No, you aren't seeing things, and I may hear a few 'No :insert your own expletive here: way!' But yes, I have finally updated this story, and this, therefore, should put to rest any fears that I had forgotten about it. Needless to say I have not, and I actually Have A Plan for the next couple of chapters. That said I can't promise quick updates, overtime really takes away your free time, but I will be writing it when I can.

Thank you for the prompting in your reviews to the other stuff I've been posting on here. You'll be glad to know they made me feel sufficiently guilty and probably had something to do with me getting this out.

Hopefully this will have been worth the wait. If you could let me know what you think, It'd be much appreciated.

Thanks! :D

Step ;) xxx

Chapter 11 – Putting Plans into Action

18:19

It was the hardest thing he had ever done. He had fought against gut instinct many a time. He had walked head on into danger when inside he was screaming to run in the other direction. He had told his best friend that he would do all he could to help him do what he had to do; however much some part of him screamed that this was not a good idea.

But this was totally different.

Instincts against an action you can either box away, or ignore totally with some practice, but primal reflexes are so much harder to ignore.

When you're in pain, your body will do all it can to either get you away from the pain or reduce it, but he was fighting both of those reflexes and it was getting harder by the second.

He knew that he should let go of her hands and stop looking into her eyes, but he couldn't.

He would lose her forever if he did.

--

08:03

Despite the amount of horrific things they had been through and the truly horrendous things he had seen, he was still feeling very nervous to be standing in front of Minerva McGonagall's office.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door. He heard footsteps and the door opened in front of him.

'Weasley! What are you doing here? Is everything all right?'

'Er…yeah, it's fine, well…no, it's not. Hermione hasn't woken up yet, that's why I'm here actually.'

'Oh?'

'Yeah, I was wondering if I could use the library, there's a couple of things I want to look up, if that's okay of course. I don't want to get in anyone's way.'

He looked up and saw his old Professor's expression soften and then turn into something that looked like disbelieving.

'Of course you can, Weasley. I shall inform Madam Pince you are to be allowed to use the library whenever you need to.'

'Thank you. I appreciate it a lot. Can I be cheeky and go and use it now? The quicker I find what I want, the quicker I can get on with…stuff.'

He felt his ears go red. He wanted to tell someone, anyone, what he wanted to do, but he couldn't. He just hoped his old school teacher wouldn't question him.

He felt her eyes on him, so raised his to hers. He could tell from her expression that she wanted to ask him about what he had planned but she didn't.

'Of course you can. Any time you need to use it, do so.'

He nodded his head.

'Thanks.'

He made his way through the castle, through the unlocked doors of the library and in between the desks and towering bookshelves.

There was the odd student dotted around, none of them doing schoolwork. It looked to Ron as if they were just sitting there, finding sanctuary in what was familiar and what they knew. If he didn't have to leave, he would seriously consider doing the same. Hermione would, that he knew without a doubt.

Thankfully, he didn't see Madam Pince. He didn't have time to explain that he had permission to be in the library. He didn't for one second think that a war coming to a head would stop her looking after her precious books.

He kept walking and found the stack of shelves he wanted.

He looked up at the sign and sighed.

Legillimancy.

--

18:29

There was a lull in the pain and his breathing started to return to normal. The pain was still there, but for the minute it was bearable.

He knew he was okay to look somewhere else than the dark brown eyes, but he didn't want to. He compromised by blinking to stop the grainy feeling in his eyes but kept his gaze on her.

'Her…' he coughed and managed to clear his throat. 'Hermione.'

Her eyes were on him, but she wasn't looking at him. Through him maybe, but definitely not at him.

'Hermione, say something to me. It's me, Ron. I'm trying to help you. Can you say anything?'

Silence.

She blinked and Ron searched for recognition in those eyes he loved so much, but he knew there was nothing.

Except pain. So much pain. He couldn't take this much longer, but he couldn't let her go, wouldn't let her go.

Ever.

--

16:07

He wasn't sure, but he might've finally understood Hermione's obsession with books and learning. Partly, anyway. He'd poured over the volume he had taken out the Hogwarts' library drinking in any information that he thought would help him and felt a jolt of excitement course through him when he found something of use.

But he had that excitement because he needed to know all he could that might help Hermione. There was a point behind his research, whereas Hermione would get excited about learning something, just because. He would never understand that, but he loved that quality about her.

He closed the book one final time and took a deep breath. He'd got everything he needed: Five bottles of potion which he had managed to get hold of in a not entirely legal way, his and Hermione's hospital notes which he had gone through and marked for later on, blankets, spare clothes, comfort food and water, and he had enlarged his rucksack with an Undetectable Extension Charm to house it all.

He had one more thing to do and he hoped he could pull it off. His plan would be easier with someone there to, not help, exactly, but just be there and observe and carry out instructions if asked to.

He jogged down the many stairs in the house and shuddered as he passed the stuffed heads on the walls. He reached the bottom of the stairs and made his way through the narrow hallway and into the kitchen. He put his rucksack on the table, took a deep breath and hoped his next action would work as he intended.

It would make his life so much easier if it did.

--

14:47

Matron Williamson was returning to the 'in between' ward after an hour on the floor above. The first thing she did on arrival was to check the list of potions they had in the store cupboard, to see if any needed replenishing. If there was, she would send word to the labs downstairs and ask that the correct potions be brought up to the ward.

She took down the sheet that was attached to the cupboard door and glanced up and down the list of potions.

She noticed there were only two types of potion that needed replenishing, and she wasn't surprised at the two types they were; calming draughts and dreamless sleep potion were often used on this and the adjoining ward so there was no reason for concern there.

She was about to fill in the potion request form when heavy footsteps came up behind her. Alarmed, she looked around and was shocked to see a Mediwizard hurrying towards her.

'Mediwizard Simpson! What on earth's the matter.'

'Please, Matron Williamson, th…there's an emergency downstairs…' the Mediwizard struggled to catch his breath. 'We need…your stocks of Blood Replenishing Potion, until the lab can brew up enough to…help.'

The Matron looked at the blood spattered Mediwizard and nodded her head sharply.

'Of course.'

She set off towards the stock cupboard and Mediwizard Simpson followed her, still trying to calm his breathing.

'I've just checked the stocks and we have five bottles remaining after the last shift. I can give you four but I must keep one in case of an emergency up on this ward.'

She looked over her shoulder and the Mediwizard nodded his understanding and agreement.

'Anything you can spare will help, Matron Williamson.'

The Matron arrived at the cupboard and waved her wand six times over the lock. A series of clunks and clicks signified the door was unlocked and the door slowly swung open.

The Matron pulled both doors open and instantly frowned. She checked and double checked the list of potions that was on the door of the cupboard but there was no mistake. There was supposed to be five bottled of Blood Replenishing Potion in stock for the ward.

When in actuality, there was none.

…

12:09

He knew he should feel guilty about breaking into and stealing from his brother's shop, but he really couldn't at the minute. He was feeling so many other emotions, there wasn't any room for guilt as well.

He disabled the caterwauling charm, struggled with but managed to eventually bring down the wards around the building and snuck inside.

He moved to where he knew the decoy detonators were kept and pulled the sheet down that was covering the shelved stock. He grabbed a couple of the boxes and pushed them down into his rucksack. He replaced the sheet and left the shop as quickly and as quietly as he had arrived. In another second, he was nowhere to be seen.

…

16:33

The knock on the door rattled his brain and he closed his eyes. He opened them when he heard the door open and a sharp intake of breath.

'Ron? What's wrong? Is it Hermione? Has anything changed?'

Ron held up his hand to stifle the onslaught of words from Charles.

'Hermione's fine, I mean…the same. Well, she was last night when I left. I haven't been to the hospital yet, this morning.'

Charles furrowed his brow.

'I've just been doing a bit of research up at school,' Ron answered in reply to Charles' quizzical look.

'Found anything of use?' Charles asked in a tone that suggested he didn't expect any good news.

Ron shrugged.

'I dunno at the minute, I'll need to do some more before I can tell. Hermione would be proud of me!'

Charles sniggered.

'She certainly would.' He blinked and looked shocked. 'I'm sorry, Ron, come in! Veronica would kill me if she knew I was keeping you on the doorstep!'

Ron smiled as he walked into and through the Granger's house.

'Take a set, Ron.'

Ron shook his head.

'I'm okay, thanks. Um…do you mind if I go and get a few things for Hermione from her room? Harry mentioned something about a C…D…music player…thing that Hermione has and taking it to the hospital so she's not in silence when we're not there.'

He felt his ears go hot and was trying to cover up the way his hand was shaking.

'Oh! Of course, go ahead. I think all her CDs are stacked next to her music system. I don't know whether there's anything she'll like anymore, they're not very recent. Buying music hasn't been on her mind the last few times she's come home, something about a dark wizard intent on taking over the world and oppressing everyone who doesn't agree with his ways and views!'

Ron couldn't help but give half a smile.

'Yeah, something like that might distract you from keeping up with current music. '

'Yes, indeed. But you're more than welcome to take Hermione something to keep her company.'

'Thanks. The Healer said something about external stimuli. I have no idea if this is anything like what he meant, but…well…' he shrugged.

'Worth a try, though, eh?' Charles said with a forced smile.

Ron nodded.

'Left at the top of the stairs, not that there's anywhere else you can go, then it's the second door on your right.'

Ron nodded in understanding.

'Thanks.'

He made his way upstairs and found a room that was obviously Hermione's. He longed to take a few minutes and drink it all in. Take in every detail that Hermione will have made her own and not stopped moving around until it was in the perfect spot, but he couldn't.

He shrugged his backpack off his shoulder and put it on Hermione's bed. He opened the smaller front pocket and took out an envelope. He looked down at his own untidy handwriting and stared at the word on the front.

He looked around the room, trying to find the best place to prop it up. Noticing a small jewellery box on the set of drawers he couldn't help but smile. Engraved on the front of the – what he guessed was Mahogany – box, were Hermione's initials. Celtic patterns criss-crossed their way across the top and the brass catch glinted in the morning sunlight.

He opened the box and glanced over the few pieces of jewellery in there. He recognised the blue jewellery she had worn to the Yule Ball in their fourth year, and then his eyes found the one thing he had only seen once:

A teardrop shape blue stone on a silver chain.

He had asked her what it was, who had bought it her and why she was taking it off. She had replied 'Lapis Lazuli', 'my mum' and 'because it's done it's job'. He didn't understand her last answer but they had been interrupted before he had chance to ask her to explain.

He picked up the chain and thought for a second before hastily pocketing it. He closed the box and set it on top of the envelope he had brought with him. He stepped back and nodded. The envelope was visible if you were looking carefully, but wasn't glaringly obvious, which was exactly how he wanted it.

Picking up his bag, he set off towards the door but as he reached it remembered with a jolt the reason he had told Charles why he was up there. He hurriedly looked around the room and spotted what he presumed was Hermione's personal CD player and her stack of CDs. He grabbed the silver device, randomly picked out a few CDs and the very neatly folded wires on the top. One set ended with a bud shaped thing at both ends, and the other set with a larger, round object with holes in the front. He put the lot in his backpack, made sure everything was in place as he found it, and left the room.

…

18:43

Percy was running as fast as he could through the house, calling his brother's name as loud as his hoarse throat would let him.

'RON!'

He tore up the stairs, ignoring the ache in his legs and threw himself into his youngest brother's room.

'NO!' he bellowed. 'Merlin, Ron! Where the hell are you? Where've you taken her? It's not safe!'

He paced backwards and forwards for a few minutes, desperately trying to think like his brother, trying to work out what he had worked out and put in to action to take Hermione from the hospital and try to wake her up.

There was no other explanation. He knew Ron had obviously either decided that he couldn't stand Hermione being unconscious anymore, especially when he was convinced he was the only one who could help, or, he had found out something and decided to act on it without consulting anyone at all.

Either way, Percy knew Ron had to be found as soon as possible.

A large crack startled him into drawing his wand. He pointed it at the obviously distressed House Elf now standing in front of him.

'Mister…Weasley…sir?' the elf panted, physically shaking as he stood there.

'Yes?'

'I is Kreacher…s-sir.'

'Kreacher?' Percy asked. 'The black's…I mean, Harry's elf? You helped them during…'

Percy couldn't finish his sentence

Kreacher bowed his head. He was still trembling.

'I served Master Potter as I should. Please, sir, I have been t-told to bring you to G…Grimmauld Place.'

'I…what? Grimmauld Place? Why do you want me to go there?'

'I have b-been inst…structed to bring you to the house of my Master should…should certain events take place.'

For a second Percy considered going with the Elf. Then he remembered Ron and mentally scolded himself for letting his mind slip off his task.

'I'm sorry, Kreacher. I have something urgent I must continue with.'

'Sir, doesn't understand. Master Ron insisted I bring you and only you to Grimmauld Place.'

Percy whipped his head round to look at Kreacher faster than was wise. He ignored the ache in his neck muscles and glared at the trembling Elf.

'Did you just say—'

'Master Ronald, sir, yes!' Kreacher replied with instant confidence in his voice.

Percy was lost for words, he had just been figuratively floored by a House Elf.

'I…what do…'

He rubbed his temples with his palms and closed his eyes. It was then that something came back to him.

'What did you mean 'should certain events take place'?'

Kreacher wrung his hands and started to shake again.

'Please, sir, everything will be easier to understand when we is back at the house.'

The House Elf seemed to struggle with his conscience for a few seconds before walking forwards, taking a tight hold on Percy's leg and disapparating out of the Burrow with a snap of his fingers.

--

18:40

'Remember us together, remember our past.'

The words swam in front of his eyes and he could hear Hermione saying them over and over in his head.

Images and memories crashed into his mind and he gasped as two months of his life came back to him in an instant.

The pain wasn't just in his head anymore, it was all over his body, as if the pain was in his blood, being forced into every one of his cells. He could bear it at the minute, but he didn't know for how long he could.

'Ron?'

The voice was closer than the others had been. As if it was in front of him.

'Ron!'

He opened his eyes and his heart leapt as the brown eyes he was looking into weren't looking through him.

'Her…Hermione?'

'Ron, where are we? What's going on?'

'Wait…are you-? Are we-?'

The pain coursed through him and he couldn't help but scream. He had never felt pain like it before.

He knew he was dying; there could be no other outcome after pain like this.

'Ron! No! Ron what's going on? Can you hear me? Ron, please open your eyes! For me, Ron. Open them for me!'

He knew he had to listen to her voice, to do what she told him. But as he let the darkness consume him the pain lessened.

It was better this way.

…

18:42

He burst through the door to his daughter's bedroom, nearly damaging the hinges on the barrier.

Frantically he searched for anything different, any clue as to where his daughter was now.

He was so angry, so scared and so frustrated. He felt like he was going to snap at any second.

He turned in anger once more to look around the room. As he stopped in front of the chest of drawers his eyes rested on Hermione's jewellery box and his heart ached.

Then he noticed it was sitting on something.

He pushed the box aside and picked up the envelope underneath it.

He read the word on the front and frowned.

Hermione

He didn't recognise the writing instantly, but memories of letters from an old, tired owl written in the same hand came to him.

It was Ron's writing.

He turned the envelope and saw it was wax sealed. In the bottom right hand corner were two words in smaller writing than Hermione's name.

Forgive me.

Anger surged through him as he tore the envelope open.

'If you've put her in danger I'll never, ever forgive you, Weasley!'

…