Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter except for the wonderful posters on my walls!!!
AN: I'm here to let you all know that I took the love scene out of the end of this chapter. I think I should possibly wait until their relationship has progressed a little more. I decided to stick with just some cute little fluffy action. I also fixed up the Percy part a bit, though not much. I've finally decided after much thinking, that I don't really care for this chapter all that much, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. I still do appreciate the reviews I am getting, because if I wasn't getting them, then I would still be stuck with that icky thing I wrote before and this one is slightly better. Let me tell you though, the next chapter is going to be fabulous. More angst and sadness!!!
Chapter Nine: The Investigation
The investigation on Ron's death was still in full force, hardly a wizard slept while the search was on. Remus Lupin was brought in for his expertise in the dark arts and Nymphadora Tonks also returned with her brilliant disguises and auror training. They worked day and night trying to track the assailant down and also to figure out how the unknown person entered the Hogwarts ground undetected.
"Tonks, I need an update on that "mysterious man" you had Mad Eye following last week." Lupin asked his partner. Tonks smiled at the man that she had been very highly involved with for the past year.
"Right away…boss." She loved throwing that term around. Dumbledore had appointed Remus head of investigation at Hogwarts, and Tonks enjoyed rubbing it in his face occasionally.
Lupin grinned at Tonks making the scars that lined his face stretch with the wonderful smile he held.
"Don't call me that…you of all people know that."
Tonks laughed aloud, and then took on a serious look. "Wait I thought you meant not to call you that when we were in…"
Lupin jumped towards her and covered her mouth with his large hand.
"Touché" He whispered into her ear, she giggled behind the cover.
Just then Mad Eye came hobbling in quite fast, his magical eye swiveling all around taking in the sights of the makeshift headquarters. His limp seemed to be bothering him a bit more than usual and there was blood caked to the side of his face.
"Lupin, we got him."
~ ~
"Harry I'm studying!" Hermione exclaimed at the top of her lungs, earning appalled glances from the other students in the library who also had been studying. Embarrassed Hermione gathered up her belongings and hurried out the door. Harry followed her attempting to put his arm around her shoulder.
"Harry, I can't believe you made me scream at you in front of all those people! And in the library too! Madame Pince is going to be quite cross with me tomorrow if I show my face."
Harry snickered. "And how."
Hermione eyes turned into tiny slits as she glared at him. " I don't understand why you aren't fretting over your N.E.W.Ts, they are in less than five months!"
He smiled at her as he successfully draped his arm around her. He loved listening to her rant and rave about her schooling. She was in love with her books, it was quite obvious, and Harry found it so enticing.
He stopped her for a moment and backed her into the wall. This happened on occasion. Whenever he touched her for too long, he had the biggest urge to kiss her; the only way to remedy this was to actually partake in the act. So every once in a while you would find Harry and Hermione quite involved in a dark corner of the school.
Before her back was entirely against the wall, Harry had his lips pressed to hers. She was wearing her mango lip-gloss again, thank Merlin for small favors. His hands were lying tactfully on her waist, ready to move if she gave the go ahead, so far in their relationship, she hadn't and Harry was just fine with that.
Finally backing away from her, he licked his lips then smiled at her. Her face was flushed, as it always was after one of their snogging sessions. She mirrored his smile and leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek. His hands went from her waist to her hands where he gracefully removed the books she had been carrying.
In one hand he carried her books pressed tightly to his body and with his other hand he held Hermiones hand, their fingers entwined. Lately his thoughts had been going back to the conversation he had with Ron, well not really had, but his confession to Ron, and his answer. Tell her you smarmy git! Harry had wanted to tell her since then, and that was almost a month ago. He would think about it, and think about it until his brain was physically exhausted and he couldn't think any more. Hermione had noticed it from time to time and of course she had asked what was wrong with him, he feigned a headache every time. She probably thought he had some rare form of a brain tumor because of all the headaches he has had recently.
He needed to express his true feelings, and also to let her know that if she too harbored the same feelings, then she would be in grave danger. With the threat of Voldemort still out there, Harry was surprised he was even thinking about confessing his love to Hermione. But if there was ever a right time to do it, now was it.
"Hermione, I have something to tell you." Harry started, causing Hermione to stop abruptly. She turned her head and looked up at him with her mocha eyes asking to know what it was.
"Hermione, I…l.."
"HARRY!!!"
Ginny was sprinting down the corridor screaming his name loudly an ecstatic yet painful look engraved on her face.
"Harry! They…caught…him…" she was quite out of breath and it took her awhile to get those four words out of her mouth.
Harry and Hermione didn't need to ask whom, they automatically knew. Ron's murderer had been caught. They both broke out into wide grins and hugged Ginny in turns.
"Where is he Gin?" Harry asked happily. Ginny stopped smiling; perhaps she hadn't figured Harry would ask that.
"Ummm…he's…"
Harry was not smiling any longer; he was now staring at her. "Where Gin?"
"He's here at Hogwarts." She said quietly.
Before anyone said anything Harry took off dropping Hermiones books and leaving both girls behind. Hermione looked at her discarded books on the floor then tore after Harry speedily.
"Where are you going Harry?" She asked after she had caught up with him.
"To Dumbledore, he obviously didn't tell me something." Harry said, anger glinting in his eye.
The two of them marched through the corridors, not speaking a word to each other until they reached the Phoenix statue.
Harry began banging on it. "Dumbledore, open! I need to speak with you!" He continued to hit the stone statue. Suddenly it sprang open, revealing a beautiful winding staircase leading to the headmaster's office. Harry ran up taking the steps two at a time, Hermione ran behind much slower. When they both entered Dumbledore was standing at his desk waiting for them.
"Good to see you Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger." Hermione smiled, but Harry remained stone faced.
"Headmaster you have been keeping something from me." Harry began without exordium.
Dumbledore smiled, the usual twinkle in his eye was also in attendance. "Of course I did Harry, you are still a student."
"But he was my friend!" he shouted. "I deserve to know certain things pertaining to him!" Harry was very upset indeed.
Dumbledore nodded his head. "I agree Harry, which is why I am glad you and Ms. Granger are here now. I would like to escort you to the chamber in which the investigation is being carried out."
Harry nodded his head, and motioned for the Headmaster to show them the way. After Dumbledore walked through the door, Harry reached for Hermiones hand and took it in his own. They held hands tightly while following Dumbledore through the labyrinth of corridors in the castle. He led them down into the dungeons where they entered a door neither one of them has ever even seen before. Hermiones grip tightened on Harrys' hand as it became suddenly dark. They heard Dumbledore in front of them mutter an incantation and instantly the room came to life.
Witches and wizards were everywhere, sitting at desk, talking to floating heads in the fireplaces. Harry was in complete awe at what he was seeing. It was as if the entire auror unit was here at Hogwarts. To his right he saw two familiar faces.
"Lupin! Tonks!" Harry yelled happily.
They both shifted their gaze to him, and smiled. Harry led Hermione over to them where they both embraced him.
"Good to see you Harry!" Lupin said slapping him on the back fondly.
"Likewise, Remus."
Dumbledore appeared beside them just then. "Pardon my intrusion but I would like to take Harry and Ms. Granger to see him now."
Instantly Lupins' face became hard, he nodded. "Are you certain you want Harry in the same room as him?"
Dumbledore cracked a smile. "It has to be done."
And with that said Dumbledore led the two teenagers over to the holding cell, which was through another unmarked door.
When they entered the room, it was completely dark. Harry could barely make out his hand in front of his face.
"Lumos Maxima" Dumbledore said and the entire room was now alight.
Harry could see a very familiar person sitting on the other side of the room. He started to walk towards him when Dumbledore stepped in front of him.
"I will need both of you to check your wands."
With no questions asked Harry and Hermione handed over their precious wands and the spell on the containment cell was lifted and they were both granted access.
As they came closer to him, they at once recognized his slightly curly red hair, and the many freckles that dotted his face. His eyes were hung low, and he was very thin, his robes hung limply on him. Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing before his very eyes, he was absolutely speechless. Hermione uttered a small gasp at the sight of him curled up in the corner hugging his legs to his emaciated body, after a few attempts at speaking she finally managed to find her voice.
"Percy?" her eyes were open widely and her face held a questioning expression on it.
He looked up at her with sunken eyes. They had once been so full of life, so full of themselves, and now they looked as if he had spent his entire life imprisoned in Azkaban.
"Hello Hermione." His voice held no emotion when he spoke to her. He had once regarded Hermione as someone like him, someone gifted in the art of knowledge, now he looked at her with contempt shining in his lifeless eyes. He then shifted his gaze to Harry, his face at once distorting into a look of pure hatred. "And I see you are still hanging around with Him." Hermione did not appreciate the tone in which he used to address Harry.
"Of course I am, he's my friend Percy." She tried to keep her voice calm and collected, she didn't want to coerce him into acting out at them.
Suddenly Percy began laughing, great spasms of laughter that wracked his entire body.
" Friends?" he stopped laughing instantly. "Do you see what being friends with him got Ron? My poor dear little brother, you see what it got him?"
Harry heard Hermione gasp as the truth suddenly and violently hit her. She instantly burst into silent sobs as Harry stepped forward and squatted down in front of Percy.
"You killed your own brother because of me?" Harrys voice was dangerously low. "You murdered your own flesh and blood because he was my friend?"
Percys' sunken lifeless eyes bored into Harrys brilliant green ones. "The Dark Lord wished it, so it was." Harry could feel the anger that was inside him bubbling up and threatening to come out. His best friend had been murdered by his own brother, and it was because of him. Because of his involvement with Voldemort, Ron had lost his life. Percy had managed to get out that one sentence before Harry swung his fist and it connected rather viciously. Spit flew from his mouth as he lost his balance and landed on his side on the floor. As far as Harry could tell, Percy was down for the count, drool dripping from his semi-opened mouth.
Harry stood and rubbed his knuckles a bit before turning to Hermione. She was in shock. Her face was as white as a sheet, her lips pale. She looked ready to fall over. Harry, forgetting about his throbbing fist, and Percy rushed to her side and put an arm around her waist.
"C'mon Hermione, we're leaving." He aided her to the door, where they retrieved their wands. After bidding farewell to Tonks and Lupin, they followed Dumbledore back out into the dungeon.
"Professor, I would like permission to go speak with Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. As Rons best friends I think we should tell them about Percy." Harry asked very politely and formally.
Dumbledore smiled. "I knew you would feel you had to, so I have spoken with both of your teachers." He indicated to him and Hermione. "And you have permission to miss classes tomorrow." Dumbledore took another look at Hermiones splotchy face and tired body, then turned back to Harry. "Perhaps you should take Ms. Granger back to the common room, and make sure she is quite well." Dumbledore winked at Harry, then proceeded on his way back to his office.
Harry smiled as he held on tighter to Hermione. Tomorrow they would make the trip down to the portkey point where they would once again visit Rons grave and administer the bad news to his family. Tonight though, Harry had other things in mind.
~ ~
After conjuring Hermione a piping hot cup of hot cocoa he had her sit on the couch with a blanket tucked neatly around her. She sipped at the chocolaty warmth and enjoyed feeling it slide down her throat. Harry was sitting across from her watching her every move, he would occasionally check her forehead to see if she was running a temperature.
"Harry I'm not sick, you loony!" she would say as she swatted his hand away. He would flash her his wonderfully white teeth then sit back down.
Hermione sighed in exasperation. " I cant believe it was Percy. I cant believe he would kill his own brother." Tears began to form in her eyes as she uttered these words for the second time that night. Harry wanted to comfort her, but both of them were in the same state of distress and neither knew what to do for the other. Percy had grown up with them as well, and he seemed as if he always liked Harry. I suppose things like this happen when someone falls in with the Dark Lord he thought grimly to himself. He didn't want to voice his conversation with himself out loud, he didn't want to alarm Hermione anymore than she already was. Deciding it better to ignore what she had just said, he went on with her previous statement about him being off his rocker.
"I cant help it, I just want to be near you at all times `Mione." Hermione blushed at his admission.
"You're mental Potter, you know that?" She spoke the words but there wasn't any feeling behind them. In all honesty she loved hearing him say sweet things such as those.
Harrys green eyes intensified, he knew this was the moment; she had left it wide open for him. If this was the moment then why weren't the words flowing eloquently from his mouth? Tell her you smarmy git. He knew if he didn't tell her now, then he would forever be plagued with the voice of his best friend telling him what a complete git he was. So he swallowed the lump in his throat and said what he believe to be the right thing to say.
"I love you, you know that?" he had said it with a smile, but there was seriousness behind it.
Hermione was absolutely astonished at his outburst. At those words she had felt her heart leap into her throat, and it wouldn't come back down. She found it difficult to speak in this condition, so she took a great gulp of her hot cocoa and tried speaking again.
"Harry, did you just…say…you love…me?" Hermione said, finding it hard to get what she wanted to say out.
Harry nodded his head. "I did, and I have wanted to say it for so long." The smile at faded from his face, and now he waited with bated breath for her response, which seemed to be taking much longer than he had hoped.
She seemed to be thinking something over in her head. Almost like she was weighing the pros and cons of her answer. Just then she looked at him and their eyes locked in an impenetrable stare.
"I love you, Harry. I know I do, and I made sure Ron knew…before we…got together."
Harry listened intently; his heart was soaring because she did love him. She seemed to need to say something else though, so he continued to give her his full attention.
"I was afraid that Ron would be angry with us at first. But now I know he isn't. He gave me his blessing. Gave US his blessing the day of the funeral. That was the day I told him I loved you."
Harry nodded his head unable to contain his happiness anymore. He scooted over to Hermione on the couch and gently kissed her lips. Their kiss intensified beyond anything they had ever experienced before, tongues dancing in one another's mouths while hands were exploring places untouched. Harry abruptly stopped kissing her to stare at her.
"You are so beautiful Hermione. I hope you realize that."
She blushed furiously, her cheeks turning a wonderful shade of red. The feelings he stirred in her were some of those she had never before experienced. She knew she was in love with him, but how to express it was another question. She thought over and over of giving herself to him right then and there. Deciding it better to against what her head was telling her, she went with her heart. She knew she wasn't nearly ready enough to begin this type of relationship, they had only been dating for a few months, there was no need to rush into anything.
"Thank you Harry." Her blushing receded slightly, leaving a slightly hazy pink on her cheeks. Harry put his hand on her cheek brushing aside a stray piece of hair from her face. His fingers were so soft as they caressed her warm skin. She closed her eyes in ecstasy as the softness of his fingers gave way to the callous of his palm. Years of Quidditch had granted him those palms, she adored them, and every other part of him. Harry was now leaning on top of Hermione his weight a comfort to her. She could feel his entire body come alive when they touched, she knew it was doing this because hers also was doing it. The slightest touch from him caused those damn butterflies to begin fluttering in her stomach, the tiniest noise from his throat and her ears were standing at attention ready to offer her heart.
Harry leaned his head down so their foreheads were touching intimately.
"`Mione you are my everything. From the minute I first saw you I knew it. I was just too dense to realize it until it was too late." He pressed his lips lightly to hers, and she once again responded with returning the kiss with one of her own. Now it was her turn to revel in the Adonis lying on top of her. Her eyes scanned his entire face, landing on his slightly pink lightening shaped scar first. Her fingers ached to touch it, she had done so before but never in such an intimate setting. Brushing her fingers along the sensitive skin, she heard Harry sigh and his facial expression changed to one of relaxation. His scar stuck out against his skin, and most would say it was hideous and took away from his darling features. Hermione would be disinclined to acquiesce that sentiment. She loved the scar almost as much as she loved the man, but in her own way she hated the scar just as much. This scar was the reason Harry would never live peacefully so long as Voldemort was alive, and she hated it for that. She just wanted Harry to live a long a peaceful life, possibly with her by his side.
Hermione nodded her head as Harry spoke these endearing words to her. "I know my love. I know what you mean." She placed a kiss on Harrys' hand that was still lovingly caressing her face. As his touch soothed her soul, it also made her immensely sleepy and before she knew it she was finding it rather difficult to keep her eyes open.
"Love, do you want me to take you upstairs?" Harry spoke softly and tenderly into her ear. Hermione shook her head, disagreeing with his thoughts.
"I want to sleep right here Harry…" she opened her eyes to look directly into his. "… and I want you to be here with me."
Harry beamed his wonderful smile at her. He removed his body from on top of hers, taking the blanket with him. Hermione shuddered at the sudden loss of warmth that had been surrounding her. Harry giggled at the pinched expression Hermione held on her face, he then scooted her over on the couch to make room for him. There wasn't that much room for the two of them on the sofa, but neither of them cared. They just reveled in the fact that when they woke up the next morning, they would be lying in one anothers arms for the first time ever.
Harry spread the blanket over them, muttering a charm to make the blanket larger, to cover both of them comfortable. He then wrapped his arms around her Hermiones' waist and they both promptly fell fast asleep.
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