Scattered

Hermione hurried down the corridor, rounding the corner and going into the library at a sprint. "Oh!" she exclaimed as she bumped into Harry's back. "Harry, you startled me!"

Both Harry and Remus turned to look at her. "Hermione, is everything okay?" Harry asked, taking a step toward her. When he moved, she was able to see Minerva McGonagall sitting at one of the tables, several texts open in front of her.

"Yes... well, no, actually, but -- I'm sorry, I was looking for you but I came here for Remus first and I was just surprised to find you all here. At once." Hermione took a deep breath. "Fred woke up. He says that George was taken captive. They're still holding him, at the Ministry."

"Not Azkaban?" Minerva asked sharply.

Hermione shook her head.

"Now that the Dementors are gone, it's too remote to staff efficiently," Harry said. He caught Hermione's surprised look. "The Dementors left when Voldemort took control. No one knows where. Apparently they weren't against him; they let all the prisoners go, and quite a few of them were Voldemort supporters. But they didn't want to work for him either, I guess." He looked at Hermione and then took her by the arm, moving her over to one of the chairs at Minerva's table. "Sit down, you're out of breath. Then you can tell us everything."

She did as he asked, first taking a sip of water from the glass that Minerva had transfigured for her. Then she told them, as quickly as possible, the news about George's capture and Fred's return, with Parvati in tow.

When she finished, Minerva sighed. "I had Sheila Travers as a student, years ago," she said. "She wasn't incredibly gifted, but she had a good heart. When she married Langdon Brown, I knew it was a bad choice. No spine. Weak-willed."

"To be fair, Minerva, he did what he thought was right, I'm sure," Remus temporized.

"By betraying a young man who was only trying to help his daughter?" she asked incredulously.

Remus shook his head. "No. By protecting his family, at whatever cost. Of course I don't agree with him," he explained, "nor do I think I would have acted in the same manner were I in his shoes. I'm simply saying he was motivated by fear, not evil. There is a difference, in these times."

Hermione listened carefully. She had been of rather the same mind as Minerva, when she heard Fred's story, but Remus' words, combined with a sincere sympathy for the position Lavender had been in, were forcing her to see the true complexities of the situation for the witches and wizards who were trying to openly survive under Voldemort's cruel rule.

"This is good news," Harry said, and Minerva nodded.

"Thank goodness he's still alive," Hermione agreed.

Harry shook his head. "Yes, but I was thinking of another reason. I'm glad they're keeping George at the Ministry, because it'll make planning his rescue easier." He looked at Remus. "Two birds, one stone, I think. Or at least, two stones thrown at the same time."

"I don't understand," Hermione said, looking between them.

Harry sighed and took her hand in his. "I've kept this from you as long as possible, Hermione, and I'm not going to apologize. I wanted you and Ron to have time to be happy. I needed that," he interjected when he saw her about to protest. "I needed to give you that time. It was important to me. Can you understand that?"

"Yes, I understand what you're saying. But it's still ridiculous," she said bluntly. "What are you keeping from me? I want to know, Harry, and I want to know now."

"There's no further time for such things, Harry," Minerva said, not entirely unkindly. "We're going to need Hermione's help with all of this or it may fail." Harry nodded his agreement. "My dear, we have been working on a plan to defeat Voldemort, and that plan is ready to be put into action."

Silence fell. Minerva waited patiently for her response, as did Remus. Harry, however, she saw, was nervous and worried about her reaction.

"Hermione --" he began.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Harry Potter. You bloody prat," she said, and ignored Remus' amused cough. "You've been sneaking around this castle, this island, for days. You're in a dark, dreary mood, you avoid both Ron and I, and you hint around at terrible secrets you don't want to share -- and it's just Voldemort?!"

Harry looked confused. "Well, I mean to say--"

"You had me thinking you were sick or something," she chastised him, "dreadfully ill with some disease. And it's just Voldemort. Why would you worry me like that?"

"Hermione, this is a serious matter," Minerva interrupted, looking askance at her former pupil. "Deadly serious, not to put to fine a point to it."

Harry nodded, bolstered by Minerva's words. "That's right. That's why--"

"Oh, enough!" Hermione cried, exasperated. "Of course you're going after Voldemort, for heaven's sake. You've been planning on doing so for years. I was there, remember? And so was Ron. Did you think that when we got married, we somehow forgot all of that?"

"No."

"I don't understand you, Harry," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I mean, really."

"I know you were there," he said, and his eyes were pleading for her understanding. "I know you've been there right from the beginning. You have to know how much that's meant to me." Harry sighed and looked away. "It's bad enough, though, that this... this thing, this war with Voldemort has... ruined my life. At least for now," he temporized, seeing how his words had affected her. "I just wish it didn't have to do that to anyone else's."

"You didn't cause this, Harry," she told him. "And I don't know how many times we have to remind you of that, but apparently we haven't hit the threshold yet. You didn't do this. None of us did. It's an act of evil, by a madman, and we've all got to face it. Together."

Harry turned back to her finally. "Okay," he said. "Okay. I get it." He smiled. "I'm sorry I worried you," he told her contritely.

She sighed. "You always worry me. But never mind. We have bigger issues. What's this plan, then?" she asked. She promised herself, though, that she and Ron would pull him aside later for a talk and remind him, together, of the promises they'd made to always stand by his side. Circumstances had separated them, but they hadn't changed their commitment.

She hesitated a little, inwardly, thinking about that promise... thinking about it now, as an adult, a woman with a husband and people she loved. It was harder, she confessed only to herself, to risk everything now. Harder to put her life and Ron's in jeopardy, now that she knew how wonderful their life together could be. Years ago, after the battle at the Department of Mysteries when she'd been injured, she'd thought long and hard about how tragic it would have been to die before anything had ever happened between them... if anything was ever going to, she'd always reminded herself bitterly at the time. To miss out on the chance to be together, even for just a short period of time, before something happened to one or both of them -- it had seemed a terribly tragic risk. That fear had set into motion the growth of their friendship and then her invitation to Ron, and would have compelled her further had not their own insecurities got in the way. That fear of missing out on something wonderful had been a powerful feeling... and yet, she knew it paled in comparison to the way she felt now, the terror that gripped her at even the idea of something happening to Ron, something taking him away from her forever.

But as her father once said, bravery is when we act in the presence of fear. And she was determined to act.

"It's not going to be a battle," Harry said, "not in the fullest sense. There are too many of them, too few of us. We don't have strength in numbers, so we have to use something else. Stealth, planning and cleverness." He grinned at her briefly. "A small group will infiltrate the Ministry and find Voldemort. Meanwhile, an even smaller group will retrieve George. And when it's all over, we'll tell the world, let them know that Voldemort is defeated and that they can begin to take back their lives again."

Hermione took a deep breath. "Harry, it sounds wonderful. But..."

"I'm not going in there blind, Hermione," he told her. "I know I can't defeat Voldemort in a simple duel. That's what's been holding us back all this time, and why I didn't just walk into the Ministry after we destroyed the quill, and challenge him. He's stronger than I am, I know that."

"Which is why you need a plan, Harry," Hermione urged. "Some way to defeat him."

"Remus is right," Ron said, coming into the room. "And so is Hermione." He squeezed her shoulder. "Dad sent me to get you. He says we're ready. Everyone's gathered outside."

Harry, Remus and Minerva nodded and, rising, led the way down the corridor. Hermione followed along with Ron, slipping her hand into his. "How is Fred?" she asked.

"Sleeping," Ron replied. "He's okay. Dad says we're going after George."

"Harry says we're going after Voldemort. And George."

Ron stopped and pulled her to him, kissing her quickly but firmly. "It's going to be okay."

"I know."

The courtyard was already quite full by the time they arrived, with the island's inhabitants either Apparating in or coming down from the castle. It was, she thought, the same group of people who had gathered at the very same site months before, on New Year's Eve, and again just weeks ago, at their wedding. Everyone -- their entire community, the people who'd once been in the Order of the Phoenix, or in Dumbledore's Army; the Aurors and the teachers from Hogwarts; the McFustys and their families.

"Thank you all for coming," Arthur said from the center of the yard. On each side, everyone turned to face him, forming a ragged circle. "We've gathered together in far more pleasant circumstances of late," he said, echoing her own thoughts, "but this time, we're here to tell you about the plan that was set into motion by Albus Dumbledore when he brought our families together, and by all of you by making this your home, and by Harry Potter and Alastor Moody and Rubeus Hagrid and their successful destruction of all but one of Voldemort's horcruxes." He gestured for Harry to join him. "Harry is going to tell you about that plan, and its conclusion, now."

Hermione watched as Harry stood beside Arthur, looking slight and younger than his actual years. She knew he had once abhorred speaking in public, or to groups, but he had long since forgotten about such trivialities in the face of larger fears.

When this is over, he can heal, she thought. He can be the person he's always been meant to be. When it's over.

"We're going to take two teams into the Ministry," Harry said simply. "One team is going to locate and retrieve George Weasley. We've just learned he's being held there." There was a surprised and eager murmuring amongst the crowd. "The other team will come with me. We will find Voldemort and then destroy him."

"Lad, you've got me on your side, you know that, aye?" Hamish McFusty asked. "I am. But I canna help but think you'll never make it to Voldemort alive. The Death Eaters'll stop you for sure, long before you reach that dark bastard's lair."

"That's why I'm taking a very small group. We'll be under glamours. We've just got to reach Voldemort and then seal off the room he's in."

Andrew, Hamish's son, spoke next. "How are you going to do that? With all of the Death Eaters around... I don't think an Imperturbable is going to be enough," he finished apologetically.

"No, it wouldn't be. We have to use something stronger. But I know the spell. Alastor Moody taught it to me. He died using it." Harry paused. "But he died because he was only one man and he couldn't sustain it alone. I'll have more people there, strengthening the spell."

Percy stepped forward. Penny, Hermione knew, was still resting with the baby. It seemed ages ago that she'd been there to see that beautiful creature born, sharing in their happiness. Now, she felt happy in a completely different way, excited and scared and anxious.

"What about the last horcrux?" he asked. "Nagini?"

Harry nodded. "Nagini must be killed, and immediately. That will be the second task of those I bring with me. And when that's done..."

He hesitated and looked out at the crowd, to his side. Hermione followed his gaze and saw Ginny standing there, her face, pale and white, surrounded by the dark-flame halo of her hair. She looked back at Harry and nodded, stepping forward to stand next to her father.

"I'm going to cast a shield around Harry," she said. "One that will block any spell Voldemort sends at him. And Harry is going to kill him."

The crowd broke into disjointed and confused murmuring. Ron swung around to look at her, startled, but she shook her head, mute with surprise. She hadn't known anything about this.

"Ginevra! Have you lost your mind?" Molly Weasley said over the crowd, causing everyone else to fall suddenly silent. "You'll do no such thing!"

Ginny smiled the tiniest bit, Hermione saw, at her mother's familiar, scolding tone. "Mother --"

"You'll 'cast a shield around Harry'?!" Molly asked, striding forward, her hands on her hips. "Cast a shield. Just stand there, in front of that terrible... thing... and cast a spell? Do you think he'll just move out of the way for you? You'll be killed!" Molly shrieked.

"I won't."

"Yes, you will." Molly took a deep breath and lowered her voice. Hermione and Ron were still close enough to hear. "Harry, you are like a son to me," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I love you dearly. I would do anything for you, but I cannot let my daughter die for you. Ginny, dearest, you can't do this."

"Molly," Arthur interjected, "listen to me. Listen. She's not sacrificing herself. I would never allow that either." He tugged at her hands, forcing her to look at him. "Trust me," he said, "just trust me."

Molly searched his eyes and then, suddenly, she nodded and looked away. "Alright," she said, wiping at the tears on her face. Arthur slid his arm around her and she turned into his chest.

"I don't get it," Ron said so that only Hermione could hear. "Why is Mum, I mean, why isn't she... "

"She knows your father would never let Ginny go into this if there was no hope," Hermione replied. "She trusts him, that's all."

"Never stopped her from arguing with him before," Ron mumbled.

She sighed. "It was never a matter of life or death before."

"I'm not saying there won't be dangers," Harry was saying, and the crowd quieted once again. "There will be. No one is going to go on this mission, either of these missions, unless they understand the risks completely. No one is going unless they are one hundred percent sure it's the right thing for them to do. And not everyone is going to go." He paused. "Only a few of us. And I hope we succeed. But we learned the lesson of survival from Albus Dumbledore. If we fail, those who were left behind will have to pick up the reins once more," he said, "and live to fight another day. If that happens, I put my trust in all of you, the way you have put your trust in me. But I want you to know that I do plan to defeat Voldemort, once and for all, and give you back the lives you've had taken away from you. I swear to you now that I won't rest until it's done."

There was a brief moment of stillness and then the applause began, quietly at first, then steady, and louder and louder until the entire crowd was clapping in unison. Hermione brought her palms together so hard that they stung, over and over again, her heart beating in fierce time along with the thunderous applause. A cheer went up from the other side of the crowd and spread, and soon the clapping dissolved into shouts of encouragement. Ron took Hermione in his arms and held her there, tightly.

"It's happening," she said, pulling back to look into his eyes.

He nodded. "We always knew it would."

Hermione stretched up on her toes and kissed him. She closed her eyes and shut out the noise around them, her lips moving softly across his. She felt him smile and he pulled her closer, his hands dropping to her waist. She could feel him, hard, pressed against her stomach and she slid one of her hands to his chest, finding his nipple through the soft fabric of his shirt, teasing it lightly. He growled, low, and tore his mouth away from hers, attacking her neck.

"You do realize you're not alone," Ginny said, sidling up beside them.

Hermione pulled away from Ron, flushed. She'd long since gotten over being embarrassed about kissing her own husband in public, even in front of his sister, but she felt a wave of reproach over the inappropriate timing of their embrace. "Gin, I'm sorry, we just got caught up--"

"What? Don't be silly," Ginny said, laughing. "I'm teasing you. Grope away. Charlie's already dragged Joanna behind a bush, or something."

Hermione nodded and tried to look at Ginny without looking worried. She wanted to be supportive and accept whatever decisions Ginny had made.

Ron had no such compunction about expressing his concern. "What the hell, Gin, are you okay with this?" he asked. "This whole protection spell thing? Because I don't really like it, and I especially don't like that Harry just sprang that on you like that--"

"Harry didn't spring anything on me," Ginny interrupted him calmly. "I knew. I'd already agreed."

Hermione's mind went blank for a moment and then it all clicked together. "You knew. You knew at the safehouse. The training? McGonagall? You knew what it was for. Why didn't you tell me?"

Ginny looked around a little anxiously. Hermione's voice had risen as she spoke and they were far from alone. A few yards away, Ginny saw her father was whispering to her mother, who still looked anxious. Harry was with Hamish, Remus and Kingsley. Some people had wandered off, but quite a few of them -- Dean, Seamus, Susan -- were still hanging about.

"Come with me," she said, gesturing to both her brother and Hermione. "I'll tell you everything now, I promise. But not here. Come with me."

Ron nodded and followed. Hermione scowled a little but then, looking around, saw the sense of what Ginny was saying. She slipped her hand in Ron's, trailing behind his sister.

Ginny led them around the castle wall, over the grass and stony ground. They emerged on the other side of the keep, on the beach. The tide was out and the sea choppy with wind; Hermione's hair was quickly whipped around her head in disarray.

"Sorry," Ginny said, seeing her discomfort. The red-haired witch smiled and, with a flick of her wand, twisted Hermione's hair back from her face and into a bun, then performed the spell on her own tangled locks.

Hermione stared in amazement. "What was that spell? And how can you have never shown it to me before, with this hair?"

"You've never cared much for beauty charms," Ginny demurred, smiling.

Hermione snorted.

"Enough girl talk. Gin, I want to know what's going on here," Ron demanded.

Ginny nodded. She didn't speak right away, though, and instead turned slightly, facing the water. The waves were cresting into white caps; the wind was strong and not entirely warm. Hermione watched her face with worry.

"McGonagall gave me a day to adjust to the safehouse," Ginny said finally. "But then she sat me down and explained everything. And then, she made me start training. That same day." She smiled ruefully. "She didn't want to give me any time to freak out, I think. So instead I was learning shield spells every day. I complained about it, finally. I only really needed to learn one particular spell, according to her plan, so why was she drilling me on all of them? She said I had to build up to this spell. That I wasn't skilled enough to cast it yet. Not good enough. She was right," Ginny admitted. "But after a few months went by, I was. And now I'm ready.

"The shield I cast will protect Harry. While it's up, Voldemort won't be able to hurt him, or do anything to him. But what's more, whatever spells Voldemort tries will bounce back on him. Not quite as strong as they were cast, but still enough to have an effect."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. The spell will lose some energy in the process of rebounding. I read about that fourth year, when I was helping Harry get ready for the tournament and the dragon." She sighed and shook her head. "But Gin, it's just that I don't understand why you couldn't tell me about this when we talked about it before. You said you didn't know why you were learning those shields."

Ginny shrugged. "It wasn't the right time to tell you, then."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply and then, abruptly, closed it. She couldn't force Ginny to confide in her, the way she used to. It wasn't a distance between them, caused by absence; they'd resolved that and loved each other as sisters now. Hermione was sure of that. But Ginny had changed in those long months away, changed in a way that made Hermione's heart ache for her, even as she understood, and accepted, that it was only what had to be.

"What I want to know is... what Mum asked, I guess," Ron said. "I'm sorry, but I don't get why everyone's okay with the idea that you're going to just stand there and protect Harry. Who's going to be protecting you? You can't think Voldemort's going to just ignore you."

"I'll be fine."

"How?! This is insane--"

"I promise, Ron, it's okay," Ginny tried to reassure her brother. She saw his expression, however, and after a long, quiet look, nodded in resignation. "Okay. Okay. The thing is... the thing is...I can do this because... Voldemort's spells can't hurt me."

"What?!" Ron exclaimed.

"Voldemort can't hurt me," Ginny repeated. She turned and smiled faintly at Hermione. "You know why, don't you?" she asked. "When they told Bill, when I got here, he came to talk to me. He told me you guessed about it, when I told him. Something you and he talked about at the safehouse. Something you said."

"I wondered," Hermione admitted. "I hoped it wasn't... something bad."

Ginny smiled a little. "It's not." She sighed ruefully. "I certainly didn't understand that at first. I was horrified. I felt... violated, again. But with time, you know, and with help... talking to Bill, mostly, since I've been here, I came to understand it's just circumstance. It doesn't change anything about me."

Ron let out a frustrated groan. "You two... you have to stop talking in riddles. Explain this to me, please."

Ginny turned and took her brother's hand lightly in her own. "Okay, I will. I'm sorry. Voldemort can't hurt me, Ron, because he left some of his magic in me. Just a little of it, but enough. When he was Tom Riddle, in the Chamber of Secrets, he tried to suck away my life force to use it as his own. Harry stopped him when he destroyed the book and it all came rushing back... all of my life force, all of my magic...and just a little bit of his. Not much. Not anything to worry about. Not for me. But for Voldemort, yes. It means he can't cast spells at me. He can't hurt me. If he does, he feels the effects himself. I'm not a horcrux," she said firmly, putting to rest Hermione's growing fear. "I'm just sharing part of his magic. Dumbledore knew and he told McGonagall. With everything else, in the Charm of Remembrance. He knew it was important. He knew that I'm the only one that can protect Harry and survive." She turned to Hermione, still holding her brother's hand. "I'm glad I can do this. It makes what happened to me then worthwhile."

Hermione nodded, a stray tear slipping down her cheek. The wind dried it away almost immediately. "I know," she said, taking Ginny's other hand. "I know." They hugged, tightly. Hermione held her sister-in-law and friend close, her whole heart wishing that she could share some of her burden.

She sensed, though, that Ron was still troubled. Pulling back from Ginny, she turned to him, trying to gauge his mood. "Ron?"

"How can you be sure?" he asked finally, looking at Ginny. "How can you be sure he can't hurt you? And what if some Death Eater kills you instead? They can still hurt you, right?"

"Yes," she answered softly. "Nothing's ever certain, Ron."

"Ginny!" he cried in protest.

"Dad and Bill and McGonagall have been researching all of this. They believe this is the best plan we have. That this is how it works. And I trust them."

Ron frowned. He shot Hermione a suspicious look. "Researching? You've been researching for weeks. Did you know about this?!"

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "Are you insane? Didn't you just hear Ginny tell both of us about this? I had no idea. And I'm completely infuriated that you would accuse--"

"Stop, stop, stop," Ron said quickly and in a much more conciliatory tone, holding up his hands. "I take it back. I'm an idiot. I don't know what I'm saying. I'm sorry."

She growled in frustration. "I am so sick of you doing this, this whole incredibly rude thing followed by the groveling thing. You end up getting away with saying whatever you want as long as you take it back later. I hate that!"

Ginny laughed. "Let's start walking back to the castle, okay? I'm freezing out here."

Ron nodded distractedly but didn't answer, just fell into step with them as they walked up the beach. Ginny caught his arm and pulled him to face her. "Are you okay with this?" she asked him.

He sighed, running his hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah. I mean, of course. I just... I keep wondering... is it like what Harry went through? You know, with the nightmares and the... the possession thing? Does that, you know, happen?"

Hermione slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed him; he looked so worried.

"No, it doesn't," Ginny reassured him. "It's nothing like that. It's nothing at all, really. I never noticed anything, not once, not ever. I never would have known, if McGonagall hadn't told me."

"Except for the strength," Hermione added. "That was the only thing... that was what I said to Bill. That your spells were so strong, stronger than they really should be, for a witch your age."

"That's from him," Ginny said. "But that's all. And that's enough to mean he can't do anything to me, and that's all we need."

Ron nodded and, with a long sigh, reached out and ruffled Ginny's hair, still in its magically-created bun. "Okay, Ginny-bean," he said, resigned. "I get it. I don't really like it, still, but I get it."

Hermione looked up at him and smiled; he grinned in return and dropped a kiss on her nose and slid down to gently brush against her lips.

"Really, you two, you're in public, you know that, right?" Harry said, walking down the path towards them. "Not to mention poor Ginny's right there, with a front row seat."

Hermione laughed and stepped away from Ron. "That's enough out of you, Harry," she said. "I'm a married woman and I don't blush anymore."

Harry smiled. "You never did, much." He stopped and waited until they reached him, then fell in step alongside. "Arthur said he saw you all head toward the beach. I've never actually looked at it before, so I didn't want to chance Apparating," he explained, "but we need the three of you at a meeting. To discuss the plan in detail, go over specifics." They rounded the corner and found the courtyard now empty. "It's in your dad's meeting room, the one on Weasley Row," Harry told them. "See you there in a minute?"

They nodded. Harry stepped aside slightly and with a small "pop", winked away. Ginny followed next.

"Ready?" Hermione asked.

"Hell, yes," Ron replied. He leaned down and snuck in a final kiss and then, with a grin, Apparated away.

She took a deep breath. This is how the end begins, she thought, one way or another, and with destination, determination and deliberation, she followed the others.