Mnemosyne's Legacy

Chapter 3: The Day of Reckoning

Ron's heart leapt at the sound of the chuckle. He held his breath as he listened intently, not daring to move. There it was again! Exhaling hastily, his mind swam in panic. Who was there? Was it a trap? Grabbing hold of his wand, he held it out in front of him, ready to curse the prowler into next year. 'Lumos,' he muttered. In the pale light of his wand, he could make out Hermione standing next to him, trying to suppress relieved laughter behind her hands. She noticed his apprehensive stare and giggled harder. Ron began to relax, unable to fight the smile that had crept involuntarily over his face.

* * *

Ron smiled in the darkness of his room as he remembered Hermione's laugh. In his mind, it took on a fairy-like quality. He started, realising that it had been the last time he ever heard her laugh, and jerked, groaning, as if physically attempting to block out the memories - they were too painful. Yet another memory pushed its way forward from his subconscious. Surrendering helplessly to the onslaught, he leaned back uneasily, as the events in the Great Hall, the morning that had changed their lives forever, replayed in his mind.

* * *

Eight a.m., breakfast time. Ron ran into the Great Hall late, having overslept. Spotting Harry and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table with Fred, George and Ginny, he quickened his pace.

'Good morning, Sleepyhead,' Hermione smiled sweetly, sliding down the bench to make room for him. He leaned forward and she gave him a kiss.

'Morning.' He smiled at her, and sat down. He turned to Harry, who sat across the table. 'Why didn't you wake me up?' he asked, grabbing a piece of buttered toast from the stack in front of him.

'I tried,' Harry replied swallowing a mouthful of porridge, 'but all you did was give one huge snore and turn to your side. I was hungry so I left. Serves you right for staying up half the night!' He glanced wickedly from Ron to Hermione. 'Ow!' he yelped as Ron kicked him viciously under the table. Harry rubbed his ankle, glaring back at Ron, but he didn't retaliate.

'And what were you doing, Ronnie?' George asked mock-innocently.

'Homework?' smirked Fred.

'Something tells me I don't think so!' George said in a sing-song voice, peering intently into Ron's slowly reddening face. Ron tried to move out of his brother's line of sight.

Hermione, blushing furiously, snorted into her porridge. 'You snore?' She turned to Ron, her mouth curving into an amused grin. Ginny, sitting beside Harry, began to shake in silent laughter.

'Oh yeah, he does it all the time. He sounds like a steam engine in serious need of a chimney sweep. You should hear him, he drives us nuts!' Harry grinned. Ron glared daggers at him and shot another well-aimed kick under the table. 'Ow!'

'Once,' Fred recounted happily, 'we put shaved pieces of soap into his mouth to stop him.'

'He was literally frothing at the mouth!' added George.

'I remember that!' Ginny interrupted enthusiastically. 'He nearly choked on the bubbles. Mum was absolutely furious!'

'Yeah, she confiscated our brooms for a whole month! Almost didn't make the cut for the Quidditch team that year,' George reminisced with a small scowl.

Ron humphed, glowering grumpily at them. 'Would've served you both right if you didn't,' he said. Fred stood up and lunged at Ron, grabbing him in a headlock. 'Ah, you don't mean that, do you, brother dear?'

Ron scoffed, but said nothing. He struggled to get out of his brother's grip, his ears burning brightly. 'I do not snore!' he declared, pulling himself free.

'If you don't snore then why are you blushing?' Hermione asked, struggling to keep a straight face. Harry and Ginny burst into uncontrollable laughter. Hermione gave in and joined them with a loud giggle despite Ron's glares.

Suddenly, Harry stopped laughing, clutching at his forehead with his hands. 'Ouch!' he yelped. The laughter stopped abruptly; they looked at him half curious, half concerned.

'What?' Ginny asked. 'What's wrong, Harry? What is it?'

'My - my scar!' he breathed painfully, 'It's burning!'

'BOOM!'

Ron jumped. 'What the...?' he exclaimed. A loud explosion at the entrance of the Great Hall attracted their attention. Everyone in the Hall froze as the dust settled.

Harry, his hand still pressed against his scar, stopped short and pointed, his mouth open in horrified disbelief. There, in the entrance of the Great Hall, stood none other than Lord Voldemort, flanked by a large number of Death Eaters. There was a collective gasp as they automatically brandished their wands.

That's when the screaming began.