Unofficial Portkey Archive

Title: All Nights (15/?)

Author: Goldy

Disclaimer: Pretend I said something really snarky and witty, because they really, really don't belong to me.

Keywords: Harry/Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Horcrux!plot, Voldemort.

Spoilers: Books 1-6

Word Count: 4, 768

A/N: Huge, huge, huge thank you to Nousia, whose grammar and characterization suggestions were invaluable.

A/N2: Another big thanks to my lovely feedbackers. I wish I had faster chapters for you guys, you're all so wonderful. Thanks, as always, for your continued support and encouragement.

***

Hermione hated the game they were playing. Knees touching under the table. Almost kisses exchanged in the corridor before bed. Thousands of small illicit touches.

It didn't seem to matter that they'd mutually agreed to put Voldemort first. They were inevitably drawn back to the same place. An inability to let each other go.

"Maybe skipping my last year at Hogwarts wasn't so smart, after all," Harry admitted one night.

They were sitting in the living room, side by side on the couch, legs touching. They were trying to find anything that would help them destroy Voldemort. She'd set a Confounding Charm around the room. The Weasleys were in a habit of popping up at the strangest times; trying their best to discover what they were "up to."

"I mean," Harry continued, "there was probably all sorts of stuff we could've learned. I'm not even a full-fledged wizard yet."

"Hogwarts closed down, Harry," she said vaguely, only half listening.

"Yeah, but… I'm just saying…." Grumbling, he rifled through a few pages of his book. "I'm gonna die, aren't I?"

"Oh, hush up," Hermione said. "Don't throw yourself a pity party. Honestly."

Harry blinked. "I wasn't. Just trying to be realistic, is all."

Hermione closed her book and smacked him on the arm.

"Ow!" Harry yelped.

Hermione opened the book again and frowned. "Stop it."

"Maybe you'll die too," Harry said. "We could go together. It'll be very romantic."

"Harry!" she said. "That's not funny."

"Yeah," Harry said. "I just… I can't seem to shake the feeling that all of this is useless. What're we looking for, Hermione? Some brilliant undiscovered spell to destroy All-Powerful-Dark-Lords?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."

Harry didn't seem bothered by her tone. "Perhaps we should speak with the Order. If anything, they finished their final year at Hogwarts."

"We will find something, you know," Hermione said, using her best haughty voice. "Neither of us will die."

Hermione glanced up to find Harry staring at her. Her stomach took a nosedive.

"What is it?"

He gave a shrug and cracked a smile. "I just… I…"

"I know," she said. "I mean, I understand."

Harry held her gaze for a moment and then smiled smugly. "We should get matching gravestones."

"Harry!" she clapped her book shut and smacked him three times.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" he said, rubbing his arm.

She gave a huffy sigh. "Don't talk that way."

"That hurt!" he said.

She rolled her eyes and ignored him. Harry went silent, but she was uncomfortably aware he was staring at her.

"Hermione?"

She looked up and swallowed. He'd gotten close to her-too close.

"I… yes?"

His hand was on her arm. His palm was warm. She could feel his breath on her chin. His eyes seemed wide and unblinking behind his glasses.

"Hey, guys!"

It was Ron.

Harry and Hermione jumped and broke apart, springing to opposite ends of the couch. Flustered, Hermione covered her guilt by pinning Ron with a glare.

"Where have you been? Harry and I have been here for ages!"

Ron pulled a face. "Kept getting confused, actually. Every time I got near, I found myself in the kitchen. You didn't charm me or anything, did you?"

"Of course not," Hermione said quickly. She pointed at the pile of books. "Go. Research."

Ron grumbled and picked one up. He settled down on the couch between them.

"Life with you is always such fun, Hermione. 'Prolly for the best we never did work out. I'd've killed you after three days or so."

Harry turned a page with rather more vehemence than was necessary. Ron glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Course, I'm sure it would've been fantastic channeling that energy into other areas, if you know what I mean."

Ron wagged his eyebrows in an annoying sort of way.

"You think so, Ron?" Harry asked.

Ron looked up. "Yeah, I do."

"Well, that's…" Thrown, Harry went back to his book. "Well, then, you're an idiot."

"Good insult," Ron said dryly. "Best ever."

"Ron," Hermione said. "Open that book on your lap and find a way to destroy Voldemort. Please."

Sulkily, Ron opened it. "Fine. Don't see what you're all so uptight about anyway."

***

Mrs. Weasley's pumpkin juice slid down Hermione's throat; thick and cold. She set down her mug and glanced around the table. Everyone else was sitting rigidly, forcing food into their mouths in a charade of normality that fooled no one.

"You'd hardly recognize it," Lupin was saying. "Voldemort is trying to raze it to the ground. Whoever survives the raids picks up and leaves. We can't keep up with his Death Eaters. The Order's been so fragmented since Dumbledore…" Lupin trailed off and sighed. "Voldemort's ruined Diagon Alley. I'm not certain it will ever recover."

Heavy silence followed Lupin's pronouncement. Tonks fidgeted uncomfortably next to him, her eyes wildly darting around the room.

Ron leaned over and mumbled to Harry, "Mate, promise me you'll off me before I get that twitchy."

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione hissed.

Ron rolled his eyes and stabbed at his food.

Mr. Weasley leaned forward, clearly engrossed in Lupin's report. "It's all about numbers. I don't see why we aren't focused on recruitment."

"Arthur," Tonks said. "It's too much. We don't know who's posing as a spy or who's under Imperius."

"I'd hardly say we were useless," Charlie said. "We've captured a number of You-Know-Who's followers-some of them from his inner-circle. Even without Dumbledore, we're still a pain in his arse."

"Who have you captured?" Ginny asked, eyes on Charlie.

"Eat your peas," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I want to join the Order," Ginny said. "I'm almost old enough-only a few more months. What does it matter now, anyway?"

"And just how're you planning on helping, Gin?" Ron said. "I think You-Know-Who's learned to block a Bat Bogey Hex by now."

Ginny's ears turned red and she chucked a handful of peas at Ron.

"Oi!" Ron sputtered. "Mum, did you see that?"

"Quiet, both of you," Mrs. Weasley said. "I spent hours making this meal. Now eat your peas!"

Harry and Hermione hurried to shovel more food into their mouths.

"Fred and I boarded up our shop ages ago," George said. "Place looks near a ghost town."

"Still have to pay rent, though," Fred said. "How's that fair?"

"We're not quite ready to throw in the towel yet. War's bound to end eventually, isn't it?" George said.

Fred gestured across the table. "You got a plan, Harry, dontcha? Any timetable on it? Business can only stay cold for so long."

Harry choked on his roast beef. "Er…"

Ginny sat up straighter. "Yeah, Harry, what's the plan?"

"Plan?" Harry said, looking at the ceiling. "I, er…"

"Well, you are doing some super secret thing to go after You-Know-Who, right?"

Everyone's eyes were fastened on Harry. Uncomfortable minutes passed.

"I mean," Ginny said. "It's just that… we all want to help. You oughtn't do this alone."

"He's not," Hermione said quietly. Ron gave a small nod.

Harry was spared having to answer by the arrival of a tiny owl. It flew over the table before settling on Lupin's shoulder. A letter fell into his lap.

"That's Professor McGonagall's owl!" Hermione said.

Attention shifted from Harry to Lupin. Food was abandoned completely as Lupin pried open the letter. They watched his eyes widen, his jaw tightening as he read. He set it down and looked at Harry.

"Remus?" Tonks said. "What's…"

Lupin handed her the letter. "Harry, can I speak with you a moment?"

"Yeah," Harry said, rising. He gestured for Ron and Hermione to hang back, shooting them "I'll tell you later" looks.

Hermione watched him go, mind spinning over the possibilities. Another death? Had Voldemort finally decided to go after Harry himself? Had McGonagall figured out what they were up to?

Tonks finished the letter and paled. Silently, she handed it to Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley leaned forward to read it over his shoulder.

"Oh, my," Mrs. Weasley mumbled.

"What?" Ron exploded. "What is it?"

Harry came back into the kitchen, colour gone from his face. "Snape," he said. "The Order's captured him."

***

It was no surprise that the Order had its own jail. Only a handful of people in the Order knew its location. They could only bring others to it voluntarily, without coercion and without the influence of a curse-such as Imperio.

Hermione suspected it was located underground. The walls were hard-packed dirt, but it was warm, well-lit. There were no Dementors here. It was made to hold prisoners; not drive them mad.

Ron and Harry stood on either side of her, their eyes wide as they looked around. Bright torches hung from the walls, making light dance across their features.

Hermione turned her gaze on Harry. "Are you alright?"

He blinked. "Yeah," he said. "I knew it'd come to this, sooner or later."

For once, Ron kept his mouth shut. Hermione could tell he was unsettled and she smiled at him.

"Honestly, you two, this is an Order prison. I hardly think we need to worry about Death Eaters and the like."

"No, just Professor Severus Snape," Ron said.

"Ron," she said warningly.

"He's contained," Lupin said. He was the one who'd escorted them. "We've destroyed his wand. Now, let's find…"

Lupin trailed off. The gate leading to the prison cells slid open and Professor McGonagall emerged, her face long and pointed. Her shadow stretched out in front of her. The lamp she was holding gave a tremor.

Lupin moved forward. "Minerva?" he placed a hand on her shoulder and scanned her face.

She shook her head. "I once believed… we worked together for more than a decade. I trusted-"

"I understand," Lupin said. "He fooled us all, Minerva."

She took a deep breath and stopped shaking, face passive. "He won't talk."

"That's not a surprise," Lupin said.

"Remus, he wanted to be caught. It was too easy... if only I knew…" she trailed off. "He acts the same as he ever did. Rude, intolerable man."

Her voice held traces of fondness. Lupin met her eyes.

"No, Minerva… that's not our way."

She patted him on the arm. "I'm afraid we don't have much choice."

Hermione, Harry, and Ron exchanged questioning looks.

McGonagall sidestepped Lupin and smiled at them. "It's good to see you three still alive."

Ron shuffled nervously. "Thanks, Professor."

Harry stepped forward. "I'd like to speak with him."

McGonagall nodded. "I suspected you might. Should I warn you against revenge, Potter? Professor Snape is in the Order's hands."

Harry's expression was stony. "He might talk to me."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Very well. Come along."

They hurried after her. Hermione was intrigued. They passed cells with prisoners in them-equipped with beds, desks, lavatories, sometimes a kitchen. The few prisoners stared as they went past, but remained silent.

"Professor Dumbledore's work," McGonagall said, reading the look on Hermione's face. "I'm afraid he never approved of Azkaban. He wanted to keep our prisoners calm, relaxed-not suck the life from them. We've never had a breakout."

"It reminds me of a Muggle penitentiary," Hermione said. "Is that right?"

"Yes and no," McGonagall said, mouth quirking into a smile. "There's heavy magics at work here."

"Oh," Hermione said. "Does the Ministry know?"

"That, Miss Granger, is classified information," McGonagall said, her look significant.

They continued along. At one point, Harry came up beside her. Without looking, he quietly slipped his hand into hers. She gave him a reassuring squeeze.

She caught Ron's eye, but he hastily looked away without saying anything.

"This is it," McGonagall murmured. She placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll leave you to talk in peace."

Harry dropped Hermione's hand and moved forward. Snape was sitting in the middle of the cell, his legs crossed. His back was straight and his elbows rested on his knees. His eyes were closed.

"D'you think he's sleeping?" Ron whispered. "Do we wake him?"

"I'm meditating, Mr. Weasley, you half-brained idiot," Snape said, upper-lip furling.

"Oh," Ron said. Then, "You meditate?"

"Tell me, Mr. Weasley, what would you do if you found yourself in a tiny box for the rest of your life? You'd last an hour before going mad."

Ron scowled. "Yeah, well, I'm not the idiot in a jail cell, am I?"

Snape smiled. "Not yet."

Ron looked queasy. "Say, Harry, why didn't we just let the Order torture him again? I don't see why we've got to talk to him. He looked like he was having a brilliant time meditating."

"Funny you should ask that, Ron," Harry stepped forward, inches from the bars. "Hello, Professor."

Snape cracked an eye open. "Potter. Wonderful. The Order does find such inventive ways to torture me."

Harry fidgeted and Hermione winced. It was obvious he was nervous. "I'm having a sort of… funny thought, Professor. Would you care to hear it?"

"I wasn't certain you were capable of… thoughts," Snape said. "Impressive. Go on."

Harry took a deep breath, gathering his composure. "You will tell me something helpful. Something that will help me kill Voldemort."

"And why would I do that, Potter?"

Harry gave a small nod of his head. He looked back at Hermione and she shrugged. Oh, Merlin… I do hope he has some sort of plan…

When Harry spoke, he chose his words carefully. "You owe it to Dumbledore. The way I see it is, you tip the scales. Maybe you really were just biding your time all those years at Hogwarts, waiting for the right moment. But I don't think so. I think you were loyal to two masters at once."

"How very… perceptive…" Snape drawled. "Tell me, is that the extent of the knowledge the Headmaster passed down to you before his very… tragic… death?"

Harry took a step closer. "You murdered him!" he spat. "He trusted you-and you… you…"

"He was a fool, Potter," Snape said. "No more, no less."

Harry stopped short, breathing hard. He struggled for composure. "I don't… I can't believe that."

"Then you're a fool as well."

"You had chances back at Hogwarts," Harry said, voice almost desperate. "You could've sold him out earlier. It doesn't make sense."

"I was playing a part," Snape said.

"No…" Harry said. "It was more than that. I saw it. I reckon you're not even entirely sure what side you're on. And I think… I think-"

"What, Potter," Snape said, voice rising. "What do you think?"

"I think you ought to tell us something to tip the scales," Harry said in a rush. "Something to help us. To fulfill your debt to Dumbledore."

Harry kept his eyes fixed on Snape. His hands were shaking but he didn't back down. The only sounds were of their breathing, not quite loud enough to fill the oppressive silence of the jail.

Finally, Snape spoke. "In an attempt to make himself immortal, the Dark Lord has severely weakened himself." His words were low, methodical, and Harry leaned forward to listen. "Few people realize this. It would be unacceptable for his followers to see him as anything but all-powerful. In this way, he is more vulnerable than he has ever been. Dark magic saps him of strength. Even simple spells can wear him down. That is where you must take your advantage, Potter. You cannot rely on your poor magical capabilities. He has a wide array of power you will never match."

"He's weakened…" Harry repeated. "Yeah, I'll bet he wouldn't want that advertised. How do you know?"

"As I said, there are a handful of people he's confided in," Snape said.

"Right. And you'd be one of them."

"Certainly," Snape said. "And remember, Potter, your wand is connected to his."

"How's that going to help me?"

"You must drain the Dark Lord of his power, Potter. Do you have any better ideas of going about it?"

Harry nodded. "Priori Incantatem," he mumbled. He hovered indecisively for another moment. "Right. Er… thank you."

He gestured to Ron and Hermione and the three of them silently made their way back to Professor McGonagall and Lupin. Harry's face was pensive; his mind far away.

"How did it go?" Lupin said when they appeared. "Did he give you a hard time?"

"He told me what I needed to know," Harry said.

Professor McGonagall and Lupin exchanged an uncertain look.

"He won't be any more help," Harry said. He took a deep breath. "I rather think… it might be a good idea to… kill him."

Hermione gasped. "What? Harry-"

"Professor McGonagall was right, Hermione," he cut in sharply. "It was too easy. He's gotta have some kind of plan… I don't reckon he would simply give himself up."

Lupin gave a tired sigh. "Unfortunately, Severus has not left us with much choice."

"But… Professor…" Hermione said. "Kill him! Oh, we mustn't… Dumbledore wouldn't…"

Lupin rubbed his eyes. "I understand, Hermione. But the risk...."

"The chances of…" Professor McGonagall trailed off and pressed her lips together. "It was… our intent all along. I'm afraid there's no other way."

***

"Kill him! Harry!" Back at Grimmauld Place, Hermione chased after him, as he seemed to be doing his best to get away. Ron hesitated before following.

Harry stopped. "Hermione, it was the Order's agenda from the beginning. Have you forgotten what that man has done?"

"He's got a point, Hermione," Ron said.

"Yes, but… Oh!" Hermione tried to blink back tears. "Harry, he helped you. He's not going anywhere-"

"Helped me?" Harry said. He took a step closer to her. "And just why should I believe anything he says?"

"But…" Hermione wiped at her eyes. "This isn't the heat of a duel-or-or a battle! He's defenseless! He's captive! How can you-you-"

"He killed Dumbledore, Hermione!" Harry exploded. "He wanted to be captured, which means he's up to something."

"You don't know that!" Hermione said desperately. "What if he wants to help? We could use him-"

"No, no, no!" Harry said. "He's had his second chance. You don't come back from what he's done."

"So it's revenge you're after, is it?"

Harry stared at her for a moment. "It's not that simple."

"Hermione," Ron said. "Harry has the Order behind him on this. It's what Lupin and McGonagall already decided. You heard them."

"Peter Pettigrew, Hermione," Harry said quietly. "If I had just let…" Harry paused. "Snape signed his own death warrant when he killed Dumbledore. Everyone in the Order knows that."

Hermione clenched her jaw. She felt wrung out. Tired of arguing with Harry. Exhausted by having him pull her in all directions until she felt like she was being torn apart.

"Harry, you're…" she bit her lip and forced herself to continue. "You're the bravest and most caring person I know. I just-I can't bear the idea of losing you."

She could tell her words got through to him. He looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet.

"Hermione…"

Harry trailed off and shrugged. Ron looked back and forth between them.

"I'll give the pair of you some privacy," he said. "I reckon you need to get some stuff out in the open."

"Ron, you don't…"

"Nah," Ron said. "I get it. I'll see you later."

Hermione felt more exposed with Ron gone. She rubbed her arms and didn't look at Harry.

Harry cleared his throat. "Listen, Hermione…"

"Harry, I…"

They stopped and smiled at each other.

"It's, er… it's getting harder to decide what's right and what isn't, innit?" Harry said, shrugging.

"But, Harry…" her voice trembled. "Taking lives, killing people…"

"Hermione, listen-" Harry's voice quivered and he stopped, swallowing. "Finding Snape, killing him… it was something I wanted for a long time. But…" he took a deep breath and met her eyes, walls and barriers gone. He was nothing but Harry staring back at her-seventeen-years-old and seeming much older. "Now that it's here, it's not satisfying. It's… horrible."

She didn't know what to say.

Harry leaned back against the wall, body slumping. He thought for a moment. "Am I really one of the bravest people you know?"

She couldn't stop her eye roll. "Of course you are," Hermione said. "For goodness sake."

They smiled at each other.

"C'mon," he said. "Let's find Ron. I feel like getting my arse kicked at wizard's chess."

***

"Potter, you are going to crash and burn," Ron said. "Any last words?"

"Why's this game so violent, again?" Harry asked, blinking at his bruised and beaten pieces. "Bit demoralizing."

Ron grunted. "Checkmate."

Harry groaned and sat back. "You could let me win one of these days, you know."

"Nah," Ron said, clapping Harry on the arm. "More respectful to treat you like a real opponent."

Hermione smiled at the look on Harry's face.

"Gee, Ron, I really appreciate that. It's decent of you, thanks."

Ron shrugged. "Victory goes to the better man."

Hermione snorted. Harry and Ron shot her incredulous looks. "Oh, you're both so pathetic," she said. "All this nonsense over a brainless game."

"Brainless!?" Ron said. "Are you mental? The strategy required… well, it's not something you can just go and learn out of a book!"

"Well, alright," Hermione said skeptically.

Ron scowled. "You've got no appreciation for true talent, Hermione."

"I imagine that's true."

Harry leaned back against the couch, apparently content to let them bicker.

"It's not like you've ever tried to face me," Ron said. "Scared?"

"Hardly. I find I have better ways to spend my time."

"Doing what? Reading the One Hundredth and Tenth addition of Hogwarts: The Complete and Unabridged History?"

"Really!" Hermione said. "I do have interests outside of schoolwork. Not that you've ever paid attention, mind you."

"I pay attention," Ron said. "I just think knitting elf hats is a waste of time."

Hermione sat up straighter and sniffed. "I'm not surprised you feel that way."

"Er-yeah," Harry said loudly. "How about we talk about Voldemort for a bit?"

Ginny's voice rang out through the living room, making them jump. "I think that's a brilliant idea, actually."

"Ginny," Ron said. "Don't… bloody… sneak up on people!"

Ginny flipped her hair over her shoulder and took a seat in front of them. "I've been doing some research," she said.

Ron's voice was dubious. "Research?"

"Yes, Ron, research," Ginny said. "Since you lot won't tell me anything, Lupin and Tonks have been helping me out. They think I've got a good idea."

"Idea?" Ron said. "What d'you mean, 'idea'?"

Ginny shot Ron a disgusted look. "If you'd like to look the term up, I could summon you a dictionary."

Ron angrily opened his mouth, but Hermione shushed him with a hand on his shoulder. "There's no harm in hearing what she has to say."

Ginny looked grateful. "There's this really powerful spell, old magic, dating back to the time of Merlin. It's called an Unbreakable Vow."

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. "Go on."

"It's what Snape used when Malfoy…" Ginny trailed off. "Unbreakable Vows can be unpredictable, but they almost always work. It ties two people together. It's an ancient magic that comes from everything You-Know-Who can't understand. Loyalty, devotion… love." Ginny's eyes flicked to Harry. "This is it. Our chance. If this spell was strong enough to bring about Dumbledore's end, well, turnabout is only fair play."

Hermione glanced around-Ron was frowning, face screwed up as he thought. Harry looked surprised but interested.

"What are you saying, Ginny?" he said.

"I'm saying…" she kept her eyes on his face, her look determined. "We can do this, Harry. You and me. It'll give you power, I know it will. I've done all the research. I understand that you want me out of this fight, I do-but there's only so long I can tolerate you being all noble-like."

Ron and Hermione stared at Harry, holding their breath and waiting for an answer.

"How does it work?" Harry said.

Encouraged, Ginny pulled a slip of paper out of her back pocket. "It requires a third caster-but it's definitely doable. There's loads of fancy stuff, mushy handholding and the like, but it works. I can give you strength; promise to help you defeat him. "

"Right," Harry said. "Sounds easy. What's the catch?"

Ginny's smile faltered. "It's risky."

"How risky?"

"If I don't…" she glanced at the paper in her hand. "The Vow is binding. I must do what I promise."

"I see," Harry said. There was a long moment of silence while they all stared at him. Finally, Harry pulled himself to his feet, face troubled. "No. It won't work."

Without another word, he left the room. Ginny watched him go. Her chin trembled once, but she pulled herself together and turned her attention to Hermione.

"This can work," she said. "I've been checking and double-checking for weeks."

She passed Hermione the parchment. Her fingers trembling, Hermione unfolded it. Her eyes scanned the Latin written in Ginny's sprawling handwriting.

"Research it, go over it, whatever you want," Ginny said. "Just don't give it up. Lupin said that this would help balance the scale. Snape using it might even have helped us. Hermione, I can do this. I'm the seventh child. Mum always said that would mean something. It's the most powerful number, you know, seven is. I'll-" Ginny stopped and her eyes grew fiercer. "I wouldn't have done all this if I thought it was hopeless. I can do this, Hermione. I need to."

Hermione nodded. "This is solid spell work."

Ron grabbed the parchment from her hands and turned it upside down. "Gin, this plan, dontcha think it's a good way to get yourself killed?"

"You're an idiot, Ron. I have just as much a chance of dying safe at home." Ginny hefted her chin. "I made my decision when Voldemort attacked us at the Burrow."

Ron jumped at hearing his little sister say Voldemort's name. He narrowed his eyes. "Ginny, you can't… you can't-just… just… why do you always have to meddle?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and focused on Hermione again. "So? Can we do this?"

"Yes," Hermione said. She stood up on shaky legs. "I… it's a good idea, Ginny. I'm very impressed."

Ginny brightened. "I knew I could convince you, Hermione. If you help me, I know we can get Harry to-"

Hermione held out a hand. She tried to smile, but her stomach was a twist of knots. "Don't get too helpful, Ginny. Just… let me talk to him."

"Okay," Ginny said. She paused, breathless. "Thank you."

Hermione couldn't bring herself to respond. She could feel Ron's accusing eyes on her back as she left them behind in the living room.

She found Harry in his room, curled up on the window-seat with Hedwig on his lap. His fingers gently stroked her neck, but his eyes were focused on the window. White frost zigzagged across the pane.

"Harry?"

He didn't respond, so Hermione went and sat next to him. Hedwig hooted and crawled forward to nip at her fingers.

"I looked at Ginny's spell. It's very solid. She obviously spent a long time making sure it could work. It's…" Hermione dropped her voice, keeping it even. "It might be what we need to win this thing, Harry. She's right-if this is what defeated Dumbledore, then-"

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Harry-"

"No."

"Harry, please… I-I want to."

Harry swallowed. "We'll find some other way."

"There's no other way," Hermione said. "This ought to be-"

Hermione stopped, understanding that Harry's reaction came from his emotional side. He was simply looking for anything to prevent what she was offering to do. He'd already given in; the rational part of him understanding this was their best shot.

She nudged Hedwig away and leaned forward, crawling into Harry's arms. She let her head rest on his chest. One of his hands skimmed down her hair, fingers brushing it behind her ear. The other arm curled around her back, pulling her close. His lips touched her forehead. For a long time, neither of them said anything. Light dimmed outside and shadows sprang up through the room.

Hermione knew that outside their embrace, reality would come back. They'd have to be honest with Ron and Ginny about something they'd kept hidden for months. They'd have to perform a spell that could take both their lives. And they'd have to come up against Voldemort in what would be the most important fight of her life.