Authors Note: Welcome back to another installment. I have this to say about book 7. I will sail on. Special thanks to The Scribbler for helping with the editing again on this one.
Pursuant to the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 and the Digital Millennium Copywrite Act of 1998, this work is copywrited 2007 with all rights expressly reserved by its author unless explicitly granted. No portion may be reproduced in any fashion without the express written and notarized permission of the author.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All characters are creations of Joanne K Rowling, © 2007, to whom I am deeply indebted.
Standard Disclaimer: This story may contain sexually graphic and explicit material and it is not suitable for minors. If you are a minor, please leave now, as it is illegal for you to be here. If it is illegal for you to read or view sexually explicit material in the community you view such material, please leave now. This story and characters are purely fictional and any resemblance to events or persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental. If you are offended by sexually explicit stories, please read no further. These stories are just that, stories, and may or may not reflect the opinions of the author.
Chapter 10
Luna started laughing and followed them out the door. She closed it behind herself; they deserved their triumph in private. She had expected shouting when she went into the common room with the two boys but it was surprisingly quiet. Maybe Ronald had seen the futility in trying to fight his brother?
Ronald was sitting in the chair she had been meditating in earlier, his head in his hands. Bill was standing in the room between Ronald and the door she had just come through.
Ronald shook his head and without looking up said. "Really, I'm not. Honest Bill. It's just a hell of a shock. How can that happen so fast?"
Bill laughed, "It happened to me and Fleur in less than a year."
Luna stepped beside Bill, "There has been nothing fast about their relationship." Bill turned to look at her but seemed poised react to anything. She suddenly doubted he would be surprised if Voldemort walked into the room. "They are both too noble for their own good, denying the obvious. Ronald I must apologize to you and by extension to Bill as well." Ha! She did surprise Bill with that. "Bill, I fell in love with you when I was seven. Truly what girl wouldn't want to love you? But then I met Ronald, he was nearly my age and if he grew to be like you?" she shrugged, "Well, I transferred much of my affection from you onto Ronald, all without getting to know him at all really. I assumed he would be like you and Charlie, but he turned out to be bitter."
She sat in the couch Harry and Hermione usually used while Bill snatched one of the chairs from a table and sat there, still between her and Ronald. "The piece of my mind I gave you earlier I now regret. It was full of bitterness at my own disappointment. Not truly disappointment in you Ronald, much of it was in myself for not being old enough to even consider dating Bill and well, he's taken, Harry's been taken since before I met him."
She stood nervously, Ronald nearly jumped from his chair when she spoke, "Here is my proposition. I would like to start over, as friends. I never really gave the real you a chance and well, you just met the real me."
Ronald looked surprised by this of course. Bill took her hand casually and looked at his little brother. "If I hear you hurt her you will regret it for the rest of your life, Brother or no."
Ronald looked like he had been punched in the gut by that comment. He sat back and took several deep breaths. He was pale, "I may have hurt her feelings. I know she heard me call her names before. If you need to hit me for admitting that then I won't do anything to stop you. I just don't understand girls at all. How can they be so complex?"
Bill squeezed her hand gently then let his hand fall back onto his leg, "Girls are the simplest things in the world. They want several specific things, Love, respect, and honestly in all things. They don't really care if you disagree with them, just be honest about it. Don't hide your feelings, what good would that do?"
No wonder he had captured Fleur!
Bill stood and patted Luna's shoulder, "Sorry you had to hear female secrets bandied about but the situation called for drastic measures."
She grinned at him and kissed his cheek, "If you could just fix him it would be worth it."
Ronald said, "Hey! I'm here you know?"
Bill strode over to Ronald who still sat in the chair. He said forcefully, "UP."
Ronald stood and put his hands behind his back. Bill stepped to his side and pulled him into the center of the room, they stopped three feet away from her.
"Little brother, meet a very good friend of mine, Luna Lovegood. She lives just the other side of the forest, across the stream. I used to go to her place with Gin and we would help her mum bake cakes. They were good cakes and her mum was a wonderful person whom I miss deeply. Luna meet my little bro. He prefers to be called Ron and seems to take after the twins more than me but with a bit of work he could turn out respectable."
Luna held out her hand, Ronald took it and they shook. She said, "Nice to meet you, Ronald. I hope we can be friends."
Ronald's hands were sweating, he said, "Me to, any friend of Ginny's or Bill's is a friend of mine. Please call me Ron; I think I'm in trouble when I hear Ronald."
She smiled, "Deal, Ron." She liked it, maybe that was one of the reasons he always seemed sour when she talked to him?
Bill put his arms over their shoulders, forcing them apart. "Now; Luna go get them, it's time for dinner. Ron and I will wait here with our backs to the door. I think they have had enough time to complete their activities but on the off chance they aren't dressed yet it would be best if you went inside. Harry would kill us if we accidentally saw Hermione naked. He would just blush though if you saw him naked."
Ron started gagging like he was going to throw up. Bill hit him with his palm in the back of the head, hard enough to make him stagger. "Wrong reaction bro; never disrespect the act when a woman is present. Remember respect is the second thing they want. I think I'll keep you with me for the next month or so, until after their wedding. Maybe by then I can beat some sense into your thick head."
Ron made some apologetic noises but nothing that was coherent. He sat on the chair near the door again and rubbed the back of his head.
Bill told her gently, "Go, he's getting to hungry to think." Then turned to Ron, "UP, we'll wait outside in the hallway for them.
Ron got up as Bill opened the door. He waited until Ron had left the room before following him and closing the door behind himself.
Luna decided this was quite possibly the best thing that could have happened to Ron. With a lighter heart she walked to the door to the exercise room. She tapped her head and disillusioned herself and quietly slipped inside. Instantly she knew they were not quite done yet she covered her face and sat; Indian style. She would wait. They were in the middle of the room, near the shattered horcruxes, the stump was gone and had been replaced with a bedding of some kind. She averted her eyes even more; she was not here to spy on them. They fit together in a way she could never describe, but longed for in her own life. Their passion stirred things deep inside her - things she didn't have a name for yet, but were none-the-less real. Part of her wished it was her being loved by Harry but, another part realized that it would never be. Her vow - her promise to help them - still held sway on her heart if not on her magic. It was over a few minutes later; perhaps someday her name would be spoken that lovingly?
She gave them another two minutes, counting slowly, before she stood and opened the door fully while removing her disillusion. As casually as she could, she said, "Hey guys- um, nice bum Harry. Bill and Ron, and I are going down to eat. See you down there then." She turned and fled. Neither had said a word or even moved. He had still been atop her. As she closed the door she made a mental note to give them at least five minutes before any similar announcements. Though she had planned out very different words the sight of their naked tangled bodies had still been a shock, intriguing but shocking. She walked across the room and out into the hall. Bill and Ron were just a few feet away, leaning up against the wall. "They'll join us in a little while."
Bill laughed, "Good thing you went in there and not one of us! C'mon I'm hungry."
* * *
He started laughing as soon as Luna fled and closed the door. She joined him, her arms up holding his shoulders. It did interesting things to where they were still connected. He slid down and lowered his sweaty head between her gorgeous breasts. They lay there slowly cooling and recovering. It had been rather rough and spontaneous. He hadn't planned on this kind of celebration, well not now. But she had started it and the futon had appeared as they were stripping. He brought his left hand up and swirled his finger around the nipple he could see. She made a deep growling noise he felt as well as heard.
"Stop that before I make you do all of that again."
"Gonna have to wait dear, I need some time to recover."
She laughed; it made him bounce atop her. "I can fix that. Where's my wand?"
He gave up his sport of teasing her nipple and went onto all fours over her. She was indeed searching under the sheets for her wand. He snatched her hands and held them still against the sheets. "Do you really know a spell for that?"
She gave him that wicked smile, "Oh yes Mr. Potter I can make it stay hard for a very, very long time."
That sounded like a very fun night. He kissed her roughly on the mouth and it took all his strength to finally pull away. Her eyes had gone a little darker and she was breathing heavier, "After dinner love." He looked pointedly between his legs where the affect of that kiss was readily apparent, "Though apparently I don't need that spell."
She bit her lower lip and made to stand. He leapt from her and started finding his clothes. The futon melted away and only their hastily shed clothes, Godric's sword, and the shattered Horcruxes remained. He heard her say, "How did my wand get over there?"
His back was turned while he tried to put his jeans on, hopping as he didn't want to sit on the floor. He said, "You were the one throwing everything." He finished dressing and picked up Godric's sword and the broken Horcruxes. They headed out of the room; she was still buttoning her shirt as they walked.
Back in their common room he laid the pieces on the table along with the sword. She finished tucking in her shirt and they walked out into the hall. Hand in hand they went down to dinner. They may be a little late but neither of them cared one bit about that.
When they arrived in the great hall everyone else was involved in eating. It smelled excellent and his stomach growled. The table was a bit larger and he saw two empty places, between Ron and Luna. Harry sat next to Ron, putting Hermione beside Luna.
McGonagall said in a very knowing voice, "Good of you to join us. Dobby came by and asked if he should come give you two some dinner."
Ron grinned, "I told em you were occupied and wouldn't like to be interrupted. Got ya covered mate!"
Luna was blushing heavily and looking intently at her plate. Hermione patted her on the back lightly. They shared a look and Luna finally nodded and sat up straighter. Harry was ignoring Ron's jibe to spoon a huge helping of bangers and mash onto his plate. He put it down and handed Hermione the bowl of Sheppard's pie. She grinned back at him and helped herself to a similarly large helping.
Ron's eyes grew wide as Hermione kept spooning more onto her plate, "Core, you're gonna put on weight eating that much."
She put one more scoop on her plate, Harry thought for emphasis, then said, as only Hermione could say, "I need to keep my energy up. Training with Harry is very tiring you know." The entire table went silent, forks and spoons paused in mid journey to mouths. She looked around the table, daring anyone to contradict her.
Finally Bill nodded, "Yes, I reckon that would be true." He went back to eating as did the rest of the table.
Several minutes later, when Harry had finished half of his mountain of Bangers and Mash he asked down the table where McGonagall sat, "Have you seen my Firebolt? I would like to get it back if it's possible." He had more to say but she had started nodding so he cut himself off.
When her mouth was empty and she had taken a drink she answered, "It's in my room. I shall retrieve it after dinner. Sorry I had nearly forgotten about it. I retrieved it from the Trolls as soon as that woman was removed from the school."
He was greatly relieved by this. "Thank you. I was worried something had happened to it. It's kind of special, I mean I could buy another one, but Sirius bought it for me."
Hermione's hand went atop his where it sat on the table; he felt her support through that connection and flipped his hand so he could hold hers as well.
McGonagall said, "Yes, I retrieved it immediately but then it slipped my mind to give it to you and it just hasn't come up I'm afraid."
He nodded and went back to eating.
It was perhaps ten minutes later that Bill sat back and tapped his now empty goblet. When everyone looked at him he asked Harry, "Should I make the announcement of our successes earlier or would you like to?"
Harry's mouth was full, Hermione answered for him, "Go ahead Bill."
He stood, "Three more of the horcruxes are now destroyed. We now have only one more to find and destroy."
The professors all said something along the lines of, "Well done. How did you do it?" Since it all blended together Harry didn't quite catch it all.
Bill acknowledged the comments, "We used Godric's sword to destroy the physical vessels and then destroyed the non-corporeal remains before they could possess anyone." Bill paused and inspected Professor Vector, he seemed unsure if he should continue.
Hermione said, "Go ahead Bill."
He glanced at her then said, "I want to move the timetable on the search for the final one, to tonight actually." He looked pointedly at Ron. "I would like to have more time to get Ron up to speed before that happens but we'll just have to go with what we have." He turned to McGonagall, "Can you get messages to Alastor, Remus, Tonks, Charlie and Fleur? I need them all here at midnight."
McGonagall sat up straighter; Harry had not thought that was possible. She said, "Are you sure? Your wedding is in two days."
Bill nodded, "Yes, I want to finish this so I can try and enjoy my wedding. With this looming over us it doesn't seem possible to enjoy."
Hermione stood and walked over to where Bill was. She was pulling a chain from around her neck. Suddenly Harry knew what she was going to do. He looked hard at McGonagall to see her reaction. She reached Bill; he had taken one step towards her, unsure what was happening. The chain and its pendant were bundled in her hand. She reached her empty hand out towards him, he met it with his, and she turned his hand palm up and placed the time turner into it, then closed his fingers over it. She finally said, "Take the time you need to train Ron. We can't risk losing him because I kept this to myself." She looked at McGonagall, "I'm sure we can find some rooms here in the castle where they can spend the previous week in training?"
The Headmistress nodded, "I had wondered where they got it, neither would tell me. But yes, they have been working diligently down in the dungeons. I know just where to put them dear."
Bill had glanced into his hand; he looked at Hermione, "How?"
She shook her head, "I must have it back before Harry's birthday."
He nodded, "Certainly." He reached down and pulled Ron to his feet.
Ron shoved another spoonful into his mouth and looked at his brother accusingly.
Bill just laughed, "Which dungeon ma'am?"
"Go to fifteen, here take my bell. The elves will take care of your eating and sleeping arrangements." She held a small bell towards him.
He pocketed the time turner then still dragging Ron with him went and took the bell from her.
Luna called out, "Put the spoon down Ron. We'll save you a seat." Bill released Ron and walked towards the nearest stairwell to the dungeons.
Ron looked at her, confused but dropped his spoon beside his plate then hurried off after his brother who was already striding from the hall.
Professor Vector put her head back on her high backed chair and let out a sigh. When Harry looked at her for an explanation she said, "It's been a devil of a week keeping that secret. I was in dungeon fifteen a week ago working on a project when they suddenly showed up. It's the reason I am sitting at this table now and not home. William dragged me into the training."
Harry was confused for a minute, not used to hearing Bill referred to as William. But she had likely been one of his professors when he had come to Hogwarts. Hermione came and sat back down in her seat and silently went back to eating. He took her hand under the table and they intertwined their fingers. It was a good thing she ate with her left hand that left her right available for holding and since Sheppard's pie didn't need any cutting he was able to hold her hand the rest of their meal.
When he finished he got McGonagall's attention again and said, "Luna, Hermione, and I are going to make a quick run to Diagon, I want to get them both new brooms so we can do some training on them."
She looked at her pocket watch, "The shops close in an hour. I suggest you hurry along then."
Ron called from the back of the Great Hall, "But I wanted to finish my dinner!"
They all looked around. Ron had changed his clothes and had gotten a haircut. He looked excited and happy, a huge improvement in just a week of training with Bill. Bill had on some different clothes but otherwise looked the same. Professor Vector said, "Sorry Ron, I missed a spot there, your bangs are crooked."
He flashed a smile to her and said, "I like it fine Septima, thanks again." He slid casually into his chair and took a quick bite, "Still warm, how long ago did we leave?"
Hermione answered, Bill was handing her the time turner, "About ten minutes ago, our time." She looked at Bill, "How did it go?"
Bill was nodding, looking at Ron. Ron was actually looking at Luna and smiled after he finished swallowing. Bill said, "Good, I made some adjustments as well Luna, with Septima's assistance that is." He sketched a quick bow to Professor Vector who smiled back. "Oh, here." He walked to Professor McGonagall and handed her the bell. "Don't forget to send those messages about tonight please."
She rang the bell and several house elves in Hogwarts livery appeared. "Please locate Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody, Fleur Delacour and Charlie Weasley. Inform them that Bill Weasley needs them here before midnight tonight."
They all vanished. Ron looked away from Luna and to Harry and Hermione. He swallowed his second bite and then said, "Look, I know I've been a prat on a lot of things. Well ok on most things. I'm sorry Harry, for not believing you, for not trusting you like the true friend you are. Hermione, don't go expecting me to get all studious but I do understand now how important it is to actually learn the stuff in those books they make us carry around." He held up his hand to forestall their comments as he turned to Luna, "Luna, I would also like to apologize to you for being an insensitive git. Should I speak out of line again, about them or yourself, feel free to correct me." He looked at Bill, "Did I forget anything bro?"
Bill pointed at his ring finger then Hermione. Ron looked back at Hermione, "Oh, sorry, it's been a busy week you know. Congratulations on your impending wedding. Bill told me it is going to be on your birthday Harry." He smacked Harry on the shoulder, "Glad you can handle her mate." He looked at Hermione, "Sorry, I love you dearly sis but I can't keep up with you."
* * *
Diagon alley was in shambles. The air was frosty and filled with screams and a sense of doom. She counted six Death Eaters in the first moment after the passage had opened, then her wand was out and she was moving into the fray. Among the bodies on the street she saw several children and a few uniforms of the Auror's. She stunned the closest, he fell in a heap, she quickly added a set of tight heavy chains and a Petrificus Totalus. The battle at the DoM had taught her that they knew how to revive their comrades. Ron levitated the bound Death Eater back through the portal. Harry was moving past her and off to the left, Bill was right beside him. Ron and Luna flanked her as she moved further down the alley. The next two Death Eaters had time to turn to them, one cast an Avada Kevadra at Luna, Hermione flicked her wand, "Wingardium Leviosa." One of the large cobblestones met the green beam well before it came close to them. Harry Stupified that one.
Luna turned the second Death Eater into a rabbit then petrified it as it tried to hop away. Hermione added the heavy chains to both of them and Ron levitated them behind him.
Ron said, "Fred! George!"
Hermione saw their shop was in ruins though they were nowhere to be seen. Ron walked in, stepping over the debris of their sign. Hermione strode along with him, Luna a constant shadow to her left. She glanced at Harry; he nodded and headed down the alley with Bill.
Fred, or George, she could never tell them apart, was lying near the back door of their shop quivering. Ron ran towards him yelling, "Fred!"
He knelt beside his brother and they heard a woman's voice call out from the alley behind the shop, "Cruccio!" Ron collapsed in agony beside Fred.
Hermione apparated to the opposite side of the back alley, the furthest place she could see, facing the way the curse had come from. A woman with long wild hair stood over the other quivering twin, looking into the shop. She turned towards the small pop Hermione had made and grinned, "Oh, look its Potty's mudblood whore!"
Time slowed, calm came over her, like when she was taking exams and knew without doubt there could be nothing on the test she did not understand fully. This was what she had been training for over the years, not to know everything but, to remove filth like this. "I've got his ring. He can fuck me anytime he wants. Pity you still seem to be Tom's whore. Must be a bitch getting off after being cruccioed." The words were meant to incent her into making a mistake. Bellatrix had the edge in dueling, Hermione had to out smart her.
Bella let out a scream at the taunting and strode forward, "Cruccio!"
Hermione took one quick step to the side and the curse flew past her.
Bella stopped and screamed at her, "You think you're clever?"
Hermione shook her head, "Clever?" then looked Bella directly in the eyes, "No, I'm bloody brilliant, bitch!"
Bellatrix tore her eyes away from Hermione and screamed, "Avada Kevadra!"
Hermione flicked her wand, "Wingardium Leviosa." One of the flagstones flew to meet the killing curse. She cast a quick protego to shield herself from the fragments; it had been pretty close to her. Bella hadn't thought of that, she was peppered with fragments of stone. Two cuts opened, one on her wand hand and another across her left cheek. Hermione heard some of the fragments bouncing from the brick walls of the buildings.
Bella said, "I'll get you in the end."
Hermione replied calmly, "No, You won't" She cast three cutting curses at Bella, in a rough diagonal. She blocked one with a shield charm and dodged the lower one; the higher one cut a deep gash into her right shoulder.
"Think you have the guts to kill me bitch?"
Hermione smiled grimly, "I'm the mate of the boy-who-bloody-lived."
Bellatrix cackled, "Oh, I'll torture you, then I'll kill you."
"That reminds me Bella, what happened to that husband of yours? Did master kill him so he could have you all to himself?"
They were slowly circling in the alley, about twenty feet separated them. Where was Luna? Hopefully making sure no one got a jump on her, she couldn't take her attention from Bella.
Bellatrix spoke in a strained voice, "I please my master."
Hermione nodded, "I'm sure you do. Whore!"
"Cruccio!"
Again Hermione sidestepped, this time in the other direction, she didn't want to establish a pattern to her dodging. "Not a pleasant fuck eh? Whore. Does he even give you the dignity of fucking you or does he just jerk off on your quivering, naked body?"
She let out a strangled scream, "Avada Kevadra!"
Hermione pulled the dumpster into the path of the curse. It punched a huge hole in one side but didn't make it through the trash inside.
Bella flicked her wand and the dumpster smashed into the back of the twins shop, narrowly missing whichever brother was trying to crawl back inside. "I'm going to kill you, mudblood whore!"
"Now you're repeating yourself Bella, can't think and duel at the same time?" Hermione flicked her wand at the dumpster and it skidded across the cobblestones at Bella from the side. She narrowly jumped back out of its path. Hermione transfigured the cobblestone behind her into a bench and Bella fell over it, cracking her head hard on the ground as she did so.
Hermione strode forward but Bella wasn't done, she twisted and shot another killing curse at her under the bench, one hand holding the back of her bloody head. Hermione apparated onto the bench, already casting a reducto, she caught Bella completely by surprise. Her aim was a bit off, she had been planning on hitting her in the middle of the back, and instead she hit the base of Bella's neck. In an explosion of bone and blood Bella's head flew from her body which crumpled, spouting blood.
Her foe fallen she apparated back across the alley, in case someone else was going to try her now that Bella was dead. Luna was the only one she could see. She stood off to the side of the doorway. Ron, Fred, and George were lying on mattresses inside the storeroom of the destroyed shop. Luna had indeed been watching the fight in the alley carefully. Two more Death Eaters were tightly bound. Well Hermione assumed they were Death Eaters, currently they looked like frozen rabbits, hanging on a clothes rack by their long ears.
Hermione and Luna stared at one another from opposite sides of the alley, then Hermione looked slowly to the left, Luna looking to her left so they covered both sides. When their eyes met again both nodded. Hermione apparated beside Luna neither said a word; Hermione started walking back towards Diagon Alley and Harry.
He came running around the corner into the shop, flicking his wand at the debris along the side of the shop, tables and various products of the twins went flying away from the wall. Hermione cleared the wall nearest her, he was looking for something. Then she saw it, Luna beat her to it though. Wormtail was frozen, silver paw and all.
Harry came around the pile and suddenly stopped in front of Hermione looking concerned at her, "You've got blood all over you. Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, "No, it's not mine." Her mouth was dry, "I got her Harry."
"Who?"
She pointed out into the alley, "Bella."
Harry took one step towards the body; Hermione stopped him with a blood spattered hand on his chest. He looked at her then nodded, turning back into the room.
He said, "What happened to them?"
"Ron got hit once with a Cruccio. The twins multiple times, I don't know how many. Bella was playing with them when I found her.
Luna levitated Wormtail up beside the rabbits and tied him up by his tail.
Bill came striding into the shop. He glanced at them but, strode quickly to his three brothers. He knelt between the twins and pulled their eyelids up and looked carefully. With a small shake of his head he pulled something from an inner pocket of his robe. He had a handful of change, he selected two of the small ones; knut's. He put one on a twin's chest and touched it with his wand, "Portus." That twin vanished. He repeated the action on the other twin then walked to Ron. After looking at his eyes he started digging in his pockets and said, "Ron will be ok in a few hours." He pulled a chocolate frog package from his robe and put it in Ron's shaking hand. He helped him get it open and only after Ron had taken a bite of the squirming treat did he stand and face them, "I sent them to St.Mungo's emergency room."
She nodded, Harry was doing the same. She had an inspiration to get Voldemort even madder but would he agree? She turned to Harry, "Can I have Wormtail?"
He looked at her, a pained expression crossed his eyes then he shrugged, she waved her wand in a complicated pattern and Peter transformed from the rat into the former friend of Harry's parents. He fell onto the ground, no longer having a tail to be suspended by. "Ennervate" He struggled to sit up and look around.
Hermione loomed over him; the other three had their wands pointed at Wormtail. "I'm going to let you go home to your master with a message." She pointed her wand into the back alley, "Accio." Bella's bloody head came flying to her. She redirected it into Wormtail's lap. He looked shocked Hermione said, "Tell him it's from the Potters - Wormtail." He looked up at her; she was holding her blood spattered ring towards him. "Remember them Peter? GO!"
His eyes unfocused and he apparated away, bloody head staring accusingly at him from his lap.
She turned back to them, dismissing what she had just done without a thought. She would think about it later, now was the time for action. She pointed her wand towards Diagon Alley, "What happened out there? We found Bella back here torturing the twins. She hit Ron with a Cruccio when he was kneeling over his brother. I started dueling her, Luna got these two." She looked at Luna, "Death Eaters?" She nodded.
Harry said, "We only saw a few Death Eaters, we had to chase them for a bit then we ran into Dementors. There were a bloody lot of them. Prongs was able to get them to run off but it took a while."
Bill stepped closer to them, "We have over a hundred dead and injured out there. I saw more Auror's appearing. The first wave got wiped out I think. This was a major attack, looks like it started about ten minutes before we got here."
The calm was beginning to shatter: in bits and pieces she began to feel her body again. Nothing really hurt, some aches, but her heart was going to rip her apart when she let it feel what she had done tonight.
Tonks and another auror walked into the twins shop. Bill was kneeling over Ron, who was now sitting up. "And here I find the rescue party. Harry, Bill, Hermione, Luna? The survivors are saying you stopped all of this."
Harry shrugged. She wanted to talk but her throat was constricting, she was starting to shake. Adrenaline had wreaked havoc and now her body was coming down from it.
Luna pulled her into a chair that hadn't been there before. She put a calming hand on her shoulder. She needed Harry, no you can hold out. This is just withdraw from the stress of dueling Bellatrix: one of the nastiest Death Eaters around, Killer of Sirius, She helped make Neville's parents insane, and hundreds of other incidents. She had taken her first life. She had proved she could and would kill in this war. Luna handed her some water, she drank it greedily.
Tonks looked out into the alley behind the shop and saw the bloody corpse, "Wotcher? Who's that?"
Harry said, "Bellatrix Lestrange."
Tonks looked sharply at him, "You got my aunt?"
He shook his head and pointed at Hermione. "Luna and Hermione can tell you about it, I was off chasing Dementors."
Tonks raised her eyebrow at Hermione, "You out dueled my aunt? Core, she was a terror."
Hermione shrugged, "I out thought her. She was pretty insane from her stay in Azkaban I think. It was like taking a test you know, I was so focused on it, everything just happened without needing to remember the words or the wand movements." She put her hand on Luna's, which was still on her shoulder. "Fortunately Luna was watching my back." She lifted her water goblet at the frozen rabbits.
Tonks nodded and stepped into the rear alley, the other Auror with her looked at Hermione with new respect. Tonks called out from the alley, "Blimey, where's her noggin?"
Hermione laughed, it was dry, humorless. "I sent it to Voldemort with Peter, from the Potters."
Tonks looked at her and hurried back into the room. She looked at the ring on her hand, still over Luna's on her shoulder then at Harry who just nodded, "Poor auntie. You know that's gonna make him awfully angry."
Hermione shrugged and reached her hand to Harry. He took it and slipped beside her. She felt Luna's hand rest on her opposite shoulder, a quick glance told her the other hand was on Harry's far shoulder. Hermione said, "Good, angry people do stupid things. I want him angry enough to do something really stupid." Harry squeezed her hand.
Bill looked up at them; Ron was sitting up beside him, looked very pale but was munching on the chocolate frog. Bill stood, "Guess we should be going."
Harry looked across the street at the ruins of Quality Quidditch supplies, "Yes, guess my buying spree will have to wait a bit."
Diagon was far from abandoned now, there were witches and wizards wandering up and down the street; many in the uniforms of Aurors or the medical robes of St. Mungo's.
The Auror with Tonks looked at Harry, Hermione had seen that look on thousands of faces before; Adoration. He looked at Hermione and she was surprised to see his expression did not change. "We should get a statement from all of you but, I'll just put down that these were captured or killed by wizards or witches unknown." He looked apprehensively at Tonks, "Will that be acceptable Auror Tonks?"
Nymphadora stepped over to him and clapped him on the shoulder, "Good man, Franks." She turned back to them, "I've been telling my partner here that you don't want publicity, of any kind."
Harry took her hand and shook it, "Thanks Tonks." He looked at Ron, "You up to moving?"
Ron nodded his mouth still full of chocolate. He struggled to stand; Bill pulled him to his feet.
Bill looked at them, "Hogsmeade station? We can walk from there I guess."
Harry nodded. Bill side-alonged Ron away.
Hermione stood and drained her water goblet. She turned back to Tonks, "Don't forget those rabbits there. We left a few by the Leakey Cauldron as well." Tonks nodded, Hermione pulled Luna to her side and Apparated to Hogsmeade.
She landed; Bill and Ron were sitting on a bench, Bill looked winded but stood and motioned Luna to sit. Hermione said, "Be right back with Harry." She apparated to the precise spot she had just occupied in the twins shop. Harry slipped beside her, arms going about one another's waists. "Ready?" He nodded and half waved at Tonks and Franks, she took them to Hogsmeade platform.
Bill was waiting with several more bars of chocolate. He silently handed one to her and Harry. Luna was sitting with Ron on the bench eating one of her own. Once he saw they had chocolate in their mouths Bill asked, "You didn't get exhausted by those side alongs from London?"
She shook her head, her mouth full of chocolate. She felt its relieving affect begin to work on her frayed nerves.
Bill said softly, his back turned to his brother, "Then you're much stronger than I am. You should try to side-along two at once." He dropped it at that and turned back to Ron and Luna who were sitting talking quietly.
Harry looked into her eyes cautiously. Around bites of chocolate he said, "We need to talk."
She looked pleadingly at him, "Not yet."
He raised his eyebrows but turned back to the others. "Let's start walking."
Luna stood and helped Ron to his feet. He seemed able to stand on his own but kept having random twitches and shakes. The chocolate did seem to be helping him a lot.
They were still standing arm in arm, they started walking to the school. This was something new for them, walking in sync; it took a little practice and served to distract her from what she had just done in a back alley of Diagon. Fortunately her legs were about the same length as his, her torso was perhaps two inches shorter. With a brief flare of anger she thought he would probably have been taller but he had been starved for a lot of his early years. As they neared the gates she started trembling, he could feel it. He turned and looked at her. She tried to tell him she would be fine but nothing came out. She felt her legs give way and he caught her. Her eyes closed, Harry was holding her. She was safe.
She woke slowly; Harry's arm was still around her shoulders. They were lying down in their bed in the Room of Requirement. How did she know that? It had a feel to it, their bed. Her clothes had been changed, he must have enjoyed that. She was only wearing a long thick shirt; no panties Mr. Potter? She opened one eye he had his knees propped up holding some book so he could read in the dim light.
He felt her move, flipped the book closed and looked over at her, "Hello love. First tell me how you feel? Then I will fill you in on what's happened while you were sleeping."
He was very calm and certain, nothing had happened to get him worried while she slept then. "Physically I'm good I think. Emotionally I'm about to lose it I think." She rolled flat onto her back, his arm became her pillow. She put her right arm over her eyes as the tears started coming, the shirt had long sleeves she noted absently. He turned with her, lying along her side he was pressed hard against her left side. His other hand came to rest on her neck and caressed it gently. She couldn't look at him but she had to speak. "I killed someone Harry. Have you ever actually killed someone in all of this?"
He hesitated. Then talked slowly, still thinking as he went, "I guess I killed Tom that first night when I was a baby but, the current theory is that his own spell is what killed him right?" She nodded, "Well then there was Quirrell in first year, I hurt him a lot, I certainly tried to kill him but I passed out. Dumbledore told me later that Quirrell had still been alive when he got there, he… well he finished it. So I guess my answer is no, I have never actually killed anyone directly."
Her throat constricted, "I thought so. I had no intention of stunning or capturing her. I did everything I could to make her upset; you should have heard the things I said to her. I was cruel, and then I killed her." She refused to be weak; he needed to know she would do what was necessary to win the war. But she couldn't stop the tears, her lip trembled, she caught it in her teeth and bit down as she often did when thinking.
Harry caressed her cheek with his thumb and kissed her softly. "Thank you, she deserved it. I'm not sure if I could have killed her, even for Sirius."
She took a few deep breaths then finally met his eyes. "Hold me?"
He rolled almost completely atop her and hugged her to himself gently. She buried her face in his neck and cried for several more minutes. Finally she pulled back and asked softly, "What time is it?"
He twisted to look behind himself, "Half past twelve, they should be beginning their raid on Riddle manor now."
"How's Ron doing?"
"He recovered fine and went with them. Luna stayed in here until about eleven. McGonagall came and told us that the Ministry was under attack. Luna said she had to go do something and was going to go to bed. She told me about your duel, quite impressive love. You used Flitwick's ideas without having an actual practice session."
She said, "I need to work on the aiming while apparating part. Are you upset I let wormtail free?"
He rubbed her cheek gently, "No, It's too late for capturing him to do any good. Besides if I'm lucky enough then Voldemort will kill him for bringing the present you sent. Luna said you taunted Bellatrix until she was nearly exploding in anger."
She shrugged, "She was so mad she couldn't aim worth a damn. I doubt the last two killing curses she threw at me would have hit me had I not blocked or apparated out of the way." A sudden thought hit her, "Harry, we have to go back in time now, it can't wait until your birthday."
He rolled away from her and slipped his arm from under her head. "I'll get Luna, get dressed."
No questions asked. He was off into the common room. She sat up and found her wand on the nightstand beside her. Two quick, "Pack's" later everything in the room was neatly sorted into their trunks. She stood and walked to her trunk. Harry had dressed her in his Quidditch jersey. She smiled at that, quite comfortable with Potter across her back. She found panties, socks and her jeans neatly packed in the proper places in her trunk. Her shoes had known to stay outside; she was just lacing them up when Harry came back into the room, Luna right behind her, still blinking in the bright light.
Harry said, "She was sleeping in her clothes and had already packed."
Luna yawned, "I got the stuff from the common room in my trunk, Pensieve, memories, etcetera."
Hermione said, "Good, you thought of it too?"
Luna nodded, stifling another yawn. "Yes, McGonagall told us the Ministry had also been attacked; there was no word as to the outcome of that battle when I went to sleep an hour ago."
Harry said, "Ok what have the geniuses figured out that I haven't?"
Hermione said, "After that attack on Diagon the Ministry would have been the next target, maybe it was hit at the same time. We'll find out later. What matters though is that Voldemort is coming out into the open. With Dumbledore gone he has nothing to fear but you. We have to get your training done before tomorrow. Hogwarts would be the next target, whether he wins at the Ministry or not. He knows there are only a handful of people here."
He asked, "Should we call off the raid on Riddle Manor? It's probably too late for that?"
Luna answered, "No, this is the best time to raid it. If Voldemort has been using it for a base he will not be there tonight. They should be able to find the cup and destroy it before they return."
Hermione asked, "Destroy it?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, they took Godric's sword with them. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
She nodded, "Ok, let's go then." She stood and shrunk their trunks. Harry picked up his and pocketed it. She retrieved her own.
Harry asked, "Where are we going to do the actual time traveling?"
She said, "Right here in the Room of Requirement. It will adjust, after all we will require a room when we arrive in the past won't we?"
He held his head, "Merlin I hate it when you talk like that."
Luna asked, "Won't school be in session 18 months ago?"
Hermione said, "I'm aiming for Christmas break, there will only be a handful of students, we can sneak into the passage to Hogsmeade and then apparate from it to my parents house.
Harry nodded, Hermione pulled the chain from around her neck and it stretched to include Luna and Harrry. They stepped close, hugging her. She got the turner in her hands and carefully begain winding it. There were three hoops surrounding the hourglass. The outermost was weeks, middle was days, and the smallest was hours. Counting very carefully as she wound it to what she had calculated would be Christmas break. She had previously figured it out from Harry's birthday, this required three less turns of the week hoop. She held it still and glanced at Luna, she nodded. Hermione looked into Harry's eyes, whatever he needed she would provide. He had faith in her and it was unshakable, she released the time turner and as it spun the world around them went backwards.