Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Six: The Horrible Truths

At times ones remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid. Friedrich Nietzsche

Fawkes stared at the people who sat around him. He had been doing so for the last five minutes. He had felt it when his Potions Master had crossed wards and he was now on the way to their meeting room. He had wanted to talk to the man before, but there was a delay.

"What are we waiting for?" Ginny asked. He stared at her, before shaking his head. The Potions Master was turning the last corner, and Fawkes knew he would have to defend him as he entered.

"Me, my child," a man said as he entered. Immediately, all the wands were out, pointing toward Snape as he stood in the doorway. Half of them fired spells, only to have them absorbed by a shield Fawkes had placed.

"You fire upon him again, and you will be removed from the Order."

"Fawkes, this man killed Dumbledore," Moody said, both his eyes upon the man behind him.

"And yet I'm telling you to drop it," Fawkes said. He left his magic flow outward, letting them all feel the power he held back. As if one, they sat, yet their wands remained trained upon Snape. "Am I the leader of this Order?"

"But he's Snivellus!" Remus growled.

"I SAID" his voice echoing the room, "am I the leader of the Order?!" He paused as his words rang through the room again. "You asked me to help you, and then you question my help?" There was a moment of silence that passed again, this time though, the air was thick with tension.

"Fawkes, why did you bring him here?" Hermione finally asked. Fawkes looked over at her, slightly surprised that she was the one to ask the question. He had thought they all would be too angry to even contemplate what he was going for tonight.

"You all going to be mature adults here?" Fawkes said. He did not care for their answers, all he knew was that Hermione would at least listen. That was enough for him.

"Severus is here because of his dedication to the right cause, my cause," Fawkes said. "Just as you are dedicated to my cause, he has proven his worth."

"How?" Moody asked.

"Did I ask you how you proved your worth to Albus?" Fawkes looked over around the room, not sure what they were asking for, yet he knew there was doubt. Seeded. Doubt that would grow as they found more truths out.

"Please, Fawkes, why won't you tell us?" Hermione asked.

"Because I had asked him not to," Snape said. "But if you insist, I will tell you."

"What makes you think that we will believe you in the first place?" Mrs. Weasley glared at both Fawkes and Snape.

"It does not matter," Snape said. "What matters is that it will involve the one man that you believe abandoned you."

"Harry," Hermione whispered. She grabbed Fawkes hand and held it, looking over at him as if to ask a question.

"I was there the night that harry disappeared," Snape said. "He had made contact with me once before, when I had saved his life."

"You're a goddamn liar," Ron said standing up from his chair. "You would have never saved his life. You killed Dumbledore!"

"On my orders," Dumbledore said. He floated in through the door, resting alongside Fawkes's chair. He no longer had an earthly glow to his features, the pull of death stronger. His time was short. "The potion I had drunk would have put me through an endless pain, one that there was no cure for. I would have needed that spell for my release one way or the other. Severus kept his cover with my death, if but for a few short months."

"None of you would have believed him had he returned alone," Fawkes said.

"Yes, Mister Potter was searching for what he needed to find, the power he knows not," Snape said. Fawkes smirked lightly as he watched Ron and Hermione share looks at the mention of the prophecy. "He had found it, as he had told me before we were attacked."

"Why did he believe you? Why didn't either of you do anything to save him?" Ron asked.

"It was my hand that stayed Snape's hand from saving Harry a second time," Fawkes said. The pause assured him that he had their attention. "Harry was traveling a bit, trying to find the power he knows not. He had been using a time turner to get a little extra time here and there, to let him enjoy a bit of vacation and fact finding mission."
"What was he looking for, besides the power he know not?" Hermione asked.

"He was looking for different magics to teach you, or try to at least," Fawkes said.

"Potter was attacked on his return trip here, at Godric's Hollow," Snape said. The focus was back on him, and Fawkes was greatly for it as that drew Hermione's gaze off of him. "It seems that he had found a bit of what he needed to know, and was planning on returning that weekend to Hogwarts."

"I remember that weekend, it started the raids on England," Mr. Weasley commented. "We barely got out of the Burrow in time."

"Aye," Moody said. "Lost a great many, but so did their side."

"That they did," Snape said. "Potter had managed to nearly take the town back from all of the attacking Death Eaters, yet he still wore his time turner around his neck. During the fight, the time turner was damaged and began to leak out the tachyon particles, the sand in the hourglass. By the time that Fawkes had arrived, it was too late, with a single turn, Potter had turned himself back into the past."

"How far?" Ron asked. Fawkes turned to look at him, yet he felt Hermione's gaze upon him. He knew she was figuring it out, bit by bit, or at least most of it.

"I do not know," Snape said. "But it was far enough to effect his age, and possible his memory. There hasn't been a documented case of a leaking Time turner and someone successful returning to their time to date."

"How is it that we can't find him now then?" Mr. Weasley said. There was a general consensus about the statement, one that Fawkes was glad he did not have to answer. Yet.

"If Harry was as smart as he showed in class, he would have changed his name to protect his own sanity as well as the time stream," McGonagall commented. "They are basic instructions one is given when issued a Time Turner."

"Completely understandable," Fawkes said. "Now, if you would please, Severus, take a seat." The table expanded as Fawkes waved his hand, in the direction next to McGonagall. Before Snape could move toward the chair however, Fawkes stood from his chair. He felt a surge of energy, ripple through his body and his head began to pound with pain. "Shit." He took off running, vaguely hearing the people behind him as he ran toward the fields that surrounded Hogwarts. Someone he didn't want to was crossing the wards.

"What's....wrong....?" Ron asked, panting. Fawkes turned to see the Order standing behind him, their faces covered with a combination of confusion and weariness.

"Shit," Fawkes said again. He felt the sharp sting of slap up against the back of his head. "Hey!" He turned to look at Hermione who glared at him.

"Don't swear," she said with such a stern look at that he could only nod. "Now what is the problem?"

"Someone is getting through the wards," Fawkes said, turning back to look over toward the Forbidden Forest. He felt the dark presence creeping forward, taking away the pure air that he had restored.

"I thought you had put up all of them?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Fawkes turned to look at her, surprised at how out of breath she was.

"We have only managed the Anti-Apparation as well as the notifying ward that Fawkes laid down," Moody said. He limped toward Fawkes, both eyes trained on him in a similar fashion as they were when Snape entered. "What do we do now?"

"We prepare for the fight," Fawkes said, turning his back to the forest. "Notify the army that they are the last defense against this threat." He began to walk toward the school again, thinking of anything and everything that could be helpful. He stopped moving, at the entrance. Fawkes knew of only one man that had a stronger strategic mind than his had become, and would surpass him within a decade. "Ron, what do you think we should do?"

"Me?" Ron asked. Fawkes smirked at his surprise.

"Yes you, what do you believe we should do?" Fawkes asked. "I need to be out there, because that is who I am. And I need you to tell me my strategically position and where to go from there. And I need you," he turned toward Hermione, "to tell us how to do." He walked past the stunned group, tossing a glance over his shoulder. "You have ten minutes, Ron, use it well."

Fawkes walked toward his hut, mentally preparing his body for the task at hand. While he had been working out, it was not the same to use those instincts in battle. It had been a long time since he was called a hero, and even longer since he had considered himself a warrior. Tonight he was becoming both again.

He entered his hut, gathering his gunblade, his fedora, and his duster. None but the gunblade were necessary, however, it added to the image that he had presented as he walked into the school the first time in five years.

"What's the plan?" Fawkes asked as he walked back toward the group. It appeared that none of them had moved in the ten minutes he had allotted, yet he could tell who the fighters and those who needed to stay back were.

"We need two teams ready to take out the threat, whatever it is," Ron said. He had appeared to be in deep thought, to which Fawkes only nodded. "I want one team to stay behind to help with any healing that we may need when we return as well as provide cover fire. The other team will intercept the threat and attempt to eliminate with the assistance of army to prevent the retreat of the threat."

"Have you decided who is on which team, or would you rather me do that?" Fawkes said. Ron motioned to let him decided. "Very well, McGonagall, Mr and Mrs. Weasley, Flitwick, Charlie, and Ginny. You will stay behind and proved cover fire. You are to not let a single person through unless you can identify them. Severus, I want you to begin to prepare any and all of the healing potions that you have. Hermione will return as soon as she can."

"I will?" Hermione asked. She had disappeared and reappeared, dressed in a loose fit outfit, tied off at the waist. Much like a karate uniform.

"Yes, you will be the medical unit on the field, Ron, you will be here cover," Fawkes said. "Moody and Neville, I want you to take the left side. Twins, I want you to take the right. Ron and Hermione, follow my up the middle, and cover everyone's backs." Fawkes turned back toward the fields, staring across it as he felt the darkness grow.

"Why aren't I out there?" Ginny asked.

"Because I don't trust you enough with the lives of others," Fawkes said. He knew that there would anger, but it was no longer his problem. There was something more important to deal with at the moment.

"You heard him," Moody said, pushing his way off to the left. He had grabbed Neville by the shoulder, dragging him off. He nodded toward the twins as they head off to the right.

"Lets go," Fawkes said. He knew they were following him as he began a soft jog. He could see the wizards and inferi meshed together. Or rather the wizards turned into inferi. It must have taken a long time for Riddle to amass such an army. Must have been his reason for the five year hiatus.

"Figures," he muttered to himself. "Be ready."

"For what?" Ron asked. He looked toward Hermione who rolled her eyes before giving Fawkes a look.

Yep, I'm in trouble.

"That!" He raised his gunblade and pulled the trigger, destroying the first of the mob of inferi coming over the hills. Immediately, he felt the magical release from his friends. He heard the spells of the others across the field. He needed to buy them time.

"Ron, I need you to protect Hermione," Fawkes said. "I'm about to do something incredible stupid with little to no forethought."

"You are not leaving me," Hermione said. She grabbed his arm, forcing the point across.

"Who said anything about leaving you?" Fawkes asked. He fired another shot before swing across his gunblade, cutting several Inferi in half. "I need to make sure that you are safe."

"Why?" Hermione said, wildly casting reducto. Neither ducked at the explosion of dirt and dead bodies. Fawkes glared back at her, knowing her mind was figuring it out, yet her heart wouldn't let her see it. Yet.

"Because it was the one thing that kept me going," Fawkes said. This time, Hermione did not stop him as he tore into inferi. He felt the spells going past him as he dodged the explosions. He knew they were too close for comfort and from Hermione, yet that did not matter to him.

Once he felt he was being surrounded by them, when he knew he was far enough in. He pushed off on the ground, his wings nearly destroying his duster as he took flight. The waves upon waves of inferi seemed to be concentrating on him, which was how he wanted it. They began to climb one another to get to him as he flapped his wings, the flames dissipating as they fell off. All it took was two fluid movements, an X of flames in the sky. He pushed outward with his magic, the flames growing in strength and heat as they fell toward the ground. There were no screams as the flames hit the ground, and while it was not as effective as some of the other spells he knew, the effect was obvious.

The ground itself was cut into, filled with the flames as if they were forcing themselves to the center of the earth. He had split the forces of inferi, mindless zombies. Yet if there wizards they could figure out enough to order them. He flew back to the ground where Hermione and Ron were fighting, letting his wings fold up behind him. The air was colder, and he felt a shiver run up his spine. Though whether it was because it was colder, or because of Hermione's glare, he chose to ignore it.

"We've got this group here, lets deal with them and see where we go from there," Fawkes said. He leaned against his gunblade, slightly out of breath. It had really been a long time since he had used that much magic, in that combination.

"You okay?" Hermione asked. Ron continued to give them cover fire as the intelligence behind the Inferi changed the tactics. Fawkes looked up at the Inferi, and even the ones he had taken out seemed to be getting up.

"We need to get to their controllers," Fawkes said, pushing his body up. He steadied himself with his gunblade, catching Hermione wanting to help him. He was glad she didn't, as he was not sure what she was going to when she figured out the truth she was already close to finding. Ron had nodded, taking off toward the Inferi which seemed to give way to wizards. "Go on, I can handle myself, make sure Ron is okay."

"You sure?" Hermione said. Her wand was ready to cast something on him, and he just smiled.

"I know you'll make sure I'm alright after this, so go make sure he'll make it out of there alive." Fawkes said. "You watched my back enough, its time for me to watch yours." Hermione looked at him again, then out to where Ron was fighting forward. "Please, trust me." Her eyes turned back to his before nodding, a small smile and blush upon her cheeks. She had rushed off to help Ron before he could question the blush. Much to both his pleasure and pain.

He felt the taint in the air growing harsher as he fought after them, taking care of the crowd that tried to surround them. He knew the wizards were just on the other side of the hill, which Ron and Hermione stood upon now, defending from all sides. Their magic rippled with light as he felt the darkness threaten them. They were strong, just not strong enough. The majority of the Inferi were following him now as he made his way up the hill. They were no longer trying to come through the back, inside working on distracting Hermione and Ron.

Which was working, too well in fact. Ron was being pulled away from Hermione, her back left unprotected as he tried to drive the Inferi away. He could see the spells fired at them, missing their backs by inches. Cutting his way through the Inferi, he began to run toward Hermione, hoping to push her out of the of the spells he knew they would be using.

"Avada Kedarva!" A voice from his past yelled. He watched the monstrous green light rush toward Hermione. He felt the fire rise inside of his as his wings extended outward again. They cut down the remaining inferi as he flew to her, knowing the he could not and never could deflect the spell. He had made his choice.

I0I

Hermione felt the air grow hotter around her as she turned to see Fawkes flying toward her at an amazing speed. His wings had destroyed the remaining Inferi behind her, yet she couldn't understand why he was moving so fast. It was when she heard the spell, she knew what he was doing. She turned faster than she thought possible as she watched the Unforgivable coming her way. She closed her eyes, awaiting the next great adventure, knowing that Harry would be with her still.

She felt two arms wrap around her before pushing her over, the weight pressing her down. She began to cough from the dirt must have been thrown into the air when they fell. The arms held her tighter as she closed her eyes again, burying her head into the protective chest of her savior. Her ears rang as a pounding in the back of her head settled.

"You okay?" The voice asked. Hermione nodded into his chest, wondering if she was dead or not. There was no way someone could have survived the curse, and as she opened her eyes, the familiar glowing emeralds of her best friend stared back at her.

"Harry?" Her voice was soft, and she began to cough again. He nodded lightly, smiling at her as he moved to his feet. She stayed in his chest, hugging him tighter than anyone she had every hugged before. She surprised at how tall he had gotten, and must have gone back to his prime in heaven. If Harry was here, she must be dead, for there was no way that he could be alive, after going back in time so far.

She began to cough, breathing in the dust that hadn't settled around them. "Relax, just relax." His voice was so clear, and full, that she could not help but smile, despite the pain that filled her head. She felt his hand rubbing her head, the pain disappearing. Hermione could not help the smile that grew on her face as a warmth filled her body from his gently yet firm grasp upon her. She felt something brush past her arm, the magical residence still there.

"Am I?" Hermione asked, feeling Harry move his hand to hers where the spell had passed. She could only make out the glow of his emerald eyes through the dust, the twinkle gone from them as they darkened.

"You are everything but dead Hermione," Harry said. "And as much as I'd love to answer your questions, we need to get you to safety."

"What?" Hermione said. The ringing had stopped and she vaguely heard the shouting of Ron. She tightened her arms around Harry as she realized she was still in the middle of the battle. A battle that should have killed her.....

"Hermione, you okay?" Ron said, rushing over to her side. She nodded, but tightened the grip around Harry. The dust around them was settling, and she could see the outline of shield around them, protecting them it seemed.

"Fawkes, that was amazing, I mean, I've never seen anyone take the Killing Curse before," Ron said. Fawkes, wait what happened to him.... Hermione looked up at Harry, who gave her a half-hearted smile, his eyes telling her that he'd explain later. She glared up at him, fitting together all of the pieces. She ordered her arms to push him away, yet she could not find the will to do so.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered into her ear. She looked back up at him, glaring at him again as she finally pushed away. "Okay, we need to get off this hill."

"We do you suggest we go Fawkes?" Hermione asked. She smiled at the flinch in his nickname. He sent her a pained look and she immediately wanted to apologize. He let out a long breath, turning away from them.

"You need to get the hell off this hill, while I am going to end this, right now," Harry said. Despite the nightfall, Hermione could easily tell that the gray in his hair was gone. He looked like the same man he was before, his shoulder hung with the same weight, only younger. As if the man she had met was the real Harry, and this one was just a disguise.

"What?" Ron asked. Harry lifted the gunblade, and turned back with a smile.

"Ron, head off to the twins, Hermione, can I trust you enough to go back, they are going to need a good healer, and I know you're the best," Harry said. The small smirk he gave her caused her to blush as the twinkle returned to his eyes.

"What if you need help?" Hermione quickly asked. He had started to run off, but stopped.

"Remember that locket I gave you, hold it tight, and wish upon a star," Harry said. He gave her another smile and she felt a warmth fill her. Her hand went to the locket she wore. She felt the warmth coming from that he took off toward the burnt earth. And the undead that still stood would fall shortly.

"Fawkes gave you a locket?" Ron asked. Hermione shook her head, smiling as she ran off toward the castle. The Inferi had managed to get past them, but it appeared that the majority of the fighting was done. She had to get to Lupin or Tonks and tell them. She had to tell everyone that Harry was back. Oh they would be angry, but she knew that nothing could go wrong now. Or at least, nothing too bad.

"Ginny!" She stopped as she saw the girl running toward her. "Why aren't you back at the castle?"

"You need my help you there," Ginny said, glaring at Hermione. She felt the fear rising in her, but she held onto the locket. With a smile and shake of her head, she looked back out into the field.

"Harry's out there," she said.

"Harry's out there?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded, smiling wider. There was an glint in Ginny's eyes, and Hermione turned to look at her again.

"Ginny...what's wrong?" Hermione asked. She felt a sudden push into her chest, the pain nearly greater than anything she had felt before. She felt hands grabbing at her, pulling her further away from Ginny. "Ginny! HELP ME!" Ginny just stared and then took off running. Her screams began to be drowned out as the hands covered her mouth. She began to struggle, the hands pulling at her tighter and tighter, stealing her. She tried to fight back, but the harder she fought, the greater the pain.

"What do we have here?" It was the same voice that sent the Killing Curse toward her. She screamed again before the world turned black.

I0I

Harry stood atop the hill. The wizards were gone, though he did not know why. The Inferi slumped over, returning to the dead state they should have been in. He canceled the flames that were still burning their way into the earth, dusting off some of the ash that had remained on him. He looked toward the Twins and Ron, running toward him. They didn't look that injured, a few cuts and scrapes were easy for Hermione to fix. He could relax now, everything was going to be okay. Well not really, there was a lot of cleaning up to do, but they had won. The cheering from the castle was evident of that.

He knelt down, the unsettling feeling in his stomach returning. He hadn't felt it for more than two years, the last time was right around the time they had went to the....DoM.....Harry's eyes tore up from the ground, staring at the castle. Something was wrong, Hermione was hurt or something. He could feel it.

"You okay Fawkes?" Neville asked. He lifted him back up to his feet, steadying Harry. Harry nodded, vaguely looking at them.

"We need to talk," Moody said. Once again both eyes were upon him.

"Say your piece then," Harry said. He took another breath and stood. The pain was there, it would not go away. Not until he found her.

"Where the hell have you been?" Moody said.

"I never lied to you, it was the truth," Harry said. He looked back at Moody before looking at the others. Ron seemed to be the closest to figuring it out, and he knew that they would have his piece once Hermione was okay. He had to make sure that she was okay.

"So then how far back did you go?" Moody asked. Harry smiled as he sheathed his gunblade. He unconsciously rubbed his shoulder, still warm from the wings that hid.

"Seventy years, a lot easier to become a doctor at that time," he said. Shaking his head, he began to walk toward the castle, taking count of the bodies turned to ash. There was a distraction though, like they were supposed to get that far away, and then just collaspe, like they were dead. Shapes of bodies could be seen in the ash that covered the fields. Had they been tricked?"

"HARRY!" He turned to look at Ginny as she came running toward him. He moved to the side, letting her fall into the ash as she lunged at him. The Twins started laughing uncontrollable as Neville helped her up, he had to keep the smile off his face as well. Ron was stunned and Moody just looked smug.

"I was right," Moody said, limping past him.

"Never said you were wrong," Harry whispered back.

"Harry?" Ron asked. He nodded and looked toward the castle. There ash had traveled far, as the outlines of dead bodies was still apparent. "What...how?"

"We'll talk once we find Hermione," he said with a smile. "I think it'll do us all a little good. I just hope she's not hurt too badly."

"One moment," Ron said. Harry nodded, thinking that he was taking it well. He felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him around.

"What?!" He felt the contact of a fist against his jaw, sending him to the ground. He looked up to see Ron shaking his hand, obviously in pain.

"That's for leaving." Ron said. He held out his hand, offering it to Harry. He was immediately pulled into a hug, still unsure of what was going on. "And that's for coming back. You okay?" He pulled back as Harry moved his jaw, trying to work the pain out of it.

"I will be," Harry said, taking a step back. "Should have expected something like that." Both of them laughed as Fred and George came up to him, shaking his hand. Neville appeared to be holding Ginny back while reprimanding her.

"Mate, that was amazing," Fred said, or was it George?

"Someone needed to put her in her place for a long," said George.

"Mum certainly wouldn't do it."

"And we couldn't without getting in major trouble."

"Ginny became Mum's precious angel this past few years."

Harry began to chuckle at their antics. "I know, it was very obvious." He began to walk toward the castle again, knowing that everyone was following him. As he got to the castle, everyone had already gathered outside. His smile began to fade, Hermione not one of the people outside. Maybe she was helping the causalities. The pain in his gut told him otherwise.

"Fawkes, you okay?" McGonagall asked. He gave her a polite smile before asking the question that was burning.

"Where's Hermione?" He asked, searching the faces of the people that surrounded him. Their confusion answered his question. They did not know. None of them. He felt a set of arms grab him before he fell to the ground, the world spinning. He had lost her.....again.....

I0I

Hermione tried to open her eyes, a dull pain filling her body. When she managed to, there was something covering them. Her arms felt heavy, as did her legs. They were chained to the walls of a dungeon and the damp air made her feel colder. Colder than she had ever been in her life. She was trying to stay calm, but she never felt more exposed then she did there, knowing that the cloth that now covered her body hid very little. She did not know if they had done anything else, and that fear was more than she could take. Breaking down in sobs, she only stopped when she heard footsteps approach.

"She's awake," a cruel voice said. The voice was female, but had a strong edge to it. As if someone had burnt away the innocence, or it just simply never was there.

"Good...good..." another said. "Bring her forward." She felt the chains being removed and her being dragged. All of her energy was gone as she was thrown to the ground in front of someone."My dear, I am about to give you a choice."

"Who are you?" Hermione managed. Her voice was shaking, yet she had found her courage. That fear was gone.

"My apologizes my dear, I thought you know." There was footsteps behind her, and she felt someone grab her head roughly. Whatever was obstructing her view was removed, and she stared at the feet of a man who sat in a thrown. She brought her head up, the fear fighting back to the surface now.

Voldemort sat in the chair before her. Yet it was not anything like the description Harry had given in his fourth year. No, the man before her, seemed almost human. Despite still having a snakelike face, there was a beauty to his face. It was almost as if it glowed. Hermione turned away, knowing the monster behind the mask.

"I've been wanting to ask you this simple question for a long, long time, Mudblood," he said. His voice had a hauntingly soothing quality to it, almost like he wanted you to go along with it. Hermione closed her eyes and shook her head, fighting whatever magic he was spinning. Or at least trying to. "Do you truly believe that Potter will return?" There was a push, unlike the Imperious curse, for her to answer no. Yet she couldn't believe that, and never had.

"Yes," she said. She looked up to see him smiling, as if he expected her to say that. Maybe she was wrong with her thoughts. She looked down again, refusing to meet his gaze, despite something telling her to do such.

"My dear then I believe we have the perfect use for you," he said. Hermione's eyes shot up to meet his, the fear fully evident. She did not want to be used that way, not now, not ever. His laugh should have comforted her, for the melodic tone of it was eerily comforting, yet she only shivered, knowing something worse was coming. "No, no, I do believe that if Potter returns, he would very much like you alive."

"That is if you choose right," Bellatrix said. Her laugh was evil, far from persuasive one she heard from Voldermort.

"Now Bella, please, she is our guest," Voldemort said. If she had just heard him, she might have believed him, yet the chains on her ankles and arms told her that she was anything but. "Bella does have a point, my dear. It is your choice."

"What is?" Hermione managed to ask. She looked over at Bellatrix when she realized that Voldemort was not going to answer her.

"Would you give your beauty for your life?" She said as she leaned forward. That fear within her grew again. It was not the natural fear she was used to, but the one she had only felt when Ginny yelled at her or even was near. "I mean, Pothead is obviously attracted to you. Any idiot could have seen that." She began to laugh again and Hermione tried to look away. Voldemort only had to shake his head and she could not move her eyes away from Bellatrix, nor could she speak. "I've seen that Weasley girl, she really is fine piece of ass. One that any man would kill for, and we know of all the girls he's been interested in. It is very obvious to us that he cares for you, yet from all the other girls its purely physical."

"He only cares about my looks?" Hermione managed to get out.

"No my dear," Voldemort said. He sent a glare at Bellatrix, and she cringed underneath it, as if she felt pain simply from the glare. "He is your friend after all, but how much closer of a friend would he be if you were not beautiful?" The question was pounding at her now, as if it was repeated a million times a second. And pushing from inside was that irrational fear, the fear that Ginny had always seemed to spark. If it was so irrational though, why was it growing here? Was it truly irrational, or was she really afraid of the truth?

"So would you give up your beauty for your life?" Voldemort said. There was a pause in his voice, as if he knew she was fighting it. But how could he? "Or how about the life of your friends, the Weasleys?" Her inner battle staggered, as if another weight had been thrown upon her. She began to feel the tears fall down her face as Voldemort stared at her. He did not need to speak, his stare did enough. She could feel the pain of all the deaths that never happened, all the lives that were not lost in a single moment. She would give up everything to prevent that, and all they were asking for was her beauty? She was never that beauty to begin with, how much could they take?

"I'll do it."

I0I

Harry felt the remainder of his lunch leave him as he retched, the fear and pain almost more than he had ever felt. He could feel the soothing hand of someone rubbing his back, and as he closed his eyes, he could almost believe that person was Hermione. Yet the smell that punctured his world was vile to him, as he knew where it came from. "You have five seconds to explain." Harry said. He stood and wiped his face, not caring anymore. He stared down at Ginny.

"What are you talking about Harry?" Ginny asked. She truly was puzzled, he could tell and part of him knew she did not understand the question. But he did not care.

"Harry, relax, she may have just got lost," Mrs. Weasley said. "We'll find here." There seemed to be a collective groan, as if everyone knew that was the wrong thing to say.

"Molly, she didn't just get lost," Harry said, turning his glare onto her. "And you need to shut the hell up before I do something I'm going to regret." He pointed his finger at her, and the Twins had to hold back Charlie. "Now, tell me what the hell happened."

"Nothing," Ginny said, defiantly staring him in the eyes. They were near the castle wall, he had manage to get that far before noticing Hermione's disappearance.

"You're lying," Harry said, glaring at her again. "And I am going to do something I will regret." He grabbed her by her throat, though nowhere near as tight she could and nearly threw her against the wall. At this point, it was only his magical shield that held them all back. She began to pry at his hand as if to get him to release her.

"Tell me the truth," Harry said, his voice echoed against the wall, louder than it really was. He had forced his magic into it, and he knew he would collapse soon after this, but he had to know.

"I didn't do anything," Ginny said. She had begun to cry, and he knew she believed her words, yet there was more to her words that what she led onto believe. He stared at her, his mind going past the barrier of her eyes, and into her unconscious where the Legilmens in him would find the answers.

He watched as Ginny brewed the potion that slowly but surely stripped Hermione of her own free will. He watched her as she lied to her parents, and forcing Hermione further and further into a shell, and the pain it caused Hermione to hide like that. As if hours upon hours of memories poured into him, where Ginny mentally abused Hermione. It was only the strength of her will that she did not break under the pressure. He watched as Hermione came running back to the castle not an hour before. And he watched as Ginny did nothing as Hermione fell backwards into the trap that had been set for her.

He pulled back and stumbled to the ground, the terror in his eyes matching Ginny's as she stared at him. Tears were falling down her cheeks as she stared at him. He felt himself being dragged back to his feet and a punch being thrown at his face. He did not see the redhead that threw it, all he could see was the terror in Ginny's eyes as she realized what she had done.

He felt every single punch they threw at him, and he felt every punch and shot was deserved. He had violated Ginny, something that he never thought he was capable of, yet he had. Their eyes never left each other, and it wasn't until Ginny had stood up and pulled her brother away did they stop. Now, Harry got a good look at Charlie, who was poised to hit him again. The Twins were the ones holding him back and they had let go. Remus had managed to stop Ron, but it look as though he was not trying hard to get to him.

Ginny walked up to Harry, and placed a hand upon his cheek. The intoxicating smell was gone. Dispelled most likely. He flinched away from the contact, the pain finally swelling into his cheeks. Yet he let her hand rest there.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, before collapsing into his chest, tears and all. He wrapped his arms around her, knowing full well that he would hold no guilt over her. The pain she felt from her own actions would be enough, and she understood that. Now. She understood that now. She kept whispering that into his chest, as if he could absolve her of all of her guilt.

Lifting her back up to look into his eyes, he gave her a sad smile. She laughed lightly, and he realized that he was a sight for sore eyes. "I know, I know." He kissed her head lightly, knowing that whatever was between them had passed, yet they were still closer than they had been. He let her go, into the arms of her parents, smiling slightly at them. They both wore confused looks upon their faces. Harry however just turned around, took one step, and fell flat on his face, into a welcoming darkness that when it ended, he hoped Hermione was still safe and innocent.

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