AN: I'm very sorry for not updating sooner. Life has been so crazy. I spent most of last week in the hospital since my mom donated her kidney. She was having a really hard time and I needed to take care of her. I should be updating more regularly now that she's doing better. Once again anything you recognize is JK Rowling's anything you don't is mine.
Red hair blurred in and out of my vision as someone stood above me trying to help. But how was he here? He had left us after he thought Harry and I were cheating.
"Ron?" I asked my voice hoarse.
"Shhh its okay." Ron said wiping my face with a warm cloth. But it wasn't okay. Something felt completely off in my body.
"What's wrong with me?" I asked dully fighting my body trying to get the answers from Ron who was going in and out of focus.
"You reopened your fallopian tubes after the fight with the snake. I healed them so you should feel better in a few days." I nodded stiffly and gasped out a pained breath.
"How did you come back?" I asked trying to keep my focus on him but everything was spinning again.
"Kreacher came and got me. He knew I could help you two." He said carefully lifting my head and slid a pillow under my head. "And Hermione guess what?"
"What?" I asked trying desperately to stay awake.
"I killed the Horcrux." Ron said his eyes shining brightly. "It fought back but I stabbed it with the basilisk fang."
"Brilliant." I muttered trying to make the world stop spinning.
"Sleep Hermione. I'm not going anywhere."
Severus POV
I sat at my desk a glass of Firewhiskey in my hand listening to the radio.
"We apologize for our temporary absence from the airwaves, which was due to a number of house calls in our area by those charming Death Eaters."
Lee Jordan was talking and I could easily hear the smile in his voice
"We now found ourselves another secure location," Lee was saying, "and I'm pleased to tell you that two of our regular contributors have joined me here this evening. Evening, friends!"
"Hi." A young female voice said.
"Evening, River." Sirius said a smile in his voice. I relaxed back against the chair in relief. It was so good to hear him.
"But before we hear from Padfoot and Butterfly," Lee went on, "let's take a moment to report those deaths that the Wizarding Wireless Network News and Daily Prophet don't think important enough to mention. It is with great regret that we inform our listeners of the murders of Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell."
I gripped the table fiercly and blew out a heavy breath. Poor Tonks. She would be devastated. The girl had loved her father very much.
"A goblin by the name of Gornuk was also killed. It is believed that Muggle-born Dean Thomas and a second goblin, both believed to have been traveling with Tonks, Cresswell, and Gornuk, may have escaped. If Dean is listening, or if anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts, his parents and sisters are desperate for news."
I covered my face with my hands and blew out a heavy breath. It was a good thing Dean went on the run. He didn't know it but he was a half-blood. His father had been cornered by the Death Eaters and he denied them. Unfortunately denying them isn't the best idea. The killed him in cold blood.
"Meanwhile, in Gaddley, a Muggle family of five has been found dead in their home. Muggle authorities are attributing their deaths to a gas leak, but members of the Order of the Phoenix inform me that it was the Killing Curse – more evidence, as if it were needed, of the fact that Muggle slaughter is becoming little more than a recreational sport under the new regime.
"Finally, we regret to inform our listeners that the remains of Bathilda Bagshot have been discovered in Godric's Hollow. The evidence is that she died several months ago. The Order of the Phoenix informs us that her body showed unmistakable signs of injuries inflicted by Dark Magic.
"Listeners, I'd like to invite you now to join us in a minute's silence in memory of Ted Tonks, Dirk Cresswell, Bathilda Bagshot, Gornuk, and the unnamed, but no less regretted, Muggles murdered by the Death Eaters."
I silently hung my head and wiped at my eyes. This was quickly becoming unbearable. All the senseless slaughter and death. I loathed every minute of it.
"Thank you," Lee said softly "And now we can return to regular contributor Padfoot, for an update on how the new Wizarding order is affecting the Muggle world."
"Thanks, River," Sirius said his voice somber.
"Muggles remain ignorant of the source of their suffering as they continue to sustain heavy casualties," Sirius said. "However, we continue to hear truly inspirational stories of wizards and witches risking their own safety to protect Muggle friends and neighbors, often without the Muggles' knowledge. I'd like to appeal to all our listeners to emulate their example, perhaps by casting a protective charm over any Muggle dwellings in your street. Many lives could be saved if such simple measures are taken. Romulus and myself were able to save over half of who would have been muggle-born first years. In fact Butterfly is one of them."
"Hi everyone." Butterfly said softly her voice hushed.
"My wife is also muggle-born and she is probably one of the brightest witches I've ever met. She has had prejudices thrown at her since she came to our world. There is no difference between us in the end. Only our parentage. You should strive to save every life you can pure-blood, half-blood, muggle-born or muggle."
"And what would you say, Padfoot, to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times, it should be 'Wizards first'?" Lee asked.
"I'd say that it's one short step from 'Wizards first' to 'Pure-bloods first,' and then to 'Death Eaters,'" Sirius replied. "We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."
"Excellently put, Padfoot, and you've got my vote for Minister of Magic if we ever get out of this mess," Lee said with a laugh. Sirius and I snorted at the same time. "Is there anything else you would like to say?"
"Yes. To my beautiful wife who is working hard to take down the head death eater. I love and believe in you."
AN: Please Review! It helps more than you realize.