Chapter 11 - The Room of Love
Disclaimer The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J. K. Rowling. No infringement intended, just borrowing.
"How do you know she's gone after Harry?" Ron asked.
"I just have a feeling…call it witch's intuition." Hermione replied. "I don't know anything for sure but since Harry and I have been especially close lately, I can tell when something is wrong."
"Well, we're not going anywhere until we know for sure that Harry's in danger, Hermione." Ron stated. "You read my dad's note."
"But I just can't sit here and do nothing, Ron! What if Harry's hurt and he needs help?"
"I don't think Ginny would intentionally hurt him."
"But what if she's not herself? I hate not knowing anything and not being able to do something!" Hermione was close to tears.
At that moment, Tonks apparated in front of them and almost crashed into an end table, her hair now long, dark and curly.
"Bloody furniture…" she muttered as she steadied herself. "Ron! Hermione - hello!" She gave them both quick hugs.
"Tonks!" Hermione exclaimed. "Have you seen Harry?" she asked anxiously.
"I was about to ask you the same question," Tonks replied. "He didn't show up today at our designated meeting place so Remus sent me to make sure he hadn't overslept or something."
Hermione's heart sank at this news. "I knew it, I knew something was wrong!"
The young auror looked at her curiously. "What's wrong? Is Harry missing?"
Hermione, with Ron's help, told the whole story of the spell book, the horcrux theory and Ginny's obsession with Harry.
"Oh dear," Tonks shook her head at hearing all of this. "This is making my head warm, I must tell Remus - perhaps he'll know where Ginny might've taken him."
At that moment, Remus apparated right beside her. "You're getting good at that." Tonks said.
"Good at what?" he replied.
"I just said your name and you appeared. We really are connected." She smiled at him.
"Prof - I mean Remus, Harry is missing!" Hermione interjected. "We're trying to figure out where Ginny might've taken him."
"What? Why is Ginny after him?" Remus commented, looking confused.
Ron and Hermione repeated their story to Remus, with Tonks interjecting details. Remus' expression quickly turned to worry as he absorbed the details of the story. He looked lost in thought when they were done.
"Remus, do you have any idea where Ginny might've taken Harry?" Tonks asked gently.
"I have an idea," he nodded thoughtfully. "She might've taken him to the Department of Mysteries - she can get into the Ministry because her father works there - she could always say she's visiting. Hermione, you said that she wanted the spell book back so she could save Harry by making him fall in love with her. Harry and I have been focusing our search on the Room of Love lately - we think we can destroy Voldemort if we harness its power."
"You think they've gone to the Room of Love?" Hermione asked. "But how would Ginny know about it?"
"I don't know - perhaps her father has told her about it, or if Harry is under her influence he might trust her enough to tell her."
Hermione thought this over. If Ginny wasn't under Voldemort's influence this might make sense but...
"But if she's under Voldemort's control, why would she take him somewhere that could ultimately lead to his destruction?"
"That's a good question, Hermione. You have to remember that Voldemort doesn't know what love is or can't comprehend its power. In my research, I've read that the room appears empty to those who can't experience love. To Voldemort, he thinks it's just another room."
Hermione was convinced that Remus' theory had merit. "We should go to the Ministry at once."
"What if it's a trap?" Ron asked. "It's happened before, you know."
"But what if something horrible happens to Harry? I'm willing to take that risk." Hermione tried to sound resolute but she was trembling inside.
"All right then." Remus said, looking around the room for dissent. "If no one objects, we should leave now."
"Wait, let me owl my dad to let him know where we're going." Ron said, grabbing a parchment and quill.
After Pigwidgeon flew away to find Arthur, the foursome apparated to the Department of Mysteries. They illuminated their wands to help them navigate the dark corridors. They quietly continued on as to not draw any unneeded attention their way until Ron broke the silence.
"How do we know where that bloody Room of Love is?" he asked, sounding frustrated.
Hermione shot him a look; she didn't want to find anything bloody during this adventure. Just at that moment, she heard a blood-curdling scream. Remus and Tonks stopped dead in their tracks.
"That's Ginny!" Ron exclaimed, running ahead.
Hermione's heart nearly stopped, but she kept on with the others following the piercing sound.
Soon enough, they discovered Ginny sobbing on the floor next to a door that was ajar. Ron rushed over to his sister. Hermione noticed that she was clutching a small book in her hand, which looked like Under Your Spell.
Ron held Ginny by the shoulders and tried to get her to look at him. "Ginny, what happened? You can tell me, it's okay." He tried in a gentle but firm voice.
Ginny said nothing but buried her head on her brother's shoulder, hidden by a curtain of tangled red hair.
Hermione knelt next to Ron. "Ginny, where is Harry?" she asked, afraid of the answer.
"Ha-Harry?" she gulped. "In th-there." Ginny pointed to the door. "He won't wake up, I think he's d-dead. It's all my f-fault." She started sobbing again, unable to speak.
"What do you mean dead?" Ron asked, alarmed.
Hermione didn't wait for Ginny's answer. With her entire body trembling, she pushed open the door to an empty room, illuminated by artificial light coming from a window in the ceiling. In the corner, she saw a slim, bespectacled figure lying on the floor, near the back corner wall. It was Harry.
No, he can't be. He's not…
Somehow Hermione's legs managed to carry her over to the corner and she got a better look at him. Harry looked just like he did when he slept, peaceful and oblivious. She knelt beside him and brushed the hair back from his forehead. Her heart skipped a beat - his scar was back, as if the last couple of months hadn't even happened. She then moved her hand from his forehead to feel his neck.
How can this be? Why is his scar back? Why don't I feel a pulse? If he's dead then why is his scar back? Is this really happening?
"Miss Granger, it's not too late to save him." A familiar, authoritative but gentle voice said.
Am I hearing things? Have I gone mad?
"No, you're not mad, I on the other hand…." the voice replied and she could practically hear his blue eyes-twinkle.
"Prof- Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked, tentatively, not quite believing the voice was real.
"Yes, Miss Granger, it is I."
"Oh Professor, how do I save him? There's no pulse!"
"You must harness the power that is in this room."
"Is this the Room of Love? Why does it appear empty?" Hermione replied, feeling hopeless.
"Miss Granger, the room may look empty but your heart isn't. Use the power that's within your heart - that is the key to saving Harry."
Hermione thought for a moment and knew what Dumbledore was telling her to do. She pulled his limp head and shoulders onto her lap and leaned over to kiss his scar, more lovingly than she had ever before. After a few seconds she looked down at him, hoping he would stir. Alas, Harry did not move. She tried again, but still no response.
"Professor, it's not working!" Hermione cried, desperately.
But Dumbledore's voice didn't respond either. Hermione felt tears falling down her face, the realization setting in that she might not be able to save him. Then another voice, her conscience, spoke to her instead.
Don't give up, there's something you still haven't tried. Kiss Harry where he might be able to respond to you. Where you have never kissed him before…
With one last try, Hermione bent over Harry and kissed him on the mouth. His lips were dry and lifeless but she gave it her all, pouring her heart and soul into him. At that moment, the door slammed shut and a golden glow filled the room. Hermione barely noticed this as she continued to kiss Harry, with her eyes half-closed.
The glow enveloped them both and a beam of light concentrated itself on Harry's forehead - its intense warmth made her pull away from him. Hermione watched in amazement as the light seemed to take on an almost laser like quality as it traced Harry's scar and lifted it away. The scar disappeared into the air with a tiny pop.
The warm golden glow started to dissipate and Hermione felt Harry stir beneath her. In disbelief, she watched him slowly open his eyes, the green orbs adjusting to the light, behind his glasses.
"Hermione?" He asked weakly, looking confused.
"OH HARRY!" she exclaimed, with relief and joy running through her being.
Without thinking, she leaned down to kiss him once more and Harry responded by putting his arms around her and returning the kiss. His lips now felt soft and warm, sending energy through her body and soul, replenishing what she had given him only moments before.
Easy now Hermione, he's just woken up.
Realizing what she had done, Hermione pulled back to see Harry's reaction to her impulsive act.
"Why did you do that?" He asked her curiously.
"Do what, kiss you?" she responded nervously.
"No, why did you stop?" Harry smiled at her, sending her heart into overdrive.
She tenderly brushed the hair away from his forehead, to examine the patch of skin where his scar had been. It was as if it were never there.
"Hermione, it's gone, isn't it?" he whispered.
She nodded, then leaned down and kissed him again, this time more passionately. The room began to grow warm and Hermione wondered if the warmth was coming from within or if the room was glowing again.
Suddenly, a loud pounding on the door to the room interrupted Hermione's rapture.
"What's going on in there? Hermione, open up!" Ron's voice bellowed.
"Oh dear, that's Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'd almost forgotten about him. Remus, Tonks and Ginny are also outside."
Harry's expression changed upon hearing that last bit. "Don't let her in, Hermione! Ginny, I mean - she's the last thing I remember. She kissed what was left of my scar and then I was in terrible pain. I don't remember what happened next."
Hermione stood up, helping Harry to his feet. She ran to the door and peeked out to see Ron's worried face. "What's going on in there, we saw this bright light coming from behind the door, is Harry okay?" He asked breathlessly.
Hermione smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, he's fine. Where are Remus, Tonks and Ginny?"
"Ginny's still hysterical, so they've taken her to back to Hogwarts to see Madam Pomfrey. They're trying to track down Mum and Dad to let them know we've found her."
"Harry says that Ginny's kiss was the last thing he remembered before he blacked out." Hermione informed him.
"No wonder she was hysterical." Ron concurred. "Can I see Harry now?"
Hermione opened the door and let him into the room. Ron ran over to his best friend and pulled him into a hug.
"Mate, are you all right? We thought you were dead!"
"I think I was." Harry said, looking a bit dazed as he pulled away from Ron. "Until Hermione saved me, that is."
"How did you save him?" Ron asked, staring at Hermione.
"She kissed me." Harry said matter of factly. "My scar was a horcrux and Hermione got rid of it."
Ron looked thoughtful for a moment, his eyes darting from Harry's now clear forehead to Hermione's sheepish look.
"Was there any tongue?" He broke into a smile.
I should smack him for that.
"So it doesn't bother you that Hermione kissed me?" Harry asked.
"No, Harry. She saved your life. And besides, you and Hermione belong together. About time too." Ron said.
I should hug him for that.
Hermione decided it was time to come clean. If she were going to truly deepen her relationship with Harry, there shouldn't be any more secrets. She explained to Harry that she and Ron had really broken up last summer and had secretly become good friends since.
"I know we lied to you Harry and I'm so sorry. We only did it because we thought we were protecting you."
To Hermione's surprise, Harry didn't get angry or even surly. He just looked at them and shook his head. "You know, I knew something was not quite right. You two were way too demonstrative in front of me for awhile - all that snogging, it was a bit much."
"So we're okay?" Ron asked.
"We're more than okay. I'm alive and I have my two best friends with me. Plus my scar's gone. I'd say this is a pretty good moment."
Harry put one arm around Ron's shoulder and his other around Hermione's waist and the trio apparated to Grimmauld Place.