione?" he said weakly.
Hermione looked at Ron, a steely resolve in her eyes. With a crackling voice however, she began. "I'm sorry Ron. I tried. We tried. You broke my heart, you cut me deeper than I could have imagined. Harry loves me, and I love him. I still want to be your friend, best friends if we can, but I can't and don't want to change what's happened between me and Harry."
Ron looked back and forth between the two of them. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Again, he found the floor of the tent very interesting. "Hermione, you deserve to be happy. So do you Harry. I know I hurt you when I left Hermione. I only hoped that I could find you again, and that we could be together," he said, finally looking up.
After another deep breath, he continued. "But, I have to deal with the consequences of my actions. I lost my chance with you. I can accept that. And I can accept you've chosen Harry over me. I certainly haven't given you any reason not to." Ron shrugged his shoulders, slowly accepting his best friends being a couple. Finally, a small smile crept on his face. "Just do me a favor?" he asked, pointing a finger at both of them. "Don't go snogging in front of me for awhile?" he said teasingly.
Harry and Hermione grinned from ear to ear. "I think we can manage that Ron." Harry replied.
Ron was smiling, but suddenly looked at Harry with a puzzled look. "What about Ginny? She thinks your hers you know." Harry simply shrugged his shoulders, indicating he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. "Ok, just make sure I'm not around when you tell her. I don't want to be on the wrong end of that hex of hers."
The trio embraced one more time. Harry and Hermione traded their forgiveness for Ron's acceptance. They walked outside and sat down next to the fire. Harry and Hermione cuddled together under the blue blanket once more, as Ron sat across from them. For the next couple hours, they talked about what each other had missed. All was well again.
A/N: First, hope this one lives up to the previous chapter. I want to explain a couple things I've done here.
1) Harry's not wearing the locket as mentioned in the story. I think H/Hr would discuss it and decide it was for the better. So, when Harry chases the doe, he's not under its influence. He'd think more rationally, rather than breaking the ice and just diving in. Then when Ron shows up, Harry would dive in and get the sword, therefore Ron wouldn't have to break the Horcrux.
2) Hermione's reaction to Ron is harsher here, why? I believe that after spending a month with Harry, she'd realize she's more compatible with Harry. When Ron gives her that little smile, she snaps, letting out all that hurt that he caused her. In the book, I think she held back because she still had feelings for him. But here, she's got Harry. No need to hold back with the guy who broke her heart.
3) No big argument between the trio. I mean, how could I do that after what happens between Harry and the Horcrux? Then, Harry basically guilt trips Ron into accepting the relationship. That, and I do like Ron. It seemed fitting with everything that happened that they wouldn't argue about it, they would instead talk it out.
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy it. This isn't the last chapter. I've got ten planned, so hang on to your hats!