Chapter Seven: Hogwarts Redemption
Hope is a good, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. Andy Dufresne
Harry groaned as he opened his eyes. The pain in his stomach had not subsided nor had the pain that throbbed through the rest of his muscles. "Relax, Harry," a female voice said. He felt something being applied to his chest, possible for the burns he had gotten yesterday, or for one or two of the broken ribs he experienced from the beating.
"Mate," Ron's voice said. His magic spread through the room. While he was nowhere near as strong as he was before he had been hit by the curse, he still knew a thing or two. Lupin and Tonks stood off to the side, while Ron and Luna were the closest, with Luna on his bed. Hagrid was nearby, as was McGonagall. Outside the hut maybe.
"You apologize for your brothers' actions, I'll leave without you." He sat up, leaning against the bed frame. He let a groan as he felt pain in muscles he hadn't used in over thirty years. "Damn, I haven't felt this bad since training." He muttered.
"Training?" Ron asked. Harry looked at him for a moment before Ron shook his head. "Sorry its kinda hard to believe you really are that old." Harry laughed before he began to cough again. Luna began to help him out, though he could tell she only had a vague idea of what to do.
"Tell me , what do we know?" Harry asked, giving Luna a smile. She nodded, returning the smile as she seemed to relax. Ron have moved behind her to let Lupin and Tonks into the conversation and Harry wasn't surprised to see Luna lean against Ron.
"We know that the inferi managed to take her into the forest, where a portkey was waiting for them" Lupin said. "After that, we don't know where they went though."
"Moony, you are in charge while I am gone, Luna I want you to take care of my garden," Harry said, moving to swing his legs off. Luna stopped his legs, glaring at him.
"You are not leaving until you explain," Luna said and he knew she did not mean about the garden.
"What is there to explain?" Harry said glaring at them. "I've got another job to do, just like the one you hired me for, so let me go and I'll bring her back."
"Its not that we don't trust you Harry not to bring her back," Lupin said. "Its just that the last time you left, you left for five years."
"Not like it was much of a choice for me," Harry muttered. He leaned against the bed frame again, knowing they would not let him go that easily.
"Why didn't you just return after you first left?" Ron asked. Harry raised an eyebrow at this. "Yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but you know what I mean."
"Would you believe a man that was seventy years your senior to be a seventeen year old boy?" Harry asked. "I'm honestly surprised you didn't recognize me that much to begin with."
"Without your glasses, your facial structure changes." Tonks said. He nodded, then made a move to get off the bed.
"I've got to go, and unless you'd like to clean up a mess, I suggest you let me." Harry said. They moved and he was thankful for that. He greeted Hagrid and McGonagall as he passed them to the forest.
"Harry James Potter, just where do you think you are going?" McGonagall said. He stopped in front of a tree and began, relishing in the simple release. He heard McGonagall stop and turn around as she got close enough to listen to the urine hitting the tree. He finished off and turned, walking as best as he could back. His legs felt sore still.
"Now, I'm leaving, Ron is coming with me this time," Harry said. He looked off in the direction where he could feel the portkey was activated. He never could explain it, but even now, despite the limited magical power he had compared to his older self, he could still feel the magic. Must be the phoenix in him.
"Ron you have an half an hour, pack what you need for a week, and then some, I don't know how long this will take or what to prepare for, but I know that might seem like a lot, but it's really I've got to go on." Harry began walking back up to his hut, they followed him, with Hagrid helping him as he stumbled. Ron headed off to pack, willing to go despite the risks. "Even in training I felt this bad."
"That is simply because your body is younger now, not used to the pains and riggers that you were accustom to before," Dumbledore said. Harry looked at his headmaster, and knew that their time together was coming to a close. "I must ask that you leave us now, if but that I may say goodbye." From their faces, Harry realized that they all had already said goodbye to the Headmaster. Now it was his turn.
"Hello, Albus," Harry said. He sat down on a chair and motioned for Dumbledore to lay down on the bed. He gave Harry sad smile as he did, his body relaxing on the large bed.
"I want to thank you Harry, for this chance to say goodbye," Dumbledore said. "The dead always have unfinished business, now I just have less." Harry chuckled, knowing that there was much left to do. There was a long pause between the two of them. Neither spoke, not a while. Harry lost track of time as he stared out the window, trying to sense Hermione, despite her being so far away. He always could. Dumbledore must have seen the look on his face, as his chuckle broke Harry out of his thoughts. "I fell in love once, Harry. Did you know that?" Harry shook his head. "She was my first cousin." Harry nodded, knowing that while it was looked down upon, you could not stop love.
"What happened to her?" Harry asked. Dumbledore took a labored breath, and the glow around him had almost faded. The end drew nearer, and it looked difficult for Dumbledore speak, whether the subject or his own demise, it didn't matter.
"She joined a covenant over the affair," Dumbledore said. "She was the only one that I had ever wanted. The only thing I had ever wanted." Dumbledore took a deep breath, and closed his eyes before slowly opening them back up. "What was it that you wanted Harry?"
"To have a normal life," he said without hesitation. Dumbledore chuckled, but there was pain in it and Harry wanted to do something, yet he did not know what he could do.
"Harry, my boy, there is no such thing as a normal life, just life," Dumbledore said. "I want you to find that brown hair, brown-eyed girl of your dreams, and make wonderful babies together." Harry smiled at this, nodding in agreement. "There are more important things than magic, more powerful things, Harry." He placed his hand over Dumbledore's before nodding. "Let me go Harry, don't see me as I pass."
"Sir," Harry said, feeling the tears in his eyes.
"Go Harry, grant an old man his last wish," Dumbledore said. Harry nodded and stood, wiping his eyes as he grabbed his satchel. He had it always packed. He felt the magic fade from the room as Dumbledore's spirit finally rested in peace.
"Ron back yet?" Harry asked as he stepped out of the hut.
"Right here," Ron said. Harry looked to his left, by the pumpkins that were growing as Ron walked over to him. He wore a satchel on his back, similar to his own and carried his broom with him. "My mother is very upset with you."
"You're putting it politely aren't you?" Harry asked as he walked followed.
"Harry, putting it politely right now would be to say that she is pissed off," Ron said. He shook his head, and Harry looked at his friend for a moment. Ron had done a great deal of growing up in the last five years. His posture showed the confidence in his abilities and the humble nature that hide them. Harry smiled lightly, knowing that it took him nearly twenty years to get the confidence that Ron showed him today.
"This is where they disappeared Harry," Lupin said. Tonks was not looking at either him or Lupin, despite holding Lupin's hand.
"What aren't you telling me?" Harry asked. He looked toward the small wooded area, knowing that the portkey had to be precise. "There is something else isn't there."
"Snape explained that there was someone there with an expertise in runes," McGonagall said. Ron snapped his head in her direction, fear covering his face.
"Ron, I know about runes, they're not that big of a problem," Harry said, still not understanding everything.
"Harry, what do you know about endowments?" Ron asked, his gaze now upon the ground.
"That they are incredible difficult to use, and fell out of favor about three hundred years ago, not because of the gifts that they offer, but because of the dangers to those that gave the gifts," Harry said. There was a pause in the air, and Harry turned toward McGonagall then Tonks. "They are using one to break her, aren't they?" There was a silence. "Aren't they?" He nearly screamed this time and Tonks broke down in tears. Lupin wrapped his arms around her, almost glaring at him.
"Yes," he said. Harry nodded, returning the glare. The tension between the was growing, though Harry did not know why. He had no problems with Lupin, yet the man had a problem with him. Only time would tell what that problem was. He turned his gaze back to the wooden area
He closed his eyes, picturing London in his mind as the residual magic from the portkey touched his own. The air became stale as he could feel himself there, as if he was there, right now. The Death Eaters had moved her already, but it was a start.
"Ron, you ready?" Harry held out his hand, as if to shake it. Ron looked at his hand before grasping it firmly.
"Harry, there is no such thing as ready with you," Ron said with a smile. "Just prepared." Neither men could help but laugh, and Harry latched on to the string of magic that would take them to London. His abilities at least as a phoenix did not diminish. With a pull like a portkey, they were off to not-so-merry-but-very-old-London.
I0I
Hermione closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears. She was afraid. There was no other words to describe what she felt. Well, no there was, she just didn't know what those words were. There was the fear she felt of what was going to come, that normal fear someone is supposed to feel when they are at the feet of a tyrant that you know you could fight, but not without the help of friends. Then there was that irrational fear, a stronger fear. She had no way to explain it, the fear was just there. It took her more to fight that irrational fear than anything else, and fighting that made her succomb to the other. Or vice a versa.
"Mudblood, looks like its time," a Death Eater said. Hermione looked up, her mind still trying to formulate an escape plan through all the fear that threatened her. She was lifted off the ground, her arms still chained to the wall. They blindfolded her again, making sure that she could not see where they were taking her, and giving them one more method of control.
They dragged her for quite some time, until she felt the floor beneath her legs turn from rough to a smooth tile. Where were they taking her?
"Well, well, looks like we're about to make the Mudblood whore even more worthless." Hermione tried to turn in the direction of the voice. Malfoy. How she wanted to spit upon his feet. The bastard who killed the Headmaster of the school she loved so much.
"Young Malfoy, please, she is our guest," Voldemort said. Her blindfold was removed, letting the light in. Blinking away the red, Hermione was surprised at the elegance of the walls around her.
The room was unlike anything she had ever seen. The walls were marble, draped in a royal purple that was lit up by several torches. The floor was covered in Persian rugs, leading to the gold throne that Voldemort sat in. Death Eaters stood around her, devoid of masks, and secrecy.
"Are you ready to willingly give up your beauty to Bella?" Voldemort said, motioning Hermione forward. His persuasive voice was not asking this time, as if he had turned it off. She nodded, trying to remain strong in front of the adversary. "My dear, you must speak it."
"I'll give you my beauty," Hermione said, bowing her head. She heard Bellatrix cackle like the witch she was, and Hermione stared up at her.
"Bella, you must remember she does this not for you, but for her friends," Voldemort said. Hermione turned to look at him, not holding back the surprise she felt. Was the man being actually nice? He took no notice of her though, and motioned for a man to come forward.
He was holding a greenish glowing brand, shaped in rune she did not know. The man began to chant something, in a language that seemed to draw magic from the air as the glow around the brand increased. Voldemort nodded, and Hermione felt the shirt torn from her body, leaving her just in her bra and underwear. Her arms were held back, holding her in place.
"Think about why you are giving this gift," Voldemort said. "You give this so that your friends would be spared. You willingly give your beauty to Bella." The voice was almost overpowering as the images flooded her mind. She kept her mouth shut as the pain coursed through her body, the brand pushed against her left breast. The pain rushed from her breast until she felt like her entire body was about to go up in flames.
The pain did not end when the brand was removed. She could not even hear the chant anymore, over the screams in her head. She knew she wasn't screaming because she would not give them that satisfaction. She could see the brand being moved from her to Bellatrix, a stream of green light following the brand from her breast. It was only when she thought that she had the pain under control, did her body become asunder. She felt a pulling sensation from every direction, piercing her harsher than any cold English wind, deeper than any word that Malfoy ever spoke.
As the pain ended, she felt different. Hermione knew she was different. She felt her restraints released, causing her to topple over. Pushing off of the ground to get back to her knees, she nearly fell again.
Hermione stared at hands, that had she not been able to feel the pain that was going through them still, she would have never thought they were her own. The skin that was normally a cream color now was pale, her palms caked and callused. They were wrinkled as well, the purple veins easily visible through her pale skin. She felt something being wrapped around her and immediately she pulled it closer, trying to hide herself.
"Bella, please escort her to her room," Voldemort said. With a sneer, Bella took off in on direction. "And Bella?" She stopped at the door, glaring back at Hermione before softening the gaze onto her master. "You treat her poorly, the gift shall be returned." Hermione shivered; the tone of his voice was not the one he had spoke with before, but exuded the power that she knew he had. It would have put a fear in her, yet the fear was already there.
The hallway she was led down was elegant as the hall she had just been in. Bellatrix stopped in front of a doorway, guarded by two golems of metal. They easily moved aside for Bellatrix, and were quickly given an order to not let anyone in. And no one out. Hermione let out a sigh, knowing that it was going to make escaping even harder.
Hermione held back the gasp, though she did not stop showing the surprise as she entered her new quarters. The room was just as elegant as everything else she had seen so far. The bed was enormous, covered in what looked like satin sheets. The canopy reached high, almost touching the ceiling with the drapery. An open door led to what appeared to be an large bathroom. But what surprised her the most were the shelves of books that covered the walls. She had rarely seen so many books in one spot, the last time was Hogwarts library, yet seeing so many here left in her in awe.
"Master wanted to make sure you were comfortable with your station now," Bellatrix said. "As a dedicate, you will be under constant surveillance, to ensure that Master's abilities are preserved, as well as my own." She sneered once more, moving to do something, yet she stopped, fearing her "Master's" retribution far more. She left Hermione at that, to the room filled with books.
Hermione turned and immediately walked into the bathroom, her determination stronger now that she was out of Voldemort's presence. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see herself until she worked up the courage. She turned and faced the direction of the mirror, knowing it would cover the wall, if not both of them. Just to further subject her pain.
Opening her eyes, she saw the horror that she had become. Her hair no longer brown, now gray and as bushy as ever. Her skin was covered with various warts and liver spots between the wrinkles and obviously dry spots. Her eyes had the hints of jaundice, as well as the other spots on her body. Her perfect teeth were now crooked and her tongue drier than any cotton mouth she had ever felt. She closed her eyes and turned away.
There as a pain that filled her as she stared at her reflection She knew what she had to do to survive. She would not give into the voices anymore. The voice telling her to stay strong grew even louder in her mind. She could not help the smile that crossed her lips as she realized whose voice spoke to her.
I0I
Harry took them to the abandoned warehouse that the portkey had brought Hermione too. He was closer now to her, he could feel that she had been here as well. "Ron, we're going to have to go out into the world now."
"What?" Ron asked. "Where the hell are we?"
"The London Underground," Harry said. "We need to get to the streets so I can figure out where we are." Harry began to walk off in, stopping when he felt Ron grab onto this arm.
"Harry, you've got to explain to me what happened to you," Ron said.
"I will, but we've got to move," Harry said, pulling his arm out of Ron's. He exited the warehouse, the sounds of the sea echoing through the buildings. "Okay, we're going to have to head into the city."
"Is that safe?" Ron had followed him, his wand drawn as if ready for an attack.
"For the moment," Harry said. "I suggest putting that away for now, and trust me on this." He began to walk in the opposite direction of the wharf. They needed to head further inland.
"Where are we going?"
"London underground, I think," Harry said. He closed his eyes as they reached a trash-ridden street, touching the magic that Hermione had. Opening his eyes again, he could see the faint line of light, traveling off to the north, to London. He had to smile, as he waved down the lone taxi coming their way.
"You got enough?" Ron asked, motioning toward him. Harry only smiled as he opened the door and entered.
"Where to Mr Evans?" The man said. Harry nearly laughed at the shocked look on Ron's face.
"The nearest London underground station," Harry said. "What?"
"How does this man recognize you?" Ron asked.
"I'm not really a man, just a programmed charm to assist Mister Evans with his traveling measures," the driver said. "I recognize his magical signature, and at much like the Knight Bus, I can get to just about anywhere that Mister Evans needs."
"Why does he call you Mister Evans?" Ron asked as they began to drive off toward the inner part of the city.
"That was when I had first charmed the cab," Harry said. He leaned against the window, rubbing his right arm where the scar was.
"Harry, do you mind at least telling me a little of how you became like this," Ron asked. He turned from his gaze out the window, trying to relax. He reached forward, opening a small compartment that held a bottle of aged scotch. He poured himself a glass, drinking it quickly before pouring another for himself and one for Ron.
"You following the path, Edgar?" Harry asked. He handed the glass to Ron, stalling for time so he didn't have to explain.
"Come on Harry, I'm not going to think any less of you," Ron asked again.
"Ron, it was when I was trapped back in 1920, when I was had realized my folly," Harry said. "I was trapped sixty years in the past, and I could not do anything but wait." He looked back out the window. "While you had to wait five years for me to come back, I had to wait sixty eight Ron, sixty eight years." The silence in the car was enough for Harry to know that Ron was thinking things over.
"Just answer me one more question before we get there." Ron asked. "How the hell did you get Snape to work with you?"
"Beat the crap out of him," harry said, with a shrug of his shoulders. Ron's jaw dropped as the he stared at Harry. Harry could not hold back his laughter, knowing that the truth was better than any fiction he could have ever read. "Twice actually."
"Twice, you kicked Snape's arse twice?"
"It was right before I went back in time, literally moments before I was thrown back in time," Harry said, smiling lightly. The memory was still fresh in his mind, something he didn't think he'll ever forget. "He tried to attack me, didn't relaize that I had learned a thing or two while travelling."
"You going to teach us that stuff?" Ron looked hopeful at the mention of something that could kick Snape's ass. Harry laughed again, feeling slightly embarrassed, but he nodded.
"You want the truth?" Harry scratched the back of his neck when Ron nodded so fast he thought his head was going to fall off. "He did have me cornered, and fired a curse at me. I dodged it and I hit him."
"You hit him? As in punched him?" Ron had finally taken the drink Harry had poured, and finished in one gulp. Harry poured him another glass.
"Yeah, once in the gut and once in the nose, broke it, that git," Harry said, causing Ron laugh. He had to get his friend to relax, as he knew what types of horrors they would face. Ron needed a calm mind if the snakes' pit they were heading to was filled. "Stumbled to the ground, a curse missed him."
"Should have let it hit him," Ron growled. Harry shook his head, smiling lightly.
"Then I couldn't have kicked him so another curse missed him," Harry said. "When he realized that I thought it was more important that he was alive, he nodded and played dead, so to speak. I left him there, and finished off the remainder of the Death Eaters.
"I was going to head back to him, but the time turner had different plans," Harry said with a sheepish smile. "It was then when I became Fawkes that I saved his ass. I returned and pulled Snape off the ground. Told the bastard he owed me." Both of them laughed at this, though the air was still filtered with an awkwardness left from Harry's own words. Time was a hard barrier to cross, and even harder to return across.
"How about the second time?" Ron asked, his laughter subsiding.
"Who do you think gave him that crocked nose in the first place?" Harry asked. Ron's resolve had broken now and he was nearly rolling in the seat. The silence replaced Ron's laughter as it died down, and he seemed to be thinking of more questions.
"Did anyone ever figure you out?" Ron asked as the car stopped. They were right outside an entrance to the underground, with the trail of light leading down the stairs.
"Yeah, but that's a story for another day," Harry said. "Most likely this will take us to another point that they used a portkey to."
"I think I'll be able to find out who else was with her, that took her I mean," Ron said, following Harry down the stairs. The stairs were covered in the underground art that Harry had found at times humorous. This time, however, he felt that the obscenity of the art only made the feeling in the pit of his stomach grow.
"Looked up some spells?" Harry asked as they watched the underground pass them by. In the tailwind, he began to walk to down the tunnel, following the light.
"Yeah, it helped to figure out which twin or Ginny had pranked you," Ron said. "You realize this might just be a wild goose chase."
"I may have been a doctor, but I was taught by a hunter," Harry said. "I will find her." He turned, and if he had looked back, he would have seen the grin upon Ron's face
I0I
For about the twentieth time, Hermione congratulated herself on her intellect. It had been about a week sense the endowment was taken from her, and the fears had died down Hermione had torn off a piece of her curtains, making a cover for her eyes. So far, everything was going as best as they could be expected to. Without the constant picture of her altered state, her confidence was not as crushed as she pretended it to be. She was lucky she had found a spell to teach her braille while training with Fleur. It was the only way she would've been able to read as much as she was doing now.
The reading, mainly fiction, was what kept both fears away. Books weren't real, they never could be. But they did take her away from these four walls that trapped her. She found it difficult at first, to read in such a manner. She was used to the words in front of her, there for her to go back and look at. Now it was as if she was learning to read all over again.
Setting the book aside, Hermione leaned back into the bed, trying to relax. The fears were coming back to her, yet the irrational one, the one that she felt since Harry had originally left was dying. That was the only way she could explain it. The fear was dying. She could not help but smile at that little piece of information. One fear was dying and the other could be fought. She would not break for Riddle.
Sighing, she picked the book up again, knowing she had no other way to pass the time, and prayed that Harry would find her soon. It was the only other thing that she did. Read and pray.
Her captures treated her alright, but they never saw her, never came to check up on her. They left her to her own devices and if she was under constant surveillance then she probably would have lost her sanity sooner. The silence was often deafening and she tried to fight it with the music player she had requested. She had managed to find a singer too that sang similar to Harry, yet whose voice was a bit harsher. She found comfort in it, ebbing the fear that she knew she would find when she met up with Harry once again.
Who he still care for her when he saw how she looked now? Would he even want to look at her?
Shaking her head, she quickly threw those thoughts away. Those thoughts brought back the fears of her own insecurities. She would not give in to them, because doing so would give into the fear that the endowment brought. A fear she would not let control her life. She let the music encompass her, trying to fall asleep to be normal in her dreams.
However, Fate had different plans for her. Her dreams would have to wait as the screams of terror and fear could be heard outside. As much as she wanted to hide, she found her body frozen, unable to move. The blackout indicated they cut the power to the place, yet why would someone do that, unless...
Unless there was the intent to kill of the Dedicate...
The scream she fought to keep back escaped when her door was thrown open, light leaking in from the hallway. Despite her blindfold, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst. "My dear, if you would please come with me." The man had taken several steps forward, and now was by the bed, yet she did not hear the footfall of his steps. She turned in the direction she thought he was in, still unsure of what to expect. "Do you trust me?" His voice had a lighter tone to it, as if he had lifted the regret and pain from his shoulders for a single moment.
"Harry?" She was trying to keep her emotions intact, yet how could she? Here was the same man who saved her multiply times, and he was looking at her undignified and ugly form. What good was she to him now?
The bed shifted and she felt his hand upon her head. "Yes?" he ran his hand through her hair, causing her to lean into his touch. She pulled back, knowing that he was only trying to comfort her for her loss, he would never fall for her now.
""You've come to get me out of here?" Hermione asked, moving away from the bed.
"Yes," Harry said, getting up from the bed. She was glad he had put distance between them, the fears were falling back now. "Among other things."
"What other things?" Hermione asked, standing up from her side of the bed. She grabbed hold of the bed post, using it to stabilize her as best as she could. Harry took her arm, lacing it through his own.
"Trust me, and let me speak, okay?" She nodded, the fears rising as she began to walk toward the door. She had not done that since the first day they brought her here, as if the magic told her that would only hurt her in the end. "Its okay, you're safe with me." She nodded and moved a little closer to his side, tightening her grip on his arm. He patted her hand and she could picture him giving her a sad smile, as if he was pained in what he saw in her. Shaking the tears from her eyes, she heard the steps of someone else running over them.
"Blimey, you don't need to take off like that," Ron said. Hermione could tell he was out of breath, yet said nothing. "Who's she?"
"She is a Seer that is going to lead us out of here," Harry said with such confidence Hermione almost believed him. "She also knows where Hermione is."
"I thought you knew where Hermione was?" Ron asked. She looked up at Harry, feeling him shake his head.
"Lost her trail, mate," Harry said. Hermione wanted to lean more into his side, but felt that in her current position such an act was a bad idea.
"And this old broad is supposed to help us find her?" Hermione winced at Ron's comment and Harry only patted her hand.
"Ron, she's blind, not deaf," he said. "And she will find Hermione, right?" She nodded for good measure, before feeling herself being tugged off in one direction. "I thought you said you took care of the guards."
"I did," Ron said. The tug on her arm nearly pulled it out of the socket, yet she was caught by a pair of strong arms. "They must have switched shifts."
"No shit!" Harry yelled back. She slapped his arm, knowing that it was futile if she couldn't see him, yet he shouldn't swear. "Sorry." he whispered, and she could not help but smile slightly. "Ron, we might need to split up." The sound of something exploding shook her slightly. Being in a room where she had an idea of where things were made everything so much easier. Could they have at least thought of a better rescue plan?
"What? You crazy?" They were yelling at each other now, the sound of spellfire growing louder by the second.
"Look where you are," Harry yelled back. "I'm on one side of the hall, you're on the other. You really want to try and cross this?" Hermione winced as another explosion sent something flying her way. "Look, meet me back at the underground entrance in about a day. Lose as many of them as you can."
"What hell are you going to do?"
"Hide, you got a better plan?"
"Fuck!" Another explosion and she heard footsteps running off in the opposite direction.
"Ron's going to be okay, we've got to go now," Harry said. She was being pulled in the other direction that footsteps were going.
"Harry, what plan do you have?" Hermione managed to ask once they had stopped running. This was only after going through several corridors and at least six flights of stairs, all up.
"Told you, run," Harry said. "I'm not where near strong enough to take them all on."
"But you did back at Hogwarts," Hermione asked. She felt Harry push against her a little harder, and tried to forget the horror that she was.
"I had a lot more magic at my disposal," he said. "Magic grows with age, ever wonder why Dumbledore was as strong as he was. Natural order of things."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"I mean that there is direct correlation to the age of a wizard or witch and the amount of magical power and control they possess." There was a pause and she felt a disillusionment charm go up around them. "Just stand very still." He whispered into her ear.
She nodded, and tried not to think about his body pressed up to hers. The fact that she felt this way, and yet knew she could never be with him only made the pain worse. "Harry?" She heard what sounded like a confirmation, so she continued. "I'm sorry that I failed you."
"Now how did you do that?"
"I got caught, and then they did this to me," she said. Her voice was so soft, she was surprised she was even heard. "There is no way to remove an endowment, except by death."
"If you are asking me to kill you Hermione, the talk we're going to be having shortly is going to be worse than you thought," Harry said. The confidence in his voice made her shiver, as if his eyes were bearing down upon her.
"I can't go back like this," Hermione said. She felt two strong arms take hold of her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding onto him as if her life depended on it. In a way it did.
"You won't," Harry said. She felt odd, her rough skin touching his still brought a chill to her spine, one that seemed to destroy any of the remaining fears from Ginny. "But right now, we need to get you out of here."
"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked. She didn't get a response, instead was picked up by Harry, who took off in a mad run in one direction. They must have passed through a ward as she felt something lifted off of her.
Harry must have realized it too as he set about doing what he should have done in the first place. There was a pull along her navel, as if Harry had a portkey, taking them far away from the hell that Hermione was in.
"First thing we do is take that damn blindfold off," Harry said.
"NO!" Hermione's hand went to the knot immediately. "I can't, I'm sorry, but I can't.'
"Why? They really didn't take your sight too did they?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head and took a step back. She nearly tripped over whatever was behind, but she did not care.
"It makes it easier for me," Hermione said. She turned her back to him and felt him move closer to her. "Don't touch me either, please. It just makes things easier for me." She heard him shuffle his feet away, stopping about a yard away.
"There is a chair behind you, if you'd like to sit down," Harry said. His voice was distant, like he was in pain. Pain she caused. She nodded her thanks, sitting down and relaxing her legs after the run Harry had put them through. "What can you tell me about what happened?"
"Only that Riddle was oddly nice about everything, including my treatment," Hermione said. "He seemed to be trying to persuade me into doing this, which obviously worked. Like he wanted me to go along with what he was saying."
"Riddle needed you to willingly give up the gift, otherwise it would be for not," Harry said. "I had Ron clue me in on what he knew about them. The strategy in that boy's head."
"Harry, you're not that much older than he is," Hermione said. She shook her head, trying to understand this new Harry. This was not her Harry. No matter how much he looked like him.
"Hermione, I've raised a daughter and nearly been killed at least twenty times over the last three decades," Harry admonished. "I think its alright if I call him a boy."
"What about me? Am I girl then to you?" Hermione snapped. She suddenly felt very angry. He had a daughter, why didn't he tell her? If he had a daughter, then he must have had a wife.
"No Hermione, you are a grown woman, who knows a lot more and has seen a lot than many of the people back at Hogwarts," Harry said. His voice was even, as if he was fighting something. An emotion maybe. "Ron to me is still a boy because that's just how it is. He's still naive about things, but there is as sense to him that he understands more of what is going on. I meant no offense by calling him a 'boy' and I apologize if you took it that way."
"I'm sorry Harry," Hermione said. She wanted to turn and look away from him, maybe hide, but she could find a place to crawl away and hide in the darkness she gave herself. "Its just difficult for me right now. I'm still trying to adjust to this curse."
"Why adjust to it when someone can put an end to it?" Harry asked.
"How do you propose doing that?" Hermione asked. "You told me yourself that there was only one sure fire way to destroy an endowment, and that was to kill the dedicate."
"Actually you said that," Harry said, with a smile. Or at least Hermione thought he smiled. It would have been a very Harry thing to do. "What I'm saying is that there is a way to do it, yet the cost is about the same."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. She wasn't planning on going through with it, she was just interested in her options.
"I mean that someone would have to bind themselves to you, replacing your bonds to Bellatrix." Harry spat the name as he spoke. "It would have to pretty power of a bond, almost entwining destinies so to speak."
"But that would mean someone was sacrificing something for me," Hermione said. She shook her head. It was her burden to bear and she would do so without complaint. "I'm not letting anyone do that for me." The air was stale, as if Harry's words would not go away.
"Hermione....what are your feelings for Ron?" The question caught her by surprise, and she couldn't find any words for a while. "What I mean is, have they changed since the fight the two of you had before I left?"
"Harry, my feelings have nothing do with this," Hermione said. "And it really is not your place to be asking about them." There was another silence, and Hermione shifted uncomfortable in her seat. While she didn't have feelings for Ron anymore, she certainly did not want Harry to know that. She had put him through hell, leaving like he did, and although she knew there was a reasonable answer for it, part of her did not want to admit to him the depths of her love.
How could he love a monster like herself? So ugly that she could not even look herself in the mirror. Maybe her fears were not as far gone as she thought they were.
"There is more magic in the world Hermione, than you know," Harry said. "There are some bonds that are deeper than the one placed upon you. Bonds that are not only beneficial to both parties, but protective as well."
"What are you talking about Harry?" Hermione asked.
"There is a bond that a phoenixes use when with their mates, a life bond I guess you could call it," Harry said. "They use to when they find the other they wish to spend the rest of the immortal souls' life with. In other words, even death can no separate the two of them."
"What does that have to do with us?" Hermione asked. She had read that once when in COMC, but it never meant anything to her.
"Hermione, if you can not figure out what I mean by that, then we will be here a long time," Harry said. He must have gotten up, she heard the chair scraping against the floor as he pushed against it. "Ron, yeah, its Harry, I'm kinda in between a rock and hard place. I need you to stay low for the night. You know where the safe house is?" There was a pause, he must have called Ron on the phone or something else. There was a pause, and Hermione wished she could hear what Ron was saying. "Mate, just be careful. There is a wallet of money waiting for you there too." Another pause. "Yeah, you want to take care of the other part?" This pause was the longest, and Hermione was kinda of worried now. There was no click of the phone, so Ron must have been talking. What did he need to talk so much about. "That's fine with me. I'll call you later with an update. Bye."
"What was that about?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing that concerns you right now," Harry said. He walked back to his chair, it scraping against the floor again as he sat.
"What do you mean it doesn't concern me? I'm in this with you too," Hermione nearly yelled. "What right do you have to make my decisions for me? AGAIN?"
"This decision you made yourself," Harry said. "You said you would not go back looking like that, and you won't let me help you. In order for you to help me, we must go back. So as you can see, anything that would be helping me at the moment has nothing to do with you." Hermione hung her head, knowing he was right. She wanted to help him so bad that it hurt; the pain of the rune never fully touched her until now. Her heart felt like it would break, again. She couldn't go back, and there was no way to save her fate. Harry mentioned one way, but that was impossible. She would be alone for the rest of her life, by her own hand.
The silence between them was horrible, and Hermione never felt so alone in her life, despite having her love across the room from her.
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