So I slid a Romione moment into it because this would have also been where Harry would be reading about Dumbledore in The Daily Prophet. Though a VERY important part, it didn't make sense to keep it, as Ron was not anywhere near Godric's Hollow, so he wouldn't know anything about what happened there, when Hermione and Harry were there looking for Bathilda Bagshot. Sooooo yeah. Sorry about that. Harry was reading the paper to himself, so Hermione nor Ron would have heard anything. Maybe I can make something later, having Harry show them.
But then again I'll probably forget lol.
Anyways, hope you like it. This chapter may be kinda short. We will see.
On with the fic!
Chapter 199: Dungbeetles
Harry had moved to the other side of the kitchen, taking the paper with him. This gave the opportunity for Hermione and I to have a bit of a moment to chase the tension away.
"Well, we could maybe...just to have something to do to calm the nerves." I said. I was trying to suggest one of those cinemas to go and see. Maybe something fun would ease the tension.
"I would love that, but it's too much of a risk." she said with a solemn sigh. "What if someone catches us coming from the house. We have to go outside on the porch, remember?"
"Oh yeah" I said, disappointedly. "Feeling very much like a prisoner to be honest. I may as well be in Azkaban."
"Don't you dare say such a horrid thing, Ronald Weasley" said Hermione, lightly slapping my arm. "I couldn't bear to think of you in that demented place. That was the first thing I thought of when you made that suggestion about trying to teach me your family."
"Oh that? I wouldn't care. Anything to make sure you would be alright." I said, hopefully sounding just as brave as I felt.
Hermione blushed, finger lightly grazing my hand on the table. "You would really do that for me? Teach me your family? Claim me as your cousin?"
"Sure," I said with a grin. "It's a lot of us, but I'm sure you could learn very swiftly our entire bloodline if you needed to. We would, however, have to modify your hair and change it to red. They wouldn't accept this shade, I'm afraid" I chuckled, pulling gently at a loose strand of her hair.
"No, I don't think they would." She responded back, blushing.
Looking at her, I wondered how she would be if she were in my family. Of course not as a cousin, that would be barmy. But what if...no. No, I couldn't think such thoughts. She wouldn't have me. Not as a husband, no way. I mean where would we live? The Burrow? No way was I gonna be married and live at my Mum's home. There was barely any room for us.
"You look like you're in a deep thought." said Hermione, derailing my train of thought. I probably had my git looking face on and everything. Hopefully I didn't drool.
"Oh, it's nothing." I said, looking off into the distance. Then, with an ounce of courage I managed to muster in seconds, "Hey Mione, have you ever thought of your future?"
Hermione looked at me as if I were barmy. "Of course I have, silly. I've had plans since I was 9. Although, things have changed a bit ever since I received my Hogwarts letter, of course. Careers in the Wizarding world seems very much more promising that anyth-"
"No, I didn't mean that" I said, stopping her rambling. "I mean like...marriage. and a family and all of that."
"Oh!" she squeaked, then lowered her voice once again. "I mean...I have had thoughts of it from time to time. I think I would like to have a family, yes. A loving husband, two children"
"Two?"
"Yes. Two, maybe even three. I would prefer for my kids to have siblings. Being an only child, it gets rather lonely, you know. I actually found the house to be rather dull at times, especially when my parents had to focus on work"
I nodded, knowing full well I could not relate. The next to the youngest in a family in a family of seven children? I longed to have a dull moment from time to time, especially when the twins would make me their target.
"What about you?" asked Hermione. "Have you thought of such things?"
"Well I," I coughed , in the midst of both talking and trying to clear my throat. I didn't expect her to ask it back. "I guess. I mean growing up in a family as large as mine, there was always someone to talk to. So I guess having more than one kid would be ideal. And honestly? Minus seven children, I would like to have what my Mum and Dad have. They had their rows, but they truly love each other. Bill says that they look at each other every day like they are falling in love with each other for the 1st time. I...I think I wanna feel that with someone."
"Really?" She asked, a dreamy and somewhat odd look in her eyes. It made me nervous. In a good way.
"Yeah," I said, looking back at her. "I really do"
We seemed to get caught in each other's eyes. I felt like I couldn't look away from her. I didn't really want to, if I was going to be honest with myself. I moved my hand slowly towards her cheek.
And whatever moment that we were gonna have, was disintegrated by the kitchen door slamming against the wall, followed by a mass of struggling limbs that had appeared out of thin air near Harry, who hopped up just as quick as us when we realized it was Kreacher...and that sneak bitch Mundungus.
"Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Master." said Kreacher, giving a deep bow?.
Mundungus scrambled up and pulled out his wand. Hermione, however, was too quick for his ass, disarming him with a swift "Expelliarmus!"
Mundungus's wand soared into the air, and Hermione caught it with ease.
Merlin she was bloody gorgeous.
Wild-eyed,Mundungus dived for the stairs. My turn. I moved and tackled him to the ground, his body hitting the floor with a crunch that made me hope I did indeed break a bone.
"What?" he bellowed, writhing in his attempts to free himself from my grip."What've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'house-elf on me, what are you playing at, what've I done, lemme go, lemme go, of – "
"You're not in much of a position to make threats," said Harry, throwing aside the newspaper. He almost slid across the kitchen to get to the bitch, dropping to his knees beside Mundungus, who stopped struggling and looked terrified. I got up panting, watching as Harry pointed his wand deliberately at Mundungus's nose. Mundungus looked in a sorry state, smelling of cigars and damp rooms. He looked filthy, as if he had been hiding in bushes and swamps.
"Kreacher apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Master," croaked the elf."Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end."
"You've done really well, Kreacher," said Harry, and the elf bowed low.
"Right, we've got a few questions for you," Harry told Mundungus, who shouted at once.
"I panicked, okay?" squeaked the Dungbeetle, sounding just like the coward he was. "I never wanted to come along, no offense, mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who came flying at me,anyone woulda got outta there. I said all along I didn't wanna do it –"
"For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated," said Hermione, looking at Mundungus intensely. You could tell she was revolted by him. People had and almost died and he left like the bitch he was.
"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing meself!" he croaked.
"We're not interested in why you ran out on Mad-Eye," said Harry, moving his wand a little closer to Mundungus's baggy, bloodshot eyes. "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of scum."
"Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-elves? Or is this about them goblets again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em –"
I scoffed. Fucking prick. I would beat him to a pulp if I could.
"It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting warmer," said Harry."Shut up and listen."
Harry had his wand so close to Dung, that he went cross-eyed. He meant business, and Dung could tell.
"When you cleaned out this house of anything valuable," Harry began, but Mundungus interrupted him again.
"Sirius never cared about any of the junk –"
Suddenly, Kreacher ran up to Mundungus, hit him over the head with a saucepan. I would have laughed had this not been a serious situation. Hermione looked as if she wanted to stop him, but held back.
"Call 'im off, call 'im off, 'e should be locked up!" screamed Mundungus, cowering as Kreacher raised the pan again, ready to knock some more sense into him.
"Kreacher, no!" shouted Harry.
Kreacher's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft.
"Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?"
I couldn't help but burst out in laughter at that. The little elf was starting to grow on me. Who knew?
"We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading, you can do the honors," said Harry, holding in his amusement.
"Thank you very much, Master," said Kreacher with a bow, and he backed off a bit. However, his eyes stayed dead locked on Dung, looking as if he would attack him if he breathed wrong.
"When you stripped this house of all the valuables you could find," Harry began again, "you took a bunch of stuff from the kitchen cupboard. There was a locket there. What did you do with it?"
I grew anxious, looking over at Hermione, who seemed to match my feelings. We looked back at the thief, ready to hear what he had to say
"Why?" asked Mundungus. "Is it valuable?"
"You've still got it!" cried Hermione, holding out his hand.
"No, he hasn't," I bit. "He's wondering whether he should have asked for more money for it."
"More?" said Mundungus. "That wouldn't have been fuckin difficult. Bleedin' gave it away, di'n' I? No choice."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry, eyebrow raised.
"I was selling in Diagon Alley and she came up to me and asked if I've got a license for trading in magical artifacts. Bleedin' snoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket an' told me she'd take it and let me off that time, and to fink meself lucky."
"Who was this woman?" asked Harry.
"I dunno, some Ministry hag." said Dun, thinking about it for a second. "Little woman. Bow on top of 'er head. Looked like a toad."
Harry dropped his wand: It hit Mundungus on the nose and shot red sparks into his eyebrows, which ignited.
"Bloody hell!"
"Aguamenti!" screamed Hermione, and a jet of water streamed from her wand,engulfing a sputtering and choking Mundungus.
Harry looked up and more than likely saw the same shock he had reflected on Hermione and I's faces. He had given it to the Umbitch herself.
Well this made things a bit more complicated.