Author's notes: First of all I would like to thank all of you
for your wonderful response to this story. Sable's human and
I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, we were forced to write a flash
scene or two. Normally, I'm against flashback scenes due to
the fact most fan fiction authors (Not even Harry Potter either)
over use this trick of the trade and it has cheapened it for me
as a reader. I was pacing back and forth with Sable's human
trying to figure out a way to avoid it. Well, we decided to write
one to see how it would turn out. After we went ahead and wrote
it, we decided we liked it the way it was. So here it goes…yep…
its still in the third person point of view. The Flash back scenes
are in italics in case you didn't know already.
God bless,
S'Eleene Paris
Chapter Three
Solemn Moments
A chill hung in the late autumn air and the full harvest moon
loomed above, watching tenderly upon the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft
and Wizardry. It's rays danced playfully on the rippling water of the Black
lake. Not very many students were up this late, having most of them
tucked away in their warm four poster beds and if they weren't they were
kept warm by the lit fires in the common room hearth.
Heather Lillian Potter shivered. It was cold inside the castle, but it
was nothing to the brunt Scottish air; which threatened to turn the ground
to frost. Anyone who went outside with out the comfort of their winter
robes or at the very least a warming spell, would more then likely suffer
with pneumonia in the morning.
She shifted the books she was carrying back from the Headmaster's
office. After reading just about every book she could find that even related
to the topic on dark magic and not finding anything to dark magic spell books
such as the Onyx Spell Book in the archive; Heather turned to the Headmaster
for help. It was only after a few minutes of telling him what she needed, Albus
Dumbledore took several books down off their home in their locked cabinets.
Once in the Red Squadron's tower, Heather sat her books down
on the table next to a window. The fire in the hearth as in full flame, so
Heather was thankful for the slight draft coming from the window.
Before she opened one of the books to begin her read into the dark magic
items, a scene outside of the window caught her eye.
Someone, obviously male, was skating on a frozen part of the
Black lake. From the way he turned to the way he raced around the
shallow end of the lake, it reminded her of someone she knew very
well. "Hector?"
"What did you say, Heather?" Harry asked from where he
and Hermione were cuddled on the couch.
"Nothing." Heather now was watching the ice skater
as he tried a more complex move and as the result of not having
the proper lift, fall on his behind. It was then she realized there
was no way it could have been Hector, after all he had been dead
for almost three years now.
Heather stood up with out a preamble and almost racing into
her dorm room to grab her winter cloak. As she climbed down the
many stairs on the spiral staircase, she cursed herself for being
so stupid for assuming it had been Hector. "You know very well
he is dead. Why would I think its him?"
"It wasn't until she reached the frozen part of the lake
and the full moon came out from its hiding place, the clouds,
it was revealed to her who she thought had been Hector. She
breathed his name as she clutched her cloak tightly against her.
"Ron."
Startled, Ron glanced in her direction in mid lift and fell
face first into the ice. "I'm okay." He claimed as he stood back
up and skated over to the edge.
"When did this come about?" Heather unbelievingly
gawked.
Ron took to looking at his skates. "I stated to teach
myself not too soon after you left."
Heather nodded. He would never openly, but she
knew it was a way for him to still feel connected to her.
Without much thought about it, she transfigured her
shoes into ice skates and took off her winter cloak.
"Well, if you're going to learn, you might as well learn
to do it properly. You're not ready at all, but I can teach
you some of the more simpler jumps."
She skated around the perimeter a couple
of times and performed the toe tuck flawlessly.
When she came back over to where he was
standing, she commented. "Considering I really
haven't been on the ice for at least two years,
that wasn't too bad. You're main problem is
you're not getting enough speed. Try it and I'll
guide you."
Ron nodded as they skated around the ice
on the Black lake. Once he got the momentum,
he tried the jump again. This time his leg caught
his pant leg and he tripped; he landed on top
of Heather. Neither one of them said a thing as
they stared into each other's eyes. Ron began
to lean down to capture her lips, but her voice
stopped him. "Can you get off me, Ron? My
leg is starting to go numb."
Disappointed, Ron slowly sat up. "Are
you okay?"
"I'm fine." She said to him as she found
her footing and he helped her to stand up. She must
have pushed up too quickly because he caught her
in his arms.
"Heather."
"Yes, Ron."
He hesitated only a moment before asking
her almost child like. "Why did you go away?"
It was Heather's turn to hesitate. "It wasn't
because I don't love you, Ron. It was because…"
"Because what?"
"Because I was ashamed." A tear rolled down
her cheek. It was then her single tear became several.
"What's worse, Ron is that I knew. I knew the entire
time. I knew the entire time and I knew the consequences
if something would have happened. I didn't care. What's
more worse than that is that I never told you."
"How come you didn't tell me? You know how much
family means to me."
"I was going to tell you, but I couldn't. I was too
afraid you'd make me leave the squadron. I worked too
damn hard to be kicked off. Not that it really mattered
in the long run." Heather threw up her arms, grabbed
her cloak from where it lay on the ground and went to
the willow not far from the lake's edge. Ron went
after her and once he reached her, the moonlight filtered
through the empty limbs of the tree and it lit up her
features. Her eyes coasted downward to nervously
pick at her nails.
"You're right. I would have made you leave
the squadron, but it was never about controlling you.
It would have been because I would want to protect
you and our child from being hurt." He reached out
and lightly caressed a few strands of hair bore he took
hands. He brought them to his lips and kissed them
lightly. When he had kissed both of them, he brought
them away from his lips while he watched her. She had
closed her eyes obviously enjoying the passion for once
that was built up inside of her. When no verbal response
came, he realized there was something he wanted to
share with her. "Come on, there is something I want
to show you."
Ron lead her away from the lake toward the
broom closet. He took out a broom and together
they flew to Hogsmeade, but the duo didn't stop there.
"We just need an apperation point." He confessed as
he took her arms and he wrapped them around his waist.
When they arrived to the destination point, Heather
took in their surroundings. "We're at the Burrow."
"Actually, what I want to show you is in the woods.
Come on." Ron took her hand and led her into the woods.
The followed a creek bed a way until they came to a marble
and granite building. Over the pair of Corinthian columned
doorway was scroll work and it labeled the owners inside:
Weasley.
"What are we doing here?" Heather asked as she
noted how cold it was in the entrance and could only imagine
what it was like down the stairs where they were headed.
"The Weasley family tomb. Its where all my
ancestors are buried." Ron lit his wand and lead the way
down into the crypt. "There is something I need to show
you."
Heather didn't say anything as they continued
down the stairs. The musty smell of decaying flesh
made Heather cover her nose. They followed the corridor
down further into the crypt. As she followed him, she
noted several doors of which had names and dates. The
earliest date in this particular tomb was 1082. Decorating
the walls inside the crypt were several paintings, portraits,
and tapestries all featuring people with fiery-red Weasley hair.
When they came to the end they came to a room with a
brand new door. Ron opened the door and they went inside.
There were no bodies laying out as Heather had expected;
however, Ron gestured toward a bronze plaque mounted
on the wall. When Heather read the plaque, tears formed
and rolled down her cheeks.
This plaque is in remembrance of the unnamed Weasley child of Heather Potter and Ronald Weasley. Even though this child was not able to live for long, it will still be missed and loved. 1998. "Mum come down here about once a week to put flowers in the vases." Ron indicated the vases on either end of the plaque. "Usually white roses."
"Even though she's got to be thoroughly pissed at me?"
"It still would have been her first grandchild." Ron
then offered. "We were all upset about it. Even Percy who
is usually a giant git."
"Percy?"
"He was the one who suggested we put up the memorial."
Ron shivered as he hesitated only for a moment to reveal those
solemn moments.
*****
"Ron!" Hermione called as she raced down the corridor
after him. He had nearly blown off the hospital wing doors.
"She left me, Hermione."
"Ron, I know you're upset…"
"Upset?" Ron snapped and abruptly severed to confront
her. "The girl I love just left, forgetting to tell me she was
pregnant with my child. My child, Hermione."
"Ron, she's scared. When she realizes…"
"She's never coming back, Hermione, at least not on her own.
I have to go and find her." Ron began scanning the corridor. "If you'll
excuse me…"
Hermione watched as Ron walked down the corridor back in
the direction of the Red Squadron's tower. After watching him until
he was out of sight, she walked back to the hospital wing.
"How is he?" Harry asked as Hermione walked over to his
bed.
"Not good, you know how Ron is." Hermione sighed. "He
needs to grieve. Give him time."
"Has anyone informed the Weasleys' of what happened?"
"I haven't had a chance to and I'm not sure if anyone else
has."
"Maybe we should let Ron do it."
Hermione nodded. "Maybe we should let them come here?"
"Or maybe it would be better if he went there." Harry thought
out loud. "Then they could grieve as a family."
Hermione nodded. "I'll take him. You should stay here in bed
and rest."
"No, I want to be there."
"You can't walk, Harry." Harry pointed at the crutches beside
his bed, insistently. "There is no way, Harry. You need to rest. There is
no way Madame Pomfrey is going to release you after all that has
happened."
"I don't think she could stop me if she tried." Harry swung his
legs over the side of the bed and reached for the crutches. He kept his
bad knee extended as he stood up with the assistance with the muggle
devices. To prove to her he could use them properly, he sauntered down
the length of the hospital and back to where she stood.
Hermione huffed a sigh and called to the school nurse. "Madame
Pomfrey…"
*****
After a long debate with the school nurse, Harry limped down the
corridor with the use of the crutches. He had been fortunate school had
been released prior his first attempt to walk the length of the school
for he would not have made it this far down with out being stopped a half
a dozen times.
Once down the stairs and outside, Hermione sat down
on a bench. "I'll wait for the two of you here. We have a long way until
we're outside of the apperation wards of Hogwarts and I need to conserve
my strength as much as possible."
"I already thought of that. While you were debating with Madame
Pomfrey, I sent Hedwig with a note to Hagrid. He is getting a horseless
carriage ready, so you don't have to walk. Once we're in Hogsmeade, we
can apperate to the Burrow, but we'll ask Madame Rosemarta if you can
use some floo powder because there is no way you're ready to apperate,
even a side-along apperation, quite yet. Let me go get Ron and we'll be
ready as soon as Hagrid gets here with the carriage."
Harry nodded and kissed his wife. Once she disappeared back
inside of the doors, Harry stood and took his time climbing down the
stairs where Hagrid arrived with the carriage. When he saw Harry,
he quickly ran up the stairs to help him. "Blimey, 'Arry, out and 'bout
'lready?"
"I'm fine, Hagrid."
"Ya sure, now are ya?"
Harry nodded as he reached the bottom stair. "I could use
some help, though, getting up in the carriage."
"'lright." Hagrid took Harry's crutchs once Harry leaned
against the carriage for support. After he tucked them inside, it was
Harry's turn. In one quick motion, he scooped him up into the carriage.
"Thanks, Hagrid."
Before he could respond, Hermione arrived with Ron in tow.
"Aren't you even going to tell me where we're going?"
"We're going somewhere."
"Couldn't be anymore vague, now could you?" Ron stepped
into the carriage and noticed Harry's presence when he sat down
across from him. "Bloody hell, Madame Pomfrey let you out?"
"She didn't have much choice." Hermione grinned as she took
the seat next to Harry, "from what I heard from the corridor anyway."
"She was starting to drive me nutters." Harry complained.
"So, you're alright then, Harry?" Ron asked as be picked off
some imaginary lint from his auror robes.
"Yea, I'm fine. Madame Pomfrey says I am going to start physical
therapy soon. She's having a healer apperate in and I'll start in a day or
so. You?"
"I'm not the one who fell 75 feet into a half a dozen tree limbs."
"But you lost…" Hermione started, but Harry put his hand on
her knee to stop her. The three of them knew exactly what he had lost.
The trio stayed quiet for the rest of the trip.
Hermione led the group into the Three Broomsticks where
she went up to the bar to talk to Madame Rosemarta. Once she sat
a bowl down with floo powder, Hermione took it and handed it to
Harry. "You want me to take your crutches?"
"If you would." Harry said as he hobbled over to the
fireplace. Hermione watched as he braced himself against one
of the hearth's walls. "I'll wait until you and Ron are gone before
flooing."
"Alright." Hermione smiled at Ron. "Grab my arm."
"We'll see you where ever we're going then." Ron
offered as he took Hermione arm. With a slight "pop", the
duo disappeared. Harry looked at the gray powder glumly
for a moment before declaring "The Burrow" his destination
of choice.
*****
Once they arrived at the apperation point, just beyond
the security barrier of the Burrow, Ron knew where he was.
"Why are we here?"
"You're here to tell your family what happened. Ginny
swore she wouldn't tell them."
"Now there is a cheerful conversation. "Hello, mum,
dad, how are you? Oh, by the way, you were going to be
grandparents until heather went off and got our baby, of
which I didn't know about, killed. Now she's missing. Yea,
Hermione, that will be quite lovely."
"They're your family, Ronald." Hermione offered
as they rounded the driveway to the Weasley family home.
Once they arrived, the opened the door and Molly
noted their arrival as she attended to Harry, who reclined
on one of the family sofas. She gave him a tray with cookies
and tea. The rest of the Weasley clan claimed the other
various arm chairs in the living room.
"Ron, Hermione, come in! Harry just arrived a
few moments ago." Molly embraced them and it was
then she noticed something wasn't quite right. "What's
wrong?"
It was only then, in the safe confines of his family,
Ron expressed how he was really feeling. With out
realizing it, a single tear trailed down his cheek. Molly
embraced her son, consoling him, and over his shoulder
to Hermione gave a questioning gaze.
The room went abnormally quiet and all sets of
eyes were upon her. Tears welled and trickled about
down her cheeks as she explained. "Something terrible."
Was all she could muster before she was too enveloped
in tears.
Harry hobbled over to her and gave her his shoulder
to cry on. The eyes turned to Harry for an explanation. He
stroked Hermione's hair before telling them what happened.
"Apparently, Heather and Ron were expecting a baby…"
"Really?" Arthur exclaimed. "That's great news!"
"No it isn't! They aren't married yet." Molly swatted
her husband's arm. "You'll just have to move the date up,
that's all."
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, I wasn't finished." Harry
cringed.
"Oh, sorry, Harry dear." Molly turned her attention
away from her son for a moment to put away some of the dirty
dishes in the sink in the cabinets with their clean brothers.
"Its alright." Harry paused. "While we were on the
mission, Heather didn't tell Ron she was pregnant. She was
later abducted…"
"Again!" George laughed. "Really, Ron, you need
to keep that girl on a leash."
"Or maybe she was just trying to get away from him."
Fred suggested to his twin.
"Would you two quit! You interrupted Harry, again."
Ginny snapped. "Go on, Harry, tell them the rest."
"She was kidnapped and tortured by our targets. Before
she had a chance to tell Ron, she lost the child."
At that moment, the room went deafly silent. It stayed this
way for what seemed to Harry, an eternity. When Molly dropped
a plate on the ground, all chaos broke loose. Molly raced back
over to her youngest son and embraced him. As she did, tears
poured down her cheeks; heart broken at her son's loss. "Oh, Ron!"
Quietly, Arthur approached his son and his wife and laid a
consoling hand on his son's shoulder. Upon the situation's reality,
Ginny burst into tears and raced up the stairs to her bedroom.
After seeing this, Percy raced up the stairs after her to consol her.
The twins, not really knowing what else to do, stood there unable
to express themselves.
Once Hermione stopped crying, she suggested to Harry.
"Why don't we leave. They need time to grieve."
"Yea." Harry limped over to where his crutches leaned
against the hearth. He took a hand full of floo powder and
commanded. "The Three broomsticks." And in a swish of green
flames, he disappeared and Hermione followed him.
*****
After he finished telling her of his tale, more tears swelled
in Heather's eyes. She flung her arms around his neck and she took
her turn to embrace him.
It took him a moment to react, but when he did, he wrapped
his arms around her and held her there in his embrace. "Oh, Ron,"
She moaned once she looked up at him. "I'm so sorry."
"Me too." He breathed as he stared into her eyes. "Heather?"
"Yes."
"Can I kiss you?" She gave him no other response as she
captured his lips with her own.
*****
End of chapter.