Private Justice

WonkyKris

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Mystery
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 30/12/2003
Last Updated: 09/12/2004
Status: completed

First there was one, and then another Auror wife was murdered, and one fights for her life. Harry Potter‘s wife may be next on the list. Harry is determined to protect Hermione. But how can he when their own marriage is dying a bitter death?

Chapters

1. Prologue

2. No Answer

3. Discovery

4. Reactions

5. Chapter 4

6. Chapter 5

7. Chapter 6

8. Chapter 7

9. Chapter 8

10. Author Notes

11. Stakeout

12. Salidays Memorial

13. Love Breakthrough

14. A Break in the Case

15. Reasons

16. The Feelings Within

17. Betrayals?

18. Just Love Me

19. Because I Love You

20. A New Beginning

1. Prologue

Private Justice

(A/N) PROLGOUE HAS BEEN EDITED!! Nothing major, just grammar, that sort of thing…

Disclaimer- No, I do not own any of the HP characters, that honor belongs to J.K Rowling. There may be some characters that come in a little later that are not from the books, so in a way, I own them!!

Summary- First there was one, and then another Auror wife was murdered, and one fights for her life. Harry Potter’s wife may be next on the list. Harry is determined to protect Hermione. But how can he when their own marriage is dying a bitter death?

Also, the idea for this story came from the book “Private Justice” by Terri Blackstock, so of course, she also gets the credit. Most of the events are based from the book, but with some changes. So I do not own the idea!!!

And last but certainly not least, I want to thank my Portkey/Wonky friends. You know who you guys are. You might not read this fic, but I wanted to thank you for ‘inspiring’ me to do this. Some include………

Pen, thank you for your constructive criticism, lol. I’d thank HB on that too, but he said he didn’t give any.

Christine, for helping me get this thing uploaded!!

Sandra, you did give me good pointers, so don’t think you didn’t!!! And you are a good writer!!!

And Romy, for giving me a few ideas! (Oh, and this story is dedicated to her. From the beginning, she has given me her support and encouragement, and without her, I probably never would have started writing this. So thanks a lot Romy!!! Though I don’t think she wants it too, lol).

Luv ya guys!!!!!!

Well, here’s the prologue. Enjoy!!!!!

**********

There are stories being told all the time. Some are tall tales, some are fairy tales, and some are stories that were past down from generation to generation in a family. And then, there are the stories, that once they were told, they were never uttered again. And so, no one else would be able to hear it. And it was almost that way with this story. But, people need to hear this story, so they too can understand…

**********

A story started when three eleven year olds met on the Hogwarts Express. The three of them all had different ideas of what Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be like. There was the redheaded Ron Weasley, who got most of his information from his older brothers; Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the twins Fred and George. But don’t try and believe that Fred and George's information was very reliable.

The girl, who had bushy brown hair, was Hermione Granger, a muggle born who got all of her information from books; mostly Hogwarts: A History. With her memorizing the entire book, she felt very proud of herself.

Then there was the dark haired, emerald eyed boy; Harry Potter, aka The-Boy-Who-Lived. He didn’t really know what to expect when he arrived at Hogwarts. He grew up with his aunt, uncle and cousin, and his aunt and uncle kept it a secret from him, that he was in fact, a wizard. Having been only a year old when he defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort, he was left with nothing but a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

But back to the story. Yes, these three children became best friends in their first year. Ron and Hermione became prefects in their fifth year, but it was Harry and Hermione who became Head Boy and Head Girl in their seventh year. And so, that's where the real story starts.

In their seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger fell in love. But since neither was sure on how the other one felt, and not wanting to ruin the friendship they had, they never uttered the three words to each other. And it wasn't until Harry went off to face Voldemort for the last time,with tears filling both their eyes, that they finally said 'I love you' to each other. Typical.

Harry defeated the Dark Lord and returned to Hermione. It was then when they were both 24 that Harry got down on his knee and proposed. And Hermione accepted.

It was on May 15 when the two tied the knot, becoming Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter. For their honeymoon, they traveled all over the world, and everything was perfect.

When they came back, Harry became an official Auror, while Hermione opened her own shop. A bookshop, called Potter’s Books. For a year, things were going great. But it's then that the trouble started.

Enter Cho Chang. Ok, well maybe not enter, for she was there before Harry. Cho was the pretty girl Harry used to have a crush on, from his third year through fifth year. Though nothing serious, Harry and Cho became close which was understandable since they worked together. But they became closer than they should have been. Some nights after work, they would go and get a drink together, but of course, only as friends. Hermione started to get a bit suspicious; but she trusted Harry, so didn't question him about it. Perhaps she should have.

One night, while Harry was still at work, Hermione decided to pay him a surprise visit. Perhaps she shouldn't have, for Cho had just received some sad news. Her grandfather had died, and she was in low spirits. She and Harry were in the back room, and it was there that Harry gave Cho a hug for comfort. And it was then that Hermione walked in.

Hermione, seeingher suspicions playing right before her, drew the conclusions. She apparated home, and Harry came right after her. Harry told her it was nothing, but Hermione wouldn't have it. She just wanted Harry to tell her the truth. He denied it, and after a few weeks, Hermione kicked him out, and there started the separation. Some said; Hermione was being unfair, she should have listened to Harry and forgiven him; but it wasn’t that easy.

On the reaction of everyone else who heard the news, it was shock. Harry and Hermione's friends tried to get them to work it out, but it was useless. Harry would blame Hermione, and Hermione just wanted Harry to tell her the truth. What would it take for these two people to realize how much they need each other? Would somebody have to settle their problems……… by death?

**********

A/N- So what do you all think? Please review and let me know!!!!!!!

WKris

2. No Answer

Private Justice

CHAPTER EDITED!!!

A/N- Alrighty, here’s the next chapter. And it’s kind of short… Well, actually, it’s really short, and a few other ones may be short too, but I’m gonna try to make them longer a little later on. So just bare with me!!! And thanks for the reviews!!!! Oh, and I also want to thank my beta, Matt!!! Thanks a lot!!!!! *huge grin*

**********

Harry was standing in The Ministry of Magic by the fountain, trying hard to be festive; but it’s hard to be festive when you were dressed like a clown. Yes, a clown. Harry didn’t understand what a clown had to do with what the holiday. This was day wizards and witches celebrated the final fall of Voldemort, so it confused him when he found out he and the other Aurors had to wear a clown suit.

“Very nice, Harry! The outfit suits you!”

Harry turned to see Fred Weasley, Ron’s older brother, with a very amused smile on his face.

“Yea, I’m sure it does,” Harry grumbled, not as amused as Fred was.

“Ah lighten up Harry. It’s not that bad.”

“Well, I’d like to see you in this bloody thing.”

“Nah,” Fred said with a sigh, but with the smile still evident on his face. “It looks better on you.”

Harry didn’t say anything, just rolled his eyes and shook his head in annoyance. Or perhaps he just shook his head for it was itching, the fake hair not agreeing with him.

“You know Harry, at least your outfit isn’t as bad as Neville’s,” said Fred as he pointed to the man coming toward them.

Harry turned to see Neville Longbottom, a fellow Auror and old Hogwarts friend, coming their way. And he had to agree with Fred; he was better off. Neville’s was wearing a yellow and blue-polka dot shirt, and it was a little to small for him, so his belly peeked out from under the shirt.

“Oi, Are you two talking about me?” Neville asked as he reached them.

“Yep! There are such things as bad dreams, even when you’re not sleeping,” Harry said with a chuckle.

“Oh, like you’re one to talk,” Neville replied.

Harry just shrugged his shoulders in reply.

“So Harry… Is Hermione gonna be here today?” asked Fred cautiously.

Harry glanced at Neville, wishing Fred never mentioned what he had mentioned in front of Neville. Sure, he had known Neville since first year at Hogwarts, and being in the same house for our seven years at Hogwart’s; but he wasn’t very comfortable discussing his relationship with Hermione with him. Neville understood and wondered off with a quick good-bye.

“How would I know what Hermione is going to do?” Harry asked.

“Now don’t give me that crap,” Fred said. “You keep closer tabs on your wife than you did when you guys were dating. Even more than when you were just friends.”

“Estranged wife. And I doubt she’ll be there. But you would think she would be able to swallow up her self-righteousness, and help the other wives get us all dressed up,” Harry stated. “The women love making us look ridiculous, and Hermione has commited her life to it.”

“Yea, well at least you’re not bitter.”

I’d say that little line hit home.

“Bitter? Me? To tell you the truth, I love my new bachelor life. I got to buy some new great things that Hermione wouldn’t like, and my new flat; oh it’s great. It slants! Yep slants. Foundation’s not doing to well right now. So now, the cabinet doors won’t shut, and every time I walk, it could fool someone into thinking I’m drunk. I can seal it with a few spells, but then I have a bloody hard time getting it to open. But you know, I love that kind of thing.”

“So you’re ticked about your flat. Do you miss your wife?”

Now, Fred had always been a good friend to Harry, considering Ron was Harry’s best friend, but right now he was going a little too far.

“Fred, let’s just say… I’m aware that she’s not there. And I’m also aware that your wife’s not here. Doesn’t Angelina help out on these sorts of things?”

“Oh Angelina’s here. I’m gonna pick her up a little later.” Fred said, grinning, and with a wink, he apparated away.

Harry sighed, turned and walked up to Neville.

“So is Parvati going to be here today?”

Parvati Patil, now Parvarti Longbottom ,started to date a year after they graduated from Hogwarts, and married Neville when they were twenty. No one was able to figure that one out.

“Yep, and she’s bringing the baby. She’s probably here as we speak.”

“Poor little kid,” Harry said, chuckling. “Being six months old; he shouldn’t have to see this.
**********

The sound of a six month old screaming was enough to make anyone annoyed, especially when it had been going on for the past 30 minutes. And when a baby screams for a half hour, it’s enough to get Colin Creevy agitated, especially when he’s sitting on his front porch trying to have a peaceful evening. His next door neighbours, Neville and Parvati, were very attentive of little Frank, so you only ever heard the baby crying for a bit before he stopped. So something had to be wrong!

But Colin wasn’t sure whether he should go over to the Longbottom’s house or not. Maybe he should just go inside and ignore it. But then he started thinking of all the nice things Parvati had done for him over the years; he knew he should go over and see if there was anything he wrong.

Colin got up from his chair on his porch and made his way next door and knocked on the front door. There was no answer, and the baby was screaming like crazy.

“Parvati? Are you in there?”

He knocked even harder.

“Parvati! It’s Colin Creevy! Parvati are you there?” His voice was rising with each word. He was getting worried.

But the only reply was the baby’s screaming on the other side.

**********

A/N- Aha, a tiny little cliffhanger for you guys, *evil laughter*!!! I’m sorry, I just had to do it. It’s happened to me so many times!!!! But hey, it gives you something to look forward to!! I’ll try to get the next chap up as soon as I can!!! Though the next chapter will not start off where I left off, hehe. I need to get some more information in, that’s all. So again, review and tell me what you think!!

WKris

3. Discovery

Private Justice

CHAPTER EDITED!!!

A/N- Alright, there is a line in here taken directly from the book this is based on, so credit goes to Terri Blackstock… Please don’t sue me!!! I had tried to update this yesterday, but my dad wouldn’t let me on, grrrrrrrrrrr… Again, big thanks to my beta, Matt!!!! Here it is… The second chapter (or third, whatever)…

**********

There were people all over now. Children were running all over, with the mothers yelling at them to stop. There were some Auror wives putting on the finishing touches on some other ‘clowns.’ Pansy Zabani was finishing up Dean Thomas, with the help of Ginny Malfoy. Ginny looked up and saw Harry.

“Stop sweating Harry Potter! I mean it, stop!” Ginny walked up to Harry. “Look, your smile is coming off; our leader for the dance is losing his looks.”

“Ginny, I have the least amount of make-up on. They knew not to put too much on a good face,” replied Harry with a cocky smile.

Ginny smiled. “Or you just fit the bill without it.”

Harry looked wounded. “You are a mean woman Virginia Weasley Malfoy.”

“You better believe it!” But her smile faded as she uttered the next words. “By the way, I saw Hermione yesterday.”

“Speaking of mean woman?” he asked.

Ginny didn’t seem to find that amusing. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that… She looked awful lonely.”

Harry wondered why almost every conversation he had always led to Hermione. She was the one that kicked me out; she caused herself to ‘look’ lonely, he thought.

When Ginny realized she was agitating Harry, she gave a small peck on his cheek, and said, “Sorry Harry.”

**********

Remus Lupin had finally gotten close to sleep in a vacant Auror’s lounge, when he heard a door slam. He opened his eyes to see Ron Weasley exiting his office.

“Hey Ron. Why aren’t you dressed up like everyone else?”

“I could ask you the same question. I’m not the only Auror in this room.”

“I’m not required to. I guess you’re not either.”

Ron smiled. “Life is good.” He headed for another door. “I’m gonna go and take a shower.”

As Ron shut the door to the bathroom, Remus closed his eyes to try to fall asleep. He had just about fallen asleep when he heard the door slam again. Sighing, Remus opened his eyes to see Percy Weasley, another one of Ron’s older brothers, standing there.

“Hey Percy. Now I know it’s required for you to be a clown, so why don’t you look like one?”

“I may be required to look like one, but I’m still trying to avoid the bloody thing. The Auror department is going to be the laughing stock of the community.”

Percy had become the Head of the Auror Department a year and a half ago. When he found out that he probably wasn’t going to become Minister, he decided to take this job. He had all the right NEWTS for it, so it was no problem.

Remus just sat there with a slight smile on his face.

“Yea, well I guess I avoided it as long as I could; I guess I should be getting back.” Percy said as he walked out the door he had just come through.

Remus sighed and laid his head back down. With great satisfaction, he fell asleep without further interruptions.

**********

Harry was back at the fountain staring into the water, not being the least bit festive on this happy day. He was thinking about what Ginny and Fred said to him; about being lonesome.

Why should I be lonesome? He thought. I’m happy with my new life.

No you’re not, another voice said.

Yes I am!

Oh boy, you’re in denial…

Harry shook his head, annoyed that he was arguing with himself.

He looked over and saw Draco and Ginny. He and Draco had become pretty good friends over the past 4 years. Draco and Ginny started dating two years after Ginny graduated, and married when Ginny was 20, Draco was 21. It had been at Fred and Angelina’s wedding that Ginny announced she was dating Draco Malfoy; the school enemy of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Sure, none of the Weasleys took the news very well; Ron was probably the worst, followed very closely by Fred and George. Harry also didn’t take it well, but after a while, Draco proved that he really loved Ginny. They have been married for about 4 years now, and had a one-year-old daughter.

Harry was envious of Draco and Ginny’s marriage, a marriage that had been deeply blessed throughout the years. Why couldn’t it have been that way for me and Hermione? He thought.

**********

The baby’s cries grew more hoarse, and it made Colin Creevy bang even harder on the door. Was Parvati out back, enjoying the nice day, and just couldn’t hear the baby? No, that wouldn’t make sense; she should be at the Ministry, and she would never leave her baby unattended.

And that’s when he smelt it… Smoke. He didn’t understand why he didn’t notice the smell before, and the smell was getting stronger by the second.

Colin turned the doorknob, and stepped inside.

“Parvati? Hello?”

Parvati wasn’t there.

Colin followed the screams of little Frank to the baby’s room. Colin picked up the baby and started to rock him. “Parvati?” Colin called again.

Colin, still carrying the baby, walked into the living room. The smell of smoke was even stronger in there. His heart started to race as he walked to the back door. There was smoke all over the yard. He turned and put Frank in his play pin. Colin made his way outside. He started to wonder why know one noticed the smoke. And that’s when he saw the old shed, with smoke bursting out of the windows.

Coughing, he ran to the shed. “Parvati?”

He opened to door. All there was were flames. He was able to make out a woman’s legs, and he pulled Parvati out. Colin gasped. Paravti had what appeared to be a muggle bullet wound in her head.

Colin felt like he was going to be sick. The first thing that he did, after he threw up, was apparate to the Ministry to tell Neville.

**********

A/N- Guys don’t kill me! *ducks from curses* I really didn’t want to do this to Parvati, but I had to!! And I can’t say I was too pleased with this chap, it seemed a little rushed… Well, tell me what you honestly think of it! And some of you may be wondering where our dear Hermione is… She should be in the next chapter. Yes I haven’t forgotten her, lol. Any ideas of improvement are really appreciated. You could PM me under the name harryhermione4eva, e-mail or whatever. And if you have any ideas on some future scenes you might want to ‘see’ or something, let me know too. And I want to know… Do any of you want to see some flashbacks of some H/Hr moments? You could give me some ideas for that too… I need inspiration, lol!! WKris…

4. Reactions

Private Justice

CHAPTER EDITED!!!

A/N- I hope you guys enjoy this chapter because Hermione makes an entrance. Yes, you guys are very excited!! I hope you don’t get confused with this chapter though… Enjoy!!!

**********

It was all just a cruel joke. It had to be. On all the days, in all the ways for Parvati to die, this just didn’t seem right. And just the fact that it happened was wrong enough. This is what Angelina Weasley was thinking when she heard the news of the murder. She was in shock and completely speechless. And when she heard that Parvati had been killed with some sort of muggle weapon, she didn’t know what to think. She wanted desperately to believe that it was a cruel joke.

Angelina watched as Fred made his way to Neville. Oh poor Neville, she thought. And what about the baby? Frank is just six months old. He shouldn’t have to lose his mother this early in his life.

Fred had to shout into Neville’s ear because of the noise. The look on Neville’s face was unreadable (probably because there was paint on it). Neville took off his wig and threw himself onto Fred.

“Noooo! Parvati!” Neville cried.

“We’re going over now mate.” Fred said, and with a ‘pop’ he was gone, with Neville following his lead.

**********

Colin must have went straight back to the Longbottom’s house to look out for the baby and put the fire out, for the fire had been a small one; and by the time other people arrived, the fire was out. Harry and Draco were there now, trying to get things under control.

“She’s dead, isn’t she?” Draco asked, his voice very dull and emotionless.

Harry shook his head sadly “Poor Neville.”

“Who do you think did this?”

“Well, Fred said that there was a bullet hole in her head from a muggle gun.”

Draco looked confused. “A gun? Is a gun that silver thing that makes a big bang noise? ”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Yes Draco. That’s the gun.”

“So… A muggle killed Parvati? Why?” Draco asked, though more to himself than to Harry.

“It would appear it was a muggle…” Harry said, staring out into nothing.

He started to think on how Hermione would react to the news of Parvati’s death. She would probably be more upset over Parvati’s death than the fact that there may be a killer on the loose… At least at first…

“Why would a muggle want to kill Parvati?” Draco asked again. “Do you think a muggle found out she was a witch?”

Draco’s question brought Harry back to the scene. But Harry just didn’t know what to say.

**********

Hermione Potter was putting some books on the shelves when she heard the little bell on the door ring. She turned to see her friend Lavender Brown walk in.

“You know,” Lavender said, “I think your business is the only one open in this part of the wizarding world today.”

“Well, there isn’t a reason I should close, so I’m not closing.” Hermione replied with a smile.

Lavender just rolled her eyes at her friend. “You want to come and join me for lunch?”

“I can’t; to much stuff to do. I have to get all these books out and I don’t want to be at it all day. Normally I would ask Harry, and if we weren’t in the middle of a divorce-“

“Divorce? Hermione, you said you weren’t even going to consider, not even think of divorce. You’re against it.”

“Yea, well it doesn’t apply to me. Some things change that make it so it doesn’t apply to me.”

“Like what?”

“Adultery.” Hermione said as she placed another book on the shelf.

“Hermione, you know divorce is going to make your life worse, not better.”

Hermione stared at her friend for a few minutes. She wondered if Harry even gave her a second thought during the day, or on any day.

“What choice do I have Lavender? What should I do? There haven’t been any kind of attempts or anything leading towards reconcile.” she said.

“Is that from you or him?”

“I’m the one who was wronged here.”

“Hermione, are you even sure about that?”

“Lav, I’m sure. It’s his move now, and he’s just not moving.” Hermione said as she started to put books on the shelf again, not even looking to see if they belonged there.

“He can stubborn at times. But do you really want to lose him?

“I already have.” Hermione said. She picked up a book and saw a picture of a flower. It was white, dyed with pink… It was the same kind of flower that she had in her wedding, the day she and Harry promised to love one another until death parted them…

*****Flashback*****

Harry looked at her with so much love in his eyes she thought she would cry even more. He started saying his vow…

“Hermione, you mean so much to me. From the time we became friends, you were always there for me, even when we were fighting. I am so thankful for our friendship. But I’m even more thankful for your love that you have given to me. You make me see life in a whole new way, and I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful that the troll attacked you, because it brought us together as friends, which led to love. I love you so much, and my love for you will never, ever end…

*****End of flashback*****

Never, ever end… echoed in Hermione’s head. But it has, she thought, as a tear slid down her cheek.

“I don’t think you lost him.” Lavender said, taking Hermione’s hand. “I don’t even think that you lost his love. It’s not a happy man I see walking around. It’s a miserable man. He may cover it up with jokes and his Potter charm, but there is pain in his eyes.”

“He’s not happy about failure. Neither am I.”

Lavender looked her in the eyes. “Then don’t fail.”

Hermione held her friend’s gaze, and then heard the bell ring.

“Hermione? Are you in here?”

Hermione and Lavender turned to see Angelina.

“Angelina, are you ok?” Hermione asked.

“Somethings wrong.” Angelina shifted her gaze to Lavender. “It’s Parvati…She was murdered.”

Lavender went pale. Sure, Parvati and Lavender weren’t as close as they were when they were younger, but they were still good friends.

“What!? Are you sure Angelina?” Hermione asked, looking at Lavender out of the corner of her eye, who had to sit down.

“About it being Parvati? Yea. Colin Creevy ran into me and Fred and said he had found her with a muggle bullet wound in the head.”

“Bullet? Did a muggle kill her?”

“We don’t know, but its what everyone will assume. I mean, if you think about it; not many witches or wizards know anything about muggle things.”

“I suppose…” Hermione muttered, appearing to Angelina that she was thinking this through.

“What? You don’t think it was a muggle?”

“Well… If you think about it, it just seems a little weird. Out of all the days a muggle could have chosen to go after Parvati, it just so happens to be the day most wizards and witches would be at the Ministry, and not many people would pay attention. Don’t magical families live on both sides of Neville and Parvati?”

“Well, Colin lives on one side, and a couple, Dan and Sandra Clifford live on the other side. Sandra works at the Ministry, and Dan is some kind of entertainer. I saw them both at The Ministry today.”

“Right… So doesn’t it seem… Ironic?”

“I guess it is… But maybe the shooter just made a very lucky choice and bango, got her.”

Lavender gasped and started to take deep breaths of air on that comment, causing Hemione to give Angelina a sharp look.

“Angelina!” Hermione said sharply.

Angelina looked horrified. “Oh, I… Uh… bloody hell… I swear I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I knew her too; we were friends. I’m so sorry.”

**********

Lavender and Angelina were gone. Hermione was still in her bookshop, without anyone else there. It seemed that once her two friends left, Hermione started to think about what had been said. There was a killer on the loose. Every little noise made her jump. To think that there was someone out there who had murdered Parvati gave her a sick feeling. I’ve got to keep busy, she thought. Just keep busy and everything will be fine.

She picked up a vase, heard a noise outside, and dropped the vase, causing it to break into many, many pieces. She backed up, and made no move to clean it up. She couldn’t think straight…

That’s when Hermione heard the bell over her door make a ‘ring.’

**********

A/N- Oh dear me, it seems to be another cliffhanger, *gasp* I’m really having a fun time giving these to you guys. And you may be wondering why it’s another short chapter… I don’t know why, it just is. It’s just that everytime I decide to end the chap, it’s still short… And I always end the chapter when it happens to be a cliffhanger. I’m going to try and make the chaps longer though, so don’t worry!! I hope you understand some things about H/Hr’s relationship now from Hermione’s point of view. And to warn you all… Read my summary again, *wink* Thanks for the reviews guys!!! I mean if you never reviewed, I would never finish this story. Oh and Sandra, did you like your cameo with ‘you know who???’ I don’t know why I did it (I think I’ve gone insane for a little bit), and I had a hard time typing it down. But don’t think that I’m giving him up, because I am soooooo not!!! And if you don’t like the last name, forgive me? I’m horrible with making up last names. What do you guys think of the Flashback? I know it’s not much, but I hope you liked it anyway… NOW REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s an order, lol!!

WKris

5. Chapter 4

A/N- I’m back!!!! And I want to clear some things up with you guys. I kind of made a mistake with the prologue. From the way it sounds, you all probably think H/Hr separated right away… They didn’t, and it’s my fault for not making it clear. They tried to work it out, but that didn’t work, so after about 2 weeks, they separated. Hope you guys can forgive me on the part. And some of you might have been a little lost with the flashback scene. I had it slanted, but when I uploaded it, it wouldn’t stay that way. Sorry if it confused any of you. Hope you enjoy the chap!

**********

“Hermione?”

Him… It was him… Though she was relieved to know that it was only Harry, his voice still made her jump; unfortunately, she didn’t have anything near her to knock over.

“Hermione?” he called again.

She found her voice. “I’m here, in the back.”

Harry appeared in the doorway.

“You’d better stop right there. I broke a vase.”

Harry looked down to see the shatter pieces of the once un-broken vase. He must of thought it looked odd, especially since she made no move to clean it up.

“I have so many things I have to do,” she muttered, though she had gotten most of books out and on the shelves, and she knew she must have sounded ridiculous.

As if he knew that she was distressed, he took out his wand, muttered a spell, and the vase was back together.

“There you go,” he said quietly, as he sat down next to table.

“Thank you,” she managed with a weak smile.

“You heard about Parvati, didn’t you?” he asked, looking at her with his beautiful green eyes.

Hermione nodded. “How’s Neville doing?”

“Not too well. You’re not doing to well either.”

Hermione’s face flushed as she sat down across from him and started gathering books.

“Well, it’s not like one of your friends gets murdered every day.”

“I thought you would get a little shaken.”

They sat there in silence; Harry looking at Hermione intently, and Hermione suddenly found the brown covering of a book she was holding very interesting.

“I need to talk to you Hermione.” Harry finally said.

No, not now, she thought. She didn’t want to break down in front of him. But anyways, Hermione slowly looked up to meet his gaze.

“I want to know if you will go to the funeral with me.”

Hermione figured she had at least a million different emotions running through her face at that moment. “Why?” was the only thing that came out of her mouth. Why did he want her to go with him.

“Hermione, can’t we just do this for Neville? He’ll need us to be there… Together.”

“Is she gonna be there?” she asked, her voice just a bit cold.

“Who?” he asked, but she knew that he knew all to well on whom she was referring to.

“Cho Chang.” she said, rather viciously. It was actually the first time Cho’s name was mentioned in one of their conversations since they split up.

“Hermione, the whole community will be there. Does it really matter?”

She didn’t really know what to think. Was it going to matter if Cho was there?

Harry just watched her for a moment, then finally said, “Forget it Hermione. I thought we could do this for Neville, but just forget it.”

He went for the door, as Hermione figured out what her answer was.

“Harry?”

He turned.

“I’ll… I’ll go with you.”

“Don’t just do this because now you feel guilty.”

“Look Harry, I said I’d go with you. Are you okay with that or not?” raising her voice a little.

“Of course, that’s why I came over here… And to see that you’re fine,”

She couldn’t hold the tears; the ones she tried to hold back from Harry. She turned around as the tears started to come out.

“Is there any idea, any clue as to who did it?” she asked, trying to keep her voice smooth.

“No… All we can assume is that it was a muggle.”

“Harry, why would a muggle want to kill Parvati?”

“Why would anyone want to kill her?”

Hermione sighed.

“Angelina told me you had doubts about it being a muggle.”

“Harry, it just doesn’t feel right.”

“This whole thing doesn’t feel right Hermione.” he said softly.

She looked at him, wondering if he meant something…Else…

Again, the two just looked at each other, with Harry then saying, “I better get going. I’ll let you know when the funeral arrangements are made and everything.”

Hermione nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re gonna be alright?”

Hermione gave a small laugh. “You know me. I’m always alright.”

Harry just looked at her, and then nodded. “Be careful…please.” Harry said the last word so quietly that Hermoine did catch it.

Harry turned to walk out the door, looking back one last time, before he closed the door.

Once he was gone, Hermione’s placed her face in her hands, as a million thoughts ran through her mind.

**********

Harry was now at Marty’s Place, a wizards pub. If someone ever wanted to get drunk, this was the place to go. Harry started coming here with Blaise Zabani, about a month before the separation. He had been visiting the pub more and more frequently ever since.

“Hey Marty, give me two pints of Old Wonky.” Harry said as he sat down.

Marty stared at Harry. “You want the Wonkstone?”

“Uh huh.”

“Alright then.” was the reply as Marty started to get the drink.

Harry looked over when the door opened, and saw Cho Chang come in. Cho saw him and walked over.

“You’re actually in the mood to drink Harry?” she asked as she looked down at the drink Marty just placed in front of Harry.

“If it gets me through the night.” he said with a grin.

“Are you okay Harry?”

How does someone think ‘that’ when I’m grinning? He thought. But he only answered, “Yea, why?”

“Well, it’s been a tough day, and… Did you go and see Hermione today?”

Harry pressed his lips together. “Yea.”

“Is she alright?”

“I guess.” Harry replied, knowing that Cho wasn’t really concerned on how Hermione was doing.

“So… You and her are working things out?”

Why is she asking? Again he thought.

“You don’t have to answer. I mean, I know it’s none of my business.”

“Cho, if I had answers, I’d talk.”

He didn’t look at her. He had been trying to avoid her lately, not wanting to have any interaction with her that would get Hermoine to be even madder at him.

“Are you two going to file for divorce?”

Harry shook his head. “We’re not really going for divorce.”

“But you’re okay with seperation?”

“No not that either. But you don’t always have a choice, especially when your wife doesn’t think you’re honest about anything.”

“Honest about what?”

Argh, why does she keep asking me complicated questions like that? He thought in annoyance.

“Harry?”

He looked at her.

“Honest about what?” she asked again.

Harry shrugged, cursing himself that he mentioned ‘honesty.’

Cho studied him carefully, and then said, “Harry…Uh… I’m not really sure how to say this… Well, I’ve run into Hermione a few times, and she’s been really… really cold towards me …”

Harry’s insides tightened.

“Harry, does your separation have anything to do with our friendship?”

“Are you making a joke?”

“I’m serious Harry.” Cho said with a frown.

Harry leaned forward, his voice low and hard. “My wife caught me with my arms around you. She drew a conclusion about us – and it wasn’t a bloody good conclusion.”

“But you guys didn’t separate until a few weeks later, and you told me it had nothing to do with me.”

“I lied Cho. Nothing happened, and I didn’t want you to feel bad.”

Cho sighed, sitting back. “I could talk to her you know. Tell her.”

Harry had to laugh on that. “You? Talk to Hermione? Bad idea Cho. You talk to her, and there will be a divorce soon. It’ll just make things worse.”

“Well, I’d be there to comfort you.”

Harry met Cho’s eyes, and knew exactly what she meant. Bloody hell, he thought as the door opened and in came more people. He was never happy when there were a lot of people in the pub, but tonight, he was very thankful.

**********

Pansy Zabani had planned to go out that night, but her friends were too scared about the murder. So now she was waiting in bed for Blaise to come home. She wished he didn’t have to work tonight; the two of them could have gone out together.

She sat up as she heard a noise downstairs. “Blaise? Blaise is that you?”

She heard no answer, and a chill went down her back. She saw her gray cat, Merlin, come in. Sighing with relief, she picked up the cat, believing it had made the noise. I could have sworn I left you outside, she thought.

She heard a noise again, and this time, it wasn’t the cat.

“Blaise? Blaise this really isn’t funny!”

“You’re right… It’s not funny.”

The voice did not belong to Blaise.

Pansy screamed, as a bullet hit her chest, knocking her backwards to the floor on the other side of the bed.

Darkness fell upon her, as she tried to take deep breaths. But she couldn’t escape the shadows for long…

**********

A/N- AHHHHHH!!!! Um, should I say I’m sorry for killing off Pansy? I don’t think many of you are terribly disappointed, lol. And sadly, I can’t take credit for the Wonkstone, or the line: “give me two pints of Old Wonky.” Wonkstone came from Nitya, and the line came from alchemist. Thanks you two (even though you don’t read this story, lol). Is this chapter too short? It might be, but I kind of had to end it there, for it was the best place to end it. So, Cho has made another entrance, dun-dun-dun. Sorry that this took a while. I kind of had a little case of a Writer’s Block, which is kind of weird since this is based on a book and everything, so… Oh, thanks for the reviews guys!!!!

Façade- Yea, well I’m glad you enjoyed it, even if I didn’t, lol. But darlin, I’m coming up with D/K shipping names… I will over run you *evil laughter*

Angel-Wing- Yea, I don’t really understand why I had Dan/Sandra. There was just something inside of me telling me to do it. Maybe it was my insanity side creeping up…

Fabiana- I’m glad you found this story and you’re enjoying it.

And to all of you who wondered if it was Harry coming to see Hermione… Hopefully you know now, cause that means I explained it well!

And I am confused… You mean none of you like cliffhangers???? *gasp* Wow… But I’m in a cliffhanger mood, and ever since Amynoelle gave readers a very, very, very evil cliffhanger in NPTF, I’m keeping cliffhangers. But, will you guys keep R/R’ing for me? No one reviews over on FFNet (I don’t think anybody knows it exists over there,lol), and so I like it when people review over here.

WKris- who finds it very funny that a lot of this chapter is made up of her A/N, hehe.

6. Chapter 5

A/N- Well, I don’t really have a comment… It might be a while before the next chapter! Enjoy…

**********

Blaise Zabani was about to go home when he heard a man say something to him from behind.

“A woman named Ali just flooed in. Said she saw a fire at your house.”

Blaise turned around to see Remus Lupin. Blaise just stared at him, and then it hit him like a ton of bricks as he realized what he had been told.

“Was Pansy there?” Remus asked, seeing Blaise’s face.

“Yea. I flooed my head over there around 10.”

“Well, don’t worry Blaise. She probably got out of there.”

**********

Three people popped up at Marty’s Place, informing Harry, Cho, and others about the fire. Soon, they were gone.

**********

The fire was ablaze. If they wanted the muggles to ‘somehow’ forget about this, it would take a while. Blaise looked around to find Pansy, but she was nowhere.

He got inside the burning house, and Harry was following him. Not finding Pansy anywhere downstairs, he finally went up.

“Pansy!” Blaise screamed.

He found her when he got into the master bedroom. His face was broken in anguish. He rolled Pansy around in with blankets that he got from the bed, and then carried her from the house.

It was hard to say Pansy looked like Pansy once they got a clear view of her. The fire burned her so much, there was no way you could relate her to the Pansy they all knew. Blaise was standing above Pansy, and Harry and Cho off to the side a little.

“You’ve gotta do something. Pansy is NOT dead!” Blaise screamed.

Cho had tears in her eyes, and Harry looked at Blaise.

“Blaise… I’m really… I’m really sorry…” was all Harry could say.

“Nooooooo!!”

Blaise bent down to Pansy and held her in his arms. It was then that Harry saw it. Redness, all over Pansy’s back… Blood had soaked through it and was now all over Blaise.

He looked over at Cho. “Cho” he said causing her to look down also.

“Oh God no.”

**********

Fred hated this. Both Parvati and Pansy were dead, and according to Harry and Cho, it looked like they died the same way. Yes he hated this. Before his father, Arthur Weasley, died, Fred had promised his father one thing; that as well as running the joke shop with his twin brother George, he would always help out at The Ministry when needed. And now he was needed, and he was helping out. He was going to be one of the ones finding out who killed the ladies. Oh how he bloody hated it.

**********

“The two of them were friends. It’s gotta be related somehow.” said Terry Boot.

Fred rubbed his eyes, nodding his head in agreement.

They were back at the Zabani’s house, looking for any kind of evidence to help them.

“Hey Fred, look at this.” said Kyle Zankeman, an older Auror.

Fred looked over to see what Kyle was talking about. He saw a small vile, containing some kind of white powder.

“What is that?”

“Oh I know what that is.” Terry said as he took the vile from Fred. “Yea, this is a muggle drug. It’s called… um… It’s called a cocoon.”

Fred rolled his eyes at Terry. “Don’t you mean cocaine?”

“Oh yea… right.”

Fred sighed as he looked back at the vile, which Terry put down. Now he knew that Blaise could drink a lot, but he was never one of the druggie types. But that left Pansy, and it wouldn’t surprise him to find out that this belonged to her.

“I’d say that’s the reason she was murdered.” said Terry.

“This? You think it was a drug deal that went bad?”

“A possibility.”

“And you’re including Parvati in this?”

“Another possibility.”

Fred couldn’t believe this. “You’ve got to be joking. Look, I was never that close with Parvati, and neither were you, but we both should know that she would never do drugs.”

“But like you said, we weren’t that close to her. Fred, there’s got to be some kind of connection. Maybe Parvati knew something. Maybe Pansy told Parvati something she wasn’t supposed to know, so someone takes them both out.”

“There is no evidence to support that.”

“Well, we’ve gotta start somewhere, Fred.”

Fred sat back down on a chair, and just looked around. With all the burnt things, some things buried under ash, it was going to be hard to get a lot of evidence of any kind. All they had was that the gun was a .38, and the fire started out with gasoline. Definitely signs of a muggle.

“Let’s just put it this way Terry. Whoever is doing this, has to found… and fast. We can’t let this go.”

“I know.”

Fred looked out the window to see Draco, Harry, Percy, Ron, and Remus all crowded around Blaise, trying to keep him calm. But trying and succeeding are two very different things.

“It’s gonna be a little harder if he really is a muggle.” said Terry.

Fred was still looking out the window. “And if he’s not a muggle?”

Terry looked up. “No way.”

Fred looked over at Terry. They were both thinking the same thing; if it wasn’t a muggle, then that meant it was a wizard, a wizard that they all… knew.

**********

Sleep was becoming a mystery to Harry Potter. At least, he felt that it was. Having two murders in one day, and then you’ve got some Wonkstone in you, all energy goes right out. And when it’s about 3am in the morning, you usually no energy left, and you really start wanting sleep. But that still didn’t make him want to go home. He didn’t want to go to his flat. No, he wanted to go to the home he shared with Hermione. The place that Hermione loved, and the place he loved. He missed the house. He missed the things that filled, and worse, he missed his wife. And to admit that, was hard. But after seeing what pain Neville and Blaise went through today, he couldn’t help if it hurt his heart.

What if I were to find out that my wife was surrounded by flames, and was bleeding from being shot?

He wanted to see Hermione, even if it was late. She probably still didn’t know about Pansy.

He started out of the office with his broom in his hand, when he ran into Cho. She was just sitting there on the floor, with her black hair in a low ponytail. She was staring at the wall.

“Cho? Are you okay?”

She continued to stare at the wall, and then after about 10 seconds, she slowly turned her head to look at him. After taking a breath, she nodded.

“Yea. I was just… thinking.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Just… What a horrible way to die.”

Her eyes were somewhat dry, but he could tell she wasn’t doing well.

“Cho, why don’t you go home… get some sleep.”

“I’m just a little creeped to go out.”

Harry could understand that. “Look, I’ll follow you home. Are you taking your broom?”

She nodded, her eyes looking hopeful. She pointed her left hand to her side where her broom was.

“You would?” she asked as she reached for his hand with her right.

He knew he should have stepped back and not take the hand. This was the reason his marriage was ending, because of tears and the need to touch.

But he didn’t take his hand away.

“I’d do it alone, but just the thought of someone out there… a murderer…” she trailed off.

“Come on.” he said as he pulled her to her feet.

Once they were out of the Ministry, they were off into the sky; Cho in front, and Harry right behind her.

He was starting to think he shouldn’t have done this. He didn’t want to get to close to her home incase something happened. But tonight was different. There was a murder- two murders. He was just being helpful.

After about five minutes, they landed at her house.

As Cho reached for her door, with Harry a few feet behind her, she stopped and turned around.

“Come on in Harry, for a drink. Just for a few minutes.”

The statement seemed so innocent, and tempting. Just to relax might help him sleep later.

But something made him stop. Everything Hermione said about him and Cho were false, and he denied it; but that might change if he stepped through that door.

“I can’t,” though part of him was wishing the opposite. “I really need to go.”

As she looked at him, he wished that she would persuade him. They were both lonely people, and it had been a very hard day.

“I won’t get down on my knees and beg.” she said softly. But Harry just stood there; so she turned away and went through her door. “Thanks for the follow home.”

“Yea sure. Be careful.”

Closing the door, she nodded.

Harry just stood there in the darkness, thinking about what happened, then…

Hermione. I need to see Hermione.

He went for his broom, and once again, he was up in the air as he flew to the house he used to share with Hermione. When he got there, he stopped to think on what he would say. She wouldn’t be exactly thrilled to be woken up at this time. He could just tell her about Pansy and convince her to let him stay there to make sure she’s alright.

With his broom still in his hand, he walked up to the door and knocked.

“Hermione, it’s Harry.” he said, thinking that she would be too afraid to ask herself.

But there was no answer, and he knocked even harder as a horrible feeling swept through him. Was she laying there, a victim as well?

He took out his wand, whispered Alahamora, and took the knob, his hand all the while shaking. But just as he was about to turn the knob, it started to turn from the inside, and in the next second, he was face to face with Hermione. Even with the hour, Hermione looked beautiful. She had her white satin robe on, and her brown curly hair pulled back into a low loose ponytail.

“Harry? What are you doing here?”

His heart still pounding, he stumbled inside and shut the door behind him. It was hard for him to say anything.

“Harry, what is it?” saying this, she sniffed, and stepped back. “Harry, have you been drinking?”

“No. I mean yes… Hermione, this has nothing to do with that.” He took a deep breath. “There’s been another murder… Pansy.”

Hermione just stood there, her eyes a bit wide. But Harry couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“How?” was the only thing she said, and she said it a bit weakly.

“Shot. Just like Parvati.”

“Oh god. Who’s doing this?”

“When I left, they still didn’t know. But they’ll find him.”

“But why Pansy and Parvati?”

“They found some muggle drugs at Pansy’s house. I don’t think Blaise knew it was there; the look on his face was surprise. They think Pansy told Parvati something.”

“Harry, Pansy wouldn’t have told Parvati anything. They might have been on friendly terms, but friends? It’s not like they did anything together.”

“It doesn’t make sense, I know. But all we can assume is that it’s a muggle killing witches. No one is safe, so I’m going to stay here tonight.”

He knew that she wanted to protest, for she opened her mouth to do so. But she stopped. She didn’t want to be alone.

“I’ll just sleep on the couch.” he said.

Her only response was to stare at him. Don’t be stubborn Hermione, he thought. Don’t send me away.

All of a sudden, they heard a noise and Hermione looked over. She saw Ginny’s head in the fireplace. Because Harry was on the other side of the wall, Ginny couldn’t see him.

“Hermione, you’re not gonna believe what happened to Pansy. She—”

“I heard Ginny.”

“Hermione, this isn’t good. Draco and I think you shouldn’t be there all by yourself, so we want you to come over here and spend the night. Just floo yourself over.”

“I’m not alone Ginny.”

“You’re not?” she asked, looking around.

Harry stepped forward. “Hey Ginny.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

Hermione turned back to Ginny. “Ginny, I appreciate the invitation, and I think I’ll take you up on it too. I don’t want to sleep here alone, and the alternative is…” she looked at Harry. “Actually, there isn’t an alternative.”

That remark seemed to stab him in the stomach. He looked at Ginny. “Ginny, I’ll stay here tonight. I don’t want her to be alone either, so thanks—”

Hermione interrupted him. “No. Ginny, I’ll be right over.”

Ginny looked like she might cry. “Oh, um, I don’t want to interfer—”

“You’re not. I’ll be right over.”

Harry was so angry, he almost forgot how to talk. “Well, I’ll bring you over.”

“Harry, I can floo over by myself!”

“You might be able to, but I’m still coming!” He turned back to Ginny. “We’ll be over in a little bit.”

Ginny’s face was apologetic. “I’m sorry Harry. I didn’t know you were here.”

“That’s okay Gin. She would rather face murder than have me in the same house. I’ll see ya.”

After that, Ginny’s head disappeared, and Harry and Hermione were alone once again.

**********

A/N- Well, that’s the end to this chapter! I can’t say I had fun writing it… people are in such bad moods, lol. Um, hope you guys aren’t to angry at Hermione right now, even if she is being stubborn. But some of you may wonder how much of a H/Hr fan I am… I love those two, and I can’t stand fics where they don’t end up together. I like… happy endings, *grin* Thanks for the reviews everyone!!!!!! I love you guys!!!

WKris- yay, my A/N isn’t that long.

7. Chapter 6

A/N- Romy and Becky, I hope you like your appearance! And everyone, thank you so much for the reviews!!! Enjoy!

**********

It was quiet at the house, for there were no words spoken between Harry and Hermione after Ginny left. He was leaning against the wall, looking at her while she was avoiding his gaze. Every time I see her I long to hold her; but not while her tongue accused me falsely.

“Just go and get your things Hermione,” he said, and she went into the backroom.

**********

When Harry got off the floor at Malfoy Manor, Hermione was already standing and straitening out her clothes after the floo ride.

“I told you there was no need to follow me,” she said.

Harry gave her a fake smile. “Yea, well aren’t you smart,” he said, rather sarcastically.

Hermione looked at the door that would lead her to Ginny and Draco. Part of her wanted to go through, the other part wanted to stay where she was.

“Thanks for… following me Harry,” she said quietly, still not looking at him.

“Don’t mention it,” and you could still hear sarcasm in his voice.

She didn’t like this. She didn’t want them acting like strangers. She despised it, yet at the same time… didn’t.

She knew Ginny would be in here soon; she knew Ginny was just giving them some time alone.

“Hermione,” he started, causing her to look back at him. He took her hand, and she still felt a little electric jolt shoot through her when he touched her, which she hated. “Don’t always think the worst of me. Nothing I’ve done has been wrong.”

“Harry, that’s the whole problem.”

“You have a problem because I haven’t done anything wrong?”

“No. The problem is that you won’t admit that you’ve done anything wrong,” she said, her cheeks growing hot.

“Do you want me to admit to something I haven’t done? Do you want me to lie to you?”

“It won’t make any difference,” she said. “You’ve been doing just that for a while now.” Although she said that in anger, it was filled with deep sadness. And her eyes were filling with tears.

“I would never lie to you Hermione,” he said, looking straight at her.

“Harry, it’s yourself you lie to… and you believe them.”

“You used to think the best of me,” he said as he let go of her shaking hand.

“There was a time when you were the best.”

That was one of the most painful things she ever said to him, and it hurt her to say them. She never enjoyed hurting him, but their conversations were now filled with those kinds of comments; from both of them.

With his eyes still filled with pain, he took his turn to move his eyes across the elegant room, until they landed on her again.

“Don’t be alone in the store tomorrow, okay? Things can still happen in the daylight.”

She nodded.

“You know where you can find me if you need me.” This time, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Good night, Herm.”

She swallowed. “Good night.”

As though Ginny knew they were done talking, the redhead opened the door slowly, and stepped into the room.

“Hey Hermione, Hey Harry,” she said as she stayed close to the door.

Harry nodded back at Ginny with a very small smile, and with one last look at Hermione, he stepped into the fireplace; while Ginny and Hermione stepped outside the door and into the hall.

Ginny looked at Hermione with tears in her eyes, and then hugged her. “It’s just not fair… poor Parvati and Pansy,” she whispered.

“I know,” Hermione replied.

They were still hugging when Draco came into view, who also didn’t look to good.

“Hey Hermione,” he said.

“Oh Draco… Is there any news of any kind?” Hermione asked as she and Ginny broke apart.

“No…” he sighed. “You heard about the cocaine I suppose.”

She nodded. “Yea, well I can’t see that being the reason… How’s Blaise doing?”

“He’s in shock. He wasn’t even supposed to work tonight.”

Ginny wiped her eyes. “We better turn in. Hermione, you can sleep in the green room down the hall. It’s going to be a long night…”

**********

Hermione was on her back on the green room bed. She had a lot of confusing thoughts running through her mind.

Why was Harry so persistent on protecting her? After the two months of separation, it was hard to believe he still loved her; especially when he tried so little to work things out. Though she knew Harry was always the one who wanted to protect people, it still confused her for some reason.

She didn’t hear where he went after he flooed away. Did he go and find Cho? Did he go and comfort her for she was also lonely?

That thought just made her feel sick, and she rolled over onto her side and cried herself to sleep, hoping that Harry didn’t have angry thoughts of her as he fell asleep, but tender thoughts… the ones he used to have.

**********

Lavender Brown was awoken by the sound of her house-elf.

“Miss Lavender! Miss Lavender,” Koba squeaked.

Lavender squinted as she yawned and slowly raised her head from the pillow.

“Koba? What’s wrong?”

“There’s a man downstairs to see you.”

“A man? What man?” Lavender asked a little more awake.

“I don’t know. His head is in the fire.”

Lavender got up from her bed and put on her blue robe. She was not happy with be woken up at 4am. She walked into her living room, and sure enough; there was a man’s head in her fireplace.

The man’s eyes started to look hopeful when he saw her. “Lavender, you gotta help me!”

It took her awhile to figure out who this man was, and then she remembered. It was Marty Hackens, owner of Marty’s Place.

“What is it Marty?” she asked, starting to walk back and forth to keep her feet from falling asleep.

“I am in desperate need of a lawyer. You’ve gotta come down to the Ministry. They’re questioning me about Pansy’s murder— Lavender, I don’t have anything to do with it, and I did not give her any muggle cocaine… I didn’t even know about it.”

Lavender stopped walking. “Pansy Zabani? But it was Parvati who got killed, not Pansy.”

“Both of them. But I’m not the only one down here. They got about 20 other people here, most of them drinkers and drugies. Let’s just say I’m not the only one who will need a lawyer.”

Lavender said a quick goodbye and went back upstairs to get dressed.

**********

Lavender ‘popped’ into the Auror Headquarters offices 10 minutes later, and Marty hadn’t been joking. There were 20 or more other people there, mostly all men, getting questioned.

She turned around and was staring at man with red hair. Ron Weasley.

“Hey Lavender,” he said with a smile.

As always, whenever Ron flashed her his smile, her stomach did little cartwheels.

“Hey to you too,” she said back.

“So,” he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and tried to look serious. “What are you doing up at this hour young lady?”

Lavender glared at him. “You do know you’re a git, don’t you?”

Ron just smiled.

She shook her head. “Anyways, I’m here for the same reason everyone else is here. I heard people are in need of a lawyer, and what is it about cocaine?”

Ron’s smile faltered slightly. “Oh, that… Well, they found it in Pansy’s house, and think there’s a connection.”

“That makes sense,” she said, thinking out loud. “So they’re just bringing in anyone who saw her today… Do they still think it’s a muggle?”

“Yea… some of these men here are muggles. We’re gonna have to erase this part from their memory,” grumbling as he said this.

She smiled, and looked over to see Kelly Young, Pansy’s best friend coming towards her. She turned back to Ron. “I think my job is calling,” and she walked off towards Kelly, who’s eyes were red and swollen.

“Oh Lavender, thank God you’re here.”

“Kelly, what are you doing here?”

“For questioning. I told them all I knew, but they won’t let me go yet.” Kelly was shaking and on the verge of tears, trying to take deep breaths.

Lavender put a hand on Kelly’s shoulder to comfort her. “What did you tell them? What do you know?”

“Nothing… well, nothing about the murder. But I know she bought the drug this— well, now it would be yesterday. She bought it off a guy she knew, just on the streets of Hogesmead. But I swear I didn’t know what it was until later.”

“You know the guy?”

“No, never saw him before in my life. He looked like a muggle, but he could’ve been a Squib. He was tall, mid twenties, had dark buzzed hair, mustache, a sliver earring on the left ear… Oh, I can’t think anymore!” Kelly said, looking down.

“It’s okay Kelly… it’ll be okay.”

“Should I have come to you first, Lavender?”

She shook her head. “No, you did the right thing. Just stay here, I have to go and talk to Marty.”

Kelly sat down, along with others. Lavender noticed that a lot of them were muggles, and some of them were staring around the place with a look of ‘awe’ on their face. Soon they’re gonna have a ‘dazed’ look, she thought with a chuckle.

Lavender made her way over to Marty and saw there was fear in his eyes.

“I told them I wasn’t going to say anything till you got here,” he said.

“Well, I’m here.” She sat down. “Was Pansy in the bar tonight?”

“No, not tonight… But she was there this afternoon. She was pretty shaken about Parvati’s murder.”

Lavender looked away for a moment and pressed her lips together, trying not to break down in tears. She still didn’t want to believe her friend was dead.

She turned back after a moment. “Did you see Pansy talking to anyone?”

“Just some girlfriends. And if you mean men… no. She could be a little wild at times, but I’ve never seen her with any men except Blaise.”

“Marty,” she said slowly. “Is there any reason to believe that she got the drugs from you?”

“No way! Lavender, I sell booze, not muggle coke.”

“Alright.” She stood up and looked around for an Auror. “Fred!” she called as she saw Fred walk into the room.

“Hey Lavender. I guess Marty got a hold of you.”

She nodded. “You want to question him?”

“I sure do.”

“Then let’s get this over with,” and they followed Fred into another room. This is going to be a long night, she thought.

**********

Auror's were all about now; looking for the killer, using the description Kelly Young gave them. Since Kelly told them she thought the drug dealer was a Squib, it made sense that he would use a gun and sell cocaine.

Romina ‘Romy’ Melling walked around a corner in Hogesmeade, when a figure of a man caught her eye. The man was pretty tall, with dark hair that was buzzed. The man was just setting his suitcase on the ground. But the man looked just the way Kelly had described.

“Excuse me sir,” Romy called.

“What?” the man replied, looking slightly annoyed.

“Can I ask you a few questions?” she asked, already walking over to the mystery man.

“About what?”

Romy didn’t answer, but holding her wand, she whispered a spell, and the man’s hands were tied behind his back.

“What? What is this?” the man yelled as he tried to free his tied hands.

“Jake, Becky, I’ve got something,” Romy yelled over her shoulder.

A man and a woman sprinted towards them. “What is it, Romy?” Becky asked.

“Look, he fits the description. Look in his suitcase.”

Becky and Jake opened the suitcase and searched. Sure enough, there was at numerous packets of cocaine, and at least 4,000 dollars in muggle and wizard money.

The man looked outraged. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“You sir, are under arrest,” Romy said.

“For what?”

“Oh take your pick— possession of drugs or murder.”

“Murder? Hey, I didn’t kill anybody…is this about that Longbottom lady?”

That was as close to a confession as Romy needed. “Get back to headquarters and tell them we’ve got our man!”

**********

8. Chapter 7

Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 have been revised in some places. Basically just the ages of H/Hr when they got engaged/married, and the D/G relationship have been changed. (they are still married). Please go and read the Prologue and Chapter 2 again, so this chapter won’t confuse you. I’m sorry for messing up. This is my first fanfic and everything.

A/N- Ah, I got this up sooner than I thought. Thanks for all the reviews!

Oh I should have done this in chapter one. This story is dedicated to my friend Romy. From the beginning, she has given me her support and encouragement, and without her, I probably never would have started writing this. So thanks a lot Romy!!!

And in a way, this chapter is also dedicated to my little sister, Shannon. Though she can be a pain, I still love her!!

And big thanks to my beta, Matt, for all his great ideas to make the chapters a little more interesting. I really appreciate it!!!

Alright, on with the chapter…

**********

Hermione awoke around 8am. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was, and scanned the room. Oh yea, I’m at Ginny’s house.

She quickly showered and made her way downstairs, where she was greeted with an amusing sight. Ginny was bending in front of her daughter’s high chair, trying to get the tiny girl to eat.

“Come on Shannon… eat,” Ginny said as she stuck the spoon in Shannon’s mouth.

Shannon wouldn’t have it. She would make a sour face and pushed the spoon away.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Ginny was getting impatient. “You will eat this. I said so and I’m your mother.”

Shannon still resisted, but resistance wouldn’t stop Ginny. She started tickling the child, until Shannon started to laugh and open her mouth. Ginny smiled as she stuck the spoon into Shannon’s mouth.

But Shannon wasn’t going to let her mother win. The laughter stopped and a second later, the baby’s food was out of her mouth and on to Ginny’s face, which now had no smile.

Ginny dropped the spoon, and with her lips pressed together, she took a towel and wiped her face.

“Fine, fine you win. Have it your way.”

Hermione had to laugh at the look on Ginny’s face. Ginny always had trouble getting Shannon to eat.

With the sound of laughter, Ginny turned around. “Yea, go ahead and laugh Hermione. Maybe you should try it.”

Hermione put a hand up. “No, no it’s fine. I didn’t realize little Shannon could be such a trouble-maker.”

“She gets it from her father,” Ginny said with a sigh.

Hermione went up to Shannon and bent down. “Are you sure she doesn’t get it from her mother?”

“I was not a trouble-maker!” Ginny said indignantly, as she turned around and headed towards the sink.

Hermione smiled as she looked back at Shannon, and started playing with the little girl’s fingers.

“I envy you Ginny,” Hermione said softly.

Ginny turned around. “Why?”

“Because… you’ve got a darling baby and… a husband that loves you,” she replied, letting go of Shannon’s fingers and standing up to face Ginny. “You have what I’ve always wanted.”

“Hermione…”

“But I guess we don’t always get what we wish for,” Hermione said quickly, putting her hands on the counter.

“Hermione,” said Ginny as she walked over to Hermione. “You’ll get those things. You’ll have a child, and… you already have the other one.”

Hermione pressed her lips together. “No, I don’t.”

Part of Ginny wanted to scream at her friend, while the other part understood where Hermione was coming from. But she wanted to convince her that Harry still loved her, even if he didn’t show it. But she knew it wasn’t her place, no matter how much she wanted to.

Draco chose to come in at that moment with the paper and plopped it on the counter. “They found the killer.”

Ginny and Hermione quickly turned to him. “What?” the both asked, and Ginny looked down at the paper, that had Parvati and Pansy on the front.

“They found the man who gave Pansy the drug. His name is Carl Benner, and he’s from London,” Draco said.

“A muggle?” Hermione asked.

Draco shook his head. “No, a squib.”

“When did they catch him?”

“This morning around 5. They’ve been questioning him ever since, but he keeps denying having anything to do with the murders.”

“Oh, I should go down there and talk to that… that no good… prick!” Ginny said, not looking very happy.

Draco raised his eyebrows. “And what would you say to him, m’dear?”

“I’d say that he ruined many people’s lives— not just the husbands and little Frank, but all of us… and that I lost a good deal of sleep!” Ginny slammed a hand onto the counter.

Now, only one of Draco’s eyebrows was up while the other one was down as he shared a look with Hermione.

“Um, Ginny, “Hermione said. “I don’t think he’ll really care… about any of those.”

“Well, Hermione,” Draco said. “He might just care that she lost sleep.”

**********

“He sure keeps his flat clean and organized…” Fred said as he and other men looked around Carl Benner’s flat.

‘Clean and organized’ was an understatement. The place looked ransacked, but they soon realized that it was probably always like this. Dishes were all over, as well as papers. There was an old worn out brown couch and a chair that need serious stitching.

They had found Carl’s roommate at the place, Nicholas Shamer. With bloodshot eyes, a white undershirt, a big belly, and the same looking sliver earring in his left ear that Carl had, he denied having anything to do with Carl’s ‘business.’

“I swear, the past couple of days I was in Paris. I was with a woman... Shelly something. She’ll tell you,” the big man said.

Fred smirked. “Hey Smith, look up Shelly Something in Paris. That ought to clear things up.”

**********

Fred was now at a wizard ear piercing shop. This was where Carl and Nicholas got their silver earring, and Fred wanted to know what it meant. He had finally noticed that on the silver earring, there was a picture of a snake, and it gave him the creeps.

He was still looking around the place when an older man came out of the backroom. “Can I help you?”

Fred nodded. “Yea, I’m looking for a certain earring. It’s silver.”

The man laughed. “We got a lot of silver earrings here.”

“Well, men from some kind of gang would probably wear it, and engraved in the earring is a snake.”

The man pointed behind him on the wall. “Like that back there?”

Fred leaned in a little more to see the silver earring more clearly. “Yep that’s the one. Do a lot of people get those?”

“What are you? Some kind of Auror?”

“I work for the Ministry of Magic. I’m investigating two murders.”

“Muggle-borns?”

“No… both purebloods. Why did you say muggle-borns?”

The man shrugged. “You’re investigating two murders, you’re interested in that silver earring. Those kind of people only kill muggle-born witches.”

Fred stared at him. “What kind of people.”

“I wouldn’t really know what to call them. They have to kill at least one muggle-born witch and they’re in the gang and get the silver earring… it’s a cult.”

“What are their reasons for the killings?”

The man raised an eyebrow before talking. “Well, there are a few. One could be that they’re born into a pureblood family, yet don’t have magical powers come naturally to them. They get envious of muggle-born witches that are powerful. Another reason could be they’re following Salazar Slytherin’s lead… Kill all muggle-borns. That’s probably the reason there’s a snake on the earring.”

Fred’s insides turned as he heard this. He felt that at anytime, he might just throw up.

**********

Marina Johnson walked into the Auror department with lunch. Though she was only 75 years old, she still had her ‘young’ side. Harry saw her walk in and hurried over to help her.

“Her Aunt Mari, let me help you.”

She never minded be pampered by these boys… it could be a lot of fun. Though everyone called her “Aunt Mari,’ the only person who could legally call her that was Angelina Weasley, her niece. She started helping out with food at the Ministry after Angelina married Fred.

“Alrighty,” she said as she handed him a bag.

“So, what’s on the menu tonight?”

Marina grinned. “Italian tonight.”

Harry looked as though he could faint. “Oh Aunt Mari, you’re the best.”

Her smile grew wider as she followed him further into the room, where all the other Auror’s all greeted her with smiles. Marina had the reputation for ‘mothering’ the Auror’s, and none of them minded in the least.

Remus came up and gave her a big hug. “How are you Aunt Mari?”

“Oh I’m fine. What about you?”

“Well, I’ll live. There have been better days though,” Remus said with a sigh.

“How are Blaise and Neville doing?” she asked both Harry and Remus.

Harry answered. “They’re still bad. Neville is doing better than Blaise, but they’re both not in a good state.”

“Well it shouldn’t be a shocker. No one wants to lose their wife… in any sort of way,” Marina said, looking at Harry when she said it.

Harry looked right back at her. “And what exactly do you mean by that?” he asked, though he had a feeling.

“Oh you know. Neville and Blaise lost the love of their life by death. They had no choice. But you do Harry. You’re not losing Hermione by death, but of your own choice.”

Harry couldn’t believe Marina was talking to him about this. She knew that Hermione kicked him out, not the other way around. “Aunt Mari, you know it’s not my fault.”

“So Hermione kicked you out. Have you ever tried to work things out with her?”

“She should be the one trying to work things out with me!”

Remus just stood there and looked back and forth between the two, wondering if he should intervene, or leave them to settle it on their own. He chose the latter.

Remus cleared his throat. “I’ll be right back.”

Marina looked over at Remus as he left and let out a sigh. She knew she was being a bit too hard on Harry, but she didn’t want Harry and Hermoine to go through the rest of their lives alone.

She looked back at the red faced Harry. “Harry… I’m sorry. I’m just stressed with the murders, and… I’m just scared. I want you and Hermione to be happy together… again.”

Harry was still upset, but went up to hug her. “It’s alright Aunt Mari… It’s alright.” But his mind was still lingering on the conversation, and he was far from alright.

**********

“Aunt Mari said to come and get you. The food is done…Italian,” Draco grinned and rubbed his hands together.

“I’m not hungry,” Harry said. “Draco, what do you and Ginny think of me now?”

Draco stopped rubbing and grinning at that question. “Where did that come from?”

“Hermione stayed with you guys. She probably started to rub off on you.”

“If we were to have an opinion on you, it’d come from you, not her.”

Harry started to get a little angry. “And what is your opinion of me?”

“Well, maybe that you’ve forsaken you first true love.”

“Why does is seem that everyone is blaming me? I’ve said it before… she kicked me out! She didn’t want the counseling, she doesn’t want to talk about reconciliation— I’m not sure what she wants anymore… perhaps she wants blood. But I can’t control this anymore.”

Draco stared at him. “You do know that Hermione despises drinking, right?”

“And what does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, you’re not making your relationship any better, Harry.”

**********

Hermione had no idea why the shop was so busy today. She expected most people to be at home and never want to come out, at least for today. The funerals for Parvati and Pansy were later that afternoon, and she was a little nervous about seeing Harry. She figured most people probably just wanted a book to keep their mind off the recent tragic events.

She saw Lavender come in with a tired look on her face. “The Ministry let you go?”

“I would hex them if they didn’t,” Lavender said as she dropped her purse on the chair. “It’s a nightmare over there. I interviewed clients all night, and was in court this morning, but because of the funerals, the judge recessed it for the rest of the day. I wondered if you wanted to go with me.”

“Oh, um, I can’t. I’m going with Harry.” Hermione said as she stared down at the book in her hand.

“With Harry?”

Hermione looked up at the surprised look on her friend’s face. “Well, he asked, and I said yes. I figured it was the best thing to do…”

“Very interesting,” Lavender said with a smile. “Do you think he’s finally coming around?”

“To be honest, I really don’t know. You know how he’s always been a protector of people, but I’m just confused with it all right now.”

Lavender was still smiling. “Well, sometimes it takes murder to make us realize what we don’t have, or what we can’t live without.”

“Well, you shouldn’t get your hopes up. I’m not.”

“I beg to differ on that Hermione.”

Hermione stared at Lavender straight in the eye. “What kind of marriage would we have if we got back together over fear of murder?”

Lavender thought on that. “Well, you didn’t marry out of fear. There was something else there.”

Hermione broke into a small smile. “We got married cause we never wanted to be apart from each other. I always wanted to be with him, no matter where I was.”

Lavender knew that. Whenever she was with Hermione back when Harry and Hermione were only dating, all Hermione could think of and talk about was Harry. She started to think she would be sick of Harry before she saw him again.

“Well,” Hermione said. “I better get changed before Harry gets here and close the shop. I’ll see you at the funeral. Maybe I should have said no him.”

Lavender picked up her purse. “No, it’s good that you said yes. Everything will be fine, Hermione. You’ll see.”

**********

Harry walked through the door of the bookshop. “Are you ready?” he asked Hermione as he saw her at a bookshelf.

“Just a minute,” she replied back. She put the last book on the shelf and turned around. “Well, I guess I am now.”

Harry just stood there and stared at her. She could even look good when she was going to a funeral. He thought of telling her how great she looked, but decided against it. It wasn’t the best time.

But her simple black dress just fit nicely around her body, and her hair was down with soft, brown curls. It was no longer bushy, the way it had been through out school.

She noticed the way he was staring at her, and heat ran up to her cheeks. “Should I change? I mean, is this suitable for a funeral? It’s not a fancy dress or anything…”

He shook his head quickly. “No, it’s fine.” She look’s way better then fine.

She nodded. “Yea, well… We better get going.”

The funerals were going to be held at Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione would apparate to Hogsmeade.

Harry held on the Hermione’s arm as the both apparated. A second later they were standing just outside of Hogsmeade, and they made their way over to Hogwarts.

Hermione was quiet on the first half of their walk. She started talking as they walked up to the castle. “This is just awful. We’re supposed to say goodbye to the old, not to young women who should still have years to live.”

Harry sighed and said, “I know. We better get inside.”

He opened the doors and they walked inside. The place was bursting with people. Probably every wizard and witch in England was there. Harry looked over and spotted Draco. He and Hermione walked up to him.

“Hi Draco,” said Hermione. “Where’s Ginny?”

“She’ll be here soon. I just came early with Shannon to help out.”

Hermione looked over her shoulder and saw little Shannon Malfoy being passed around by teenage girls. “Well, we’ll save you two a seat. Just point her to us when she gets here,” Hermione said as she and Harry walked over to sit down.

But when the music started to play, there was still no sign of Ginny. Eventually, Hermione had to give up the seats she was saving to other people, and when Dumbledore started to speak, she forgot about Ginny. She just sat there in grief, with Harry next to her, holding her hand.

**********

Ginny woke up with a start, and she didn’t know what caused her to do so. She looked at the clock hanging on the wall, and gasped when she noticed that the funeral started a while ago.

She heard the back door open.

“Draco,” she called. “Honey, I feel asleep while getting ready to go. I’m sorry.”

There was no answer to her call.

She got a chill. There was somebody inside her house, and it wasn’t Draco. She started to run to the front door, and as she took one quick look behind her shoulder… bang. She felt the impact of something hot go through her as she fell down to the floor. Her head was screaming because of the pain in her back. I’ve been shot… But I’m not dead… yet.

She stayed motionless on the ground, afraid of what might happen to her next. She then heard him crying. He broke out into an anguish sob as she heard him cry. “Oh, Pen… I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Pen. Please forgive me.”

She started to smell something as it surrounded her, and soon realized that weird smelling liquid had caught on fire and was now surrounding her. She felt energy seeping out of her, and she prepared for death to take her away. Death is but the next great adventure…

**********

9. Chapter 8

A/N- Everyone, I am so sorry that it’s taken me this long to update. Things are so busy for me; I barely have time to write. I have no idea when I’ll get the next chapter up. I’ll be in Europe in the beginning of April, so I don’t know if I’ll get the next chapter up before that or not. Please forgive me, it’s all I can do right now. Thanks for the reviews everyone! It really means a lot. And if you can, please check out my one-shot fic, Till I See You Again. Alright, on with the chapter…

**********

Many people went up to Neville after the memorial of Parvati, all with tears in their eyes. Women spoke encouraging words to him, and men just hugged him. It was Harry and Hermione’s turn.

Hermione had tears in her eyes, and didn’t bother wiping them away. “She was a great person, Neville. She really was.”

“Thanks, Hermione,” Neville said, his whole face streaked with tears, as he looked down at the sleeping baby. “We’ll be okay…”

“Is there anything we can do, mate?” Harry asked.

Neville’s head shot up, his eyes filled with sadness and determination. “Yea. You two can get your marriage back together. Don’t ruin your lives.”

“We’re trying, Neville,” Hermione said.

Neville choked back a sob. “Well, you’re not trying hard enough.”

Hermione glanced at Harry and looked down. Harry hugged Neville, and then Neville walked to another group of people who were beckoning to him.

Why does it seem that there’s always silent moments between us, Hermione thought, still looking down. Another voice answered. Because you are having silent moments.

“Leave it to Neville to say something like that today,” Harry said.

“Well, he doesn’t know everything going on right now. But we shouldn’t get annoyed with him.” Hermione said looking up. “How much longer until Pansy’s funeral?”

Harry looked down at his watch. “In about a half hour.”

“Well, I’m going to go and freshen up.” Hermione said, and she made her way out of the Great Hall.

**********

A while ago, Draco was worried about Ginny, and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t there. Now, he was extremely worried, and that worrying was growing worse. If it had been Pansy’s funeral first, he could understand why Ginny might not show up, but this was Parvati’s; she had wanted to be there. You should stop worrying, Draco. She probably just fell asleep. You know she hasn’t slept well the past few nights.

But even with this theory, he couldn’t get the feeling that something was wrong out of his head. In a half hour, the next funeral would start; plenty of time to get to the Manor and find his wife. He went over to the girl who was holding Shannon. “I’m gonna go out for a little bit. Can you keep an eye out on Shann?”

The girl nodded, and Draco kissed his redheaded daughter on top of the head. Then he headed out the doors, and ran for Hogsmeade as fast as he could.

**********

The flames around Ginny were growing hotter and hotter, and she was finding it harder and harder to breathe. The man was gone, leaving her alone. There was no way she could apparate out, with her condition, and Draco had put charms on the house, forbidding anyone to apparate, in or out.

She forced herself to move. She had to move, do something, so she wouldn’t fall back unconscious. I have to get out of this fire circle, she thought desperately.

Even with the pain and bleeding, she forced herself to form a tiny ball with her body, and she rolled through the fire circle that the killer had made for her.

The fire was spreading everywhere now, going up the curtains on the windows. And there was nothing she could do about it as she fell back into unconsciousness.

**********

Draco’s heart stopped when he saw his house. The area where his living room was located was ablaze. He ran inside the house.

“Ginny!” he yelled, and then he covered his mouth because of the smoke.

He made his way over to the living room, and saw her, lying down on her stomach, a pool of blood all around.

“No!” his scream shook the house and he ran over to his bleeding wife. He picked her up and ran out the nearest door that led outside. Reaching outside, he sat down and stared into her face, which was blood splattered. “Come on Ginny. Don’t leave my, baby.” He cried.

All of a sudden, people popped up all over the place. There were medi-wizards there and they rushed up to Draco. “You’ve got to save her. Don’t let her die,” he croaked.

“Don’t worry Draco,” one of the men said.

But even as they apparated away with Ginny, Draco wondered if it was too late.

**********

Pansy’s service was over now. There were men and women now going up to Cal and giving him hugs and encouraging statements.

But that’s not what Harry and Hermione were looking at. Men seemed to be running out of the castle, just leaving the funeral. “It’s not like this is a Quidditch game and people can leave whenever they want,” Harry said. “This is a funeral.”

Colin ran up to them from the outside, breathless. “Harry… Hermione,” he said as he tried to catch his breath. “You… have to come now…Ginny, she’s been shot.”

Hermione gasped. “Ginny? She’s been shot? No, they caught the guy, he’s locked up!”

Colin continued. “Draco found her in their house. I hear the wound was pretty bad.”

Hermione looked at Harry. “We have to get to the hospital, Harry. Now!”

**********

At St. Mungos Harry wished he could just disappear. There were reporters from the Daily Prophet all over. Harry grabbed Hermione’s hand as the tried to make their way through the crowd of reporters.

“Sir, if you two are reporters, I can’t let you come any farther. You’ll have to move over there,” a man said as he pointed to the side.

“We’re not reporters. We’re friends of Draco and Ginny,” Harry said.

“Sorry, we’re not letting anyone in, now go over there,” the woman said with a smug smile.

“Please sir,” Hermione said with tears in her eyes. “We’re really good friends. Harry’s like a brother to Ginny.”

“You reporters are all alike,” the man said as he glared at them. “Always acting like you’re friends of the victim so you can get a good scoop. Well, you’re not going to do that this time.”

“Listen,” Harry said, getting annoyed. “We went to school with Draco and Ginny. I’m an Auror who works with Draco.”

The man stared at Harry. He put together the names Harry and Auror, and looked up towards Harry’s forehead. He felt stupid now. “You are an Auror.” He turned to Hermione. “You poor thing, you must be afraid you’re next.”

Harry and Hermione both froze. Of course, he thought. Three Aurors’ wives have been targeted. The killer is actually going after-

“Excuse me!”

Harry spun around and faced a reporter. “Did you say you are an Auror?”

Harry nodded.

“Sir, do you have any idea why the killer is targeting Aurors’ wives?”

Harry blinked” Well, I uh… Just realized a second ago that that might be the case…”

The reporter turned to Hermione. “What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Hermione Potter,” she said as she backed away.

“Potter, huh?” the man said as he made a quick glance toward Harry. Then he turned back to Hermione. “So, how do you feel about this… About possibly being the next victim?”

Hermione swallowed. “Well, I-”

“Did you know that Mrs. Malfoy was also involved with drugs?”

Hermione burst into tears as she turned around, and this made Harry angry. “Will you please leave us alone? We just want to see our friend!” he said as he put his arm around Hermione and led her away from the reporters.

“Are you okay?” he asked when they were away.

“Oh, Harry, I’m so scared,” she said as eyes filled with tears. “I mean, are they telling the truth? Are we really being targeted?”

Harry sighed. “I don’t know, Herm. But we have to find Draco.”

They were in luck. Just down the hall, they caught sight of a blonde haired man, slumped on a chair with his head in his hands.

“Draco,” Harry called.

Draco looked up with bloodshot eyes. He stood up as Harry and Hermione came forward and gave him fierce hugs.

“How is she, Draco?” Hermione asked.

“She’s alive,” he replied. Then he shifted his eyes toward Harry. “Who’s doing this Harry? Who? They were supposed to have the guy locked up; everyone was supposed to be safe. And then I go home and find my wife lying on the floor stained with blood, almost dead.”

“I know,” Harry said.

“No, you don’t know,” Draco cried. “You don’t know what’s its like to go through that. That should never have happened to Ginny!” he said as he slammed a fist into the wall and broke down. “She can’t die. She can’t leave me,” he said as he shook with tears.

Hermione had tears running down her face.

Draco turned around. “These murders have nothing to do with drugs, or whether someone is a muggle-born. Someone is out to get our wives.”

Harry tensed up and immediately put his arm around Hermione, who surprisingly, didn’t pull away.

The three of them turned their heads as they heard another voice down the hall… A rather angry and desperate voice. “What do you mean I can’t go down there? Ginny’s my sister!” Ron yelled with wide eyes.

“Sure she is,” said the same man who had given Harry and Hermione trouble. “When will you reporters ever learn?”

“I can’t believe this!” Ron said as he ran his hand through his hair. Then he caught the eye of Harry. “Harry! Help me!”

“That’s really Mrs. Malfoy’s brother, sir!” Harry called, half wishing he could have found that amusing, if it had been under a different circumstance.

The man muttered something under his breath as he grudgingly let Ron pass. Ron ran up to them with eyes as red as Draco’s. “How is she?” he asked, to no one in particular.

“Alive,” Hermione answered softly.

Ron breathed heavily. “Fred and George will be here soon…” He didn’t really know what to say.

“Harry, Hermione, don’t waste your time here. I don’t know when they’ll let us in to see Ginny, and they’ll probably need you over at the Ministry. We have to figure out what’s going on,” Draco said, leaning back against the wall.

“I know,” Harry said. “I just want to be sure Ginny’s okay.”

“I’ll let you know when we learn anything else. But we can’t waste any more time just standing around.”

Harry looked down at Hermione, who was looking back up at him. He knew she also didn’t want to leave. But maybe it would be better to go.

Harry looked back at Draco. “All right.” He looked down to Ron, who had taken the seat they had found Draco in. “Are you gonna be okay, Ron?” he asked.

Ron nodded.

Hermione went over to Ron, bent down and gave him a hug of comfort. He hugged her tightly, while tears ran down his face. Hermione pulled away and gave Ron a kiss on the cheek. “She’ll pull though Ron,” she said softly.

“Thanks, Herm.”

She got up and walked back over to Harry, who took her hand, and they apparated away together… again.

**********

“Do you think he’d count me?” Hermione asked.

They were now walking to the Ministry, taking the long way, for both of them needed some air.

“What do you mean?” Harry asked.

“The killer. If he really is going after Auror wives, do you think he’d leave me out, because we’re not married anymore?” she asked, slowing down her pace.

But Harry stopped all together. “Hermione, we are married.”

Hermione looked down. “Only on paper. You can’t call what we have a marriage. And maybe he knows this. Maybe he won’t include me in his plans.”

“We can hope,” Harry said.

Hermione put her hands over her face, breaking out in tears. “Who would have thought that our separation could have any kind of blessing…”

He didn’t know what to say to that, as his own heart twisted in pain.

Hermione stopped crying after a few minutes, and Harry put his arm around her as they started walking again.

“When we get to the Ministry we’re going to ask the Minister to schedule a meeting, then we get back to the house and pack bags.”

Hermione looked up quickly. “Bags? For what?”

“We have to go somewhere he won’t know where to find us. I don’t want to take the chance that he will come after you.”

“Harry, you can’t ask off. Every other Auror will be asking off and you know the Ministry can’t spare all of you,” Hermione said matter-of-factly.

“Not every Auror is married. And if they don’t let me off, they’ll have to fire me ’cause I’m not letting you be alone.”

“Harry, don’t be stupid,” Hermione said. “I’m frightened, but I’ll stay over at Lavender’s.”

“Two women alone is even worse.” Harry shook his head. “No, I’m staying with you.”

“Then I’ll stay with Fred and Angelina. Or Ron.”

“Angelina is probably looking for a place to stay too. And Ron will have to be at the Ministry,” he said. “I’m starting to be happy he never took our advice and got married right away,” Harry said as an afterthought.

“Then why don’t all of us Auror wives get together and hide. We can go and stay at a hotel.”

Harry sighed in frustration. “Hermione, you aren’t thinking clearly. All of you staying in the same place at once is too easy. If he found out where you were, he could get you all in one shot.”

Hermione cringed. “You don’t have to be so dramatic, Harry. I’m just trying to find a simple solution.”

“Well, here’s the solution. I’m staying with you tonight!”

They were right outside the entrance to the Ministry now. Perhaps they should have just gone in and stopped talking. But they didn’t.

“Oh Harry, I’m so touched. Of course, stay with me tonight because there’s a chance I could get shot. But once this is all over, you can just leave me again and stop caring!” she said angrily.

“I do care. I’ve never stopped caring, but you’re too blind to see it!” Oh he wished he could take back those words.

“Oh, so you’re telling me when you fell in love with another woman, I was too blind to see that?

“I haven’t fallen in love with any other woman! Why do I have to tell you this over and over again?!” he shouted.

“You’re not supposed to tell me, you’re supposed to show me. Show me that you love me! That’s what I want from you Harry! But you aren’t doing it, you aren’t trying to fix this!” she cried.

“Do you want me to just leave you alone so he can get an easy shot? Do you want me to pretend that I don’t care?”

“For the past few months you haven’t cared. I have friends, Harry, I’ll be fine.”

“But I won’t!” he said hoarsely. “Every minute I’m afraid I’m going to hear that you were the next one. I can’t even think straight. And nothing you can say is going to make me change my mind on this. We are doing this my way now, and you are going to live with it.”

“So in other words, you’re going to protect me from getting killed, but I’ll get killed from the protection?” Hermione asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

“Oh, look who’s being dramatic now.”

**********

There was going to be a meeting that night. Harry and Hermione finally made it to the Ministry and talked to Minister Bones about having one. The Aurors and their wives needed to get together and talk about what they were going to do.

Marina had gotten to cooking right away, knowing the place was going to be packed, and it was. In the courtroom, where things were to be decided, Percy and Minister Bones were sitting on the big platform, while the Aurors, married or single, were down below.

There was only one question on everyone’s mind, only one. Who killed the Auror wives… and why?

**********

Nitya and Matt, thanks for the beta work!

WKris

10. Author Notes

Author Note:

Hey all. Sorry no chapter. Um, as you all know, I’m going to Europe in a few weeks, and I am pausing this story until then. Though I’m still working on the chapter off and on, it will not be up by April, and I just wanted to give you the heads up on that. I’ll be deleting this note with the next chapter when I get it up, so no need to review, unless you find the need to. The end of the year is a really bad time for me, so the next chapter will be up… only God knows.

harryherm84: I had a feeling someone was going to ask me sooner or later. The original Private Justice has about 68 chapters (but that’s because some chapters are only two pages long). I’m pretty sure this story won’t be more than 30. I won’t be too sure until I put up a few more chapters. I never know when I’m gonna end a chapter, so I really can’t say right now… Sorry.

Everyone, thanks for hanging in there. I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can!!

~Kris

11. Stakeout

A/N- Here it is, and I’m sorry I took so long. I just got back from Europe, and luckily, the edited chapters were waiting for me. The next chapter is already written, and I’ll have it up soon! I’ve been sort of editing the other chapters, and I do have titles for the chapters. I’ll get them up when I have time to. Not much in this chapter, but the next one is long… Thanks for all the reviews, and for Matt editing it!

**********

“I know everyone wants to know what going on,” Minister Derek Bones voice boomed over the room. “But we have people investigating this, and in the meantime, we need to figure out what we are going to do with your wives. And obviously we can’t let Auror’s take time off, because they are the ones who have to figure this out.”

“We have sorted it out, Derek,” Remus said as he stood up from his seat. “The unmarried Auror’s will stay here, and the married ones will stay with their wives.”

Percy, whose eyes were red and puffy, spoke for the first time. “I don’t like the idea of having the same men working all the time. They need their rest too. We don’t know how long it will take to catch this guy, but I can’t let all the men off. Why don’t we just let all the wives stay together.”

Harry spoke up. “No way! I really don’t want Hermione near any of the other wives, if you know what I mean. They make too much of a tempting target if they stay together in one place.”

“I understand Harry,” Derek said. “But we won’t risk the possible un-protectiveness of our community.”

“And I will not risk the life of my wife!” Harry said jumping from his seat.

If the courtroom hadn’t been quiet just moments before, it sure was now. Every eye was on Harry, and in the back, Ron had a small smile on his face. Hermione just stared at Harry along with everyone else.

Percy stared back at Harry. “Harry, there isn’t much to do. We have to—”

Dennis Creevy stood up. “We bachelor men have decided we will stay on duty until the killer is caught. Let the married Auror’s tend to their wives.”

“You might have agreed on that, Mr. Creevy,” Percy said, quite aggravated. “But I hav-”

He was interrupted again. “Aw, come on Percy.” Ron walked a little closer to the front… close enough for everyone to see him. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but you are being extremely hard-headed.” He thought about that, and then muttered to himself. “But that’s not new, so I guess I do know why…”

Remus also stood up. “We have no problem filling in for the married men. In fact, we’d all feel a lot better if we did overtime while they stayed with their wives.”

With that statement, all of the unmarried Auror’s stood up and agreed. Now they all looked back at Percy, who still didn’t look too happy.

“You men are Auror’s,” he said as he pointed his finger towards them, though mostly towards Harry. “You have a job, and you do your job when it needs to be done. You knew the costs when you became one.”

“Look Percy,” Harry said. “I know you want this place to be safe, and you want what is best for everyone, and so do I. Being an Auror is something I’ve always wanted, and I’m glad that I’m one.” He stopped and looked over to Hermione, who was watching him closely. Looking at her and just thinking of the terrible thing’s that could happen to her, made his heart wrench in pain, and he turned back to Percy. “But you have to let me protect my wife. That job comes first.”

Percy stared back long and hard at Harry, and Harry couldn’t tell what he was thinking. After a moment, he sighed and nodded. “Alright, you guys can have some time off. But only some; I can’t work the same people all the time.”

Minister Bones looked at Fred. “How’s the investigation going?”

Fred cleared his throat somewhat nervously and stood up. “Well… we now know that it wasn’t Carl Benner who was killing the women. We’ve taken him off the suspect list. There’s no way he could have shot Ginny while he was in jail,” he said with a look of sadness and anger in his face.

With the murmur running through the room, it was clear that nobody liked the news of Carl not being the murderer.

“So, what if it was a gang friend?” Dean Thomas asked.

“It wouldn’t make sense. And if you think about it, it never made sense that it was Benner in the first place, because Parvati, Pansy and Ginny are all pureblood.” He looked awkward, for Parvati and Pansy were no longer ‘are.’ “Benner and his gang go after muggle-borns.”

“Well then, who is it?” Dean demanded.

Fred stared at him. “Do I look like I know?”

Dean looked sheepish. “Uh, no.”

“But this is where I need everyone’s help,” Fred continued, rolling his eyes at Dean.

“Any leads?” Percy asked.

“Er, a few. But we can’t rule anybody out. There’s the possibility of it being a muggle, and that would explain the use of a gun and fire. But then we wonder how he always knows when the wives will be alone. He always seems to know that something in our community is going on, where everyone is…”

The room quieted down again, everyone wasn’t as comfortable anymore. The thought that it was a wizard gave everyone chills.

Fred continued. “I don’t want anyone pointing any fingers, but if you have a hunch, I need you to tell me…immediately.”

**********

Fred and Angelina stopped Harry and Hermione on their way out. “Can we have a word with you guys?” Fred asked.

Harry answered. “Sure.”

They walked down a few halls before they came to a room where Aurors would interrogate people. Tonight, it was empty.

Harry and Hermione sat opposite the other two.

“Alright,” Fred said. “We need a favor from you two tonight.”

“What kind of favor?” Hermione asked.

“Well…” Fred took a quick look at Angelina before looking back at Harry and Hermione. “For whatever reason, this guy is going after Auror wives. We have a feeling that Hermione may be next. We want to set a trap, and we need your help with that.”

Hermione trembled in her seat as Harry gaped at Fred. “You want to use Hermione as bait!? Are you serious?”

“Just hear me out Harry. You two go somewhere and stay for the night. Instead, I’ll be at your house with other people, and we’ll make it look like Hermione’s home. If the guy tries to get in, then we’ve got him.”

“But what if he attacks you, or burns down the house?” Hermione asked, tearing up.

“I promised my dad to do whatever I could to help out, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Harry turned towards Hermione. “It’s really your choice, Herm. It’s your house.”

Hermione was silent, thinking… “He’s got to be caught, and if this is the way to do it, then yes,” she said, looking up at Fred.

Fred smiled. “Everything will be fine Hermione. But now I don’t want you two telling anyone you’re leaving town.”

“Ok, now there’s a problem. No one is going to come after her, not now that I just made a speech that I wasn’t going to leave her side.” Harry said.

“And that’s where you two have to put out your acting skills. Go out there, and make everyone think you’re in a fight. Harry, then say “Fine! Go home by yourself!”

“Everyone will think I’m a git.” Harry protested.

“We’ll clear all this up later. But do you think you can do that?”

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and both knew the answer. Still looking at each other, they answered simultaneously. “Yes.”

**********

Well, the ‘fight’ went well. Practically everyone saw it and it looked as though it convinced everyone. In fact, it was so good, it almost convinced Hermione.

Fred had told them that they should get a car and get out of there. Where they were going they did not know yet, but they had to go somewhere out of London.

“Are you okay, Herm?” Harry asked.

She nodded as she peered out the window. “Yea… I’m just tired. This is been one of the most miserable days of my life.”

“You and me both.”

She gave a small, sad smile. “Why are things like this, Harry?”

Harry shook his head. “I don’t know. Never in a million years would I have thought that Parvati, Pansy, or even Ginny would be killed… or almost be killed in this kind of way.”

Hermione shook her head. “No, I meant… us.”

Harry peered at her out of the corner of his eye. “You did throw me out, that’s one reason.”

Of course, she thought. Just remind me of that. Just go and put all the blame on me, Harry. Make everything worse, don’t try and work things out.

And she didn’t answer Harry. Her stomach couldn’t handle it. “Where are we going to stay?” was all she asked.

“We’ll just keep driving until I get tired,” he said quietly, also thinking about what he had said.

**********

About an hour and a half later, they came to a small town. What that town was, they didn’t know, nor did they really care at that point. Harry came to a stop when they saw the hotel. Taking their bags with them, they made their way inside, and to the counter.

Before they got there, Hermione asked him to get a room with two double beds. “We’re married, Hermione.”

“Just do it, Harry,” though she really didn’t want it. She missed sleeping next to him, to feel the warmth from his body. But this was the way it was now.

They checked in under different names, just in case, and made their way upstairs.

**********

As Harry and Hermione were away from London, the plan to catch the killer was in motion, in London.

Fred and Terry Boot were sitting around Hermione’s kitchen table, waiting and talking.

“Well,” Terry said. “From the way it looks like, Ginny was shot in the back, like she was running.” Fred winced, and Terry cleared his throat. “Pansy was in bed. Now I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I honestly can’t see her getting up from bed, opening the door, and then getting back in bed.”

“Forced entry,” Fred said. “Or if it is a wizard, he could have just apparated in.”

“Yea, why is it that none of the ladies apparated away?” Terry asked.

“Shock. And in Ginny’s case, there were charms on the house.”

“We need to start eliminating people though. Check the guest list for the funeral, that will narrow things down.”

Dennis walked in. “Um, Fred, there’s somebody walking up the driveway.”

Fred and Terry’s heads shot up. “Have any idea what he looks like?”

Dennis shook his head. “Nope, too dark. But he’s almost to the door.”

With their wands out and ready, they heard the knock at the door. Nielle, the woman ‘posing’ as Hermione froze. “What do you want me to do?” she mouthed.

Fred shook his head. She also took out her wand and took a deep breath. They saw the doorknob turn ever so slightly, and it was getting hard for any of them to breathe.

The door pressed open, and Dennis who was behind the door, pounced on the guy as soon as he stepped in.

Terry started to join Dennis… until they heard the intruder’s voice. “You bloody nutty planks, it’s just me!”

They all froze, and Fred lifted up the head. “Percy?”

Percy did not look happy. “Of course it’s me.”

“What in the bloody hell are you doing here?” Fred demanded of his older brother.

“I’m checking on Hermione. I heard about the fight, and I came by to see if there’s anything I could do. I saw the lights on and when no one came to the door after I knocked, I got a little scared. So I opened the door walked in and up getting tackled by my own team!” he yelled, glaring over at Dennis, who gave a nervous smile.

“Hey, boss,” Dennis said, waving ever so slightly.

“Why didn’t you call out?” Fred asked.

“I was about too,” Percy growled.

Dennis cleared his throat and coughed.

Percy looked around at everybody. “What’s going on here? What, some kind of stakeout? How come I’m now finding out about this?” now he demanded from his younger brother.

Dennis was having a coughing fit.

“Well, we just decided tonight, and it slipped our minds to tell you,” Fred said, trying to stay calm.

“Percy, why were you walking sneakily up the driveway?” Terry asked curiously.

“I wasn’t walking up sneak-” he stopped. “Now wait a minute, you don’t think I was the killer!? I just lost most of my Auror’s because of this, and now you’re accusing me!?”

“We’re not accusing you, Percy,” Fred, sending a look over at Terry, who bit his lip. He turned back to Percy. “But you were walking up… sneakily.”

Percy shook his head. “I don’t know how I looked sneakily. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I got up here, and I was just being a bit cautious.”

Fred rolled his eyes at his brother. “Whatever Percy. I think you better go home. Just don’t keeping going into people’s house anymore.”

“Trust me, I won’t. Especially if they have Creevy waiting behind every door… Oh will you stop with the coughing?”

Dennis stopped abruptly, but let one more sneak through. “Sorry, boss.”

Percy turned around and walked off into the night, while the others stayed in the house.

“I think he’s telling the truth,” Nielle said. “It makes sense, no ones really acting like themselves lately.”

Fred looked at Terry. “It just seems weird, Fred. I know he’s your brother and everything, but…”

Fred sighed. He didn’t know what to think.

**********

12. Salidays Memorial

A/N- And here is the next chapter that I said would be up. Um, this is a long chapter, be warned. Oh and after harryherm84 asked me how many chapters this story would be, I made an outline. I think it will be about 16, though I might have to make it 17, (so overall, it might end up being 18 *rolls eyes*), but no more than that, I’m pretty sure. Matt, thanks for the beta work!!!

Um, you guys are very upset about Hermione not forgiving Harry, being pig-headed… What you have to understand is that Harry seemed to be pulling away from Hermione before the ‘hug.’ It wasn’t like they hugged, she saw, separation. None of you might like how the problem between them actually ends, but what happens, happens. You’ll see.

**********

Hermione couldn’t sleep that night, and the reasons were more than the fact that there was a killer on the loose. Harry was sleeping in the bed next to her, all tangled up in the covers. It had taken her three to four weeks to get used to no weight next her, and she even missed his snoring… something she has always despised.

Tired of trying to get to sleep, she got up out of her bed and looked out the window. How was anyone sleeping that night? Were her friends, fellow wives of Auror’s, all safe? Was she still safe?

She tried to keep the tears in, but she couldn’t help it. She broke down in tears, covering her face with her hands.

She felt warm hands surround he waist, and she relaxed. She missed the feel of this too. She just stayed in Harry’s arms, crying, and he let her. And then he kissed her… and she couldn’t resist it. It was a desperate kiss, but filled with hope. But also, filled with a sense of sadness that took over the hope.

Harry pulled away slowly, and Hermione’s wet eyes opened. She felt that she had lost her voice box.

“I’ve missed you, Herm,” he said, caressing her cheek.

Oh how she wanted to believe him. All she wanted to do was bring his lips back down to hers and knock his socks off. But she couldn’t. He always did these things to her, made her feel that she was dancing on air and nothing else but her mattered to him. But things changed… he seemed to have changed. He made it seem that his vows didn’t mean anything. How could she just let that all go, just because he kissed her and made her feel happy?

She pulled away and swallowed. She put her hand up to her mouth, and took deep breaths, trying hard not to cry; she had to sink in the chair to accomplish that. There was a glass of water on the table next to her, and she took it, drank the whole thing in one gulp.

“Can you sleep now?” Harry asked quietly.

No, I can’t. Not after the way you just kissed me. But she didn’t say that. “Yes.”

He helped her up and she slipped under her covers, after a few minutes, finally falling asleep.

**********

Harry found that sleep would know not come to him. Typical. When I fall asleep, Hermione can’t. When Hermione falls asleep, I can’t.

He sighed. Maybe kissing her hadn’t been a very good idea. He didn’t mean to do it. He was just caught up in the moment, but he didn’t regret it one bit. All he wanted to do was take all of her sadness away, but she wouldn’t let him. Maybe she didn’t need him anymore… maybe he had lost her…

**********

“What are you doing down here, Ron?” William Plakard asked as he came up to Potter’s Books.

“Look, I think someone was here.” Ron said as he walked up to William.

William raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I think someone was inside, and it wasn’t Harry or Hermione.”

“What would make you think that?” William asked curiously.

“I came by to see if Harry was here. I heard the fight and I wanted to knock is brains out for leaving Hermione. Anyways, there was a light on inside, but when I came closer the light was off. I knocked, but no one answered,” Ron said, crossing his arms around his chest.

“Did you go inside?”

“Yea, but everything looked fine.”

William still looked suspicious. “Are you sure it wasn’t Harry, and he left right before you came up?”

Ron’s arms fell. “Well, there’s more. I went around back and saw a figure moving. I called out, and if it was Harry, he would have known it was me.”

William didn’t know what his face looked like, but it must have looked like he didn’t really believe Ron, cause Ron took it that way. “You don’t believe me, do you?” he asked.

William shrugged.

“Oh, well that’s great. Okay, from now on, I won’t bother helping. I might as well just give up my job and let all of you smart Auror’s figure it out all by yourselves.” Ron said angrily, and then apparated away.

But William apparated to the Ministry.

**********

The next day, Lavender nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw a face appear in her fireplace. Ron smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, Lavender. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She gave a small smile. “Ah, don’t worry. Everything is scaring me these days. What are you doing here? I mean, what’s your head doing here?”

Ron gave a small laugh. “I guess it would be a good thing to tell you. I just thought you should know that somebody tried to break into Hermione’s shop last night.”

Lavender gasped. “Is she okay?”

“Oh, yea. She wasn’t even there. I found out from Fred that she and Harry left for the night. Typical, Fred always waits till the end to tell me things.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, leaning back into the chair.

“Well, if he had told me last night, I wouldn’t have gone over there, looking for Harry. Now William Plarkard suspects me.” Ron said as he rolled his eyes. “Anyways, no one really knows where they are, and I was going to try and get a hold of them to let them know what happened.”

Lavender smiled. “Well, I’ll do my research and track them down and let them know.”

Ron grinned back. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”

**********

Lavender didn’t have to do any research, because Hermione called her first. “Lav, it’s Hermione.”

“Oh, thank God. Are you and Harry okay? Why are you using the phone? I was going to try and get a hold of you, but well, you called first,” Lavender said with a little laugh.

Hermione laughed. “We’re fine. I’m using the phone because we’re staying at a muggle hotel. What were you trying to get a hold of me for? Is Ginny okay?”

“Last thing I heard she was, though she’s not making much progress. But they did move her to another hospital, Salidays Memorial. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you.” Lavender took a breath. “Ron flooed in and said somebody was in your store last night. Was that you or Harry?”

Hermione froze. “No. We left right after the meeting.” Why was somebody at the shop? Was it the killer, looking for her?

“Listen, Hermione, don’t come back here. Whatever you do, stay away from here until we’ve got this guy. I don’t want to lose my best friend.”

Hermione tried to breathe normally. “Alright Lav, I won’t. I’m thinking of heading to Liverpool, where my parents live. And I’ll tell Harry what happened.”

“Good. Be careful, okay?”

“Yea I will. Bye.”

Hermione hung up. She felt light headed. What if she had been at the shop last night? Oh, she didn’t even want to think about it.

She sat down and waited for Harry to come out of the shower. It felt like breathing became worse once he did. Oh, he looked so good. His glasses were off, and his black hair was wet… she loved it when his hair was wet. Lots of fond memories…

*****Flashback*****

Harry came in from the outside, soaked to the bone.

Hermione burst out laughing. “I told you it was going to rain.”

Harry glared at her, though his eyes were laughing as well. “Well, Mrs. Potter, perhaps you would like to join in on the wetness,” he said as he took her hand and dragged her outside.

Hermione protested the whole way. “No! Harry don’t you even think about it. No, stop!” She was out in the poring rain now, getting just as wet as Harry… and she was getting cold. “Oh, y-ou are in su-ch, bi-g, big, tro-uble, Mr. Potter,” she said, teeth chattering, but a smile was evident on her face.

Hermione reached up to touch his wet hair, and Harry smiled warmly, putting his forehead on hers. “I love you, Hermione Jane Potter,” he said, his voice soft, but deep with emotion.

Hermione smiled and closed the gap between them. Harry wrapped his arms around her tightly, kissing her with so much passion… and Hermione rubbed her hands all over his wet hair…

*****End of Flashback*****

Hermione shook the memory out of her head and looked towards Harry, but she still had questions. “Lavender called. She said somebody was in the store last night.”

Harry looked at her in surprise. “We have to talk to Fred. He does have a muggle phone doesn’t he?”

Hermione nodded slowly. “I think so. Yea, in fact, Angelina gave me the number. She figured that if we stay at a place like this and need might need to talk to Fred.” She went over to her purse, and told Harry the number. “Harry, I was also thinking. Maybe I should go and stay with my parents. Now is a good of a time as ever.”

“You’re probably right,” he said as he dialed the number. “Fred, it’s Harry.” Harry found the button that said speakerphone and pushed it. “Listen, I heard about the break-ins.”

“Yea, which ones?” came Fred’s voice over the speaker.

Harry glanced at Hermione. “What do you mean?”

They heard Fred sigh. “Well, there was the one at the shop, which is the one you probably heard about. The other one was at Hermione’s house… only that turned out just to be Percy checking in on Hermione. I mean, if my brothers would just stay at home and leave everything alone, we could catch this guy.”

Harry smiled. “What are brothers for, Fred?”

“Don’t get me started. I’ll talk to you guys later.” He said, and he hung up.

Harry turned to Hermione. “I’m coming with you to your parents.”

“Uh, that wouldn’t be such a good idea,” Hermione said quickly, looking down at her hands. “They’re, um, they’re not too happy with you right now.”

“What have you told them?” he asked.

“I just told them the truth,” She replied, looking back up.

“You mean, your truth,” he said in an accusing tone.

“I told them what happened when I walked in on you and Cho. I told them you moved, you were interested in someone else. I told them you didn’t care about our vows anymore. The truth!” she said angrily as she went to pack up her suitcase. “Don’t do me any favors of coming with me, Harry.”

He sat there for a moment, his face showing no sign of emotion. Then he got up and went for the phone. “Yes, I’d like two tickets from Birmingham to Liverpool.”

Hermione threw a shirt into her suitcase. “I told you, only one ticket!”

“No, we’d like to leave today if possible.” Harry said, ignoring her.

Hermione slammed her suitcase shut. ‘Harry-!”

“Reservations for Mr. and Mrs. Potter. And yes, tomorrow is fine.” he said into the phone.

Hermione stomped over to the bathroom and started brushing her teeth in a dramatic sort of way.

Harry hung up the receiver. “Look, we’ll drive the rest of the way to Birmingham tonight. Then we’ll take the plane to your parents.” He came up to the bathroom door. “I’m staying with you, Hermione. Whether you like it or not.”

Hermione spit out her toothpaste, but realized Harry was going to back down. “Alright.”

**********

“She said she was going to head up to Liverpool, where her parents are.” Lavender explained to Ron.

Ron sighed. “I wish I had been able to talk to her.”

“Perhaps it’s better this way. Besides, they probably already left.”

“So they’re both going?” Ron asked hopefully.

“She didn’t say. But knowing Harry, he’s probably going with her.” Lavender said with a laugh.

“That’s one of the great things about my mate,” Ron said with pride in his voice.

Marina came up to the door pounding on a pan. “Food is out and ready. Lavender, please stay, cause there’s plenty.”

“Are you sure?” Lavender asked, hesitantly.

“Absolutely. Besides, there’s male bachelors in the room,” Marina said with a wink, while Ron rolled his eyes.

Lavender grinned and looked at Ron. “Who can pass up an opportunity like that?”

“Well, I would,” Ron said defensively.

**********

Harry and Hermione stopped for lunch on their way to Birmingham, but Hermione had been quiet. She was thinking… Was it really her fault? Did she turn into a nagging wife, and that’s what drove Harry away? Was she the cause of the problems? She didn’t know why these thoughts suddenly came to her, and know she didn’t have an answer.

Harry had noticed her quietness, but decided not to comment on it.

Hermione finally spoke, but it had nothing to do with her thoughts. “Look, I’m going to call my mum and let her know we’re coming.”

“Yea, make sure she knows I’m coming,” Harry said.

She got up to leave. “Wait,” Harry said. “I’m coming with you.”

Hermione knew better than to argue; she’d just waste her breath.

They waited to pay the bill, then went and used to nearest pay phone.

Harry stood close to her as she dialed. She knew he didn’t have to do this. He could be back in London, working, being near Cho. But instead, he was here with her, and she felt warmth spread through her body.

“Mum? It’s Hermione,” she said as she heard her mom’s voice, Sarah.

“Hermione? Where are you? Ron got a hold of me and told me about everything? Are you okay? What’s-”

“Mum, slow down, I’m fine. I’m flying over to you and Dad tomorrow. Well, we’re flying over,” she said, knowing her mum might have a little fit.

“We?” Sarah asked curiously.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked at Harry. “Harry’s coming with me.”

“Are you two back together?”

“No, he’s just worried about me.”

“What about the other woman?”

She had to ask that. “We’ll talk about it later, mum.”

“How many beds do I need to make up?” Sarah asked.

Harry heard that one. “Just two mum.”

“He’s getting a piece of my mind when he gets here. You should have divorced him long ago, Hermione.” Sarah said, clearly having distaste for Harry.

“I don’t want to fight about this. I just wanted to let you know where coming. I’ll see you tomorrow. I have to go. Bye.”

Hermione hung with a sigh a relief.

“Am I allowed entrance in the Granger home?” Harry asked, somewhat sarcastically.

“My mum will tell you off. Are you sure you want to come?”

“Don’t even ask. I’m coming.”

Hermione looked over to the car. “Harry, why are we driving? Why don’t we just apparate?”

“Liverpool is too far to travel. But you do have a point. Why don’t we apparate over to St. Mungos and check on Ginny?”

“Oh wait, she’s not there anymore. Lavender said they moved her to, um, Salidays Memorial. Ever heard of it?”

Harry nodded. “It’s another good wizard hospital; was there once myself a few years ago. Let’s head there.”

“So much for the ride to Birmingham,” Hermione said.

**********

The last time Harry and Hermione were at St. Mungos, the place was crawling with reporters. This time, at Salidays Memorial, it was even worse. Hermione started to feel as if all her oxygen was taken away from her, and she clung on to Harry.

“I don’t know why I’m worrying about this, but I look awful. I don’t want my picture taken.” Hermione said, looking down at her clothes.

Harry touched her hair. “You look pretty good to me.”

She looked into his eyes, and almost got lost in them. They lost contact when Hermione seemed to be pushed by someone behind her. Grunting, she let Harry take her hand and lead her to the nearest desk.

The woman looked up. “May I help you?”

“We’re here to see Ginny Malfoy.” Harry said.

“We’re not reporters,” Hermione said, knowing the woman was going to ask that.

The woman looked up to Harry’s forehead, and with a knowing look, let them pass. “They’re on the fourth floor.”

“Thanks,” Harry said, for letting them pass, and also for not saying anything.

When they got up there, they still weren’t alone. There was Percy, Draco, Neville, and some others. Draco saw them with his still bloodshot eyes. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We came to see Ginny.” Hermione said.

She went up to him and gave him a hug, which Draco greatly returned. “She’s still out,” Draco said.

“Ginny’s a strong woman. She’ll wake up,” Hermione said in a comforting voice.

She looked over at Neville. “Hey Neville. I’m surprised to see you here.”

Neville nodded. “I couldn’t just stay at home. My Grandmother has Frank right now.”

Hermione smiled. “It’s nice that you came down here.”

Percy was glassy eyed. “I’d better get back to the Ministry. I’ll be back later.” He turned to Hermione. “You be careful, okay?”

“I will. We’ll be going out to Liverpool tomorrow to my parents.”

“Why wait till tomorrow?’

Harry faked a smile. “Plane is booked over in Birmingham.”

Percy gave them a questioning look. “Why are you going all the way over to Birmingham?”

Harry shrugged. “It’s not too close to here…”

**********

Hermione moved over to little Shannon Malfoy, who was playing with a doll.

“Hey, Shannon,” Hermione said with a wide smile as she sat down in front of her. “Who’s this?” she asked, pointing to the doll.

Though only a year old, Shannon knew words. “Dolly,” she said.

“Really? Well, she’s very pretty.”

Shannon pointed over to Draco. “Daddy.” Then she pointed back to her doll.

Hermione nodded in understanding. “Your dad gave you that doll…”

“Mummy,” she also said.

Hermione smiled and put her hand on the little girl’s head.

From across the room, Harry watched as Hermione interacted with Shannon. He was amazed on how well she was with little children, and it reminded him of her desire to have children. He always shrugged it off, not wanting any yet. He never realized how much she really wanted them… until now.

**********

Harry and Hermione left about 15 minutes later, apparating back to their car, and drove the rest of the day to Birmingham. It was late by the time they got there, and the hotel only had one smoke-free room left… and it only had one bed.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” Hermione said as they walked into the room.

“No way,” Harry said. “It’s not like we’ve never shared a bed before. I’m not going to attack you in your sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep in the same bed as you,” she said irritably.

They were both not in good moods. “Fine,” Harry said. “I’ll sleep on the floor!”

He grabbed a pillow on the bed and threw it on the hard floor. Hermione watched him as he tried to get comfortable, and he was having no luck.

“Harry, don’t sleep down there. Come on up,” she said as she pulled the covers out.

“Oh, don’t do me any more favors,” he said as he hit the pillow.

But he realized he’d enjoy the bed much better… for more than one reason. “I’ll sleep on top of the bedspread. That way, we won’t touch.”

If there was ever a time when he wasn’t sarcastic at a time like this, this was not one of those times.

“Well, thanks for being so considerate. It’s just like you to be so gentleman like.” She’d let him have a taste of his own medicine.

She went to the bathroom, and when she came back, Harry was already asleep. And when he started to snore, she smiled.

************

Waiting for the plane to come, felt like the wait was never going to end. Harry kept looking over his shoulder, keeping his arm around Hermione at all times, never letting her out of his sight. Hermione wasn’t too keen on this, but she felt safe nonetheless.

The weather outside didn’t look too good. Stormy was the word.

“Let’ see, what would be worse? Dying in a thunderstorm because our plane crashes, or being killed by a mad man?” Hermione asked as they waited for the plane.

“It’s going to be fine. Don’t worry. But if it makes you feel better, we could wait for a later flight.”

Hermione sighed and shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look too good,” he said as he looked down at her.

“I’ll be fine.”

“We can get something to eat-”

“I said, I’ll be fine,” she snapped.

Harry looked away, wondering why he was here with a woman who didn’t want him there. It seemed that she was worse with him there.

Harry picked up the bags and followed Hermione to the gate when their number was called. Following closely, he heard a crack from his left, and knew what it was. Hermione’s purse flew out of her hand and she screamed. Harry threw his body over hers, shielding her. Somebody just shot at Hermione!

She was still screaming, and he whispered to her. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. I won’t let him hurt you.” But another shot rang through the air, and it hit him… impacting him on the side of his head.

There was only one thought running through his mind. Hermione, be safe…

**********

A/N: Eh, I didn’t want to end it there, but the chapter was long enough, so I kind of had too. Guys, don’t hate me! *ducks from curses* It will work out!! Um, this problem between H/Hr is coming to an end is really, really, really soon. And I don’t know when the next chapter will come up. Thanks for all the reviews!!!

Sherlock Holmes- I do have a good argument…

Caroline Delacour- Haha… I had a great time in Europe. In my LJ, I’m recording my journal entries… But I went to Chambery, France, and Geneva, Switzerland. It was beautiful!!

13. Love Breakthrough

Private Justice

A/N- *deep breath and walks in, and before anyone can throw a curse, she speaks* Ahhhh, I’m really sorry about the cliffhanger in the last chapter!! Really, I was feeling pretty bad about it after reading some reviews. Luckily, I talked to Romy (Angel-Wing), and she helped me feel better about the whole thing. Thanks girl!

I’ll let you know, this chapter does not end with a cliffhanger.

Oh, and to clarify. In the A/N of the other chapter, I said that you guys are probably not going to like how H/Hr’s problem works out… I worded that all wrong. Just forget I even said it. When I re-edit that chapter, I’ll be keeping that part out. Just erase it from your mind.

Matt and Nitya, thanks for the great beta work!

**********

Hermione sat on the couch and stared at the wall, tears still running down her face. The morning’s events were still in her mind, and they wouldn’t leave. She remembered how scared she had been when she realized Harry had been shot. His face had gone deathly pale and blood poured out of his head. She remembered screaming for help and people running up to her. Security guards came up and took Harry, Hermione trailing behind.

He was rushed into the emergency room as soon as they got to the hospital, and she hadn’t seen him since. He had been in there for two hours. She knew nothing of what was happening. She didn’t know if Harry was still alive. He had got shot in the head. People don’t survive things like that… But this is Harry. He can survive anything…

Through all the commotion on wives being targeted and killed, she only thought of herself being the one who would get shot; she never considered thinking that Harry would be the one who would be hit. And now that it happened, she couldn’t bare it.

Bottom line: She couldn’t lose him. Going through this experience, coming to the reality of almost losing the man she loved… she realized she didn’t want to let him go. She had just been stubborn because of what she had seen that day.

It had hurt her so much when she saw Harry’s arms around Cho. Maybe if it hadn’t been Cho, she wouldn’t have reacted the way she did. But she had never trusted Cho ever since their fifth year… And maybe it was the fact that Cho had been Harry’s first crush, and how pretty she was. To her, Harry hadn’t cared how hurt she had been. He didn’t take any responsibility for his actions… He still did things with Cho… But…

Thinking back, she knew she had probably been overreacting. She had been unfair to Harry, not hear him out. She couldn’t take back what she had said or done, but she knew at least one thing. That bullet was for her… And Harry took it to save her. Why? Because he loves me… She cried into her hands and her body shook with sadness and guilt. If Harry lived, she would find a way to make amends with her husband…

**********

In the magical world, the news about Harry’s attack spread, but the ones who found out about it first were the reporters. Knowing it would be a bad idea to come into a Muggle hospital as wizard reporters, they came to Hermione as regular ones. She was not pleased when they wanted to question her, but she would rather face annoying reporters than go crazy doing nothing.

Upon seeing them, Hermione knew they were wizard reporters, no matter how much they acted like Muggle ones. There was only one question on everyone’s mind…

“Mrs. Potter,” one asked with an oily voice. “How is Harry Potter doing?”

“I’m… I’m not sure,” she said slowly, trying to control her tears.

“Do you think he will live?” another one said.

Hermione looked around at the reporters, taking in their faces. “You don’t think he’s gonna make it, do you all? What do you know?”

The reporters glanced at each other. “Nothing at all. Honest,” the oily voiced man said.

Hermione exploded, her tears breaking free. “What do you think? He was shot in the head! No one lives through that! Of course he’s gonna die!”

Hermione wept right there, her soul feeling empty. Her Harry would leave her… How could he survive?

**********

As Hermione wept at the hospital, things were not much better back in London. As soon as Terry Boot heard about Harry’s dilemma over Wizard Wireless Network (WWN), he began shouting it all over the Auror department.

“Harry’s been shot!” he yelled out in a panicked voice.

Everyone froze and stopped what they were doing to stare at Terry. They were all waiting for the terrible punchline. It didn’t come. Remus could tell by the look on Terry’s face that this was no joke. Remus jumped up and ran for the door as everyone else realized that it was true. Paul Mounty stopped Remus at the door. “You can’t just leave, Remus. Percy won’t let you off.”

“Percy can go shag a goat, I have to get to Hermione. She needs someone with her,” he exclaimed, trying to get past Paul.

“You can’t go! We need you here, we’re already low on staff,” Paul said. He added quietly. “Look, I know you want to be there for Harry and Hermione, but Bones and Percy will have a nasty tantrum if we lose any more Aurors.”

Remus stopped pushing. He sighed. “Then we have to get someone, a friend. Hermione shouldn’t be alone.”

“Try getting a hold of Lavender,” Paul said.

**********

Lavender rushed down the hall in the hospital. As soon as Remus had told her about Harry and where they were, she was out of her house. She was almost out of breath when she got to the recipient.

“Can you tell me what floor Hermione Potter is on?” Lavender asked, trying to collect her breath.

“The third, but you can’t go up there…” the lady told her but Lavender didn’t listen. As soon as she heard ‘third’ she rushed for the stairs.

She regretted taking the stairs. Stupid Lavender. You were trying to keep your breath, not lose it again…

She looked wildly around for Hermione when she got to the third floor. She caught sight of her sitting on the bench, face buried in hands. “Hermione!” she called.

Hermione looked up at the sound of her name. “Lavender!” she exclaimed as she rushed towards her friend. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Hermione cried as she hugged Lavender. “It’s been horrible here… I haven’t heard anything…” Hermione told her all that had happened at the airport.

“Shhhh, it’ll be okay,” Lavender whispered.

Hermione pulled back. “He was shot in the head, Lav. How can it be okay?”

“Because he’s Harry. He’s strong, he won’t just give up.”

Hermione sighed and sat back down. “I know he’s strong… But even a strong person can’t always survive something like this.”

Lavender sat down next to her. “You need to have faith, Hermione; faith that Harry won’t give up. That he won’t give up on you…”

“Why? I did that to him. I didn’t listen…” Hermione started crying again. “Maybe if I hadn’t gotten so mad when I saw him and Cho, or that I was just thankful when he tried to help… I messed it all up.”

“Hermione, don’t blame yourself,” Lavender said. “You two both made mistakes. But don’t dwell so much on the past. It will ruin your future.”

“What future? If Harry does survive, do you think he’d want to be with me anymore? He just got shot because of me. He’ll want to stay as far away from me as possible now,” she said as she put her hand on her forehead.

“Stop!” Lavender commanded. “You’re being ridiculous. Harry loves you, that’s why he took the bullet. He chose to take it for you because of his love.”

Hermione smiled. “I know he loves me; and I love him.”

“That’s all that matters, my friend,” Lavender said, putting her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “That’s all that matters…”

**********

“Both of you can’t go!”

Percy was not going to change his mind, that’s for sure. Ron and Remus were not happy.

“Listen, Percy,” Ron gritted between his teeth. “Harry and Hermione need me. I’m their best friend!”

“Lavender is already over there with Hermione now,” Percy replied. “Right now, Hermione does not need a lot of people around her.”

“You don’t know what Hermione needs,” Ron said angrily. “You never cared before!”

“Ron, calm down,” Remus said urgently. “Yelling will not solve anything.”

Percy glared at Ron. “One of you may go, but not both. But…” He turned to Remus. “I would rather you go.”

“WHAT?” Ron yelled.

Remus turned to Ron, understanding why Percy made that decision. “It might be better if I go, Ron.”

Ron’s angry eyes were on Remus. “Why?”

“You’re in no condition to help Hermione. You’re just as upset as she is,” he said slowly. “Hermione needs someone to calm her down. In your state, it won’t help.”

Ron threw his mug against the wall. “I’m more upset because of this conversation. I’ve known Hermione longer than any of you. And no offense to you Remus, I’d be able to protect her better than you would.”

“Just because I’m a little bit older than you, does not mean I’m not capable of protecting her. In fact, I’ve had more experience in protecting people than you have.”

“Both of you, just shut up,” Percy snapped. “Hermione doesn’t even need protection right now. Now Ron, you go back through that door and get to work, and Remus, get to the hospital before I change my mind.”

Remus could tell Percy wasn’t doing too well either, emotion well on his face. Ron kicked his chair and went for the door. “Tell Hermione I wanted to be there for her.”

Remus suddenly felt horrible for the ‘fight.’ It seemed stupid to him now. “I will Ron, and… sorry.”

Ron stopped. “Yeah, me too…” and he shut the door.

**********

Hermione did feel better when there were more people. Lavender was still there; Angelina and Fred were now there, as well as Remus. Still, it wasn’t much better. That is not until the surgeon came out.

“Mrs. Potter?” he asked.

Hermione stood up quickly, holding on to Remus’s arm. “I’m her. How is he? Is he—?”

“He’s alive and fine,” the man said with a smile.

Relief washed over Hermione and she felt as though she might faint. “He’s alive? Really?” She felt Remus’s arm un-tense.

“The bullet didn’t reach his brain; it was a glancing shot. It was bad and he lost a lot of blood, but he’s going to be fine, though it may take a few months for his wound to fully heal. We had a surgeon stitch him up. We’ll keep him under close supervision until he wakes up.” He took a breath. “We’re afraid of brain damage, so we’ll keep him here for a while. But I’m an optimistic fellow…”

Hermione burst into tears, though not of sadness. She rushed up to the doctor and threw her arms around him. “Thank you!”

She turned back to her friends and hugged them all.

**********

The nurse led Hermione into Harry’s room, and Hermione thought her heart would break as she stared at him. He looked so different. His face was bruised, and she could see that part of his hair that was shaven off because of the surgery. His face was still pale… she felt numb.

“He’s very lucky,” the nurse said. “If he had turned his head an inch in either direction when he was shot, he would have been a goner.”

Hermione closed her eyes, not wanting to remember that day. “It doesn’t look like him.”

“It will soon,” the nurse said kindly. “Now, I’ll leave you alone with him for a while. If he wakes up, let me know.”

“Thank you,” Hermione said softly. “Do you want me to try and wake him up?”

The nurse smiled. “That would be a good idea. He was awake for a few seconds a while ago, but that’s it. Try your best.” Then she left.

She sat down next to Harry, and slightly touched his face. He felt warm, and she pressed her lips to his cheek, wanting this painful nightmare to go away. “Harry,” she whispered. “Harry, wake up.”

He didn’t stir. “Why did you do it, Harry,” she asked desperately, her voice cracking. “Why didn’t you run?”

But she already knew the answer. From the very beginning, he was there by her side, protecting her, worrying about her. And she tried to push him away. If he had loved Cho, he would have been there for her. But he hadn’t, because he didn’t love Cho… he loved her…

“I love you, Harry,” she cried softly. “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything… just don’t leave me…”

She laid her head on his bed and just cried, not knowing how she would live on if her husband died.

**********

Harry never did wake up for Hermione when she was in there. But as long as he was breathing, Hermione was okay. Lavender told her to eat. “I don’t want to eat,” Hermione replied. She didn’t even eat when her parents came.

Hermione had almost forgotten she had called her parents after she had talked to Lavender. They told her they would be on the next flight down to her.

“How is he?” Sarah Granger asked her daughter as they hugged.

“He’s alive.”

“Has he woken up?”

“He had for a little while, but not since.” She smiled at her parents. “Thanks for coming down and checking in.”

Sarah and her husband, David, exchanged glances. “Hermione, sweetheart,” her father said. “We didn’t come down just to check on you.”

Hermione frowned a bit. “What do you mean?”

Sarah took a deep breath. “We want to take you back to Liverpool with us. It will be safer there.”

“When?” She had a feeling when though.

“Now, and before you protest, listen. There is a killer on the loose, and it’s not safe. You can’t do anything for Harry—”

“No way, I’m not leaving him,” she said stiffening.

“He left you two months ago,” her mother protested.

“Today, he took a bullet for me. I won’t just walk away.”

Before her parents could say anything else, Lavender walked up. “Hermione?”

Hermione, who was grateful for the interruption, focused her attention on her friend, who looked unsure. “What is it?”

“There is, um, someone here to see you.”

Hermione looked behind Lavender and saw Cho Chang. Hermione froze for a second. I don’t want to deal with this.

Her mother shot curious glances. “Who is that?”

Hermione decided it was better not to mention who she was, if she wanted her mother to stay under control. You have to face her, Hermione. You might as well do it now.

“I’ll be right back,” she said as she walked over to Cho.

Cho’s eyes were moist as Hermione reached her. The two of them just stared at each other for a while, clearly both of them not knowing what to say to the other. Cho talked first. “I just had to come. To see how he was.”

“He’s unconscious, but the doctors say he will be fine. But we won’t know for sure until he wakes up.” Hermione hoped she was handling this the right way.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Hermione,” Cho said softly. “You don’t know how lucky you are to have a husband that loves you that much and would take a bullet for you.”

Hermione’s eyes slightly widened. Didn’t Cho know that she was the reason of the separation? Hermione didn’t say anything, because she wasn’t sure what to say. Cho took the silence as her cue to leave. “I guess it was a bad idea that I came.”

She turned around. “No, I’m glad that you came,” Hermione said suddenly, surprising herself. “Really, it means a lot. Harry will appreciate it.”

Cho’s back was still turned and she took a breath. “Not as much as you think.” She turned around to meet Hermione’s eyes. Hermione saw sincerity in those eyes, and she knew. Cho wasn’t out to steal her husband. Maybe she had been at one point, but not anymore.

Hermione gave Cho a soft smile. “Would you like to come over and sit down with us?”

Cho quickly shook her head. “No I better be getting back. Once Ron finds out that I came, he’ll be demanding release and come.”

Hermione laughed. Remus told her about what happened back at the Ministry. In all truth, she did need to see Ron. She needed her other best friend. The one who knew her well, like Harry. They hadn’t spent much time together since the separation, and Hermione realized that she missed that. She missed hanging out with just Harry and Ron, the way they used to. She missed both of them…

“Thanks for stopping by, Cho.”

Cho nodded. “I’ll see you around, Hermione.”

**********

“I will not eat,” Hermione said firmly. “Not until Harry wakes up.”

“You’re not thinking clearly,” her mother said calmly. “You need some food in your system.”

“Mum, I told you—”

“Alright, why don’t we all just stop talking for a while, okay?” David said.

And that’s what they did, or tried. Sarah tried to convince her daughter to eat, but Hermione wouldn’t. She didn’t feel like eating.

“Mrs. Potter?”

Hermione looked up and saw the nurse standing there. “Yes?” she asked, holding her breath as she stood up.

The woman smiled. “Your husband is awake.”

**********

Hermione walked back into the room she had been in a half hour ago. Only this time, she was much happier. She sat down next to the bed. Harry squinted and looked over to her. “Hey, you,” he said with a grin.

“Hey, back.” Hermione’s eyes glistened with tears; tears of happiness. “Now, what’s the idea about you getting shot?”

He closed his eyes. “That’s why I’m in here?”

Hermione could only nod. It still hurt her too much, knowing that she should be in that bed, and not Harry.

He started talking again, slowly and weakly. “I saw the bullet hit your bag. I couldn’t think straight…”

Hermione smiled. “You threw yourself over me to protect me.”

“Yea, and now my head really hurts.”

Hermione gave a choked up laugh. Harry looked at her with mournful eyes. “I’m sorry, Herm.”

“Why?”

“I can’t protect you now.” He stopped for a second, to catch his breath. “You need someone to protect you.”

Hermione took a hold of his hand. “No, I’ll be okay…”

“No. He’s getting desperate. You’re not safe anywhere.” His tearful eyes turned to her. “God, I wish I could keep you safe.”

Hermione closed her eyes as she lifted his hand to her face, loving the way it felt on her cheek. “Don’t worry about me, Harry. Just concentrate on getting yourself better.”

“I can’t do that when there’s a mad killer on the loose,” he said. “Hermione, you need to go somewhere, away from here.”

“No, I’m not leaving you. Don’t even try and make me,” she cried.

“You can’t…” but he didn’t say any more as he drifted off into sleep. She knew it wouldn’t make any difference if she went five miles away or five hundred miles away. The killer would find her somehow. But she wouldn’t leave Harry.

Hermione stood up as the nurse walked back in. “He’s asleep,” she said with a small smile, looking down at him.

“Is there anything I can get for you, dear?” the kind lady asked.

Hermione looked at her. “Yes. Can you get me something to eat?”

**********

14. A Break in the Case

A Break in the Case

A/N- Sorry about the loooonnngggg wait. It’s mostly my fault, I had a bad case of Writer’s Block. Well sorry again, and thanks for the reviews!!! Nitya and Matt, thanks for the beta work!

**********

Hermione smiled as she saw Ron coming. She stood up and started walking towards him as he made his way to her. “How’s he doing?” he asked as they embraced.

“He’s making progress. He’s been awake a couple of times, and the best news is that there doesn’t seem to be apparent brain damage,” she said as they broke apart.

Ron sighed with relief and put his arm around her shoulders as they walked back over to the couch. “Hey, Lavender,” he said with a grin when he saw the blonde sitting on the couch.

Lavender grinned back at him, her eyes twinkling. This caused Hermione to look at her closely, wondering if there was some interest developing in her friend towards the man next to her. Well, it’s about time.

Hermione looked over to Ron with a teasing smile. “So, how did you finally get down here?”

Ron rolled his eyes. “I swear, I could kill Percy for keeping me down there.” Hermione continued looking at him with an expectant look. “Oh,” he said. “Fred had, well, a break in the case.”

Hermione’s eyes widened along with Lavender’s. “What kind of break?” Lavender asked.

Ron shrugged. “I’m not really sure. He wouldn’t say. But he wasn’t in a good mood so I took that advantage and asked to go,” he said with a satisfying smile. “He usually says yes to me when he’s not really listening.”

Hermione elbowed him. “Ow,” he said, trying to act in pain.

Hermione sat down next to Lavender. “Why didn’t you ask Fred what he learned?” she said, glaring at him.

Ron’s face got serious as he looked at his best friend. “Come on, Herm. He wouldn’t have told me. You should have seen him. He looked like he didn’t want to tell any of us.” She continued to glare at him. “Herm, stop looking at me like that!”

Hermione sighed, the glare suddenly disappearing. “Sorry, I just want this to end. I want to know who did this.”

“We all do,” Ron said softly as he sat down next to her. “We’ll catch this guy and move on with our lives.”

Hermione nodded and slid into his arms, thinking about Harry. She hadn’t talked to him since earlier that day. The doctors kept running tests and she wasn’t allowed in. At least Ron was here…

She probably would have smiled if she could see the looks passing between Ron and Lavender.

**********

Fred did have a break, and he didn’t like it. He talked to people who worked at the airport, people who were in the area about the time at the shooting to see if he could find anyone who saw anything suspicious. But only one person helped him.

He talked to a short woman who worked at the airport. At first, he thought she would be like everybody else and not be able to help him. Then she caught his interest…

***Flashback***

“No, I didn’t see much that looked out of the ordinary right before the shooting. No— Wait, actually I did.”

Fred stopped looking around and stared sharply at the woman. “What? What was it?”

The woman laughed. “It was quite strange. About ten minutes before the shooting, I was looking down at some papers while walking and ran into somebody. I uttered an apology and looked up a little but he started walking past me. But before he left I saw on his shirt three letters: DMLE.” She stopped with a questioning look and then continued. “They were changing colors. The letters were changing colors right before my eyes. I blinked, but by then he was gone.”

Fred thought his heart had stopped. He knew what kind of shirt that was… “What did the man look like?” he asked urgently.

The woman shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry; I never did see his face. I never really bothered to look.” She giggled. “I only saw from his chest down.”

Fred nodded absent-mindedly. He licked his lips, his mouth suddenly feeling dry. “And… what color shirt was it?”

“Dark blue.” She simply said and the woman apologized again for not knowing more before walking off. Fred felt for sure his face was drained and pale. That shirt… only certain people wore that shirt. DMLE stood for Department of Magical Law Enforcement… There were different colors for each section, and Dark blue were the Aurors.

***End of Flashback***

Fred hadn’t been sure what to think. According to this Muggle woman, a man wearing an Auror’s shirt had been at the airport. Harry? No, he had been wearing a red shirt.

The shirts had all been a joke. A few months ago, the ‘youth’ part of Ministry thought it would be ‘cool’ to make shirts for each department and sections in that department. Fred thought it was just stupid, but now he was actually thankful. But now he knew that the killer was an Auror. What would he do now? Bloody hell he was working with Aurors. They were the ones whom he gave his information to. How could he trust any of them now?

But now, there was still that question: Why was there use of a gun? A wizard, and especially an Auror could finish someone off much easier with just two words. But there had to be a reason he was using a gun, same as to why there was always a fire afterwards.

But what was the reason?

**********

“So why haven’t you ever married?”

Lavender shook her head, laughing. “Ron, how can I when I haven’t found Mr. Right,” she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Ron slapped his head. “Oh right, how could I have not known that?” He shook his head, his eyes twinkling. “I’m such a dolt.”

“But a very cute dolt.” Lavender’s eyes widened at what she just said. She was mentally kicking herself. Lavender, why did you have to say that?

Ron just grinned back. “Why, thanks. My ego appreciates it.”

Lavender looked at him, and his grin made her stomach do flip-flops. She gave him a shy smile. “Just don’t let your head get too big.”

He laughed. “I’ll try and remember that.” His face suddenly got serious. “So, how did you know that every man you meet isn’t Mr. Right?”

Lavender looked at him with an odd expression. “Why the sudden curiosity, Ron?”

Ron shrugged, his face slightly pink. “I’m just confused as to why a girl like you doesn’t have guys lining outside the door.”

Lavender blinked in surprise. Never had she thought she’d hear Ron Weasley say that to her. She smiled at him. “Thanks.” She looked down at the floor, noticing Ron doing the same.

It was silent for a bit, until Ron asked, “So, how did you feel when Harry and Hermione separated?” he asked softly.

Lavender glanced over at him to notice his eyes looked moist. “Mostly depressed. I thought that if any match was meant to last forever, it would be theirs.”

Ron nodded. “I’ve known them for years… well you already knew that. But I never saw it coming.”

“Nobody did. I mean, people who didn’t even know them couldn’t believe it,” she said laughing softly.

“I haven’t given up hope yet,” Ron said. “If there were any two people who could work out their problems, it was those two.”

Lavender grinned. “What, you and Hermione couldn’t?”

Ron snorted. “That will be the day. When we were younger, we would just hurt each other with words when we were in an argument, which was all the time.” He sighed. “No, Harry always treated her with more respect than I did.”

“Well, at least you and I are agreeing that we think Harry and Hermione will get back together after all this,” Lavender said.

“We’re agreeing with a lot of people on that. Everyone knows they still love each other, but,” Ron’s voice changed down to a lower key, a more sorrowful tone, “they started having some pretty ugly differences. It got to the point when he didn’t want to go home anymore. He said it was because of her nagging.”

Lavender winced. “She had a right to know about his frequent visits to the bar, why he wasn’t home enough helping out, his relationships with other women. She tried to wait for him to come to her, but he wouldn’t.”

Ron smiled fondly. “Hermione isn’t one to be put off easily.”

Lavender. “That she isn’t.” She bit her lip. “So, why haven’t you ever married?” Now you can be put on the spot.

Ron smirked. “Never found the right girl. I kept looking in the wrong places.”

He stared right at her when he said that, and Lavender bit her lip, wondering if he meant what she thought he meant. Her thoughts were interrupted when Hermione came back over.

“I wish my mum would stop bugging me,” she said with an exasperated tone.

Lavender wasn’t sure to be thankful for the interruption, or scream at Hermione and her bad timing. But she couldn’t hide a smile when she saw the annoyed look on Hermione’s face. Ron just looked confused. “What’s wrong? Why’s your mum bugging you?” he asked.

Hermione sighed and sat down. “She and Dad want me to go back to Liverpool with them… immediately.”

“What?” Ron sat up, his eyes not so soft anymore.

“Don’t worry Ron. I’m not going.”

“They just want you to leave? Leave Harry?” Ron asked, thinking it was the most absurd thing in the world.

Hermione grabbed Ron’s arm, afraid he might be stupid enough to do something… stupid. “Ron, I already told them I’m not going anywhere. They’re just wasting their breath.”

**********

Hermione was inside with Harry for the last visit of the night, and that left Ron and Lavender alone in the waiting room, again. Ron had wanted to go in, but the nurse asked to just let Hermione first, then Ron a little later. Ron had been pacing for about ten minutes.

Lavender groaned. “Ron, will you stop moving?”

Ron stopped. “Well it’s either I pace, or I throw things around the room.”

Lavender rolled her eyes. “Oh, you need to grow up.”

Hermione came out of the room. ‘Ron, come on in. Harry insists.” She looked over to the blonde. “You too, Lav.”

“Oh I don’t have to,” Lavender said quickly, going a bit red. “I mean, I want to see Harry, but…”

Hermione smiled and shook her head. “I’d like you to be there, Lav. Please?”

Lavender followed the two into Harry’s room. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him. His face was so bruised. Well, what did you expect from a person who just got shot in the head?

Hermione and Ron went on both sides of Harry. “Harry, darling. Ron and Lavender are here.”

Harry slowly opened his eyes and he caught sight of Lavender first. “Hey Lav, how’s it going?” he asked weakly.

She smiled. “Pretty good. How ’bout you?”

“I’ve felt better before.” He looked over to Ron. “Hey mate.”

Ron leaned down to Harry. “Jeez, man. I new you were ugly before but even a Hippogriff’s arse looks better than you.”

“Thanks Ron. I knew I could count on you to cheer me up,” Harry said, laughter filling his voice.

Ron smirked. “What are friends for?”

“Ron,” Harry said. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything mate. You name it.”

“I need you to keep an eye on Hermione, and don’t say anything yet,” Harry warned when he saw Ron open his mouth. Ron quickly closed it. “Now,” Harry continued. “I know you’ll keep an eye on her, but I’m talking bodyguard eye. When you sleep, one eye stays open.” He stopped and took a few breaths. Hermione stayed next to him, trying to soothe him by running her hand up and down on his arm. “This guy is after her. He was desperate to go after her in the airport; he might be crazy enough to come in here.”

“Harry, you know I’ll look after her. You didn’t even have to tell me,” Ron said.

“Yeah, but I feel better saying it,” Harry admitted.

Ron grinned. “Well, don’t worry mate. I probably won’t sleep much tonight anyways.”

Harry licked his lips. “Have they got any leads?”

Ron looked at Hermione before answering. “Well, I’m pretty sure Fred does. But he didn’t tell me what it was.”

“Hopefully it’ll lead to finding him soon.” Harry whispered.

**********

Well, maybe someone borrowed an Auror shirt to throw us off track, Fred thought desperately. No, that’s not possible. There has to be another explanation. Fred needed to talk to somebody, to get this off his chest. But who? If it was an Auror, whom could he trust?

Suddenly a thought hit him in the head. Fletcher! If anyone could help him at a time like this, Mundugus Fletcher could.

Fletcher lived in an old cottage about ten minutes outside of London, retired, and decided to grow old there.

Fred apparated over and knocked. It took a while for a reply back. “Yeah?” a voice barked from inside.

“Fletcher, it’s Fred. Fred Weasley.”

Fred heard scuffling on the other side for a moment, and then the door opened. A hand shot out and grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him inside.

Fred swallowed as Fletcher let him go right away. “Yea, it’s nice to see you too.”

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Fletcher demanded.

Fred raised his eyebrows. “What’s got you pissed?”

Fletcher scowled. “If someone sees…Listen Weasley, I don’t want to be involved in this case. I don’t work at the Ministry anymore.”

“Oh, so you’ve heard about it?” Fred said, putting on an act of cheerfulness that didn’t go un-noticed.

“Of course I know about it. Who doesn’t know about the damn thing?”

“Well,” Fred said, losing his ‘cheerfulness,’ “What makes you think I’m here on behalf of the case?”

Fletcher rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you give me friendly visits often… in fact, never.”

Fred sighed. “Listen, I know you don’t want to be bothered, but I need your help.”

Fletcher slumped down on the chair. “On what?”

“On the case,” Fred cried with an exasperated tone.

“I know it’s on the case, but which part of the case? Where the wives are staying, why the killer uses a gun if he’s a wizard, or better yet, who the killer is himself?” he said sarcastically.

Fred raised an eyebrow. “So, what exactly do you know about this, Fletcher?”

Fletcher blinked. “Um, what do you mean?”

“I mean, you seem to know a lot about it.” Fred looked at Fletcher’s guilty face and his eyes wondered over the table when they fell on a box. With a quick glance at Fletcher, Fred reached out to the box and removed the lid. A smile appeared on his face. “So, you’re actually keeping tabs on it, are ya?”

Fletcher fidgeted. “What makes you ask?”

“Don’t play dumb now.”

Fletcher stayed quiet for a moment, realizing he had no way out. “All right fine, I’m following it. Can you blame me?”

Fred laughed. “Not really. Well I guess it won’t be as hard for you to help me now, huh?”

“Sure.”

“I’m glad you’re so happy about this,” Fred said. “So, what sort of things caught your interest?”

Fletcher shrugged and started going through the papers. “Well, I’m interested in the patterns of the murders. From what it looks like, he shoots them, than sets the fire around them. I think he’s trying to tell us something.”

Fred nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. And not normally do wizards use guns or fire to kill.”

“What makes you think it’s really a wizard?” Fletcher asked, looking up.

Fred told him about what he had learned about the shirts according to the woman. “Ah,” Fletcher said. “So, that’s why you came to me.”

“Yeah, well I figured you would be of help until I can figure out what to do,” Fred admitted sheepishly.

“Well,” Fletcher said looking back down at the papers, “Whoever this guy is, I’d say he’s not thinking clearly.”

“Mad?”

Fletcher shrugged. “Possibly. Something tragic happened in his life at one point, and now the aftereffect is here. There are many different possibilities… About the shirts, it could just be a set-up.”

“Yeah, I thought that too. But then I remembered that the shirts were especially designed for each group and their persons. It was magically enchanted to only fit the person it was made for.”

Fletcher nodded. “I see.” He stood up. “I started thinking why he just didn’t burn the Longbottom house down…” He peered intently at the picture of Parvati. “No… there’s a reason as to why he wanted her dead, and I don’t think it’s just for sport.”

“I don’t either,” Fred admitted. “But do you think it’s some kind of an obsession? And would people be able to tell?”

“Not necessarily. Most situations like this are well hidden. The killers live normal lives, and their friends and family have no idea what’s really going on inside their head.” He sighed. “But with the way this is going, this man is going to start making mistakes. The shirt at the airport was probably one. Now you just have to wait for the others to come.” He stopped looking at the papers and looked at Fred. “He’s getting desperate; for all we know he may want to be found out.”

“Why would someone do all this to be found out?”

“We may never know. Just play close attention to things Fred. Alright?”

Fred agreed and apparated back to The Ministry soon after. He looked around as he made his way into the Auror Department. There he saw Remus, Terry, Percy and Dennis. At the hospital he knew Ron was… And there were so many others.

Could one of them shot Parvati and dragged her into the shed where she would wait for someone to find her? And then went to Pansy’s house, and shot her in her bedroom? And then on a clear, sunny afternoon, walked into Malfoy Manor and go after Ginny? Then Harry?

Percy looked suspicious walking up to Hermione’s house that one night. Had he lied? Same as Ron; that night William caught him at Potter’s Books. Had he really heard something, or was it just an excuse?

Fred shook his head. Get a grip Weasley. These are your brothers. You know they wouldn’t do anything like that. How could you think it’s them? How could you think it’s anybody here?

**********

It was 3 a.m. and Fred was still at the Ministry, his head on his desk while he slept. He felt a sudden shake on his shoulder and sleepily lifted his head. “Can a guy get a good nice rest these days?” he growled.

“Well, it’s going to be like this even longer now,” Remus’s voice sounded overhead, in a whispering voice making Fred awake more.

“What do you mean?”

Remus sighed. “Fred… Luna Thomas…she’s been murdered.”

**********

A/N: Now some of you may be confused with the whole D/L thingy… I’ll explain it in the next chapter… Yes they are, er, were married.

15. Reasons

A/N- All you H/Hr shippers are going to like this chapter. And for those of you who have wanted to know what happened to Ginny will find out now too. I don’t know how long it will be before the next chapter. I’m going on vacation in a couple of weeks. I won’t be getting back till the end of July, so I don’t know. Sorry.

Nitya, thanks for the great beta work!

**********

By 3:15 a.m., Luna’s father’s house was taken over. There were medi-wizards, Aurors, and just friends. Fred was in the hall, talking to Terry.

“How did this happen?” he demanded.

Terry rubbed his head. “We figure he somehow snuck in, crept up and shot her while she slept; a silent gun of some kind, and then snuck back out.”

Fred stared hard at him. “You have got to be kidding me!”

“I wish I was, Fred.” Terry started to walk towards the bedroom. Fred followed.

“You mean to tell me that this guy snuck in here, went up to the bed and just shot Luna, and Dean didn’t even hear it? How could that go unnoticed?”

Terry spun around. “I don’t know, ok. I don’t even want to care anymore. This is getting ridiculous. What I want to know is how this guy is getting away every time he goes after someone,” he snapped.

“And if I knew the answer to that, we wouldn’t be in this bloody mess,” Fred shot back angrily and loudly.

“Calm down, you two,” Remus warned with a stern voice. “You two aren’t helping.”

Fred and Terry turned away from each other and took deep breaths. Fred was angry, tired, and did not want to be there. “Did Dean see anything?”

Remus shook his head. “No. He said he woke up when he smelled the smoke, and tried to get Luna out; but that’s when he realized what had happened.”

“He didn’t even feel anything when she was shot?” Fred asked in an exasperated tone.

“He’s a very heavy sleeper. I’ve seen him sleep through earbreaking noises at work.”

Remus walked up to him and showed him the bullet that had been in his hand. Fred peered down at it and then looked back up to meet Remus’s eyes, talking quietly. “Same?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Remus nodded.

Fred groaned. “How? How did he know where they were? Dean didn’t tell anybody!”

Remus shook his head. “We need to start looking at people who we know. People who know the victims…”

“In other words: Our friends.”

**********

“Who knew that Luna’s father lived here?”

Dean shook his anguished head. “A lot of people, after all he did write for the Quibbler. But he had moved here a couple months ago, and we didn’t think many people would remember it. His address isn’t even listed.”

“Well, apparently someone did remember,” Terry stated miserably.

Dean shook with tears. “How did I sleep through it?” The men working around the room stopped, feeling somewhat awkward at being a witness as Dean seemed to lose control. “Why didn’t he just shoot me too?” he cried. He sank to the floor, not seeming to care that people saw. “This is just… cruel.”

Too cruel, Fred thought. Why was someone making the Aurors suffer this way by seeing their wives dead? Why were they not killing others; Frank Longbottom, or Luna’s father?

“Fred?”

Fred turned around and saw Dennis Creevey. “What?”

Dennis smiled. “Ginny’s out of her coma.”

Fred felt a huge wave a relief sweep over him. His sister was awake, and maybe now, some of their unanswered questions would be answered.

**********

Hermione opened her tired eyes. She yawned as she stretched on the couch and looked at her watch. 3:30. Great…

She looked over and saw Ron walking back into the room with a mug in his hand. He smiled when he saw her. “Hey sleepyhead,” he whispered.

She gave a tired smile. “And you aren’t sleeping because…?”

He shrugged. “I was hungry. Geez, I thought that someday hospital food would get better.” He made a gagging noise in his throat.

She laughed softly, and Ron sat down next to her. “How are you holding up?”

She shrugged. “Okay I guess. I just feel so hopeless.”

Ron squeezed her hand. “I know the feeling. I feel like I should be doing something; not just staying here.”

“Well, you better not go anywhere or else Harry will have your head.”

Ron chucked. “Yeah… How’s it going with you two?”

Hermione sighed. “I don’t really know. Everything is just so confusing right now.”

“But… but what do you want?” he asked softly.

“What do I want?” Hermione looked across the room, catching sight of Lavender sleeping on the other couch. Then she looked over to Harry’s door. “I want to start over. I want him to know that I love him… I just want to be with him again.”

Ron smiled. “Good.”

**********

Fred walked into Ginny’s room at Salidays Memorial, and saw that Draco was holding her hand and talking softly to her. Every ten seconds he would bring her hand up to his lips and kiss it, making Ginny smile.

Fred cleared his throat. Ginny turned and her smile widened. “Fred.” He smiled and walked over to her. “Glad to see you awake, sis.”

“Yeah, it is a good feeling.” Her voice was weak, but her eyes looked alive. “I… want to…talk,” she said, having trouble getting the words out.

“I know,” he replies softly. Fred looked over to Draco who seemed to be holding her hand even more tightly. She winced. “Draco…”

Draco’s eyes widened as he realized what he was doing, and he loosened his hold on her. Ginny gave him a soft smile, knowing why he was reacting this way. She looked back at Fred.

“Do you remember anything?” he asked.

Ginny closed her eyes. “He came in through the back door… At first… At first I thought it was Draco…then realized it wasn’t…” She took a few breaths. “…ran for the back door…and then…” She sighed. “I never saw his face…not even when I took… a short peek behind me…”

“How could you not see his face?”

She swallowed. “He was wearing… a big hood… a long robe…and his shirt…somehow I saw his shirt… dark blue…” She opened her eyes and looked right at Fred. “And he cried.”

Fred blinked. “What?”

“He cried. He said… ‘I’m sorry Pen. I’m so sorry… please forgive me…’ ” She closed her eyes again. “Oh but his voice…”

Fred grabbed her hand. “What about his voice?”

“I’ve heard it before…I think… something…though high-pitched…”

Fred was sure his face was going white. No doubt now, it was an Auror. Draco caught onto that as well. “Is it an Auror?” he whispered urgently. “Someone I work with?”

Fred still didn’t feel comfortable telling what he knew. “I’m not sure. But I’m going to find out.”

**********

“How’s she doing?” Terry asked when he got to the hospital.

“Well. She’s sleeping now,” Fred replied.

“Unca Frid!”

Fred and Terry turned to see Shannon Malfoy wobbling over their way. She had a determined look in her face as she walked over to her uncle. “Unca go?”

He smiled and picked her up. “Unca isn’t going anywhere.”

Shannon pointed to Ginny’s door. “Mumma, Dadda.” Then she pointed to herself and gave Fred a small hug. Fred almost laughed at what Shannon was trying to communicate. “Yes I know they’re in there. So now you’re stuck with me.” He looked over at Terry who was finding the situation amusing.

“Are one year olds supposed to know this stuff?” he asked.

Fred shrugged. He sat down, still holding Shannon. Terry started pacing around in front of him, obviously something on his mind. “What is it?” Fred asked, trying to keep Shannon from squirming too much.

Terry stopped and looked ahead. “What would you say if I thought the killer was Dean?”

“I’d say you’re mental and need some serious help,” Fred replied without hesitance, knowing what Terry was thinking. “Come on, don’t think it.”

Terry started pacing again. “I just can’t understand it. He should have felt something when she was shot. A jerk in the bed, or something.”

“You know Dean’s not a killer.” Shannon was now trying to climb his shoulders, and her hands kept poking his eyes. “Shannon…”

“That’s the problem. I can’t think of anyone who could be the killer. I’m not really sure where to start looking.”

Fred bit his lip, knowing that it was time to tell Terry. Terry’s eyes were wide with shock when Fred was done. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

Fred sighed. “I was just being careful.” He reached his arms up on his head to retrieve Shannon who had somehow made it up there.

“So it’s an Auror,” Terry said aloud, though more to himself. “So, why do you still not think it’s Dean?”

“He’s always somewhere else during the other murders. He was at the Ministry at the time of Parvati’s murder, and I saw him at the funeral when Ginny got shot.”

Terry nodded, but he didn’t look too convinced. Terry always jumped to conclusions fast, something Fred had gotten used to. But now he felt he was going just a bit far.

“He’ll probably want to come back for Ginny,” Terry said suddenly.

Fred jerked his head. “What?”

“The killer. He’ll probably get scared that she’ll identify him.”

Fred hadn’t thought about that. Ginny still might not be safe. Without realizing it, he took a strong hold of Shannon and held her close.

**********

“Mum, Dad, listen. I know you care for me and want what’s best for me, but I’m staying.”

This is what had been happening with Hermione and her parents for the past fifteen minutes. No matter how much Hermione would say she wanted to stay, her parents would still come back again.

The day had started out better. Harry had been moved into a private room where Hermione could also stay for there was a cot. And then her parents asked her to come back with them…

“You have to stop. We realize that you feel a need to stay with Harry after this disaster, but he’s okay now. He doesn’t need—”

“I’m not staying just because he’s wounded, Dad. I want to stay. As his wife—”

“That’s what we don’t understand,” her mother put in. “When he gets better and gets out of here, he’ll go back to his house and to that other woman and you’ll go your own way.”

Hermione clenched her teeth. “Don’t… Things are going to be different. It’s just about time you two accept it.” She turned to her wizard radio and turned it on, hoping not to continue the conversation with her parents.

Her parents did look like they were going to continue, but were cut off by the next words on the radio. “…The latest victim of the Auror wives shooting is Luna Thomas, who was married to Auror Dean Thomas. The two went to Hogwarts together and married three years ago. They have adopted twin girls. Thomas is the fifth victim of this shooting, and the third one to have died. Victim number 4, Harry Potter, is still in the hospital after his shooting to the head, and victim number 3, Ginny Malfoy is in critical condition. It is said that the killer crept into Thomas Lovegood’s, Luna’s father, house last night and shot her while she and her husband slept. Mr. Thomas woke when he smelled the fire; he then found his wife dead.”

“Oh God, no!” Hermione cried, sinking onto the couch. “What’s happening? Luna too? Why?”

Her father bent down. “That’s it; you’re coming home with us today.”

Hermione shook her head firmly. “No, I won’t. He found Luna at her father’s; he’ll find me in Liverpool. I won’t go.”

“You won’t do Harry any good if you’re dead, Hermione,” Sarah snapped.

“I’m going to be fine here!” She shook her head. “You two just don’t understand. Harry took a bullet for me. That bullet belonged in me and he took it. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and you two, and some bloody killer are not going to take me from him. So just get it through your heads or you can go!”

Sarah looked as though she might protest, but David stopped. “We’ll be out walking, okay?”

Hermione nodded, though still steaming with anger. Her parents walked out, and she sank onto the cot and cried.

**********

Hermione stepped into the hall and went for the vending machine. She noticed her hands shaking as she put in the money. She didn’t know if she could handle this; the killings, Harry, and now her parents.

She pressed the button hard for a Coke, but after a few seconds nothing came. She slammed her fist against the machine, and her forehead came to rest on the glass. The drink finally came to the bottom, but Hermione made no move to get it right then.

She felt as though her life was falling apart. She looked back into the lounge. Did she really want to go back? Go back to the harsh reality? No, she didn’t want to go back to the harsh, cruel world. But that world had Harry in it. And it had taken a bullet to his head to make her remember that she would endure anything to be with him again.

She had almost lost Harry before; she wouldn’t do it again.

She bent down and retrieved her drink, then made her way back into the room. She saw that Harry was being wheeled back into their room. She smiled softly. The good things were already on their way…

**********

She slowly opened the door to their room, not wanting to wake up Harry if he was asleep. Walking in, she saw that he wasn’t, and he was looking at her. “Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey,” she echoed and closed the door. They stared at each other for a few moments. She looked around. “I know this place isn’t much, but it will work.”

“It’s better than the other place,” he said, looking around. When his eyes met hers, he held out his hand. “Come here,” he said softly.

She went willingly, slowly climbing into the bed. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and she laid her head on his chest. How wonderful it felt, with his arms around her again. She could almost forget the past weeks had ever happened.

“I’m sorry you married me,” he whispered.

That brought her back. She looked up at his face. “What?”

He looked down at her. “If you hadn’t married me, you wouldn’t be in this mess. You could be off on a cruise, and have a couple of kids. Not stuck here.”

“And where would you be?”

“Probably right here, considering this guy wants to kill my wife no matter who she is. But I’d probably not take a bullet for anyone else but you.”

She shook her head. “No, you would. You’re that type of person, Harry. You always have been.”

He kept his eyes trained on her, them filling with desire. “But for now,” he whispered huskily, “It’s just you.”

Hermione felt her heart soar at those words, knowing that he meant it. Harry’s eyes lowered down to her mouth, and his head soon followed. He went slowly, giving her the chance to back away. But she didn’t, and their lips met. All the wonderful feelings she had ever had for him came back at that instant; into that one kiss. There was also a promise in it; a promise for a future, and a new beginning.

“I’ve missed you,” Harry whispered when they pulled away.

“I’ve missed you too,” she said quite shakily, eyes still closed.

She kept her eyes closed, and Harry leaned in for another heart stealing kiss from the woman he loved.

**********

“Come on Harry, just eat it.”

“No. I’m sick of hospital food.” He made a sour look on his face. “Besides it looks like puke. This food will probably end up killing me.”

Hermione laughed. “You can be such a baby sometimes. It’s just mashed potatoes.”

“Yeah, mashed potatoes that looks like puke.” He crossed his arms across his chest. “I will not eat it.”

“Harry, you are going to get better, and so you are going to eat. Don’t make me force it into your mouth.”

He gave her a smug look. “You wouldn’t even dare.”

“I wouldn’t?” She smiled. “Honestly Potter, I thought you were my best friend. You’re supposed to know me.”

“I know you wouldn’t try and kill a man into eating puke.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Will you get that puke idea out of your head?! Here look, I’ll even eat it first.”

Hermione almost laughed at the situation. Here was Harry, with a defiant look on his face, and here she was, trying out food as though he was a three year old afraid of his medicine.

She took a spoonful of the potatoes and brought it up to her mouth. Hmmm, Harry was right. It does look like puke. Shaking her head, she stuck the spoon into her mouth.

Hermione wasn’t sure what her face looked like, but she hoped it was convincing Harry. She had to admit, it wasn’t the best tasting mashed potatoes she’s ever had. In fact if Harry weren’t right there watching her, she would have spit the whole thing out.

She swallowed and forced a smile. “It was good, Harry. Really.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yeah, and Voldemort is my best mate.”

She opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted. “Knock, knock.”

Hermione inwardly groaned when she heard her mother’s voice. She turned to see her mother and father coming in. “I hope we’re not interrupting anything,” her father said, looking back between his daughter and son-in-law.

“No. Harry was just gonna have his dinner,” Hermione informed, almost laughing again.

But Hermione could almost feel a chill reflecting off her parents, especially her mother. Sarah looked at Harry. “How are you?” she managed out as is she was talking to a child with a cold, causing Hermione to flinch.

“I’m doing fine, Sarah.” He shot a glance at Hermione. “Hermione didn’t tell me you guys were here.”

“No we just got in yesterday,” she said in a cool tone. Hermione decided it was time to change the subject. “Can I get you two anything to drink? Eat?” she said, looking down at the potatoes, catching Harry’s eyes and grinning.

“No, thanks.”

“Well we could always listen to the wizard radio, see if they’ve found anything new,” Harry said. “Hermione, do you—”

“No!” Hermione said quickly. “Let’s not listen to the radio. Besides it might be broken.” She didn’t want Harry to hear about Luna yet. “Why don’t we just sit and talk. We can have dinner. Mum, Dad I can get some food from the cafeteria. We can—”

“Hermione,” Harry cut in, half amused, half confused. “You’re babbling. What’s going on?”

“Nothing Harry, I’m just sick of the news. Why don’t we—”

Harry cut her off again. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “Did something happen? Another killing?” he looked around at all their faces. “Someone, answer me!”

Hermione sighed. Might as well get it over with now. “It’s Luna, Harry. She was killed early this morning.”

Harry closed his eyes. “No…”

That’s when Sarah decided to jump in. “Harry, we want Hermione to come back with us to Liverpool. She’ll be safer there.”

“Mother!” Hermione slammed her fork onto the plate. “How many times do we have to go through this?”

Her mother continued to look at Harry, her eyes and voice almost pleading. “We’re worried. Try and make her see reason.”

Hermione didn’t know if she could take her mother turning on her like this.

Harry looked over to Hermione. “It might be a good idea…”

She shook her head firmly, walking over and taking his hand. “I’m staying with you Harry. Don’t even think about trying to change my mind.”

He looked at her a bit longer, sighed and looked back at her parents. “You know Herm. When she makes her mind up, it stays that way. Besides with all the protection she has here, I doubt he’ll come back while we’re here.”

“Don’t be selfish,” David hissed. “You haven’t cared these past few months, and now that you need taking care of, you need her with you. She’s my daughter!”

“And she’s my wife, and believe me if I thought she’d be safer in Liverpool, I’d make her go.”

“What can you do to protect her now?” Sarah cried. “Why should we believe you?”

“I’ll make sure she’s protected, Sarah. I may not be in the best condition right now, but it’s my job to this… And I want to,” he added softly, tightening his grip on her hand.

Hermione turned to her red-eyed parents. “I’ve made my choice. The least I can do is stay here and take of him, after all he’s done for me.” She didn’t notice the way Harry’s expression turned to guilt, regret, and even sadness.

Her mother lost it. “But you’re our only daughter, our only child. I won’t let this be the last time we see you, Hermione,” she cried, burying her face into her husband’s chest.

Hermione closed her eyes in guilt. She had never thought as to how her parents may feel. They were scared. She walked over. “Mum,” she said softly. “Mum, I’m going to be okay. Please, just let me do this. I’ll call you every day.”

“Promise?” Sarah asked through her tears.

“I promise.” She hugged her mother and father goodbye.

David followed Sarah out the door. He stopped and turned around. “You know, Hermione. Those mashed potatoes look like puke.”

He closed the door, Hermione laughing and shaking her head. “It does, that it does…” she muttered.

She looked back at Harry. “What’s wrong?” she asked when she noticed his face.

“You don’t owe me anything,” he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. “You don’t have to stay and take care of me.”

“I want to.”

“Why?” It was a simple question, and there was a simple answer. But she was just too tired to dwell much on it…

“For the same reason you want to take care of me.”

**********

16. The Feelings Within

A/N- *cough* Yeah, this is when I feel stupid, lol. I knew I said I wouldn’t get another chapter up till after I got back, but… you guys are so lucky I had a soft spot and didn’t feel like making you all wait a month before the next chapter. I’ve never written so fast in my life. I feel really bad for my betas. Lots up typos, *whistles* So yes, this is another chapter, and I’m pretty sure there won’t be another one up before I go. Don’t even bother to ask for one, *wink*

Btw, I know you all have your suspicions on who the killer is. *laughs* They’re so funny to read for some reason. Anyways, I think by the next chapter you will all know who it is. That’s all I’m saying.

Thanks to Nitya, brilliant job!

And Matt, for his work on the other chap (forgot to thank him), and for his awesome work on this one!

Sorry for long A/N!

**********

Hermione was amazed at how quickly it took Harry to recover. The doctors couldn’t believe it as well. A few days after they were moved into the private room, he was walking around, got back to eating (though he was still refusing to eat the mashed potatoes). He would get headaches occasionally, but always insisted he was okay to go home.

“Well, Dr. Harvey?” Hermione asked after she stepped into the hall with him. “Is Harry okay to go home?”

“Well, he’s still not in the best condition as he could. But I would suggest you two find a smaller, quieter location than the hospital.”

Hermione held her breath and Dr. Harvey grinned at her. “Yes, I’m saying he can leave.”

**********

“Are you sure, Aunt Mari?” Hermione asked an hour later when Marina came to see them. Marina had just offered them to stay in a house she owned in Birmingham.

“Yes, I’m positive. Besides, I’m not using it now.” Marina handed her the key. “The address isn’t even listed, so I can’t see why it wouldn’t be safe. And there’s also another wizarding family that lives on the same street.” She handed her a slip of paper that had their names and address. “Now, tell Harry to go and recover fully.”

Hermione smiled and gave her a hug. “Thank you.”

**********

Hermione sighed happily as she and Harry walked into the flat. It almost felt like home. Almost…

But the one-story house was located in a friendly looking neighborhood, and that made it even more pleasant.

She picked up her suitcase and made her way around. The place was nice, having a dining room, kitchen, small living room and two bathrooms. But her favorite place was probably the bedroom, for there was a full size comfy looking bed, with a wool rug on both sides.

Harry came in behind her, walking over to the bed and laying his suitcase down on it.

No words needed to be spoken. Hermione placed her bag onto the bed as well and started to unpack, and Harry made his way out of the room to look around more.

Hermione didn’t know if she could remember the last time she felt this happy. It didn’t matter that they were in hiding. She was with Harry again, and the house fit in nicely.

After putting away a few of her things, Hermione moved onto Harry’s bag. She was in the left side compartment when her hand hit something hard and cold. She frowned as her hand closed around the object and pulled it out.

Her eyes widened… It was a gun. She stood there in shock and just stared at the gun with a blank expression. One question: Why did Harry have a gun in his suitcase?

She brought the gun down in front of her and stared ahead, right before she heard movement behind her.

“It’s a nice place,” Harry commented.

Hermione blinked. She turned around, and held up the gun. “What was this doing in your suitcase?”

He stared at the gun and then at her. He stretched out his arm. “Just give it to me, Hermione.”

She moved back a little and brought her hand down. “Tell me, why do you have one?” She hated guns. Why would Harry have one?

He sighed. “I felt we would be safe with it.”

Her eyebrow went up. “Safe? How? And why didn’t you tell me about it?” she demanded.

“Look, Hermione—”

“It’s a gun, Harry,” she said, raising her voice. “This thing almost got you killed. It’s not safe. “How could you bring it here?” She wondered if she was yelling loudly. Harry’s actions answered her question.

He brought his hands up to his head and wobbled a bit over to the bed. Hermione’s eyes widened. “Oh Harry… I’m sorry.” She dropped the gun onto the bed and felt the tears cascade done her cheeks.

Why do I always have to yell?

I’m defiantly NOT making anything better.

Harry doesn’t need to be yelled at.

She watched helplessly as Harry’s headache passed and he looked at her.

“You’re right; I should have told you I had it. I just thought it would be easier if you didn’t know.” He offered her a weak smile.

She looked down at it. “But… why?”

He sighed. “The killer is looking for you as it is. If he somehow ever managed to find us, I’m going to be prepared just like him.”

“How did you get it?” Please don’t say Ron.

“Terry. He suggested it.”

Hermione gave a dry laugh. She should have known…

Harry leaned over and took both her hands on his. He looked straight into her eyes. “I’m doing my best to protect you. I’m going to fight for you.”

He brought his hand up to stroke her cheek, and Hermione felt her eyes watering up again.

“You have to trust me. Trust me the way you once did,” he whispered, almost pleading.

She smiled softly in return, bringing her hand up to the one he had on her cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever stopped trusting you.”

Why did it have to take tragedy for her to realize that?

Their foreheads came together, and they just gazed into each others souls. After a few moments he kissed her nose and was about to get up before Hermione, afraid that she might break down, wrapped her arms his neck and held on tightly.

He hugged her back, running his hand through her hair for a few moments.

Hermione finally let go and gave him a tearful smile.

He reached behind her and took the gun, placing it in the nightstand drawer next to the bed. He looked back at her and took her hand. “Stay with me.”

She let him wrap his arms around her, and they laid back on the bed, not bothering for the blankets. For both of them, they were home…

**********

“Now, I want you three to eat up,” Marina said as she set the food out. “I don’t even care if you’re not hungry. I don’t want this food wasted.”

Ron rolled his eyes behind her head. “How old exactly is this food, Aunt Mari?”

She muttered something under her breath. “What was that?” Ron asked, hiding a smile.

She huffed. “I said, maybe since the funerals.”

Ron dropped the spoon he had in the soup. “What?” He looked down at the food. “It’s like a month old.”

“Stop being dramatic, Ronald,” she snapped. “It’s only a week.”

“Still…”

Remus laughed. “Not afraid of week old food are you, Ron?”

Ron glared at him and Percy laughed. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d turn away food.”

“Who said I was turning it away? I was just asking…” He turned back to the chicken soup and stared at it.

“Oh come of it, Ronald,” Marina said. “That soup is new. Everything else isn’t.”

Ron picked up the bread sticks. “You’re telling me. This bread is like a bone.” He started hitting it against the table. He looked back at them. “It’s not like I eat everything I see, you know.” He looked back at Marina. “Did you see Harry when you were at the hospital earlier?”

Marina nodded. “Yes for a short time. Actually, they released Harry yesterday.”

Percy looked up. “He’s out already?”

Marina laughed. “Well you know. Put Harry and hospital together, and you’ve got “back to perfection” fast.”

“So they’re back here?”

“No, they’re staying at my house in Birmingham.”

“I didn’t know you had a house in Birmingham,” Ron said as he hit the table with bread again. “Break… Where in Birmingham?”

Marina opened her mouth but quickly shut it. She shouldn’t have said anything. It didn’t matter that she trusted them; but it was just safer not to blab it to the whole. “Well, it doesn’t matter. They’re safe, and that’s what matters.”

“But Harry and Hermione… are doing better?” Percy asked.

She smiled. “Oh yes I would say that.”

Ron was still determined to break the bread. After one last hit on the table, he brought the bread up to Percy’s head, and brought the bread down on it.

“Ouch, bloody hell Ron,” Percy yelped as he reached up to his head.

Ron just smiled in satisfaction at the bread, which was now broken in two.

**********

Harry squinted into the darkness as he awoke. He looked down to see Hermione still in his arms, sleeping. He smiled and just watched her for a mew moments. He wanted to stare at her for the rest of his life.

After around five minutes, he finally got up slowly and gently so he wouldn’t wake her.

He opened the nightstand drawers and took the gun out, placing it in his pocket.

He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, thinking. The past few weeks had been crazy. One day, everything was peaceful (at least in the wizarding world, maybe not between him and Hermione), and the next day, everything was upside down.

One moment Hermione didn’t seem to want him around, and the next moment she was going against her parents’ wishes and staying with him. Women…

Hermione… He didn’t now what he’d do without her. He was happy things were getting better between them. But there was still one thing that kept everything from being perfect.

Cho… Hermione had accused him over and over again about their relationship, but he had always denied it, thinking he was being unfairly punished.

He thought back the late nights he would spend with Cho, talking. He would tell her secrets, and not always the nicest things about Hermione. He even went as far and said he was unhappy in his marriage.

He had just been a little pleased that Cho gave him her attention. Yes, she was still pretty, but he convinced himself that they were just friends.

But he now realized that the “just friends” relationship he had with Cho had hurt Hermione deeply. It wounded her as a woman, his best friend, and as his wife.

How would he have reacted if he had caught Hermione in, God forbid, another blokes arms (besides Ron or Remus)? And if she would have said nothing had been wrong about it, would he have believed her? Especially if she had been spending a lot of her time with the bloke.

Then Harry understood. It didn’t matter if nothing physical had happened between him and Cho. But, and this thought felt like a knife through his heart, it had been heading down that path.

Sure, he had never wanted that to happen. He loved only Hermione. But it could have happened. He didn’t even want to think about what could have happened if Hermione hadn’t walk in on them that night.

His heart filled with grief, regret, and guilt. He had to make things right with Hermione.

**********

All was quiet when he walked slowly around the house. Careful not to make any noise, he slowly opened the door, even placing a silencing charm on it.

He walked into her office and looked around. Where is it? It has to be here somewhere!

Opening the drawers from her desk he began to search. When he got to the bottom one, he found what he was looking for. Taking out folders and files, he looked through them…

On a small post-it: 42 South Street Avenue, Birmingham.

Gotcha…

**********

Marina walked downstairs and into the kitchen, looking around every so often. While she had been upstairs, she had thought she had heard movement from downstairs. But she had quickly shaken the thought away, knowing every little sound was making her jump.

She took her coffee mug from the counter and walked back over to the stairs, but something to her left caught her eye.

She hesitantly walked over to her office room and frowned at the open door. I thought I had you closed. Still frowning, she walked up and with one quick look around the room, closed the door.

She turned to make her way up the stairs when she stopped and her heart froze for a second.

Spinning around sharp and fast, she sprinted back to the door and pushed it open. Her heart did stop and a nightmare came true.

Her files were out on the desk… ones she knew she had already put away.

**********

Coughing she called through the flames. “Fred Weasley,” Marina managed out.

The younger woman on the other side looked startled for a moment, but nodded and hurried off to find Fred.

Marina was in a panic. Ever since she saw the files lying out on the desk, and read what they were, she received chills. She kept looking over her shoulder as she went to the fireplace. She had the biggest gut feeling that it was no ordinary break-in.

“Aunt Mari?” came Fred’s worried voice from outside her thoughts. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

She wasted no time. “Fred, he was here. He came in and went into my office. I didn’t realize it until it was too late. Actually he came here while I was upstairs. Fred —”

“Whoa, Aunt Mari, calm down,” Fred said gently. “Who was there?”

Are you really daft? “The killer, Fred. The killer was in my house about fifteen minutes ago!” she watched as Fred’s concerned face immediately became alert.

He came closer to the fire. “Are you sure?” he asked urgently.

“Of course I’m sure. I’ve been having panic attacks for the past five minutes now.” She was also getting pains her legs and back from the way she was sitting, but she tried to ignore it.

She saw that he was torn in emotions. “But, Aunt Mari, how do you know it was the killer? It could have just been a random house robber.”

She could almost feel sorry for him. “I know it was him, Fred. Not a random killer would have taken what he took.”

“What did he take?” he asked in a hushed whisper.

She looked straight into his eyes. “My Birmingham house address… Where Harry and Hermione are staying.”

**********

Harry walked out of the kitchen. After a lot of thinking, he had been ready to go into the bedroom, wake Hermione up and declare his love and devotion forever and ever. Then just the way that sounded to him sounded cheesy, and how good would it be if he were to wake her up from deep slumber land? Not ideal…

Harry looked up when the lights flickered. They kept it up for a few seconds, and then went out completely. He frowned and turned around to the light switch, flicking it. Nothing happened.

Great, why did I leave my wand in the bedroom?

He stretched his arms out as he tried to find his way to the bedroom, when he heard a noise from outside the door.

Somebody was jiggling the door handle and trying to open it. Suddenly they stopped, and after a few seconds, the doorknob turned slowly.

Harry pulled his gun out. He wanted to run to tell Hermione to get out, but it would be too late by then. He needed to face his enemy.

The door opened all the way, and though it was dark, Harry could make out a figure in the doorway. He stayed still and waited. The figure slowly made a few steps forward. It was obvious he didn’t want to make any noise.

Harry knew he had to speak. “Stop right there.” He was amazed at the calmness he felt in his voice.

The figure did stop, and suddenly. Then, out of luck, a ray of light from the moon above shown through the window, and let Harry see what the man was doing, for at that time, he had gone for his gun.

Harry didn’t even think, and pressing his fingers around the trigger, he shot.

The sound blasted through the air and the man staggered backwards. Harry heard Hermione scream from the bedroom. “Hermione, get out! Get out now!” he yelled, hoping she wouldn’t be stupid and stay.

She didn’t respond, but Harry didn’t dwell on it for at that moment, the man lunched onto him. He knocked Harry to the ground and at that Harry could feel blood seeping from his right arm where he had the intruder.

Harry pounded his arm against the man’s right arm, and he groaned in pain, pulling back slightly, giving Harry the advantage. The moonlight had gone now, so it was almost impossible to see anything.

But the other man was not going to be put off. What was unbeknownst to Harry, the killer wanted to end this night with more light. He had brought a small canteen of gasoline, and one single match.

Harry watched as all of a sudden the room burst into flames, trapping Harry from getting out the front door. He could see through the flames the door opening and a hooded figure running out.

Harry ran back into the bedroom, but Hermione was already gone, and the window was opened. He climbed through and out the window. “Hermione!”

**********

Hermione didn’t hear Harry first scream her name. After she heard Harry’s order to get out of the house, she did, and fast.

Climbing out of the window she began running down the street fast, just in case. She then remembered what Aunt Mari said, about there being another wizarding family here. Still running, she reached in her pocket and dug around for the paper. Pulling it out, she read. Seth and Nicole Bromers. 50 South Street Avenue, Birmingham. 50… She looked wildly around and saw that it was the next house.

She raced up the steps and began pounding on the door. Please be home… please be home.

The door opened suddenly, and Hermione caught herself staring into a woman with light blue eyes and blonde hair. “Yes, may I help you?” she asked politely but curiously.

Hermione took a breath. “Are you Nicole Bromers?” she asked desperately. Please say that you are.

“Yes, I am, but…” The woman’s eyes widened. “Why, you’re Hermione Potter, Harry Potter’s wife, aren’t you? What are you doing here?”

“Please, I need to use your fireplace. The killer… he’s here. I just left him alone with Harry. I need to get in touch with The Ministry.” Hermione’s eyes brimmed with tears as she thought about Harry.

Nicole looked shocked. “The Aurors’ wives killer is here?” She pulled Hermione’s arm and almost yanked her in. “My husband isn’t home right now, but come this way to the fireplace.”

Nicole led her over and handed Hermione some floo powder. Hermione bent down on her knees and threw it in, only her head in the fireplace. “Auror Department: The Ministry of Magic!”

**********

“Hermione! Hermione!”

Hermione rushed outside at the sound of Harry’s voice. She ran over to him and met him halfway in the street. “Harry, thank God you’re okay.”

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and pulled her to him tight. “Thank God he didn’t get you,” he murmured in her hair.

“I flooed Fred and the others. They’ll be here soon,” she informed him, knowing Harry needed to know.

But he kept his grip on her, and they just stayed there in the streets, not wanting to let go ever again.

**********

17. Betrayals?

A/N- I’m back, aren’t you glad? *lol* Well, here is one of the final chapters of Private Justice. There should be around two more, maybe three. Not much H/Hr in this chapter; this is a “plot” chapter. Oh and you know how I said in the last A/N, I “think” you’ll find out who the killer is in this chapter? Remember that I used the word “think” and I did just that. I “thought” and I’m eating those words. And that’s all I’m saying.

Nitya, thanks for the beta work!

Thanks for all the reviews. I’m overwhelmed by them all… *faints*

**********

When is this going to end?

Fred didn’t know how much more he was going to be able to take. Aunt Mari had showed him her files, proving that her Birmingham address had been taken, and their nightmare was proved real when Hermione flooed him.

When is this going to end?

**********

“I don’t know how you manage it,” Fred said to Harry with amusement. “You have more lives than a cat.”

Harry smirked. “I try.” He quickly went serious. “Look, Fred. You all put the fire out quickly. I shot this guy on the arm, there was a blood trail, so—”

“We know, we know. We’ll find the blood type.”

Harry turned away for a moment, then looked back with serious eyes. “I saw what he was wearing, Fred. It was a long wizards robe, but under that was an Auror’s shirt…” His eyes turned accusing. “ How long have you known it was an Auror?”

Fred bit his lip, almost cursing himself. This wasn’t the way he had planned to tell Harry.

“Well?” Harry demanded, knowing he probably wasn’t going to like the answer.

“We—I found out the day you got shot.” I really need to get back to my joke shop.

“What?! You’ve known that long and you didn’t tell me?” Harry cried out.

“Um… yeah.” Just think of Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes...

“Don’t you think it would have been helpful and somewhat easier if I knew? If we Aurors knew?”

“Well, it might have been…But I didn’t want to cause a stir in case I was wrong.” Skiving Snackboxes….

Harry took deep breaths and looked straight into Fred’s eyes. “Do you know who the killer is?”

Fred sighed. “Harry, if I knew who it was, do you think we’d still be in this bloody mess?” Bulbadox Powder…

“You need to tell me something. There have to be at least some Aurors you’re suspicious of.”

“You’re not gonna like them, Harry.” Frizzing Whizbees…

“Fred… I need to know!”

They stared at each other for a long time. Fred wanted to tell Harry right then, but he couldn’t…

“Fine, but I want Hermione with us too.”

**********

“But, what were his exact words, Harry?” Hermione asked worriedly as Harry led her back to Fred at the Ministry. At first Harry had been hesitant in coming back, but knowing the killer wouldn’t show his face with a bullet wound, and the fact that there were more powerful wizards in the Ministry than Aurors made it a little more comforting.

“Look, he just said that he wanted to talk to us both.”

“Because…?” Hermione stopped, causing Harry to stop as well and turn around to face her.

“Because of who the killer is.”

Hermione took a sharp intake of breath. “He knows?”

Harry shook his head. “No, but he has his suspicions… It’s an Auror, Hermione,” he said quietly, looking into her eyes.

Hermione stood there, shocked. She blinked a few times. “An Auror?” she said hoarsely. “Are you sure?”

He nodded numbly.

Hermione, still in shock, leaned back against the nearest wall. She stood there thinking. “I never—I mean… out of all possibilities—that means…” she trailed off, not wanting to say it. It was one thing to say it was a wizard, it was another to say it was someone who worked with her husband.

“I know how you feel,” Harry said, walking over to her. “I would have preferred if it was some former Death Eater that just wanted revenge. That I can live with.”

Hermione tried to force a laugh and didn’t succeed very well.

Harry took a hold of her hand. “Let’s go and talk to Fred.”

**********

Fred sat across from Harry and Hermione. In fact, he kept staring at them, saying nothing even after Hermione asked him who were the suspects.

This was it. The moment he had been dreading. Actually he was glad he narrowed down the suspect list, but knowing who was on that list and that he had to tell these two people made him sick.

“Fred?” Hermione said with concern. “Are you okay?”

Fred shook his thoughts away and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. First, I just have one question… Did you tell anyone where you were staying?”

“No one,” Hermione answered. “Only Aunt Mari and Angelina knew.”

“Yeah I’ve talked to her. Let me tell you, it was weird questioning my wife and her aunt.” Harry and Hermione chuckled.

“Aunt Mari,” Fred continued, “said she told some Aurors that you two were staying at her house.”

This is it, Harry thought. “Who were they?”

“Well, the ones who she was talking with were Ron, Remus and Percy. There were other Aurors in the room at the time. Ron and Percy were the only ones who asked where the house was, but she wouldn’t tell.” He rolled his eyes.

“Ha, well you can rule them out. Don’t even think about them,” Harry said firmly.

“Harry—” Fred began but was cut off.

“No, Fred, you shouldn’t even think it was any of those three. Remus has been like a father to me these past years, Ron has been my best friend forever, and Percy…well…you just can’t blame them!”

“Do you think I want too? Trust me, it’s not fun to think one of my brothers or Remus who have been killing people.”

“They aren’t!”

“Harry, Fred, stop!” Hermione cried. “We don’t need another war.” She looked back at Fred. “Ron didn’t do it. He was with me and Lavender at the hospital when Luna died.”

“Did he leave at all during the night?” As he asked, Fred felt pain and guilt.

“No, I’m positive.”

“Not even when you slept?”

“I slept a little, but…” Hermione broke off, remembering when she had woken up that night… Ron had been coming back in… “No…” she said faintly.

“What is it?” Harry asked.

She blinked. “He had been out, but just went to the cafeteria. I woke up as he came back in…”

Fred closed his eyes in frustration. Why did his brothers always look guilty?! He thought back to the night they had caught Percy sneaking to Hermione’s house. He hadn’t paid much attention to it before, but thinking back, Percy had been wearing a blue shirt under his jumper…

“Remember that night when we staked out at your house?” Fred asked. They nodded.

“Well,” he said. “Percy had come up in a sneaky way, and it’s possible he had been wearing his Auror shirt.”

They blinked.

“Again, on that same night, Ron was caught snooping around your store. Both of them claimed to be checking on Hermione.”

“Come on, Fred. You’re accusing your brothers?” Hermione said with shock.

“I’m not accusing them! But my brothers always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He grunted.

“But Ron and Percy were both on duty when I was shot,” Harry said slowly.

“But no one can confirm that. Where Percy said he was, nobody saw him, and Ron came into the Ministry all sweaty, saying he had been jogging.”

“Fred,” Hermione said, not wanting to believe her ears. “Ron goes running a lot. It’s not unusual.”

“He isn’t supposed to go running when he’s on duty… Hermione—”

“No, Fred. You can’t accuse Ron! He’s not a cold blooded killer. Same for Percy,” she said.

“You aren’t making this any easier for me,” Fred said wearily.

Harry cut in. “Alright, here’s one way to find out. He’ll have a bullet wound on his shoulder. Not even with magic will he be able to make my bullet go away.”

**********

Ron shot up in bed. He blinked to get adjusted to the dark room, and wondered what had woken him up and realized it was knocking.

He tumbled around with the sheets, and in the middle of doing so, he fell off the bed.

The knocking grew louder and cursing, Ron crawled over to the door. “I’m coming,” he growled out.

But before he reached the handle, it opened from the outside, hitting Ron square in the face. “OW, BLOODY HELL!”

He looked up to see Terry and Dennis. Terry looked serious but Dennis looked sheepish. “Sorry ’bout that, Ron. We didn’t know if you were in the house.”

Ron rolled his eyes. “I just called out saying I was coming.”

“Why did it take you so long to answer?” Terry asked suspiciously, looking down at him.

Ron pointed to the sheets. “I was sleeping if you must know.”

“Why aren’t you at work?”

“What’s with the questions?” Ron asked, frowning. “Look, I cut my hand at work and had Remus clean it up. I just decided to come home early and get some sleep.”

Terry and Dennis exchanged looks, and then Dennis looked down at his feet.

“What?” Ron asked curiously.

“We have to take you back to the Ministry, Ron,” said Terry, slowly.

Ron, confused, stood up. “Why?”

“For questioning.”

**********

“Miss Lavender! Miss Lavender,” Koba squeaked.

Lavender smiled over at the small house-elf standing in the doorway. “What is it?”

“It’s Mr. Weasley, ma’am.”

Lavender looked over in surprise. “Ron’s here?” She started walking over past Koba.

“Yes, in the fireplace.”

Lavender rushed over in excitement, wanting to see Ron again. Ever since the hospital she had been thinking about him a lot. Her excitement died when she saw his face. “Ron, are you okay?”

“Not really. I need a lawyer, Lav. Terry and Dennis are here, and they’re about to escort me to the Ministry,” he said with obvious disgust.

She frowned. “Why?”

“They’re pinning the murders against me.”

“What?! That’s crazy!”

“Tell that to them. Can you meet me down there?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there. Don’t say anything till I get there.” She moved over to get her shoes.

“I won’t. Mum always said if I didn’t have anything nice to say, I shouldn’t say anything at all.”

**********

“Hermione, you don’t honestly believe Ron is the killer?!” Lavender demanded to her friend.

“Lavender, please don’t get down my throat,” Hermione said quietly.

Lavender plopped down into the chair. “I just can’t believe you think he could be guilty.”

“I never said I thought he was guilty,” she replied defensively. “I told them he was with us the night Luna was killed. But when I woke and he was coming back in…Everyone else is saying he could have gone to her father’s house.”

“That’s all bull—”

“Lavender, calm down,” Harry said. “I shot the killer on the arm. Ron doesn’t have a wound.”

Hermione stood up shakily, wrapping her arms around herself. Lavender knew Hermione was crying…

“Lav, I know you’re upset. This isn’t easy for me or Harry.”

“So you think he’s guilty?”

Husband and wife shared a look. “No…”

**********

“You are all trying to tell me that this cut mark on Ron’s hand, is actually a bullet wound?” Lavender looked around at Fred, Terry and Dennis. She shook her head, smiling. “Is that the best you guys can do?”

“Stop, Lavender,” Dennis muttered.

“I told them,” said Ron. “I cut my hand around seven. Remus saw it happen, and then I went straight home.”

Lavender saw Terry pop out, obviously now going to find Remus. She looked at Fred. “There is no evidence to prove he’s the killer.”

“He left the hospital room that night,” Fred said, wanting to get the night over with.

“You told them that?” Ron accused her, his eyes wide.

“No, Hermione did. Besides, he wasn’t gone long…I didn’t sleep that well last night, I heard him…”

Ron rounded back on his older brother. “Fred, come on. Think about what you are saying!”

At that moment, Terry popped back in. “Just talked to Remus. Said he did see the cut hand. But when I asked him if Ron had left the station before that, he didn’t know.”

“Duh, because I didn’t,” said Ron with irritation.

“Ron, keep quiet,” Lavender ordered.

Ron ignored her. “I have O positive blood. What does the killer have?”

“We don’t know yet,” said Terry. “But we will soon.”

“Good, because I want to go home and get to bed.”

**********

Lavender walked into Ron’s room. He looked up when he heard her. “Did they find the blood type?”

She nodded. “It’s… O positive. The other one was Harry’s.”

He sunk into the chair and buried his face.

“Look Ron, your blood type is very common…”

Ron snorted. “Yeah…they’re taking me, aren’t they?”

With her eyes full of tears, she nodded. He looked straight into her eyes. “You believe me, don’t you?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Yes I do. And they will in the end.”

**********

Harry and Hermione waited outside, waiting until Ron came out. Lavender told them a little, but of course, it was all very vague. Harry still couldn’t believe Fred was doing this. Hermione tried to calm him.

“It will be fine,” she said. “We know Ron didn’t do it. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

“But even Fred believes it,” he said scowling.

She winced slightly inside. “Yeah… Fred wasn’t always the smartest guy in school, but he’s not usually influenced so easily to believe one of his brothers to be a killer… a git maybe, but not a killer.”

“That’s why I’m worried.”

And Hermione was worried too. Not that she thought Ron was actually the killer…but that everyone else would believe it and he would be sent to Azkaban.

The two of them looked up when the door opened with Ron in front, pale faced and a group of other Aurors behind him. They jumped to their feet.

“This is all stupid, Terry,” Harry shot out right away. “We told you it wasn’t Ron.”

“Well,” Ron snapped. “They didn’t believe you.” He turned to Hermione, glaring. “You told them I left the hospital that night? How could you say something like that?”

“I didn’t say that you had left the hospital,” she cried. “I just said that when I woke up you were coming back into the room; they twisted my words around.” She glared at Terry who looked back at her calmly.

“He has a blood wound on his hand,” he said, bringing Ron’s hand out and showing it to them.

Hermione’s eyes widened and Harry felt his mouth go dry. Hermione recovered first. “Terry, it doesn’t even look like a bullet wound.” But even as she said it, she had doubts. And she hated herself for it.

Terry looked at Harry. “You could have been mistaken about where you shot the guy. It was dark.”

Ron’s face was as red as his hair. “It’s a bloody cut! Remus will tell you! You still believe me, don’t you Harry,” he asked his best friend.

Harry blinked, and looked at Ron, confused.

Ron didn’t know what felt worse. Being accused as the Auror wives’ killer, or having his best friend believe it. “I don’t believe this.”

**********

A/N- *runs in when curses die down a bit* Don’t hate me! You’ll regret it! *like a rocket she’s out of there*

18. Just Love Me

A/N: Alright, alright I know I was bad. Sorry! There were a lot of reasons though why this is so late. First, in the beginning it was a lack of motivation. I didn’t feel like writing. Then it was a deal I made with another author that I wouldn’t update till she updated. Then it was the fact that my computer (DONKEY) had a virus, so we had to shut everything down and I lost this, so then I had to re-write it. And then I had to wait for one of my beta’s to get it back to me. *cries* This is too much for me.

Short chapter, but it answers a lot of your questions. You H/Hr’s will like this chapter, I think.

Nitya, thanks for great beta work.

**********

“We can’t find him, Fred.”

Fred’s heart sank at Dennis’s words. First, it was possible Ron could be sent to Azkaban, and now no one could find Percy.

Fred hoped he had done the right thing with Ron, though deep down inside he knew it wasn’t him. But he didn’t know what else to do anymore. They questioned Remus, Dean…the other Aurors that had been in the room with Aunt Mari, Ron, Percy and Remus…but Ron was the only one who came up “guilty.” His mum would torment him for the rest of his days if she ever found out if Ron was actually sent to Azkaban.

“He’s still not at his house?” Fred asked.

Dennis shook his head. “We were going to “break in,” but then we started to feel weird and guilty since he is our boss…We’re going over to his house again just to make sure, then we’ll come back to get you before…Fred?”

Fred looked to Dennis’s mournful eyes. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry about all this.”

**********

“We swear Fred, we don’t know where he is,” Blaise said firmly. Neville and Remus nodded in agreement.

“You don’t have any idea where he might be?” Fred asked.

“The only place I would say would be his house,” Neville suggested, glaring at Fred. “As was Ron, too.”

Fred looked away and Blaise looked back and forth between them. “What do you mean? What does Ron have to do with this?”

“They’re pining the murders against Ron,” Remus answered, growling.

“WHAT?!”

“It’s bloody ridiculous,” Neville declared. “Fred, how could you?”

For the thousandth time that day, Fred wished the floor would swallow him whole. He didn’t need this; he was already beating himself up about it. “Look, just forget all about that,” he said. “I need to find Percy.”

“I haven’t seen him since late last night,” Remus said. “He said he wasn’t feeling well, and went home…at least he said he was.”

“Are you sure?”

“Look, if we see him, we’ll let you know, okay?” Neville snapped with irritation.

Terry and Dennis walked over. “Fred, it’s the last time. He’s not at home,” Terry said. “We’re going in.”

**********

“I feel a little wrong about this,” Fred admitted as he walked around Percy’s house with the others.

“It’s not your fault that your brothers get themselves into trouble,” Terry said.

Fred frowned. “It’s usually me and George who get into trouble.”

Before Terry could answer, there was a yell from above. “Fred, Terry, up here!”

Turning to the sound, they realized it was coming from the attic.

Everyone else sprinted up as well. “What is it?” Fred asked when they all got up there.

William turned his head. “Look…”

Fred’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. The room was covered with red roses; the scent carried throughout the room. But the object that stood out the most was what was in the middle of the room… A large moving picture of Penelope Clearwater, Percy’s Hogwarts sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, who had died in the last Death Eater attack a little over two years ago.

Ginny’s words came back to him… ‘He said… ‘I’m sorry Pen. I’m so sorry… please forgive me…’

Fred’s whole mouth went dry and head went numb. ‘Pen’ must have been Penelope…

“Fred…” Terry’s voice sounded faint, as if he too were figuring it out. He looked almost white as he stared down at something on the table.

Fred came up and looked down, and a lump rose rapidly through his throat.

It was a list of women. Parvati, Pansy, Ginny, Hermione and Luna. Parvati, Pansy, and Luna were marked out, but Ginny and Hermione…

It was quiet in the room, everyone in evident shock. Fred didn’t know how to take it. He was glad it was actually not Ron, but knowing that he actually accused his younger brother and that the killer was indeed his older brother…

NO!

“I’m sorry,” Terry said quietly. Then he turned to the others. “Go find him.”

**********

Percy Weasley stumbled into the old, abandoned barn. The charm to clean up the bullet wound had worked somewhat, but now he was getting some kind of aftereffect, making him sometimes dizzy, and a little drowsy.

He hadn’t expected Harry to also have a gun, or for Hermione to get away again. Now he wished he hadn’t left Harry alive. Harry would identify him, and though he knew everyone would soon find out, he wasn’t quite ready yet.

Ginny was still alive, and Hermione always seemed to get away. But it wouldn’t stay that way.

Neville, Blaise, and Dean had all felt the pain he experienced that tragic night…Draco and Harry hadn’t, and they had to…they had to know.

His work was not over.

**********

Hermione peeked through the curtains from the safe house. It was a cloudy night, just as cloudy as her mind and her life. Nothing seemed right anymore. Ron, Harry, the Ministry. Things were falling apart around her, and she felt hopeless.

She looked over her shoulder where she saw Harry speaking with another Auror, Neil Jefferys. There were three others there too, all who were “guarding” them.

She didn’t want to know what they were talking about; she was sick and tired of finding things out. I just need a good night’s sleep for a change, she thought.

Walking away from the window, she made her way to the bedroom. “Harry,” she called, interrupting the conversation. “I’m going to go to bed now.”

He nodded. “Alright.”

She sighed as she closed the door behind her. She had wanted to tell Harry…tell him how she felt, that she still loved him and was going to give their marriage another chance.

But lying down on the bed, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to wait up. And after a few minutes, she was fast asleep.

**********

Harry watched Hermione’s retreating form, wishing he could follow her. But he needed to deal with this…

“What about Percy’s attic?” he asked Neil when he cleared his thoughts.

Neil sighed. “He had a big picture of Penelope Clearwater up.”

“What’s so strange about that? He loved her.”

“There was a list, Harry…a list of Auror wives…three of them already marked off and there are two others…”

Harry’s breath hitched in his throat…so it was Percy…the man Harry had known since he was eleven. His best friend’s brother…

“Why?” was all he said.

“Do you remember anything about the night Penelope died?”

Harry sat down on the couch and did try… He had been in Auror training at that time. “Well, I remember Penelope getting in touch with us, saying she was at an old, rundown barn just outside of London. She had been tracking down Death Eaters. There were five of us at the department that night - Draco, Neville, Blaise, and Dean. Her messages said she needed backup…”

He closed his eyes, remembering he hadn’t wanted to remember that night again. “We got there as soon as we could, we really did. But it was too late…we were too late.”

***Flashback***

“This is the place, isn’t it?” Neville asked as they ran up to the barn.

“Well, do you see any other rundown barns?” Draco answered sarcastically.

Right then they saw the barn go ablaze, and following was a woman’s scream from inside the barn…Penelope’s…

***Flashback***

“Draco and I went into the barn in search of her – we found her in the corner of the loft area. Bringing her out, we realized she had been killed with the Avada Kedavra curse…only the Death Eaters waited so she had a good feel of the fire before they casted it,” he finished in a whisper.

It was silent in the room. No one else knew what had happened that night. Nobody ever wanted to talk about it.

“Percy had been livid at first,” Harry continued, pain in his voice. “It had been our job to protect her, he said.” He shook his head. “We were upset about it. At first we blamed ourselves for it… but there was nothing we could have done.” He looked back up at them. “Penelope knew the risks, and she knew what she was doing.”

They all knew then, why certain Auror wives were being targeted, and why it was Percy. “So, he’s getting revenge on us,” Harry said, stating the obvious.

Neil nodded. “It appears that way. He wants the ones who didn’t save Penelope to know what it feels like to lose the woman they love in a fire.”

Ashley, one of the other Aurors, looked confused. “But then why the use of a gun? If he wanted to keep them in the fire, why not just use the killing curse?”

Harry thought. “Influence is what I’m getting.” They all still looked confused. “Arthur Weasley was sort of obsessed with Muggle things. Perhaps that started to rub off on Percy. It could also be to throw us off track in the beginning. No one would expect a wizard to use a Muggle gun.”

“But what about Ginny?” Ashley asked. “Why would he kill his own sister?”

That was something Harry still didn’t know…

**********

Harry slowly opened the door to the bedroom. Careful not to make any noise, he tiptoed over to Hermione’s side of the bed, and smiled down at her sleeping face.

Kneeling down besides the bed, he stared at her. He wanted to keep staring at her for the rest of his life. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

He thought back to what was going on around them. Percy was out to kill Hermione… They managed to escape every time so far, but how long would that last? How many more times would they escape?

I can’t lose her again. I won’t let her get taken away from me.

Without thinking, he reached his hand up to his wife’s cheek and caressed it softly. She had been through so much the past months, and he was still amazed at how much control she had on herself.

“I love you, Hermione,” he whispered. “I love you so much.”

He bent his head down onto the bed, his hand still on her cheek. It wasn’t till after a few moments that he felt a hand cover over his, and a familiar voice echo his words. “I love you too, Harry.”

His head almost shot off the bed. Hermione’s face was smiling, though her eyes were filled with tears…tears of happiness.

He felt his eyes also fill up. “Forgive me, Hermione.”

“For what?”

“Things might have gotten worse with Cho, and I didn’t realize it. I never—”

She placed a finger on his lips. “Shhh, stop. I understand. And I’m sorry too. I was being stubborn and should have—”

He shook his head. “No, you were right though. I had no business being that close to Cho. I should have realized that sooner.”

She looked down at the mattress. This was the moment she had been waiting for, right? When they were separated, she had wanted Harry to admit he had been wrong…but now it didn’t seem important anymore. In a way, they were both to blame.

Harry took her hand. “I don’t want our marriage to end, Hermione. Give me another chance… I love you.”

Taking a deep breath, afraid that a sob might break through, Hermione looked back up, smiling even more. “I forgave you, Harry. When we were at the hospital. I told myself that I would make this work…you haven’t lost me.”

Reaching his hand behind her neck, he slowly brought her head down and kissed her. The kiss told the other what they already knew – that the other was willing to fight for them – however long that would be.

**********

Percy was walking through a dreamlike tunnel. He didn’t know how he got there, or where it ended. He walked on until he saw a figure of a person in front of him. Squinting, he was able to make out the image of his one and only love.

“Pen… Penelope?” he whispered, afraid she would disappear if he spoke any louder.

She was standing there, a small smile playing on her face and reached for him. He went to her gladly and held her in his arms. For the past two years, this is what he wanted; to hold her again.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered into her hair.

She didn’t answer him, and he pulled back. She was looking at him, but her face was one of sadness…and regret…disappointment?

“Don’t worry about it, Penny,” he said. “I’ll make them pay. Three of them have, and I’ll make Draco and Harry suffer as I have. I’ll avenge you.”

She started to move away, his hands losing his grasp on her. She shook her head slowly.

He didn’t understand. “No… No Penny don’t leave me… don’t leave me here alone again. Not yet…”

He pleaded and kept reaching out for her, but she was still moving away…

She’s upset with me. She wants me to kill them. She’s disappointed that I haven’t yet.

He kept his eyes on her until she vanished, leaving him. With a sudden jerk, he realized he was back in the barn. He wasn’t in the tunnel anymore…he was alone…

He looked back at where he had seen her. “Tonight, Pen…tonight I will be with you again forever.”

**********

19. Because I Love You

A/N: Here’s my excuse for the lateness of this chapter: I was lazy.

Enjoy!

**********

Percy wondered if the others had already figured out that it was him. How many were out looking for him?

It was a risk. He didn’t know how bright his plan was, but he made his way over to his house anyway, careful not to use any magic at this point.

When he made his way up to his house, he came across what he wanted. There were Aurors out on his front lawn, talking. Apparently, they weren’t afraid of being heard.

“I never would have guessed it was him,” one of them said, and Percy knew it was Jim Treevy.

“Why would you? He was your boss,” another one said, and because of the darkness, Percy couldn’t tell who he was.

“Well,” Jim said, “according to Terry, Percy is…” he looked around, almost as if he was afraid to say the next thing. “They say he’s crazy.”

Percy heard the surprised murmurs between his men. They were all thinking the same…Crazy? Percy Weasley?

Ha! He thought to himself… They had no idea about anything…they were just a bunch of idiotic wankers…

“Yeah…and he was killing the wives because of some kind of grudge between the husbands…something like that,” Jim told them, looking as though he was proud that he knew so much of something so important.

Percy almost had the nerve to laugh out right there. Prats…

“But Harry Potter has been able to save himself and his wife all those times,” another voice said with admiration.

Percy felt his insides turn with disgust. They thought Harry was so great – everybody thought that he was so great.

Jim nodded. “He is something…being able to defeat Who-Know-Who at seventeen, and now this too…”

“Where is he anyway?” the awed man asked.

Percy leaned a bit closer. This is what he wanted to know.

“I overheard Fred telling Terry…” they all leaned a bit closer. “He’s staying at Minister Bones’ old mansion…”

If Jim said anything more, Percy wouldn’t know. And if any of the men had looked over to the left side of the house earlier, they would have seen a figure of a man. But now there was no one.

**********

“Why do you have to go?” Hermione asked Harry, panic rising in her voice.

Harry sighed at the question his wife had asked for the fourth time in the last ten minutes. He looked to Fred and signaled with his eyes for him to explain this time.

“Hermione,” Fred said. “We want Percy to think we’re somewhere else.”

Her eyes became wide with alert. “You mean Percy knows we’re here?”

“No, but we don’t want to lead any reason for him to ever find us here anyway. So that’s why we’re going back to your store… and let him come to us there.”

“But how would he know you’re there?”

“Percy was the head of the Auror department. He’s always known a few tricks to find out what Aurors are planning,” he said. “It’s kind of like a Muggle police scanner, only we decided to use the name “Tracker.” We’ll let it slip on there that you two are staying at the shop.”

Harry smiled at Hermione, and reached over to her hand and pulled her down onto his lap. “It will be okay,” he assured her. “Just trust us.”

She looked into his eyes, and saw them filled with love – a love that she knew had always been there for her. “I know,” she whispered, her forehead falling down onto his.

Fred rolled his eyes behind her. Just a week ago, who would have thought he’d be seeing this scene playing in front of him by Harry and Hermione. He hated to interrupt them…

“Harry?” He did so anyway.

“Yeah?” he asked absently, still looking at Hermione.

“Are you coming?”

After what looked like a struggle for him, Harry finally tore his forehead and gaze away from Hermione. “Oh…yes.”

Hermione got off his lap, though her hand was still holding his. “I want to go too.”

Harry looked at her. “No way. You’re staying here. I’m not letting you near him.”

“And I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

“It’s too dangerous for you.”

She folded her arms. “Dangerous? After everything I’ve gone through in the past while we were at school…You never had much of a problem with me being involved then.”

“Yes, I did. You just never listened.”

“So why do you think I’ll listen now? We’re both adults—”

“Actually,” Fred cut in. “Harry’s right. You shouldn’t come.”

“Why not?”

“Percy’s looking for you, Hermione. Not Harry, you. He’s desperate, he wants you dead.”

Harry and Hermione both winced. It was still too weird to think that it was Percy who was trying to kill her.

“And,” Fred continued, “we’re trying to make Percy think that you’re somewhere else. So, if we’re trying to do that, you coming with us wouldn’t make any sense,” he finished off with an amused smile.

Hermione just glared back in mock annoyance.

Harry grabbed Hermione’s hand and led her to the window. She looked at him while he just stared out the window, his face unreadable. The men behind them were still talking to each other, but Hermione didn’t pay attention. She knew Harry needed to talk to her.

Suddenly, she found Harry’s arms around her, her head against his chest. “I know you may not understand right now,” he whispered into her soft hair, “but I’ll do anything to keep you safe. And if there’s a chance we can stop this madness tonight, I’ll take it.”

Hermione felt her heart soar with love, and held on more tightly to him. Closing her eyes, she was taken back to a night that was similar to this one…

***Flashback***

“You have to let me go, Herm,” Harry said urgently to his best friend, who was holding onto him with all her might.

“But- but what if you don’t come back?” she croaked out through her tears.

He pulled away slightly to look her in the eyes. “Don’t think that. I need you to be strong for me.” His voice was filled with emotion, his mouth quavering as he looked at her.

She took her hand and moved it up to his cheek. She knew he had to go. She always knew. Ever since he had told her about the prophecy, she knew he was the only one who could defeat Voldemort. But now that the time came, she didn’t want him to leave her.

“I need you to believe in me,” she heard Harry’s voice through her thoughts. “You always did before. I won’t be able to do this if I don’t know that you’re believing in me every step of the way.”

She couldn’t be selfish…not now. He was doing this for their friends…for her. She pulled her hand away slowly. “I will. I’ll believe in you,” she said softly, but firmly. “And I know you’ll come back.”

He smiled softly, taking a loose strand of her hair and putting it behind her ear. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger there for a few seconds, then abruptly pulled away.

She watched him make his way away from her. She wanted to call him back to her. But he had to go on…Almost before he was out of eyesight, Hermione shouted the words to him that she had wanted to say almost all year. “I love you, Harry James Potter! I love you more than anything else!”

At first she didn’t know if he had heard her. The sun was just about gone, and she couldn’t see anything in front of her. When a few minutes had passed, she slowly turned around and started making her way home.

After a few steps, she felt her arm being pulled back. Spinning around, she found herself staring into the green eyes of Harry.

Cupping her cheeks between his hands he leaned down and - to the surprise (but delight) to Hermione - he kissed her. The kiss wasn’t long, but it was amazing to Hermione. Harry’s hands had moved from her cheeks to around her waist, while Hermione moved her hands around his neck, bringing him down closer.

Hermione was just about breathless when it ended. She had to cling to Harry to keep from falling. Staring into his eyes, she knew the answer to what she had yelled to him…

“I love you, Hermione,” he said, eyes sparkling. “I wanted you to know that for so long.”

She smiled. “Cool.”

***End of Flashback***

That night had been one of the best nights of her life, yet also the scariest. When Harry had walked off the second time, she knew he would come back. He just had to.

And that’s the way it will be tonight. He’ll come back!

**********

Hermione bit her lip while in the living room an hour later. She looked over at Neil, Ashley and Carrie, who were walking around the house, keeping an eye on things.

Was she the only one who was getting tense? Harry, Fred and a few others had been gone for almost an hour, and she hadn’t heard anything. Did they find Percy? Had he fallen for the trap that still made no sense to her?

Carrie seemed to sense what Hemione was feeling and walked up to her. “I’m sure everything is okay, Hermione. Sometimes these things just take longer than we’d like.” She sent her a smile and walked away.

But that hadn’t helped Hermione. For some reason, she had a feeling that Percy wasn’t going to walk into any trap…in fact, it seemed more that she had walked into the trap.

Suddenly, as if someone had been reading her thoughts, the lights flickered a few times, and then went completely dark.

**********

At that time, Harry was getting more and more frustrated as the minutes got longer at Hermione’s shop. “Why hasn’t he come yet?”

Hermione’s decoy, Susannah, sighed. The plan had seemed well in the beginning. If Percy had been listening to the Tracker, he would have heard about where they were going.

But now, where was he?

**********

All was silent in the big house after the lights went black. The scene was all too familiar to Hermione, who remembered Harry telling her how the lights went dark right before the fire…

Oh no…oh please no…It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

Hermione instantly went for her wand, as did the others. Hermione knew there was no way for Percy to apparate straight into the house, because Fred made mention about Anti-Appparting charms placed on the house that the Minister had conducted a few years before. But that also meant she couldn’t apparate out.

“Get into the back room, Hermione,” she heard Neil’s voice say to her right.

She didn’t move. She smelled smoke…

**********

Ginny Malfoy stared straight in front of her, almost as if in a daze. Draco held onto her hand still, wishing that she wasn’t in so much physical and emotional pain…

“I can’t believe it was him,” she finally said in a hushed voice. Tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks. How could her brother have tried to kill her?

“Gin,” Draco said softly. “Honey, understand that he’s not thinking clearly when he’s doing this. He’s gone crazy.”

She didn’t answer, and Draco couldn’t blame her…She just realized her brother had tried to kill her and her friends. What was she supposed to say?

Draco sighed. He was tired and worn out. He glanced at the clock, which read 11:15…He didn’t want to leave, but he needed to see Shannon, although she was probably asleep. He hadn’t spent much time with her ever since the attack. And he knew Ginny wanted to be alone.

Looking back at his wife, he squeezed her hand softly and kissed it. “I’ll be going now,” he told her.

She nodded absently, but didn’t look at him. After a few seconds, he got up and went for the door.

Right before he made it out, he heard her voice. “Draco?” He looked back. “Yeah?”

She gave him a smile to let him know she’d be all right. “Thanks for telling me…give Shannon my love.”

He nodded. “I will.” And then he left the hospital.

**********

The smoke Hermione smelled gave her a nauseating feeling in her stomach. The others were now smelling it too, which made Neil grab Hermione by the arm. “Get into the back room.”

Right then, the door flung open and lights from the wands began flashing everywhere, all three of the Aurors shouting. Neil pushed Hermione backwards, urging her to get away.

She started running to the back, and almost made it to the door when a spell hit her and knocked her down. Still conscious, she got up and sprinted to the door, closing and bolting it behind her, though knowing it wouldn’t keep him away.

She knew she should try and get out of the house, but she didn’t know where to go…how to get out. She heard a thud in the other room, and since the fighting continued, she knew it wasn’t Percy.

Soon she heard two more thuds, and then quiet. Her heart pounded as she heard slow footsteps come to the door. She reached for her wand that was in her pocket – no, she had taken it out; right after the lights had gone out.

Hermione’s eyes widened in horror. When the spell hit her from behind, when she fell she must have dropped the wand, which meant…the wand was on the other side of the door with the killer. The door opened…

**********

Harry sat up straight, all alert. Something wasn’t right…

“Harry?” Susannah said. “Are you alright?”

“He’s there.”

“What?”

Harry didn’t answer…Susannah caught on. “You mean he’s there, right now? But how—”

“It doesn’t matter how, but he is,” Harry almost yelled.

“But how do you know?” she asked desperately.

He stared straight at her. “Have you ever been in love?”

She blinked, and opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She understood.

But Harry didn’t have time to chat. He went for his wand—

“No, Harry,” Susannah said suddenly. “Wait.”

“I don’t have time!”

“You need to tell Fred first.” She shoved the Tracker into his hands.

**********

Percy knew his time was almost up. Harry and the others would probably figure out that he didn’t fall into their trap and come back. He had Hermione right there with him. He could finish her off then, but what about Ginny?

No…no he needed to do this the right way this time. He needed to get rid of them together…

“Percy?”

Percy jumped slightly at the sound of Hermione’s voice. There she was, standing there helplessly, just the way Percy had needed her to be days ago. And now – now he couldn’t do it because then he would never get to Ginny…

“Percy, don’t do this,” Hermione said gently.

He shook his head. “You won’t feel a thing, Hermione. It will be over in an instant.”

“Penelope wouldn’t have wanted you to do all this,” she said. “She was a good person.”

“You don’t know what she wanted,” he spat angrily. “None of you do. I knew her better than anyone. She was the only one that really cared about me, and she’s gone. She was taken away from me…” Percy was starting to feel weak again…the charm was wearing off.

“And I’m sorry about that,” she said, trying to bring him back. “We’re all sorry about that, especially Harry and the other four. But killing me won’t bring Penelope back.”

He wasn’t listening. He was still trying to figure out what to do now. He couldn’t apparate out of the house. The only way to apparate away would be stepping outside, where he knew the others would be. He still had to get to the hospital…He couldn’t let one of them go…

“Percy, please!” Hermione cried, but it wouldn’t do any good.

Percy yanked her by the arm. “You’re coming with me.”

“Where?”

“To the hospital. We have to pay my sister a visit.”

**********

Everyone seemed to appear in front of the Minister’s house at the same time, and they were all met with the same smell… Smoke…But they couldn’t see any fire.

Harry ran his way up to the front door, but Fred stopped him. “It won’t do any good.”

“What?” Harry spun around and tried to push Fred off. “He’s got Hermione in there. Who knows what he’s done!”

“There’s no way to get out of that house except through the front door, and when he does, we’ll catch him.”

“But the smoke—”

“The smoke is from the side of the house. Apparently he tried to set it on fire, and it wore off…The Minister has many charms on this house apparently.”

“But Hermione—”

“If I know my brother, then he won’t kill her here if he can’t set the place on fire. He would feel he’s not avenging Penelope the right way.”

**********

Out in the bigger room where the light from the moon was shining in, Hermione noticed her wand lying on the ground. Now if she could only reach —

“Don’t even try,” Percy hissed in her ear. “You’ll never get it.”

They reached the door, and Percy peeked out. Sure enough, he saw his whole team out there, ready for him. He smiled, but not a smile that Hermione found inviting. “Good old squad,” he said sarcastically. “Always at the scene of a crime.”

He pushed her in front of him. “As long as I have you here, they won’t touch me. Especially that hero husband of yours,” he said, his voice filled with a malice Hermione had never heard before.

“Percy, please don’t do this,” Hermione pleaded, “We’ve trusted you these past few years. You were our friend!”

“Shut up!” He put the gun to her head, wand still in his other hand as he wrapped his hand around her chest. “Open the door.”

**********

Harry almost bolted to the door as soon as he saw it open. Hermione, he thought with a wave of relief as he saw her figure. But his heart pounded in his chest when he saw the gun to her head and Percy right behind her.

“Nobody do anything, or she’s dead!” Percy yelled across to them. His wand was out; Harry knew he must have some kind of charm placed on him anyways…Did he just expect to walk out of here with a bunch of trained Aurors if he didn’t?

Harry looked at Hermione, whose face was strained and pale. When she found Harry’s eyes, she looked as though she was going to open her mouth and say something, but Percy pushed the gun into her head more, causing Hermione to close her eyes in pain.

Harry couldn’t stand it. He took his wand and pointed it right at Percy. “Let her go!”

Percy smiled evilly. “Oh, so noble of Harry Potter.” Percy and Hermione took one more step. “But I can’t. I have an appointment and I can’t be late.” As soon as he finished the sentence, he and Hermione were gone.

Harry rushed up to where they were standing. “Dammit!” he yelled. He looked back to Fred, and saw that Fred’s eyes were wide, but not with shock, but with…horror.

“He didn’t kill her,” Fred whispered, but loud enough for Harry to hear.

Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, it hit Harry why he hadn’t killed her. And looking at Fred, he knew that the older one knew too. “Ginny.”

**********

Percy was getting weaker and weaker, and it wasn’t going past Hermione. If only she could somehow get his gun away…but he was so much stronger than she was.

She wondered if Harry and the others would ever figure out where they went. She couldn’t imagine how they would, but they were known to surprise her many times.

The hospital was dark, and quiet. She tried to talk to him…to make him stop. “Percy, why do you have to do this? You have to know Penelope wouldn’t want this.”

“I have to redeem myself to her.”

“But she’s dead…” Hermione saw him stiffen, and knew it wasn’t working. How could she make him see? “Listen, Percy. I know that you loved Penelope. And I know you went through pain when she died, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that…but I don’t understand…”

He closed his eyes. “I’m not doing this to give you pain. It will be quick and you won’t feel a thing.” He opened his eyes and a new light shined in them. “But this hurt is for Harry.”

“Percy—”

He looked at her with remorse, as if telling her he was sorry. “I have to finish the list.”

Her heart filled with pain anyway. He wasn’t going to let her go.

**********

Harry knew his time was almost up as he made his way to find Ginny’s room. He didn’t know if Percy had shot them both already, and just the thought of Hermione lying on the ground, lifeless made him run even faster.

**********

Hermione wanted to wake up and find out that it was just a bad nightmare when she finally saw that they were on Ginny’s floor. She couldn’t let this happen.

He was leaning on her now for support, but his hand was still clenched around the gun.

The hall was still dark, and looking down she saw the Percy didn’t have his wand with him anymore. Where had he dropped it?

She was about to turn around and look, when all of a sudden, there was an impact on her right side where Percy had been standing. “Hermione, run!”

It was too dark to see anything, but she heard Harry’s voice and took off. She could hear the struggling of Harry and Percy behind her, but ran to the end of the hall anyway. Right before she made it to the stairs, she heard a gunshot behind her.

**********

A/N: Oh, wow…I give you all permission to make fun of this chapter if you want to. Honestly, why didn’t Harry just use his wand and his magnificent magical powers and use the Stunning Curse or the Killing Curse on Percy right there? Why did he have to play rough and jump the guy? So much for the trained Aurors, they all left Hermione and her three bodyguards alone…And I’ve had no luck in convincing my beta that this was a bad chapter. Thanks for the beta work Nitya!! *hugs* Hopefully, the next chapter shall be the last chapter. If it isn’t…I’ll sit on my bed and cry into my pillow. Please…now REVIEW!!! Reviews make me smile and my ego likes them. My ego has been pretty low lately, so anything will help! Gosh, I make long Author’s Notes…

20. A New Beginning

A/N: No good, true excuse this time (though I’m sure I could come up with a few fibbers *wink*). I was more than lazy, but I don’t know if there is a word to describe that. So here be the last chapter of Private Justice, so I shall not be crying into my pillow tonight. More notes to come at the end.

Jennifer, thanks so much for the beta work here

**********

At the sound of the gunshot, Hermione threw herself up against the wall, screaming. All reasoning seemed to have gone out of her at that moment as she sank to the floor, her head in her hands. All she could think about was Harry was lying on the floor, dead, at the hands of Percy Weasley.

If that was the case, she didn’t care about anything anymore. Percy could come and kill her now, and she wouldn’t complain. At least she would be reunited with Harry.

She heard footsteps running to her, and composed her strength to face what was about to happen…

“Hermione!”

Her screaming stopped at the sound of Harry’s voice. Still trembling, she lifted her head up to see Harry almost before her. The relief she was feeling was so strong, she felt she could faint at any moment.

Sobs spilled out as Harry reached her and gathered her in his arms. She clung on to him and cried into his shoulders.

“It’s okay,” he whispered into her ears. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

She then heard the sounds of running all around her. She heard the yelling of Aurors who were looking over Percy’s body, proclaiming that he was dead.

Harry kept reassuring her that everything was going to be all right, and though she believed him, she couldn’t stop the tears.

As the moments went by, Hermione saw that Harry hadn’t left her yet. He was still holding on to her.

She could stop the tears now. Things were just getting better.

**********

Back at the Auror department, Ron couldn’t believe his ears as he heard Terry tell him about Percy.

“You guys can’t be…Do you all think it’s funny to accuse all the Weasley’s for this crime?” he yelled.

“He’s dead, Ron,” Terry stated quietly.

All air was sucked out of Ron. Percy’s dead? “No…”

“He tried to kill Hermione tonight. He took her to Salidays where Ginny was to kill them both. Harry got up there and…you know…”

Ron took a deep breath. Terry then told him everything—about Penelope to what was upstairs in Percy’s attic. Ron wasn’t so sure if he could deal with this right now…He needed out.

“Am I free to go then?” he said with anger.

Terry nodded. “No hard feelings, right Ron? We were all desperate—”

“Whatever Terry,” Ron snapped as he made his way out the door. “Right now, I’m sick and tired of listening to all your crap.”

**********

Lavender waited at the Ministry fountain for Ron. She felt that she could cry forever after everything that happened in the past few weeks. Knowing that Percy was dead gave her a comforting feeling at first, but then it made her feel even more horrible, since she had known Percy for so long.

She turned around at the sound of footsteps and at the sight of Ron, her stomach still had butterflies. “I’m glad to see you’re out.”

Without saying anything, he brushed past her and stood in front of the fountain, hands in jeans. He stood there staring, almost not even acknowledging that Lavender was there.

Blinking with confusion, and slight disappointment, she walked up to him slowly. “Ron?”

He didn’t answer, so at first she thought he hadn’t heard her, so she tried again. “Ron, why are yo—”

“They all betrayed me,” Ron finally said bitterly. “Every one of them. They were supposed to be my friends.”

“I know, Ron. I know.”

“And now they expect me to just forget it ever happened… to forget that they all thought I was capable…” his voice drifted with hurt and anger.

Lavender gave out a heavy sigh. It was hard to see both sides of the story. “Ron, put yourself in their shoes. They were freaked out.”

“It’s not like we haven’t had freaky times like this before. And I wouldn’t have ever expected Terry, Fred, and especially Harry and Hermione,” he said as he finally turned to look at her.

“Would you have expected Percy?” Lavender asked quietly.

Ron grew quiet and turned back to the fountain. This was all just too much. Too much betrayal, anger, confusion…

Lavender came up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re angry Ron, and you have every right to be. But nothing made sense this time…they panicked.”

“Well, you didn’t think I was guilty.”

“There wasn’t any reason to think you were.”

Ron sighed with resentment. “Harry and Hermione did.”

“But they really didn’t,” Lavender defended. “They were so lost, and confused.”

He gave a weary smile. “There’s no point trying to defend them. They doubted and you didn’t. And I want to thank you for that.”

“I’m a good judge of character,” she replied softly, going slightly red for Merlin knows why.

Ron started walking backwards and after he was a few feet behind Lavender, he just looked at her. Lavender bit her lip, getting uncomfortable until he spoke.

“When this is all over,” he said, suddenly getting nervous. “I mean, when everything’s cooled down…doyouwanttohavedinnerwithmenextweekorso?”

She blinked. “Come again?” But did he just say what I think he just said?

He swallowed. “I said, do you want to have dinner with me? Maybe next week?” He held his breath as he waited for the answer.

He did just say it! Lavender could have broken out into song right then and there. Instead, she broke out into a warm smile. “Yeah, I’d love too.”

He sighed with relief and broke out into his own smile. “Well…good. I’ll let you know when.”

With one last smile, he turned and walked away and out of sight. But Lavender just felt like standing there forever. “I’ll be waiting, Ronald Weasley.”

**********

It was all over the Wizarding Community for the next few weeks about Percy Weasley, and how it seemed he had gone crazy. People were able to start thinking reasonably again, and the tension that was once there was fading away.

Ginny was out of the hospital three weeks after her brother’s death, after recovery and some rehab. She seemed more upset and affected by the knowing the murderer was Percy than her brothers were, but she had been able to let go of most of her anger as the time went by.

Since the Head of the Auror Department was now dead, Minister Bones had asked Fred to take the job.

“Oh no, thank you Minister, but I’d rather not,” Fred had said hastily.

“But you’d be great. Everyone thinks so,” Bones had replied back.

Then Fred had smiled. “Maybe, but I just want to get back to my joke shop. You’ll find someone else for this job.”

The job then was ultimately offered to Terry Boot, who accepted eagerly.

**********

Ginny opened the door of her house and a huge smile broke out onto her face. “Ron!”

Her brother’s grin matched hers. “Glad to see you up and about,” he said as he swooped her up in a hug.

“Same here. I’m sick of the bed right now,” she said with a laugh.

Ginny led Ron over to the sofa. “So, how are things going?” she asked.

Ron shrugged. “As well as can be expected. I changed my hours at the department, so right now I’m working more at night.”

She glanced down at her hands before asking the next question. “And have you talked to Harry and Hermione?”

She felt her brother’s body go stiff and he didn’t answer. “Come on Ron, you need to talk to them.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” came the gruff reply.

“Yes there is,” Ginny argued back. “You can’t throw away your friendship over this.”

“Over this?” Ron got up and glared down at his sister. “They betrayed me. The actually thought that I was trying to kill Hermione. How can I just forgive them for that?”

“Because they’re your best friends! You would have done the same thing had you been in their places.”

“Oh, don’t turn this around and try and put blame on me,” he said angrily. “Our oh-so-important friendship apparently wasn’t enough for them.”

“You just don’t understand,” Ginny said, trying to stay calm, but found herself getting angry as well. Why couldn’t he understand?

“I don’t?” he asked sarcastically.

“No you don’t.” Ginny didn’t want to bring back past situations, but she found she had little choice. “What about that time when you were at Hogwarts, in your fourth year? When you and everyone else believed that Harry had entered his name in the Goblet of Fire. You betrayed him there. He lost his best friend because you wouldn’t believe him.”

Ron turned away, hoping that Ginny would stop talking, but she didn’t. “Hermione had tried to make you see that time, but you wouldn’t, and now I’m in her place. And when you finally went to Harry to apologize, did he turn you away and have a pity party for himself? No, he forgave you. And you want to know why?”

Ron didn’t answer. He hated being reminded of that incident. Ginny kept on talking. “He forgave you because you’re his friend, and just maybe he understood where you were coming from. Just maybe he understood why you doubted him. And just maybe you could do the same for him.”

Ron thought back to the look on Harry’s face when he had apologized. Harry looked so happy, and even relieved. And he thought back to his face that night at the Ministry. He remembered how Harry and Hermione had looked so confused with what everyone was saying, and how weary they looked.

Did he really want their friendship to scatter away? He knew Harry had been trying to talk to him and apologize.

But don’t I have the right to be hurt and angry? He tried to keep that as justification for his actions, but did he really want to be angry with his two best friends? Was that really what he wanted?

“Just think about it, okay Ron?” Ginny asked behind him, almost as if she were pleading. “Too many things have been ruined in our lives for another bad thing to happen.”

He turned to look at her. “Do you think about him a lot?”

She looked down at he hands, not wanting to start crying. “Sometimes. I guess I think about how maybe I could have sensed something was wrong, and maybe even helped him…”

“Hey…” Ron put his arms around her. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“But I could have done something!” she exclaimed, tears taking control.

“Ginny, listen,” he said sternly, yet calmly. “This wasn’t any of our faults, okay? Percy became sick, and there was nothing we could do. Don’t do this to yourself.”

She took a few deep breaths, nodding. “I know. It’s just so hard.”

Ron gave her an encouraging smile. “We’ll get through this. We always have before.”

She smiled back to let her know she’d be alright. “Thanks Ron,” she said as she hugged him.

“Thank you, Ginny.”

**********

The Memorial Service at Hogwarts for all three victims was held the next week, and it would be a time for everyone to finally come together to finish all the healing.

Hermione walked up to Harry and took a hold of his hand. “Have you seen him yet?”

Harry shook his head. “No. I don’t even know if he’s coming.”

She frowned. “I don’t think Ron would miss this. I’m sure he’ll come,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze.

Harry’s eyes roamed around the Great Hall, hoping to see his red haired best friend. His eyes caught Ginny and Draco laughing over something with Remus, and Minister Bones sitting down at the table talking to one of his advisors. But no Ron…

“Come on Harry,” Hermione whispered in his ears. “They’re about to start.”

Harry looked behind him towards the door. Come Ron. Just talk to me.

**********

Ron stood outside of the Great Hall doors, debating on whether or not he really wanted to go in. What was going on in there was the cause of all the anger he was having now.

He had thought a lot about what Ginny had told him, and though he didn’t want to admit it, he knew she was right. He shouldn’t have stayed angry with Harry or Hermione like he did. He didn’t want to anymore. It didn’t do him any good. But going through those doors was harder than he had originally thought.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley,” a deep voice said behind him.

Ron spun around to face his old Headmaster, Dumbledore “Hello, Headmaster. Why aren’t you inside?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Dumbledore replied with a smile.

Ron looked at the doors. “I want to, but for some reason, I can’t.”

“Does this have something to do with a certain married couple inside?”

Bloody hell, I still don’t understand how he knows all this stuff. “Well, that was the reason, but now…going in there is facing the reality of it all. It’s like the final plunge. Everything did happen…”

“And you don’t want to face it all yet,” Dumbledore finished, nodding.

Ron sent him a sheepish smile. “Sounds childish, doesn’t it?”

“Not at all. We’re all human, and those are human tendencies.” Dumbledore took a step closer to the door. “You and your friends have gone through a lot of trials in your life, but it’s those trials that make you who you’re supposed to be. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to face reality. But there does come a time when you need to accept life the way it is, and take past experiences and learn from them. Denying what has really happened and living in the past could destroy you and the people around you.”

Ron sighed. Let it all go Weasley. He’s right, Ginny’s right. Lavender’s right. You’ll regret this if you don’t.

Dumbledore smiled. “Now I think there a few someones in there that want to talk too.”

**********

The traffic in the Great Hall as the people were leaving was heavy, but Ron pushed his way through it to find Harry and Hermione.

He saw them getting up from their seats, Hermione putting her jacket on. Taking a deep breath, he made his way over to them.

Hermione saw him first and her breath almost got caught in her throat. Reaching her hand down, she gently shoved Harry, causing her husband to look up too.

Harry stood up and the two of them just looked at each other for what seemed like the longest time. Harry had come up with a whole speech about what he was going to say if ever given the chance, but now facing Ron, he forgot what he had planned to say.

Ron looked down at the ground before walking up quickly and gave Harry a tight hug, which Harry greatly returned. Hermione smiled at the exchange, and almost choked up when Ron came up to her and hugged her as well.

“Sorry for being such a git,” he said when they separated.

“Well, I don’t really blame you for it,” Hermione admitted, wiping at her eyes.

“You know how I am with situations like we had,” Ron said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Harry said. “It’s over now.” He took a hold of Hermione’s hand. “We’re all starting over again.”

Ron grinned at the two of them as they looked at each other. He turned his head slightly to the right and caught the gaze of Lavender, smiling at him. “I’ll be right back, you two,” he said.

He walked over to Lavender and surprised her when he took her in his arms and hugged her. “What was that for?” she asked, a blush creeping onto her face.

“For everything.” Ron took her hand. “So, how about that dinner you promised?”

Lavender grinned. “I’m still waiting for you.”

“Well then, Miss Brown. The waiting is over.”

**********

~~Six years later~~

“Johnny, put that vase down, you’ll end up dropping it and have glass all around you!” Hermione Potter scolded her four and a half year old son.

Her son stopped abruptly, and gently placed the vase down onto the floor. He then waddled over to his mother and plopped down onto the floor, looking up at her with his “Sorry, Mum” expression on his face.

She laughed despite herself and bent over to pick him up. “Mummy doesn’t mean to yell at you, but you can’t pick up the vase. Okay?”

He nodded and then let out a yawn, leaning down onto Hermione’s shoulder. She kept him in her arms for a few more minutes, letting him fall asleep before she carried him over to his room and laid him down in bed.

She sat staring at him, marveling on how much he looked like Harry. Every day she seemed to grow more and more amazed at her life and how her two children were growing up.

There was Maddy, her two-year-old daughter, who resembled more of her than Harry. She had always wondered if she would ever become a mother, and now that she had been for almost five years, it sometimes didn’t seem real.

Hermione heard the front door open and close. “I’m home,” Harry called.

She slid out of Johnny’s room and into the hall where Harry met her. “Shh, the kids are sleeping,” she whispered right before he kissed her.

“Oh they are?” he breathed into her ear, making her shiver, knowing what he meant.

“Not now, Harry,” she replied, almost giggling at his downcast expression. “How was your day?”

He grunted. “I’m just glad these long hours are ending the end of this week. I’m looking forward to eating a home cooked dinner again.”

“I’ll make sure I cook something extra special then,” she commented, grinning.

“Did you hear about Lavender yet?” Harry asked as he walked into their bedroom.

“Something happened? Is she okay?” Hermione asked, alarmed.

He laughed. “Well, I think she’s alright. She might be throwing up for a while, you know, morning sickness and things like that.”

Hermione’s mouth opened and she almost screamed. “She’s pregnant?”

“Yep.”

Hermione was so happy she started jumping up and down like a little girl, but stopped when Harry put his fingers to his lips, reminding her about their children. “That’s great, she and Ron have been trying for so long now. How did Ron take it?”

“Um, well kind of like the same way as you, actually,” he smirked. “He couldn’t stop talking about it.”

She sighed. “Oh wow…Ron’s gonna be…a dad. After four years of marriage and now…”

“Yeah, and the poor kid, he wasn’t even able to choose his father…hey,” Harry said when Hermione threw a pillow at him.

“He’ll be just fine Harry,” she said, defending her friend. “You turned out alright.”

He crawled over the bed to her side and pulled her down with him. “I did alright with you here,” he said softly, caressing her cheek.

“You just became lucky,” she joked and he smiled.

“Very lucky,” he replied. “And you just might be lucky tonight yourself.”

He captured her lips in a heart-stopping kiss, and they faded away into their own, secret place.

**********

A/N: Phew, and that’s it; that’s the end of Private Justice. *gets up on the stage* Oh you like me, you really like me *sniffles of joy* I want to thank all my readers and reviewers who stuck by this story even when it became rather depressing. I owe you all a lot, so many, many thanks! Really, you don’t know how much I appreciate it all.

Now let’s see…I was working on another story, but I won’t be putting it up until I finish the whole thing (or at least have enough written to know how exactly it’s all gonna play out). So, I don’t know when or if the story will ever be shown.

A special thanks to Romy, Matt, Nitya, and Jennifer because you four know why!

And a HAPPY EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!!

WonkyKris