Chapter 13- The Invasion
Harry and Hermione ran around their room looking up last minute spells and making sure they had all of the information that they needed.
"Do you know where my cloak is Hermione?"
"It's under the pile of your clothes."
Harry looked around him. "There are about ten piles of clothes."
Hermione sighed, "The pile next the bed."
Harry walked over and to that particular pile of clothes and found his cloak. He was ready. Hermione was ready as well. They met up in the middle of the room.
"So, where are we apparating to?" Harry questioned Hermione.
Hermione pulled out her map with the five mile area highlighted. "I was thinking that we should go somewhere near this end and work our way towards the other side. That is our best bet of finding the village I think."
Harry studied the map and nodded. "I agree."
The two of them apparated and found themselves in the middle of a very thick and dark forest. Luckily it was a cloudless night which gave them a little light.
Each of them had their wands at the ready as they looked around them trying to get their bearings to where they were. Hermione, always preferring the Muggle way, pulled out a compass to check out where they were. She turned around a couple of times and motioned for Harry to keep quiet as she listened to sounds.
Hermione whispered quietly to Harry, "From what I can tell there should be a stream about 100 feet that way." Hermione pointed in front of where they are standing. "That stream cuts through the highlighted area right through the middle. I think we should follow it. This way we won't get lost and we will hopefully find a sign as to where the group is located."
Harry chuckled softly, "You know you don't have to explain everything to me? I used to be an Auror too."
Hermione had forgotten. It seemed like ages since they have worked together. She smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, old habit of having to explain everything to Ron."
That wiped the smile of both of their faces, Ron. For a brief second they forgot the reason they were there. They had to save their best friend and they needed to focus if they were going to get this done.
The two of them set off walking down the river very quietly. They pulled up the hoods of their cloaks so that they would blend in. They wanted to keep the upper hand and the element of surprise.
They continued their walk in silence for a couple of hours, going slowly as to not attract any attention to themselves. As it grew later they started to hear the ocean in the distance. Knowing they were running out of space, both started to worry that maybe they had the wrong place or that this was a bad idea.
While they had been walking, neither had noticed the dark clouds that rolled in over them. All of a sudden rain came pouring down almost immediately soaking them. However, the rain was a blessing in disguise. In the woods both could hear a child shriek and then a female making soothing noises.
Harry and Hermione met each others eyes briefly before looking ahead of them into the woods where they had heard the noise. Both knew what the other was thinking, that the village they were looking for was where the voice was coming from.
Neither had to say anything as they both silently crept through the trees, coming closer and closer to the origin of the noise that had by this time subsided into silence. All they could hear was the rain coming down on them now. After a few minutes of walking, Harry held his hand up to stop Hermione from going any further.
They both stared through the branches of the trees blocking their way. Beyond the trees was a clearing that had many hut type houses in it. The homes were all lit up and the people were going about their lives in the house. Harry and Hermione remembered that because the people were sensitive to sunlight, most likely their days were reversed. They were awake at night and then slept through the day.
If there was any doubt left about if this was the right group, Harry pointed to the trunk of the tree they were behind and Hermione saw the sign of the tribe on the tree. They had the right people alright.
Harry and Hermione went back to the river to talk about how they should proceed.
"I think we should go in there now and kill as many of those people as we can and try to find Ron," Harry whispered his plans to Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "One, they are weakest during the day. That is when we are going to strike."
Harry made a face. "Does that mean we have to stay hear until morning?"
"Yes, and two, looking at them, I don't think we should kill them."
"What?" Harry looked incredulous.
Hermione bit her lip as she looked nervously at Harry. "Before we continue with this let's put up a fire and do a drying charm."
Harry nodded mutely as he gathered some stick and put them in a small area by a tree. First he did a drying charm on the small area and then he charmed the place so that the rain would no longer come down on them. After that he cast a spell on the fire so that no one could see the fire.
Hermione and Harry sat facing each other. Harry waited for Hermione to start talking.
"It just doesn't seem right to go and kill all of them. I don't know if you noticed, but there were children in those houses. They are just like us. I don't think killing them would be the solution. And, I can't blame them for coming after me. After all I did kill one of their people."
Harry nodded and took this all in, listening to Hermione patiently. "You can't blame me for my actions then. They have one of my best friends held captive and they are threatening the life of my other best friend and wife."
Hermione looked into Harry's eyes as he said these words to her. He called her his wife. She knew that it meant nothing, because by all accounts she was his wife. But, she liked it. The thought made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
"Here," Harry said as he pulled Hermione close to his side so that she was leaning into him.
Hermione yawned as she got more comfortable.
Harry noticed this. "You rest your eyes and sleep. I promise I will stay awake."
Hermione allowed herself to succumb to the warmth of the little fire and being enveloped by Harry's arm.
Harry stayed true to his word and kept watch for the rest of the night. To him the time past quickly as his thoughts dwelled on his future and on Hermione. It hurt him so much to think of a life without Hermione in it. However, soon enough his thoughts came to an end as the rain started to subside and the sun came out. Once the sun was fully up Harry woke Hermione up.
Harry and Hermione sat around the now dying fire for a few minutes discussing their plan of action to getting Ron back.
"I think we should use that freezing charm we practiced," Hermione voted.
Harry shook her head doubtfully. "That spell has a time limit."
"Of an hour! Do you really think that we will be in there that long?"
"I don't know. I'm just thinking better safe than sorry."
"Well, what spell do you think we should use then?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Well, I know that it is basic, but I was thinking Petrificus Totalus. It does not have a time limit and it wouldn't do any harm to the people in the village."
Hermione nodded. "That will work really well."
Harry smiled, "good. It feels nice to be right for once."
Hermione laughed quietly. "Don't get too used to it."
They stood up and put out the fire. Each glanced at the other and then made their way towards the village.
"Remember Hermione, be quick so they can't put a spell on you," Harry reminded Hermione.
"Don't forget that I am an Auror. I can handle this," Hermione replied.
The two of them stepped into the village grounds and entered the first hut. Before any screams could be heard they performed the spell on everybody in that hut. They proceeded through the village in this manner, going through each building one by one. This took a little time, but it was simple and produced the results they wanted.
The last hut they reached was larger than the rest and had many decorations on it. This gave the idea that this was the leader's hut, and where Ron would be held. Harry and Hermione paused for a brief moment before leaping into the hut, wands at the ready.
The room was empty except for two people, Ron who was sleeping in the corner, and the leader of the tribe who was working on some sort of craft on the ground. He looked up in surprise, but before he could do anything he was frozen. The man was an elderly man with gray wispy hair. He wore baggy clothes that hung loosely over his bony body. There was fear in his eyes.
Hermione spoke first, "We have come to take back our friend."
The man looked like he wanted to say something but was unable to do so because of his current state. Hermione noticed this and released the spell. Harry glanced at Hermione, unsure. But, she knew that he was no match for them.
"Thank you for releasing me. Please tell me that you didn't kill all of my people to get to your friend," The leader's voice was filled with fear and worry over his tribe.
Hermione smiled kindly at the old man. "We did no such thing. They are all under the harmless charm that you were under just a moment ago."
The man sighed with relief. "Thank you for sparing my people."
"Your welcome, but can we please leave with our friend now?" Hermione questioned.
"Well, I don't know. The balance is still uneven. Someone has to die for the man you killed."
Harry finally spoke up angrily, "Well, that is not going to happen. There is no way I am going to let you lay a finger on Hermione."
The man smiled, looking from Hermione to Harry. "I thought the marriage was false. Now, I see that your feelings are true."
Hermione glanced at Harry and then back at the man. "You are mistaken, the marriage is fake."
The man just chuckled in response.
"Anyways, that has nothing to do with what is going on now. I am sorry that I killed that man. I didn't know what I was doing. It was an accident. Please believe me," Hermione begged the man.
The man studied Hermione, contemplating over what she had said. "I believe you are telling the truth."
Hermione sighed, "I am, I truly am."
"Yes, then it would do no good to harm you then. Our teachings would not allow that. Not to mention you kept all of my people alive when you could have easily killed them. This shows me you value life. You would do no harm to a person on purpose unless your life was in danger."
Hermione smiled at the man. "This is true. I am so glad you believe me."
"We will no longer come after you, and you and your friends can go in peace now. I am sorry that we came after you in the first place, however I feel some good came from it after all," the man spoke cryptically, not explaining himself any further.
However, they did now wait for an answer to get out of there. Hermione bowed to the man and thanked him while Harry went over to wake up Ron, who was a little disoriented.
The trio thanked the leader once again, released the people from the charm they had put on them, and walked out of the village safe and sound.
A/N. This is definitely not my favorite chapter, but it was needed. Somebody wrote a review at ff.net that this chapter was a little awkward and I would completely agree. But what can I say, I'm paid (I wish!) to write the romance, not the action. Lol.
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