Masks

Part 4 Memorable Events

***

After wandering in the forest for a couple of hours, Ron finally collapsed in a clearing. The night air was getting cold and he was becoming painfully aware that he had run out of Gryffindor tower without his cloak. He pulled out his wand and transfigured a nearby stump into a large pile of logs, which he lit it with a jet of flame. The spells were difficult because his hands were still shaking.

The crackling fire filled the clearing with light and warmth, but it did little to improve his mood. "I've crossed the line this time, now I've lost her as a friend too," he said to himself as he buried his head in his hands.

They had twelve weeks till graduation. That meant twelve weeks of either avoiding Hermione or finding a way to look her in the face again. No, that was impossible, better try to come up with a way to keep away from her. Then he remembered-the Seventh year finals and his NEWT's were coming up soon, and without Hermione's help they would be very hard indeed. A fresh ripple of pain crossed his stomach when he realized just how addicted to her he had become. Now he was facing a future without her. The fear and loss that filled him at this thought was worse than anything he could have imagined.

***

Ginny was sitting in the Dursley's car, getting more and more worried as time passed. Why hadn't Harry come out yet? All sorts of horrible ideas began creeping into her head. She was just about to go back into the hospital to search for him when he suddenly appeared from under his cloak, running out toward the car. She reached for her wand and peered beyond Harry to see if he was being pursued, but there was no one in sight. Harry leapt over the hood, whipped open the door, and flew in. Tires screamed, and seconds later they were tearing down the highway at top speed.

"Harry, what happened?" Ginny said, holding on as tight as she could.

"That woman who was cursed came from at the dairy where Dennis and Colin's dad works. The father of two muggle-born wizards is just the kind of targets the Deatheaters would be looking for," Harry said grimly, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.

"So we are going to get help?" Ginny asked as Harry swerved to miss an oncoming car.

"No time," he replied, his jaw set as he ground his teeth.

"This, to you, is being careful of the Deatheaters?" she said, pulling out her wand. "I knew you'd need some help."

Harry didn't like the sound of that, but he couldn't dwell on it now. He was trying with all his might to remember where Colin said his dad's dairy was. He cursed himself for ever ignoring Colin and was becoming afraid that he was going the wrong way when a large clover shaped sign appeared ahead. Harry and Ginny scanned the sky over the dairy but saw nothing. "No dark mark, that's something," he thought. "But no sign of life either." He turned out the lights and pulled off the road a few blocks away from the main gate.

"I don't suppose you have anything like a plan?" Ginny whispered as they quietly opened the car doors.

"I don't suppose that I could get you to stay here?" he whispered in return. A dark look was her only reply. "All right then, grab the invisibility cloak." "That will give her some protection at least." he thought. He found himself becoming increasingly aware of how painful the idea of seeing Ginny in danger had become.

They made their way up to the fence, planning to levitate over it. As soon as they reached the chain link barrier, Harry felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. Judging by Ginny's sharp breath she felt it too.

"It's an avoidance charm," he said, steeling himself. "Just let it pass over you." After a few moments fighting the urge to flee, the feeling passed.

"That must be to keep muggles out," Ginny whispered, getting her breath back.

"This is a good sign," he said, taking out his wand and breaking the spell. Ginny looked at him puzzled. "It means they're still here."

The pair crept cat-like toward the main building. They reached a row of trucks parked near a large second story window. Floating to the roof of the truck allowed them to see inside. The scene was what Harry had feared.

In the center of a huge processing area, a group of about nine dairy workers were huddled together in a large glowing cage. Outside of the cage, his arms and legs bound by tight ropes, was a middle-aged man that Harry reckoned must be Colin and Dennis's father. Around him were five black clad figures, three men and two women. They were laughing and taunting Mr. Creevey, as one of the two larger men passed a bottle to the other. Taking in the situation, Harry could tell that these were not Deatheaters after all. They wore hoods and tight fitting clothes, some with loose cloaks, instead of the usual formal robes of the Deatheaters. They were acting very carelessly, and Harry had a sneaking feeling he knew who they were.

One of the women wrapped her arm around the smaller of the men and said something in his ear. He responded by pulling her closer to him and nipped her neck before pointing his wand at Mr. Creevey. She ran her hand across his chest and nuzzled his shoulder as the curse hit the bound man, causing him to howl in pain.

The sight of this filled Harry with rage and his hand tightened on his wand. He looked at Ginny who had her hand clasped over her mouth in horror.

"Are you all right?" he whispered to Ginny.

"Yes!" she hissed harshly, furious with herself for showing weakness.

Harry nodded in understanding. "We'll need another diversion," he whispered. "You put on the cloak and get down to the door. I'll come in from here and distract them and maybe lead them off."

Ginny gave him a terrified look. "Harry...you can't!"

He cut her off. "When it's safe, sneak in and free those people."

Ginny was awash in a flood of emotion. The thought of Harry taking on five wizards single-handedly made her sick with worry. But she couldn't deny the sight of him poised for action with the wind blowing his hair and a determined look on his face filled her with other feelings much less suited to the situation. Because she might never be able to indulge herself again, she took a chance. Leaning over, she slipped her hand around his head, her fingers entwined in his soft hair, and kissed him. Not an overly passionate kiss, but a kiss just the same. "Please, be careful," she said, threw the cloak over herself and disappeared.

Harry knelt there, slightly dazed, a funny sensation coming over him he didn't expect. He felt a tingling all over his body as the breeze cooled his lips where she had kissed him. That couldn't possibly have been little Ginny, could it? The sound of laughter and a scream from inside the dairy brought him back to reality. "Wake up, Potter," he thought. "You've got work to do."

***

Hermione fastened the clasp on her cloak as she closed the door to the girl's dormitory. She had made up her mind and no matter what she would stick to her decision. She couldn't leave things this way. Ron had opened himself up to her, and she had rejected him. It was all or nothing now. Her mind finally understood what her feelings had been trying to tell her. Ron was the only one she wanted, the one she couldn't do without. Becoming Head Mistress of Hogwarts would mean nothing if she couldn't have him in her life. But now Ron was running away from her as fast as he could. If she was going to find him she would need some special help.

Pausing next to the boys dormitory, she pulled her wand from her cloak, pointed it at the crack under the door, and whispered, "Accio Map." From under Harry's empty bed a small piece of parchment flew under the door. "Harry won't mind if I borrow this," she told herself. She crept out the empty common room and glanced in a mirror just inside the dark hallway. A wave of doubt and fear came over her, challenging her resolve. "OK. Relax; just relax," she told her reflection. Pulling her cloak tight around herself she strode off down the hall.

***

Ginny moved quietly into the processing area of the dairy, grateful for the protection of the invisibility cloak. She positioned herself behind a large vat and waited for Harry to make his move. A moment later a loud crashing noise announced his entrance. He leapt through the second story window in a shower of light and glittering glass. He must have cast a spell on himself beforehand, because he was falling unnaturally slow and the glass didn't cut him.

"Incendio," he yelled as he fell and the cloaks the two large men were wearing burst into flame, effectively occupying half the group.

The smaller of the men, obviously the leader, was not so easily distracted. Moving with an elegant grace, he pointed his wand at Harry and in a strangely familiar voice cried, "Stupefy." But halfway to the ground the speed of his fall returned to normal, and the stunner passed harmlessly over his head.

Harry landed gracefully in a crouch a few dozen meters from the group, pointed his wand at the leader and shouted, "Expelliarmus." The spell hit the thin wizard square in the chest knocking him backward into his girlfriend and sending his wand flying.

From the corner of his eye Harry saw the large woman on his other side recover and point her wand at him. Harry spun in out of the way and crouched, facing her just as she shouted "Cordeo fleiayu." A thin cord of light whipped through the space where Harry had been just a millisecond earlier. It whizzed past his head and wrapped around a girder behind him. Harry grinned. She wouldn't be able to use her wand again until she broke that spell.

He could see the helpless fear in her eyes as he pointed his wand at her and cried, "Stupefy!" A bright beam hit her midriff and she crumpled in a heap.

The two large men next to her had put out the fire and were getting ready to join the fight. One of them, seeing what had just happened to the woman, charged forward, his arms outstretched, going for Harry's throat in a blind rage. This, Harry thought, was a very stupid attack. Not only was it less effective than magic, it blocked the others from casting spells. At the last second Harry dodged aside and kicked up, catching his drunken opponent in the Solar Plexus and sending him careening into the two smaller figures who were just getting up. Harry pointed his wand toward the remaining wizard. "Relashio," he shouted and blue sparks flew at the large figure blinding him. "Yes" Harry thought smiling slyly "It's just about time to take this act on the road."

From her hiding place Ginny found that her breath had quickened. She couldn't take her eyes off of Harry, and the familiar desire she knew when looking at him came over her like never before. His speed, his daring, and his elegance entranced her as he easily countered his opponents. He gracefully avoided attack after attack, finally flashing that smile of his that always made her melt. "This is a hero to conquer a Dark Lord," Ginny thought, biting her lower lip and feeling her heart pound.

Just when his remaining adversaries were about to attack in force, Harry made a break for it. He sprinted past them into the plant, weaving in and around vats and pipes. "Get him!" The leader shouted. "We'll bring him to my father." All four of the remaining wizards and witches followed Harry into the plant. Ginny gave them a few seconds and then silently crept to where Mr. Creevey was tied.

"Mr. Creevey," Ginny whispered when she got to him.

"What?...." he said, starting.

"I'm a friend of Colin's, we've come to get you all out of here," she said, taking off the cloak and undoing the magical ropes that bound him.

"Is that so? Well, I sure am glad to see you," he whispered recovering himself. "That really was Harry Potter then?"

"None other." She smiled wistfully, breaking the caging spell that held the others. "But we can't waste time, let's go." And they all scampered off toward the front gate.

Harry was weaving in and out of as much cover as possible and he could still feel the occasional spell fly past him. He found that he was running out of room fast. In just a moment he would have to either stand and fight or come out from under cover. Turning aside, he hid behind a pipe and took aim at a large vat of milk. As soon as he heard them coming he shouted, "Diffindo!" The huge vat cracked and white liquid spilled out in turrets, sweeping the four attackers off their feet.

"Fridgio," Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the expanding pool of milk and a blast of white light hit the liquid, freezing it solid and pinning his opponents. Not wanting to slip on the milk ice himself, he began climbing a ladder to a catwalk that ran around the plant.

As he reached the top he heard their leader's voice. "Relashio!" Steam began to rise from somewhere beneath him. As Harry sprinted the length of the catwalk he heard foot falls on the ladder behind him. He'd still make it before his pursuer reached the top. Just then the most welcome sound in the world filled his ears; the sound of police sirens.

"Expelliarmus!" cried the voice of the leader's girlfriend. The spell hit Harry's side from somewhere below him, knocking him off his feet and sending his wand flying into a vat of milk with a soft plop. He rolled over to see the leader walking slowly toward him, his wand pointed at Harry's heart.

"Father will be so pleased when I tell him you're dead," the hooded figure hissed as his casual footfalls clanged on the catwalk. "I've waited a long time for this, Potter."

"Expelliarmus!" came Ginny's voice from below them, and another wand went flying into the milk vat as Harry's opponent reeled into the guardrail.

Harry wasted no time. He kicked out, catching his adversary in the chest, sending him staggering back a step. Harry leapt to his feet but was caught with a blow to the face almost immediately. Blood dripped slowly down the side of his face where he was cut. His hooded opponent charged only to be caught in the midriff by an elbow. The two of them stepped back and glared at each other, looking for weakness. They both leapt forward, grabbing for one another's necks.

"Serpencoillatum" came that same voice below them. From the corner of his eye Harry saw Ginny grasp her throat and fall to her knees. "The muggles are coming, hundreds of them," the spell caster shouted. "We have to get out of here!"

Harry saw the cold gray eyes look down at the four escaping figures just as he glanced down at Ginny collapsing. He had to get to her! Their eyes locked again just inches from each other and the hatred that flowed between them was staggering.

"Next time, Potter!"

"Count on it, Malfoy"

They slowly released each other and ran toward opposite ends of the catwalk. Harry slid down the ladder as quickly as possible and made for Ginny. When he reached her, she was laying on the ground unconscious. The serpent mark on her neck was green and writhing, deadlier than the one he had seen earlier. He picked up her wand, put it to her throat, and said "Uncoillatum!"

The snake mark disappeared but she still didn't move. "Ginny," he said softly, but she didn't stir. A feeling of terror and utter helplessness unlike any thing he had ever known gripped him. No, Ginny had always been there, would always be there, just in the background, always helping, always caring. He wondered how he could have known that all this time and never realized it. When did she become so important to him? He placed a trembling hand behind her head and pulled her to him. "Ginny, please," he whispered, and placed his face against hers. When they touched, his scar brushed against her cheek. She jerked suddenly and a hissing noise came from her mouth. Slow ragged breathing followed and a wave of relief flooded through Harry and threatened to come out his eyes.

"We have to get out of here and contact the Ministry," he said, picking her up and carrying her. Her eyes opened slightly as they made their way back to the car. As he started the car he wondered where he should go. The Deatheaters would know by now that he was in town and vulnerable. There was one place nearby that he knew was well protected, and he made his way back to Privet Drive.

***

Sitting next to the warm fire Ron was trying to get his mind off what had happened by pondering his future prospects. "All right, if I do well on my tests, I'll go work for dad," he thought to himself. "If not, I'll work for Fred and George." He shuddered at the kind of work Fred and George would make him do. He was sure to end up a human guinea pig that way. Ron was considering this possibility when he felt rather than heard something behind him. In one fluid motion he drew his wand and spun around to face...

"Hermione?"

She was standing there wrapped tightly in her cloak, her eyes shining in the fire light. He was so amazed by the sight of her it took a moment for him to notice that he was still pointing his wand at her. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he put his wand away and looked back toward the fire.

"We have to talk about what happened earlier," she said, moving around so that she could see his face.

"I'm tired of fighting. You made a good choice. Krum is a good man." He wished she would stop looking at him.

Hermione hesitated, then blurted out, "I'm sorry I hit you. It's just, I...I got scared."

A fresh wave of remorse broke over Ron and it must have shown on his face because she quickly added, "No, no, not like that. I was scared of ... Oh, I don't know."

Neither one of them spoke for a while, then Hermione said, "When you... The reason you gave for me to stay. Did you mean it?"

There was a kind of waver in her voice Ron had never heard before. "What's the point of this" he said, as the pain he had barely managed to control all night was clawing its way out of his stomach and into his throat.

"Please, Ron I need to know. I.....need to hear it."

Ron stood up and took a few steps away, his hands clenched into fists.

Finally, he turned to face her. He had a look of despair she had never seen on him before and tears were shining in his eyes. "Of course I meant it," he choked "I love you Hermione, I've always loved you." He turned away from her again "Now would you please just go away."

Hermione closed eyes for a moment and sighed, she had never felt more afraid in her life or more resolute. "I can't do that Ron," she said softly as she reached for the clasp of her cloak. " Because you see, I love you too."

At this Ron turned back to her in astonishment. Then with a soft click her cloak fell open and the dark material slid off her bare shoulders revealing her naked body to the night.

In the seven years Ron had known Hermione, he'd had several occasions to be amazed by her intelligence, her daring, and even her beauty, but nothing could have prepared him for this moment. Her skin glowed golden in the firelight like some perfect statue of a goddess as she moved around, stepped out of her cloak, and strode over to him. Every gentle curve of her body seemed to be accentuated as light and shadow played across her bare skin.

She reached up to his face and brought him down to her in a gentle kiss. All her doubts suddenly disappeared and she knew this is what she wanted more than anything. Ron was still captivated by the sight of her, still hesitating, not daring to touch such beauty.

Hermione seemed to sense this and took his hand in hers and brought it up to her mouth allowing his fingertips to caress her soft lips. The sensation of his touch and the sound of his shuddering breath sent a wave of excitement through her as she reached up to undo the buttons of his shirt. He then pulled it away and she ran her hands over his skin, caressing smooth muscles of his chest and feeling his heart pound underneath. Ron inhaled sharply and closed his eyes. Hermione smiled at the new found sense of power she had over him.

However, when he opened his eyes, she saw there was a fire in them. It was a fire she had seen before during their most heated arguments, and the thought of that rage turned to passion sent a small trickle of fear dancing with the excitement inside her.

Ron, abandoning all doubt and fear, caressed her cheek and moved his hand around to the back of her neck and pulled her to him. The kiss he gave her was the one he always wanted to give her; deep, long, passionate and holding nothing back.

When he pulled back there was now a look of wonder in her eyes too, wonder and undisguised desire. Ron quickly removed and tossed aside the remainder of his clothes while Hermione spread the discarded cloak in fount of the fire. Kneeling down, she took a moment to admire Ron's body. The firelight displayed every line and plane of his chest, every curve and angle of his hips in a way that made her own body react in a way she never dreamed possible. He knelt down on the cloak in front of her and pulled her to him in a long, loving kiss.

With an ease that neither of them expected, they gave themselves over to their passion, listening to, rather than commanding, their bodies. Ron gave all of his body and soul to his lovemaking, determined to share everything he had. Hermione never expected that exposing herself so completely could be so comforting and exciting at the same time. All too soon their passion reached its peak and they slowly pulled away from each other.

Ron lay next to Hermione with his eyes closed as his breathing slowly returned to normal. She reached over and brushed a sweaty lock of red hair out of his eyes. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

"Never better," he smiled, and reached out to draw her to him in a gentle embrace.

They lay in the firelight for a long while staring at each other as they recovered their strength.

They rested together for a while talking softly in the firelight, suddenly able to say things they would never have dreamed of only hours earlier.

Ron was stroking her hair and looking at her with an expression Hermione couldn't recognize. Caressing his face she asked, "What are you thinking?"

He took her hand, kissed it and said, "I'm amazed. I never knew there was such beauty in the world, never mind that I've been sitting across a library table from it."

For the first time Hermione blushed. "It's just me, " she said with almost a giggle.

"No. It'll never be 'just you' again, I promise." He said smiling.

She picked herself up and leaned over his chest to kiss him. He brought his hand around to the back of her head and kissed her back. She closed her eyes feeling the passion rise within her.

She opened her eyes and whispered playfully. "Are you sure this is your first time? Where did you learn to do that?"

"Well" He said stroking her hair "Your not the only one who can read."

He smiled at the wide eyed expression she gave him. "I'll have to see this book" she grinned.

"Last I heard some third year had it." He replied

"Humm" she sighed "They should make it required reading."

He grinned at her "I pretty sure it is. At least for the boys"

"I guess I'll just have to use my imagination." she purred.

They made love again without the urgency of their first coupling, taking time to note what pleased the other the most. If Hermione had any lingering doubt about her feelings toward Ron they were soon swept away. Having spent all of his remaining strength Ron sank slowly to the ground. Hermione leaned over him and give him a last passionate kiss.

Her hair was in her eyes and there was a gentle purr in her voice as she whispered, "That was exquisite. "

"Yes," he managed to whisper with great effort, having difficulty keeping his eyes focused.

"It's all right my love," she said, caressing his face. "Just rest."

He didn't need telling twice and was almost instantly asleep.

***