So Close, Yet So Far

Chapter 2: The Battle

Ron and Kingsley Shacklebolt were hidden in a patch of bushes just outside the gate of Voldemort's hideout, which was an old castle. Ron was a bundle of nerves; he wasn't sure if this plan was going to work. He looked over to Shacklebolt. He still couldn't get used to hearing Shacklebolt's voice coming out of the body of Lucius Malfoy. He caught himself doing a double take every time he looked at him. Even though he knew it wasn't Malfoy, it was freaky nonetheless.

"Do you have that Muggle tracking device still on you?"

Ron reached around and felt his back pocket. It was there. "Yeah."

"Good. Well, I guess we better do this before the Polyjuice wears off. Are you ready?"

No, I'll never be ready for this.

"I'm as ready as I think I'll ever be."

"Ron, I just want to tell you what an honor it was working with you and getting to know you and your family. You really are a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for. Remember that."

Ron wondered why Shacklebolt would say such odd things at a time like this. Ron opened his mouth to ask him what he was on about, but Shacklebolt started speaking first.

"We'd better get going. Come here and let me tie your hands so you look like a proper hostage. Your wand is within reach, right?"

Ron ran his hand down his trouser leg to make sure his wand was there.

"Yes it is."

Ron took a deep breath in an attempt to fight off his nausea before he and Shacklebolt headed toward the castle. When they reached the door, the guards automatically recognized Malfoy and let them through. At least he didn't have to really act like a hostage as scared as he was at the present. They made their way through the castle unimpeded until they encountered Wormtail. Good, maybe he'll tell us where to find Voldemort and we can get this over with.

"Lucius, we weren't expecting you back so early this evening," Wormtail said as they rounded the corner at the end of one of the corridors. "Oh, I see we have company. Where did you find this one?"

"None of your business, Wormtail, now get out of my way. I'm sure the Dark Lord will be pleased with the gift I'm bringing him," he said as he threw Ron forward and away from Wormtail. "Where is he?"

Ron couldn't believe how well Shacklebolt had mastered Malfoy's voice. At least they shouldn't have much trouble getting past Wormtail.

"He's in the dining room, just finishing up dinner. Yes, he will be pleased. If we have Weasley, Potter can't be too far behind. That boy's hero complex should bring him here soon."

Ron was very uncomfortable with the way Wormtail was eyeing him like he was a piece of meat. In his mind he was trying to recall the sketch of the layout of the castle that their most trusted spy had provided them. Ron felt a tug on his arm as Shacklebolt started to lead them toward the dining room.

They were alone again in the corridor when Shacklebolt stopped to loosen the ropes that bound Ron's hands and whispered, "As soon as I've got the needle in Voldemort's arm, grab your wand and get the hell out of here. Then find the others as quickly as you can."

"What about you? How are you planning to escape?"

"I don't expect to make it out of here alive."

"What do you mean? Nobody told me that part of the plan." Ron now understood why he was saying those things before they entered the castle.

"Use common sense, Ron. Of course nobody was going to mention it, but we all knew the danger. Voldemort has already murdered my family so I don't have much else to lose. That's why I volunteered to do this, at least if I die, it will be avenging the death of my family. Just be sure Voldemort gets what's coming to him." Shacklebolt reached over and grabbed Ron's shoulder. With a determined look in his eye he said, "Don't let my death be in vain."

Ron forgot about his fear for a moment. He couldn't believe Shacklebolt knew this was a suicide mission and still volunteered for it. He couldn't believe that the Order would approve of a plan that basically meant one of them was going on a suicide mission. He saw the older wizard in a whole new light and suddenly had great admiration for him. However, Ron didn't accept the death sentence as readily as Shacklebolt did.

"But..."

They heard footsteps coming toward them. The syringe filled with the Mortalis Transformis Potion was ready and hidden in Shacklebolt's fist.

"Come on, we have to go now," Shacklebolt whispered.

They rounded the corner to enter Voldemort's dining room. Ron was left in the hallway as Shacklebolt started to speaking to Voldemort. He was thankful he hadn't eaten that day because he knew for sure that by now it would be all over the floor. He was about to face Harry's nemesis.

"Lucius, back so soon? I thought the assignment I gave you would last a little longer. Did that traitorous son of yours come willingly?" Ron heard Voldemort say.

"Draco is useless. I didn't bother with him because I found something, or shall I say someone, that might be of greater interest to you." Ron was crossing his fingers and praying that Shacklebolt mastered Malfoy's voice well enough to fool the Voldemort.

Ron felt his arm being yanked and he was thrust violently into the dining room in full view of Voldemort. This was the first time Ron had ever laid eyes upon him. Ron thought he was going to retch at the sight of this disgusting, snake-like man. His face was deformed and covered with scales. There were two red eyes staring at him that were full of evil. He felt all of the color drain from his face and it took all of his strength not to pass out at the sight of this horrid-looking beast of a man.

"Where did you find him? And how did you get past the team of Aurors that have been surrounding Potter and his little friends?"

Suspicion was apparent in Voldemort's voice.

Shacklebolt casually started walking toward where Voldemort was sitting and started to speak. "Well, Dark Lord, I've found one way to get past Aurors is to actually be one." Suddenly, he lunged at Voldemort and plunged the syringe deep into his shoulder and fell on top of him. Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in the doorway behind Voldemort. Ron dove under the table as Bellatrix pointed her wand at Shacklebolt.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix screamed. A green light shot from her wand and hit Shacklebolt in the back. He toppled over on top of Voldemort and Ron could see that he was dead. There were noises coming from other parts of the castle and Ron felt some relief that help was on its way. Bellatrix kicked Shacklebolt's body to the floor and helped Voldemort get to his feet. That's when he saw it. The needle was sticking out of Voldemort's shoulder. Shacklebolt did his job, now Ron knew it was time to do his. His hand was trembling as he reached down the side of his leg to find his wand.

"Bellatrix, go see what the commotion is about while I deal with young Weasley."

"STUPEFY!" Ron heard his dad yell right before seeing Bellatrix's body fall to the floor.

This was his chance to hex Voldemort.

"STUPEFY!"

At the same time a light came from another part of the room and collided with his curse. Voldemort ducked and the curses ricocheted off each other and hit the wall, leaving scorch marks. As he edged his way out from under the table, he looked over to where the other spell came from, only to see Remus Lupin standing there. Ron never heard him enter the room.

The sound of hurried footsteps made him look over just in time to see Voldemort briskly making his way toward a back corridor in an attempt to escape. His heart filled with fear as Harry and Hermione appeared in the doorway to block Voldemort. Ron watched Hermione scan the room, looking for him and when their eyes met, her worried expression turned to one of relief.

Harry and Hermione were both looking at him when he saw Voldemort point his wand toward Harry. He felt a surge of adrenaline as he launched his body toward Voldemort.

"LOOK OUT!"

Ron felt his body hit Voldemort's and he reached his arm out to knock the wand out of Voldemort's hand as they both tumbled to the floor, but he was too late. As they were falling, he saw a blue flame come out of Voldemort's wand and head toward where Harry and Hermione were standing. After he had tackled Voldemort, Ron immediately looked up to see if they were okay. He started to panic as he laid eyes on Harry, only Harry.

"Where's Hermione?"

"I don't know, Ron. She was standing right next to me. I saw the blue flame and the next thing I know, she was gone. I tried to push her out of the way, but I was too late."

Ron's heart sank as he stood up. He looked down at Voldemort, keeping his wand pointed at his chest. "WHERE IS HERMIONE?" he shouted, fighting to keep the panic from his voice.

"You'll never find her. Maybe she's dead, maybe she's still alive, but you'll never find her," Voldemort sneered.

Ron felt the rage build up in his body and directed his fury toward the person responsible for Hermione's disappearance. With strength he never knew he had, he reached down and grabbed Voldemort's robes. In one swift movement he had him pinned against the wall.

"What are you talking about? WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?" Harry screamed.

Voldemort's silence only fuelled Ron's anger even more. He reached up and grabbed Voldemort by the throat. The fear he once had was now replaced with rage.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HER, YOU BASTARD?"

Voldemort remained silent. The only thing Ron could hear was his gasping for air as he tightened his grip. It took all of his willpower not to strangle Voldemort right then and there. The only thing that kept him from doing it was the faint voice of reason coming from Lupin.

"RON! Put him down and get out of the way! Harry, you have to kill him NOW! We don't have time, the potion could wear off any second," Lupin ordered.

Lupin's voice calmed him down enough to loosen the grip on Voldemort's throat slightly so that he could speak.

"Not until he tells me where Hermione is." Harry insisted.

Voldemort's voice was raspy as he struggled to speak. It sounded like the hissing of a snake. "Go ahead and kill me, Harry, because now I have witnessed what can be worse than death. At least what you people consider worse than death, which is...the unknown."

Ron was frozen with fear. What has he done with Hermione? What kind of torture was he putting her through? He wasn't about to go anywhere until he found out where Hermione was.

"HARRY! KILL HIM NOW! You are the only one who can do it. Remember the prophecy? It's your wand and your wand only that can kill him. YOU MUST DO IT NOW!" Lupin shouted.

"Kill him NOW Harry. There are at least twenty Death Eaters coming this way. We don't have any more time," said Arthur.

"Ron, get out of the way, I have to do this." The reluctance in Harry's voice was apparent, but he knew what his best mate had to do. Lupin was on one side of him and Arthur on the other as they both pried Ron's hands of off Voldemort and dragged him away.

"NO! You can't kill him yet! What about Hermione?"

"AVADA KEDAVRA"

A green light shot from Harry's wand and hit Voldemort in the head. In a matter of moments, he was dead. All color drained from Harry's face and he looked horrified. It looked like a mixture of guilt from having actually killed someone and guilt for killing the one lead they had toward finding Hermione. Ron tried to direct his anger toward Harry, but after seeing the look on his best mate's face, he couldn't do it. Instead, his pent up energy would be put to better use looking for Hermione.

"We have to find Hermione, she could be anywhere in here!" Ron started a frantic search of the castle. He heard footsteps behind him. That better not be anyone with plans on trying to stop me.

"Ron's right, you heard what Voldemort said. She's not dead, we have to find her!" Good, at least my best mate is on my side now, ready to begin the search.

"Wait just one moment." Ron stopped and turned around. Lupin stood, looking dirty and exhausted, but still in control of the situation. "Arthur and I will round up the wounded and see to it that they get proper treatment. Then we will join you on your search. However, I must warn you. It is possible Voldemort said that just to make you think she was still alive, which is enough to drive both of you mad trying to find her. She could be dead." I don't care what Lupin says. She's not dead. I know it.

Ron spent the next four hours searching every corridor and every room of the castle. Desperation was settling in as he looked everywhere, but there was no sign of her. Feeling somewhat defeated, he went back to the dining room where the others had congregated.

"Wherever Voldemort sent Hermione, if he didn't kill her, it's not in this castle. Let's go back and get some rest and research this in the morning." Ron glared at Lupin as he spoke, not believing what he was hearing. How could he suggest resting and waiting until morning while Hermione is missing?

Anger surged through him again, this time it was directed toward Lupin. "NO! I am not leaving. We have to keep searching. What if she's hurt? Your heard Voldemort, he said she wasn't dead!"

Ron looked over to his dad to see if he agreed with Lupin. His dad made his way over to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Ron, we've searched this castle inside and out. She's not here. We will do whatever it takes to bring her back but, as exhausted as everyone is, the first thing we need is rest. I promise you, we will do whatever we can to bring her back." Ron could tell his dad was making his best attempt to comfort him. He also trusted his father and knew he would keep his word.

"Come on, Ron, your dad's right, let's go. We should really get some rest and start up again in the morning." Now Harry was on their side?

"Harry, how can you agree with them? We can't leave. She has to be here somewhere."

"Ron, she is NOT HERE." Harry looked very frustrated at this point.

"Ron, whatever spell Voldemort used on her, if it didn't kill her, it must have transported her to another location. She is nowhere in this castle. Let's go back and get some rest and I promise you we will start researching this in the morning." Damn Lupin and his voice of reason.

Ron realized he was fighting a losing battle and gave in. He apparated back to twelve Grimmauld Place with the others.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione woke up a few hours later with a throbbing headache and found the castle had been deserted. She wandered around trying to find somebody, anybody. There has obviously been a battle here, she determined as she studied the scorch marks on the walls and the blood stains on the floor. What happened? Is Voldemort dead? Where is everyone? A flurry of questions came to mind, but there was nobody around to provide her with answers.