Harry Potter In When Two Souls Become One.
Preface.
As the manic and deafening sounds of the battlefield that would later be called the Battle for Hogwarts School and Witchcraft and Wizardry, the freedom for magical Britain that had erupted through-out Hogwarts castle and grounds, and surrounding area, mayhem, chaos and around the country whilst all under threat death and suspicion surrounding all around them, just like when Voldemort was at his peak during the last war.
Walking from the Great Hall, Hermione Granger followed Ron Weasley toward moaning myrtle's bathroom on the second floor which held a lot of history for the Golden Trio though-out their Hogwarts years. They all thought their plan seemed simple enough where they would make their way down to the Chamber of Secrets, too retrieve a few venom-filled fangs from the defeated Basilisk of second year and destroying the Horcruxes residing inside Slytherin's Locket, Helga Hufflepuff's goblet, and Ravenclaw's diadem later today.
However, as soon as they entered the moaning myrtle's bathroom on the second floor, Hermione realized they had already encountered what she'd thought was a huge problem of epic proportions.
"Ron?" she asked, "Exactly, how are we going to get into the Chamber of Secrets without Harry? The entrance can only be opened by a Parselmouth and so how exactly are we going to gain access to the Chamber of Secrets?"
A smirk worthy of Malfoy crossed Ron's lips although conspired to himself over his soon to be victory over on Harry in his mind as his jealously had persevered that Harry had wronged him and that would be righted tonight, and he walked forward toward the sinks.
Hermione's eyes widened as she heard a hissing sound coming from Ron's lips. Immediately the sink began to slide inward, creating an entrance below the floor. "Exactly how did you do that? That's just not possible!" Hermione enquired from Ron with a thoughtful look on her face.
"What does it matter?" Ron asked, annoyed at having to wait around "Come on! We're wasting precious time and it's time we don't have."
Stopping at a dead stop, Hermione shook her head and stared hard at Ron, seeing him for the first time in all their Hogwarts years together. "This doesn't make any sense at all, Parselmouth abilities cannot be recreated through mimicry. You are a Parselmouth as well!"
"You've always been too smart for your own good, you know that Hermione" Ron said.
"What?" Hermione asked.
Sneering, Ron turned and pointed his wand at her. "I can't have you blabbing something like that to Harry nor the whole school now, can I? Obliviate!"
Hermione got a Shield up in time, so she ducked to the side also and then expecting another curse, she then threw up another shield just as Ron yelled out "Imperio!". Shocked, Hermione's shield blocked it – which either meant he did not exactly mean to do it, without enough intent behind the spell or he did not put enough power into it.
Although grateful she intoned "Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione growled out. The spell hit Ron square in the chest, and his arms snapped to his sides, and his legs snapped together. He fell to the floor. Hermione stood and hurried over to him, then picked up the wand away from him and snapped it, cleanly in half.
"Stupid Mudblood Bitch!" Ron growled.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, Ron?" Hermione, she screamed out, as she felt tears pooling in her eyes. "Trying to take away my memories, and then you try to control me?"
"I don't have to tell you anything, Mudblood Bitch." Ron said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "There is something you seemed to have forgotten about the Unforgivable Curses, Ron. You must mean them. I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you did not mean to curse me. I am also going to teach you how to really cast an Unforgivable Curse. Imperio!" She smiled smugly as Ron's eyes turned to fear and then glazed over.
"Now," Hermione said, "You're going to tell me everything, and it will be the truth. You would never call me a Mudblood, nor a bitch. What is wrong with you, You were supposed to be my boyfriend?"
"Your friend?" Ron asked, "I've never been your friend. I wouldn't give one shit about you if you hadn't stuck your nose into my business with Harry."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, "What business is that exactly? And leave no details out."
"Before first year began," Ron said, "Professor Dumbledore met me at my house and He offered me a deal. He asked me to befriend Harry Potter on his orders and spy and isolate him on the Hogwarts Express and If I befriended Harry, for all his Hogwarts years and beyond even then he would tell me anything as Harry would tell him everything. That is exactly what Dumbledore wanted to control Potter since Nineteen-eighty-one and he wanted someone on the inside track to rain him in if needed by reporting to Dumbledore. I had been paid from Harry's account one million Galleon's."
Hermione's sharp mind put two and two together. "Are you saying Dumbledore wanted you to spy on Harry and you've all been paid using stolen Galleon's from Harry's accounts?"
"Yeah" Ron said, "In return he would give me pocket money and candy and make sure my grades were acceptable no matter what minimal effort I put in. I don't like to do homework or read textbooks or anything like that, and Dumbledore knew that. So, I accepted the task and then you had to stick your nose where it didn't belong. Those first few weeks of our first year, you kept coming around and trying to be Harry's friend. You never got my hint to stay away.
Dumbledore began to realize that you wanted to be Harry's friend. Dumbledore knew about Quirrell's troll. Dumbledore was a highly skilled Legilimens, of course he knew."
"He knew that Quirrell had Voldemort on the back of his head?" Hermione asked.
"Did you just hear what I said?" Ron asked, "Yes, of course he knew from the start. He also told me to upset you and make you run off. Did you know you were originally going to spend Halloween night in the safety of your dorm-room. That was before Dumbledore placed you under an Imperius Curse and made you go into the bathroom. He then placed a troll lure in that same bathroom."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"He wanted you dead," Ron said, in a 'isn't it obvious' tone, "You were meddling in his and my affairs with Harry. But Harry had to come along and save the day."
Hermione blinked back tears. She could not believe what she was hearing. Dumbledore wanted her dead.
"So why didn't he do away with me after I became Harry's friend?" she asked.
"Dumbledore realized that with your help," Ron said, "Harry would uncover the mystery about the Philosopher's Stone and he was right."
"He wanted Harry to save the Stone," Hermione said.
"Yeah," Ron said, "It was Harry's first test. He was making sure that Harry had what it took to defeat Voldemort. Then there was our second year. Now, I'm not going to say that Dumbledore was behind your Petrifaction. But he certainly seemed more cheerful when you were Petrified. Might have even heard him say that it was a pity you had a mirror with you. I visited you in the Hospital Wing while you were Petrified. Even in that state you had a nice set of tits. I could reach my hand up under your shirt and..."
"Bastard!" Hermione growled; she wanted to kick him the bollocks, but she needed to know more. "What else? What else were you and Dumbledore responsible for – when it came to me?"
"I knew about your time-turner antics in third year," Ron said, "Dumbledore told me. Why do you think he let a young third year use a time turner? He hoped you would get away from the pressure with over use or mis-use and then, when he suggested you and Harry go back in time to save Sirius. It was only to give you another shot at getting bitten by Remus in his werewolf form. If you were bitten and turned into a werewolf, Dumbledore would have had too kick you out of Hogwarts, and we'd be done with you, finally.
Fourth year in the second task of the Tournament, do you really think Viktor Krum would missed you the most? He had a family. No Dumbledore, as a judge put you on the bottom of the lake, in the hopes that you would drown. Dumbledore gave up after that well, at least when it came to trying to kill you. He was busy with other things afterwards. He just told me to eavesdrop on you and Harry."
"What about you?" Hermione asked.
"When I realized you weren't going anywhere," Ron said, "I changed my tactics. If I could not get rid of you, then you were going to be stuck with me. In the Department of Mysteries, when you got hurt by that Curse, and nearly died after that, in the Hospital Wing, I could see Harry beginning to fall in love with you, that had to stop."
Hermione blinked. "Harry...? But he loves Ginny."
Ron grinned. "Yes, what a brilliant plan that turned out to be. Dumbledore realized that Harry was beginning to fall for you, so he talked to my mother. She's great at cooking Love Potions. She began dosing Harry, first with some minor Love Potions, then the more serious ones. Harry slowly and slowly began to feel something for Ginny."
"His love for her is fake," Hermione said.
"Sure," Ron said, "But Mum agreed to do it. If Harry knocked Ginny up, and Harry died, then his fortune would go to my family. Harry doesn't even know he has a fortune; did you know that? He just thinks his only Vault is his Trust Vault. He's too stupid to realize the Vault never seems to run low on money. It always fills up, Dumb Shit!"
"How do you know that? Kicking Ron in the side" Hermione asked.
"Mum," Ron said, "Dumbledore gave her the key to the Potter Vault, so she could take some funds for it. Harry won't need it as he's going to die today."
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked.
"Oops, I forgot to tell you, didn't I?" Ron asked, "Dumbledore told me that Harry has a Horcrux in his scar."
Hermione's eyes widened and began to fill with tears. "No!"
"Did you know that the Goblins could have removed the Horcrux from Harry's scar?" Ron asked.
"Griphook knew. In fact, he wanted to tell Harry whilst at Shell Cottage, but I Obliviated the bastard. I also made him betray Harry at Gringotts."
"Bastard, crushing her foot on his nose breaking it!" Hermione said.
"I should have never left you and Harry in the tent," Ron said, "That was my biggest mistake. I was honest about that right from the start. Whilst I was gone, I couldn't feed you Love Potions anymore."
"You dosed me?!" Hermione asked.
"Course," Ron said, grinning, "How else was I supposed to have you? I knew you fancied Harry. But with the Love Potion, little by little you forgot about that. Little by little you realized you were in love with me."
Hermione had enough. She ran over to him and kicked him in the groin. Ron groaned and cried out in pain but couldn't move at all thanks to the Body Bind caused by the petrification caused by a Petrificus Totalus.
"You traitorous bastard," Hermione growled, "I really thought I felt something for you. I'm sure those feelings of jealousy, I felt whilst you were snogging Lavender was because you were dosing me. What? Did you want some on the side before you got me? But you dosed me so I wouldn't choose anyone else? Like Harry? I do love him, Ron."
"Bitch," Ron muttered.
"I should kill you right here and now," Hermione said, "But I'm going to put out the trash pushing him down the chute still petrified but before that for good measure, Hermione kicked him in the groin again. Then she turned and left the bathroom and hurried out toward the Grand Staircase. She was nearing the staircase when she realized she still had the Horcruxes with her and no means to destroy it.
She decided she needed to find Harry and they could figure out another way. Hermione took the Marauder's Map from her pocket, said the key phrase and searched through it. Harry was heading toward the seventh floor, and there was nobody in his path.
Hermione hurried toward the Staircase and made her way to the seventh floor. When she arrived, she checked the map again. Harry was now near the Room of Requirement. And two men Hermione knew where Death Eaters were coming from the other direction. Hermione hurried toward the Room of Requirement, and when she arrived, she found Harry duelling against two Death Eaters. She hit one with a Disarming Spell, just as Harry Stunned the other one.
"Potter's here!" the Death Eater screamed, "Potter's on the seventh floor! He…!"
Hermione Stunned the Death Eater before he could get out another word. Heaving and panting, Harry turned to Hermione.
"Where's Ron?" he asked, "Did you obtain the fangs?"
Hermione broke down into tears that had threatened to come since her encounter with Ron.
"He's not dead, tell me he's not dead" Harry said.
"Well explaining so as you can see its worse," Hermione said, "I think Ron, he betrayed us, I think Dumbledore, he betrayed you even before Hogwarts and during they were setting you up to fail"
"What?" Harry asked.
"He spoke Parseltongue," Hermione said, "When I asked how he had done it, he turned his wand on me and tried to Obliviate me then tried to curse me with an Imperius. I hit him with a Petrificus Totalus. And then -"
"Then what, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I placed an Imperius Curse on him," Hermione said, "And told him to tell me everything, and to be honest. He – I don't think he's ever been our friend, Harry."
Harry frowned and stared at Hermione. "Look, Hermione. We don't have time. The Diadem is in the Room of Requirement. We need to destroy it and end this war. Afterward... we can discuss what you found out. Did you at least destroy the cup?"
Hermione shook her head. "I wouldn't be able to get into the Chamber without a – a Parselmouth and I didn't trust Ron. I just wanted to get back to you."
Harry sighed. "Alright. We'll find a way to destroy it. Make sure there aren't any Death Eaters coming. I need to open the room."
Hermione kept an eye on the map as Harry paced back and forth. When the door appeared, Hermione ran over to him. She didn't know what made her do it, but she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the mouth. Harry froze for a mere second before he returned the kiss briefly.
"There's something else I need to tell you," Hermione said, when she backed away.
"I think I know what you're going to tell me," Harry said, "Save it for after the battle. We'll have the rest of our lives to tell each other."
Hermione narrowed her eyes in confusion, and before she could think what he meant, he dragged her into the Room. She had wanted to tell him what Ron told her – about Harry apparently having a Horcrux in his scar. But his reply didn't make any sense...
Harry dragged Hermione through the room until they reached their destination. It was then that Hermione saw the Diadem sitting on top of a bust, which was situated near a cabinet.
"It is funny, you know," Harry said, "I hid the prince's book somewhere near here. I even saw this Diadem when I did. Ironic that it is a Horcrux. Do you think it is safe to hold?"
Hermione was about to answer when she heard voices in the distance. She and Harry shared looks of horror.
"We can't let them find us," Hermione said, "If they find out what we're doing..."
"We need to hide until they leave," Harry said.
"But where?" Hermione asked.
Harry grabbed the diadem from the bust, then looked at the cabinet. He opened it up, and dragged Hermione with him inside the cabinet. Hermione remained at the back of the cabinet, whilst Harry peered out through a narrow slit in the door.
It was then that Hermione realized exactly what Harry meant after their kiss.
"I love you, Harry," she said.
"Hey," Harry said, "We'll have enough time for that later."
"I-I – Harry, there's something else you need to know," Hermione said, "Ron – he told me that Dumbledore thinks your scar is a Horcrux."
"What?" Harry asked.
"It is what he said," Hermione said.
"You had him in a Body-Bind," Harry said, "He could have spout of lies."
"Not when I had him under an Imperius, telling him to tell the truth," Hermione said, "He said that the Goblins could remove the Horcrux, and that Griphook was going to offer to help."
"Why didn't he then?" Harry asked.
"Ron said he Obliviated Griphook," Hermione said.
" So, Dumbledore betrayed us all and Ron betrayed us?" Harry asked. "Our best mate it can't be?"
"I don't think he's ever been our mate," Hermione said, "He's used you and us right from the start. He told me that Dumbledore -"
Before she could continue, she heard voices nearby, outside the cabinet.
"I love you too, Hermione," Harry whispered.
"Don't say that if you're just doing it because you think we're going to die," Hermione whispered.
"I'm not," Harry said; he turned around and looked at her, "I love you, Hermione Granger and they kissed."
Before Hermione could respond, she heard a voice right outside the cabinet.
"Oi!" Draco Malfoy's drawling voice growled, "I think someone is in that cabinet!"
"Blast it!" Vincent Crabbe said.
Harry clutched Hermione protectively, just as a spell hit the outside of the cabinet. She shrieked as the cabinet grew darker. Then a sudden bright white light blinded Hermione and the next thing she saw was darkness.
Harry didn't know what to expect when he died. Sure, he knew he'd stop living, but was he going to wake up in some afterlife, with his parents and Sirius and everyone else around him? Would he have his own personal heaven? Or would he go to hell? Or would he even wake up at all? After all, who really knew what happened when you died? Only those who did knew, and they couldn't tell anyone. Sure, ghosts were dead, but they hadn't moved on, they didn't know what came next, if anything even did come next, they were too afraid and so stuck around on the earthly plane. Or something like that. Anyway, Harry watched the explosion engulf him and Hermione sped towards them, and before he could even close his eyes, he was dead. Gone. Didn't even feel himself begin to fall. Felt nothing at all.