Author's notes: This is my baby. But alas, pretty much none of it belongs to me. The characters, minus the random ones that I created, all belong to Jo herself. And the main concept of this story belongs to the amazing Joss Whedon and the 6th season of his TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Inspiration hit me as I was listening to my soundtrack of "Once More With Feeling," the musical episode. I hope that you like this and want to read more. Oh and the chapter title is from a Ben Kweller song. I don't remember right now off of the top of the head which one. I'll credit in later chapters.
Chapter 1: It Starts Stopping When It Stops Stopping
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"My Goodness, Ginny! You are turning into Colin Creevey!" proclaimed Hermione.
Laughter filled the back yard of the burrow. It was the 5th Annual Weasley Summer Holiday Celebration and everyone was accounted for. Harry looked around the tables. The past four years had been trying times for wizards and witches, but they've pulled through. And everyone at the Weasley household seemed to be doing a fine job living under these dark circumstances.
Shortly after graduating, Harry insisted that Ron and Hermione keep the trio together and working. They purchased a small home on the outskirts of Diagon Alley that soon became the headquarters of the order of the Phoenix during their first year in the home. During that year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione devoted themselves to finding and destroying Voldemort's horcruxes. With only two left, the following year each member of the trip began their own thing, but always kept their eyes open.
Harry became a junior auror. A path in life he always wanted to take. But it was also a job that helped him with his quest and he was able to find the final two horcruxes, destroying one, keeping the other until the right time. Ron followed his own dreams and became a professional quidditch player for the minor leagues. And Hermione went back to school, studying at the new University where she used the library as much as possible to help Harry.
Molly was proud of the three young adults, as well as the rest of her family. Arthur had been promoted to the Head of the Muggle Division at the Ministry of Magic. After his attack during the trio's 6th year, Bill returned home to England to heal and train with Remus on how to handle his side-effects. Fleur proved herself to the entire Weasley clan as she stayed by his side the whole time. They were married shortly after Ginny graduated. Fleur was now 8 months pregnant with their first child.
But it was Charlie and his wife, Judy, who gave the Weasley parents their first grandchild, Allaster. Fred and George's joke shop was steadily growing with chains in three large wizarding towns. The twins were both balancing their successful careers with a personal life as well. Fred was engaged and planning his wedding to Angelina while George was just getting to know his current girlfriend, Cera. Ginny still lived at home, but was doing well for herself with her job at McDaniel, Bentley, & Lupin Researchers Inc. under the spells and potions division.
The annual gathering had been Molly's idea. She loved being able to see everyone together. It meant they were safe. And this year was no different. Molly's thoughts of her family's safety were interrupted by a flash of a camera.
"Ginny! Go take someone else's picture!"
Her daughter smiled, "Fine mum."
Ginny walked around the table, taking pictures of her family and friends. She got a beautiful shot of Charlie with his little boy, and then one of Fred and George acting normal. She turned around just in time to get a picture of Harry pulling Hermione into his lap, causing her to smile, then burst into laughter as Ron tickled her from behind, his head poking between his friends. Satisfied, she put her camera down and took her seat at the table to dig into her desert.
When dinner was finished, the women began to clean up while the men decided to have an impromptu quidditch rematch from the game before. Molly excused Ginny from cleaning duties so she could make the teams even and watched as Arthur walked with their family, holding hands with his grandson. Cera helped Fleur into the Burrow to rest while Angelina and Judy took whatever food was leftover into the house to be stored for later. Molly and Hermione were left to clean the tables.
"Oh that's fine. You just go play your game and us women will stay behind and clean after you lot," Hermione said with a hint of laughter in her voice.
"'Ata girl," Harry replied, placing a swift kiss on her check. "Sorting out her priorities with the best of them."
"Oh, bluddger off! All of you!"
"Horrible pun, Hermione," said Fred.
"Absolutely dreadful," followed George.
"Seems as though being the brightest witch in our year helped you none in the way of funny jokes," laughed Ron.
"Oh, honestly!"
"Enough, all of you. You pick on Hermione enough and she will storm off. I need all of the help that I can get taking care of you lot," Molly interrupted. "Now, off you go. Start your game. We'll be over shortly to watch."
"You'll be cheering us on, right mum?"
"The Hell she will," Fred said to his twin. "She'll be cheering on my team."
"Only because she forgets that you are not me."
"Like she could. I'm her favorite twin."
"Well, favorite twin or not, we'll wipe the pitch with you!"
"You girls had better hurry," Ron called as he ushered his brothers away. "This will be the match to end all matches!"
"That's because you are going down, little brother," Fred said over his shoulder.
"Oh, please, Fred! With me on the team, there is no way you could win," George grinned. "I mean, we may have Harry Potter on our team too, but it will be I who wins it in the end. Then we will see who mum's favorite twin is!"
Laughter was heard once more as more insults were thrown from brother to brother as they made their way to the pitch.
"You may have Harry, but we have Ginny! She's the best female Weasley to play quidditch," said Bill.
"May I remind you that I am the only female Weasley to play quidditch?"
"But you are amazingly good because of playing with your broom-talented brothers of yours."
Hermione and Molly laughed, listening to the continuing banter while the family got their brooms. With a quick look to each other and a warm smile, the two women began to clean up. A quick flick of the wrist by Molly and the dishes lined up on the tables. The porcelain plates and glass cups then rose into the air and floated into the kitchen through the window where they were intercepted by Judy to be washed. Hermione washed each of the table clothes before sending them to Angelina to be hung on a line to dry.
Molly had just begun to separate the tables when she heard something move in the hedges. She looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of a black hood ducking behind the nearby shrubs. She continued her duty while being weary of the movement next to her. It wasn't until she heard the slight murmur that she knew for sure someone was there. Molly looked towards the shrubs again and saw the end of a wand poking out of the leaves. Scared, she searched to find where the wand was pointing to. The wand tip began to glow purple and she stepped in between the glow and the person it was aimed for. Hermione looked up from her task as Molly fell to the ground, searching for air.
"MOLLY!"
Hermione's voice shot over the commotion, causing the attention to focus on the bushy haired girl on the ground next to the fallen woman. Arthur was by Molly's side in a flash. He held his wife protectively in his arms, worry on his face.
"Molly. Molly, are you alright? What happened?"
Her speech was breathy and slow, full of gasps for air to continue.
"Man in hedges…Death Eater…sent spell…at Harry…blocked spell…"
"Oh Molly!" He held her close, hugging her almost limp body to his. He didn't see his angry sons and Harry take off towards the hedge. Angelina and Judy ran outside, unsure of what was going on.
"Arthur…I'll be fine…"
Ginny switched places with Hermione, kneeling beside her fallen mother. "Do you know the spell, mum?"
"No."
Ginny touched her mother's head then checked her eyes and pulse.
"Where did it hit?" Hermione asked, wanting to help as much as possible.
"Near my lung."
"Dad, I need to check the wound."
He nodded and released Molly's body enough for Ginny to raise her shirt to see the wound. Ginny saw the slight glow of purple and lowered her mother's shirt.
"It's purple."
"What's that mean, Gin?"
"Its dark Magic, dad. I believe she's been hit with the Resperdont spell."
"What?"
"If that's the case, it means that mum has been hit with a spell that caused horrible amounts of pressure to the lungs. The pressure will continue to increase until she is unable to breathe anymore and will die of suffocation."
Hermione's hand covered her mouth and Arthur brought Molly's body close to him again. Just then the Weasley boys and Harry were returning from the hedge, dragging a large wad of black material with a head sticking out. Bill threw the Death Eater to the ground with such force that a bone snapped in two.
"You should know better than to attack a woman with six sons! You are lucky we didn't kill you on the spot!" Bill's face grew redder as his anger grew.
The man rolled on all fours, coughing up blood in the process. "It was meant for Potter."
Ron bent down eye level to the man. "Then you should know better than to mess with a man with six brothers."
"So, are you going to interrogate me?" he looked at the only black haired male that surrounded him.
"I'm an Auror," Harry spoke. "It's a part of my job."
The man laughed.
"What's your name?"
"Louis."
"Why don't you tell us why you attempted a curse on me?"
"It was in my orders to find you. Find you, wound you, and take the last horcrux from you and return it to Lord Voldemort."
A large gasp was heard from all the women except Hermione.
"The locket," she asked, looking up at Harry who was standing beside of her.
He looked down and nodded. The last horcrux was around his neck. Louis looked from Harry to Molly. "I didn't know you had suicidal protectors."
The Weasley sons were all about to throw their own attacks on the man, but someone beat them to it. Ginny stood back, shaking the pain out of the hand she has just punch Louis with.
"I would kill you right now, if it weren't for the fact that I think something big is about to happen," she said. "Now you've got six strong and smart men behind you, and two very capable witches in front of you. Your attitude needs to fall past its minimum and you need to tell us what's going on, or else the fury of 100 will be released upon you in the form of eight."
"Oh please," Louis scoffed. "You could never do to me what Voldemort could do to you. Or, what he will do…shortly."
"What?"
But before he would answer, a loud pop was heard behind the group.
"Harry!" yelled the voice of Remus Lupin. "Voldemort is traveling from village to village, attacking anyone he sees to find you Harry. He's wounding and even killing women, children, and muggles."
The women all gasped and Judy pulled Allater close to her side. Hermione reached for Harry's hand, which he held with a tight grip while looking at Louis.
"It is true?" he asked.
Harry was answered with a knowing smirk and a slight nod from the Death Eater.
"Ok then." Harry released Hermione's hand and began to walk away, his wand ready. "Where is he, Remus?"
"He's on the other side of Otter St. Catchpole. He is just about to enter the village. Harry, this is it. Are you ready?"
He looked at his once professor and long time friend, "I have to be."
"Well, you heard the man," Bill took out his wand and twirled it in his hand. "It's time to fight."
"There are Aurors waiting you over that hill. You'd better go. I'll be right behind you."
Charlie ran to his wife and son, hugging them both will all of his might. Judy tried not to cry while Allaster patted his father's head, telling him it would be ok. Fred said his good byes to Angelina before going to his mother's side with his twin brother. Ron stood in front of his little sister and Hermione, ready to say his goodbyes as well. He took Ginny in his arms, but she pulled away almost immediately.
"No, Ron," Ginny said quietly.
"Ginny, Hermione-"
"No, Ron!" This time, both women spoke.
"Would you two just listen!" Harry had appeared beside Ron.
Speechless, they let him talk.
"You two need to stay here," Harry said quietly.
"Mum needs you Ginny. You need to stay here with her. Take care of her. Don't let her die."
Tears began to fall down her face as she hugged her brother.
"Fine." She stepped back and looked at them both. "Please be careful. You come back home in as many pieces as needed, as long as we can put you back together in one big piece."
Ginny hugged her brother tightly. When their embrace ended, an awkward tension rested between Harry and Ginny. With a deep breath, she hugged Harry just as tightly as she hugged Ron.
"Kick his ass, Harry," she whispered in his ear. "Kick his ass and then come back." Before he could say anything, Ginny kissed his cheek and then ran back to her mother's side. Hermione looked at the ground. None of the three spoke for a good amount of time
Hermione's eyes stayed on the ground as she fiddled with the hem of her sun dress. "I am not going to stay behind, you know?" she asked quietly.
"Hermione-"
"No." She found Harry's eyes with hers. "We three are a team. We are the trio. I've been by your side for eleven years. There is no way in Hell that I am going to stop now."
"I need you to stay here."
"I can't, Harry."
Ron stepped forward and hugged Hermione.
"Please stay here," he whispered into her bushy hair. "We can't let anything happen to you. Harry needs you safe, not risking your life." He pulled away and looked at her in the eye. "Love you." He kissed the top of her head and then left to see his mother.
"Hermi-"
"Stop Harry," she held up her hand, her voice starting to quiver with tears. "Anything you say will just sound like goodbye."
"Fine."
Every emotion imaginable pulsed through her body as her gaze left Harry. Hermione closed her eyes, trying her hardest to stop the tears that were inevitably falling down her face. With her eyes closed, she felt Harry move his hand on her chin, pulling it up to look at him. She obliged, her brown eyes locking with his green. Harry's hands moved to cradle her face in his palms. The simple, gentle gesture was enough to cause Hermione to close her eyes. She didn't see Harry move down to claim her lips with his own.
She knew she should be surprised. Her best friend of eleven years was kissing her for the first time ever. Kissing her with such amazing passion. And what's more, she was kissing him back with the same feeling and force. The kiss soon slowed, then finally stopped. Harry placed his forehead on hers. They both breathed heavily, holding on to one another. Harry pulled away and held a gaze with her eyes.
"I love you," he whispered before kissing her lips one last time.
Harry let her go and she watched his back as he ran away from her and across the Weasley's backyard. She stood still as the rest of the Weasley men, including Arthur, left to fight. She observed Judy and Angelina comforting each other while Remus and Ginny were kneeling over Molly's body. Her eyes fell upon Louis, who sat on the ground grinning. Remus then stood and cast a spell on the man before disappearing with him.
She had been left behind. Hermione never thought she would see the day that Harry would ask her to not fight by his side; to stay behind. She also never thought she would see the day that Harry Potter would tell her he loved her after a smoldering kiss. Hermione Granger was confused.
"Hermione!" Ginny's voice broke her thoughts. "Hermione, I need your help!"
Shaking the thoughts out of her mind momentarily, Hermione ran to assist her friend.
"Remus told me what we need to do. First we need to get her inside. Mum said that she can possibly walk, but she'll have to have some help along the way."
Hermione smiled and bent to help the mother Weasley up. Molly sat up first, having to stop to take deep breaths as soon as she was upright. Hermione and Ginny each took a hand as Angelina stood behind, all working to boost her up. Judy held a restless Allaster in her arms as the other women slowly helped Molly into the Burrow, where Cera and Fleur were waiting, ready to help.
Molly lay on the couch as Ginny removed her mother's shirt to fix the wound. Hermione's was no longer needed and she went to stand in the kitchen. She stared out the window with her arms crossed, thinking.
Harry had told her that he loved her. Did he mean it? Did he mean that he was in love with her? He must have. You don't kiss someone you love as a sister the way he had kissed her earlier.
At that point she was mad. How dare he love her and then run off to his death with out her by his side. How dare he tell her and then leave before she can return his feelings. How dare he fight without her.
That's when she decided she was going. Gathering every ounce of courage she had, she readied her wand and walked outside.
"Where are you going?" Ginny's voice stopped Hermione. She turned to see her friend.
"I'm going to fight."
"Hermione, I can't let you! You promised Ron and Harry you would stay here."
"I made a promise to myself almost 12 years ago that I would stand by Harry's side in the end. I'm not doing that by sitting here in the kitchen, waiting to see if our valiant hero comes back."
"Oh, Hermione-"
"He loves me, Ginny."
Ginny blinked, her mouth hanging open.
"He said he loves me and then he kissed me. He kissed me with such passion. And Ginny, I love him too. I think I've always loved him. I can't sit back and allow him to die if I can save him. I can't allow him to die without knowing that I love him in return."
Ginny sighed. She wasn't sure how she felt at current. She had always hoped that maybe she and Harry could be able to patch things up and try their relationship again. But somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew it was always Hermione. Ginny hugged her friend, relinquishing her feelings for Harry in the process. "Be careful."
"I will."
"You are the closest thing to a sister that I have ever had."
"You too," Hermione smiled.
Ginny let go and watched as Hermione ran in the direction that her family had left in. She silently prayed to herself to keep them all safe. But she couldn't help the aching feeling that was overcoming her heart.