Beta's: 5/8/2015

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Chapter 6, A House Divided

Ellen Granger sat at the kitchen table of her home staring into her cup of Earl Grey, thinking. It has been almost a month since her one and only daughter had run away from home. She blamed herself for it. Hermione had reacted no differently than she herself had when she was a younger woman, but to be honest, the circumstances were a bit different. At least her husband Jake was not a trouble magnet, though her own mother had not reacted much better than she did.

Still lost in thought she rose from her seat to refill her cup while absently glancing at the calendar. July 13th. It has been a full month to the day since her daughter ran away. The phone suddenly ringing broke her from her thoughts.

She tonelessly answered the phone. "Hello."

"…Hi Mum…"

Shocked she dumbly replied. "Hermione?"

"Yes Mum…"

Just hearing the voice of her beloved daughter brought tears to her eyes. "Honey are you okay? Where are you? When are you coming home? Your father and I have been frantic with worry over you. Please tell me that the Potter boy didn't do what the Headmaster said he did…"

"Wait a moment Mum, what did the Headmaster tell you?"

Not wanting to anger her daughter in to hanging up yet knowing she would if she didn't answer, Ellen told her. "He told us that Potter used some kind of potion to make you run with him. He told us he would extend all his influence to find you for us. We were hurt so much when you left Hermione. When we got your letters we didn't know what to think anymore. They read far too much like your normal letters for us to believe you were being magically controlled."

Her daughter half growled, half snorted. "First of all Mum, his name is Harry. Secondly Harry would never do anything like that. We have been seeing each other for two years now. I tried to tell you when you visited me at Hogwarts not to listen to what the Headmaster said. He has an unhealthy interest in Harry. As far as his influence goes, that's part of the reason I called. Because of Dumbledore, Harry's been hurt…"

"Are you okay Hermione? Please talk to me, I can see you care for the boy but right now I need to know how you are doing."

Ellen heard the sigh before Hermione started talking again. "I am okay now. I was hurt too but the healers here fixed me up. It's Harry I am worried for right now. That's part of why I called Mum. I… needed to hear your voice."

Ellen started to get a bit worried. "You were hurt? What happened? How? Why?" Ellen heard her daughter take in a deep breath and let it out a bit shakily before she started talking again.

"Dumbledore. He sent Hit Wizards after Harry. From what they said the story is I am the one who potioned Harry and made him run with me. They had no concern for my safety but as we were trying to get away we crashed Harry's motorcycle."

"I got away with a few broken bones, a lot of cuts and a more than a few abrasions. Harry got a lot of similar injuries but there…there's a complication. Harry's still in a coma. I don't know what happened to the Hit Wizards but I was told by the…main Healer here that Harry is in a bad way."

"Please tell me that Hit Wizard is something other than it sounds like…"

"Sorry Mum, it's exactly what it sounds like. Bounty Hunters. It was pure luck we didn't get killed, or worse, captured."

"What are you not telling me Hermione? What's going on? Please don't take this the wrong way but…why did you call? We didn't think you would by how your letters read."

"I…needed to hear your voice. Like I was saying, Harry's hurt badly. The Healer here said he might be able to help him. It's dangerous, not just for Harry…but for me too. I love him Mum. I'll do anything for him. Tonight, we are going to try and heal him. I…don't know what is going to happen. I won't lie, it's a bit risky but it's the only hope he has. I just wanted to tell you and dad…I love you."

Ellen began to feel true panic settle within her. When she spoke, she kept her voice level and tried to reason with her normally sensible daughter. "Hermione, please listen to me. We love you too, always know that."

"The way you are talking this sounds more than just a bit risky. Please consider what it is you are talking about. I know you care for him, but honey, you can't throw your life away for a boy. It's not worth it."

The phone was silent for a moment. "Okay Mum. I'll make you a deal. Answer me one question positively and truthfully, and I won't do this. As soon as Harry can be moved, we'll even come straight home."

Heart hammering within her breast Ellen hesitantly answered her daughter's challenge. "Okay…"

"Say Dad, was in the Hospital and needed a blood transfusion. The banks are dry and only you can give him enough to save his life."

"The problem is that he has lost a lot of blood and it would be unsafe for you to give as much as he needs. You have to choose, take a risk or let him die. Someone walks up to you, someone you trust with all your heart and tells you it's not worth it. Let Dad die so you can carry on."

"My question to you Mum. Do you let Dad die?"

Tears cascaded down her face as the import of her daughter's words rang within her. Her mouth was open but no words came out. Several seconds of silence past.

"I didn't think so… I love you; tell Dad I love him too. If things go well I will write you."

Her voice was choked, pleading. "Please…come home…"

"…When Harry wakes up…I will talk to him about it. After what happened…I don't know if that is such a good idea. Even if we do decide to come home, knowing Harry it won't be for some time. Goodbye Mum."

XxXDaRXxX

Within the Weasley Household it was not uncommon for there to be someone yelling for some reason. What was uncommon was for the yelling to come from their father, Arthur Weasley. Rarer was that he was yelling not at his children, but at his wife, Molly. It was this oddity that brought the two youngest skulking down the hall toward their parent's bedroom where they posted with ears against the wooden door listing in.

"I most assuredly will NOT accept the situation Arthur." Sounded the near shrieking voice of Molly Weasley. "They are far too young to be gallivanting about unsupervised. For Merlin's sake, that scarlet woman has already tempted him into her bed! How can even suggest I calm down and accept that?"

"Harry's a good boy in a very confusing time in his life He needs guidance and understanding, not wanton temptations. He needs a proper girl, not some gold digging tart! I had thought I had raised him better than this but he is at that time in his life where such temptations would overcome his upbringing… and why are you not upset about Harry being all alone out there with no one to protect him? He could get caught and killed by Death Eaters!"

Their fathers voice replied. "Because he's probably safer out there on his own than he his at Hogwarts! Bloody Hell, look at what he's had to deal with since he came back to our world."

"The boy's safer on his own than he is with his relatives or under Albus's eye in that Castle. He's less likely to face Death Eaters, You-Know-Who, Basilisks, Dementor's, Dragons, or mental Ministry workers out on his own."

"Things you can't say about Hogwarts! If we could have afforded it you'd best believe that I would have had our children enrolled anywhere but Hogwarts after what happened to Ginny."

"As far as the other issue, who would you suggest would fill the role of 'Proper Girl'?"

Not arguing his prior points the teens listened as their mother forged ahead. "Ginevera is a proper girl and she is besotted with the boy. A far better match than the hussy he is with now. Harry needs to be in a loving relationship built on mutual understanding and feeling. Ginevera was raised far better than to let a boy into her knickers until their wedding night as is proper."

Brother and sister both felt their eyes widen when their father laughed at her comments. "Really? Quite the imagination you have there Molly to think you raised young Harry because last I checked he was a Potter, NOT a Weasley."

Their mother snorted at his comment. "He's as good as! He's spent the last three summers under my care. Why, if not for me that young man would have starved to death because of those muggles he's forced to live with."

"And whose fault is THAT?" The Weasley Patriarch shouted. "No Molly, I will tell you who, Dumbledore! He has single handily blocked all attempts by Sirius, me, McGonagall, Moody, Longbottom, Bones, and several other families to take him in and away from those people. DUMBLEDORE, whom you seem to see no fault in no matter what anyone tells you, is the reason Harry was raised the way he was!"

"And as far as Ginevera and Harry being together, what did you have in mind? Potion the boy until he agrees to a Marriage Contract?"

It was dead silent for several seconds. Suddenly their father's voice rose to new levels previously only matched by his wife. "ARE YOU INSANE? Do you have any idea what could happen if you tried to manipulate him? Have you forgotten what we owe Harry?"

By the tone in her voice the eavesdropping teens could tell their mother was unimpressed. "She is a proper girl that will take care of Harry in the ways he needs. The boy just needs a bit of a push to see what a wonderful young woman Ginevera is since he's been blinded by pleasures of the flesh from that…"

"Stop! A bit of a push? Love potions do not equal a bit of a push! Their restricted for a bloody reason! Harry is obviously deeply committed to Hermione, which would negate the lower class of potions! That only work when the subject is not already committed emotionally to another, you know that as much as I do."

"Let me remind you of a few things Molly, and you had better listen to me! First consider what would happen if Ginevera was caught with a restricted potion. She could have her wand snapped and forced to live as a muggle if convicted. And mark my words with Harry's current popularity I have little doubt that she would be!"

"Second, do you honestly think Hermione is just going to allow this to take place? Just going from what little we know of her personally I can tell you she would demolish Ginevera in a Witches Duel. Considering she is as good as Harry's Intended, she is well within her rights to do so!"

"Have you even considered the Life Debt our daughter owes Harry? Life Debts are almost impossible to create because one party must be in danger through no fault of their own while the other party has to willingly, and for no selfish reasons seeking no gain in any way shape or form, save them."

"We both know there are only two ways to get out of one. Ginny has to either save Harry's life in a manner of equal or greater danger than she herself was saved or bind herself to him until he calls the debt fulfilled."

Ginny felt her jaw drop at the revelation. She had never considered the fact she owed Harry a Life Debt or what it would mean. She vaguely noted Ron's faced seem to purple a bit while he scowled at this bit of news. They continued to listen as their mother huffed at their father's points while her father continued.

"According to Ginevera, who other than Harry was the only witness to what happened in the Chamber, Harry fought a Sixty foot Basilisk! That monstrosity was over a thousand years old and Harry killed it! At Twelve! WITH A BLOODY SWORD OF ALL THINGS!"

"How, by Morgan's frigid arse, do you expect our daughter to top THAT? What can our daughter defend Harry against that beats something that kills with a look, has poisonous venom that has only ONE cure, has a body that is almost unassailable by magical or non-magical means, and do it without magic, and with a ruddy blade! Molly, it can't be done! She would have to kill You-Know-Who himself to have the debt nullified!"

"What do you think Harry's response to your trying to control him is going to be when he finds out? No, Molly, he will find out, make no mistake. This is Harry Bloody Potter we are talking about! If he doesn't figure it out you can bet Hermione will! Have you even thought of the consequences of this?"

"Harry could call the debt due at ANY time. If Harry decides that Ginevera has betrayed him he can, as is his right by the magical laws that govern these kinds of debts, bind her to him as his Concubine! Our only daughter will be no better than a house-elf or pleasure slave. Is that the life you want for our daughter?"

Molly's voice challenged, but sounded a bit unsure to the listeners. "Harry wouldn't do that, he's a good boy…"

"Like Hell he wouldn't! Dumbledore tried to take Hermione from him and they did a runner! Do you honestly think that Harry would not see the value of binding Ginny to him over this plan of yours?"

"If he didn't, I would wager our last knut Hermione would. You want them together, and for the prank alone I can easily see him taking our daughter as his Concubine to give that to you, and he would STILL have Hermione! And even as her father, I wouldn't be able to blame him if he did! It would be his right by honor and magic."

"Now don't forget that I also owe Harry. If not for Harry I would have died by You-Know-Who's snake! I don't care how he knew, I don't care how he saw it, I know he did and because of him getting to Dumbledore and telling him I am alive. Unlike you, I haven't forgotten what I owe the boy. Understand I have no intention of forgetting it either. It is only because of Harry I am even alive to have this argument with you!"

Both teens shook their heads as their father kept raging against their mother. Both slightly shocked and awed at his staying power which until this moment only their mother ever attained. "And what about the Twins? Were you aware that Harry gave them a thousand Galleons to start their business? For no other reason than for friendship Harry gave our son's, whom you said would never amount to anything, a Thousand Galleons to start their joke shop. Who gives away that much money for Friendship?"

"Bloody Hell, they make almost as much as Bill does on a good dig for Gringotts! The difference is Bill has to get lucky to get the bonus reward; they do it each and every month! They even have a premise in Diagon alley. Our sons who only got three O.W.L.s each and who don't even have their N.E.W.T.'s, who are barley of age, run a successful business in one of the only market centers of our kind. And it's all thanks to Harry!"

"Half our family owes Harry for one reason or another and I will be damned if I am going to let you forget that. You keep prattling on about what we owe Dumbledore, We don't owe him Shite! It is Harry whom we owe, two of us for our very lives, and two others for their livelihood and dreams. What has Dumbledore done for us compared to Harry?"

Molly's voice rose to match her husband's pitch. "They are too young to be acting in such Adult ways! It's just not done Arthur, it's not proper!"

The Head of Clan Weasley laughed. "According to whom? You? I still have the marks on my back Molly when I got caught by Apollyon Pringle the night we made love by the lake during our fifth year at Hogwarts."

"We were the same ages as they are now. You weren't so 'proper' then as I recall. Not even ten lashes from Pringles whip could wipe the smile off my face from that night. For Merlin's sake Molly, I was raw for three days! And I am not talking about my BACK!"

"That was different; Arthur and you know it…"

XxXDaRXxX

The youngest of the Weasley men paced his room. To say he was angry would have been an understatement. He was apoplectic with rage at what he had learned.

"Always knew there was something there going on behind my back… Harry bloody Potter gets everything. Money, fame, and now the bloody girl."

Ron stopped pacing a moment to look out his bedroom window. He could still hear his parents arguing somewhere in the house but he tuned it out. "He knew, Harry knew I liked her... He could have had anyone, anyone!"

Just as quickly as it came the fires within him burned out. Ron sat down on his bed brokenly. At least now he knew who she was seeing when she refused him. Not that the knowledge did anything for making him feel any better.

Five years of friendship gone. Ron shook his head as the situation really hit him. He couldn't do it. There was no way he could sit there smiling and be happy for Harry and Hermione when he loved her too. It would drive him barmy. So really, this was it. After everything they've done. After all their adventures in last five years, it was over.

His anger at Harry was still boiling in him. Ron's longing for Hermione reached out to the girl who didn't love him back. Ron half growled, half sighed as he flopped back on his bed. He felt like such a fool. How long did they hide this from him? Why didn't they tell him? Why didn't Hermione choose him instead of Harry?

Why did it suck so much to be Ron Weasley?

XxXDaRXxX

Ginny Weasley found herself later sitting by the swimming pond close to their family home deep in thought. The argument between her parents weighed heavily on her mind for several reasons and she had been here for some time thinking it through.

Her hand reached into her robes and withdrew a small stoppered vial. The noonday sun sparkled along the fine crystal as she slowly uncorked it. Twin spiraling wisps of smoke began to drift from the small neck; its mother of pearl sheen almost seemed to glow in the light.

Her mother had given her the vial a few days ago telling her how she was to use it. Not a lot, just a small dash into a confection or drink. Not enough for the full effects to take place, but just enough so that Harry would notice her.

As she contemplated the little vial she was hit by the smell. Fresh Rain, the musky sent of a quaffles leather, and something that was uniquely Harry. She recognized it from when he held her after he rescued her from Tom. The only other times she had smelled it was after Quidditch practice before he showered or during the few rigorous training sessions with the D.A. It was…a very pleasant scent.

Ginny admitted to herself that she was desperate enough to think of potions even before her Mother gave her the vial. Harry didn't notice her as a girl; just the sister to his friend Ron and it drove her mad.

She wanted him. There was something about him, his passionately intense soul searing eyes, or his constantly tousled 'just been shagged rotten' hair that made her shiver with desire. The few times during the last year when he would help her with her spell work in the illegal D.A. he had stood behind her helping her with wand movements. His voice so close to her ear it set her nerves on fire and filled her mind with all sorts of naughty things. She'd crushed and wanted him so much the longing was almost a painful experience.

Ginny continued the contemplation of the vial held lightly in her fingers. Could she do this? It's not like she was trying to enslave him, just get him to notice her as something more than Ron's sister. She wasn't bad looking; at least she didn't think so. She was definitely better looking than Hermione. She was thinner than Hermione and had a far better figure. She had noticed other boy's looks of appreciation of her physical assets so she knew she had something the male gender liked.

Granted her breasts were not as large as say, the Slytherin Daphne Greengrass, who had huge bits, still she always felt her B cups fit her frame. They shared a lot more interests than he did with Hermione too, they both loved to play Quidditch, whereas Hermione barely had a working knowledge of the sport.

Still, her father was right about one thing, even having this potion in her possession could get her in a lot of trouble with the Ministry. Getting caught using it against Harry would be catastrophic.

Ginny sighed, not to even think of the Life Debt she did owe him, and her father was right again, there was no way other than binding herself to Harry for her to repay it. Harry had saved her from Tom by vanquishing his memory. She would have to do something of the same, which meant killing.

She didn't even know if she could kill another human, much less He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She had a hard enough time killing the chickens her mother raised. She was absolutely sure she didn't have the magical knowledge or power to do in the greatest dark wizard of the century, even if she had the willingness to do the deed itself. If she was honest with herself, she was not even sure Harry had that kind of power.

Which put her back on the binding herself to Harry. Her mother made a good point that being his wife, a title she would love to have, would satisfy the debt. But, if she crossed the line Harry was within his rights to claim her as his concubine, a position that she really didn't want to consider.

She was far too independent to be a slave, even if it was to Harry. What kind of life was that? Unable to have children unless he allowed it, assuming he even touched her in that manner. Considering his relationship with Hermione she would most likely be his house-elf. Maybe the Nanny to his and Hermione's children. Ginny shivered. No, that was not a life she wanted to have. Forever in subservience to him while watching him make babies with another girl.

A frown etched across her face. And what about Hermione? She owed Hermione too. She had been like the big sister she never had for the last couple of years. It was largely thanks to Hermione that she had recovered from Toms possession of her that first year. She was only able to talk to the older girl about it, and she had helped her so much.

Gryffindor Girls had a code of honor. They did not attempt to take the boy of another for any reason. Of course, like any rule, this did not seem to apply where Harry is concerned. It was an open hidden fact that any girl who managed to get her nails into the Boy-Who-Lived would have to fight to keep him. Hermione knew this as much as anyone.

Ginny nodded. That would explain why they kept it a secret then.

She felt tears began to fall down her face as she tipped the little bottle over allowing the potion to spill out into the pond. No, she would not do this. She was better than this. If by some chance they didn't work out, she would seek her claim then. Until then, if such a time ever happens, she would not interfere in their relationship. She owed the pair of them too much. She would just have to take Hermione's advice and seek another to be with. A boy who could see her as a girl, and maybe if she was lucky, would love her like Harry did Hermione.

Ginny stood up and held her head high. Yes, it was going to hurt. Yes it was going to be hard. But it was time let go of her girlhood crush. She was not sure that she could be friends with them anytime soon, and it hurt a bit at the loss, but she would not interfere. Maybe…maybe sometime in the future she could get over this and be there for them, but not right now. Right now she hurt too much.

She started to retrace her steps back to the Burrow. Once again she held up the little empty vial. The debt very much on her mind as a thought occurred to her. Whether she left them alone or not, the debt will always be there unless something was done about it.

Still contemplating the vial Ginny's eyes narrowed at the path her thoughts were taking her. The question was, could she actually pull it off?

Authors Notes:

Okay, Chapter Six revision is done. For those of you interested in the story instead of my drivel, by all means leave a review telling me what you think of this chapter, and then hit that 'Next' button. Enjoy the read. As always thank you to all reviews and readers. You are noticed and appreciated.

Fic Recommendation: The Ties That Bind by ExcalibursZone.