The days that Harry, Ron and Hermione spent at Shell Cottage passed quickly. The trio had plenty left to complete in their task of destroying horcruxes, and time was dwindling. It wasn't long before their journey had lead them back to Hogwarts for the first time in months. After successfully breaking into and out of Gringotts, the three friends landed in the home of Aberforth Dumbledore, with the latest of the critically sought after horcruxes. The cup of Helga Hufflepuff was now in their possession. It's dark magic pulsed inside Hermione's bag, where it awaited it's fate; the destruction of its existence. Though they had gained the horcrux in the mission into the Gringotts Bank, Harry, Ron and Hermione had been left wit swordless due to Griphook and his unforgiving faults. There were no other options available, they were forced to move forward with their search for the next horcrux.
Tipped off by the connection Harry shared with Voldemort, he was able to see that a horcrux had been hidden in the castle some time ago. Hermione, Ron and Harry landed in Hogsmead, where Aberforth was able to reunite them with the other members of Dumbledore's Army. Neville lead them from Aberforth's home at the Hog's Head Inn, to the Hogwarts Castle through an underground passage from Hogsmead. His whispers of horror stories depicted new life at Hogwarts. They filled the tunnel with a cold, uneasy atmosphere. The three of them exchanged glances while the stories Neville told them quietly echoed through the passageway. The wounds inflicted upon Neville's face were the caused a shared concern between them. Neville however, beamed proudly in the dim light of the torches that lined the tunnel that they briskly strode down.
"Gran's on the run." He told them. "She sent me a letter telling me that she was proud of me, that I'm my parents' son, and to keep it up."
Everyone smiled back at Neville. Hogwarts had been held together through Neville's efforts and Ron, Harry and Hermione were equally as proud as Neville's Gran in that moment.
They finally reached the end of the passage, and Neville smiled in anticipation of what awaited the group on the other side of the door.
"Look who it is!" Neville called loudly to the crowd of their classmates who stood below them. Ron heard echoes of his name along with Harry and Hermione's throughout the Room of Requirement, booming from all the familiar faces. They greeted all of their classmates. They all exchanged stories briefly, applauding one another for their efforts over the recent months they had been separated, but time was cut short as the horcrux awaited them somewhere in the castle. The crowd stood in silence as Harry explained what is was they were searching for. He told them that the item they were searching for might have belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw. Ron and Hermione stood by his side waiting to see if there were any ideas as to what the item may be.
"Well, that's her lost diadem." Luna informed them confidently. Although it wasn't much to go on, it was more than anything else they had, so Harry and Luna proceeded to Ravenclaw tower to begin the search for the diadem.
Hermione looked anxiously at Ron as Harry and Luna took their exit through the small cupboard door that took them down a staircase to the castle corridor.
"What now?" Ron asked her, hoping she had some direction for him.
She shook her head aimlessly.
"I don't know." She looked back into Ron's eyes.
Fred and George approached the two friends with excitement. Both twins took turns pulling Ron and Hermione into strong embraces as they told them the events leading up to the Weasley family's retreat into hiding. Ginny gripped Ron's hand for the first time in months and he smiled down to her, while Fred and George proudly expressed their excitement over potterwatch. He took comfort in the moment he shared with his siblings. For the first time in longer than he could remember, he was at ease knowing his family was safe and together. He looked happily to Hermione, who was following the George's account of potterwatch during their time in hiding. While she enthusiastically took in the information, nodding occasionally, Ron was reminded of her family. And as he stood happily surrounded by his family, Hermione stood surrounded by none of hers, still unaware of their whereabouts or their safety. Ron extended his arm and pulled his sister close to him. He kissed the top of her fiery head, and extended a second arm. He wrapped it across Hermione's shoulder and pulled her close, too. She and Harry were just as much a part of the Weasley family as he was, and he took comfort in their safety as well.
Hermione leaned her head to Ron's shoulder and returned her attention back to Fred and George. Ron directed his attention back to them as well, when all of a sudden he was hit with a wave of realization.
"Hermione!" Ron interrupted a gripping tale of a dim-witted snatcher illustrated by Fred. "Hermione, the sword!"
"What is it, Ron?" she asked, her eyes anxiously shifting from one curious Weasley face to the next.
"Uh," Ron smiled awkwardly to his siblings before stepping away from the group. Hermione joined him and leaned into his whispers, confused about Ron's sudden outburst.
"The blade, Hermione!" Ron whispered excitedly. "You said that Goblin made blades imbibe only that which strengthen them!"
"Ya that's right, but what-"
"The basilisk Hermione! The sword could destroy the horcuxes because it took in the venom of the basilisk."
Hermione's eyes shot open, wide with the realization of what Ron was saying.
"There's a dead basilisk here, Hermione! And its venom has already destroyed one horcrux!" Ron said to her hurriedly as she nodded with his words. "We have to go into the Chamber of Secrets!"
"Ronald, that's brilliant!" said Hermione looking bewildered.
Ron's cheeks flushed pink as Hermione admired his contribution. He pulled his eyes from her excited ones, and scanned across the Room of Requirement. It was filling quickly with parents and members of the Order as they filed gradually through the passage entrance. The room was becoming hectic, but Ron's eyes finally landed on the broomsticks that were propped against the bookcase on the far side of the room. Ron looked back to Hermione, adrenaline shooting through him. She met his gaze supportively, assuring him of his plan.
"Let's go."