Twisting Around
Chapter 7: No More Tears
Please Help Me Hermione. The words echoed through Hermione's entire being. She knew she should say no. Every fiber of logic within her said she should say no, but her heart wouldn't let her.
"Yes, Harry," Hermione said as she gave the only answer she could. "I'll never stop helping you. Wherever you go, I will follow."
Harry hugged her even tighter in response. Happiness flooded through Harry, and he knew that he could hold Hermione forever and be perfectly content.
Slowly, the tears stopped flowing, and the tremors that were shaking their bodies subsided. Harry loosened his grip and began lightly running his left hand up and down Hermione's back, while he entwined the fingers of his other hand with her hair.
Hermione sighed happily, enjoying the moment of peace she shared with Harry.
However, peace was short-lived, as a deafening explosion rippled through the air.
Harry and Hermione jumped apart, reaching their hands into their pockets to extricate their wands. The two friends stood back to back, slowly revolving around each other so that both of them could survey the entire scene.
"Whatever that was, it was far away" Harry said. "We really do need to get moving though. The Order's reinforcements are probably here."
"Most likely. Where are we going?" Hermione asked.
"Right now, just far enough away from the battle so that we can talk without risking anyone finding us. That's the most important thing."
"You're right. We do need to decide what we're going to do before we go anywhere."
"Let's go" Harry said, taking her hand.
"Just a minute, Harry. I want to tell them that I'm leaving with you." Hermione replied, gesturing towards Ron and Lupin with her wand.
"Ok. Just make it quick"
Hermione stepped towards Lupin. She picked up his wand to make sure he didn't try to fight once she freed him.
Hermione quickly cast two spells in a row, unpetrifying Lupin first, and then binding him with ropes that she had conjured.
Lupin struggled to break free of the ropes, but he soon found out that Hermione had made no mistake with that spell. Giving up on escape, he lay back against the wall that he had been thrown into earlier. Looking up at Hermione, he waited expectantly.
"Lupin," Hermione began, "I'm sorry that I had to do that to you, but I couldn't let you harm Harry. You know how much he means to me."
Lupin nodded to show he wasn't angry with her. He wanted to speak, but the gag in his mouth prevented it.
"I'm going with Harry now. He needs me. We don't know what we're going to do or where we're going, but we'll be with each other every step of the way."
Lupin nodded again.
"I'm sorry it had to be this way. Tell the others for us. Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, especially. I know they're going to be upset with us, but I hope they can understand. Goodbye."
Hermione turned around quickly, not letting Lupin see how she had almost broken down again. Harry gave her a quick hug, and then whispered softly in her ear, "Let's go".
Harry pulled a folded piece of silvery fabric out of his pocket, and Hermione realized that it was his invisibility cloak. "All we have to do is avoid Mad-Eye," Harry said with a grin. Hermione smiled for the first time in months.
Lupin could only watch as Harry and Hermione disappeared under the cloak and listen to the sounds of their footsteps fade away.
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Harry and Hermione had left just in time. Moments after they had left, Mad-Eye Moody found Lupin and Ron. He unpetrified Ron and freed Lupin from his bindings.
"The Death Eaters are retreating, Lupin. They've caused enough trouble for one day."
"And the students?"
"Most are safely back at Hogwarts right now. There were some casualties, though, mostly first and second years." Moody answered.
"We need to make our report to Dumbledore then. Let's go find him." Lupin said, finally getting to his feet.
"There will be no need to find me, Remus."
Dumbledore was standing at the end of the alleyway. "I must say," He continued, "that I am very interested in what happened here."
"Harry." Ron spat the name out.
Lupin elaborated for him. "Harry was talking to Ron and Hermione when I arrived. I tried to convince Harry to return to us, but he refused. I then raised my wand to do my duty and kill him, but Harry just stood there waiting. I hesitated then and…" Lupin's voice trailed off.
"Hermione attacked you and then left with Harry?" Dumbledore finished knowingly, with a curious smile.
"Yes"
"Why in bloody hell are you smiling? This is terrible news. Uh…Professor," Ron demanded.
"On the contrary, Mister Weasley, this is great news. Our chances of survival and Voldemort's defeat are greater now that Hermione is with Harry. Together, those two are more powerful than they are alone. And…" Dumbledore paused for just a moment. "They give each other a sense of purpose."
"There's something you're not telling us." Ron accused.
"Yes"
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There was a rustle of fabric, and Harry and Hermione reappeared as the invisibility cloak was thrown back. Harry folded up the cloak and put it in his pocket.
They had climbed up the mountainside and into a cave. It wasn't the cave the Death Eaters had mustered in, but the cave in which Sirius had hidden in after his return to England.
"This should be safe enough." Harry said. "The Death Eaters may be in the next cave over, surveying their handiwork, or they will have apparated back to headquarters."
Harry sat down and Hermione followed suit, settling herself in across from Harry. There was a long silence before Hermione finally asked a question she already knew the answer to.
"Are you going to go back to Voldemort?"
"I wish I didn't have to Hermione, but I do. Voldemort's the only one who can help me get my revenge on Dumbledore. You understand that I need to do this."
"Yes, but it's dangerous being with Voldemort. Will he try to kill you after you kill Dumbledore?" Hermione was surprised by how coolly she was contemplating Dumbledore's death.
"I'm certain of it." Harry answered grimly. "That is why I also need to be ready to kill Voldemort when I kill Dumbledore. I'm going to need your help for all of this."
"You have it. You know I'll do anything for you. It's just that this is a very dangerous scheme. I'm afraid."
Harry saw Hermione's eyes begin to dampen as she broke eye contact and looked at her feet. He scooted closer to her and took her hands in his.
"I'm afraid too, but like always, I wasn't given a choice. I have to do this. WE have to do this. We're alone in this fight. There will be no help from anybody. We can only play both sides as best we can until we our hands are forced."
Hermione's tear filled eyes looked into Harry's as she raised her head. "I'm so afraid, Harry." Hermione broke off her gaze again as she said, "Hold me, Harry."
Harry put his arms around her and brought Hermione's body to his.
"Hermione…" Harry softly whispered in her ear. "Before, I was expecting to die in my quest, but now I have hope. You've given me hope. Thanks to you, I think that we'll survive."
The tears in Hermione's eyes finally escaped her control and began to flow down her face. Harry felt the tears soaking into his clothes, and he pulled back.
Harry raised both of his hands and slowly brushed Hermione's soft face, wiping the tears away. When the tears were gone, Harry gently held Hermione's face in his hands as his eyes intently traveled her features. His green eyes were bright, and they captured the rich brown eyes that belonged to Hermione with their vibrant gaze.
Harry smiled. "No more tears," he said. "We've had enough time to shed our tears. I know I did nothing else when I was separated from you. I'm tired of being sad. Let's be happy. We have each other again."
His eyes sparkled as his hands brought Hermione's face towards his.
The most exhilarating feeling Hermione had ever known began coursing through her. Her blood raced, her spine tingled, and she felt as if she was flying. It was then that Hermione realized what it felt like to be kissed.
Hermione's arms went behind Harry while Harry was mirroring her actions. The kiss deepened as it went on, mouths opened, and tongues danced. It had once been as gentle as the touch of a feather, but the kiss was now as intense as a thunderstorm raging overhead.
If they could have, Harry and Hermione would have gone on kissing forever. Unfortunately for their desires, they were mere mortals, and air was a necessity. Reluctantly, their mouths parted, and their eyes opened to find the other pair looking right back into them.
"I love you, Harry" Hermione breathed before placing a soft kiss on Harry's lips.
"I love you, Hermione" Harry's return kiss lasted a little longer than Hermione's.
Harry's smile transformed into a wacky grin as it finally sunk in that Hermione loved him. Hermione laughed at the sight, with Harry quickly joining in. They could not help themselves as their laughter took on a life of its own. And then, their laughter became even more outrageous as they realized how ridiculous they were being.
Hermione caught Harry's eyes, and then they were lip-dueling again.
A/N: Hope you liked this chapter. I'm not sure how well I did with this one so let me know. For those of you who didn't catch that, that means review. Reviews are key.
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