A/N: Hello everybody sorry for the late update. I am in desperate need for a beta reader for all my stories anybody who are interested please send me a PM. And thank you for all who reviewed.
Ron stormed out of the room after his argument with Ginny and as soon as he came out of the room he cursed loudly for forgetting the Deluminator again. Not wanting to go into the room again he summoned the Deluminator. Looking at the Deluminator Ron hoped Harry and Hermione were in no danger for past few hours.
Ron clicked the Deluminator to see if he gets any ball of light which will lead to Harry and Hermione but the light came from it only lit the nearest lamp. Sighing loudly he pocketed his Deluminator and headed towards Griphook's room and in the way he collided with kingsley.
"Ron, I was looking for you." Kingsley greeted him with a broad smile on his face.
"What's the matter Kingsley? You look delighted." Ron asked trying to smile back. His mind is still occupied with the argument he had with Ginny.
If possible Kingsley smiled even broader, "I just wanted to tell you that there are no attacks on Muggles and Muggleborns from last few days and the Order was able to catch some of the Death eaters and are put under memory charms. With Voldemort out of the country the snatchers and death eaters are vulnerable and the Order took full advantage of that-" Kingsley explained happily.
"Wait, wait. You said You-know-who is out of the country, right?" Ron asked interjecting Kingsley.
"Yes, he is. According to the death eaters we caught. Voldemort is searching for something and that's the reason he captured Olivander. I think he is not that much concerned about the Order's resistance which is what we are using for our advantage." Kingsley said with his head held high, it is a moral victory to him to have upper hand on You-know-who and his death eaters.
Ron mind started to work immediately as he absorbed the information. He cursed under his breath for not thinking to talk to Olivander after rescuing him from the manor. He just assumed that Olivander was just kidnapped. So that only Death eaters can have unlimited wands source. It will definitely weaken the Order and its sympathizers. He always sees the whole board in the chess and he never neglects any piece even how insignificant it appears to be and he just assumed something and left Olivander alone without even asking anything. Some strategist he is, Ron thought mentally slapping himself.
If there is not much of a reaction from the other side then they must be planning very big. And by the looks of it Kingsley appearing to be too much confident than necessary. He is speaking You-know-who's name aloud. It may be a good thing to not to have fear of name but, under the circumstances it might prove costly if by any chance it backfires.
"kingsley, I think it's better to stop calling you-know-who's name aloud." Ron said carefully trying to not offend Kingsley. "If we are not getting much of the reaction from them then I think they will get back to us even more strongly and one mistake from our side will cause irreversible damage. I think by this time they must have noticed that whenever they try to harm any of the Muggles or Muggleborns they are getting ambushed. But still they are silent. I am having a bad feeling about this. I think it's better to warn all the Order members to stay low or even better get into the hiding for some time. And one more thing how are you getting the information from the Death eaters? How do you know it's true?" Ron asked trying to think their next move.
"They are Death eaters but not the main ones. I was a bit surprised when I found the Dark mark on their hand; they appeared to be too dumb to become the Death eaters. We just used legilimency on them to get the information and they don't know much but we are trying to gather as much as information about Vol- I mean you-know-who's quest and his absence." Kingsley answered he took Ron's words to his heart as he doesn't want to put anybody's life on the line.
Ron suspicion increased tenfold hearing this. "I want to meet Olivander. Where is he?" Ron asked deciding it's better to talk to Olivander before jumping into the conclusions.
"He is in a safe house. If you want I can bring him but Lupin is the secret keeper and he is out trying to convince the werewolf's not to support You-know-who." Kingsley said. "I will be contacting you in few days Ron and next time I visit this place I will bring Olivander with me." Kingsley said and he departed to take the next course of action as per the Ron's advice.
Ron stood there for few minutes thinking. His meeting with Olivander appears to be very important but under the circumstances it might take long. Sighing loudly Ron knocked Griphook's door.
Harry vomited several slugs from his mouth onto the ground, as Hermione turned around and stormed inside the tent. Harry doesn't know the counter spell for stopping the slugs he tried some complicated spells he studied but none of them worked.
As Harry tried each counter spell without success his anger increased. He still was unable to believe what just happened. Not that Ron is bad; he is good but not as much as him. Ron always comes as second best compared to him. He still couldn't believe Hermione rejected him for the second best. Even worse she cursed him. He tried to remember any other time Hermione standing up for Ron. He didn't remember anything. It was always Ron who stood up for her even if it is against Malfoy and his cronies. Harry vomited some more slugs and he felt like his head is spinning. He regained his control as he sat on the chair he conjured before.
He indirectly woke up the protective instincts of Hermione towards Ron. Maybe he is going on the wrong track maybe criticizing Ron in front of her is just giving the opposite effect. He has to change the tactics. Bringing up her mistakes of the past will make her look at Ron in positive light. Harry cursed loudly for letting his anger took over him. He shouldn't have mentioned any of those and now he is sure that Hermione will be thinking about all the misunderstandings and her role in it.
Till now he tried to get Ron out of Hermione's heart and mind but instead it gave opposite result. Now it's time to change the tactics he has to take Ron's role in Hermione's life he shouldn't have to replace him all he needed to do was make his own place in her heart as more than the best friend. His threat is not something from the outside it is in the form of his best friend. He knows all the strengths of Ron better than Ron himself. And he also knows each and every flaw of Ron. He can read his mind better than anybody. Harry belched last of the slugs as another cunning plan formed in his head.
Ron entered Griphook's room and saw him sitting in the chair with a serious look on his face. Ron was trying to persuade Griphook to help him to get into Gringots vaults in order to get whatever the horcrux hidden there. But he was still left with no success. Now seeing Griphook's face Ron expected another no, he started thinking maybe he should have kept Olivander in the house and let the Order take care of Griphook since he is hitting the wall time and time again with Griphook and also getting many complaints from Fleur about Goblin's attitude. He somehow managed to convince him to take some more time to think before blindly saying no. If he get another no as the answer he has to take the matter into his own hands and deal it rather than relying on Griphook.
Ron cleared his throat loudly to get Griphook's attention. Griphook raised his head and gave him a look which Ron deduced as a withering look.
"I decided to help you Mr. Weasley." Griphook said. Ron couldn't believe his ears. "But I need something in return for you help." Ron expected this but he didn't have much money or gold to give it to Griphook.
"Thank you so much Griphook, but as I said before I don't have much money or gold to pay-"
"I don't need your money or gold Mr. Weasley and I know even with all the gold combined in your family is not even worth of having a vault in the Gringots." Griphook said causing Ron's fists to tighten at the insult. "I want something which you can give me only if you are willing." Griphook passed looking at his hands. Ron sensed an opening immediately.
"Just tell me what you want. If it is in my grasp I will definitely give it to you." Ron said but he has a feeling that it might not be as easy as to say.
"What I want is not exactly with you but it is with your Great Aunt Muriel. I want her Tiara which your brother's wife wore at their wedding." Griphook said.
Ron protested immediately, "She will never give it; she gave it to Fleur just for the wedding. You cannot ask me somebody else's property."
"You don't have anything to convince me Mr. Weasley. But seeing your constant persistence I am offering you a chance. You get me the Tiara and I will help you to get into the Gringots." Griphook said with the finality in his voice.
Ron glared at Griphook but the Goblin didn't batter his eye. Ron understood Goblin's plan, by giving the Tiara to the Gringot's head Griphook will get his job back and his lost reputation in the Goblins. He knows Goblins can never get the Tiara back from Aunt Muriel. Ron sighed he know his aunt very well, she will never willingly give it to him. It will be a miracle if he convinces her to give the Tiara.
"I will try my level best to get it to you. But you remember that I saved your life, you could at least show some gratitude. Just remember one day your greediness will be the reason for your end." With that Ron left the room.
Hermione closed the curtains around her and casted the impenetrable charm on them. Harry's words are still ringing in her ears. She still can't believe the stunt pulled by Harry. He tried to kiss her; he must be definitely out of his mind. She doesn't want to doubt Harry but all the things happening past few days are leaving nothing but suspicions. She knows Harry is a capable wizard but still something is not right she can sense it but she is unable to point it out.
Harry said he got his wand from some snatchers and he even got some food. She never gave much thought to that but the taste of the food was familiar. She dismissed it by thinking that since they didn't had proper food for months anything moderate will taste excellent. He defeated the Snatchers all alone by himself when both of them combined couldn't fend off Greyback and his cronies.
She was so grateful that they escaped from the manor she didn't gave the second thought about what Harry said and now thinking back she didn't think it is that easy to escape the Manor that much easily. Harry didn't even had a single scratch on his body and he appeared very much normal when she woke up. He knows too much information like Potterwatch. Mr. Lovegood was not there with them when she went to the washroom that means Harry lied to her about that.
Coming to the conclusion all of the sudden Hermione felt exhausted. She never in her life doubted Harry but now seeing all this she prayed to god to prove her wrong.