Disclaimer: All Characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is purely for entertainment only.
Summary: Harry died in the Forbidden Forest and Ron and Hermione must find a way to finish his mission in a world where Hermione and her blood status leaves them both in incredible danger.
Chapter 4
Three weeks had passed since the radio announcement about Hogwarts had been made and Ron and Hermione were no closer to leaving Shell Cottage then they had been when they first arrived. Both of them were constantly making excuses as to why they weren't ready to leave and it was becoming apparent to both of them that they didn't really want to go.
Things at Shell Cottage were simple. It was just easier.
"Maybe we should just stay here," Ron said one morning from his spot by the sink. He was sipping tea and glancing out the window at the beach outside. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore were soothing.
"What?" Hermione's eyes twitched up from her own breakfast as she sat at the kitchen table, reading through one of the many Magical History books Fleur had left in their library. She wasn't reading it for any particular reason just more to give herself something to do.
Ron turned back to Hermione, a small smile on his face as if he were half joking. "Maybe we should just stay here. We're safe here...could be a nice life..."
Hermione studied Ron for a long moment and then gently closed the book on the table. The thought of growing old at Shell Cottage, safe from the outside world, sounded appealing but the her rational side knew it was only a matter of time before their oasis was discovered, especially if Voldemort succeeding in taking over everywhere. "Is that what you want?"
Ron shrugged. "Well, it's not like we have any plan really...or have been putting an effort toward one."
"I know...but we also can't just stay here, Ron," Hermione sighed.
"Why not? We'd be safe...happy here..." Ron said. His biggest and only priority was keeping her safe and alive and it seemed like they could do that at Shell Cottage. Anything else seems like suicide mission. The radio confirmed that for them over and over again every night.
"And so what? We just stay here forever...have a few kids and live like hermits?" Hermione laughed a bit at her own joke as she moved back to the book.
Ron cocked an eyebrow at Hermione's joke. "Kids?"
Instantly, Hermione's face grew red as she moved her eyes up to meet Ron's stunned look. "I'm...I'm only kidding...it would be more than irresponsible to bring children into this world the way it is."
Ron's brow furrowed and he sat down next to Hermione. "But if the world wasn't so mental..."
Hermione shrugged, dropping her eyes back down to her book again. "Well...yes...prior to all of this the thought of being a mother...someday...was part of my plans I suppose."
"And you wanted to do that with me?" Ron was surprised.
Now Hermione seemed both annoyed than embarrassed and glanced up at Ron once more. "I mean...the thought had crossed my mind a few times."
"Really?" Ron smirked, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded in victory, a glimpse of his old fun self coming through. "The brightest witch of her age considered me father material."
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled. "Oh shut it...you knew I liked you for a long bit before..."
Hermione's smile faded as her thoughts went to Harry, the Horcrux hunt, the before.
"Right..." Ron said, his own smile dropping as he realized what Hermione meant. Instantly his hand went out and gently laid on top of her own on the table, comforting her the best he could but truthfully hearing Hermione's dream and realizing he wanted that future also but now would never get the chance at it was crushing to him. As long as Voldemort survived, any chance at a family, at true happiness was long gone.
A somber moment returned to the room and they sat like that for a long time.
It was the sound of a door creaking opened and the soft sound of footsteps that woke Ron one night. He quickly glanced around the room he and Hermione were sharing to see Hermione's half naked form in bed next to him, proof of what they had spent the last night doing, which had become a standard ritual for them, and also proof that there was someone else in the house.
Ron grabbed his wand and slipped his pants on, leaning over the bed and covering Hermione's mouth before whispering. "Hermione..."
Hermione's eyes fluttered open in a panic as she felt a hand around her mouth. She went to scream but was stopped by Ron's form standing over her, and finger in front of his mouth to silence her.
"Someone is here," Ron whispered to her as his hand dropped from her mouth.
Hermione's eyes grew wide at his words as she too heard footsteps downstairs. She quickly grabbed the shirt she had discarded the night before and threw it on before grabbing her wand as well.
Ron moved slowly to the door with Hermione a step behind him, both of their wands raised, ready to defend themselves.
As they moved out into the hallway they had four wands quickly in their faces as well.
Hermione held her breath and closed her eyes. They had been caught and were outnumbered. It was a funny feeling, knowing you would probably die. She almost felt at ease, like the hard part was over. She wondered if that was how Harry had felt when he went to face Voldemort.
But death did not come for Hermione. Instead, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. A voice she was sure she would never hear again.
"Ron?!" Ginny's voice was full of shock as she flung herself at her older brother, grabbing him in such a forceful hug that it threw him backwards into Hermione.
The force of Ron nearly falling on her caused Hermione to open her eyes and she found herself starring at the four owners of the wands that had been pointed at her and Ron. George, Ginny, Bill, and Fleur all stood there staring at them.
Fleur quickly turned on a light so they could all see each other a bit better.
"Hermione?!" Fleur seemed happy to see the other witch.
"What are you two doing here?" Bill asked in bewilderment.
"And where are your pants, Hermione?" George smirked a bit.
Instantly, Hermione's cheeks flushed red as she realized she was just standing there in Ron's oversized t-shirt and her own underwear. They went maroon when she saw George give Ron an elbow to the ribs and a wiggle of an eyebrow.
"I can't believe...I can't believe you're all alive," Ron hugged George next and then moved to Bill and Fleur.
"You two either," Ginny's voice seemed to change upon seeing Hermione and the sight of she and Ron hardly dressed.
And that was when Hermione noticed what type of shape the three Weasley siblings and Fleur were in. They all look bruised and battered. Ginny had a gash running from her forehead down to her neck. Bill look like he was missing a few fingers on one hand. George had a black eye and Fleur looked thinner than ever before with a bruise forming over her left cheek. All of their clothing was tattered and dirty. They looked like they had not slept in weeks.
"Seriously, what are you all doing here? How did you find us?" Bill asked.
"We didn't. We were just looking for somewhere safe. We'd been staying in the tent in the woods." Ron explained, deciding to leave the part out about the snake or return to Hogwarts.
"We didn't think anyone was here anymore," Hermione added. They had been there for weeks with no sign of another person.
Hermione's words made Ginny straighten up a bit and her arms went across her chest. "Well, not all of us have had the luxury to take off and shag for the last few months...some of us are still fighting. Some of us are going to finish what Harry started."
Hermione felt like she had been slept in the face. She had always feared if they ever found Ron's family again they would blame her for him leaving them at Hogwarts that night of the battle and now she knew she was right. She could tell from Ginny, she was relieved to see her alive, but not necessarily happy about it.
"Ginny..." George tried, but Ginny was quick on her heels and stormed out of the room.
"What's that all about?" Ron asked.
"We thought you were both dead. Once we lost Harry...well we didn't see you two...we thought we lost you," George explained.
"We had to leave. Hermione wasn't safe-" Ron felt himself growing angry that he even had to explain his actions.
"We understand, Ron." Bill cut him off.
"Ginny haz just been going through a lot of grief and anger..." Fleur added.
"We all have," Bill tackled on top of that.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other. They too were dealing with things and realized that they had not had to do that while dealing with actual war ramifications around them. They had been able to deal with it in isolation. Maybe they had been able to deal with it better.
After a long moment, Bill spoke again. "Why don't the two of you get...dressed...and meet us downstairs. I'm sure we all have a lot to talk about."
