EDITED: This chapter is now free of the embarrassing number of typos I found once I read it again after a substantial gap of time. Also, please read the FOOTNOTE for some imported edit.
Edit (8th Dec'16): This is just a note to communicate to all of you that I am currently working on the last chapter and I hope to push it through by Monday. Apologies for the terrible delay, I haven't been keeping well for a while.
Chapter 57: A Vengeful Heart
Ron woke up before Hermione's alarm went off at six. Technically, he had slept for barely a couple of hours and could have done with a lot more sleep, however, the wound on his midriff had started to burn once more. He exhaled tiredly and glanced down to his chest which was acting as a pillow for a mad head of curls. The sight automatically brought a smile to his lips although the burning sensation only got aggravated further as she pressed her face close to it. Realising that he had taken on worse and that the pain was definitely worth the sight next to him, he decided to watch her a little longer before waking her up.
The sky was beginning to clear with pastel hues appearing at the far horizon and spreading all over. The tiny room now looked like a place out of a dream, showered as it was with the part light of the dawn while still holding on to the shadows of the night they had spent together.
The early morning breeze was colder, and Hermione, although fully clothed, had curled herself into a ball and was squeezed into him, drawing warmth from his body. He couldn't even grasp the amount of peace and happiness that engulfed him at the sight, let alone believe that this was indeed happening. True, that they had spent a few nights snuggled together earlier, but the pain and the effect of those sedative potions he was under back in those days had, quite possibly, taken away his ability to completely appreciate and comprehend what he had in his arms. Now, however, things were different.
He placed his arm tenderly on her cheek, tucking away a few curled locks behind her ears and just allowed his thumb to linger on her soft skin. Frazzled and exhausted though after that passionate love-making, Hermione looked like a dream. His heart ached as he watched her, the picture of vulnerability holding onto him as if her life depended on it, and he pulled her in further ignoring the pain that shot up sharper at the action. He could spend an eternity waking up like this next to her; he could take on the world to have this girl in his life.
She moved a little, and he took the opportunity to push her hair back from her shoulder to expose the skin at her neck and shoulder. A small red spot acted as the reminder of what she had given him barely hours ago. He let out a sigh, a feeling of guilt searing his insides- how wrong he had thought of her in those initial days! How much he had agonised himself and hurt her imagining all sorts of untrue things about her relationship with Krum and even Draco! He wasn't fond of the thought, but he had learned to accept that, perhaps, Krum had been her first. His heart twisted uncomfortably inside him. What a hypocrite he was! She stirred and slowly opened her eyes and his inner ramblings were pushed away on the back burner if only for a while.
"Good morning, beautiful," he said with a smile and planted a kiss on her forehead.
She blushed, something Ron found extremely endearing. Hermione was still a mystery to him. She was this young woman, a seductress, who stripped off in front of him and boldly pulled him to bed barely hours ago, and yet, she was also this vulnerable young girl who blushed at a kiss.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his eyes getting drawn to those pert pink lips that were parted slightly and practically begging to be captured in his.
"Yes... did you?" she asked in a shy whisper. He assumed she was remembering exactly what he was. There hadn't been much of a conversation after their love-making, and both had drifted off exhausted pretty much soon after finding a cosy position in each others' arms. And, he also assumed she was slowly beginning to realise how bold she had been. A small grin appeared on his face and she blushed harder.
"I love you," he muttered because looking at those beautiful brown orbs his brain quite possibly stopped processing anything except how breathtakingly radiant she looked.
She glowed more at his words and his heart leapt realising that this girl, the one he had been craving for all these years, was finally his.
"I love you too, Ron," she replied, and although blushing still, lifted her head up and initiated the kiss. It was like a long thirst been quenched and Ron blended into her hungrily, not wasting a moment longer to press deeper and taste her. Merlin, how had he even lived without her for so many years? How stupid he had been to deny her the first time she had confessed her feelings to him back in the boy's dorm in the Gryffindor dormitory, and deny her time and again after that...
They pulled away after a long while and not just because of their want for air; her eyes were closed and her breathing was heavy. Somewhere during the kiss, his hands had wrapped around her waist and snuggled inside her top, gripping her closer with the roughness of his palm contrasting and blending at the same time with the soft skin of her back. Her warm body pressing into him was already causing his eager manhood to press between her thighs.
Was he ready to take her again? Bloody hell, he was! But something stirred in his heart and he brought his palm that wasn't holding onto her and gently ran it across her cheeks.
"How much did I hurt you last night?" he asked, his voice husky with the want her closeness had caused and yet concerned enough. She opened her eyes, met his, and quickly looked away.
"N-Not much," she replied a little short of breath; he could actually see the crimson blush on her skin and the quivering of her lips.
"Really?" he responded unbelievingly, and she nodded without meeting his eyes.
"Then why did you bleed so much?" Her shocked eyes met his and she licked her lips before taking in a deep breath.
"How did you know?" she asked surprised before realising her slip and gasping softly. "It was my first time, Ron, I-" she added in a whispered.
Ron found her lips before she could finish and felt her surprise before she willingly melted into his embrace. He closed his eyes, bringing his fingers to entwine in her curls at the base of her neck as his tongue coaxed its way into her mouth.
"Are you still hurting?" he asked after a hundred heartbeats that only made the ache to take her even worse.
She swallowed and that pause gave him the answer, sobering him up. Hermione, nodded sideways to respond in negative.
"Liar," he breathed softly and pressed his lips to her forehead.
"You mean the world to me, you know that right, 'Mione?" he spoke against her lips a moment before a sharp pain shot through his wound causing him to grip her harder, but observant as always, she pushed him away, watching his face carefully with concern marring her features.
"It's paining again, isn't it?" she asked haltingly.
"A little," he muttered managing a forced smile. Hermione wasn't fooled. She pushed his arms off her, absolutely ignoring his silent protest and clambered out of the covers and out of the bed. He wanted to pull her back, but she moved away from his range far too quickly and picked up her wand.
"It's time for dressing it," she replied in an odd voice, and without waiting for a response, rushed out.
Hermione returned soon, though. She placed the phial and other items on the dresser and reached the bed in quick strides. As Ron picked himself up to rest against the headrest, he glanced at her glowing face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, but she only concentrated on removing his shirt, and practically crimson at the face, began her work on the wound quickly.
"Hermione?" he prodded on, but she avoided him keeping herself busy with the task at hand as if purposely avoiding his eyes.
"Hey!" he called grabbing her wrist when she was done and made to move away, and finally, she looked at him.
"Ron, Harry is awake... He-" she whispered mortified, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud at her expression and relief, causing her to glare at him exasperatedly.
"Seriously, Ron!" she scowled attempting to break free but he held her on.
"What did the prat say?" he asked finally, grinning from ear to ear and wiping off tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes.
"Nothing, he just smirked and asked how you were doing. Oh, Sweet Salazar!" she moaned burying her face in her hands, but if he could guess correctly, finding it hard to hide a smile herself.
"Wanker," he muttered under his breath. "And, what did you tell him?" he asked, pulling her closer to his bare chest. Thankfully, she did not protest.
"I told him you needed dressing," she murmured and gasped again as he roared with laughter while she hid her face in his chest, this time, murmuring words he could not hear over his own mirth.
It took him a while to settle down. He couldn't even remember when was the last time he had laughed so hard or felt so less strained, physically and otherwise. It was a great feeling. He pulled her away gently to be able to watch her face. Gosh, she looked fucking amazing.
"I don't get you at all," he whispered close to her face, watching her lips unashamedly. Her breath seemed to hitch, and even without looking at her eyes, he could see the want and love radiate out of her.
"Why?" she asked in the softest of whispers.
"When I least expect it, you pull me into your bedroom and undress in front of me," he said, enjoying the effect his words had on her, and watched as the lust he felt, reflected in her eyes. They both wanted the same thing. But it was too soon, and she was still hurting, wasn't she? He buried his face at her nape and felt her body press against his chest causing his arousal to peak.
"And then again, you can barely look up at my face now," he breathed before slowly pressing his lips on her delicate skin. There was a sharp intake of breath, and as he pulled her in closer, her hands wrapped around his neck and fingers threaded into his hair. It was now his turn to moan. He inhaled deeply, allowing her scent to percolate into his being; their hearts beating next to each other in perfect symphony. He pulled her closer till there was no space between them, and yet, it didn't seem to be enough.
"I know what you did, 'Mione. I know why you did it..." he exhaled. Could he love her any more than he already did? He didn't know, but she sure deserved it so he promised himself he would try.
Hermione adjusted herself, and as their cloth covered cores touched, he let out a growl. She smiled and pulled him in for a kiss.
Ron loved the way she took control, it was as if she was marking him as hers and he gave himself up wholeheartedly.
"Don't ever doubt yourself, Ron. And don't you dare doubt my love for you or everything that is there between us," she told him after they pulled apart. "We belong to each other," she stated, holding him firmly, her smaller hands flat on his chest, nails scraping his skin ever so slightly.
"I belong to you and you, Ron, you are mine," she stressed, "No one deserves me more than you do. I doubt anyone can love me as much as you do, and I know for a fact that no one can love you as much as I love you. Do you get that, Ronald Weasley?" she asked fiercely and he nodded, smiling.
"Yeah, I get that, Granger," he smirked and pressed his lips firmly to hers.
...
Harry looked at his friends who were sitting next to each other on one of the numerous large boulders that marked the edge of the cottage's garden. The breeze from the sea blew Hermione's curls, and he grinned to himself noticing the besotted and goofy smile on his best mate's face. Ron was a total goner. The two idiots had finally come to their senses, and he was as happy for them as he could be. It was a dark world around them and occasions like these were like the tiny glimmers of light that gave hope for a better future. He thought of Ginny and turned away from the pair to focus on the rough sea and gulped down the lump of pain stuck in his throat. He didn't know if there was a resolution for him, though. He didn't know if he would live long enough to have the life he was fighting for, but he hoped his friends would have it. They had been through a lot and life surely wouldn't be so cruel to snatch it out of their fingers now.
He wondered if they ever wished to take whatever bits and pieces of peace they had remaining and leave the fight, and then, laughed bitterly at the thought. There was no walking back now, no running away and his best friends knew that. They had had a choice, but they stuck with him. As for him, he had to go ahead. They all had to go forward and fight till they made everything alright again. It wasn't really a matter of choice, and despite everything, there was nothing else he'd rather do. It was strange but he almost felt in his bones that they were getting closer, and if truth be told, it made him a little sick to the stomach. But then he saw his friends, broken and scared but smiling and most importantly still standing with him, and his resolve strengthened.
"Mate?" Ron called next to him and he turned around forcing a grin.
"Done with your snogging?" he asked on purpose, smirking when Hermione turned scarlet and Ron nervously scratched his neck. He shook his head, grinning harder. Did they know how happy he was for both of them? He guessed not.
"Anyway," muttered Ron, and as casually as he could, turned at the blushing girl.
"Why are we here in the wind, 'Mione?" he asked. Harry let out a soft breath and turned towards her too. He knew it was serious by the way she had asked them both to meet her outside the cottage. And he knew it was about time they went back to business. Ron wasn't all better, but the bloke was trying his level best to be. He practised working his muscles by exercising every morning; Fleur wasn't too happy about it and neither was Hermione. However, Bill seemed to understand Ron's urgency even if he didn't agree with it. Harry, on his part, had tried to talk to Ron, asked him to give his body a little more time to heal. But what Ron had said had cut off all arguments.
"He isn't resting, is he, mate?" he had asked. "No. In fact, they are searching us more fiercely now, aren't they? They are more prepared to kill us this time. I don't want to be the weak link that pulls you down, Harry. We can't afford to rest."
Focusing on the present, Harry concentrated on the girl, the brightest among them, sitting amidst them. He could tell she had a plan or at least some idea where to start. And, as concerned as he was about pushing her into it so soon after all that she had been through, he was also very keen to know how, and desperate to finish this journey... and if possible, go back to Ginny.
"I think I know where another Horcrux is," she confessed without preamble as if she had been holding the information in too long, and watched the two of them carefully.
"WHAT?!" asked the redhead flabbergasted. Harry realised he was feeling exactly the same.
"Where is it?" he asked and noticed something fleeting but scary cross her eyes.
"The Lestrange's house, on the outskirts of Warwick," she replied promptly, leaving no doubts in his mind that she had done her homework.
"How do you know this, Hermione?"
Harry glanced at Ron who was watching Hermione with his brows slightly scrunched together and turned just in time to notice her fumble slightly under his gaze.
"I found out," she replied confidently, though.
"How..." he questioned. Harry dropped a couple of stones that he had been playing with, and glared at Ron. If the prat was doubting her again he would kick him in the arse...
"I found out when we were at the Manor," she said, flinching only for a second perhaps at the memory. Slowly, she narrated how she had overheard Bellatrix's plans.
"YOU SNEAKED OUT TRYING TO SAVE ME?! I TOLD YOU, YOUR COVER WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT!" barked Ron. He had left his place on the boulder and was now towering over her. Harry noticed the angry fire light up in her eyes and decided to keep out of it if only for a while.
"THEY WERE TORTURING YOU, RON! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ME TO DO, SIT AND WAIT TILL YOU WERE KILLED?!" she cried aloud, wiping an angry tear hastily and standing up too. Her pain was palpable as if the days in between hadn't even occurred, and they had just escaped the Manor. Harry watched Hermione's slender form shaking slightly and he realised that while the superficial wounds were on their way to recovery, the internal ones were still raw as ever. His friends glared at each other but he knew it was not out of anger as much as it was about the love they shared. And, it was painful to realise that he was an outsider to their pain. It was something only the two of them had shared and he had not been a part of it.
"FOR FUCK SAKE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE!" Ron yelled at her face but Hermione was not a witch to back down or flinch for that matter.
"REALLY, RONALD?! AND WOULD YOU DO THAT IF I WAS THE ONE BEING TORTURED?!" she spat, glaring up at him and poking a finger at Ron's chest, tears still glistening in her eyes.
Suddenly, Ron was pulling her into his arms, and the next instant, he was kissing her. Harry groaned aloud; with these two he didn't even know what to expect.
He knew they both needed that, the assurance that the other was safe, and he really understood that it wasn't just a snog so he looked away. When he turned back five minutes later they were still clinging on to each other.
He was no fool. It surely wasn't their first but the first in front of him. He hadn't really thought Hermione would push Ron off, but weren't they yelling at each other just a moment ago? He couldn't even tell because her hands were now around Ron's neck, pulling him to her as she stood on her toes. He concluded they would break apart soon; surely she would hurt herself if she stood like that any longer. But Ron's arms wrapped around her and lifted her up, and he didn't know if he wanted to laugh or roll his eyes at the pair of them.
They broke apart reluctantly and Ron grinned sheepishly at him while Hermione arranged her hair, red at the cheeks. They sat down again with their fingers entwined.
Harry shook his head and grinned, trying to ease the tension of moments ago.
"Thank you for that show. Now, can we please get back to our discussion?" he inquired to the obvious mortification of Hermione and she blushed harder. Ron, however, gave a lopsided grin and wrapped an arm around her shoulder boldly.
Way to go, mate! He thought silently, smiling to himself.
"She wasn't there at the Manor on the night you rescued us, Harry. I have a strong suspicion that she went down to store it at her house that very night," Hermione managed soon, though, her demure changing quickly to steel and Ron's expressions hardening as well.
He glanced at Ron once. "What if she didn't? It could still be at the Manor," he countered.
"Yes, it could be-" she replied looking at him, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. "-but I'm guessing she would have done it at the earliest. It would be too risky to keep it out of her vault when You-know-who could come back any day and find out that she had disobeyed his orders. I don't think she'd fancy that," she finished.
"And, how do we get it?" It was Ron. Harry noticed he was gripping Hermione hard.
"We go down to the location. It should be empty," she replied.
"What if it's not? Anyone could be there. Servants or, I dunno, family? Anyway, the property would be warded," Harry argued again. Nothing was simple in his life and he no longer expected it to be. But walking into Bellatrix Lestrange's house to fetch a Horcrux after Ron and Hermione's escaped from her clutches by less than an inch of their life was a suicide mission. And he knew from his visions that Voldemort was furious with Lucius and her for that mistake; both of them bore marks of their punishment on their faces now.
Hermione was speaking again.
"Yes, but we have to take this risk. If the information from the Order is correct then they are barred from leaving the Manor after our escape. We'll never get a better chance."
"I doubt she would shift it there without any protection. That witch is barmy," added Ron, and Harry knew no matter how casual he tried to sound, Ron was not taking this lightly. The bloke had told him of his concerned only a few nights before. Ron was sure Bellatrix would target Hermione this time, something he wanted to avoid at all cost.
"I'm not saying she wouldn't have. But it's a small place and shabby. From what I've heard, it seems she likes to keep it open- you know, like a trap? She likes people entering it thinking it's not dangerous, and when they do, she pounces on them," she said shaking a little.
Harry was appalled.
"And wouldn't she do the same with us?" he asked watching between the pair. She was pressed onto Ron who was rubbing his palms over her shoulder.
"No, we have to be real quick," Hermione replied in a stronger and more determined voice than he expected.
"She'll know when the enchantments break but she won't be able to leave the Manor till her Master allows. And surely she can't casually tell him that she has placed the Horcrux there. Hence, we will get the time we need."
"Will that be enough time to search through the property?" inquired Ron. Harry was wondering the same. As much as they needed to get that Horcrux, they could not afford getting captured again. This time there would be nothing but death.
"It's not huge. In fact, it's pretty small. The Lestranges were not exactly wealthy," she provided.
"They weren't?" inquired Harry. For some reason, he always thought that the old pure-blood wizarding families were all well to do if not filthy rich. All, except the Weasleys.
She shook her head breaking his notion.
"It's true that way earlier, it was the purest houses that held the most prestigious positions in the society, as the result of which they amassed a lot of wealth. It was mostly due to pureblood supremacy that treated the half-bloods as lesser morals. I am not even taking of the Muggleborns here. But with Hogwarts accepting and even promoting wizards and witches irrespective of their ancestry and birth, the high offices began to be taken over by the more qualified instead of the more privileged. Not in all cases, and yes, preferential treatment still prevailed, but the ones who were solely dependent on their 'blood status' began to find themselves clinging on to their ancestral wealth for survival. They were simply too stubborn to move on. I guess they were used to getting the best without putting in any effort to earn it. But the stock of gold dwindled over time. And in the case of Lestranges and others like them, their involvement with the Dark Arts did nothing to boost their prospects for a job. Not like they wanted it, busy as they were fuming about how the 'lesser mortals' had taken up what was rightfully theirs. It was also a reason why they were keen on this 'New World Order'," she said shaking her head with a bitter laugh.
"Instead of trying to be better and earn all they wanted on their merit, they clung on to this rising power, who, they hoped, would bring their golden days back. It was the easier option. This murder and pillaging worked while the Dark Lord was in power, but I doubt it gave them a good life because the Dark Lord does not really care for his followers to give them free off days. But if one has a penchant for torture and all things dark, I guess it's all the incentives they need anyway.
Coming back to the Lestranges, their family once were the wealthy ones, perhaps two or three centuries ago. However, their proclivity for the dark arts dates back centuries too. By the time Bellatrix married Rodulphous, the family barely had a few trinkets and only the memories of the golden days apart from, of course, a pureblood name. Their home, as I know, was nothing but a two storied building with furniture that was antique in name but basically old dilapidated pieces of junk. Bellatrix, who was used to a fairly comfortable life before her wedding, was disillusioned soon enough. It didn't help matters that her younger sister had been wooed by the wealthy Lucius Malfoy. She was a pureblood fanatic herself, and the opportunity to join the Dark Lord's ranks became doubly lucrative. It was a way for her to fulfil what she loved anyway, and if she could rise up in ranks to be his best lieutenant, it would give her ego a boost, specifically if she could rise above her wealthy brother-in-law. And, it would also earn them a better lifestyle than her dumb husband could afford any day."
She heaved a sigh and looked away.
"During his first reign, the Dark Lord used one of our properties. But this time around, it was the Malfoys. As I have been told, the Lestranges were the only ones who used the property too. And now, once again, she is living with her sister. It does solidify my belief that the Lestrange home is no better than a rundown shack. Perhaps that also explains her eagerness to keep the Horcrux at her home, doesn't it?" she asked, and both Ron and he shrugged. It was too much information.
"How do you know so much?" he inquired.
"Some of it from my father and some from the books I have read," she replied with a hint of sadness. "F-Father didn't really like the Lestranges, and although he did support the Dark Lord, he also was a man who gave high importance to education and learning. I'm not saying that excuses his faults, though," she finished with a forced smile.
"Anyway," interrupted Ron quickly, surely to draw the conversation away.
"Let's say we manage to get this Horcrux, and even escape before they reach us. What really happens after that? She will know someone broke in. And surely, he will know about the theft,won't he?" questioned the redhead, looking between him and Hermione. Harry didn't have an answer but a hundred questions himself so he looked at her too. After all, it was her plan.
She licked her dry lips before speaking. "I doubt he will get to know when we find the Horcrux. He never realised the Locket was stolen or destroyed, did he?"
He shook his head and noticed Ron grip her hand harder, his face stoic.
"I don't think he'll know unless she tells him," she continued, "And no matter how big a bitch that one is, she is terrified of him."
"But she will tell him eventually, Hermione," concluded Ron ominously. "What happens when she does?"
"He will be terrifying. I hope he kills her in the fit of rage but I doubt it," provided Harry. Ron let out a dry chuckle.
"Harry will get to know," she murmured softly and both their eyes turned sharply at her.
"You are counting on it aren't you?" asked Ron voicing his own thoughts aloud.
"Y-Yes," she replied. "I think he will check out all the other locations. Perhaps even think of all of them."
"And-?" he asked almost knowing where this was going.
"And your visions will hopefully give us the last location. Perhaps even tell us what it is. If Dumbledore's calculations are correct, that would be the last one, I mean, keeping aside the one that Bellatrix has and Nagini, of course..."
"So, let me get this straight. All we have to do is, reach that last location and finish it," stated Ron with a mirthless chuckle. "And either do it before he reaches to check on it- which means, outrun him, break all the protective enchantments and escape unscathed as well, or, after he checks on it and perhaps moves it elsewhere, and places an absurd number of additional protections over it. Brilliant! A piece of cake, ain't it, Harry?"
"Do you have a better plan?" she scowled.
"No," Harry replied quickly cutting Ron's response short.
"We'll get to that bit later, but first, we break in and find this Horcrux. Then we'll have to wait for, Merlin knows, how long for her to tell him," he muttered thinking aloud.
"Yes. We have to be on the run, though, Can't get back her, too risky for Bill and Fleur," she let out a long sigh, "- but we have to first inform the Order to be on their guard. They will crack down hard, after, after we b-break in."
Silence reigned between them. It was good to know that there was a plan now. But like all their plans, it bordered on insanity and recklessness.
"However, we have to wait till Ron recovers," she said aloud after a while breaking the silence.
"Bugger! Always me to fucking slow things down," muttered Ron in an undertone.
"We need time to ensure that the rest of the Order is informed about being extra cautious," she told him.
"Yeah, whatever," responded the ginger.
"How long?" asked Harry and Hermione glanced at Ron.
"A couple of weeks," she told them solemnly.
...
They disapparated hidden under Harry's cloak and emerged behind a large old castle in the depth of the night. With the moon in the sky as their only source of light, they slowly they made their way ahead, guided by Hermione.
Ron wasn't even aware how she was doing it, but she had pulled out a parchment that looked like a hand-drawn map and was following it in the light of her wand, all happening inside the invisibility cloak. He hoped the location was correct. Hermione was sure it was as she had copied it from an old, thick book called the 'The Purest Wizarding Families' or something in those lines.
The wind bellowed outside, and he and Harry gripped the cloak harder while Hermione guided them ahead. They crossed an open field and Ron wondered if the others were as freaked out about this as he was. He wasn't worried about himself, but he was worried about his best mate and the girl he loved to the point of insanity. If he had his way, he would have kept her miles away from Bellatrix, and yet, here he was, walking ahead towards the maniac witch's very own den. It felt like walking into a spider's web to him, and he fisted his fingers around the wand to cut off anxiety that hit him at the image. Breathing deeply, he looked at the other two, hoping that his muscles would not run out on him when he needed them.
"Right," she whispered next to him, and he noticed her fold and tuck the parchment inside her jeans pocket and extinguished her wand.
They turned towards an unmarked and seeming unused footpath that led into an ominous looking overgrowth of large trees. He hated these things. They usually separated a wizarding building from their muggle surroundings. Quite often these would be charmed to hurt the muggles till they saw the sense in avoiding them all together. Sometimes, like in the case of the Grangers, they were nothing but traps that maimed and killed the unfortunate souls who were foolish enough to venture in.
They moved in cautiously and when the cloak began to tangle in the branches, were forced to remove it.
"All okay?" he whispered and heard two soft 'yes's next to him. With Harry and himself flanking her on either side, they made their way ahead more slowly now. The visibility was terrible and he wondered how Harry was managing, but Hermione had warned earlier that the place around the house could be easily warded to trigger an alarm at even the slightest hint of magic, which meant even the act of lighting up their wands would start the timer on the trap they were walking into. It could easily have triggered already with their movements in its vicinity, but Hermione hoped (so did he) that the witch would not bother about a non-magical intruder at this point in time. Or, the place could be rigged to kill them, he had thought but kept it to himself. If his experience with Bellatrix had taught him anything, it was that she loved to play with her prey and nothing disturbing would happen till they reached the building. As to what she planned for her uninvited guests was hard to say. She could be innovative with the curses, and for her, the more gruesome it was, the better.
Hermione stopped suddenly bringing both of them to halt as well. He looked up and noticed that they were standing feet away from a stone wall and a rusted iron gate that appeared to have never seen repairs in recent years. Beyond it, amidst an overgrown and creepy looking garden, stood a house which was definitely bigger than the Burrow, but dilapidated beyond measure. It looked ominous against the moonlit sky. Now, he was very doubtful if anyone could possibly be still living in it.
"What next?" asked Harry, and he could hear the doubt in his best mate's voice. It wasn't exactly 'small' as Hermione had said it would be. He could understand that her standards of 'small' and 'grand' were different from theirs, but if he was to estimate the time they would require to search the building and the ground behind it, from what he could see from his height, it would take them at least half an hour- using magic, of course. Did they have that kind of time? He was not sure. In fact, he highly doubted it.
"Wait," she called and he turned just in time to notice Hermione pull Harry back with a tight grip on his t-shirt, Harry's hands barely inches away from the gate.
"We have to do this," commanded the green eyed boy and Ron felt the strength of a leader emanating from him.
"Yes, we do," she replied softly but in a strange voice.
"What is it?" he asked urgently. Surely she couldn't be questioning their mission now?
She pulled Harry back and looked between them.
"Remember the place where the Quidditch World Cup was held, Ron?" she asked and he shook his head, totally baffled.
"Yeah, but-"
"Hold me tight," she told him and turned to Harry. "And hold Harry on tightly too, okay?" she told him. Harry looked at him confused and if he could guess correctly, a little annoyed as well.
Harry looked at him confused and if he could guess correctly, a little annoyed as well.
"What is –" he began but Hermione cut him short as she gripped her wand harder.
"I only need to check if anyone is inside," she replied with steel in her voice, "The moment I do that spell, the wards will trigger, and Harry, you have to guard us from anything that might result out of that trigger. But don't let go of Ron. Ron, be ready. You will apparate us away the moment my third spell is cast."
"I don't get it, Hermione!" fumed Harry next to him. "What about the Horcrux?!"
"Don't worry, we'll finish it. Trust me."
It clicked inside him suddenly, what she was going to do.
"And, what if someone is inside, Hermione? Will you still use the Fiend Fire?" he asked and heard Harry gasp.
"No," she replied haltingly, visibly surprised at his correct deduction. "Then I hope he will emerge out as the alarm triggers."
"You know what you are doing, right?" Harry asked.
"I do," she replied. Ron truly hoped she did.
There was no time to justify or think. She had planned this part before, he could say for sure and wondered why she hadn't trusted them with her plan. Still, he wrapped his wand arm around her waist and held Harry's left arm with his own. He felt her free hand press onto his as if drawing strength from him, and he pulled her into him further.
"Ready?" she asked and they responded in unison.
"Homenum Revelio"
The spell shot through her wand and he could feel a faint shrill cry emerging out of the house as it hit and passed through the wards.
"No one," she responded, relieved, and pointed her wand at the ground ahead of them. The shrill cry was getting louder now, and through nothing approached out of the woods as he had expected, he felt Harry grip his hand harder. His mate was prepared.
"Praesidio Mortem" she whispered, and a ring of blue escaped her wand and formed a ring encasing the property inside it. The shrill cry was starting to get unbearable now.
"Ready, Ron?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied urgently, his heart practically thudding insanely inside his chest.
"Bellua Ignis" she breathed softly pointing her firm hand at the grim, tall structure ahead, and flaming red and gold fire emerged out of her wand. It took the shape of a huge fire breathing dragon that was made of flames itself, and pounced on the house. He closed his eyes, gripping the two with all his strength and twisted on spot. He felt the heat on his skin just as a strong pull on his navel carried them away; hopefully all of them unscathed.
...
"Here," Harry called placing three cups of steaming hot tea in front of them. He looked sombre and Ron indicated him silently to keep his questions, arguments or even accusations on hold for a while.
Next to him Hermione shivered violently, and he wrapped his arms around her more firmly and handed her the cup. She wasn't crying but he knew it to be what it was, a panic attack, perhaps a bit of self-loathing as well.
"Do you hate me?" she asked shakily looking between him and Harry, and Ron watched as Harry dropped his cup with a sigh and took his place next to her.
"No," they replied in unison as Harry's hand found her other hand and squeezed it. "But you could have trusted us with the whole of the plan," he added after a pause.
"Did you think we'd stop you? Or ask you not to do it, perhaps?" Ron asked after placing a chaste kiss on the side of her head.
"I- I didn't know if it was ethical... It is o-one of the darkest curses..." she shivered, and he brought the cup to her lips after blowing on it for a while. He allowed her to take a sip before he spoke.
"You didn't kill anyone, Hermione, you made sure it was empty," he said covering her hand with his larger ones.
"And it was probably the best way to finish the Horcrux and keep ourselves safe as well, yeah," intoned Harry for which Ron was very grateful.
Hermione pulled her hand free and stared at her right palm, and even as they watched, began scrapping invisible dirt off with her other hand while her shivering intensified. Harry met his concerned eyes and Ron pulled her right hand away to stop her.
"Hermione," he called as she sniffed, all the while struggling to continue wiping traces of the evil curse away from the hand that cast it.
"'Mione?" he called again, very sick with worry now as her sobbing aggravated. He was thankful to Harry who got up and quickly plumaged inside Hermione's tiny bag to extricate out a phial of Calming Drought and poured a spoonful of it into her cup. Ron wasted no time in forcing her to drink it.
It seemed to be the longest amount of time while they waited for the potion to work. But her shivering finally settled and when she turned sideways to bury her face in his neck, Ron wasted no time in pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her.
"Er... I'm taking the first watch," informed Harry and he lifted up his head, sending a silent thanks to his best mate. He waited till Harry pulled out the radio Bill had given them, and then, walked out.
Once the tent flap had been pulled down, he turned back to the girl who was clinging on to him. The fabric of his shirt was spotted with tears. Heaving a sigh, he managed to turn around with her still on his lap, and then, placing one hand under her knees and another at her back, lifted her up.
The tent was the one they had used back in the Granger Forest months ago, and he placed her down gently on the bed she used to occupy. Hermione immediately curled into a foetal position and it broke his heart to see her that way. Kneeling down next to her, he gently pushed her hair away from her face and pressed his lips to her forehead, wondering if she needed some sleeping potion too.
"Ron?" she called in a broken whisper, and he placed both his palms on her face and rubbed them gently with his thumb before he spoke. Her fingers automatically clasped around his wrists.
"Yes, 'Mione?" he asked tenderly, wondering what he could possibly do to ease her pain.
"Am I just like her?" she asked, her voice cracking mid-sentence.
"No," he replied firmly and pressed his lips to hers for a deep kiss. "Don't ever think that. You did it for-"
"-the greater good?" she chuckled bitterly and he exhaled.
"Hermione, I know it's hard but this war wasn't easy from the start. It's a bloody war for fuck sake. The only right thing here is to get done what we have to and stay alive. That Horcrux needed to be finished, and like Harry said, this was the easiest way."
"I cast the same spell that killed my parents, Ron..." she sobbed and he lifted himself up to squeeze in next to her.
"You used it for good. You know that." he replied wiping off her tears and forcing her to look into his eyes. She continued to look at him for a long time before she spoke again.
"W-When you were injured, and we didn't know if you'd make it-" she began and gripped his shirt harder, "-I-I didn't know if I'd live if something happened to you, you know?" she managed with her voice cracking again and he nodded and gently ran his hand over her arms as she gulped and licked her lips.
"I knew one thing... Bellatrix and Lucius needed to pay. Bellatrix needed to pay for taking away my parents and bringing you to the brink of death. I wanted to hurt her, take away what she loved best. And I couldn't think of anything else."
Ron listened with attention as Hermione wiped away her own tears and continued with her narration.
"There is nothing she values more than the Dark Lord and the position she holds in his circle. This seemed to be the best idea, you know?" she asked again and proceeded without allowing him to reply.
"We'd finish the Horcrux and kill the pride which she felt by housing her Master's gift in her house. And finish it with the same spell she used to kill my parents so she would know it was me. And not just that, she would also have to tell him she had disobeyed, and he would know she was the cause of one of his Horcruxes getting destroyed. That coupled with our escape would destroy her position as his best commander. Surely the Dark Lord would be furious with both her and Lucius for letting us escape even more after that, wouldn't he?" she asked, and he didn't know whether to congratulate her on her plan or worry about the amount of damage the war had done to her.
"You did the right thing," he said, promising himself that it would have to do for now. But once all this was over, he would make sure that the wounds that were clawing her insides would be taken care of first. She looked all normal, but the damage inside was deadly. And now there was guilt added to it. But despite everything, they had a war to face first. Their move had been made, and now it was time to watch the opponent for his move.
He pressed his lips to hers and found her gripping him hard, forcing her body to press against his. Wrapping an arm around her waist he pressed deeper into her in the tight space, their kiss getting more aggressive with teeth nipping the edge of the lips and hands moving inside clothes in search of bare skin.
When they broke free, she pulled the curtains around the bed down and pulled him in. Ron knew what she wanted and he paused only for a minute to extricate his wand out of his pocket. First, he fixed the curtains in place and cast a silencing charm around them, and then, pointed the wand at her abdomen, cast the spell, speaking so softly that even he couldn't hear himself.
It was as if that was all Hermione was waiting for as she swiftly removed her own top and unbuttoned her jeans. He growled deep in his throat and helped her getting the clothes off and dumped them at the edge of the bed. Getting his shirt off was easy, but his pants were a whole different story as the bed was really small to accommodate two people, but in the end, they managed somehow. Hermione was quick to rid him of his boxers and he almost collapsed on her with his full weight as her softer hands took his manhood between them and began stroking. He managed to balance his weight on his arm and pulled down the cups of her bra and placed his mouth on her buds. She moaned and arched her body up, and he licked and sucked intermittently taking the pert tips between his teeth to bite them gently. She moaned aloud, and the sound of it along with the feel of her hands on his shaft and the taste in his mouth made him go wild with desire. Hermione folded her legs at the knees, causing him to fit in better between her legs, and once he was close enough, began trying to push him inside her and made little sounds of frustration as her knickers blocked the way. She struggled below him to get the frustrating article off, but it was difficult in their entwined state. Ron simply ignored her struggles, and rather than help her, concentrated on the other breast as she clawed with her fingers on his skin for him to help. All he did was rubbed his eager manhood on her wet knickers, which he realised with a grin, both excited and annoyed her even more. She forced a hand between them to renew her attempts to be filled again, but he gripped her hand and held it over her head.
"Weasley!" she breathed in a voice dripping with want and anger and he responded by letting her nipple go and smirked at her.
"Yes, Granger?" he asked thumping against her wet core.
She moaned again and used her free hand to pull his face into hers for a demanding kiss. It was getting hard for him to hold on too. Instead of letting her wrist go, he used the other hand to move the thin strip of cloth between her legs aside and guided himself inside her soaking folds in one fluid motion. She moaned aloud at the contact, and just after two thrusts he felt her walls clamping around him as she came. He didn't slow down, though, taking her hard and fast. He didn't know if sex counted as a therapy, but it seemed to work and he was more than willing to give it a shot. She needed it at the moment. That was all that mattered.
She came again as he continued, and this, time he joined her as their love washed over them.
...
Ron placed both the mugs on the ground in front of them where Harry was prodding the fire with a stick; the radio making broken spurting sounds next to him.
"You just missed the broadcast," said his mate pointing at the device. "How is she?" he asked, picking up the cup and taking a sip.
Ron took a deep swig before proceeding to tell Harry what Hermione had told him, and after it was said, the boys stared at the merrily crackling fire, both lost in thought.
"I have been thinking," said Harry breaking the silence. "What if it's still at the Manor?"
"I have been wondering the same but, I hope for our sake and hers that it is finished," he responded.
"Was the fire in the news yet?" he inquired and Harry nodded in negative.
"No, and I haven't felt anything yet," he responded.
"But we are positive the bitch knows?"
"Should be, the wards triggered the alarm for sure."
"So either she hasn't told him anything yet or..." mused Ron and they looked at each other each thinking how it could mean two completely different things, and have serious repercussions on their plans if Hermione's estimations were proved wrong.
"So, now we wait?" Harry wondered aloud grimly.
"Yeah, now we wait," he replied.
A/N: I can't believe I am almost at the end of this story. (Though, to be honest, I didn't think it would take me so long to wrap it up.) Anyway, thanks to jroseley for noticing that it's been a year now. Happy Anniversary to all of you, my dearest readers, for sharing this journey with me.
I also apologise for my previous author note. I guess I was more than a little exhausted when I wrote that. I really do understand that it must get very frustrating to wait especially for the climax chapters. I hope this chapter makes up for it.
This chapter is enormous and took me a lot of time and I hope with all my heart that it lived up the expectation you had for the penultimate chapter. Hopefully, the next chapter (last one) will be out next week. Till then, I hope you will let me know what you think of Hermione's revenge. Was it justified according to you?
On a side note, I didn't cover the question of Ron's virginity(or the lack of it, perhaps*) in this chapter because, although I wrote it out, it felt way too forcefully squeezed in. So, if you all are up for a smutty missing moment one-shot, let me know, I'll put it up separately.
*I miss one word in that bracket and the whole meaning changes. I can't believe I messed that up, all I wanted to do was keep the tone of suspense alive (I am allowed to do that as an author, aren't I?). I will upload that one-shot soon. I am not saying that he is not a virgin- just that it's a little more complicated than that.
Thanks to each one of you for reading, and keeping me motivated all this while. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.