Chapter Seven – Ginny and Luna
With a pop the group appeared in front of an odd looking house. It looked a lot like a massive chess piece, but with a large steeple window on the front of the house. What was immediately apparent was that someone had just attacked the house. There was a large hole in the side of the building with smoke billowing out from the side. The entrance door was hanging on its hinges and the body of an oddly dressed man was lying in the mud near the steps.
"Xeno!" Arthur cried out, letting go of Harry and rushing up the prone body. He quickly checked Xenophilius over and shouted. "He's alive, we need healers here quick. Can someone go and check for the girls."
"I'll go" Harry shouted as Molly apparated away to get some healers from St Mungos. Harry cautiously entered the house, followed by Hermione.
"Mione this could be dangerous" he warned.
"What are they going to do to me, kill me?"
"Don't get smart, we can still die with one well placed killing curse."
"Yes I know but if you die, I die so quit your complaining, now come on let's find the girls." And she pushed past him, wand out. Muttering to himself about headstrong women, Harry followed. The house was dark so they used their wandless magic to create light balls on their hands to provide some light. Downstairs was a mess, there was debris everywhere, evidence of a large struggle. There was no sign however of Luna or Ginny. They moved upstairs, first to Xenophilius's bedroom which was empty and then to Luna's. In Luna's they found Ginny badly wounded from a cutting curse and unconscious.
"UP HEAR, WE NEED A HEALER!" Harry shouted, and soon they were joined by Madam Pomfrey who explained she was visiting St Mungo's when Molly arrived so came back with her. She rushed over to the fallen girl and started casting spells on her, healing the cuts. With Harry's help they levitated her to the bed and Madam Pomfrey grabbed a potion from her bag and forced it down the girl's throat using magic to allow her to swallow it. All the while Harry sat with Ginny looking anxious. His feelings for the petite red-head confused. He had loved this girl, and still did but not in the same way. She was more like a sister than an ex lover. They became aware of Mr and Mrs Weasley stood at the doorway, looking very anxious.
"She will be fine Molly, I've healed the wounds and given her a blood replenishing potion. She has had the Cruciatus curse used on her several time so she will need to be sedated for a while, but she will recover."
"How's Luna's dad?" Hermione asked
"He will be okay as well, he had the Cruciatus curse used but other than that he is okay. He told us that Deatheaters attacked and took Luna with them to stop him printing anything in the Quibbler that might help the resistance. He thought that they'd killed Ginny as a warning. She would of died as well if you hadn't of got here when you did, it was a close thing." The nurse replied.
"Damm, they got Luna! Shit! Does he know where they took her?" Harry swore.
"Not for certain, but he thought he heard one of them say that they were taking her to 'Dickless's' place, whatever that means." The healer replied.
"Malfoy's!" Hermione whispered.
"I'm not sure I want to know how you know that Miss Grainger"
"It's Mrs Potter now Madam Pomfrey, and no you're better off not knowing" she replied with a sudden grin.
The nurse contemplated the two youngsters sat with her before grinning. "Merlin, it's good to see you two, I just wish the circumstances could be better."
Both Harry and Hermione smiled at the healer warmly.
"What are we going to do now Harry? We cannot let the Weasleys go back home now that Ron know where they are, he will kill them, and we cannot leave Luna's dad here."
"What about taking them all to Potter cottage, it's safe and big enough?"
"Great idea Harry. Madam Pomfrey? How long before we can move Ginny?"
"Well we can move her now if you want; I think getting her somewhere safe is more important."
Harry stood and looked at the two grieving Weasleys at the door.
"Mr and Mrs Weasley, I cannot tell you how sorry I am about Percy, I only wish we had got to you sooner and we may have prevented his death."
"Harry, please do not blame yourself, you did not kill Percy or Ron, it was the creature that killed them both" Mr Weasley replied with tears in his eyes. Madam Pomfrey's eyebrows had risen at the conversation and Harry could hear Hermione filling the healer in with some of the details. They had both decided not to tell anyone else about their immortality at this stage, but the healer deserved to know some of the details.
"Thank you Sir, I think it would be a good idea if you were all to come with us to my house, I just found out that I own a cottage and its very well protected. Only my wife and I can currently see it but we can take you there you can stay there whilst Hermione and I look for Luna. Despite everything we still have to complete our tasks to destroy Voldemort before we can look for Ron."
Everyone except for Hermione flinched at Harry's use of Voldemort's name, but Mr Weasley nodded at Harry. "Thank you Harry for the offer, I guess it's too dangerous for us at the Burrow at the moment. I will take the boys back to pack some things; if you could take Molly, Xeno and Ginny and then come back for us please?"
Molly went over to Madam Pomfrey to discuss the treatments for Ginny, whilst Hermione went downstairs to apparate Xeno Lovegood to the cottage. She was quickly back stating that she had placed him in one of the bedrooms to recover and within moments, Harry had picked Ginny up, whilst Hermione took Molly arm. They appeared in the main hall way of the cottage and Harry carried Ginny up to one of the other bedrooms, closely followed by Molly. Once they had settled Ginny into a bed, leaving her with Molly, Harry and Hermione went to the kitchen to discuss what to do next.
"Harry, we need to find Luna and quick. I cannot bear to think what those animals will do to her."
"Do you know where the Malfoy's live?"
"Not a clue, you?"
"Nope, let me think for a while."
The conversation ceased as both teens thought about how to find Luna. Suddenly Hermione started to cry as her emotions caught up with her.
"Sorry Harry. I was just thinking about Percy and I couldn't help myself. I never really liked him that much but no one deserved to die like that, no one!"
Harry moved and embraced the distraught girl. He ran his fingers through her hair as he kissed her gently.
"It's okay 'Mione, it's alright to grieve. God know Percy could be a prat, but his heart was in the right place, and your right – no one deserves to die like that. We will stop 'Ron' but we first have to defeat Voldemort. Just another monster to add to our to-do list."
Hermione snorted out a burst of laughter despite herself. She could always rely on Harry to make her smile.
"Idiot! But your right, we cannot let 'Ron' get away with this, we will have to stop him...any idea on how?"
"Zippo, as far as we know he is damm well near immortal, but once we have Voldy out of the way then I'm sure with a bit of the old 'Hermione research' we can find something."
Hermione laughed at the 'Hermione research' comment before resting her head on Harry's shoulder.
"I Love you, you know?"
"Yes, and I love you too Hermione"
"Some wedding day this is turning out to be!"
"Well I will make it up to you tonight, if you are lucky! I'll even cook you a meal, I'm sure we can get Do..."
Suddenly Harry sat bolt upright causing Hermione to fall to one side. Harry stood up looking very excited.
"I know how to find where the Malfoy's live...Dobby!"
With a 'pop' the diminutive House Elf appeared in the room. "The great master Harry called for me, how can Dobby help you today master Harry?"
Harry smiled at eager young House Elf that was practically bouncing on his feet in front of him. "Dobby, it's good to see you, how are you doing?"
"Master asks Dobby how he is; Oh Master is a good wizard. Dobby is very well and happy that Master Harry is asking after him."
"And how is Winky?"
Dobby's face fell, and looked up at Harry with sad eyes. "Winky is not well, she is drinking more and more and Dobby does not think she will last much longer without a Master or Mistress."
Hermione looked up at this news. "Doesn't she like been free Dobby?"
"Oh no, Mistress Hermyny. A House Elf needs to have a family to stay strong and to keep our magic. Without a master or mistress we will grow weak and die Miss."
Now it was Harry's turn to be startled. "But Dobby what about you?"
Dobby managed to look downhearted and worried at the same time. "I am a bad elf, I have worried Master Harry, I must punish myself" and he raised his hand as it to hit himself, before Harry caught it gently in his.
"There will be no punishments today, or any other day for that matter. Now Dobby answer my question, are you suffering from not been bonded?"
With a little squeak Dobby slowly nodded his head, his large eyes expectant.
"Why didn't you say anything Dobby?"
"Dobby didn't want to worry Master Harry."
Hermione looked over at Harry with a resigned expression on her face, as well as a slightly concerned one. She had spent years trying to convince people that the House Elves needed to be free without any thought for the effect it would have on them. The fact that they needed to be bonded to be well had never crossed her mind. Sure they needed to be treated better, and she would campaign for that for as long as she needed to, but the fact that they needed to be bonded struck her hard. She slowly nodded at Harry's unasked question.
"Dobby, would you like to become my house elf?" Harry asked almost hesitantly, knowing the elf would be very happy to accept. Harry wasn't disappointed. Dobby's eyes filled up with tears and in an awed voice he said, "Master Harry would have Dobby as his elf, Master Harry is the best wizard in the world. Dobby would be honoured to be Harry's elf."
"Dobby, how do I accept you as my elf?"
"All Master has to do is to say that you take Dobby as your elf, and the magic will do the rest."
"Dobby before I do this, you will not be a slave, you will have time off and you will be paid, is this acceptable?"
Dobby nodded, and so Harry formally stated, "I Harry James Potter do take Dobby to be my House Elf" with a sudden glow Harry felt the bond take and Dobby was his.
"Dobby, can you call Winky for us please?"
"Dobby will have to go get her, Dobby doesn't think she can come herself." Dobby replied sadly
With a 'pop' he was gone only to return seconds later with Winky in his arms. She was so weak that she could barely open her eyes. It was obvious to all that she did not have long left. Hermione's eyes filled with tears at the sad sight. Kneeling she took Winky from Dobby and held her close.
"Winky, Can you hear me?"
There was a slight nod from the Elf. "Winky, I Hermione Jean Potter do take you to be my House Elf, if you want me to."
With a glow the elf, slowly managed to clamber to her feet, she stood wavering slightly but growing stronger by the second. Soon she was stood as tall as she could with tears running unashamedly down her face.
"Oh Mistress Hermione, thank you, without you Winky would of died. Thank you!"
"Winky as Dobby is Harry's, you are mine but you are not a slave. You will never punish yourself, and you will take time off when you need. I will be paying you, is this acceptable?"
Winky thought about it for a second before nodding furiously. Hermione pulled the startled elf into a hug and kissed her cheek.
"Both of you need to know that Harry and I will be alive for a very long time, it seems that we are immortal and I hope you will be happy with us."
Dobby looked at Winky before speaking. "Master Harry, Mistress Hermyny, House Elf's live a long time but we cannot live forever. With your permission may Dobby take Winky as Dobby's bride? Our children will be your elves for eternity if we are allowed?"
Winky was smiling at Dobby and tentatively took his hand before looking up at her new mistress, hope in her eyes. With a happy smile both Harry and Hermione have their permission.
"Dobby, I need you to do something for me. I need you to take Hermione and me to your old masters house. He has taken a friend of ours and we need to get her back as soon as possible."
Dobby looked apprehensive. "Bad men at old Masters house, very bad men."
"Yes we know, but we still need to do this, it's very important."
Dobby nodded slowly. Harry carried on, "Winky can you stay here with Mrs Weasley and Ginny. Ginny has been hurt and Mrs Weasley is looking after her. Dobby, once you've taken us to Malfoy manor, can you come back here to get Mr Weasley, the twins and Charlie. They will be staying here for a while." Dobby nodded.
"Hermione do we need anything?"
Hermione looked into her ever present beaded bag and checked. She pulled out the invisibility cloak, handing it to Harry. "No I think we have everything. Are you happy with your wandless magic?" Harry nodded in reply and they both took one of Dobby's arms
"Dobby will take you to a forested corner of the grounds, just inside the wards. You will have to make your own way to the house though."
"Don't worry Dobby, I have the perfect way of getting in."
With a pop the three were gone.
Two large black panthers slowly made their way towards the large foreboding looking house. They silently made their way across the manicured lawns, using whatever cover they could find. Soon the pair found themselves close to the house and entered via a servant's entrance around the back of the house. Blurring the two cats changed to their human forms and quickly threw the cloak over themselves.
Whispering Harry asked Hermione if she knew where to look. Dobby had given them a rough plan of the building before he left them.
"I would guess the cellars would be the best place. Hang on a moment though." She thought about the spell before almost silently whispering "Homenum Revelio. There are eleven people on this level, and four downstairs. Come on, let's go to the cellars."
Slowly and carefully the pair made their way to the entrance to the cellar, using the "point me" charm as well as the hastily drawn map. Soon they reached the entrance only to find that it was guarded by a Death Eater, Nott by the look of him.
"What do we do?" Hermione whispered to Harry.
"Well whatever we do we have to be quiet; we do not need more of these gits here." As he thought an idea came to him. He raised his hand and silently cast a body bind spell at the Death Eater followed by a strong stunner. Nott froze and fell back against the wall, effectively propping him up. Because the bond bind had been cast first, his eyes were wide open and to the casual observer it looked like he was still guarding the door. Hermione smiled and nodded in approval at her husband's actions.
"Come on love." He whispered, and they both moved cautiously down the stairs to the cellars below the house. Pausing only to cast another revealing spell, they discovered that Pettigrew was on guard on one of the door that led off the main cellar. Assuming this to be the one that Luna and the others were been kept behind. Harry once more cast a soundless bond-bind at the traitor. This time however, as he walked up to the man who had betrayed his parents, he could help but to savagely punch the man in the stomach, before stunning him. He could see the pain and fear in the elder mans eyes, and just before he stunned him he whispered to him, "I will see you in Azkaban and see you being kissed by a Dementor. I will not dirty myself by killing you myself; you are not worth the magic."
Hermione had managed to open to door and slowly entered the dark dingy room. Inside three figures were chained to the wall. The first was Ollivander who looked very unwell, his grey hair covering his face as he barely breathed. The second was a small goblin, who Harry recognised at Griphook, the goblin he had first met when he went to the magical bank all those years ago. The Goblin was unconscious, a large bruise evident on his head. The third figure was very much awake; Luna Lovegood was chained to the wall, her silver-grey eyes alert and scared. She was however gagged as well as bound. She seemed desperately trying to convey a message to the pair with her eyes.
Harry and Hermione entered the room fully and quickly went over to the prisoners; Hermione went to Ollivander to assess the old wandmakers condition whilst Harry went over to Luna. She was desperate now, her whole head shaking back and forth with agitation. Her eyes wide and pleading and she was shaking almost uncontrollably. Harry gently tried to remove the gag, "Shush Luna, its okay. We will have you out of here before you know it."
As he managed to remove the gag, Luna immediately shouted at him. "Harry, get out of here. It's a trap!" As soon as the words were out of here mouth, the cellar door slammed shut and alarms sounded. Both Harry and Hermione could feel anti-apparition wards slam around them. Technically they felt they could breach the wards themselves with their new powers, but as they were untested and leaving the prisoners behind was a definite no, they stood to face the new challenge.
"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry" Luna cried. Hermione looked around in anger. She had managed to free Ollivander and was helping him sit on the floor. "Harry, how could we be so stupid?"
"Hermione, never mind that now, quick put on the cloak. They think your dead; let's use that to our advantage." He took a small twig from the floor and transfigured it to a replica of a wand just as the door to the cellar was been opened. He heard Hermione throw on the invisibility cloak and he turned to face the door, 'wand' drawn. The door opened and stood in the doorway was Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and two other Deatheaters, all pointing wands at him.
"Drop the wand Potter!" Malfoy told him in a strangely effeminate voice. Harry couldn't help but to snigger at the man's oddly altered voice. It was obvious that Hermione's cutting curse had removed more than just the man's penis.
"Drop it NOW!" the eunuch repeated. Shrugging Harry threw the 'wand' at the Deatheaters and slowly raised his hands.
"You fool Potter, so predictable. Always playing the hero, well we have you now and the Dark Lord will be very happy to see you. Now that we have you we no longer need to girl." He raised his wand and looked at Luna with murder in his eyes. "AVADA K..."
With a sudden explosion, Hermione's spell caused the Deatheaters to fly back into the large room behind the door. Harry wandless cast a shield spell over the prisoners and quickly followed the death-eaters into the larger room. They had recovered quickly and were raising their wands. Hermione threw off the cloak and stood with Harry.
"YOU!? How is that possible? I killed you"
"Well if it isn't the dickless wonder! Looks like you cannot kill a woman as well as fuck one anymore!"
Bellatrix was laughing, not only her usual mad cackle designed to put people off, but a genuine laugh at her companions distress. She really hated Lucius and had found his fate immensely funny. The taunting by the impossible woman really made her giggle. She would just shave to show the idiotic eunuch how to really kill a woman. However Lucius's temper had got the better of him.
"You FUCKING BITCH, look what you did to me? AVADA KEDAVRA!" The green beam of light shot towards Hermione, but with lightning reflexes Hermione ducked and the spell flew harmlessly over her head.
"Diffindo!" Hermione thought and with a cutting motion of her hand the spell flew towards the 'dickless wonder" and hit him on the shoulder. The force of the spell ripped his wand arm free, spurting blood across the room. The arm complete with wand clattered to the floor. Lucius looked at the stump in disbelief before collapsing in a heap, the blood pooling around him quickly. Everyone stopped for a second, looking at the fallen Deatheater.
Bellatrix looked in anger. Despite her hatred for the blond haired ...man-let, she wasn't going to let a filthy Mudblood attack him.
"Bombarda!" she shouted at Hermione pointing her wand. The younger which flew backwards and back into the other room. She hit the back wall with a sickening crunch and landed on the floor, bleeding heavily and her eyes open and unseeing. Luna screamed as she looked her dead friend, however due to the shield that Harry had cast she could not get to Hermione.
Harry felt the death of his wife, and winced in pain before looking at the remaining Deatheaters with angry eyes. They had dismissed him as harmless due to his lack of a wand. This was not a mistake that they would make again. Wandlessly he cast spell after spell at the remaining foes. Decapitating one Deatheater outright, and incinerating the other with an elemental flame that he conjured up. Bellatrix cowered behind her strongest shield, for once in real fear for her life. As soon as Harry had dispatched the two other Deatheaters he looked at Bellatrix with a feral smile on his face, silently he summoned the elements and soon a strong wind had whipped up around him, and was moving towards the insane witch, Bellatrix now looked at Harry with real genuine fear in her eyes before she quickly cancelled the anti-apperation shields and fled, leaving the dying Lucius behind.
Harry walked over to the blond wizard and tapped him with his foot. Lucius looked up at Harry with hatred in his eyes. "At least I die knowing your mate is dead this time."
"Are you sure about that Malfoy?" with a nod of his head he indicated Hermione who was struggling to her feet, the blood still evident on her clothes but no obvious injuries seen.
"How? Who are you two?" Malfoy whispered in pain and fear.
"Your worst nightmare, you bastard." Harry whispered back to the dying man. With a last intake of breath, Lucius Malfoy died.
Harry cancelled the shield guarding the prisoners. Luna ran over to Hermione and threw herself at the older witch.
"How did you do that, I saw you die, your aura disappeared?" she asked in confusion
Hermione hugged the crying witch. "Hey, it's a kind of magic!" she replied.
Harry walked over to the others in the cell. Taking Ollivander by the shoulders and levitating the still unconscious goblin, he called for Dobby. With a pop the elf appeared.
"Can you take Griphook to the cottage while we bring these two please?"
"Dobby will do that Master Harry." And he took hold of the leg of the goblin and vanished. Harry looked over at the dead Malfoy before turning to his bride who was still comforting the distraught Luna.
"Ready love?"
"Let's get out of here"
And with a loud pop, they vanished.
Chapter Eight – War Councils
It was very late when everyone arrived back at the cottage. It seemed that everyone was trying to talk at once, that was until Harry shouted for silence. Carefully lowering the elderly wandmaker in a chair, he stood up and faced the people stood in front of him.
"Dobby, can you go get Madam Pomfrey please, we need her healing skills. Can everyone else please calm down and we will explain what happened as soon as we can. Molly, can you go wake Mr Lovegood, I have a feeling that Luna will want to see him."
Luna was still been held by Hermione as she sobbed against the older girl, arms wrapped around her looking like she would never let go. With a 'pop', Dobby vanished and Mrs Weasley ran upstairs to wake Xenophilius. As she passed the room Ginny was resting in, she shouted to her husband that Harry was back. She ran in the other room, and gently roused Xenophilius.
"Xeno...Xeno! Wake up. Harry and Hermione are back, they've brought Luna back with them."
Like a shot the colourfully dressed wizard was stood up and almost running down the stairs. As much as he lived in a different world to most people, brought on by the grief from losing his wife, Xenophilius Lovegood loved his daughter more than life itself. As he ran to the main hallway downstairs, he was crying for Luna.
"Daddy!" Luna shouted and flung herself at her father. "Daddy, are you okay? Oh Merlin! How's Ginny?" she cried.
With a soft 'pop' Dobby returned with Madam Pomfrey in tow. The whole scene was one of chaos, with Xeno and Luna crying in the centre of the room, The Weasleys all stood together, and Madam Pomfrey looking around in bewilderment. She quickly spotted Mr Ollivander and her professionalism soon kicked in.
Half an hour later things had calmed down a little. Griphook had been treated and was resting on the sofa in the lounge. Word had been sent to Gringotts and a delegation had promised to be available to visit in the morning. Luna and her father had retired to bed, but not before both had thanked Harry and Hermione profusely. Luna had looked oddly at Harry and Hermione and was about to ask some questions when Hermione promised her to speak in the morning. The Weasleys had all retired with Charlie sitting with Ginny for the night. Ginny was expected to wake in the morning, and that presented Harry with a problem on how to tell her about Hermione. He was expecting fire-works and not the kind the twins made.
At the moment, Hermione was sat with Madam Pomfrey talking quietly.
"Hermione, I'm very worried about Mr Ollivander. He's quite old and he has been tortured quite extensively. I have managed to heal his body's wounds, but it's his state of mind I'm worried about. It's like he's given up and there's nothing I can do to stop it, unless he makes an effort."
"Let him sleep tonight, we'll try tomorrow to help him. Thank you for your help tonight. Do you wish Dobby to take you back or do you want to stay here for the night?"
"What are your plans for tomorrow if I may ask?"
"We are planning a council of war. Things are happening fast and we need all of our allies. I've sent Dobby and Winky to let the remaining Order member know and we will meet here tomorrow at eleven."
"Well in that case I would like return to Hogwarts tonight, but I would like to return tomorrow if I may. Hogwarts is not a pleasant place at the moment, and I am needed every night to treat students who have been errr entertained by the Carrow's and their merry band of Slytherin Bastards. If I can, would it be possible to bring Minerva with me?"
"Poppy, she was always on the list and Hogwarts was one of the items on the agenda; both Harry and I believe that some spring cleaning is required."
"Thank Merlin for that, what with them and that slime ball Snape...sorry Headmaster Snape, Hogwarts is not the place it once was."
"Don't worry; Sniverlus is getting what is coming to him very soon."
"Now if you two would excuse me, I must be going. See you tomorrow." And with that Winky took her back to the school.
Harry looked at Hermione in the dim light with concern. "You okay love?"
"Yeah, I will be. Harry, do me a favour will you?"
"Anything my love."
"Take me to bed and make love to me all night, and please let's try to avoid been mutilated, frozen or attacked by Deatheaters this time?"
With a laugh, Harry picked up his lovely bride in his arms and carried her up the stairs to the master bedroom. With a nudge from his foot, he opened the door and carried her to the large bed. Wandlessly the door shut and the candles in the room lit. With another thought he removed all their clothes leaving them both naked.
Hermione looked at Harry with a predatory look. "Now Mr Potter, I believe I was just about to make love to you, when we were rudely interrupted this morning. Now where was I?"
They made love four times before exhaustion overtook them. Immortal they may be but even immortals needed sleep and tomorrow was going to be a long day.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
It was a happy Harry, complete with ridiculous goofy smile that walked down the stairs the following morning, closely followed by a rather oddly walking Hermione. Even though she was walking like she'd just spent a few hours on horseback she was also wearing a resplendent goofy smile. As they entered the kitchen to get breakfast, the only person up to witness them was Mrs Weasley and Charlie, who was nursing a large mug of strong coffee.
With a smile, and a small blush Hermione sat down with an audible groan and a large wince she looked up at Mrs Weasley
"Morning, any chance of a coffee?" she whispered.
With a knowing smile, Mrs Weasley placed a cup of coffee and a vial of potion next to the younger woman. With a sad smile she motioned towards the potion.
"It's for sore muscles, after your busy day yesterday I figured you would need some." She managed to say this with a straight face, although the delight in seeing the two youngsters together, somewhat dulling the incredible sadness in her heart. She had not slept well and had arisen early, only to find Charlie downstairs crying for all he was worth. Charlie was not one for sharing his emotions and had held everything that had happened to his family in for as long as he could, but like every emotional dam, it had to break at sometime and break it did. Mrs Weasley had spent a long hour comforting her son, whilst at the same time he had comforted her. They had both mourned the loss of two of their own and felt the stronger for it. Charlie, before he left the Burrow had sent an owl to Bill, and he was expected at the meeting today; neither was looking forward to breaking the news to him.
Harry had sat down with his wife and poured himself a mug of coffee, and watched as Hermione downed the potion in one gulp. She pulled a face at the taste, but quickly smiled as her aches and pains were soothed away.
"I want to thank you two for all your help yesterday." Molly started, but was interrupted by Harry.
"We don't deserve any thanks, if we had got to you sooner than we could have saved Percy, I'm so sorry about that."
"HARRY POTTER, JUST YOU STOP THERE! If you had been any later, than it's possible that all the Weasleys would have been dead. Ginny defiantly, according to Poppy, she was only half an hour away from dying."
"But Ron..."
"Ron nothing! Were you there when that fucking demon killed him? No! You hadn't even met any of us then, so don't apologize for that monster. I have to accept the fact that Ron died years ago, and that THING is not my son. Harry and you too Hermione, we owe you our lives, and I for one thank the day we met you both. I know you two are going to live for a very long time, long after we are gone. When all this is over, please do me a favour - In the centuries that follow, please remember us."
Harry had tears running down his face, "Always Molly, always."
With a sniff and a rub of his eyes, Harry looked around. "Who's for breakfast?" He got up to cook breakfast, aided by both Mrs Weasley and Winky. Soon the smell of cooking breakfast brought down a good number of people with the exception of Ginny and Mr Ollivander.
As they sat, Mr Weasley looked up at Harry and spoke.
"Harry, Hermione I need to thank you on behalf of my family for what both you and Hermione did for us yesterday. I know that Molly has already spoken to you but I needed to add my thanks. Also I need a favour. Ginny is awake and I have told her the situation about Ron and Percy. I haven't told her about you and Hermione yet, but she is asking to see you. I know this will be difficult, but could you talk to her?"
Harry sighed, he knew that this moment was coming, but he still dreaded it. "Off course sir, has she had any breakfast?"
"No son, she hasn't." Arthur replied, recognising Harry's unhappiness about what he had to do.
"I only wish I didn't have to do this on top of everything else you guys have been through. I'll take a tray up for her." As he stood a full breakfast tray appeared which he picked up. Hermione got up to follow him but Harry turned around and stopped her.
"Mione, I need to do this one on my own. I may need you later, but for the moment I'd better go alone."
Hermione thought for a while and then nodded. "Ok love; call me if you need me."
Harry carried the tray up to the room Ginny was using and softly knocked on the door, hearing a quite "come in" Harry opened the door to find Ginny say on the bed in tears. Harry put the tray down on a small table and approached the distraught girl. She looked up and saw him for the first time.
"HARRY!" she cried and practically flew to him and threw her arms around him, her tears wetting his shirt. She was sobbing uncontrollably all the while trying to talk, but only stuttered words coming out.
"Ginny, Ginny! Shush. It's okay, your fine now."
Ginny was now trying to kiss Harry, but he kept stopping her. "Ginny you've got to stop that, please Gin, calm down. We need to talk."
With those immortal words; the words any person dreads to hear from a loved one, Ginny's world collapsed once more. She sat down stunned that her beloved spurned her advances, and really looked at him for the first time since he entered the room. She could see that something had changed, something very profound, and it scared her.
"Harry, what is it? Something is different isn't it?" she asked, the tears still in her eyes.
Harry sighed and looked at her sadly. He really did like the girl in front of him, at one time he thought he loved her, but now he realised that whilst he did love her, it was the love a brother had for a sister.
"Yes, Ginny. Things are different know. There are a few things I need to tell you, but the most important thing is that..." he paused unsure on how to put it but before he could continue Ginny surprised him.
"You and Hermione? Yes?"
Surprised Harry nodded and put his head down. "I'm sorry Ginny, but I love her, I think I always have."
"I know!" she whispered.
Harry's head jerked up and looked her in the eye. "You do? How?"
"I might be a red-head and hot headed from time to time, but I am a woman and I can tell when someone loves someone else. Why do you think I let you go so easily, you love me but not the way I wanted you to, and not the way I love you...Oh and I do love you, and this is killing me but there is something else isn't there? Some other reason why we cannot be?"
"Bloody hell, when did you start channelling Luna?"
With a sad laugh Ginny replied, "Well I have been spending a lot of time with her recently. Now spill it Harry."
"Ginny, even if I did love you the way you want me to, we could never be together. Something happened the other day to Hermione and I. Your dad told you about Ron?"
With a sniff she nodded.
"Well you know we have been on a mission from Dumbledore don't you?" At her nod he continued. "Well one night we were dancing to some music, you see the creature we thought was Ron had a massive argument with us and had left. Mione was upset so I tried to cheer her up you know, by goofing about and dancing. Anyway once thing led to another and I kissed her and well..." he broke of blushing. Ginny just nodded, the tears falling down her face.
"Go on Harry" she croaked
"Well anyway we were ...well you know, when Ron burst in and well it wasn't Ron, it had jet black eyes and it was really mad. Anyway he slashed Hermione throat and stabbed me in the chest. We both died, and I mean really died."
Ginny was looking at Harry in shock and horror, with a little amount of fear thrown in. Harry carried on his tale in a dispassionate voice.
"Apparently we were visited by some being who didn't want us to be dead, apparently we have work to do. Anyway he brought us back but both of us are different.. and no before you ask we are not vampires! We are immortal; we cannot die and will never age. Can you see why this means I cannot be with you? You will live a long life as a witch, but you will grow old and eventually pass over, I will not do that, and even if I did love you the way you want me to, it would kill me to watch you grow old. Merlin! This is hard! This is what Voldy wants? It's going to be horrible to see all our friends, our family and even our kids grow old and die, Oh God what if we cannot have kids? That would kill Mione. Who wants to live forever? It's just as much a curse as it is a blessing. If I didn't have Mione to share it with I don't know what I would do." Harry said with the tears falling down his face as he ranted.
Ginny listened with a look of pure astonishment on her face as Harry poured out his heart. She looked at him for a few seconds before taking him in her arms and holding him.
"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry, I know you love Hermione and I'm happy for you, I really am. I wish it was me, but I can see why you cannot love me. It hurts so much though!"
"Gin, I do love you, I love you like a sister. I know it's not what you wanted but it's all I have."
They both cried for a little while before Ginny let him go and wiped her eyes.
"So, you're immortal then? What's that like?" she asked as if she was asking about the weather.
Harry looked at her and thought about the absurdity of the question, and this made him giggle a little before laughing out loud. Soon the pair of them were laughing uncontrollably at the silliness of the whole conversation. After a while they both got there laughter under control.
"Seriously, what it like Harry?"
"Well, it hurts like shit to die, and we are both still very scared. There's something else I need to tell you. After we realised that we are going to be together forever, well we sorta made marriage vows to each other and it seems that we may be magically married... Gin you ok?"
Ginny had stopped; she had frozen and was staring ahead with a odd look on her face. Eventually she whispered, "Married? You're married?"
"I think so Gin, sorry." Harry replied
Ginny finally slumped back into the chair totally defeated. Even when he was telling her about the immortality part of her still thought they could be together, but this changed everything. She wasn't a fool and she knew the penalty for deliberately breaking a marriage vow, even if she could get him to break it. As she looked at him she saw the love he had for Hermione shining in his eyes and eventually, finally she accepted it – he wasn't ever going to be hers. This was almost a cathartic moment for her, she almost felt relieved but also intensely sad at the same time. She spent a few minutes looking at him in minute detail, almost as if she was preserving her memory of him.
"Harry, do you think I can have a few moments alone please? I promise I'm not going to do anything silly, but I just need to be alone for a bit."
"Off course Ginny, I've left some breakfast for you on the table, we are all meeting at eleven to have a war council, and I would like you to be there please."
Harry stood to leave and was near the door when she spoke again. "Thank you for saving me Harry, Mum tells me I would have died if you would have been any later."
"No problem Gin, any time."
Harry opened the door and left, gently closing it behind him. Ginny looked at the closed door before whispering to herself "I love you Harry, I always will." Before bursting into tears and curling up into a ball on the bed, her pillow clutched to her breast.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Harry left Ginny's room to find Hermione sat outside waiting for him.
"You okay love?" she asked in a concerned voice.
"Yeah, it was harder than I expected but she took it okay. She's hurting at the moment, but I think she will get over it in time."
Hermione nestled into her husband and gently kissed him.
"You are a very kind and special man, you know that?"
"I'm not sure about that, but I just don't like seeing the people I care about getting hurt."
Hermione kissed him before taking his hand. "We need to see Luna before the meeting love, come on."
She led him to the room that Luna had been using and knocked on the door.
"Come in Hermione." Came the reply from the room. Hermione raised his eyes at this and Harry smiled.
"Well we were told she had the Sight."
They opened the door and let themselves in. Luna was sat cross legged in the middle of the bed. She was wearing one of the nightshirts that the elves had provided and her usual cork necklace. She had a large smile on her face as she viewed her two friends.
"Thank you both for saving me and my father. It's good that the Wrackspurt's didn't stop you from thinking."
With a smile Hermione walked over to the young girl and hugged her.
"It was a pleasure to help Luna, even if I don't know what a Wrackspurt is."
With a giggle Luna lent in towards Hermione and in a loud whisper told her, "I don't think they really exist you know, it just makes me laugh to see people's reactions."
Hermione laughed out loud at this. "I guess you will be telling me that there is no such thing as a Crumple-Horned Snorkack now?"
"Don't be silly Hermione, of course they exist...I think" she replied with a twinkle in her eye.
As Luna looked at Hermione and Harry she remembered seeing something the other day that surprised her. As she looked she activated her aura sight and screamed in surprise and covered her eyes with her hand in pain. "Oh Sweet Merlin, you two are Immortal!"
Harry and Hermione looked at her in astonishment. "How did you know Luna?" Harry asked.
"Well I can see auras and I had a quick look at yours. Most people's aura is a moving swirling glow around them; the colours are related to their personality. Yours are very, very bright and are pure white, but they are also solid, like a second skin but very large. It scared me for a second, but then I realised that it's the same sort of aura that surrounds a phoenix. As they are as near to immortal as I know then I assumed that you two must be as well...Hey that's how you survived yesterday Hermione isn't it?"
Hermione nodded, surprised at the sense the younger girl was making. Luna looked a second time at the pair and winced in pain.
"Goodness me you two are bright, it hurts to look at you, but that's odd...your linked as well...not a soul bond...Wow! You two share a life essence. That's so rare. Are you married?"
Slowly Hermione nodded at Luna, not sure what to make of the girls comments.
"Congratulations you two that's so nice, you are obviously meant for each other, by the way the fact that your auras are pure white means that you two are champions of light. Now what do you need me to find for you? The Horcrux's?"
Harry looked at Luna in amazement, "How did you know about Horcrux's?"
"Oh goody you mean I was right? The Nargles told me about them, they are really horrible aren't they?"
"OK Luna, what else do you know about them?" Hermione asked
Luna looked at Hermione for a long while before answering. When she did, it was the way in which she answered that surprised them both, gone was the spacey Luna, for a short while anyway.
"Well don't forget I am a Ravenclaw, so I am supposed to be bright, but luckily for you two I am quite a bit more than bright. I have read about the horrible things in the library, and I guessed that it was a Horcrux that kept You Know Who alive, the fact that you are still looking for them means that he must have created more than one and you need me to help you find them, Yes?"
They both nodded, too stunned to speak. Hermione was especially surprised that she had underestimated this odd girl so much.
"So how many do you think he created?" Luna asked them.
"Well we think it was seven separate Horcrux's, We have identified and destroyed four of them but that still leaves three left." Harry replied.
"Tell me about the four you've got rid of, it will tell us a lot about him in the choices he made."
"Well there was the diary that possessed Ginny in the second year, it belonged to him when he was still known as Tom Riddle; Harry destroyed it with a Basilisk fang. Then there was the ring that belonged to Marvolo Gaunt, Dumbledore destroyed that last year, but it ended up nearly killing him. Harry and I destroyed the third that was a locket that belonged to Salazar Slytherin."
"Okay, what about the forth…..no hang on let me guess. The forth was Harry himself, that scar on his head used to cast a blackness around his aura that I never understood, but it's gone now. When you two became immortal did you die first?"
They both nodded at Luna.
"That makes sense, when Harry died the soul fragment had to die with him, but when you came back, only you came back so you are now free of it."
Harry nodded back, totally unsure on how to tackle this.
Luna looked at the pair with a pensive look on her face; she was desperate for these two to like her and was hoping that they would accept her.
Hermione eventually spoke up, "Luna that was amazing, you are amazing. Yes we need your help finding the remaining three, will you help us come up with something."
Luna smiled at them, very pleased with the praise. "Well I will only help you on one condition."
"Yes?" Harry asked, surprised that she was putting conditions to her help.
"You let me come with you to help, and you teach me how to defend myself. I will NOT get caught like I did the other day. You can also tell me about what it's like to be immortal."
"Luna, it's going to be very dangerous. I'm not sure that if would be a good idea for you to come with us." Harry told her.
"You didn't say that when we went to the department of Mysteries did you?"
"Nooo, but this is different" Harry replied
"How? If you want my help then I'm coming along, I feel that I need to do this, I think it's very important."
Hermione looked at Harry before nodding at him. "Okay Luna, but you will need to speak to your dad first to make sure he's okay with it. Now any idea on what we are looking for?"
"Well V-V-Voldemort seems to like artifacts from the founders, so it would make sense that the others are also related to them. At the moment there is only one I can think off, but I'm sure the others will come to me in time."
When it looked like Luna wasn't going to offer the information, Harry had to ask. "Ok, what do you think the one you can think of is?"
"Oh that's easy; it will be Rowena Ravenclaw's lost Diadem…..now only if it wasn't lost."
Hermione rolled her eyes and in a patient voice, as if she was talking to a small child asked the obvious question.
"Luna, if it's lost then how do we find it?"
"Oh I have no idea…but I know who will."
After a pause that made it obvious that the information wasn't going to be forthcoming, Harry asked, "Ok who knows?"
"Oh that's easy, we need to ask her daughter, the Grey Lady. We need to go to Hogwarts. Now about you been married, tell me all…"
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
It was nearly eleven and all the house guests had congregated in the large dining room to await the new guests. Harry had asked Dobby and Winky to bring the new arrivals as they didn't want the location of the cottage to be known. He'd asked the Weasleys and the Lovegoods to meet them before anyone else arrived. Ginny was with them but still looking very sad, she was been held by Charlie. The twins were also sat close and not looking very happy. The only person missing at the moment was Mr Ollivander who was still in bed and Griphook who had left earlier to meet with his colleagues at Gringotts. Apparently they wanted Harry and Hermione to meet with Ragnok, the head goblin as soon as they could.
"Hermione and I need a favour from you all. Please can you keep our immortality a secret for the time been. We don't want to answer questions on it and keeping it a secret may give us an advantage in the fight. Is that ok?"
There were nods of agreement from the assembled guests, before Arthur asked Harry, "What are we going to discuss Harry, and who is coming today?"
Just as Harry was about to answer Dobby appeared with Minerva McGonagall and Poppy Pomfrey in tow. He let go of their hands and vanished again. Seconds later Winky appeared with Remus and a very pregnant Nymphadora Lupin. Within a few minutes they were joined by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Aberforth Dumbledore and lastly Bill and Fleur Weasley. As soon as Ginny saw her eldest brother she flew over to him and with a low cry she flung her arms around him.
"Bill, oh Bill...Percy...and Ron...dead!" was all she was able to stutter out.
"What? What are you talking about Gin?"
Harry looked upwards and sighed, 'Oh well, we may as well cover this first' he thought.
"If everyone can take a seat we can discuss this matter now please." He announced.
"Where are we Harry?" Kingsley asked causing a few of the others to nod in agreement.
"Ok let's start with that, Welcome to Potter cottage, this is one of my houses, and the best guarded, it's unplottable and as soon as you leave you will not be able to find the house without mine or Hermione's permission. I have asked you all here as there are things we need to discuss, things that directly affect the war against Voldemort, and yes you can say the name here. "
"Why yours or Hermione's permission?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Sod that, what's happened to my brothers?" Bill cried. He had spotted that his mother was crying against his father's shoulder and had begun to get quite agitated. It was only the presence of his lovely wife that was keeping his sane at the moment.
"Bill, I am really sorry to tell you this but Percy is dead, he was killed by a demon that killed and took over Ron's body years ago." Harry proceeded to tell the assembled witches and wizards all he knew about Ron, apart from the immortality bit.
After he had finished Bill looked up and whispered "A Soul Demon! I thought they were myths."
"Do you know about these creatures Bill?" Harry asked.
"Only a little, they are supposed to be a myth, but I guess not. They are related to the vampires but instead of blood, it's emotions and the soul that they eat, well devour really. No one knows what they are supposed to look like in their natural form because they take hosts by killing the host and taking over the body. They are meant to be really difficult to kill, maybe even impossible, and 'brother' was one all this time...Bastard!" before turning to Fleur as she held his head.
Everyone else looked shocked at the news about Ron. Professor McGonagall asked the question everyone was thinking. "What are we going to do about him?"
"Nothing at the moment, we need to get rid of Voldemort first. All we can do is let all of our friends know about Ron, and tell them if they see him, to get the hell out of there as quickly as they can. They cannot engage him at all, he WILL kill them."
"Okay Harry, you seem to know what's going on, how are we going to kill Voldemort?" Kingsley asked.
"Not 'we', me. I have to be the one who kills him, there was a prophecy, and it has to be me. However we do need some help, you see Voldemort created something's called Horcrux's..."
It was a stunned and sickened group that was left looking at each other in bewilderment when Harry had finished talking. No one spoke for a long while before Professor McGonagall looked up.
"And you think that the next one is Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem? How are you going to find that, it's lost?"
Hermione smiled at looked at her favourite teacher, "Well we have some help, it's seems that a certain young lady is a little blessed with the Sight and Luna told us we need to go to Hogwarts to speak to the Grey Lady."
"Luna? My little Luna has the Sight?" a startled Xenophilius asked.
With a shy smile Luna looked at her father, "Yes Daddy, I got it from Mummy, you don't mind do you?"
"Of course I don't mind poppet, you are amazing, just like your mother. She would be so proud of you, I know I am."
Luna started to cry at this, as did a few others. Once everyone gave them a moment Professor McGonagall looked pensive as she spoke. "Hogwarts may be a problem; it's not safe for anyone other than the Slytherins at the moment. Snape is a monster and he has the Carrows and a few Slytherins patrolling the school. Reports of torture and rape are widespread. Filius, Pomona, Poppy and myself try to stop as much as we can but we have very little power at the moment."
"Don't worry Professor, you leave those three to us, we have a few surprises up our sleeves. It's time to take back what's ours." Harry asked for the help of the others in trying to keep Voldemort's forces busy so he, Hermione and Luna could achieve their goals. He asked if Bill could research as much as he could about Soul Demons and ways in which to defeat them before Harry asked if there was any other business to consider.
Professor McGonagall asked if Harry could explain the comment about Hermione and him. With a smile Harry almost shyly answered her.
"Ma'am, Hermione and I finally figured it out, we love each other and the other day we magically married, she is now Mrs Hermione Potter and will always be."
With a laugh Minerva held out her hand to Filius. "Okay you, pay up. I told you they would finally figure it out." With a grumble the diminutive charms professor pulled out a small pouch and handed it to his friend. She took it with a smile and looked at her two favourite students.
"Congratulations you two, I knew you would find each other. When can we expect you at Hogwarts?"
"Don't worry Ma'am, we will make a suitably impressive entrance in the next day or so, you would be best if you prepared the rest of the teachers. We will arrive during breakfast."
As the meeting broke up various people came to congratulate the young couple and soon Dobby and Winky were taking people back to where they needed to be.
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
Elsewhere another council of war was taking place, however this one was less cordial. Tom Riddle, or Lord Voldemort as he liked to be known was pissed off, and if he was totally honest with himself, a little afraid. He had felt the death of four of his Horcrux's keenly and was very concerned for the safety of the remaining three. He had tried to create more, but so little of his soul was left that to split it further would make it untenable and he would collapse into the abyss of soul death. He had travelled to Malfoy manor and made it his, the death of Lucuis concerned him. If reports were to be believed Potter and the Mudblood totally out classed his Deatheaters and even Bella was frightened. She had spouted some absurd story about the Mudblood coming back from the dead, talking of which, he'd better release her from the curse he was currently holding her under. The sounds of her screams were like manna from the gods for him, but she was starting to get close to total oblivion and he still needed her for the time been. With a wave of his wand he cancelled the torture curse and the screams faded, leaving a quiet whimpering. The rest of the Deatheaters daren't come to her aid and she slowly crawled away from her master.
"You failed me Bella, and you know I don't like failure. You fled from the boy leaving Lucuis to die."
Bellatrix wasn't capable of speaking at the moment as her nerve endings were still on fire from the effects of the Cruciatus curse.
"Nothing to say Bella? No witty comeback? Oh well...CRUCIO!" and he held her under the curse for another thirty seconds before finally releasing her. "Don't fail me again Bella. I have a mission for you but I will kindly give you a few minutes to recover."
Bella nodded in consent and continued to crawl to the side of the room, where under the watchful gaze of her master, one of the Deatheaters gave her a glass of water.
Voldemort looked around the group before asking "Where are Narcissa and the Malfoy boy?"
"My Lord, they are seeing to Lucius's body in the grounds of the estate. You allowed them to do this." Pettigrew answered.
"Ah yes, as soon as they are back I have work for young Draco. It's time he earned his mark. Now Bella, are you up to a chat?"
"Y-y-yes my Lord, how may I serve you?" she stuttered.
"I am concerned about an item I own. The cup I placed in your care, where is it?"
"My Lord, I place the item in my vault at Gringotts and also places curses on the vault so if anyone other than myself would enter they would activate."
"Good, Bella, good. However I feel that the item needs to be better protected. I need you to take it from the bank and take it abroad. I feel that it would be better protected in the presence of the Lord and Lady. Do this for me Bella and do not fail me, for if you do it will be the end for you."
"Yes my Lord, the honour is mine. I will not fail you my Lord."
"See that you don't. Now take Yaxley and McNair with you and go."
Bella and the two other Deatheaters left passing on the way the half eaten body of Nott, there master had not taken kindly to Nott's failure in the dungeon, and Peter had only just escaped with his life.
Voldemort looked around the room once more; he needed Draco to go back to Hogwarts to secure the other artefact. The third was secure; no one on Earth could ever find it...could they?"
I.Y. I.Y. I.Y.
In a corner of the grounds of the manor, two figures stood overlooking a mound of Earth. Lucius's last resting place was not a grand one. A rude hole in the ground under a old oak tree was not what the wizard would have wanted, but the family graveyard in France was too difficult to get to in these times, so the hole would have to do.
'Rather fitting' thought Narcissa as she looked at the grave of the man she despised. As she stood there an overwhelming feeling of freedom came over her. 'I'm free, I'm free...' It was like a mantra running through her head. She had no intention of returning to that monster in her home, and had already packed a few essentials in a small bag around her shoulder. She wanted to take Draco with her but as she thought this she was distracted by a movement next to her. Draco had moved to the crude grave marker and started to speak.
"Father, I will avenge you, Potter and his Mudblood whore will pay with their lives, and the lives of all those they hold dear. I will not rest until they are in a hole in the ground..."
He continued to rant and Narcissa realised with a sense of sadness that Draco was lost to her, the madness had taken him and he wanted revenge. She knew this to be folly, even the Dark Lord was startled by the Mudbloods apparent ability to return from the dead, and Potter was far more powerful that her son was, but she knew he wasn't going to listen to her. She slowly started to move away from him, the spot where they stood had been picked deliberately on her part. It was near the edge of the wards and it only took her a few minutes to reach the edge. As soon as she passed them she apparated away, leaving the last of Malfoy's spitting his impossible revenge.