Unofficial Portkey Archive

Title: All Nights - Chapter 14

Author: Goldy

Keywords: Harry/Hermione, Ron, Ginny, post-HBP, Great Horcrux Hunt

Summary: The trio gets their hands on a Defractor while Harry and Hermione face difficulty with their estrangement.

Word Count: 4, 835

A/N: At end of chapter. This way, you can skip it if you'd like.

Grimmauld Place seemed to shrink within the span of a few hours. Everything they were working on had to be hidden. Books were stuffed under beds. The Horcruxes were in Harry's sock drawer. Ron tossed Quidditch magazines about and hastily scrubbed the kitchen.

The entire Weasley family piled into the house, their laughter ringing through its corridors, their chatter audible at all hours. Mr. Weasley spent most of his time resting, smiling at his family surrounding him.

"Could have been loads worse," he kept saying. "Could have been worse."

Ginny kept him entertained by reading him the day's Daily Prophet and any other books lying around. The twins ran through the corridors, laughter bellowing out of their bellies as they took the downtime to "experiment."

"Have to be competitive, lil' bro," they told Ron. "Won't do to have Zonko's outpace us. New innovations. That's the way to go."

Mrs. Weasley cooked. And cooked. And cooked some more. She stuffed the family full at each meal time.

Bill and Fleur had gone back to their honeymoon, but Charlie was still hanging around. He kept his tone gentle, telling Mrs. Weasley to go to bed when she needed to hear it and changing his father's bandages. Charlie was like a calming influence on the house. They all quieted to listen to his soft voice when he spoke.

"This is great, Harry, really," Ron said. "Look at all the progress we're making. Best idea you've had yet, mate."

"For goodness sakes, Ron, this is your family!" Hermione snapped.

"What's your point?"

"Shut it, both of you," Harry said. "We're perfectly capable of doing this with your family around, Ron."

"He's right, Ron," Hermione said quietly.

Harry's eyes flickered with annoyance. "Since when?"

Hermione flushed. "Well, I just-listen-"

Hermione grabbed both their arms and pulled them out of the living room and into the hallway near Mrs. Black's portrait.

"We can do this, only quietly," she hissed, looking at each of them in turn. "We have a clear direction for once… we just-we need a plan…"

Ron looked bored. Harry looked sulky.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, then. I'll come up with a plan and the pair of you can go play Wizard's Chess or read about the Cannons or be generally unhelpful!"

"Sounds good to me," Ron said, moving forward.

Harry gave a thin smile and held him back.

"We're in this together," Harry said. "Remember?"

"Er, yeah," Ron said doubtfully. "Okay, what do you want us to do, Hermione?"

Harry cleared his throat.

"Or-Harry… yeah, Harry works," Ron said quickly. "So, what's the what, Scarhead?"

"Don't call me that. Ever. Again." Harry said.

"You got it, Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Our next step ought to be destroying the Horcruxes we have. So long as we focus on that, we can-"

"Avoid thinking about Voldemort?" Hermione suggested weakly.

"Something like that, yeah," Harry said. "Alright, this is our next move. We owl Professor McGonagall and see if she's managed to get us-"

"A Defractor?"

Harry, Hermione, and Ron spun around. Professor Lupin stood in the entrance of Grimmauld Place. A small black sphere sat in his open palm.

"I don't suppose the three of you can tell me why you're in need of one of these so badly, hmm?" Lupin said mildly.

"Professor…" Harry managed, eyes widening with gratitude. "That's fantastic! How did you find it? Borkin & Burkes-"

Lupin raised a hand. "No, nothing like that. I… uh… well, I was using it as a paperweight, actually."

Ron stared. "A paperweight?" he croaked.

"Defractors aren't the most useful of magical devices, Ron," Lupin said. "My mum passed it down to me. They've become… well, they're somewhat of an antique."

Harry shot Hermione a are you sure about this? look.

"Yes, that… I mean… that shouldn't change anything," Hermione said. "Professor Lupin, thank you. You've saved us loads of trouble."

Fred poked his head around the corner. "Hey, what're the three of you up to? Took off on us awful fast."

"Nothing!" they said quickly.

Harry hurriedly grabbed the Defractor from Professor Lupin and hid it behind his back.

"OI! GEORGE! THE THREE OF THEM IS UP TO SOMETHING AGAIN!"

Hermione winced. Now George had his head around the corner next to Fred.

"Heya, you three. What's going on?"

"Nothing!" they said again.

"Nothing," Fred said, elbowing George. "Do you believe that?"

"Not a jot," George said. "Oi, it's Professor Lupin!"

"Don't the pair of you have jobs?" Ron said moodily.

"Hey, guys!" said a third voice. It was Ginny. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Fred and George said.

"What do you mean, nothing?" Ginny said grinning. "With those three, it's sure to be exciting."

"Er… yeah," Harry said. "Honestly, nothing."

"Yeah, nothing," Ron said.

"Oh, hey, Professor Lupin!" Ginny said. "Are you staying for supper?"

"I…"

"Mum's done nothing but cook for the last three days," Ginny said, making a face. "Gone a bit mental, she has."

"She's worried," Hermione said, eyes cutting to Harry. "People react to stress in different ways."

Harry ignored her. "Be great to have you, Professor," he said curtly. "I've gotta…"

Shifting his hands to hide the Defractor, Harry hurried away.

"Well!" Ron said cheerfully. "Isn't this a nice little reunion! Here! In the hall! Next to the screaming portrait!"

"Good idea, lil bro. Talk as loud as possible then, why don't you?" Fred said.

Hermione sighed. Too many people. She gave Professor Lupin an apologetic smile before hurrying in the same direction as Harry. She could still hear Ron and the twins arguing behind her back.

She wasn't alone. She stopped and folded her arms over her chest. "Ginny, what do you want?"

"What's going on, Hermione?" she said.

"Didn't you hear? Nothing." Hermione turned to go, but Ginny chased after her.

"Come on, Hermione. I'm not stupid. All the time I spent with the three of you last year… well, I know how you three work. I just…" she blew out a long breath. "I'm worried about Harry."

The two of them regarded each other for a moment.

"You're not the only one who worries about Harry," Hermione muttered.

"Well, neither are you!" Ginny said fiercely. "I have a right to know what's going on!"

"Ginny, look…" Hermione hesitated for a moment before plunging on. "Harry broke up with you last year to protect you, to keep you from this. I respect his decision."

Ginny huffed out a breath. "But… but, Hermione… he was just being Harry. You know how he is. He's… noble and stupid and-"

"And he didn't leave Ron and I behind," Hermione interrupted impatiently. "What do you think that says, Ginny?"

Hurt flashed in her eyes and she took a step backwards. "Hermione-"

"I'm sorry," Hermione said. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. It's just that… Harry, Ron, and I… we've been doing this sort of thing a long time."

Ginny nodded. "I want to help."

Hermione studied her. Ginny's posture was determined, almost hostile. Honestly, like we need another interference…

"Stay safe," Hermione said. "That's honestly the best thing you've… Harry has other things on his mind like now."

"Like you?" Ginny bit out.

Hermione stared. "Pardon?"

"The way you've been treating him recently… I mean, really, Hermione… why have you got to be such a nag all the time?"

"I suppose it's just inherent in my personality." Hermione said dryly. "For goodness's sakes, Ginny, you can't make assumptions! There are things at work here-"

"I know!" she screeched. "And no one will tell me what!"

The two girls stopped and glared at each other.

"What was that thing Harry was carrying?" Ginny asked.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What thing?"

Ginny fidgeted and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She seemed almost nervous. "I saw him. He was carrying something. That's why he left in such a hurry. Did Professor Lupin give it to him?"

"That's none of your business," Hermione said firmly. "Ginny, try to understand, you and Harry broke up a long while ago. It wouldn't be right if you tried to push your way back into his life again."

The words left Hermione's mouth with a practiced, mechanical ease. The objective part of her mind was rational enough to wonder-how much was true? What right did she have to counsel Ginny on anything that had to do with Harry?

Ginny's face screwed up. For the first time, Hermione saw how pale she was. Each freckle seemed to stand out on her skin.

"Fine," she whispered. "Have it your way."

With a distinct air of "this isn't over" Ginny spun on her heel and marched away. Hermione watched her go with regret. I should've been easier on her…

Solitude. That's what she needed. An hour in her room. Alone. Perhaps with her books-yes, her books and her quill and her notebook for company. Anything at all to quell the madness of a household full of Weasleys.

She turned around and ran smack into a male chest.

"Blimey," she muttered.

Hands reached out to hold her upright, fingers tightening on her upper-arms. Hermione raised her chin to meet Harry's eyes, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Oh… uh… hi…"

"Hi."

"What are you-"

"Heard shouting. Thought I'd come investigate."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Harry let go and took a step back.

"It was nothing," Hermione said. "Just… stupid girl stuff."

"You were fighting over me," Harry said bluntly. "What if I said I wanted Ginny's help?"

Hermione regarded him stonily. "I'd say you were trying to make me jealous."

Harry blinked. "Well… okay…"

"If you'd really like her help, by all means. Go on and explain the Horcrux theory to her. I'm sure she'll be most receptive." Hermione paused. "But I hardly think that's practical."

"No, it wouldn't be," Harry said. "And for you, practicality is the only thing that matters."

Hermione bit her lip, stung by his jibe. "Harry…"

He took a quick step backwards. "It's… it's hard… for me to see you. I know we're s'posed to be able to continue on like we always have-like friends. But I can't do that. I can't look at you and see you as only…." He shrugged. "I'm sorry."

Her tongue felt thick, like it was stuck to the roof of her mouth. Oh, how she longed for the solitude of her room-her room and her books. The simplicity of their pages and the scratching of her quill. Harry made her far too emotional. She couldn't afford these feelings, not when there was so much to be done.

"What are you saying?"

A long moment stretched out. He rubbed at the back of his neck and shuffled his feet and she was reminded, once again, of how young he really was.

"We're in this war together, I get that. I need you in it, there's no question there, but…"

"We're not friends," Hermione said dully.

"No, we're not."

She studied his stony face. "We're never going to be again, are we?" she whispered.

He didn't answer.

She felt so tired. The walk up to her room seemed like miles instead of meters. "Harry, hard as it is to believe, I wasn't dumping you."

"Funny," he said, brushing by her. " 'Cause it certainly sounded that way to me."

"And that's it? Six years of friendship and that's it? Honestly, I've seen more emotional maturity coming from Ron and that's saying something!"

"Guess you never hurt Ron this badly, then," he muttered.

"You're punishing me," she said, comprehension dawning. "Oh-brilliant. That's just like you, you know, thinking with your emotions! You don't think you'll regret this one day?"

"Hermione!"

Finally, some real anger. She welcomed it and took a step forward.

"Yes, what is it?"

"I-you…" he looked like he wanted to hit something and settled for thumping the wall with his open palm. "I can't afford this right now! You-us-being like this! This is how it has to be! We'll fight Voldemort together because we have to, but there can't be anything more! There can't!"

He seemed to run out of things to say and ducked by her, in the same direction Ginny had fled to earlier.

***

"Would make a good paperweight, wouldn't it?" Ron said, bouncing the Defractor in his hands. "Heavy little bugger."

Hermione frowned. "Don't toss a magically imbued object up and down."

Harry gave a small grin and she studiously avoided her gaze, hastily grabbing the Defractor from Ron's hand.

"Hey!" he said.

She rolled her eyes and locked her bedroom door. They could hear Ginny arguing with the twins out in the hall, their voices permeating the quiet of the room.

"Well, then," Harry said. He took out the two Horcruxes and set them on her desk. "Are we ready for this?"

"Not even a little," Ron said. He rubbed his hands together. "But let's do it anyway."

"What's this going to do?" Harry said. "I mean, it's bound to have some kind of magical surge, innit?"

"Always does," Hermione said. "Oh, I do hope nothing catches fire…"

"Lovely," Ron said. "I so enjoy these adventures we have. Never boring, that's for sure."

"Cast a Silencio," Harry said. "We don't want to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves."

"Yeah, 'cause if we die, it wouldn't do for anyone to NOTICE!" Ron said.

"We are not going to die," Hermione said. "Well, probably not."

Harry and Ron exchanged uneasy looks and she scowled at them.

"Oh, honestly…" she picked up a book and held it in front of her face. "First, we must activate the Defractor and then focus its attention…"

"And just how're we gonna do that?" Ron demanded.

Hermione dropped the book and passed Harry the Defractor. "Here," she said. "You do it."

"What? Me? I don't-I don't know how to turn this thing on!"

"Figure it out, then," Hermione snapped. "Your name in the prophecy, isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah, that's right, almost forgotten that, good thing you reminded me," Harry said. He shot the Defractor a dirty look.

"Maybe if we ask it nicely?" Ron suggested. "Turn on… please…"

"Not helping," Harry said, teeth clenched. He poked it with his wand and gave a little jump when it became encased in a white glow.

Hermione let out a high-pitched squeak that had Ron clamping his hands to his ears. "Oooooh, Harry! I think you've got it!"

She fished it out of his open palm. "Hey, hang on-" he said.

"I knew it had to be simple," Hermione mused. "It's not a particularly complex object, is it?"

"You knew it had to be simple?" Harry said loudly. "Who figured it out, then?"

"Shush," she scolded. "I'm thinking."

She nibbled along her bottom lip, studying the glowing Defractor in her hands.

"Wish I'd thought to ask for a glowing white ball for Christmas…" Ron muttered. "It's every bloke's dream!"

"The incantation is easy," Hermione said. "The hard part is being able to focus on what we want it to destroy."

"Us," Harry said, face lighting up. He met her eyes. "We're in control of it, aren't we? All we have to do is think really hard about what we want it to destroy!"

Ron scoffed. "Yeah, like that'll work. Are you off your nut?"

"Have you always been this infuriating?" Hermione said to Ron.

He flashed her a grin. "Have you always been this easy to needle?"

"Yes," Harry snapped, making both their heads turn. "Would the pair of you bicker some other time? It's not like the fate of the world is on the line or any such thing."

"Sorry," Ron mumbled. "Just like getting a rise out of her, is all. No need to get all tetchy about it."

"I'm not…" Harry frowned. "Forget it. We're trying my idea."

"And what idea was that? The one where we all think real hard about sucking out the Horcrux's evilness?"

"Yes, Ron," Harry said. "That is the plan. Problem?"

"Mental," Ron breathed.

"Alright, then," Hermione said. "We'll… we'll focus… and then say the incantation…"

Harry touched her elbow and she jumped. He kept his eyes carefully averted. "Maybe I should be the one to say it."

"What difference does it make?"

Harry shrugged. "Dunno. I just… I don't want to think about what'll happen to you if we're wrong about this."

She drew in a sharp breath, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. "That's hardly… nothing can…"

"Give me the Defractor, Hermione," he said. "It's my responsibility."

"I… okay…" she passed him the Defractor, her fingers brushing against his wrist. His gaze tilted upwards, meeting hers for a half-second before breaking away.

"Orioro," Harry said.

The Defractor rose from his palm and hovered in the air, the pulsing light around it growing brighter.

"Let's hold hands," Harry said.

"What?" Ron said. "I'm not holding your hand! Tell me again why Hermione can't be in the middle?"

"Ron, take my bloody hand before I hex you into the next century, got it?"

Ron grumbled but took Harry's hand. Hermione tried to ignore the way Harry surreptitiously squeezed her own fingers.

"We ready?" Hermione asked quietly. She tried to ignore the way her voice shook. Harry squeezed her hand again. She really wished he'd stop doing that.

"Ready," Harry said. "Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron said, voice high-pitched.

Harry's wand was in his left hand. Hermione's hand. She felt a sort of thrill go through her-he rarely used that hand for spells, he'd always been much better with his right.

They rose their arms. Harry was staring at Hufflepuff's cup.

"Ignito!"

The Defractor pulsed and then flashed. White light filled the room. Hermione squinted, nearly blind, but she concentrated on Harry's painful grip on her hand. Her mind focused on the cup. All they had to do was take out the magic, suck it out until only the goblet remained, until it was only gold and metal.

That's when the windows shattered.

Hermione flinched when shards of glass hit her skin. Small tingles of pain laced along her body. She squeezed her eyes shut and focused. Focused.

The floor rumbled and groaned. She heard Ron curse. Harry still gripped her hand, his palm warm and firm and solid.

"It's fighting back!" he yelled. "Keep pushing!"

The room wrenched and twisted. They stumbled sideways, letting go of hands and grabbing arms, elbows. They stayed standing.

The Defractor pulsed again, bathing the room in a red glow. Hermione opened her eyes. Harry's profile was barely visible, smudged by the red haze.

"Harry…?"

"It's fine," he said. "It's fine. We just… we need to…"

The desk rocked back and forth before crashing on its side. The two Horcruxes skittered to the floor.

"It's working," Harry said.

The walls shook. A jagged crack zigzagged its way along the ceiling. Hermione couldn't hide her terrified gasp.

"Keep focusing," Harry mumbled. "Keep-"

A ripple coursed through the Defractor. It began shuddering.

Hermione felt her feet leave the ground and she, Harry, and Ron were thrown backwards, landing in a twisted pile of limbs. Destroy the cup's power, take it away, end it… Her mind chanted over and over even as she struggled to regain her footing. Harry's arm slipped around her waist to help. They staggered upwards.

Another blast from the Defractor knocked them off their feet again. Ron yelped. Harry swore.

The room shook and the bed gave a heaving yawn and cracked, the mattress splitting in two. Hermione felt her skin begin to hum and tingle.

"It's moving onto us," she yelled. "Harry, we must shut it off, we can't-"

Harry tightened his hold on both of them and squeezed his eyes shut. The Defractor gave a high-pitched cry, like the sound of a kettle coming to a boil. Hermione watched Hufflepuff's cup begin to vibrate. It skittered along the floor, quivering until it became a blur. Hermione grit her teeth and kept her eyes trained on the cup. Sweat gathered along her forehead.

The cup stopped shuddering and the light from the Defractor blinked out, the black ball dropping to the floor. The magic that had been brimming in the room winked out with a thundering clap. Harry's body went slack and he collapsed backwards onto his back, body emitting painful gasps.

Ron touched his cheek and then his nose and as if making sure he was still alive. Hermione pushed the hair out of her face, her heart still banging.

"Well!" Ron said. "That was fun! I know! Let's do it again!"

Silence. And then-

Harry gave a kind of broken, wheezing laugh. The laugh turned into a cough and his body shook before he managed to regain control of himself.

"Harry," she said. She touched his shoulder. "Harry, are you alright?"

He brushed her hand away and fixed his glasses. "I'll be fine," he said. He braced his elbows on the floor and forced himself to sit up.

"So…" Ron said doubtfully. "D'you s'pose it worked?"

***

Hermione felt light. Judging by the smiles on Harry and Ron's faces, she knew they felt the same. Her jaw throbbed, her knee was gashed, blood trickled down her elbow. Harry's arm was in a sling. Ron had a bag of ice pressed against one eye.

Every time they caught each other's eyes, they started laughing. They were sprawled out on the living room floor, unable to move, to talk. Mrs. Weasley glared when she walked by, disapproval etched into every line of her face.

Fred and George thought they were hilarious.

"I think that bag suits you, Ron," Fred said.

"Matches your hair," George added.

Too drained to make a reply, Ron halfheartedly tossed a pillow in their direction. They left, twittering.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron all sagged again.

"We did it," she whispered. "We really did it."

Harry gave her an affection little pat on her arm. She smiled at him. They had been doing that for the last hour. Small touches. Hands on shoulders, backs. Harry brushing her hair behind her ear. Quick finger squeezes when Ron wasn't watching. Neither of them said anything. It seemed allowed, this way, as long as it went unspoken.

"I reckoned we were going to die," Ron said. He suppressed a shudder. "Glad we didn't, though."

"Agreed," Harry said. With great effort, he raised his head. "But we did it."

"Yeah," Ron echoed. "We did it."

Hermione snorted. "One more step forward."

Ron fell back down. "Funny that such a tiny little thing can make all that magic, innit?"

"No," Harry said. "It was us."

"Mmm?" Hermione asked.

"The magic came from us," Harry said. "All the Defractor did was channel it."

"Makes a bloke proud," Ron said. "Still, it's a powerful little bugger."

Harry gave a noncommittal grunt. Silence fell. Hermione closed her eyes. Completely still, she could feel each of her tiny hurts.

Hermione heard someone enter the living room and stop. She cracked one eye open and saw the blurry shape of Ginny Weasley. Her chin was set and her arms were folded over her chest.

"What happened?"

Ron muffled a curse. "Go away, Ginny. We're busy."

Ginny shot him an irritable look. "Everyone's wondering. You disappear for four hours and show up looking like that! Mum's a mess. Keeps breaking down and crying all over the place."

"Ginny," Ron ground out. "This doesn't concern you, okay?"

She stomped her foot. "No, not okay, Ron! I'm not a child, you can't treat me like that."

Hermione forced herself to sit up. Ron's glower was making her feel nervous. "Ginny, please," she said. "We're not doing this to hurt you. Try to understand-"

"Understand?" she said, eyes flashing. "How can you say that! Harry's arm is in a sling!"

"Well, I have a black eye!" Ron said indignantly.

"I'm sure you deserved it," Ginny sniped.

"Oh," Ron said. "That so, is it? I deserved getting a black eye? You think-"

"Ron," Hermione hissed. She shot him a look. "Ginny, let's talk about this later."

Ginny's eyebrows shot upwards. "Forget it. You'll only continue treating me like a three-year-old."

"Not doing much to convince me to do otherwise at the moment," Ron mumbled.

"Ron, I beg you, don't help me with this," Hermione snapped. "Ginny, listen, you have to trust that we know what we're doing. It's for the best."

Ginny gave her a flat stare. "You think I don't know," she said. "You think I don't… You-Know-Who possessed me, Hermione. I want him dead just as much as you do. Maybe more."

"Ginny-"

"No, that's fair," Harry interrupted, speaking for the first time. He hauled himself to his feet. "Ginny, let's… talk…"

She eyed him suspiciously. "Alright."

Harry pushed his glasses up his nose and followed Ginny out into the hall, hobbling more than walking.

"Yep," Ron said. "That went well."

***

Three hours. Ginny and Harry left to talk three hours ago.

Hermione had tried sleeping. And couldn't. She tried researching. And couldn't. She contemplated a hot bath. And found herself standing outside Harry's bedroom door.

She wrung her hands together before taking a deep breath and knocking.

"Come in!"

She twisted the doorknob and entered, careful to keep her face composed. Harry was sprawled on his bed, his arm propped up on a pillow.

"Hi," she whispered.

He flashed her a grin. "Hey."

"How are you?"

"Oh, brilliant," he said dryly. "Never felt better."

She forced out a laugh. "I don't suppose using the Defractor without any sort of thought to its consequences was really the best idea I've ever come up with."

With what looked like a considerable amount of pain, Harry sat up. "Don't say that. It worked, Hermione. Do you know…" he trailed off. "I never really thought we'd get this far. Finding the Horcruxes… destroying them… seemed like something we'd be doing forever."

"I know," she said. After hesitating for a moment, she went over and sat down next to him. She tried to ignore the careful distance she kept between them. "And now…"

"Voldemort," Harry said darkly.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Are you scared?"

"I'm trying not to think about it, honestly," Harry said. He shrugged. "I promised myself, at the end of last year. Doesn't matter how much time I have left-every moment is worth it."

"That's… well, that's very mature of you," Hermione murmured.

"Yeah, I've had some time to think about it," Harry said. He paused. "Is there something you wanted?"

"Oh… I… I just…" Hermione grasped her hands together and stared down at her lap. "How did… it go… with Ginny?"

"Told her I couldn't live without her, actually," Harry said. "Thought it best if we got back together. Didn't seem to believe me, though. Stalked off. I might never recover."

Hermione's fell open. "Pardon me?"

Harry laughed. "I'm kidding. Merlin, Hermione… I'm not quite so pathetic."

"That wasn't funny," she said. She tried to ignore the way her voice sounded like a petulant child.

He raised his eyebrows, mouth still quirking with amusement. "There really isn't much to tell. She asked what happened. I didn't tell her. She called me some rather unflattering names and stomped off."

This time, Hermione did laugh. "Unflattering names?"

"Don't ask."

"Oh, Harry… I hope you weren't too hard on her…" Hermione sighed. "She's still more than a little hung up on you, you know."

Harry shuffled uncomfortably. "Yeah, well, it'd be a lot safer for her if she wasn't."

"She's just concerned," Hermione said softly. "I can relate."

He glanced sideways at her. "I gotta say, dumping me was an interesting way of showing 'concern.'"

"I didn't dump you, you git," she said. "You were putting words in my mouth. I never wanted to be the one to hurt you like that."

"Yeah, well," Harry said. He wiped his palms on his jeans. "Maybe you were right."

Hermione's head snapped up. "I was… what?"

"Right," Harry said, avoiding her eyes. "I mean, maybe it was a bad idea, being so involved like that. What with… you know, other things going on…"

"Oh," Hermione said.

"Yeah," Harry said. His voice was strained. "But I don't-I don't think…"

"You don't think what?" Hermione prodded, shifting closer to him.

"About… before, when I said we weren't-"

"Friends-"

"That, yeah," Harry said. "Stupid thing to say. I reckon we're always going to have something, some kind of connection. And we can use it, we just…"

"Can't get too close," Hermione said heavily. "We have to focus on what's more important."

"Right," Harry said. "What's more important."

"Than us," Hermione said. "Like-like… Voldemort."

"Like Voldemort."

"Like…" Hermione searched around in her mind for something else to say and found nothing. She stood up, legs unsteady. "I'll speak with you later, Harry."

"Alright," he said. He sounded frustrated and she didn't turn around to look at him. She had to leave this room. Being around Harry messed her up.

"Yes… alright."

***

References:

The idea of using a circular magically imbued object as a paperweight is a blatant Buffy the Vampire Slayer rip-off from the episode Becoming pt. I. Wish I could claim ownership my own self, but alas…

There are a smattering of other Buffy and Firefly references throughout because I'm a blatant hack. If you catch any, you get shiny gold stars.

Now…

Author's Notes:

Wow. You guys continue to amaze me with your feedback. Just… just… thank you. All of you! Hardly a day goes by when you don't put a gigantic smile on my face.

As far as I'm concerned, the H/Hr community is one of the largest, most welcoming, and most supportive that I've ever come across. There have been comments that make me laugh, blush, squee, and think. *loves*

You all are awesome.

Self-Pimpage:

This is so tacky, but…

I've recently fallen in with mad love for a tiny 14-episode television-series called Firefly, cancelled by Fox about three years ago. Last October, a major motion picture, Serenity, was released as a sequel. I've started writing fanfic (*ducks the pumpkin pies*), specifically for the Mal/Inara pairing-and I never thought I'd ship an antagonistic, bickering pairing after my dislike for R/Hr. But such is life.

Anyhoo. If you know what Firefly is, my small collection of fic can be found on my LJ: http://goldy-dollar.livejournal.com/tag/ff_fanfic

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you should head over to Amazon.com and pick up a copy of Firefly: The Complete Series and its sequel, the movie Serenity. Has some of the best writing/dialogue/characters I've ever encountered. You won't regret it.

And… I have the next three-or-so chapters of All Nights planned out, and I hope to have them done relatively quickly.

Coming next: How desperate will Ginny get? How stubborn are Harry and Hermione? How will they go after Voldemort?