Fic: Wartime- Players Upon A Stage (Hermione, Hermione/Ron, Various, PG)
Title: Wartime: Players Upon A Stage
Author: quietliban
Rating: PG (language, adult themes)
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe is property of JK Rowling and her associated publishers etc. No copyright infringement is intended, no profit is being made.
Summary: There's more than one way to fight a war.
Author's Notes: Intended to be a prequel to Murder is Easy. I'd love it if you read that first, but it's not a necessity, it would just be nice.
Feedback is much appreciated.
Her mother is in tears, and her father looks so solemn. Hermione feels guilt pool in her stomach. It isn't fair and they don't understand, but she has to do this. Her father meets her eyes before looking down at her mother. Hermione can hear the words he's not saying.
Don't you see what you're doing to her-to us? We're your family.
Hermione never wanted to be a witch, but that isn't entirely true; she wanted something special to happen to her, she wanted to be different and stand out. She never in a million years expected it to be true. It was, though. Hermione remembers the first letter, and then the second one and it had to be true. Everything made sense after that.
Her bag is packed and sits waiting patiently by the doorway. Her wand is firm in her hand. She closes her eyes in an attempt to hold back the tears.
"Dad…" she trails off as her father shakes his head at her. He doesn't speak.
Just go.
The words are in his eyes and Hermione breathes in, carefully counting to three. "Good-bye," she says as internally calms herself down. She needs to focus. Her hand closes on the bag's handle. She picks it up. "I love you."
Hermione closes her eyes tightly as she Apparates out of her family home.
-
The Hogwarts library seems lonely. There are no students in residence and Professor McGonagall returns promptly at five in the evening to escort Hermione out everyday.
The books don't help. She doesn't know why she thought they would. She scoured them last year. She hoped that something would be revealed in the Restricted Section.
It's been fruitless, even with the full access granted.
-
Luna cuts her steak up in small pieces before eating it. Hermione doesn't understand her reasons behind it and decides that it's probably better not to ask all things considered.
Harry is eating like he'll never be fed again. Hermione sighs softly. There's a chance that it could be true. He smiles at them all in between mouthfuls.
"I wish you would let us come with you," Hermione tells him for the thousandth time that day. Harry smiles with his mouth full that time and shakes his head.
"Remus will be with him, dear," Mrs Weasley tells her. She passes the potatoes around for the fifth time. Hermione knows that she's raised seven children, but Mrs Weasley has cooked enough food for a small army. Hermione shakes her head again. They could be a small army-they are a small army.
"I'll be back soon," Harry replies. Hermione sighs again and meets Neville's eyes. He's been staring at Harry again. Neville looks down at his plate quickly, his cheeks blushing red.
"We believe you, mate," Ron tells him. He gives Harry's shoulder a squeeze. Hermione thinks it's more to reassure himself than to reassure Harry.
-
"You haven't found anything, have you?" Harry's voice frightens Hermione. She jumps in her chair before breathing in and out quickly.
"Christ, Harry, you scared me."
Harry grins roguishly at her. "McGonagall told me you were here."
Hermione closes the book in front of her. "She's been very kind…" Hermione taps her fingers against the hardback cover. She has an itch. "Where have you been?"
Harry sighs. "Here and there."
"You're not going to tell us, are you?" Hermione shakes her head. Harry looks thinner than the last time she saw him. He has bags under his eyes. Part of her wants to scold him for not letting them know that he was safe and part of her wants to get him a blanket and hot cup of tea.
"I went home," he says simply.
Hermione stares at him. "You have no home." She gasps when she realises what she's said. "I only meant-The Burrow's the closest thing and you haven't been there…"
"It's okay," Harry shrugs. "No really." He walks towards one of the library's windows and leans his forehead against it. "I was thinking," he says quietly. "Sirius' house; it has a library and the Blacks…" Harry shrugs.
Hermione gets out of her chair and stands behind him. "You haven't found anything either."
-
Luna stands in the middle of the Black family library. She looks like a ghost; long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders and pale skin glowing in the darkness. Hermione casts a Lumos and searches for a lantern. She knows there has to be one somewhere.
All the books around them are covered in dust.
-
Hermione is surprised when Ron kisses her in the Weasley's front yard. Not because she didn't know. She knew, or she guessed and she's wanted it-him. She kisses him back and she's not as nervous as she thought she would be. She has kissed boys before. She kissed Viktor but that was more of a surprise than this despite how she's feeling.
Ron pulls away and he's red and shy and Hermione stares at him. She's still a little bit shocked because finally.
"What was that?" she asks. She's breathless and shaking and now she's nervous because what if he doesn't want to do it again?
Ron looks away and then back at her. "Um," he looks at the ground. Hermione can feel her heart beating, thudding against the walls of her chest. "Hermione. I just thought…"
Hermione glances around the garden to make sure nobody else sees before reaching across and putting an end to it by kissing him again. They can talk about this later.
-
"I don't like it," Neville says out loud. Hermione agrees. She doesn't like it here either in this musty old library. "We should move them. It isn't safe for you to be here. Not with…" Neville looks around the library. There are any number of reasons.
"Kreacher," Ron says darkly.
"There could be Booklice," Luna says suddenly. Hermione sighs. Somehow she doesn't think that booklice are the same thing to her as they are to Luna. Neville glances at Luna and then at Hermione. He doesn't say anything.
"There's no way we could move these all." Hermione closes her eyes. "I don't like being here either, but it's the easiest way."
"I wouldn't like to meet a Booklouse," Luna says. "Nasty creatures. They have fangs."
Ron snorts.
"Right." Hermione nods before taking out a chair from the table in the centre of the room. "Let's get started." She opens the book before her.
-
Ginny walks around The Burrow with fury in her step. They haven't heard from Harry in almost a month. Remus reported back a week ago with no word of Harry. Hermione wishes she could be angry too, instead of worried.
"I think we should move the books back here," Neville tells her again. Hermione crosses her arms. He hasn't given up on this idea. Hermione is half pleased and half annoyed. "We don't know where Harry is, and considering whose house it was…."
"We can't do it," she tells him. It's not a question of manpower or time. They have all the time in the world or so it seems as the days stretch into long nights when no one sleeps. "They won't leave the house without the owner's permission, they're enchanted."
Neville swears and Hermione's shocked. That was unexpected. "Bloody Harry and his hero thing. I swear…" Neville shakes his head and laughs. It is a mocking laugh. "But then it could already be too late."
-
It is Mrs Weasley's yells of delight that alert Hermione to the fact that Harry is back. She walks into the kitchen and waits in the door way. Mrs Weasley is already fussing with food, cupboards and pans. She watches Neville hug Harry muttering half-hearted threats into Harry's ear. She pretends that she doesn't see whatever it is that's there. It is something more than the simple relief she feels. She pretends that she doesn't see it because Ginny's her friend and Ginny still loves Harry.
Harry lets go of Neville, his cheeks rosy and a giant smile on his face. "Hermione," he says and sweeps her into a hug too. Harry is so thin; she can wrap her arms around him and feel his bones under his clothes.
"Don't you ever do that again," Hermione tells him. She pretends that those aren't tears falling from her eyes.
-
Harry sinks into the chair opposite her. "Why haven't you brought the books back here?" he asks. Hermione sips her cup of tea and sighs.
"Ron and Neville told me that you said it wouldn't work," Harry shifts. "It's not safe in that house. Kreacher won't disobey a direct order, but the Fidelius Charm doesn't protect it anymore and Bellatrix Lestrange…"
Hermione puts her hand up. She knows this. It isn't safe there. "You're going away again," she tells him. "Don't say that you're not, Harry. I know you--"
"This isn't about me," Harry tells her, cutting her off. Hermione shakes her head.
"We need your permission to take the books out of the house. I'm not sure if it's a general charm or specific for each book. I don't know which books are useful and which books are complete bollocks. I don't know…" she shakes her head. She's not going to cry again. Her tears don't help anything.
-
Ron holds her against his chest. They're both sticky with sweat and Hermione stares at the bedroom ceiling. The mid-afternoon light is dull and she closes her eyes.
"Do you regret it?" Ron asks running a hand down her arm and picking up her hand. Hermione flicks open her eyes. She has heard the uncertainty in Ron's voice.
Ron's fingers are thick and rough against her own. Hermione smiles sadly, squeezing Ron's hand. "No," she replies, shifting to look down at him. "Do you?"
The kiss alone is answer enough.
-
Packing is not the most fulfilling of activities Hermione has ever taken part in. She knows that they would get it done much quicker if Ron and Luna were here helping as well. Hermione huffs as she levitates the most recent box packed and adds it to the others.
Ron is back at The Burrow practicing curses and hexes with Harry. Luna is- Hermione doesn't know where Luna is. She wandered off into the house sometime during the morning. Hermione sighs. Maybe the curtains ate her.
"We're almost done," Neville tells her with a smile and a pat on the back. Hermione wishes she could believe him.
-
"Are you going to tell her?" Hermione asks Harry. They're sitting outside on the Weasley's porch. Neville and Ron are practicing their dueling.
Harry shrugs. Once there might have been a smile on his face, but now- Hermione doesn't know how to describe the look on Harry's face. It can't be defeat because they haven't lost yet.
"She deserves-“
"Tell her what? Tell her what, Hermione? I don't fucking know what to do, okay?" Harry sounds frustrated and Hermione is shocked. He's snapped at her before, but it wasn't the same as this. "I don't fucking know."
"Ginny deserves to know that-that you and…." Hermione tries to conceal the shake in her voice. She doesn't quite manage it.
"I love her," and Harry sighs. "I love her, but it’s not the same. I feel so guilty. I gave her hope and she thinks that I’m just being noble or something and I was, but I’m not anymore and…God.” Harry runs his hands through his hair. “The way I feel about…” Harry shakes his head in his hands. “It could have been him. Did you know that?” He laughs, it’s a dry bitter sound. “But of course you did. You know everything. It could have been him and Christ…”
There is a pause before Harry speaks again. Hermione tries not to fidget with her hands. She feels uncomfortable. She only meant-
“Neville understands like she doesn’t. What we do….what’s between us.” Harry sighs. “To Ginny I’m still the hero and….” Tears run down Harry’s cheek.
Hermione breathes in heavily before putting an arm around Harry’s shoulders, bringing him closer to her. She stares at where Ron and Neville fling curses at each other. Shields spring up every other second and a lump forms in her belly. She swallows. They’ve all got a part to play.
-
It is the third day of packing and Hermione doesn’t expect Harry to turn up in the library. As far as they’re all concerned, he has disappeared again, this time without a good-bye. Hermione is still angry when she turns around at the Apparition crack and sees him.
"I got Luna's owl," he tells her to explain. Hermione's wand is high in the air. She looks at him narrowly. She doesn't follow. She didn't know that Luna sent an owl and she doesn't know why Luna sending an owl would mean Harry showing up.
Luna decides to appear then and Hermione stares at her. Luna is smiling brightly and there's excitement in her large blue eyes. "You'll want to see it," Luna tells Harry. Hermione grips her wand tightly. She wants to see it too, whatever 'it' may be.
They follow Luna into the main part of the house and into the drawing room. The Black Family tree glints on its wall. Luna crosses the room to stand directly in front of it. Her fingers trail over the tapestry almost lovingly. "It's hard to find," she tells them. Hermione crosses her arms and sighs heavily. She doesn't get the point of this. Why is this so important?
"There," Luna says triumphantly. Her fingers are on a piece of thread next to one of the scorch marks.
Harry steps towards Luna and leans over her shoulder. "Regulus Black?"
Luna nods and steps towards a big book Hermione didn't notice before. "Regulus Arcturus Black. R-A-B." Luna smiles showing Harry a page.
Hermione bits her bottom lip and sighs, because really.
-
"But wasn't he a Death Eater?" Ron asks. He looks at Harry and Luna doubtfully.
Hermione sighs and nods. "Yes, he was, but he was also murdered…" she trails off. It makes sense, but it doesn't, and if Harry's right about the locket he saw Mundungus Fletcher with…well, they're still screwed. "Do you think he destroyed it? Do you that Regulus Black actually destroyed it or just moved it to a different location?"
Harry shakes his head. He has seemed brighter since Luna's discovery, but Hermione can see something isn't quite right. "I don't know. It's the best lead we have at the moment."
Hermione rests her chin in her hand thinking.
-
Ron's hand runs down her spine to the small of her back. Hermione tries to hide her shivers. His fingers trace patterns over the bare skin the peeks out where her shirt meets her jeans.
"Stop it," she hisses at him. They're in the living room. The books from the Black family library are splayed over the coffee table and the floor.
She feels him smile against her ear, before he kisses her softly just below it. "Ron."
He pulls her against him and Hermione struggles to push him away. "Not here." She glances at the kitchen.
Ron lets go of her. "Why do you do that?" he asks.
Hermione looks up at him. She shakes her head at the disappointment written on his face. She swallows, suddenly nervous. "I just…" she falters. Ron looks away. Hermione reaches across and grabs his chin. She turns it towards her before kissing him.
-
Luna tips the hour glass up-side down. Hermione doesn't know where she got it from. Luna has been playing with it for the last hour, tipping the glass over and over, not always waiting for all the sand to flow from one end to the other.
"I wonder what it would be like to use a time-turner," Luna muses out loud. Her large blue orbs stare directly at Hermione. Hermione shrugs while her cheeks flame up.
"Time-fractures can be very dangerous," Luna adds, "but then it's a loop, isn't it?"
Hermione's nod is non-committal. She still hasn't forgiven Luna for figuring out who R.A.B was.
-
"Why are you hiding it?" Harry asks her one night. Hermione is surprised by the question. She looks at him and looks away quickly. His cheeks are gaunt and he looks so tired. Hermione shrugs into her pyjama shirt before wrapping her towel around her head and her wet hair.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she says. Harry slouches into the doorframe of the bedroom she shares with Ginny with his arm crossed.
He rolls his eyes. "I saw you."
Hermione meets his gaze and shrugs her shoulders tipping her head to the side as if to say 'so?' She doesn't know why she doesn't want anyone to know and she guesses that they all know anyway. She and Ron don't fight so much now. They do other things, but they don't fight.
"He'd tell me if I asked."
Hermione takes the towel off her head. Her hair falls down around her shoulders in wet lanky ringlets. "Would you tell him where you've been if he asked?" She throws back while grabbing a brush off her dresser. She winces as she drags it through the knots of her hair.
"Hermione," Harry begins, taking a step into the room. His arms fall to his slides.
"Harry?" Ginny's voice cuts him off from behind. She looks concerned and pained.
Harry turns. "Ginny," he says, his voice curt. Hurt flashes across Ginny's face.
Hermione glares at Harry's back. Sometimes Harry is such a hypocrite.
-
Neville and Luna murmur to each other on the other side of the room. Hermione carefully counts to three. She wants quiet. She needs quiet. She's sure she can figure this out, if she only has quiet.
Neville looks up every now and then and smiles at her. Hermione breathes out heavily.
-
Ron hasn't stopped glaring at Neville. Hermione puts a hand on his arm, because she hadn't thought of this. She had seen it, but she hadn't thought that Ron would see it.
Neville is listening intently to Ginny talk about hexes. He's leaning back casually and nodding every now and then.
Ginny sounds excited. "It went right through the shield, isn't that right Ron?"
Ron grunts and crosses his arms. Neville meets his eyes.
Ginny throws a hand at him. "Oh, you're just angry because you actually had to move."
Hermione looks at Ron sharply. Ron looks at her and then shakes his head. "What's bothering you?" she asks.
Ron shakes his head. "You wouldn't understand," he almost growls before scraping his chair along the floor and exiting the kitchen.
-
"What are you saying, Luna?" Hermione asks. Her headache is building up in the back of her head. She tells herself that it's just dehydration.
"A time-turner," Luna repeats. "If only we had a time turner."
Hermione looks at her. "And that would help how?"
"We could ask him." Luna smiles and it's such a bright smile. "And then we would know."
Hermione sighs and rubs her neck, she can feel the pressure, just there. “Who?” she asks tiredly.
"R-A-B," Luna replies with a nod and a smile. Neville looks between them and then takes a sip of his tea. Hermione sees the pride on his face and she has to wonder.
"It's a good idea, Hermione," Neville tells her.
Hermione tugs at her hair and looks at both of them. "What exactly are you proposing?"
-
"I can believe that he would do that!" Ron is fuming now, pacing up and down the bedroom. Hermione rolls over onto her stomach. There was an owl, finally, and Harry is safe but dismissive.
"Not my business!" Ron almost roars, and Hermione nearly covers her ears. "She's my sister. My sister!"
"You wrote to him," Hermione accuses. "You wrote to him about Neville."
Ron faces her, he's red and furious and Hermione tells herself not to be afraid. "You knew," he accuses her back and he shakes his head like he can't believe what he's hearing.
Hermione holds her wrists. She nods. "I figured it out."
"I--" Ron curls his hands into fists and Hermione can tell he feels divided. Ginny is his sister, Harry is his best mate. It should be obvious who gets his support but he can't do it. "Does Ginny know?"
Hermione gets off the bed. She stands behind Ron with a hand on his shoulder. She shakes her head. "No, not really. He hasn't told her."
Ron swears.
-
Harry is back and Ron doesn't meet his eyes. Neville shifts uncomfortably, and Hermione wants to scream. Luna smiles serenely and Ginny remains oblivious.
"When can we get the time-turner?" Harry asks and Hermione can't believe that he's agreeing with Luna's far-fetched plan.
"McGonagall isn't going to just let us have it," Hermione tells him. Somebody has to be the voice of reason. The situation is insane.
"We're not exactly asking, are we?" Ron tells her bitterly. Hermione frowns at him. She can't believe this is happening.
"You don't even know which one to take!"
-
Harry storms outside and the door slams behind him, Hermione watches him go. She doesn't expect Luna to come down the stairs after him.
"I told Ginny," Luna explains. Hermione stares at her and blinks.
"You told her what?" Hermione asks.
"That Harry and Neville are comforting each other." Luna sits down on the sofa tucking her skirts underneath her knees.
Hermione looks to the door that Harry slammed.
"He didn't want me to," Luna says commanding Hermione's attention again.
"Oh, Luna." Hermione doesn't know what else to say.
-
"You're not going," Harry tells Neville. Hermione sighs; she knew that Harry would object to Neville going. She expects Harry to object to anyone but himself going.
“Who else then?” Neville asks leaving away from him with his arms crossed.
“I’ll go,” Harry says. “This is my responsibility. I should go.”
Hermione looks away. She wishes she couldn’t believe what she’s hearing, but she can and she doesn’t know how Harry can be so obstinate.
Neville snorts. “Bollocks, as if You-Know-Who is just your responsibility.”
“Voldemort” Harry grinds out, correcting him. “Say it.”
Neville stares at him.
“We need you here, Harry,” Hermione tells him, standing behind Neville. “You’re too important.”
“I’m going, Harry. This plan was my idea and I’m the most expendable. Let’s face it.”
“That’s not true!” The look of horror on Harry’s face could almost be called comic. Hermione breathes in deeply.
“We’ve already talked about this. Neville wants to go. He wants to see this through and you’re too important, here and now. We can’t afford to lose you.”
-
Hermione steps back from her hug and watches as Ron claps Neville on the shoulder. They all stand in the Black family library, Neville with the large time-turner around his neck. "Good Luck."
Neville smiles nervously. "Thanks."
Harry stands sulkily in the corner with his arms crossed and Neville glances at him. Hermione sighs.
"You might as well say goodbye, Harry," Ginny tells him with a pointed look and Harry looks to the floor. Ginny rolls her eyes at him. “Idiot.”
Neville shrugs at Ginny, who smiles in return. “You won’t even miss me,” he tells them all, taking the time-turner in his hands.
-
Sequel: Murder is Easy
Author: quietliban
Rating: PG (language, adult themes)
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe is property of JK Rowling and her associated publishers etc. No copyright infringement is intended, no profit is being made.
Summary: There's more than one way to fight a war.
Author's Notes: Intended to be a prequel to Murder is Easy. I'd love it if you read that first, but it's not a necessity, it would just be nice.
Feedback is much appreciated.
Her mother is in tears, and her father looks so solemn. Hermione feels guilt pool in her stomach. It isn't fair and they don't understand, but she has to do this. Her father meets her eyes before looking down at her mother. Hermione can hear the words he's not saying.
Don't you see what you're doing to her-to us? We're your family.
Hermione never wanted to be a witch, but that isn't entirely true; she wanted something special to happen to her, she wanted to be different and stand out. She never in a million years expected it to be true. It was, though. Hermione remembers the first letter, and then the second one and it had to be true. Everything made sense after that.
Her bag is packed and sits waiting patiently by the doorway. Her wand is firm in her hand. She closes her eyes in an attempt to hold back the tears.
"Dad…" she trails off as her father shakes his head at her. He doesn't speak.
Just go.
The words are in his eyes and Hermione breathes in, carefully counting to three. "Good-bye," she says as internally calms herself down. She needs to focus. Her hand closes on the bag's handle. She picks it up. "I love you."
Hermione closes her eyes tightly as she Apparates out of her family home.
-
The Hogwarts library seems lonely. There are no students in residence and Professor McGonagall returns promptly at five in the evening to escort Hermione out everyday.
The books don't help. She doesn't know why she thought they would. She scoured them last year. She hoped that something would be revealed in the Restricted Section.
It's been fruitless, even with the full access granted.
-
Luna cuts her steak up in small pieces before eating it. Hermione doesn't understand her reasons behind it and decides that it's probably better not to ask all things considered.
Harry is eating like he'll never be fed again. Hermione sighs softly. There's a chance that it could be true. He smiles at them all in between mouthfuls.
"I wish you would let us come with you," Hermione tells him for the thousandth time that day. Harry smiles with his mouth full that time and shakes his head.
"Remus will be with him, dear," Mrs Weasley tells her. She passes the potatoes around for the fifth time. Hermione knows that she's raised seven children, but Mrs Weasley has cooked enough food for a small army. Hermione shakes her head again. They could be a small army-they are a small army.
"I'll be back soon," Harry replies. Hermione sighs again and meets Neville's eyes. He's been staring at Harry again. Neville looks down at his plate quickly, his cheeks blushing red.
"We believe you, mate," Ron tells him. He gives Harry's shoulder a squeeze. Hermione thinks it's more to reassure himself than to reassure Harry.
-
"You haven't found anything, have you?" Harry's voice frightens Hermione. She jumps in her chair before breathing in and out quickly.
"Christ, Harry, you scared me."
Harry grins roguishly at her. "McGonagall told me you were here."
Hermione closes the book in front of her. "She's been very kind…" Hermione taps her fingers against the hardback cover. She has an itch. "Where have you been?"
Harry sighs. "Here and there."
"You're not going to tell us, are you?" Hermione shakes her head. Harry looks thinner than the last time she saw him. He has bags under his eyes. Part of her wants to scold him for not letting them know that he was safe and part of her wants to get him a blanket and hot cup of tea.
"I went home," he says simply.
Hermione stares at him. "You have no home." She gasps when she realises what she's said. "I only meant-The Burrow's the closest thing and you haven't been there…"
"It's okay," Harry shrugs. "No really." He walks towards one of the library's windows and leans his forehead against it. "I was thinking," he says quietly. "Sirius' house; it has a library and the Blacks…" Harry shrugs.
Hermione gets out of her chair and stands behind him. "You haven't found anything either."
-
Luna stands in the middle of the Black family library. She looks like a ghost; long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders and pale skin glowing in the darkness. Hermione casts a Lumos and searches for a lantern. She knows there has to be one somewhere.
All the books around them are covered in dust.
-
Hermione is surprised when Ron kisses her in the Weasley's front yard. Not because she didn't know. She knew, or she guessed and she's wanted it-him. She kisses him back and she's not as nervous as she thought she would be. She has kissed boys before. She kissed Viktor but that was more of a surprise than this despite how she's feeling.
Ron pulls away and he's red and shy and Hermione stares at him. She's still a little bit shocked because finally.
"What was that?" she asks. She's breathless and shaking and now she's nervous because what if he doesn't want to do it again?
Ron looks away and then back at her. "Um," he looks at the ground. Hermione can feel her heart beating, thudding against the walls of her chest. "Hermione. I just thought…"
Hermione glances around the garden to make sure nobody else sees before reaching across and putting an end to it by kissing him again. They can talk about this later.
-
"I don't like it," Neville says out loud. Hermione agrees. She doesn't like it here either in this musty old library. "We should move them. It isn't safe for you to be here. Not with…" Neville looks around the library. There are any number of reasons.
"Kreacher," Ron says darkly.
"There could be Booklice," Luna says suddenly. Hermione sighs. Somehow she doesn't think that booklice are the same thing to her as they are to Luna. Neville glances at Luna and then at Hermione. He doesn't say anything.
"There's no way we could move these all." Hermione closes her eyes. "I don't like being here either, but it's the easiest way."
"I wouldn't like to meet a Booklouse," Luna says. "Nasty creatures. They have fangs."
Ron snorts.
"Right." Hermione nods before taking out a chair from the table in the centre of the room. "Let's get started." She opens the book before her.
-
Ginny walks around The Burrow with fury in her step. They haven't heard from Harry in almost a month. Remus reported back a week ago with no word of Harry. Hermione wishes she could be angry too, instead of worried.
"I think we should move the books back here," Neville tells her again. Hermione crosses her arms. He hasn't given up on this idea. Hermione is half pleased and half annoyed. "We don't know where Harry is, and considering whose house it was…."
"We can't do it," she tells him. It's not a question of manpower or time. They have all the time in the world or so it seems as the days stretch into long nights when no one sleeps. "They won't leave the house without the owner's permission, they're enchanted."
Neville swears and Hermione's shocked. That was unexpected. "Bloody Harry and his hero thing. I swear…" Neville shakes his head and laughs. It is a mocking laugh. "But then it could already be too late."
-
It is Mrs Weasley's yells of delight that alert Hermione to the fact that Harry is back. She walks into the kitchen and waits in the door way. Mrs Weasley is already fussing with food, cupboards and pans. She watches Neville hug Harry muttering half-hearted threats into Harry's ear. She pretends that she doesn't see whatever it is that's there. It is something more than the simple relief she feels. She pretends that she doesn't see it because Ginny's her friend and Ginny still loves Harry.
Harry lets go of Neville, his cheeks rosy and a giant smile on his face. "Hermione," he says and sweeps her into a hug too. Harry is so thin; she can wrap her arms around him and feel his bones under his clothes.
"Don't you ever do that again," Hermione tells him. She pretends that those aren't tears falling from her eyes.
-
Harry sinks into the chair opposite her. "Why haven't you brought the books back here?" he asks. Hermione sips her cup of tea and sighs.
"Ron and Neville told me that you said it wouldn't work," Harry shifts. "It's not safe in that house. Kreacher won't disobey a direct order, but the Fidelius Charm doesn't protect it anymore and Bellatrix Lestrange…"
Hermione puts her hand up. She knows this. It isn't safe there. "You're going away again," she tells him. "Don't say that you're not, Harry. I know you--"
"This isn't about me," Harry tells her, cutting her off. Hermione shakes her head.
"We need your permission to take the books out of the house. I'm not sure if it's a general charm or specific for each book. I don't know which books are useful and which books are complete bollocks. I don't know…" she shakes her head. She's not going to cry again. Her tears don't help anything.
-
Ron holds her against his chest. They're both sticky with sweat and Hermione stares at the bedroom ceiling. The mid-afternoon light is dull and she closes her eyes.
"Do you regret it?" Ron asks running a hand down her arm and picking up her hand. Hermione flicks open her eyes. She has heard the uncertainty in Ron's voice.
Ron's fingers are thick and rough against her own. Hermione smiles sadly, squeezing Ron's hand. "No," she replies, shifting to look down at him. "Do you?"
The kiss alone is answer enough.
-
Packing is not the most fulfilling of activities Hermione has ever taken part in. She knows that they would get it done much quicker if Ron and Luna were here helping as well. Hermione huffs as she levitates the most recent box packed and adds it to the others.
Ron is back at The Burrow practicing curses and hexes with Harry. Luna is- Hermione doesn't know where Luna is. She wandered off into the house sometime during the morning. Hermione sighs. Maybe the curtains ate her.
"We're almost done," Neville tells her with a smile and a pat on the back. Hermione wishes she could believe him.
-
"Are you going to tell her?" Hermione asks Harry. They're sitting outside on the Weasley's porch. Neville and Ron are practicing their dueling.
Harry shrugs. Once there might have been a smile on his face, but now- Hermione doesn't know how to describe the look on Harry's face. It can't be defeat because they haven't lost yet.
"She deserves-“
"Tell her what? Tell her what, Hermione? I don't fucking know what to do, okay?" Harry sounds frustrated and Hermione is shocked. He's snapped at her before, but it wasn't the same as this. "I don't fucking know."
"Ginny deserves to know that-that you and…." Hermione tries to conceal the shake in her voice. She doesn't quite manage it.
"I love her," and Harry sighs. "I love her, but it’s not the same. I feel so guilty. I gave her hope and she thinks that I’m just being noble or something and I was, but I’m not anymore and…God.” Harry runs his hands through his hair. “The way I feel about…” Harry shakes his head in his hands. “It could have been him. Did you know that?” He laughs, it’s a dry bitter sound. “But of course you did. You know everything. It could have been him and Christ…”
There is a pause before Harry speaks again. Hermione tries not to fidget with her hands. She feels uncomfortable. She only meant-
“Neville understands like she doesn’t. What we do….what’s between us.” Harry sighs. “To Ginny I’m still the hero and….” Tears run down Harry’s cheek.
Hermione breathes in heavily before putting an arm around Harry’s shoulders, bringing him closer to her. She stares at where Ron and Neville fling curses at each other. Shields spring up every other second and a lump forms in her belly. She swallows. They’ve all got a part to play.
-
It is the third day of packing and Hermione doesn’t expect Harry to turn up in the library. As far as they’re all concerned, he has disappeared again, this time without a good-bye. Hermione is still angry when she turns around at the Apparition crack and sees him.
"I got Luna's owl," he tells her to explain. Hermione's wand is high in the air. She looks at him narrowly. She doesn't follow. She didn't know that Luna sent an owl and she doesn't know why Luna sending an owl would mean Harry showing up.
Luna decides to appear then and Hermione stares at her. Luna is smiling brightly and there's excitement in her large blue eyes. "You'll want to see it," Luna tells Harry. Hermione grips her wand tightly. She wants to see it too, whatever 'it' may be.
They follow Luna into the main part of the house and into the drawing room. The Black Family tree glints on its wall. Luna crosses the room to stand directly in front of it. Her fingers trail over the tapestry almost lovingly. "It's hard to find," she tells them. Hermione crosses her arms and sighs heavily. She doesn't get the point of this. Why is this so important?
"There," Luna says triumphantly. Her fingers are on a piece of thread next to one of the scorch marks.
Harry steps towards Luna and leans over her shoulder. "Regulus Black?"
Luna nods and steps towards a big book Hermione didn't notice before. "Regulus Arcturus Black. R-A-B." Luna smiles showing Harry a page.
Hermione bits her bottom lip and sighs, because really.
-
"But wasn't he a Death Eater?" Ron asks. He looks at Harry and Luna doubtfully.
Hermione sighs and nods. "Yes, he was, but he was also murdered…" she trails off. It makes sense, but it doesn't, and if Harry's right about the locket he saw Mundungus Fletcher with…well, they're still screwed. "Do you think he destroyed it? Do you that Regulus Black actually destroyed it or just moved it to a different location?"
Harry shakes his head. He has seemed brighter since Luna's discovery, but Hermione can see something isn't quite right. "I don't know. It's the best lead we have at the moment."
Hermione rests her chin in her hand thinking.
-
Ron's hand runs down her spine to the small of her back. Hermione tries to hide her shivers. His fingers trace patterns over the bare skin the peeks out where her shirt meets her jeans.
"Stop it," she hisses at him. They're in the living room. The books from the Black family library are splayed over the coffee table and the floor.
She feels him smile against her ear, before he kisses her softly just below it. "Ron."
He pulls her against him and Hermione struggles to push him away. "Not here." She glances at the kitchen.
Ron lets go of her. "Why do you do that?" he asks.
Hermione looks up at him. She shakes her head at the disappointment written on his face. She swallows, suddenly nervous. "I just…" she falters. Ron looks away. Hermione reaches across and grabs his chin. She turns it towards her before kissing him.
-
Luna tips the hour glass up-side down. Hermione doesn't know where she got it from. Luna has been playing with it for the last hour, tipping the glass over and over, not always waiting for all the sand to flow from one end to the other.
"I wonder what it would be like to use a time-turner," Luna muses out loud. Her large blue orbs stare directly at Hermione. Hermione shrugs while her cheeks flame up.
"Time-fractures can be very dangerous," Luna adds, "but then it's a loop, isn't it?"
Hermione's nod is non-committal. She still hasn't forgiven Luna for figuring out who R.A.B was.
-
"Why are you hiding it?" Harry asks her one night. Hermione is surprised by the question. She looks at him and looks away quickly. His cheeks are gaunt and he looks so tired. Hermione shrugs into her pyjama shirt before wrapping her towel around her head and her wet hair.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she says. Harry slouches into the doorframe of the bedroom she shares with Ginny with his arm crossed.
He rolls his eyes. "I saw you."
Hermione meets his gaze and shrugs her shoulders tipping her head to the side as if to say 'so?' She doesn't know why she doesn't want anyone to know and she guesses that they all know anyway. She and Ron don't fight so much now. They do other things, but they don't fight.
"He'd tell me if I asked."
Hermione takes the towel off her head. Her hair falls down around her shoulders in wet lanky ringlets. "Would you tell him where you've been if he asked?" She throws back while grabbing a brush off her dresser. She winces as she drags it through the knots of her hair.
"Hermione," Harry begins, taking a step into the room. His arms fall to his slides.
"Harry?" Ginny's voice cuts him off from behind. She looks concerned and pained.
Harry turns. "Ginny," he says, his voice curt. Hurt flashes across Ginny's face.
Hermione glares at Harry's back. Sometimes Harry is such a hypocrite.
-
Neville and Luna murmur to each other on the other side of the room. Hermione carefully counts to three. She wants quiet. She needs quiet. She's sure she can figure this out, if she only has quiet.
Neville looks up every now and then and smiles at her. Hermione breathes out heavily.
-
Ron hasn't stopped glaring at Neville. Hermione puts a hand on his arm, because she hadn't thought of this. She had seen it, but she hadn't thought that Ron would see it.
Neville is listening intently to Ginny talk about hexes. He's leaning back casually and nodding every now and then.
Ginny sounds excited. "It went right through the shield, isn't that right Ron?"
Ron grunts and crosses his arms. Neville meets his eyes.
Ginny throws a hand at him. "Oh, you're just angry because you actually had to move."
Hermione looks at Ron sharply. Ron looks at her and then shakes his head. "What's bothering you?" she asks.
Ron shakes his head. "You wouldn't understand," he almost growls before scraping his chair along the floor and exiting the kitchen.
-
"What are you saying, Luna?" Hermione asks. Her headache is building up in the back of her head. She tells herself that it's just dehydration.
"A time-turner," Luna repeats. "If only we had a time turner."
Hermione looks at her. "And that would help how?"
"We could ask him." Luna smiles and it's such a bright smile. "And then we would know."
Hermione sighs and rubs her neck, she can feel the pressure, just there. “Who?” she asks tiredly.
"R-A-B," Luna replies with a nod and a smile. Neville looks between them and then takes a sip of his tea. Hermione sees the pride on his face and she has to wonder.
"It's a good idea, Hermione," Neville tells her.
Hermione tugs at her hair and looks at both of them. "What exactly are you proposing?"
-
"I can believe that he would do that!" Ron is fuming now, pacing up and down the bedroom. Hermione rolls over onto her stomach. There was an owl, finally, and Harry is safe but dismissive.
"Not my business!" Ron almost roars, and Hermione nearly covers her ears. "She's my sister. My sister!"
"You wrote to him," Hermione accuses. "You wrote to him about Neville."
Ron faces her, he's red and furious and Hermione tells herself not to be afraid. "You knew," he accuses her back and he shakes his head like he can't believe what he's hearing.
Hermione holds her wrists. She nods. "I figured it out."
"I--" Ron curls his hands into fists and Hermione can tell he feels divided. Ginny is his sister, Harry is his best mate. It should be obvious who gets his support but he can't do it. "Does Ginny know?"
Hermione gets off the bed. She stands behind Ron with a hand on his shoulder. She shakes her head. "No, not really. He hasn't told her."
Ron swears.
-
Harry is back and Ron doesn't meet his eyes. Neville shifts uncomfortably, and Hermione wants to scream. Luna smiles serenely and Ginny remains oblivious.
"When can we get the time-turner?" Harry asks and Hermione can't believe that he's agreeing with Luna's far-fetched plan.
"McGonagall isn't going to just let us have it," Hermione tells him. Somebody has to be the voice of reason. The situation is insane.
"We're not exactly asking, are we?" Ron tells her bitterly. Hermione frowns at him. She can't believe this is happening.
"You don't even know which one to take!"
-
Harry storms outside and the door slams behind him, Hermione watches him go. She doesn't expect Luna to come down the stairs after him.
"I told Ginny," Luna explains. Hermione stares at her and blinks.
"You told her what?" Hermione asks.
"That Harry and Neville are comforting each other." Luna sits down on the sofa tucking her skirts underneath her knees.
Hermione looks to the door that Harry slammed.
"He didn't want me to," Luna says commanding Hermione's attention again.
"Oh, Luna." Hermione doesn't know what else to say.
-
"You're not going," Harry tells Neville. Hermione sighs; she knew that Harry would object to Neville going. She expects Harry to object to anyone but himself going.
“Who else then?” Neville asks leaving away from him with his arms crossed.
“I’ll go,” Harry says. “This is my responsibility. I should go.”
Hermione looks away. She wishes she couldn’t believe what she’s hearing, but she can and she doesn’t know how Harry can be so obstinate.
Neville snorts. “Bollocks, as if You-Know-Who is just your responsibility.”
“Voldemort” Harry grinds out, correcting him. “Say it.”
Neville stares at him.
“We need you here, Harry,” Hermione tells him, standing behind Neville. “You’re too important.”
“I’m going, Harry. This plan was my idea and I’m the most expendable. Let’s face it.”
“That’s not true!” The look of horror on Harry’s face could almost be called comic. Hermione breathes in deeply.
“We’ve already talked about this. Neville wants to go. He wants to see this through and you’re too important, here and now. We can’t afford to lose you.”
-
Hermione steps back from her hug and watches as Ron claps Neville on the shoulder. They all stand in the Black family library, Neville with the large time-turner around his neck. "Good Luck."
Neville smiles nervously. "Thanks."
Harry stands sulkily in the corner with his arms crossed and Neville glances at him. Hermione sighs.
"You might as well say goodbye, Harry," Ginny tells him with a pointed look and Harry looks to the floor. Ginny rolls her eyes at him. “Idiot.”
Neville shrugs at Ginny, who smiles in return. “You won’t even miss me,” he tells them all, taking the time-turner in his hands.
-
Sequel: Murder is Easy