Chapter 9-Darkness Falls
Harry's dreams took a turn toward the dark side. He would sleep for thirty or forty minutes wake up in a sweat and lie staring at Hermione in the bed across from him. The dreams were all different. One he remembered was he and Ron being interrogated for some crazy thing but Harry willing blamed Ron. Another, he and Hermione were the King and Queen of some ball somewhere and Ron ran around as the court jester. Another, the last one, Ron stood next to Hermione's body pointing his wand at Harry's chest and speaking the killing curse. He pulled the pillow up to his chest and hugged it close.
The night had ended in such turmoil that Harry couldn't remember when the lights went out, but it wasn't very late so now at two in the morning, he was exhausted and a little frightened at what dreams lie ahead. Harry rolled over to face the window. Hermione opened her eyes staring at him. Moments later, he felt Hermione lifting the covers and cradling him in her arms. The scent of her filled his imagination and allowed him to finally sleep peacefully. An unspoken act of love was never more satisfying and clear.
The faint buzz of the telephone woke Hermione first and her stirring awoke Harry. The sun was out but the trees outside the window were shaking in the wind. "I thought we turned off the phone," said Harry.
"We did, but I think the message thing is still up a little. Yes, there's a message, Harry." She said as the looked at it. "It's only a few minutes old."
"What time is it?" he asked unable to read the clock without his glasses.
"It's eleven, Harry. We almost slept the morning away. Should I play it?" She said apprehensively.
"Sure, why not? It might be security asking us to file a report," said Harry. "Turn on the ringer too, if you don't mind."
The message began to play. It was Ron in a halting voice and obviously very sad. "I don't have any idea how to begin. It's like talking to strangers. But you're not strangers and I have to find out what's going on for my sanity. I'm not proud of my behavior. But do either of you have a conscience? That's what gets me." There was a long pause and the sound of Ron blowing his nose. "I'm okay, if that matters to you. I'm not coming back to Hogwarts, I'm quitting school. I found out something you should know. Meet me outside your hotel at noon."
The phone rang almost immediately after the message finished. "It's the front desk, Harry. There's a package for you. Do you want it sent up?" she asked. The look on her face was as nervous as Harry's.
"No, we'll be down to get it," said Harry. Hermione relayed the message. Up to that moment they felt that no one but Ron and Malfoy knew they were there.
"That's curious," said Harry. "I'm not convinced that the package is a good thing."
"You don't think Ron will be angry do you, Harry?" Hermione said as she began getting ready to shower.
"I don't think so. Ron is pretty straight forward. If he's going to come after you he's not hiding it," presumed Harry.
Once Hermione was out and combing the knots out of her hair, Harry went into the shower. "I can still hear him screaming through the door last night. It was dreadful."
"I couldn't fight him, Hermione. While he pounded on that door, I wasn't afraid, but the guilt would have kept me from fighting him. Two hits is all there would have been--him hitting me and me hitting the floor."
Hermione expected that to be a punch line to another of Harry's jokes, but he stood there and shrugged. "I couldn't try to hurt him anymore, after I saw the look on his face in the bar." He was serious and didn't smile.
Hermione knew what he meant. She'd really gone overboard to hurt him by telling him their story like that. In front of all of his mates, he found out she was already cheating on him. It made her look and feel terrible not to mention, traitorous. Harry couldn't say anything when Hermione admitted that last night. He felt the same on a different scale. That's when the lights had gone out.
They gathered everything and left it in the room for now. They could tell the porter they'd be back for it by three if they wished to leave it there. They slipped their wands inside they're jackets and made for the desk.
The package was small and seemed to be made out in the handwriting of a woman. Harry recognized it and his stomach lurched. It was Ginny's handwriting. "Two guesses whose handwriting Hermione. First one doesn't count." Harry had just showered but could feel the perspiration growing almost immediately.
"Ginny?" she stated in the form of a question.
"What is going on here?" asked Harry. The clerk shrugged realizing he was talking to himself or Hermione.
They walked slowly looking at the box as they approached the doorway to the hotel. They saw Ron standing just to the right as they exited. Harry carefully put the box inside his coat pocket. "Follow me," said Ron. They walked just a little way to the small bistro next to the hotel and went inside.
"I have to go to a workout at one o'clock. Don't think that I'm not pissed." Both Hermione and Harry had that feeling from the moment they saw him. "I'm in shock. It just made the decision to leave school now that much easier. So it's not your little bit of news that made that decision for me. It is convenient though, isn't it? I wouldn't have left until next week. Convenient for the young lovers isn't it, mates?" Ron looked up at his mates sitting at the counter near Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Hermione was a little peeved. "So, once again you decided for us that you would leave me behind. What? This time you wanted me to accept you as a weekend boyfriend?" She stopped because she realized that it was a public place and she'd already said enough last night.
Ron hung his head and said, "I suppose I deserve that."
The pained look on Hermione's face told all. She wasn't angry. She just remembered why she was able to accept Harry's light and carefree love so easily. "Do you wonder why I jumped at the chance when someone said they loved me and I was the best thing that ever happened to them? He felt that way even as friends," she added.
"I told you that too, Hermione. Even if it's over for us, you are still the best thing that ever happened to me," said Ron with a tear. "What killed me was the way you said he took care of you better than you ever could. I want to know if you meant sex or if you were just taking the life out of me on purpose. I can't believe that either of you could do that to me before I knew about you." The silence left the answer unclear.
Hermione felt she owed him the explanation and the truth. "Ron we have been no more intimate than you and I have been."
Ron looked at Harry and back at Hermione. "That leaves a lot of room. But that answers the question, I suppose." He saw the look on Harry's face that spoke of the guilt he felt at that moment.
"I don't kiss and tell, Ron. I said nothing to Harry except that you were not much on romance. Romance and love don't always go hand in hand in some cases. Up to a point, I accepted that. And, I will never spoil what we had together by making a joke out of you. I love you still, Ron. Harry knows it. It could be the wonderful beginning of something special. I'm sorry that I was unfaithful by not telling you before you left. That was wrong." Ron feigned being moved as he pretended to sniffle.
"Yeah, well the look on Harry's face tells me a lot more than your words. It doesn't matter. What I have to tell you is that I'm worried about Ginny in all this." Harry was all ears. "Harry, she was kind to say she broke up with you, but I didn't believe her. I just let it go. It was her decision and I was glad you two weren't together. But I think, she's hurting Harry. If this gets to her, she could be scary. My little sister is tough."
Harry knew this first hand and now he was even more intrigued by the box in his jacket. "Harry, show Ron the box from Ginny." As he did, he sensed that Ron changed a bit. He seemed to become more arrogant, more self-assured.
"When did you get this?" Ron asked. "Do you know that Draco Malfoy was spotted here last night?"
"Yes, we had a rather nasty message on the recorder calling Hermione names." Harry said.
"Open it with caution Harry." Ron offered as advice.
Harry opened the package and inside there was smaller box as expected. He opened the smaller box to find a scroll slid inside the friendship ring he'd given her when they reunited.
Harry read it privately. "First me, then my brother. I knew one day you might go, but you can't get away with the desecration of our love. You claim to love me, yet you sleep with Hermione while she's still with Ron. You are dead to me, Harry. I am dead to you too. You will suffer, but not at my hand. I will watch and take pleasure in it."
He read it aloud to both of them. "Ron, she's wrong on several points." Harry said.
"Well, I'll leave you with a riddle." Harry knew at that moment his guess at the change in Ron had been right. "It's an easy one. Who could get enough of your hair to make polyjuice potion? It's the same person who had a fascination with Malfoy until you turned her head," said Ron. "I never told you how many times I had to shoo away Malfoy chatting up Ginny. You were a welcome alternative at the time. That was going to be the last part of the news to brighten up your day." Ron was holding back a smile. It was as if Ron knew that the thought of Ginny intimate with Malfoy would crush him as much as Harry with Hermione had crushed him.
Harry felt as if he'd been hit between the eyes. Hermione wasn't much better. Without a big row and ill will Ginny had she still come around Harry a lot. They never spoke personally, but she talked with Hermione and was constantly present until that day Ron asked Harry to take care of Hermione.
"She warned me that I shouldn't trust you two together," he said shaking his head. "I don't necessarily want revenge, but other than doing you bodily harm, I can't turn on my own flesh and blood. You see, I'm not a traitor." Ron smiled. "Thank you, Ginny for giving me this bit of satisfaction."
"So, you won't help us?" Hermione said. "What are you saying?"
"With what? You can't handle a sixteen year old witch and a seventeen year old warlock who hasn't even completed school. The great Harry Potter and the brightest witch of her age are looking for help from the great oaf, Ron Weasley. As I see it, all there is, is a note from a distraught teenage girl who feels betrayed by her ex-boyfriend. And, suffering can come in many forms, Harry. You should know that by now. The best torture is the unexpected ruining your `wonderful beginning of something special'," He mimicked. "I'm really sorry, but when Ginny told me last night that Draco got on the phone, I almost died laughing. Oops, did I say that out loud?" Ron smiled, got up and for a moment looked disturbed that he'd just said something he wasn't supposed to say. A second later, in what seemed like an act of defiance to a script of some sort. He said, "By the way, Harry, how do you think we ended up in the same hotel?" Ron walked away.
Harry and Hermione were dumbfounded. "No, no this isn't possible."
"Oh, but it is," said Bosley. "I love watching mudbloods squirm. We're proud that Ron has seen the light of how perverse it is to have sex with a mudblood. We'll give your love to Draco." He turned and followed Ron. "We'll be seeing you around; but will you see us?"
That eerie statement caused Hermione to turn to Harry and say, "That was not Ron, Harry. And, I don't believe that Ginny is that cruel."
Harry couldn't think. It was like his whole life passed before his eyes. He saw Ginny and him in a loving embrace, he felt the warmth and passion she generated, but since he'd been back that wasn't so. "The Imperius Curse, it's the Imperius Curse Hermione. It has to be. Malfoy is trying to make sure he destroys us, you and I. He'll even humiliate them once they've served their purpose. We have to get to him." The pain in Harry's chest grew by the second as he was reminded for the millionth time it seemed that Professor Dumbledore was gone. "He may even be capable of murder now for all I know."
"Harry, how far could this go?" Hermione asked this question so seriously that Harry had to wonder about the circumstances that brought them together. "Love potion?"
Harry didn't want to believe it. But anything was possible. "Hermione, what purpose would it serve to control everyone? To make us mere dancing monkeys is stupid. There has to be some goal in mind. Some end that Malfoy wants to achieve. Now, I'm not so sure Malfoy isn't but the figurehead for the plan. He might be the scapegoat with some greater conspiracy behind it using his childish rage to hide a bigger plan. I doubt Malfoy is talented enough to use the Unforgivable Curses."
They looked around at the patrons in the bistro who looked at them strangely as they talked of the Imperius Curse, Unforgiveable Curses and Love Potions.
Harry took Hermione's hand and led her to their room. He called the desk to tell them they were staying one more night. They would go back in the morning he told Hermione.
"But Harry doesn't that give them the upper hand knowing where we are and we don't have the protections of Hogwarts?" asked Hermione.
Harry thought about that for a moment and realized her point was valid. Yet he felt that under the circumstances the only place he knew that they could talk without being observed by someone spying for Malfoy was right here. And, unpredictability was sure to be an ally.
"Hermione, I think that we would have a hard time finding a place to strategize there. And we'd be locked in if we thought of something after dark. We would never know where we could talk without fear of being overheard. The other advantage is that we hold the upper had as long as we don't become predictable or stay predictable, rather," said Harry and after a pause looked at her as he sat deep in thought. He struggled with that a bit. It was he and Hermione being unpredictable that had started this mess. If they were true to Ron as they'd always been, much of this trouble would have been avoided, He thought. He decided not to say that to Hermione. "What do you think of that? We have to use every resource and you are definitely the brains in this outfit," he smiled trying to lighten up the horrible situation.
"Harry, it makes sense to a degree. I just don't know if today's the day to be unpredictable. We have to find out their aim. On the surface, it appears to be revenge against you and anyone close to you. But whatever this is has been incredibly well planned. There are too many layers to give Malfoy all the blame," said Hermione. "He's involved to be sure, but someone else much more powerful than he has to be pulling the strings."
Harry considered this for a moment. He supposed it was a little egotistical to think that he would be the sole target of such a well orchestrated plan. Was Harry that hated that Malfoy, his peer at seventeen or eighteen, had the power to influence adults to simply get his revenge? The more he thought of it, the surer he became that Hermione was right. They needed to think of a broader goal that would be benefited by this smaller one.
Hermione sat down with a piece of paper from the desk and the pen in the room. "Okay, Harry, let's make a list of those who were suspected to be ally's of Lord Voldemort but were never captured or were never officially confirmed dead but reported dead. "The first on my list is Snape, especially with the level of magic we've seen used so far. Much of what we know at our age is easily detectable and traceable, but this seems to be much more treacherous."
"Hermione, I saw him die. At least, I thought I saw him die. What about Narcissa Malfoy, is she a possibility? Or, Bellatrix Lestrange, I never saw her after she was reportedly captured," said Harry.
"The Lestrange woman was confirmed Harry. That I'm sure is true. But Narcissa, Malfoy's mother, is an interesting case. That's who Mr. Weasley said that the Ministry believed was the driving force behind Draco's disappearance," asserted Hermione. "Harry, at some point, and it may be only one point the answer is simple and becomes complex from there. We have to think of it that way. Otherwise there are layers and layers of `what ifs' that would be impossible for you and I to trace."
"Do we assume that the Order of the Phoenix is intact and we can get their help? Inside Hogwarts, they are of almost no help. But if we discover the greater plan, we will need outside help," explained Harry.
"We have lots of hours of daylight left today. Do we go to Lupin or Mr. Weasely with what we do know?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know where to find Lupin, do you?" said Harry with a sigh. "I'm not sure that I want to take a chance that the Weasleys have not been manipulated in some manner as an entire family."
"Good point," said Hermione. "I know where Tonks makes her home. They are getting on better and better these days. I think Lupin is starting to see the benefit of someone to help him in his time of need. I think he's starting to see that love will overlook all the problems." Hermione looked disturbed. "Unless you're me and decide to give up."
"Hermione, for the last time or at least I hope the last time, think of what you're saying and what we know now. How long have things been manipulated to put us in this position? You are not above human needs and desires. Don't dwell on it, because I'm sure that part of the suffering they want us to endure is the guilt," said Harry.
"Harry, my heart knows that, but when you look at Fleur with Bill and Tonks with Lupin it's hard to say that the problems Ron and I faced were so terrible that I can justify leaving him. Maybe, this was what was meant to happen. I mean maybe you and I equate to Fleur and Bill. I think that's probably true, but there is that tiny bit of doubt and it hurts inside to think of it." She sounded desperate that Harry understand.
Harry understood her better to a point and recognized she needed him to tell her he did. "I am not in doubt about us Hermione. I just want to enjoy our lives together. We have to get to the bottom of all this. I'll try to be more understanding and help you where I can to fight that feeling, Sweetheart," said Harry as he gave Hermione a hug.
It wasn't long before they were off to the one place that Hermione had been that Harry had not in the magical world, Tonks apartment. Hermione had accompanied Tonks several times during the search for the Horcruxes. The house was in a secluded part of the city where it was obvious that it was the most wizard inhabited place Harry had seen in the city. He didn't know how he knew but there were signs like the Quidditch World Cup flags from Ireland or Bulgaria in a variety of inconspicuous locations. There was the surprising lack of automobiles in the neighborhood that didn't seem to have a great deal of mass transportation. For some reason, that was a tell-tale sign of a neighborhood of witches and wizards.
Hermione knocked twice in rapid succession and then used the bell. She waited a few seconds and knocked three times slowly. "Aren't you a little impatient Hermione?" he asked.
"You're funny, Harry. That's the secret greeting," said Hermione. The door opened to Tonks with bright pink hair and a surprisingly wide and generous smile. He saw why immediately when he spied Lupin sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea. "Harry thought I was being impatient with the knock, the doorbell and the knock again," she smiled at him once more.
"Harry, how are you? What in the world would ever bring you to this part of town during a school year? What are you two doing anyway? Where's Ron?" asked Lupin.
They avoided the question for the moment and settled to small talk about how they'd been in London getting away from things when Ron was off doing his Quidditch thing.
And, when Lupin pressed harder about how Ron was doing, Harry looked at Hermione and said, "Should we tell them everything? You start it."
Hermione looked at Harry with a sidelong glance. "I suppose we should." He brushed back the windblown hair from her eyes and gave Hermione a peck on the cheek and took her hand.
Tonks looked at Lupin, "I don't think everything is as it was, Remus."
Hermione began as she looked at Harry for confirmation, "No, things are really out of control." Hermione started with Harry's break up with Ginny and the incident with Parvati. The only details that were left out were the ones pertaining to the extent of their relationship telling it much the same way to them as she explained it to Ron. When she wrapped up the story, Lupin looked at Harry and then took a long look at Tonks. Tonks expression was hard for Harry to read.
"I just wanted to add," said Harry, "that we think that Ginny and Ron are under the Imperious Curse. We don't believe that they are capable of this kind of thing."
Tonks nodded to Lupin. "First, the way this happened was very sad, indeed. It troubles me when friends so close are in trouble. Harry and Hermione, you are unfortunately victims of choices made months ago, upon the defeat of Lord Voldemort." Lupin went on to explain that many of Lord Voldemort's followers went into hiding or simply ran. Harry had been was allowed to continue to believe that some were dead or incarcerated who were not. One was Severus Snape who Lupin maintained was still loyal to the order. Another, that no one had said much about was Fenrir Greyback, the brutal werewolf. Lupin explained that that was why he was not as frequent a visitor as they'd expected at Christmas. Lupin lost track of Fenrir around New Year's Day. The list was much longer than either of them imagined.
Harry sat in stunned silence to hear that so many people he thought were in Azkaban had escaped the Order and the Ministry. He just looked at Hermione and shook his head.
"Professor, how could you do that to Harry? After he nearly died to rid us of Lord Voldemort and survived after beating all odds," asked Hermione as he put her arms around Harry whose hands were shaking in bottled rage.
"What kind of payment is that? Lying to me once I had done what no one else could is the ultimate betrayal. I can't believe what I'm hearing," said Harry in an escalating but not shouting voice. His rage eased as he was able to let out a bit of how he felt.
"Harry, you were one Cruciatus Curse from breaking your own back or choking to death. You were so physically battered from your ordeal; we couldn't tell whether it was the great release of energy when Voldemort passed through the vale or the curses. No one knew if you would even survive. Harry, you have never known how brave you were. We owe you more than we could ever repay. We should be glad for your unique capacity for love and loyalty. But we couldn't stop everything as time after that first week and as time went on and tell you everything. You were unconscious for nearly a week in St. Mungo's, Harry. Ron and Hermione were there two days. We adults were ashamed that the love three friends had for each other allowed them to accomplish what we could not. We wanted you to be kids again. I will not be ashamed of that." Lupin looked at Tonks who put her hand on his shoulder. They stood teary eyed looking at Harry and Hermione.
"I have several sheets of notes I found Harry that are written by Professor Dumbledore. The one plea he had, as he said that it was unlikely he would survive, was that you would be allowed to be free of the concerns of the adult world for some time to enjoy being young. That he believed in the end, it would be possible for you to finally be happy. I couldn't have agreed more. The Weasleys agreed and so did Hagrid. We chose to try to give you your life back and let us be your protector instead of the other way around. We tried the first time and failed. Apparently, we have failed again," said Lupin as he walked to the other side of the small kitchen obviously distressed.
"What about the condition of Ron and Ginny?" asked Hermione as Harry sat again silent taking in Lupin's reasoning.
"I think it would be a mistake to attribute all of this to the Imperious Curse. Today's display by Ron may be the notable exception where it was used to great advantage to keep him calm enough to entice you to talk to him. It sounds as if he took liberties and told you more than he should have too. That is to our advantage," Tonks said. "I have seen the Imperious Curse in action. It is good for short term goals, but long term personal ethics and freewill of the person can't be stopped from coming through without being controlled very closely. I hardly think that Malfoy is able to be a controlling force, but it seems he may still have access to Hogwarts. The most probable explanation of their behavior is the pain of the losing a loved one, whether through death, divorce or break up. It can make people do very horrible things when they are desperate to their ease pain. It effects their mind and reasoning. Think of the number of suicides and crimes of passion that occur."
"Are you saying that Ron and Ginny are now evil?" asked Harry. "I can't accept that."
"I don't say it is or it isn't what we believe," said Lupin speaking for both of them. "But which is safer to do? One, is it safer to regard them as being malicious and hateful for the pain they believe you caused and forgive them if they are under the curse? Or, two, try to reason and let them in closer out of guilt and wishful thinking until they can affect their plan of suffering on you?"
He added, "There is a third possibility. It is possible that it is simple revenge that is not life threatening from their point of view and their need to accomplish it is served by accepting help from Malfoy. They may not see the schemes of control, fear and domination that are the ultimate end. And, while in that circle of evil, they are being used for far more heinous plans. This leaves the possibility for them to act on freewill and, at the same time, under the curse to accomplish different things entirely. You must look at all the possibilities."
Neither Hermione nor Harry knew where to start. "Harry, what if they decide to pose as us when they find out we haven't returned? Remember, there is a large pot of polyjuice potion brewing somewhere."
"Harry, you and Hermione need to make your relationship known to everyone as soon as possible to avoid letting them start rumors. You will have enough problems I fear even if you do that one simple thing," said Lupin. "I will visit Professor McGonagall with Tonks. Do you have everything with you to go back to Hogwarts?"
They had left their belongings in the hotel room. With the help of Lupin and Tonks they retrieved their backpacks paid for the room and Apparated to the front gate of Hogwarts.
"Harry, Hermione. You look wonderful together. Take care of each other," said Tonks.
Harry felt so relieved to find acceptance and he could sense the same in Hermione. They hugged Tonks. Hermione hugged Lupin. As Harry shook Lupin's hand as Remus gave Harry this piece of advice. "We are all human, Harry. But you are a hero to these kids on many levels. Be a role model too. Accept your responsibility and tell people what you told me about not being proud of your deception. It will take away some of the power from Malfoy and whoever else is involved. Be natural together, you are good together. But be judicious in your choices. Do you understand?" He said as he smiled at them.
Harry and Hermione understood. They held hands and went off to face the world as couple for the first time. "Nothing's going to ever be easy with you, Harry, is it?" she said.
"No, probably not," he tickled her ribs and ran.
"Remus, I hope those kids can enjoy there lives together. This could either be what binds them together forever or what steals their happiness."
"We have to move fast. I fear that destroying their image as role models is the first order of business," he said.
"Kids spread gossip all the time, Remus. That's part of life. What could they possibly do? While the role model business is nice, I don't think the kids see it that way, but I'm with you," said Tonks.
"I can't imagine anything more damaging than imposters engaging in inappropriate public displays of any kind. I'm sure you know what I mean. Professor McGonagall needs to know that's a possibility. The problem is that it may not be here in the school. What do they already have from when they were in London?" Lupin took Tonks by the hand and walked quickly to the main Entrance Hall and Headmistress McGonagall's study.
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