The Final Reckoning

Chapter Six: A Reunion

Ron gaped at Harry and Ginny as he put his arms round his girlfriend's violently trembling shoulders. Harry and Ginny exchanged glances and shrugged.

'It's h-horrible!' Hermione sobbed, her voice muffled against Ron's t-shirt.

'Slow down, love,' Ron said, now genuinely frightened. 'You're going to make yourself sick.'

'Ron, I don't want to go...' Hermione bawled.

'What's she on about?' Harry asked. Hermione's response was to let out another wail.

'I'll talk to her,' Ron said. 'Hermione?'

She clung to him tighter. Harry and Ginny stared at Ron and Hermione, clearly at a loss for what to do.

'Hermione, love, it's okay,' said Ron, in as soothing a voice as he could muster. 'I'm here. We're all here. You're okay. Just...calm down, okay? Let's...go sit on the sofa.'

He gently turned himself and Hermione in the direction of the sofa and steered her toward it.

'Ginny,' he said, over his shoulder, 'uh...could you make some tea?'

'Right!' said Ginny, straightening up and heading for the kitchen. 'Tea.'

'I'll help,' said Harry at once, giving Ron a bewildered look before following Ginny into the kitchen.

Ron sat Hermione down gently on the sofa.

'Hermione?' he said, still gripping her shoulders. 'Look at me.'

She did, and her sobs quieted, a little.

'Now,' he said, 'start from the beginning, and tell me what happened. Can you do that?'

Hermione nodded, her bushy hair bobbing. She sniffed and took a deep breath.

'I was on holiday with Mum and Dad,' she said, and her voice was stronger. 'We were in Provence this morning, we were visiting some of the shops in town. We stopped to have coffee at a little outdoor café and suddenly there was this big commotion down the street. It was Death Eaters, Ron! They attacked us--'

'What?' said Ron, horrified. 'Are you all right, are you hurt?'

'I'm f-fine,' Hermione stammered. 'They didn't reach us. When I saw who they were I told my parents to run, to stay with me and to run, and we did, we ran away, and I had my wand out and I was all set to...to fight if it came to that...but it didn't. We went round the corner and there were some Aurors there. Or, at least, I think they were--they were French so whatever the French call Aurors--I should know the word by now, I've been working on my French constantly--'

'Hermione,' Ron interrupted gently, 'skip that part. What happened next?'

'Right,' she said, taking another deep breath as she worried her hands. 'So, these French Aurors came and one of them said, "Monsieur and Madame Granger, Mademoiselle Granger, come with me!" They knew who we were, Ron.'

'How'd they know that?' Ron asked.

'I'm getting to that,' Hermione said testily, 'don't interrupt.'

'Sorry,' said Ron quickly.

'So I followed the one Auror,' Hermione went on, 'and she pulled us into this alleyway and then she grabbed the lid of a bin and made it into a Portkey--or whatever the French equivalent is--and...and told us to grab the Portkey, so we did, and we got out of there and ended up at Grimmauld Place. And Dumbledore was there, and Lupin and Tonks and Snape and all these other people I didn't know. And my parents were completely panicking, they didn't know what was going on, my dad kept yelling and my mum was crying all over the place. Dumbledore told everyone to calm down and...and he told my parents that he needed to speak with them. So...so he went downstairs to the kitchen with them, and I went...I wasn't going to at first, Dumbledore didn't want me to, but I begged to come along so he let me. Only...only n-now...I wish I hadn't...'

Her eyes filled with tears again and she broke down and sank against him.

'Hey, hey,' Ron whispered, pulling her close. 'It's okay, I'm here. Harry and Ginny are here...'

At that moment, Ginny and Harry appeared with tea and biscuits.

'Tea's ready,' Ginny announced. 'I made some of Mum's special stuff.'

'Mum's Special Stuff' was a sleeping tea. Ron mouthed a silent thanks to Ginny; Ginny and Harry sat down in chairs opposite Ron and Hermione.

'Hermione,' Ron whispered against her hair. 'It's okay. Go on.'

She sat back and wiped her eyes and cheeks, taking soot away as she did so. 'Dumbledore told my parents, Ron. He told them everything. All about what we've done in school, about Harry and Voldemort and...and everything.'

At this, Ron, Harry and Ginny all blanched.

'Dumbledore spilled everything?' said Harry, amazed.

'Well, not every little thing, but everything that related to us, yes,' said Hermione. 'He decided my parents had a right to know what we've been up to in school, see? My parents, they've always tried to ask me about it but I could never tell them, or at least, I didn't think I was supposed to. But after the attack Dumbledore thought they deserved the truth.'

'But I thought Muggles weren't to know about Voldemort,' said Ginny.

'Dumbledore told my parents they were a special case,' said Hermione, laughing bitterly. 'But...but I almost wish he hadn't told them. I wish he'd just given them a couple of bloody Memory Charms!'

'What? Why?' said Ron. 'Hermione, maybe it's better that your parents know; you're always telling me how hard it is that they don't understand--'

'Don't you see, Ron?' Hermione snapped. 'Now my parents know what sort of danger I get in all the time. They're furious. They're livid that I've been hanging around Harry because he's Voldemort's number one target, and they're furious that I hang around with you and Ginny and they're really, really angry about what happened this past term--'

'Dumbledore told them about THAT, too?' said Harry, shocked.

'I told you, Dumbledore told them everything about me!' Hermione said shrilly. 'And they're angry with Dumbledore for, as they put it, lying to them and putting me in danger. Dumbledore tried to explain to them that they're in danger, too, and...and that Hogwarts is the safest place for me to be...but...but my parents...they didn't believe him...and now...now they want to take me out of Hogwarts...and...and they don't want me using magic anymore!'

'What?' Ron shouted. 'They can't do that!'

'Ron,' said Ginny, giving him a pointed look, as if to say, You're supposed to be the calm one here.

'Sorry,' said Ron quickly.

'Hermione,' said Harry. 'I'm sure your parents are just...overreacting, because of the attack.'

'Maybe...Dumbledore or somebody else could do those Memory Charms on them,' Ginny suggested timidly.

'Believe me, I asked Dumbledore to do that,' said Hermione miserably. 'But he said that they were my parents, and because I'm not of age, they have a right to decide my future.'

'What?' said Ron, appalled. 'So...Dumbledore's just going to let them yank you out of school and make you give up being a witch?'

'For god's sake, Ron,' Ginny muttered, throwing up her hands. She rolled her eyes at her brother and poured a big mug of tea for Hermione.

'He said he wouldn't give up trying to convince them,' said Hermione sadly. 'He got them to agree to wait another twenty four hours before they made up their minds, and he told them...well, a lot of nice things about me, and he kept saying over and over again that Hogwarts was the safest place for me.'

Ron let out a breath. 'Okay,' he said, feeling a bit calmer. 'So, your parents will calm down and think about it, then. It doesn't mean they'll pull you out of school, Hermione.'

'I keep telling myself that,' she said tearfully. 'But...what if they do pull me out of Hogwarts, and make me give it up?'

'Hermione, you'll be seventeen in September,' said Harry. 'You'll be of age, and you can do whatever you want. You're the cleverest witch in the bloody country at this point. If they pull you out of school you'll miss three weeks of it--'

'--and you can just...put yourself right back in there and make us all look like academic dunces again,' said Ron.

'B-but...they're my parents,' said Hermione. 'How could I do that to them? Go against them like that?'

'Hermione,' said Ron slowly, 'your parents are in danger, remember? They got attacked last spring and almost got attacked this morning. You can't help them if you don't use your magic. And...you're way too good at it to give it up.'

'He's right, Hermione,' said Ginny, folding her arms across her chest. 'That's a rare thing, by the way, Ron being right. So you might as well listen to him.'

'Ha ha,' said Ron, but he smiled at Ginny all the same.

Hermione looked up at Ginny, then at Harry, and finally at Ron, and at last, she smiled weakly. She sniffed again and wiped her face once more.

'Drink some of that tea, Hermione,' said Ginny gently, 'before it gets cold.'

'No, thank you,' said Hermione. 'I appreciate it but your mother's special tea makes me groggy in the morning.'

'Busted,' said Ginny, shrugging. 'Well, it was a thought. You're sure you'll be okay, Hermione?'

'I'm better now, thanks,' she said. 'Really. And I'm sorry I scared everyone. I just...I had to get away, I had to see you...'

She looked at Ron then, and Ron swallowed; she was giving him one of her private looks, a look she had only for him.

'Hermione,' said Harry, 'you snuck out, didn't you?'

She nodded. 'It was the only way I could get here,' she said. 'Took me forever to get through the stupid fireplace here--'

'If your parents find you gone and they don't know where you are--' Ginny warned.

'I left them a note, and one for your mum,' said Hermione.

'You'll be in big trouble tomorrow,' said Ron.

'I don't care,' said Hermione. 'I wanted to be here. Whatever happens tomorrow...I'll deal with it tomorrow.'

'All right,' said Ginny. 'We'll help you deal with it.'

'We'll find a way to convince them, Hermione,' said Harry. 'Don't worry.'

She smiled again at them, tears in her eyes once more, and then she put her arms around Ron and sank against him. He held her close to him, his heart and his mind racing as his fingers stroked her hair. Suddenly there was only her, and he was happy and scared at the same time. What if her parents weren't convinced?

But no, if they weren't, Hermione would defy them. Or Ron would steal her away. He wouldn't lose her.

'I'll just put this stuff away,' Ginny said.

'I'll help you,' said Harry. Ron barely noticed them leave the living room.

'Ron,' Hermione murmured, into his neck; he could hardly believe that was her breath on his skin.

'What, love?' he murmured back, still stroking her hair, which was soft even with bits of soot in it.

'I really missed you,' she said, sitting back from him to look him in the face.

'I really missed you,' he said, brushing more tears from her face--she had cried so much that all the soot had washed away. Her eyes were red and puffy and her hair was...well, to call it a mess was an understatement. But she was still the prettiest sight Ron had ever seen.

He opened his mouth to tell her he loved her but he couldn't, because her lips sealed over his. For a brief moment he nearly pinched himself, just to convince himself that she was really here, and kissing him, parting his lips with hers and pressing her tongue--which tasted of chocolate and mint--against his own. But in the next instant all thought was lost and there was only sensation, and she was kissing him as if her life depended on it, and he was kissing her back, matching her intensity, thinking he probably just might die right there if they stopped kissing...

'Uh...Ron?'

The intruding voice snapped into Ron's brain like a slap in the face, and he felt Hermione tear her lips from his and push herself away from him.

'Sorry,' they both mumbled.

'Sorry,' said Harry and Ginny together. To a one they were all red and looking down at their feet. Ron bit his lip and thought of the most disgusting image he could, in the hopes of ridding himself of a problem in his pyjama pants.

Snape in Mrs. Longbottom's dress did the trick.

'Uh, maybe we should turn in,' said Ron. 'Hermione can sleep in Ginny's room, if that's okay, Ginny...'

'It's fine,' said Ginny.

'No,' said Harry at once. 'Uh...look...' He was very red and seemed to have trouble talking. 'You two...you two want to be alone,' he added, waving a hand at Ron and Hermione. 'So...why don't you take Ron's room and I'll just kip on the sofa or something?'

Ron bit his lip. Good lord, that was tempting. Hermione next to him, possibly naked...

Snape in a dress! he thought frantically.

But then Ron shook his head. No, he couldn't do that. He glanced at Hermione and knew she was thinking the same thing--it didn't seem right, the two of them being alone in his room while Harry slept on the couch like the proverbial third wheel.

'That's all right,' said Hermione. 'I'll stay with Ginny.'

'Yeah, it's fine,' said Ron.

'Bullshit,' said Harry, rolling his eyes. 'Good lord, it's obvious you two want to be alone.'

'Well, uh, yeah, but--'

'So, be alone,' said Harry. 'Look, I don't mind, okay? I know what you're trying to do, but I really don't mind. You haven't seen each other in three and a half weeks. You can't tell me you two aren't dying to attack each other.'

'Harry!' Hermione gasped.

'Harry, you prat,' Ron groaned.

Ginny sniggered behind her hand, and she and Harry exchanged looks.

'I'm right and you know it,' said Harry. 'Besides, this is probably the only chance you'll have to really be alone. You know how it gets in this house.'

'Harry does have a point,' said Ginny.

'Thank you,' said Harry. 'Look, I'm serious. I don't mind.'

Ron was about to protest, but Hermione spoke first.

'Are you sure?' she said timidly, still staring resolutely at her feet.

Ron nearly choked. He hadn't expected Hermione to agree. But of course, the fact that she did agree...

'I'm positive,' said Harry. 'The sofa's fine. And Ron's always talking in his sleep anyway, so I'll sleep better down here as it is.'

Ron looked at Hermione, then at Harry and Ginny.

'Uh...okay,' he mumbled.

'Good night, then,' said Harry, and he headed over to the sofa and sat down on it.

'I'll just...turn in, too,' said Ginny.

'Right,' said Hermione. 'Us, too.'

Before Ginny could make a move toward the stairs, Hermione grabbed Ron by the hand and pulled him along; he followed in a bit of a daze, mumbled 'g'night' to Harry and Ginny, and followed his girlfriend up to his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They entered his room, which glowed softly from the light of the moon that streamed in through the windows. Ron's heart was pounding. Hermione was in his room.

She'd been in his room before, of course, but never as his girlfriend. His eyes kept straying to the bed, then to her as she closed the door behind them. He realized she didn't have anything to wear to bed, and that excited the hell out of him.

Then he thought of Harry and Ginny, the fact that they knew SOMETHING was going on up here, and he hesitated.

'Ron,' Hermione said softly. 'Are you going to seal the door?'

'Right,' said Ron, blinking. He pointed his wand at the door and muttered a Sealing Charm and a Silencing Charm. Then he turned and faced his girlfriend, who was standing in the center of his room between his bed and Harry's cot. The moonlight was playing on her hair, making it shimmer. He finally noticed that she was wearing old jeans that clung to her in all the right places, and a t-shirt that didn't cling at all, and a denim jacket over that. Merlin, she was beautiful. But he couldn't seem to move.

'Ron,' she said softly. 'Aren't you...going to come over here?' She blushed and looked down as she removed her jacket and tossed it on his desk; then her hands were in front of her tummy, clutching one another.

He took a step toward her, then another, then thought of Harry and Ginny. Harry alone on the sofa, Ginny just one floor below...

'We don't have to,' Ron blurted. 'Uh, you know. If you don't want to.'

'Oh,' said Hermione, and she looked...hurt. 'Okay.'

Ron closed the distance between them, put his wand on his bedside table, and placed a hand on her arm.

'I mean,' he said quickly, 'it's just...a little weird, isn't it? With those two...'

'I wasn't thinking about Harry and Ginny,' said Hermione, sounding a bit annoyed.

'I wasn't either,' said Ron. 'I just...well...uh...you don't think it's...odd to...you know...shag--I mean, uh, make love when...'

'Who said anything about a shag?' said Hermione archly, folding her arms over her chest.

Ron gulped. Oops. That old saying about assuming something came back to him. Sort of.

'Nobody did,' he said hurriedly. 'I just...well...Christ, Hermione...' He threw up his hands, at a loss. Girls, he thought. They are so BLOODY confusing sometimes. Why can't they just tell you straight out what they're--

But Ron couldn't dwell on his frustration with women, because Hermione had lifted herself up on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his.

He hesitated, not sure what she was doing. Was this a Good Night Kiss, or a Snog Me Senseless Up To a Point Kiss, or a Kiss That Lead to Snogging That Lead to Shagging Kiss? Option One, Two or Three?

'Are you sure you don't want to?' Hermione whispered, and she brushed his lips again.

Obviously, this was Option Three. The very thought made all the blood rush from Ron's brain to, well, lower. Hermione didn't do this very often...seduce him like this...but when she did, it was enough to make him go half mad with lust.

'Actually...' he heard himself say, before he pulled her against him and kissed her hungrily. Good lord, he'd missed her. She tasted incredible, she felt incredible, how on earth had he gone for three and half weeks without touching her?

She backed up, pulling him with her, and they fell on his bed.

Merlin, they were snogging on his bed!

He felt her small hands go inside his shirt. One of them moaned--Ron didn't know who, nor did he care, as he helped her yank his t-shirt over his head and toss it aside. They were snogging relentlessly and it was only when Hermione broke away that he realized he needed to breathe.

'God...' he gasped. She looked up at him and her face was flushed and her eyes were dark.

'Do you want to?' she whispered, running a hand through his hair.

'Yeah,' said Ron fervently, nodding like a bobble-head doll. 'Definitely.'

So they did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Afterward, Hermione curled up lightly next to him. The both of them were a bit sweaty, and Ron had what he knew was the biggest, stupidest grin on his face.

'That was brilliant,' he said, pulling her close.

'It was rather nice,' she said, smiling against his shoulder.

'It doesn't still hurt, does it?' he asked.

'No,' said Hermione. 'No, not at all. It's lovely.'

She snuggled up to him even more; neither of them cared about being sweaty--they lay on top of the covers and it was cool in his room, thanks to the Cooling Charms Ron used. He let his fingers caress her damp hair and felt the familiar post-sex lassitude come over him. Then he felt her shift against him, and he sensed it at once: something was wrong.

''Mione?' he murmured.

She sniffed, and Ron felt tears on his shoulder.

'Hey,' he whispered, and he turned onto his side and tipped her face up to look at him. He knew why she was crying, or at least, he thought he did. He hated that she was so sad, and said the only thing he thought of that might cheer her up.

'Was I that bad?'

It had the desired effect; she laughed and swatted him on the arm weakly.

'No,' she said, smiling, but then more tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

'I'm not going to let them take you away,' Ron said, pulling her close and staring into her eyes. 'No way.'

'You promise?' she whispered.

'I promise,' he said, and he meant it. Bugger her parents. Hermione was a witch, the best damn witch he'd ever met, and she belonged in this world, and at Hogwarts. With him.

'I love you,' she whispered, caressing his cheek.

'I love you, too,' he said. He kissed her gently on the forehead, and pulled her close, gathering her up in his arms. Harry was right. This part, the cuddling, the closeness...it was better than sex. It was a gift.

'Don't let me fall asleep,' she murmured, her eyes already closing. 'Have to...go to Ginny's room...before your mum gets back.'

'I won't,' Ron murmured, as his own eyes drifted shut.