"We have Aurors surrounding the perimeter of the flat. How Alexis got through Weasley's wards is beyond me but she has placed her own now and we can't get in. We have to lure her out somehow." In a hospital conference room, Monroe was filling Harry in.
"Is Christine hurt?"
"Not that we can tell. And Alexis hasn't made any demands yet." There was a knock at the door and Ginny popped her head in.
"Harry, Hermione is asking for you."
Harry and Monroe headed to Ron's room. He was still unconscious and Hermione had not moved from his side but she was sitting down.
"What's happening at the flat?" Hermione demanded.
Monroe answered, "Mrs. Granger-Weasley, we don't know much. What we know is Alexis and the muggle woman, Christine Magnussen, are inside and alive."
"She's made no demands?" Hermione asked.
"None." Harry answered, "We just have to wait for her to make a move."
"No." Hermione said as she stood up, "We've waited for her to make a move for too long. I want to go to the flat. I think it's me she wants to see anyway."
"For Merlin's sake, Hermione! You can't just waltz into the flat and have a chat with a deranged witch."
"I do have some experience with deranged witches Harry." Harry eyed her stonily.
"If you think I am going to let you go in there, you've misjudged me, Hermione."
"If you think I am asking your permission to enter my own flat and face the woman trying to kill my husband, you have seriously misjudged me, Harry." Hermione responded as her volume increased.
"I will not have that man," pointing at Ron's sleeping form, "wake up and have to explain to him that his wife is dead because I couldn't protect her. No way, Hermione, it will kill him."
"Harry," she started to respond.
"Enough!" Monroe said and the two stood down. "Mrs. Granger-Weasley, you are not a trained Auror. War hero or not, you are not trained for these situations. I cannot allow you to go into that flat alone. There is no argument on that fact."
"Thank you, sir," Harry said as he let out a frustrated breath.
"No so fast, Potter," Monroe continued, "If the healers are right about this side effect, I am even more convinced that who Alexis really wants to torture is Hermione. Therefor I think sending her into the flat makes sense."
"Thank you, sir." Hermione said, triumphantly.
Monroe sighed, "You two are exhausting. Anyway, she will go in with protection."
"What if Alexis won't allow it?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Monroe contemplated.
"I know what we'll do," Harry said. "Monroe, walk with me to the Floo, I need to fetch something. Hermione, you stay here until I come back."
"But," Hermione started.
"Please," Harry pleaded, "Trust me."
"Fine, I'll be waiting." She said.
Ginny stretched her legs out on the couch she was occupying and said, "Monroe is right, you two are exhausting when you fight."
Hermione didn't apologize but did look sheepish, knowing she'd made a bit of a scene. But she was tired of sitting on the side lines letting things happen to her. She needed to take control.
Harry entered the room with Healers Cruz and Tate and addressed the family.
"Hermione is coming with the Aurors to the flat, we'll review the plan on the way over. While we are away, the Healers are going to closely monitor Ron in case anything changes which given how Alexis has manipulated the curse so far is possible. We need you three," Harry indicated Ginny and her parents, "to stay with Ron. With any luck this will all be over soon."
Hermione squeezed Ron's hand and whispered in his ear, "I'm coming back, I promise. You just wait for me for a little bit. I love you, Ronald Weasley." She kissed him gently on the lips and let go of his hand for the first time since arriving in the room.
She turned to Molly and Arthur who engulfed her in a hug, "Please be careful dear. Be on guard with a witch like her." Molly said.
"I will. I watched you take down Bellatrix, Molly, I have a good example to follow." Molly smiled and hugged her again. Hermione crossed to Ginny who she also hugged.
"When you come back, remind me to tell you something." Ginny said.
"Tell me what? You know I hate suspense."
"No, this can wait. Just be careful, we all need you."
Hermione hugged Ginny again and nodded.
"You ready for this?" Harry asked.
"Yes." She responded assuredly. "It's time to end this." She turned to the room again and added, "I love you all." And she and Harry left the room.
Harry appareted Hermione to an alley along her and Ron's flat which was acting as the Auror check point for this operation. Harry quickly explained the plan he, Monroe and Brock had conceived. There were definite holes in the plan but she couldn't think of any other way to do it.
"Ok, Granger-Weasley," Monroe said, "We anticipate once you make yourself visible in front of the flat, she'll lift the wards for you to enter but only for a moment so don't hesitate. If, at any point, you think you can lift the anti apparition wards, non-verbally, do it. But don't push it, she's volatile. Remember, our main objective is free the Muggle hostage and prevent Alexis from doing any more damage to Ron and keep you alive."
"So simple, easy to achieve objectives." Hermione sighed.
"You can do this Hermione," Harry said, "If anyone can, it's you." Though Harry had been against Hermione being active in this operation he knew there was no way around it. And now it was important to support her instead of question the decision.
"Alright," Brock said, "We better get started, we don't want to keep Alexis waiting." Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and walked her out of the alley. He noticed her hand was shaking.
"Remember you are a powerful and formidable witch, Hermione Granger-Weasley, you can do this." He hugged her tightly.
"Thanks Harry," she whispered. She entered the tulip lined walkway that led to the front entrance of the flat. All the Aurors were out of sight but she stood there in fading day light waiting. A few anxious minutes passed before the shimmer of protective wards appeared and formed an opening for her walk through; she took a deep breath and stepped through. Mere seconds later, the opening was closed again and Hermione rushed into the building, to top floor where theirs was the only flat. As she approached the door, she took another deep breath and as she went to knock, the door swung open. On instinct Hermione shot a protective shield up and good thing to because Alexis had shot Expelliarmus at her.
"Nice protective shield, Mudblood." Alexis's deep, raspy voice called out. Hermione, still holding the shield up entered her lounge and found Alexis standing in front of floo with her foot holding a terrified Christine on ground.
"I think introductions are in order, Mudblood, don't you?" Alexis cackled. "Christine Magnussen, meet the infamous Hermione Granger." Christine looked at Hermione completely confused. "Oh, sorry, Hermione Granger-Weasley. Your boyfriend's wife."
Christine gasped and tears started to form in her eyes but she didn't say anything.
"Alexis, clearly your goal all along has been to hurt me. Let Christine go."
Alexis shot a binding spell at Christine so she couldn't move from the floor and Alexis walked to Hermione, "Oh come on, Mudblood, you're telling me you don't want to see that little slut hurt for stealing your husband. I mean, she swooped in within days and had him wrapped around her finger. And probably other places too."
"She didn't know he was married. He didn't know he was married. She did nothing wrong. And she doesn't deserve to be hurt. I, unlike you, your sadistic husband and your hero Bellatrix don't enjoy inflicting pain on innocent people."
Alexis's eyes turned dark and she inched closer to Hermione, "And what about your husband? Does he enjoy inflicting pain? Or is he just so dim witted that he didn't know exploding that wall would cause my Antonin's death?"
"Ron never intended to kill your husband; he doesn't aim to kill. My husband seeks justice not revenge."
Alexis let out a vicious cackle. "Justice? How can there be justice when the world is run by mudbloods and blood traitors. The only true justice is achieved with pain."
"That's what this is about isn't it? Your justice against Ron was to cause me pain?"
"So, you could suffer like I do since your blood traitor husband killed my husband."
Alexis was agitated now, emotional, and Hermione knew that made her even more dangerous. She had to keep her talking.
"You are a powerful witch, Alexis, whatever manipulation you did to Memoria Impedimentum Sempiterne proves that. Adding the side effect if we shared an intimate exchange, quite brilliant."
"Of course, I'm powerful! I am a pureblood witch. Not that you would know anything about that. You contaminate our bloodlines; your kind make us weaker."
"What happens now, Alexis? Ron and I were finding our way back to each other but now what?" Alexis smirked.
"Don't play dumb. You know what happens next."
"He dies." Hermione whispered and she heard a whimper come from Christine.
"And you have to live with that for the rest of your pathetic life." Alexis spits out. "He's dead because of you! If you two had never kissed, he would live. But Mudblood women have always been whores, slaves to their basest desires. And because of that he'll be dead."
Christine was quietly sobbing on the floor and Hermione is desperately trying to keep tears at bay.
"I have to admit though," Alexis continued, "It was fun seeing your heart break play out in the papers. I enjoyed imagining you crying over your morning tea as you were replaced by that." She waved her arms at Christine.
Hermione looked at Christine, whose eyes were desperate. "It was awful," Hermione said not looking away from the terrified Muggle woman. "So awful I was running away. Did you know that, Alexis? I was running away to Australia, leaving my life, my friends, my family, leaving everything I worked for and everything I loved to avoid watching Ron move on without me. Every day felt like torture and I'm not strong enough to handle it." Alexis smiled a devilish grin.
"I'm so happy to hear that. I like the idea of you being tortured day in and day out."
"Then let me live in that torture forever." Hermione said. Alexis looked sharply at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't kill Ron. Let him live, let him have a happy life with her or anyone else. Let him have the children I could never give him. And I'll move away and watch it all from afar. Watch the Weasleys slowly forget about me. Watch Harry forget me. Watch the Wizarding world forget about me. I'll walk away from magic all together and live my life as a Muggle. If you let Ron live."
Alexis smiled, thinking it over but then frowned. "I don't believe you. You are a liar! A sneaky, Mudblood liar. No, the ginger dies."
"I'm young, though Alexis and death is final. Eventually, I would find closure and move on from Ron's death. And though it's impossible to imagine at this moment, one day I could find someone else and find happiness. Not the same as I had with Ron but something. But if Ron lives a fulfilling life without me. I'll never get closure. I know myself; I'll never move on. I'd life my life alone with a broken heart. And what's more torturous than that?"
Alexis was pacing and agitated. This wasn't her plan; she was going to lure Hermione there, kill Ron while she was away from him so she couldn't say goodbye. And kill the Muggle for fun while making Hermione watch. But this idea of life long heart break and never moving on was very appealing but she wanted a guarantee.
"I would have to clear Weasley's memory again, making sure you are clearly removed. And then lift the remains of the curse." Hermione nodded.
"And I want a guarantee that you'll do what you say you will. Forgo magic, pine for Weasley for life, willingly lose all your friends and family. You can't run off to Australia where you could one day forget. You have to stay in London, read the Prophet, never escape this prison of your heartbreak. It's not sweet torture if you can escape it."
Hermione wiped the tears that had been running down her face. Her life would be torture but his life was worth it. His family needed him and if it cost her happiness, than so be it. That's how much she loved him and the family around him.
"What sort of guarantee?"
"An unbreakable vow of course." Alexis smiled, "The only true guarantee."
Hermione gulped; she should have expected this. She could feel her heart shattering but if she didn't do this, Ron would be dead and her heart would be shattered too; at least this way he would live.
"I'll agree to the unbreakable vow if you disable the side effects on Ron right now. You don't need to lift the curse, just the side effects." Alexis was annoyed that Hermione was trying to negotiate but accepted with a nod. She flourished her wand and uttered an incantation.
"It's done." She said with a smirk, "Now on to the vow."
Hermione took a deep breath and pushed the tears that were forming in her eyes away, though Alexis noticed them.
"Certainly won't be the last tears you shed over Ronald Weasley." She laughed. She grabbed Hermione's left forearm with her right hand and gripped it tightly. "This will tingle and possibly burn a bit but don't pull away or you'll destroy the connection." Hermione simply nodded.
Alexis held up her wand and pointed at their conjoined arms; she closed her eyes and as the first syllable was about to be spoken.
"Expelliarmus!" "Stupify!" Alexis's wand went flying as she dropped to the ground. And a moment later Harry dropped the Invisibility Cloak and shot a binding spell followed by a silencing spell at Alexis. Then he and Hermione rushed to remove all the wards on the flat and Harry sent his patronus to Monroe calling for back up.
"You didn't tell me you were following me in." She said as she hugged Harry.
"I knew this was the only way."
"Thank you, Harry." She whispered as she held him tighter. "I need to get to St. Mungo's; I need to check on Ron."
"Ok, but you'll have to come to the Ministry and give a detailed statement."
"I know but I need to see that he's ok." Harry nodded and then a stream of Aurors flooded into the flat.
"She goes straight to Azkaban. Here is her wand, give it the tightest of protections."
Hermione leaned against the couch, taking deep breaths to control herself from crying.
"Excuse me," whimpered a small voice from behind Hermione. "Can someone unbind me?"
Hermione whipped around and saw Christine, still bound on the floor. "Oh Merlin! I'm so sorry!" She rushed to her side and unbound her. Then she took the Muggle woman's wrists and healed the bruises that were forming. She conjured both a blanket to wrap around Christine and a glass of water.
"Thank you." She uttered quietly.
Harry glanced over to see Hermione wrapping a blanket around Christine and joined them.
"Harry," Christine said, "Can you please tell me what is going on?" Harry and Hermione shared a look. The standard policy would be to erase a Muggle's memory if they were involved in an instance like this but this was a special case. She had a relationship with Ron.
"Christine, this all may seem unbelievable but,"
"What part is unbelievable? That there is a secret world of witches and wizards? Or that my boyfriend is a wizard? Or that my boyfriend is married?" Christine responded and she was bordering on hysterical.
"I know Christine, it's a lot to take in," Harry said, "But,"
"You know what," Christine interrupted, "Maybe it's better I don't know everything." She rubbed her eyes and took another drink of water. "All I want to know is if Ron is ok. Can we find that out?"
"Sure," said Harry, "We'll find out right now. Hermione, go to St. Mungo's. And then meet us at the Ministry. Christine, you'll come with me, ok? And you'll be safe and we'll let you know how Ron is doing."
Christine, still shocked, simply nodded. Hermione felt awful, this woman had been through so much but her main concern was Ron. She couldn't help but like Christine.
"I'll head to St. Mungo's. Thanks again Harry." She hugged Harry again and smiled weakly at Christine, unsure what else to do. Hermione apparated away with a pop that made Christine jump.
She stared at the spot where Hermione had just been and turned to Harry, "Is that really Ron's wife?" She asked sadly.
Harry, clearly uncomfortable, had to answer honestly, "Yes, she is."
"Well, damn, I can't compete with that, can I?" Christine uttered sadly.
"Come on, Christine, let's get you out of here."
Ron gasped for breath and his eyes shot open.
"Ron!" Healer Tate called, "Can you hear us, Ron?"
"What's happened?" Ron asked. "Where's Hermione?"
"Ron," Healer Cruz said, "Calm down. Please let us monitor your brain function."
Ron struggled and attempted to get out of bed, "No Ron," Arthur said, "Let the healers do their work."
Cruz and Tate waved their wands in more complicated formations and look at each other in shock and awe.
"What's happening?" Asked Ginny.
"It appears the side effect that was activated has been deactivated." Healer Cruz announced "It appears to have been removed."
"That's good, right?" Ginny asked again.
"Yes, I think Mrs. Granger-Weasley must have been successful." Healer Tate smiled and everyone in the room let out a relieved breath.
"What do you mean Mrs. Granger-Weasley was successful? Where is she?" Ron demanded.
"Now Ron," Arthur said as calmly as possible, "Stay calm please. Hermione went with the Aurors to apprehend Alexis Dolohov."
"What?" Ron shouted, "How could Harry allow that?"
"You really think Harry was going to be able to stop Hermione? I know your memory hasn't completely come back but seriously." Ginny joked.
"Ginny, hush." Molly huffed.
"Well, Ginny is right. Hermione insisted and Monroe agreed. Harry argued against it but lost. And she must have been successful if the side effect was deactivated."
Ron laid back against the pillows and sighed. "Now what?" he asked.
"We wait to see if she is able to lift the curse. But honestly," Healer Cruz said, "If your memories were already coming back, lifting the curse is not crucial. The side effect was the dangerous piece and from what we can tell, it's gone."
"But what did Hermione have to do to make that happen?" He asked gravely. No one answered him, all feeling similarly concerned.
The room fell into silence before Healer Tate said, "We'll let you rest Ron while you wait for word from the Aurors. We will need to keep you here for a few days to monitor everything."
Ron nodded and Molly bustled about fixing his blankets and getting him water. He grasped her hands, "Mum, please don't fuss. I'm anxious enough already."
Molly stilled, "I know dear." The Weasleys all took seats and settled into silence.
Not 10 minutes passed before Hermione burst into the room. She felt nervous, not sure what she was going to find. Before she uttered a word she looked into Ron's eyes, saw that spark of recognition and ran to his bedside, collapsing on top of him.
"You, ok?" She asked.
"Yes," he answered as he hugged her tightly. "You?"
"Yes. Alexis has been apprehended."
"Oh, thank Merlin!" Molly gasped.
"Well done, Hermione." Arthur added.
"I can't really take the credit. Harry snuck into the flat with me in his cloak; I didn't know he was there. He disarmed her and stupefied her. And the Aurors took her to Azkaban. I have to report to the Ministry but I had to make sure you were ok. What did the Healers say?"
"That the side effect was deactivated but the curse remains. I feel fine but, of course, they want me to stay to monitor me."
Hermione hugged him tightly, "I'm so glad you're ok."
"Hermione," he whispered, "I feel like there is more to the story than you're telling me." She blushed and tried to avoid his eye.
"I promise, I will fill you in completely. Let me give my statement to the Ministry and get that over with." He kissed the top of head, as naturally as he used to.
"Deal." Hermione kissed him on the cheek and extricated herself from the bed.
"Hermione, I'll walk you out to the floo." Ginny said. They headed towards the floos. "How's Christine? I didn't want to ask in front of Ron because he doesn't know about it."
"Well, I think she was in shock. I don't know Ginny; protocols say we need to wipe her memory but that's going to be tricky." Hermione answered.
Ginny hugged Hermione, "I'm so glad things seem to be working out. I feel bad for Christine though."
"I know," Hermione agreed, "She does seem really great."
Ginny laughed, "Nothing can stop you and Ron though. You are a force of nature, you just had to figure out a way back to each other."
"Thank Merlin we did!" She entered one of the floos, "Don't think I forgot that you have something to share with me, I expect it when I get back."
Ginny smirked, "You will." And Hermione disappeared among the green flames.
Hermione arrived at the Auror office which was a hive of activity. She found Brock among the chaos.
"Brock, where is Harry?"
"Harry is in with Monroe. He said when you got here to wait for him in his office. Fair warning, the Muggle woman, Christine is also waiting in Harry's office."
"Ok, thanks."
"How's Weasley?" Brock asked.
"He appears ok, thank Merlin." She turned and headed down the hall to Harry's office. When she reached the door, she was apprehensive about entering. It was going to be quite awkward and she wasn't looking forward to it. She entered the office slowly to find Christine, still wrapped in the same blanket, sitting in a chair in front of Harry's desk sipping tea.
"Hello Christine." She turned around and looked at Hermione, a sad smile on her face. She got up to shake Hermione's hand.
"Hermione," she shook her hand and returned to her seat. "How is he?"
"From what the healers can tell, he's fine. He was awake when I saw him and feeling ok. The healers or doctors want him to stay to be monitored but hopefully it's over."
"I suppose I should thank you for saving my life." Christine said.
Hermione shook her head, "I don't think I deserve the credit. Harry took Alexis down, not me."
Christine laughed, "You offered all your future happiness up for Ron and in turn me so I think you deserve a little credit."
Hermione simply shrugged and sat in the chair next to Christine.
"If I had known he was married, I would have never," she started.
"No, you did nothing wrong. Nor did Ron. Look, Alexis cursed Ron on a mission weeks ago. And the effect of the curse was removing me from his memory. The night he met you, he didn't even know I existed, had no idea he was married. And once he found out, well, he didn't want to be together with a stranger, not that I can blame him. It's complicated." Hermione sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"But he was starting to remember you?"
"Appears so; he said he started having dreams that he just put together were actually memories."
"He seemed so preoccupied Sunday night when we went out, I knew something was up."
"I know he would never want to hurt you, Christine. It's clear how much he likes you. It's all rather difficult."
"Do you think I can see him?"
"Um, I think we need to talk to Harry. But I think that seems fair." The women fell into an awkward silence and Hermione was willing Harry to join them and break the tension. They had to wait an agonizing 15 minutes before Harry did arrive.
"So sorry to keep you both waiting. Hermione, I need to send you to go Monroe's office. The pensive has arrived and he needs your memories." Hermione nodded her head in understanding but Christine looked terrified.
"Don't worry, it's painless." Hermione said.
"Will I have to do that?" Christine asked Harry.
"We would like you to but as a Muggle you aren't required to do so. But in order to prosecute Alexis for your kidnapping, we'd like to see what happened."
"If you'd like to watch me do it, to see the process, I have no problem with that." Hermione offered.
Christine smiled, "I think I would like that." Damn, Christine thought, Hermione is wonderful and she liked her. This would all be easier if she was a bitch.
"Harry, Christine would like to see Ron. Can we arrange that?" Hermione asked. Harry's shocked expression almost made Hermione laugh. "I think she deserves to see him. Don't you?"
Harry found his voice again, "Um, yeah, I think so. Let me discuss it with Monroe. Brock!" Harry called and Brock arrived at the door moments later, "Can you take Ms. Magnussen to wait at Monroe's office? She is going to observe Hermione's memory retrieval before she does the same."
"Ok, right this way Ms. Magnussen." Brock led Christine from the room and Harry grabbed Hermione's arm as she made to leave.
"You want her to see Ron?" He asked her.
"The ministry is going to wipe her memory, right? That's the protocol." Harry nodded. "Well, I think she and Ron deserve a chance to see each other one more time. She's a nice woman, Harry, she didn't deserve any of this." Harry smiled.
"You are a better person than most, Hermione."
She smiled, "But if she tries to kiss him, I'll hex her." And with a wicked smirk she exited Harry's office.
"That's our Hermione!"
