Chapter 12 - The Aftermath
Disclaimer The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J. K. Rowling. No infringement intended, just borrowing.
Once the trio returned to Grimmauld Place, they found Pigwidgeon waiting for them near the kitchen window with a note from Mr. Weasley.
Ron read the note aloud to Harry and Hermione, who took their seats at the table.
Ron,
Mum and I are at Hogwarts with Ginny, she is in the hospital wing - Madam Pomfrey has sedated her and she is asleep. Remus and Tonks are hopeful that the bright light they witnessed has revived Harry. Please tell us that they are correct and that you are all safe.
Come to Hogwarts as soon as you can - Mum and I are staying in the guest quarters until Ginny has recovered.
Love,
Dad
Harry shook his head, looking a bit distressed. "I really don't want to go anywhere near Ginny right now. I mean, I'm glad she's safe at Hogwarts but I can't face her just yet."
Hermione reached over and took Harry's hand. "It's okay, Harry. You don't have to go if you don't want to. Why don't you go upstairs and nap for a while and Ron and I will go to Hogwarts? After everything you've been through today, I think you should rest."
Harry gave Hermione's hand a squeeze as he looked at her gratefully. "Thanks, I think I could use a nap right now. Ron, you don't mind?"
"Not at all, mate. We'll go and report back."
Harry let go of Hermione's hand and stood up. "I'll see you both later?" he said as he walked out of the kitchen.
Hermione was still for a moment, hoping that she would indeed see him later. The last time he had said that was before he had disappeared earlier in the day.
"Ready to go?" Ron asked, reaching for Hermione's hand.
She stood up from the table, grabbed Ron's hand and they apparated to Hogwarts' guest quarters. They found themselves by the front desk, where a stout looking witch was perched on a stool.
"May I help you?" she asked briskly.
Hermione spoke. "Um, yes, we are looking for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?"
"Ah, Weasley, they checked in about an hour ago." She was staring at Ron. "You must be their son, Ronald. They're expecting you, room four."
Hermione and Ron walked down the corridor and knocked on the door to room number four. Mrs. Weasley opened the door and immediately grabbed her youngest son, embracing him as if she hadn't seen him in years, instead of just this morning.
"Oh Ron," she cried. "I've been worried sick about you. Going off to the Department of Mysteries like that to help rescue Ginny, you are so brave. You are indeed a Gryffindor!"
Ron looked embarrassed. "Mum, it was Hermione's idea, actually."
Molly then let go of Ron and finally noticed Hermione standing behind him. Her eyes narrowed.
"Oh, hello Hermione," she said coolly, obviously not ready to forgive her for supposedly breaking Ron's heart.
Well, at least she didn't call you 'that Granger girl.'
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley. It's nice to see you." Hermione replied, trying to be as nice as possible, considering that she partially blamed Molly for Ginny's situation.
"And where is Harry?" Molly asked, sounding worried. "He is okay isn't he?"
"Yes, mum, he's fine." Ron assured her. "We left him at Grimmauld Place, he was pretty knackered after everything he's been through."
"Are you sure it was a good idea to leave him alone? Do you think he's safe?" she asked.
Oh, so now she's worried about his safety?
"Molly, why don't you invite them in before we talk any further?" Arthur's voice said.
Mr. Weasley appeared at the door, looking relieved. "I'm glad to see you both," he said as he hugged both teens.
After they were ushered inside, Hermione and Ron sat on sofa in the small, but comfortable looking room. It had a four-poster bed, a dresser, a wardrobe, a small desk and the sofa. It looked similar to their dorm rooms, but with higher quality furniture.
"So how is Ginny?" Ron asked. "When I last saw her, she was in a right state."
"We left her alone to sleep." Molly replied. "The poor thing blames herself for what happened to Harry in that room. We tried to tell her that he was going to be okay, but she kept saying "It's my fault, it's my fault" over and over again."
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. Well, it might've been all her fault, right?
"Did she explain why she thought it was her fault?" Hermione asked patiently.
"No, she was too upset." Arthur said. "Although, Remus and Tonks just gave me a book. They said that Ginny was holding it when they found her."
Arthur pulled a book out of his briefcase and handed it to Hermione. It was, of course, Under Your Spell.
"Are you familiar with this book?" Arthur asked.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I saw it in Ginny's room the night, um, the night Ron and I…."
Mrs. Weasley looked very uncomfortable and eyed Hermione suspiciously. "Well, I think I should take a look at that book, perhaps I could help figure what Ginny was doing with it." She got up from her seat on the bed and grabbed the book off Hermione's lap.
Ah, I wonder if Mr. Weasley doesn't know about his wife's little hobby?
Molly quickly put the book away in her handbag. "I'll look at this later. Why don't we all go to dinner at the Great Hall? I bet you both are starving."
"Yeah, I'm famished." Ron agreed. "I haven't had a thing since breakfast."
Hermione realized she was hungry, she hadn't really thought about food since she had been otherwise occupied. "Yes, let's go."
Dinner at the Great Hall was surreal experience since Hermione hadn't been there in several months. And while the place was buzzing with students, it seemed empty without Professor Dumbledore presiding over the place. From her perch, Professor McGonagall spotted the Weasleys with Hermione and nodded at them, giving them a tight smile.
Hermione didn't get a chance to question Molly any further about the book because various school friends kept approaching her and Ron, inquiring about what they were doing.
"How is Ginny doing?" asked one.
"When are you coming back to school?" said another.
"You are so lucky you aren't preparing for NEWTS," commented another.
"How is Harry?" everyone else asked.
Then, just as they were finishing up, Luna Lovegood approached their table. "Hello, Ron. Hello Hermione," she said in her usual dreamy fashion.
Hermione watched with interest as Luna engaged Ron in conversation. Luna laughed and tossed her long blond hair. She even noticed Ron blushing a bit when he introduced her to his parents.
"Well, I have to go now." Luna announced airily, standing on tiptoe to give Ron a kiss on the cheek. "It was nice to see you all. Please keep in touch and give my best to Ginny when she wakes up. Oh! And please say hello to Harry."
"I'm sure you will be in touch." Hermione teased, giving Ron a knowing look as Luna left the Great Hall.
"Lovegood, eh?" Arthur asked. "Doesn't her father edit The Quibbler?"
"Yes, he does." Hermione replied. "She's a nice girl, a bit strange, but nice. Isn't she, Ron?"
"Huh?" Ron said looking lost in thought, his ears pink.
"Why don't we go back to hospital wing to check on Ginny?" Arthur suggested.
Hermione and the Weasleys headed for the hospital wing. As they entered the room, Madam Pomfrey came running over to them.
"We were hoping to see Ginny." Mrs. Weasley said anxiously.
"She's awake again. She's asking for you, Mrs. Weasley."
Molly quickly approached the bed as Hermione, Ron and Arthur followed at a distance. Ginny was propped up against her pillow with her red hair scattered. Her face was still puffy from the tears she had shed, but she wasn't crying.
"Oh Mum, I think I know what I did wrong. The potion I used was too strong, that's what killed Harry."
"Dear, Harry's not dead. He's just fine." Molly replied stroking her daughter's hair. "Why don't you just rest?"
"Harry's okay?" Ginny perked up, noticing Ron and Hermione for the first time. "Is he here, has he come to see me?"
Ron approached his sister and sat on the bed. "Ginny, Harry's not here - he's at home resting, just like you."
"I bet he hates me." Ginny whined, starting to cry again. "He'll never speak to me again."
Even though part of her wanted to throttle Ginny for what she had done to Harry, Hermione's heart softened a bit upon seeing her regret and tears. "Oh, Ginny, I'm sure he will - Harry just needs some time."
"What are you doing here?" Ginny cried. "Have you come to gloat? You warned me not to do any love spells on Harry and you were right. I screwed it up and I almost killed him! Are you happy now, Hermione?"
Well aren't you?
Shut up!
"Ginny, I haven't come to gloat. I came here because I'm concerned about you. I would also like to find out just what happened earlier today, how you happened to take Harry to the Department of Mysteries?"
"What has Harry told you?" Ginny asked, sniffling.
"Not much, we didn't get a chance to learn much except that you kissed him in that room and then he passed out." Ron explained. "What happened before then?"
Molly looked concerned. "I'm sure we can find that out tomorrow, Ginny should rest, right Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, Mum! I want to tell them, I need to tell my side of the story." Before Molly or Madam Pomfrey could say anything else, Ginny launched into her story.
She explained that she had wanted to save Harry ever since Ron told her Hermione's theory that his scar was a horcrux and it could be removed if Harry experienced love. She admitted that with her Mum's help, she had used the Chest Monster potion in her shampoo and it worked on Harry last year at school.
Hermione noticed that Mrs. Weasley looked embarrassed while Arthur looked very disapproving at both his wife and daughter upon hearing this.
Ginny had also been stalking Harry, apparating between her classes to watch him meet Remus and Tonks, from afar. Using extendable ears that she had gotten from the twins, she would listen to their conversations and learned all about their plan to find the Room of Love as well as the locations of their future meeting spots. She figured that if she somehow got Harry to the room she could use a potion on him, kiss him and get rid of the scar. If she did that, then Harry would be so indebted to her, she thought he would love her for real and wouldn't need to use magic on him anymore.
This morning, she left her bed very early to get to Diagon Alley, where she purchased the ingredients she needed for her potion. She had learned from the book how to make the potions into cosmetics, in this case a lipstick. She prepared the lipstick with the shopkeeper's help. She found Harry in London at his meeting spot, waiting in the phone booth that led down to the Ministry. She surprised Harry and kissed him on the mouth in the phone booth. The potion seemed to work as he didn't question her presence. She had told him that they were going to meet Remus and Tonks at the Room of Love and he followed her like a puppy.
It took them a while to find the room, but Ginny had remembered a story her father had told her about it when she was little. He told her that the room was so powerful that it had its own wing. There was a room that fit that description and to her surprise, they were able to unlock it with "alohomara." She and Harry went inside, where she reapplied the lipstick and asked Harry to bow his head. She kissed what was left of his scar and instead of disappearing it came back full force and Harry was screaming in pain. He yelled "What did you do to me?" before collapsing onto the floor.
Meanwhile, Ginny felt a strange sensation inside her, something she hadn't felt since Tom Riddle's diary had possessed her. She then thought she had seen figure in a dark cloak with a snake-like white face and red eyes appear in front of her. She was so frightened that she fainted. She then remembered waking up and going over to Harry but he was cold and had no pulse. That's when she started screaming in horror and Ron heard her.
Hermione then finished the story with what had happened in the room, leaving out the parts about Dumbledore's voice (she didn't want them to think she had gone mad) and snogging with Harry after he had woken up (that was none of their business).
The room was quiet after that and everyone seemed lost in thought. Finally it was Madam Pomfrey who broke the silence. "I think it is best that Miss Weasley get her rest now." She looked a bit shaken from listening to the story.
Molly kissed Ginny on the forehead. "Goodnight, dear. We'll see you in the morning."
Arthur then followed his wife's lead but didn't say anything to his daughter as he kissed the top of her head. Ron gave Ginny's hand a squeeze before standing beside Hermione to leave. As they were walking towards the door, Ginny said one more thing.
"I'm really sorry for everything I did. Whatever punishment you think is necessary, I will take it."
The foursome was quiet as they headed back to the guest quarters. Hermione didn't know what to say even though she had a lot on her mind. She wondered if she'd get the chance to have it out with Molly once and for all. Molly didn't glance her way once, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
Finally when they had safely returned to their guest room, Ron spoke.
"Dad, what's going to happen to Ginny? Are you going to report her to the Ministry for performing underage magic outside of the school?"
Arthur shook his head, looking resigned. "Well, I'd rather not expose her to the Wizengamut, I think she's been through enough, almost losing Harry. I think we should keep it within the family and the school. We will need to talk to Professor McGonagall about appropriate action as well. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey is filling her in as we speak."
"Do you think she'll be expelled?" Molly asked, worriedly. "I'm so disappointed; first the twins leave school without finishing their NEWTS, Ron drops out and now Ginny…from our sons being head boys and prefects, to this? Arthur, where did we go wrong?"
Hermione felt herself explode. "Where did you go wrong?" she yelled.
"Where do I start? I can't believe that whether or not your children are going to graduate from Hogwarts is your biggest priority right now. Didn't you listen to what Ginny said in there? She nearly got Harry killed! No, she did get Harry killed. And in doing so, she might have released part of Voldemort's soul! If I hadn't shown up there and saved his life, Harry would be dead and gone!"
Ron, Arthur and Molly were staring at Hermione, speechless. She continued. "And Mrs. Weasley, it's because of you and that stupid spell book that Ginny thought she could get Harry to love her!"
Arthur looked at his wife questioningly, his voice rising. "Molly, what is she talking about? Did you give Ginny that book? She said you helped her with a love potion!"
Molly had turned beet red. "Arthur, please calm down. It was a harmless birthday present - a silly book of spells, just good fun."
"If the book was so silly, why did you snatch it away from me before like it was something dangerous?" Hermione asked, her eyes blazing.
"I did not snatch it away - I just wanted it for safekeeping. Why are you twisting everything Hermione? It's your fault Ginny had to go the lengths she did to keep Harry interested in her."
Oh no, she can't get away with this!
"How is it my fault?"
"You ruined everything by turning down Ron's marriage proposal. He was supposed to marry you - a Muggle born, to strengthen our bloodline. You then broke his heart, and to add insult to injury, you two timed him with his best friend. Ginny knew you were after Harry, and she needed those potions to keep him from falling for you. Harry was our last chance to strengthen the family, and she was going to do everything to keep you from ruining it!" Molly folded her arms in front of her, looking satisfied.
It was now Ron's turn to explode. "Mum, you've got it all wrong! Hermione did not break my heart or two-time me with Harry! We realized that we were better off as friends and broke up last summer. We pretended to be a couple for the family and Harry's sake - we thought that's what everyone wanted. But Hermione fell for Harry and we decided to have a public break-up. There never was a proposal, it was all a ruse!"
"So Hermione used you so she could be free to pursue Harry?" Molly yelled, her mouth gaping in surprise.
"She didn't use me, Mum! It was my idea. Did it ever occur to you that I might want to be free to pursue someone else?"
"Like who? That Lovegood girl? Ron, you could do better than that." Molly huffed.
"Luna's a great girl and I like her." Ron asserted. "And I'm pretty sure she likes me back."
Hermione was taken aback by Ron's admission, but she was also proud of him. He had never been that straightforward before about his feelings for someone of the opposite sex. She reached over and patted him on the back.
"So you both willingly lied to your friends and family for months, and you are trying to make me into the villain?" Mrs. Weasley said, looking hurt.
"Mum, you're not a villain. I just think you didn't think about the consequences of what you were doing by putting pressure on me and Ginny about this whole bloodline thing. And Ginny took it way too far by becoming obsessed with Harry and that book."
Molly shook her head, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean for Harry to get hurt. You know I love him like a son."
"I know you do, Molly." Arthur said, sitting beside his wife and taking her hand. "But Harry's not our son, and I think it's time that you stop wishing he were. We have seven of our own children who need us, especially our youngest."
Molly cried into her husband's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I thought I was doing the right thing for the family. When I was ill, I thought I wasn't going to live and I must've gone a bit mad with worry over what was going to become of the Weasley legacy."
Hermione felt a bit guilty at the way she had laid into Molly, even though she deserved it. "Mrs. Weasley, I realize that you thought you were doing what you had to do to protect your family, but you shouldn't have messed with those love potions, even if it did land you a husband."
Arthur's ears perked up at this. "What is she talking about Molly?"
Mrs. Weasley turned even more crimson and tried to reach for her purse but her husband was quicker. "Arthur, please…"
Mr. Weasley grabbed his wife's purse off the bed and pulled out Under Your Spell. He opened up the front cover and silently read the inscription; looking very agitated when he finished.
"Molly, did you really use a potion on me when we were kids? How could you?" he exclaimed, his ears pink.
"Arthur, I only used so you would ask me out. Once we started dating, I stopped using it. You really did fall in love with me! What's the harm?"
"The harm? I've been married to you for almost twenty-five years and our relationship started as a lie!"
Hermione and Ron glanced uncomfortably at each other. He gave her a stern look while Hermione gave him a "who knew?" shrug. As she watched Ron's parents continue to argue, she gave him a look that it was time to make their exit.
"We should probably get back to Harry," Ron interjected. "He's probably wondering what happened to us."
Hermione was suddenly filled with giddy anticipation of seeing Harry again. "Yes, I suppose we should be getting back."
Arthur gave both of them a brief nod of recognition as he continued to argue with his wife.
Ron took Hermione's hand and disapparated to the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. It was now dark outside, so they lit some lanterns to brighten the place.
They collapsed on the living room couch. "That was pretty intense, wasn't it?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, it was." Hermione agreed. "I hope I didn't cause too much trouble between your parents. I would've assumed that she had told him long ago."
"Well you know what happens when you assume." Ron sighed. "I'm sure they'll be fine. They're due for a big row; they haven't had one in a while. But they always wind up forgiving each other."
"Ron, do you think I was too hard on your mum about what happened to Harry?"
"You were." Ron agreed. "But I think she needed to hear it from someone who wasn't going to sugar coat." He paused. "So….speaking of not sugarcoating things, are you going to go upstairs and get it on with Harry now?"
"Ron!" Hermione felt her face grow hot and smacked him with a cushion.
"Well aren't you? Don't worry about me, I'll be sleeping so I won't hear your screams of passion…oh yes, right there, that's good…oh Harry…" he said in a high pitched, breathless girly voice.
"You are so vile!" She tried to sound stern, but failed miserably. "If you must know, I'm not going up there to do that with him….."
Yet.
"Well my advice to you is not to wait too long, Harry might be the Boy Who Lived yet again, but he's also a seventeen year old bloke with needs."
"Speaking of needs, I liked your little speech about Luna. When are you going to see her again?" Hermione asked, cleverly deflecting the spotlight.
"Maybe tomorrow? I'm probably going back to Hogwarts to check on Ginny and my folks, so I might invite Luna to join me for a while."
Hermione nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me. Ron, I do hope things work out with Luna. I think she could be really good for you."
"You mean in the way you are good for Harry?" Ron asked.
She smiled at him. "I think so. Goodnight Ron."
Hermione left the living room and headed upstairs to see Harry.