Have I been sitting writing fanfiction instead of doing the college work I should be working on? Yes, I think I have! This chapter might be a little confusing, but all will make sense in due time.
I know my chapters are a little short, but that's how I roll. I try to make them as long as I can, but I'm also a sucker for cliffhangers.
It was becoming dark outside, and Hermione and Harry still weren't making progress.
"Oh, this is useless!" Hermione wailed, tossing 'Unicorn Recipes' on top of the pile on the table. She had been through the book twice to make sure that she wasn't missing anything. She found nothing relating to a hat, or indeed Unicorn skin.
They had been in the Ministry's huge, dimly lit library for hours, and hadn't found anything on the Cult of Angau at all. The truth was, they didn't even know where to start. It was a scene reminiscent of their time at Hogwarts. Of course, there was something missing.
Harry was looking through a pile of maps, his scarred forehead creased in frustration. At the sound of her voice, he had glanced up, then returned his gaze to the map he was reading, pushing one in front of Hermione.
Hermione surveyed the map in front of her. Her attention drew immediately to a small muggle town just south of where Bowstern's Manor had been. There was something about the layout that bothered her. In the centre of the town there was a church whose name sounded oddly familiar to her.
"Dirkstone Abbey.." Hermione read aloud. Searching her brain, she knew there was something that was bothering her. She just couldn't figure out what or why.
"Have you found something?" Harry asked, hopeful.
"Probably not." Hermione said with a sigh. "It's just... Dirkstone Abbey. It sounds familiar."
The clock on the wall behind Harry was ticking away. Harry glanced around at it and frowned. "Eleven o'clock. Ginny's going to kill me."
"Maybe just hex." Hermione attempted a half hearted joke, then looked serious again. "I think we should call it a night, Harry.
Harry nodded in agreement, gathering up the maps he had in his hands. Hermione grabbed the map she had been studying, vowing to herself to do a little more research on Dirkstone Abbey when she returned tomorrow. They couldn't just crash a Muggle church without a good reason, she reminded herself. A hunch just wasn't good enough.
They were walking back through the Ministry corridor leading to the chamber where they had apparated from earlier that day, when a surge of realisation hit Hermione. She froze, and looked at Harry."Didn't Ginny say you had guests over?"
Harry nodded grimly. "Not only will I be hexed by Ginny, Mrs Weasley will be there to help her as well."
Hermione suppressed a snicker. Ginny was usually understanding about Harry's late nights - still, the vision of the two redheads chasing Harry around the small two bedroom apartment amused her.
Hornrock was waiting for them in front of the chamber. His face had a deadpan expression that Hermione couldn't quite read. Had he been waiting on them? How long had he been waiting for?
"Granger, Potter." Hornrock nodded curtly as Hermione and Harry reached him. "How did you get on?"
Reading the bleak expressions on their faces, Hornrock's shoulders fell slightly with a sigh.
"Sorry sir." Hermione replied, bowing her head slightly. "There's not much to go on, we're trying our hardest."
Hornrock nodded, glancing around the corridor to check it was empty. Hermione noticed that he was holding a rather sinister looking book entitled 'The Price of Blood'and shuddered. Whatever Hornrock had to say to them, Hermione hoped that it wasn't to do with the contents of the book. Of course, her hope was proven to be short lived.
"I've been doing a bit of research of my own." Offered Hornrock, holding out the eerie book in front of Hermione. "Page 97."
Hermione opened up the book, and both she and Harry peered almost hesitantly at the page. A picture of a glorious looking pointed white wizard's hat lay on page 97, with a small paragraph below it.
Very little has been documented about the Ancient Hat of the Anara tribe since its disappearance from the Tomb of Dagda in the early 1900's. The hat allows the wearer unspeakable powers, and can only be activated by the drinker of the potion of Anala by the light of a full moon.
This was it. They knew exactly when the potion was going to be used. Horror struck, Hermione looked up from the book and looked at her boss.
"The full moon falls on the second week of March" Hornrock told them, surveying the expressions on their faces. "Now, not to worry. Now we know exactly how much time we have. Still, I suggest getting this whole business over with sooner rather than later."
Hermione and Harry both nodded, but Hermione had a sinking feeling in her stomach, and judging by Harry's pained expression, she wasn't the only one. At least when they had nothing to go on, the reality of the hat being used had seemed distant. This had just brought everything crashing forward. They had to deal with this as soon as they could.
Saying their goodbyes to Hornrock, Hermione and Harry once again entered the chamber to make their journeys home.
"Well, we can carry on our research in the morning." Hermione said to Harry, squeezing his shoulder gently. "Give my love to Ginny."
"Wait, aren't you coming with me?" Harry asked, perplexed. Hermione paused to look at her friend's face and frowned.
"Harry, it's nearly twelve o'clock at night. I don't think Ginny had counted on us working for so long when she invited me back."
Harry chuckled, pulling Hermione to his side. "Knowing my mother in law, she'll be sitting up waiting for us. Come on!" He insisted. Without another word, Harry disappeared with a crack, pulling Hermione with him.
They appeared once again in Harry and Ginny's dark hallway. It was pitch black save for a light where the living room was. Hermione strained her ears a little. She could hear two female voices coming from the living room. They were still awake after all.
"Harry? Is that you?" Came Ginny's worried tone from the living room. Shrugging of his cloak, Harry motioned for Hermione to follow him.
"Oh hello, Harry dear!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed with a smile, scooping her son in law into a tight embrace. Spotting Hermione, her smile widened. The plump woman pulled Hermione into the same embrace.
"Hermione! I wasn't expecting to see you here, dear. Ginny mentioned you had been invited back, but we weren't sure if it would be to late for you."
Hermione could smell the firewhiskey on Mrs Weasleys breath. This had been quite common since Ron's disappearance. The admirable woman had held it together well through Fred's death, she and Arthur being the pillars that held the family up. She hadn't counted on losing a second child so suddenly, and Ron's disappearance had taken it's toll on her. Hermione took in the appearance of the small woman in front of her. Had she been eating properly? She knew that Molly Weasley was usually to busy making sure everyone else was okay, that she sometimes neglected her on well being. The loss of her children had weakened her.
She remembered sadly the first time she had ever saw Molly Weasley fall apart. Usually a strong confident woman, life had dealt her a poor hand. It was about a month after Ron had gone that she broke down into heart wrenching sobs, with only Ginny and Hermione in the room. She had confessed that she felt she had failed as a mother, and that Fred and Ron would still be there if she had been paying more attention to them. It took a good few hours for Hermione and Ginny to calm the poor woman down, explaining that she was in no way to blame for the loss of her sons.
Feeling a surge of empathy for Ron's mother, Hermione threw her arms around her.
Hermione, Harry and Mrs Weasley sat up late into the night discussing recent developments in their lives. Harry and Hermione were never allowed to discuss work, of course, but they listened intently as Mrs Weasley told them about how Bill and Fleur were looking for a new cottage, and how Fred, the son of Angelina and George, had started to talk, although Mrs Weasley refused to utter his first word. Apparently it had been something rude. Hermione suppressed a laugh as she was telling the story. How could it be anything else? "I just hope my future grandchild doesn't pick up this behaviour!" She shot a sharp glance at Ginny's stomach.
Stifling a yawn, Hermione rose from the dining table that they had all placed themselves at. It was two o'clock already, and she and Harry had a lot of work to get on with the next day. Mrs Weasley stumbled up from her chair, squeezing Hermione again. "It was great to see you dear!" the woman grinned.
"You too, Mrs Weasley." Hermione forced a polite smile. She could barely hold her eyes open, never mind apparate out of the house. Ginny seemed to notice this, and rose from the table as well.
"I'll walk you to your room." Ginny smiled kindly. "No, you're far to tired to go home." She shot down the protest that was forming on Hermione's lips. "Come on."
Hermione followed wordlessly, too tired to argue. After saying her good nights, she was left in the darkness to her thoughts. Her head swimming with the events of the day, Hermione felt her eyes get heavier.
She was looking at small, dark room that was completely empty, apart from the figures of two men. The first one had his wand in his hand, holding it at the other. The second man was standing against the wall, his wrists and ankles held in cuffs. He seemed weak, yet still struggled to get free. Neither of the two seemed to notice Hermione's presence.
The two men came more into focus, and Hermione's heart skipped a beat. The pale freckled face, red haired man looked completely different to when Hermione had last saw him, but she could never mistake him for anyone else. The rags he was wearing barely covered his flesh. The top half sat from the top of his chest to just above his stomach, the rips showing his clearly weakened muscles. Red stubble covered his chin and upper lip.
'Now, let's try this again." the other man began, walking towards his target. He was a cloaked, hooded figure that Hermione could not make out. "Where is the horn?"
"No matter how many times you ask, I won't help you." the prisoner said weakly.
Hermione's heart sunk to the bottom of her stomach as the hooded figure screeched "CRUCIO!", causing the captive man to let out a painful sounding yelp and to shake violently. Hermione let out a whimper, but neither man seemed to notice. She couldn't find her voice or feet. Somehow she knew she wasn't really there with them.
"No matter, Weasley." The hooded figure drawled, eyeing the man in front of him. "I'll get you soon enough. Although, perhaps one more for good measure."
The captured man, panting with pain, put on a brave face as the hooded man raised his wand once more. "CRUC-"
"-NO!" Screamed Hermione, shooting up from the bed as the covers dropped from her. Hermione panted. She had grasping tightly onto the locket. "Ron..." she breathed weakly, tears streaming from her eyes.
Enjoying this story so far? Why don't you throw me a review? Thanks to everyone who has done so so far. It's what makes it all worth it! Although more reviews would be appreciated :)
The last few chapters have been posted pretty quickly one after the other, but I'm not sure how quickly I can get the next one out to you guys. I've a busy week ahead of me, and will be working on the chapter in my spare time. I've already written half of it, but it needs much revision and of course, a second half. I can promise you I will have it uploaded by the end of the week, though!