Chapter nine - kicking ass
Words 4,544
AN; these chapters are getting to large - sorry
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"He's gone," Hermione said staring at the empty spot.
"I can see that," Harry spat his foul mood back in full force.
"He's bitter over what we did," - Hermione said as if stating a fact.
"Ya-think? But Ron's right - - you really don't listen to him," Harry retorted bitterly and more hotly than he intended - - for he felt as part of him – the better part – the fun part - - had just left him, again. For the next few minutes the two 'heroes' in exile, reflected in silence on their departed former friend.
'And for the first time in his life Harry deeply resented Hermione being with him on this hunt. 'She knowledgeable of course and a good friend,' Harry said to himself – 'but sometimes she can be such an annoying pain. Why couldn't we stop? A few shags were enough for me to fully explore the joys of sex. The Horcrux was right, she doesn't have many curves – Ginny has a far fuller figure. By mid-March of last term – after three months of broom-cupboard trysts - my curiosity should have been sated. So why couldn't I stop – was there a forbidden fruit aspect that kept me coming back for more? Did cheating on my best-mate add extra spice to each bunk-up? (AN: Brit term for sex)
'She and Ron and their famous 'issues' was getting in the way of the only real friendship he ever had with another bloke. Had he been there alone, Ron would have stayed.' Harry was convinced of it. 'His best mate would have smacked him about a-bit for shagging his girl - and then forgiven him. Ron was the most easy-going bloke in the world. All best-mates should be like that. No bird should ever get in the way of best-mate male bonding.
The Horcrux was right about another thing - I have seriously overrated her book smart brilliance.
Alright – alright …so shagging Hermione was a huge mistake,- now what? How do I get Ron back as a best mate - - - of course - - - get him what he craves most in life - - Hermione. Get blokes laid regularly and their mood improves - - life is grand. So convincing Hermione to put out for Ron and I get my happy-go lucky best-mate back. Simple and straightforward – yeah that will work, so how do I arrange that – eh?
"If you really knew Ron at all - - then you would have realized that words are important to a bloke who use-to wear his heart on his sleeve." Harry said when he resumed speaking. "Think-on it - - He had to use Occulmency shields to try to keep his deep feelings for you in check, he's mad about what you did to him –yeah; but there is more in him than just disappointment. Either his Occulmency teacher sucks – which I sort-of doubt - - or overwhelming emotions from within - broke down his shields. Come-on Hermione - put the pieces together for Merlin's sake - you managed to get under his skin just now - more than once!
"Who could have taught him that I wonder? Hermione asked rhetorically.
"Who ruddy cares? Ron still may not think before he speaks but he always said what he means and means what he says. He called you a slag – yes - - but he also said that you are, quote; "the one and only - love of my life," un-quote. Which means you still have a chance; - - you still own his heart which also means - -
"- - What the Horcrux said was total rubbish". Hermione said her eyes going wide and her spirits lifting.
"Not total rubbish, some of it was spot-on, actually." Harry admitted his tone hard. "It mixed truth -half-truths and outright lies – rather cleverly – I think? I'd say that it would-be better to consider it a learning experience - - or a huge wake-up call to motivate personality change. I honestly see the whole Horcrux destruction thingy as a window of opportunity for both of us to get back our Weasley's - - which correct me if I'm wrong - - is something we both want to happen?
"OH, hell-Yeah." Hermione replied so eager she actually swore – if her Horcrux experience did nothing else – it certainly sorted out her priorities. 'If Harry was right and I have even a snowball's chance in hades to get Ron back as my boyfriend – lover and perhaps even someday – as a husband," - Hermione rationalized in her mind to herself, - "I'll stop at nothing - fair or foul to get him back.
He thinks he's soiled goods - - could that work in my favor - - Can slutty behavior and my cruel betrayal of him be canceled out by his war-crimes killing? Again - she frankly didn't know, "but as it was now clear – both of us are sinners – both of us feel unworthy of the other – and finally I'm off that pedestal he's had me on forever - which puts us on a level playing field at last. - - Yes – this might actually work - - it remains a long shot – because it is hard to chat-up a bloke that isn't here - but when I set a goal, be it top-marks in class or getting the man I love - - hold-on - - is it love that I feel?.
Hermione's train of thought abruptly stopped. That was the question wasn't it, there was no easy answer to that one - logic couldn't provide the answer. "Honestly I don't know," she admitted to herself as she compared how she had felt for Viktor, Cormac and even Harry 'But who else has made me feel appreciated, safe and happy. Who had I thought-of every day since the break-up? Why else does the mere thought of kissing him again makes you feel so warm and girlish." She said to herself while unconsciously stroking the picture frame in the beaded-bag
'Okay you do love him – Now what? His trust in you is gone, and getting it back will be the hardest task you've ever undertaken. But nothing worth having is easily obtained - - right? You're a modern witch not some story-book damsel in distress," Hermione said to herself with grim determination. - -"if you want RONALD BILIUS then go get him!
With this new found hope warming her heart - while getting up - with a flick of her wand she folded the tent and packed it and all the other new supplies into her beaded hand-bag. She then waved her wand again, shrinking the bag down to the size of a bronze Knut that she slipped it into the cleverly disguised pocket of the inside of her right hiking boot. Straightening up she and Harry were now ready to use the portkey.
"If Ron is still in contact with his family – the news of our break-up will then reach Ginny," Harry said thinking out-loud. That is the first step for me to get a toe in the door. If she knows I'm free, that alone should perk her interest. Next we need a means to contact our red-heads for it hard to chat up a bird that's in France.
'Maybe if I bring my feelings out in the open, make it official – then perhaps I can get some action out of her' Harry said to himself, 'Ginny can't be as religiously inhibited as Ron is , she'll be more worldly - - more pliable – I just know it. Being the Chosen-One must have some perks when it comes to birds.'
"Right from the off - - they need to accept the current reality," Harry said. "I think we both now agree that our - little fling, - has run its course. So another step in the get our red-head plan - - is going back to being just squabbling siblings - - Yes?
"Yes."
"Lucky for you, Ron is the way too easy to forgive sort. Ginny on the other hand - - is a fireball that holds a grudge forever.
"How about her brothers, how are you going to get around them? There are six - - and they all hate you," Hermione said somewhat surprised at Harry's newly revealed conceit. - - 'An aftershock affect from the Horcrux encounter- perhaps?' she wondered to her-self.
"That's step two; and there are five, I'm counting on you to run interference with Ron.
"That's ever so kind of you," Hermione said with sarcastic humor, "And Ginny herself,?
Oh yeah, she'll be loads harder to take down than, Voldemort
HARRY - - NO - - you said his name!
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Second of February, eight PM
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, near the Muggle city of Townbridge –
Southwestern England
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Six wizards and one witch crouched in the darkness; all wore magical chameleon suits modeled after the Muggle SAS camouflage. They waited the return of their strike-leader, out doing a recon. This was going to be a tough nut to crack, the dark-lords headquarters was well guarded, at least ten Death Eaters patrolled the outside alongside two trolls and twelve Dementor's. The number of guards inside was still unknown.
Suddenly out of the darkness he appeared. "Okay, lads, the guards are taken care of.
"Ron NO, we agreed that you're aging too much, save that magic for the important jobs."
"Deeds done, water under the bridge; alright – so drop it. Inside guardroom is knocked-out too, so stick to the plan; Dean Thomas, take your team to the dungeons free all the prisoners, Port key them to the rendezvous point at Shell Cottage. Dirk Cresswell, take your team and seek out the treasure room, if you find it and get in - - touch nothing with your hands - just shrink it down and box it, we'll sort it out later.
"Both teams will have exactly ten minutes before I bring the roof down. Someone is being tortured in the Great Hall … sounds like a goblin, we will use its screams to cover the noise of our break-in and take revenge for it later - - now quickly lads and without a sound.
Ron went with Dean's team, moving so silently that Peter Pettigrew never heard his footfalls as he approach the Death Eater from behind. Peter's attention was focused inside a prison cell and he was speaking to someone through the bars of the door.
"The mud-blood is dead, and the goblin will soon follow. When Bella gets the answers she needs about the sword, the Dark lord will be called to finish you off - Potter. I'm going to enjoy watching you die.
"Hello Scabbers – my old pet", Ron hissed as a bolt of white light, like a saber punched through the center of Wormtail chest from behind, "Do say hello to Sirius for us won't you …there's a good chap". With a look of stunned surprised that froze on Peter's face as his heart was pierced - another marauder met his fate.
A moment later the cell door was open and a furious Ron rushed in to fling Harry wandlessly against the wall, - and then with a death grip on his neck, Harry was lifted off the floor - - his feet literally dangling in the air.
"If Scabbers was talking about Hermione - - if she is dead, you'll answer to me. The moment Voldemort is dead, I'll kill you myself …are – we – clear?
"Ron it wasn't intentional - - just a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean to - - it was an accident.
"Screw that, you had two simple jobs to do Potter, stay hidden and keep her safe. YOU failed at both!" Ron spat his rage enormous and then abruptly, - he let-go of the frail looking… half-starved seeker, who crumpled into a heap on the floor – and then Ron, with his magic barely back under control turned to leave.
"I swear on my entire magic Potter, I will avenge her death - - consider your days numbered." A moment later Ron swept from the room. Harry instantly jumped to his feet, scooped up Pettigrew's wand and followed at a run - wanting revenge of his own.
Standing in the shadow of the open door into the Malfoy Great Hall, Ron peeked around the corner and what he saw within made his blood boil. Closest to him stood two human snatchers, Greyback the werewolf and Draco Malfoy, beyond them in the middle of the hall was Bellatrix Lestrange taking pleasure in the slow torture of a Gringotts Goblin, asking it about a stolen sword and a cup taken from within her bank vault - - off to one side stood Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy as silent witnesses to this customary form of Death Eater entertainment.
Behind the Malfoy's, at the far end of the hall - stretched spread-eagle on a wooden X shaped cross - in the tattered remains of her ripped to shreds - torn open clothing - - was the battered and bruised mortal remains of a striped down to her boots - - otherwise naked Hermione Granger. She hung limb in her bindings discarded and seeing her tortured form, Ron saw red.
"Seven against his one, Ron mused to himself furiously, "not even enough to work up a sweat.
"Let's kill them all," Harry whispered in Ron's ear.
"Not all, I want Bellatrix alive," Ron commanded sternly; understanding Harrys need for revenge - - "I need information, and she's the most likely to have what I need. You can kill Bella - after I'm done, if you've got the stones for it. For right now - take out the two Snatchers on the right and Draco, leave the rest to me.
Three minutes later it was all over, Greyback, who had horribly scared Ron's brother Bill - had been core-magic beheaded with his heart pierced by a silver spike - a weapon that Ron always carried - on the off chance of encountering a DE recruited werewolf – every member of his assault teams carried a similar one. Bellatrix had been blasted with a white ball of light across the room with ten times the force of the most powerful Reductor Curse ever cast. After flying in the air twenty five feet she smashed against the far wall with a heavy thud – and slid down the wall in a semi-burnt bloody-heap and yet in spite of her massive-injuries - Ron had held back on his full wrath - for she still lived.
Harry's two snatchers had received stunners (surprise-surprise) and Harry had now cast aside Peter Pettigrew 'a wand and was currently wrestling Draco Malfoy for procession of his wand. Harry hadn't harmed anyone yet, and Ron really didn't think he could kill a fly.
The only real surprise of the short battle was the total lack of any resistance on the part of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. The moment the fighting began Narcissa had 'accidently' dropped her wand while her husband appeared throughout the firefight – strangely unarmed.
Lucius was trembling visibly in fear, his appearance was unkempt and he looked a broken man, but Ron detected fire in Narcissi's eyes.
"I've been expecting someone to rescue Potter", she said with a bored sneer, and Ron couldn't help but admire her spunk. "Tell your dog to let my son go, he is no real threat to you.
"To me, no, but Draco and Harry have long standing – issues - that go way back." Ron sneered, his Occulmency shields in prefect order. He would grieve for her later, but for now he needed Intel and Bella was currently unconscious. "But I would be more worried about your own life Lady Malfoy; you stood idle while a fine young witch was tortured to death right in front of you. Even under the current DE administration of the Ministry - accessory to murder is punishable by death.
"Your sort doesn't murder in cold blood," Narcissa replied in contempt.
"It's funny you should say that," Ron replied in an ice-cold monotone, "the Late; Antoin Dolohov, his DE wife - - Walden Macnair and his spouse - once suffered from a very similar delusion.
"You killed them …you burned their homes to the ground?
"I offered them the same deal I'm about to offer you, - make it worth my while to let you live - and I will," Ron said. "For example, this is Voldemort's headquarters; it is here he'd keep his books. Bank records, list of collaborators, sleeper-spies and informants. Turn over those records and I'll give you a head start to flee the country.
"No" Lucius said without a moment's hesitation - - and a mil-second later the same bolt of light that ended Pettigrew's life ended Lucius Malfoy's. He was dead before his body hit the floor.
"Let's try that question again - - shall we," Ron hissed without an ounce of remorse.
"I don't know where the records are kept," Narcissa pleaded in a now openly terrified tone,
"Pity," Ron replied, "Oi Harry - bring the ferret over here, I have a question to ask him.
"NO WAIT, what if I was offered you something else of value? Would you spare my son's life?
"Depends - - on what it is?
"First - - Who are you?
"I guess it doesn't matter if I tell you, your bloodline is about to end, anyway, I'm a Weasley - - Ronald Bilus Weasley.
"Oh – I heard about you and the Mudblood last term - - nasty break-up - - - then I guess it doesn't matter to you that Granger is still alive." Narcissa said deeply disappointed.
"SHE'S ALIVE", Ron shouted
"Well yes, I just saw her hand move", Narcissa replied sounding confused.
Rushing over to check Hermione's pulse and feeling a weak heart-beat he roared in joy. Harry now had Draco's wand pointed at the two still living Malfoy's both looking very confused. Rushing back over Ron picked up a goblet off a table as he passed. Concentrated hard he whispered "Portus' then look-up at Narcissa,
"Listen carefully, you just saved your son's life and your own, this portkey will take to the lobby of Gringotts, empty out your vault and go into hiding, try America …that still might be safe. Don't come back to England until at least five years after the war - and only if Harry here wins", Ron explained. "Your master will not be happy that Bella had Harry as a prisoner and then let him escape, - let her face his wrath – alone, – it will delay pursuit of you two.
"She'd never betray her master anyway; mother, you know that," Draco pleaded.
"Yes, - Yes - - your right - - we will flee the country without your aunt," Narcissa said half to herself before looking into Ron's eye again. "We are both in your life-debt, Mr. Weasley, I won't forget this," she said dismissing Harry's presence out of hand – for she knew without any-doubt - who in the room was in command.
"Then end the blood feud between our families when you return to England," Ron ordered sternly - while handing Narcissa back her wand - hilt-first - without any fear that it would be used against him. "Make a vow to do all you can to protect my bloodline from any-kind of harm, physical or monetary. Do that and you and your son's combined life-debt to me - is repaid," he said as if they owed Harry nothing.
"I so swear," Narcissa said with grim determination
"You've changed – Weasel." The blonde boy said with his customary sneer; which made his mother cringe in fear, – "and I'm not stupid enough to mess with someone as powerful as you. So you have my oath too. I hereby renounce my father's blood-purity bigotry. It has brought to my family nothing but ruin," Draco said with a slight bow of submission - in an unusually serious tone, looking more solemn in fact - than Ron had ever seen him.
"See you around, scar-head," Draco said with a nod of farewell toward Harry, not bothering to ask for his wand back.
"Now go, both of you - - to activate the portkey say 'exile' and good-luck," Ron said, ignoring Draco's last exchange with Harry - and a moment later with a pop they were gone.
"Do you think they'll keep those vows?" Harry asked as he followed Ron back over to where Hermione had been crucified; he made no attempt to help a deeply concerned Ron – knowing his assistance would be resented. Instead he looked around the Malfoy great Hall - sensing that they were missing something really important.
"Don't be daft - Potter, the word of a Malfoy is only good - - as long as your wand is pressed against their throat. It's an out of sight – out of mind thing with that lot," Ron said softy - as with surprising gentleness he carefully undid the straps that held the semi-naked Hermione upright - - starting at her feet. In moments she had gently slipped into his waiting arms. To keep himself from breaking down into tears, he rambled-on to distract his mind - - by saying;
"I mean it's laughable … the very thought of peace between the Malfoy's and us Weasley's - - there is as much chance of that actually happening - - as a daughter of mine, falling in love with a son of Draco's.
- - - - (AN: a nod to a sometimes cute ship)
"Dean Thomas then ran into the room, "Its time chief - the Greek fire bombs have been set in every room but this one. It will be the only one left standing. Bloody-hell is that Hermione in your arms.
"Yes, Dean - this is Granger," Ron said clearly annoyed at stating the obvious. "Harry – where's your wand?
"Bella broke Hermione's and my new one the moment we arrived.
"Damnit Potter, you've got to be more careful with the wands I gift you. Try to hold on to Draco's - - you defeated him in wand-combat - so any wand won in a similar way should have its allegiance change like my old wand did. But for right now - - wake up one of the Snatchers you stunned.
"Ok" and Harry did - binding it with magical ropes first.
"What's your name Snatcher?
"They call me, Scabior
"Alright Scabior, I have a message for your dark lord - - tell him that Bellatrix captured Harry Potter tonight - and then the resistance raided his headquarters - - killed his DE guards - and set him free. Tell Voldemort that the Malfoy line is ended - - Lucius's body is in this very-room and I didn't leave enough of his wife and son to bury. Tell him that I'm going to visit next - one by one - each of his other top Death Eater lieutenants' and end their bloodlines - as I did with Dolohov and Macnair. Tell your master that.
"Harry, stun him again.
"Right you are - - stupefy.
"Let's go - - Harry," Ron commanded. "Dean, I've got my hands full – will you set off the charges?
Dean grinned like the Cheshire cat, "Yes sir – chief sir. I just wish Seamus was here to see this." Then he waved his wand and said smugly; 'detonate-ious de-Maximus.' A moment later the sounds of explosions could be heard from opposite ends of Malfoy manor - moving inward toward the center and the Great-Hall.
"Dammit … we have to get out of here, now," Harry said nervously
"Don't fret, Harry. This room will be left standing, we've brought down loads of DE Manor houses before this one," Ron said with confidence.
"Ron - now I know what's missing here," Harry interrupted in a self-admonishing tone as the Manor came down around him. "Griphook the goblin that Bellatrix was torturing stole the sword of Gryffindor; we lost the means to destroy Nagini.
"If he stole it, then he won't be able to keep it, it will automatically return to Hogwarts - it's enchanted to do that. As for getting it back - that just became a new item on my to-do list," Ron said with such unshakable confidence that it actually stunned Harry into salience. "After I see Hermione set to rights - - I'll get it back. Now lads, touch my shoulders. "
- - And with that - - the raid on Malfoy manor came to an end as three wizards and one witch multiple-disaperated to Shell Cottage.