HARRY POTTER AND THE STONE OF DUMBLEDORE’S MANOR

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Evil Abound and a Heart is Broken

Andromeda and Ted arrived home to a quiet house. They searched inside, and found Ron and Hermione, fully clothed, in the bed sleeping. Ted turned the corner and saw Harry sitting on a chair out on the deck. Ted opened the door and sat beside Harry on the empty seat.

“Hello, Harry. What are you doing out here?” He asked, looking down at the meadows. Harry sighed.

“Thinking. You know we need to go, don’t you?” He smiled, looking at Ted. Ted nodded. “I do. You need some help, mate. Your going to need something aren’t you?” Ted asked, his face looking tired.

Harry thought. What did he need? Then he knew. A map. “Ted, I need a map to Hogwarts. Can you get me one?” Harry asked, looking at the older man and seeing him wince.

“I can’t do that, Harry, but I can use Floo. You can Floo to Hogwarts, right?” He asked, a smile erupting on his sullen face. Harry smiled back and nodded. “Good. Then tomorrow, you will Floo there and do what it is that needs attending to.” And with that, he stood and went back inside.

Ron and Hermione woke up later that day, both in each others arms. He lightly kissed her lips and got out of the bed. She sat up, but did not get out of the bed. Ron opened the door, shut it again, and walked to the bathroom. He couldn’t believe his luck! He had just slept with the love of his life twice! He never dreamed she could fall for him, as he had done her since forever. To feel her, to kiss her lips…..He had a tingle in his body as he exited the bathroom. On his way back to Hermione, he saw Harry coming toward him.

“Ron, I got to tell you something. We are leaving tomorrow for Hogwarts. We are flooing.” He said, backing away slightly.

“You know, for laughs, I should knock you on your saggy ass, but I’ll let you humor me. Why the hell should we believe you? You going to hit me too if I don’t say what you want to hear?” Ron said, crossing his arms.

“Come on, Ron. I don’t know what happened, but whatever it was, it was not me. I’ll apologize to her if that’s what it takes.” He said, his face filled with remorse. Ron sighed.

“Fine. But I’m going to be in there to, and if you touch her…” He said, turning and walking behind Harry, who had started to the room. Harry opened the door, and saw Hermione sitting up, a book planted on her lap, her eyes skimming over the torn pages. She looked up at the sight of them.

“Hi.” Harry said. Hermione did not answer. She looked at Ron and gave him a puzzled look. “I’m sorry about what I did earlier. I didn’t mean for that to happen.” He smiled at her hopefully.

“Accepted.” She said, burying her head into the book again. Ron laughed as Harry just sat there.

“That’s it?” Harry asked.

“Yes, Harry. I forgive you. Is that what you wanted? Me to forgive you?” She said, looking up at him once more. Harry shrugged. He didn’t really know.

“Ok, I think it’s time for you to get out.” Ron said, pointing to the open door.

“Ron, we can’t do that. It’s the only room available.” Hermione said, looking over at Ron. Ron sighed, then nodded. “But he sleeps on the floor!” Ron added, flopping next to Hermione on the bed. Harry found this fine, since he was planning on it anyway.

LATER THAT DAY


The sun had gone down on the meadows and the Tonks house. Harry had decided he would help Ted prep the fireplace for the Floo. Harry, drenched in hot ash, had taken to sweeping the chimney .

“Scourgify” He said, foam pressed the sides of the chimney from the tip of Harry’s wand. He then began to clean the ash that threatened to suffocate his breathing. Hermione had gone with Andromeda to the Muggle supermarket. And though Ron begged to go along, he was now cleaning out the Floo container, and adding new powder. He had not talked to Harry since he apologized to Hermione. Every once in a while, he would press his ear to the door, and hear them giggling or laughing or kissing. He shook the thought from his mind as he gathered the bucket and took it out back to be washed out. He hadn’t really thought about the missing stone, either. He was sure he had packed it in his trunk, which was now M.I.A. He wondered where it would have told him to look in Hogwarts. He needed to find this thing Dumbledore told him to find, and end this war, For Ginny, for him, for Hermione. Harry snuck a peek at Ron, who was now (grumpily) dumping more Floo into the glass container. Harry knew he needed Ron, Just not for what Ron and Hermione thought.

Ron laid the glass container on the table. Wiping his forehead, he breathed heavily. Floo powder made him sweat. And the fact that he wasn’t happy being stuck here with Harry. He didn’t hate Harry. He didn’t like him trying to grab what wasn’t his. Hermione had said she loved him and not Harry. In disgust, Ron threw the rag he had in his hand on the table. His taut muscles contracting as he held onto the sides of the chair he now held with his palms. Hermione was his, and he wouldn’t give her up. After this war was over, he would see to it that she remained his. Harry would never know what it felt like to touch her again…to feel her….to see her…..to be with her… Ron’s anger fueled him to look over at Harry, who was staring back at him through the glass panes in the back door. Ron knew then, that Harry was a ruthless person when it came to her, Evil.


Hermione and Andromeda were headed on their way back. Hermione’s mind drifted as they headed to the secluded spot where they would apparate home. She loved Ron. Harry was a nice guy, at least he used to be, until she told him she was in love with Ron. She didn’t want to sleep with them both. Her passion took over and she made another mistake and she knew it. Ron could never understand what happened in her mind as she laid there in the bed after that. Her mind flicked back and forth and she doubted her own reasons as to why she did what she did. Her thoughts snapped back to reality as she saw Andromeda pull her down behind the small trashcans in the alley. Hermione looked down the alley and saw a face that horrified her. The face of Bellatrix Lastrange.
Andromeda pulled out her wand, and told Hermione to do the same. Slumping against the wall, they sat still, waiting for Bellatrix to advance.

“I know you’re here. Come out, come out! Did you think the ministry would allow you to be undetectable, you filthy traitor? You are no safer here than dead, Andromeda. And it’s so nice. You brought the little Mud Blood brat.” Bellatrix laughed, and then started to knock over trash cans.

“Oh, your buddies? They should be receiving a visit soon. But don’t worry; I’m sure you won’t be around to save them.” She said, coming closer.

“Do as I say. When she gets to those bags there, release any curse you can think of, then I want you to apparate from here. Do you understand?” Andromeda said to Hermione. She nodded. “What about…” She started.
“Don’t worry. Just do as I say!” Andromeda whispered fiercely. Bellatrix grew nearer as she laughed and held her wand at the ready. Hermione watched her step near the bags. Hermione retched herself up and pointed her wand, launching the first spell she could think of.

“INPEDIMENTA!” Hermione roared. Bellatrix flew back into the bags, her wand dropping from her hand on the way down. Hermione, thinking quick, ran to the wand and kicked it away. She angrily pointed it at Bellatrix. Andromeda shouted and everything seemed to go into slow motion for Hermione.

Bellatrix had reached into her shoe and pulled out another wand, this one silver. Andromeda shouted as she ran toward Hermione. Diving, she wrapped Hermione’s knees and threw her out of the way as a blast from the new wand erupted. The blast hit Andromeda in the face. She hit the alley floor where she lay motionless. Hermione had to duck once more, as she had launched a rope jinx. Bellatrix got to her feet and laughed.


“Tarantallegra!” Her wand held high, she began to hit the ground around Hermione’s feet with the neon green spell.

“Dance you silly girl! Dance!” She shouted in glee, as Hermione bounced away from the spells. Falling down, Hermione pulled her wand to full height, and launched a silent spell.

“Expelliarmus!” Hermione thought. She watched as the wand flew out of Bellatrix’s hand, and landed in her free hand. Taking the power of both wands, she said a spell as loud as she could.


“PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!” Hermione screamed. Both the wands streamed out the spell. The force of the spell made Hermione hold onto the wands for dear life. Bellatrix, her face still full of surprise, froze. Her body stiffened, and she fell to the floor like a board. Hermione got up, walked over to her, broke her wand in two, threw it over her frozen body, and said nastily:
“There’s your wand back, bitch!”

Hermione ran to Andromeda, grabbed her wrist and apparated a few miles from Andromeda’s home.


MEANWHILE AT TONKS HOUSE


It was Harry who seen them coming in the distance. Two figures, one in dark robes, the other in a white robe. Harry instinctively grabbed for his wand. As they came closer to the house, Harry, realizing who they were, backed into the doors that led inside.

“Harry, what the hell are you doing?” Ron asked, dropping his cloth he was using to clean his hands of Floo powder.

“Get your wand out and stay away from the windows and doors.” Harry said, locking the back door, and running around Ron.

“Ted! Ted! They’re coming!” He said yelling, his wand pointing at the door. Ron, looked at him a second, then mimicked him. Removing his wand, he pointed at the door. Ted came out from the living room, his wand raised too.

“Knott and Carrow, over the meadow.” Harry informed him. Suddenly, the door was blasted off its hinges, all three of them diving for cover from flying glass and debris. Carrow stepped inside, followed by Knott.

Ron had dived under the table, and pointed his wand at Knott’s legs. He tried a silent jinx, but failed. He hesitated, then yelled the only curse he could think of.

“Diffindo!” Ron yelled. He heard a roar of pain, as Knott’s legs had been sliced open. A kick to Ron’s head made him cry out in pain. Carrow had kicked him. As he bent down to pull on Ron’s red hair, Ted came out from the hutch he dived behind. Aiming his wand at the ceiling chandelier, he yelled the severing curse. The huge light severed from its holdings and crashed on top of Carrow. Knott, his legs bleeding, dodged it as it crashed to the floor. Ted had a piece of glass from the chandelier fly into his face, cutting him deeply. Harry had gone to see if Ron was okay. As both rose from underneath the table, a deafening crack sounded. The glass window on the left side of Ron and Harry had crashed open. Hermione climbed through the open hole and stunned Knott, who had quietly aimed his wand at Harry. She then ran to Ted, who was bleeding badly. She took her wand and healed his wound as Harry had done to her. Suddenly, a wand poked out from the debris on the floor. With a line of orange flames, Hermione was hit in the back, her face contorted; she fell in a heap on the floor. Motionless, she drifted away from her own mind.

“Hermione!” Ron and Harry shouted. Ron ran to her side, holding her head in his lap. Harry stamped on the hand that held the wand. Hearing a crunch, and a cry of pain, Harry pointed his wand at Carrow and blew him off the floor and onto the wall behind him. A thud later, Harry kicked Carrow in the face and kicked the wand he still held out of his hand. He grabbed Carrow by the throat.

“Who sent you? ANSWER ME!!” Harry roared his anger at what he did to Hermione quickening. Harry eyes flashed red as he looked at the bastard on the wall.

“Snape, Let me go!” Carrow said his face full of scrapes from the light falling on him. “What did he want?” Harry said, his grip tightening.

“The stone, Stone.” Carrow choked out. Harry released him, but a second later, Harry did something that no one would have to deal with Carrow again.
“Flipendo!” He yelled. When Carrow was knocked on his knees, Harry turned to Hermione laying motionless on the floor, where Ron was stroking her hair. He turned back, backed up a bit and yelled the one spell that Carrow deserved.


“INCENDIO!!” Harry screamed. The Bluebell flame incantation flew from his wand, as cold blue flames rocked Carrows’ body. The purplish haze of his cremated body lifted, and his ashes burned a small hole into the floor, where he rested in the dirt below.

Racing over to Ron and Hermione, Harry got on his knees. Suddenly, he realized that Andromeda was not with Hermione. Putting his wand tip to her head, he chanted under his breath. His wand twitched in his hand as blue memory webs traced into his wand tip. Closing his eyes, he saw what had happened in the alley. He also saw that Andromeda was safely in the shed, away from harm. Hermione had saved Andromeda, but risked herself. Harry opened his eyes and ran through the house, through the busted door, and to the shed. He retched the door open and saw, to his relief that Andromeda was laying inside, a wand at her side. He gently took his wand and lifted her using the Wingardium Leviosa spell. Carefully, he floated her inside, and laid her on the couch. Turning to Ted, he told him she would be fine. She was just stunned in the face. Hermione, however, was deathly pale, and her hair was singed a little from the flames.
Ted took his wand and held it like a magnetic detector over her entire body. He looked at Harry and Ron and spoke, his voice crackling and his wound bleeding once again.

“She’s really ill. We need to get her to Hogwarts and Madame Pomfrey.” He said his eyes on Harry’s.

“What spell was it?” Ron asked, tears falling from his face and into her hair.

“It’s a spell they use to torture people into talking. They hit her squarely. She’s very Ill. You cannot wait to Floo. You must go now.” He said, pointing to the fireplace.

“But Andr…” Harry started. He silenced him.

“Do you want to save her? You must go now!” He said. Ron got up gently, bent down and picked her up, heading to the fireplace. Harry got up too. Grabbing some Floo from the glass jar Ron had filled, he threw it in front of Ron and Hermione and yelled, “Hogwarts!”. When the ash cleared, they had gone. Standing inside the fireplace, Harry turned to Ted, then Andromeda. With a flick of his wrist, he also disappeared. The Tonks home floated from view. As Harry closed his eyes, the spinning stopped. Opening them again, he saw that he was where he wanted to be most, Hogwarts.

Stepping out of the fireplace, the first person he saw was Professor McGonagall. She looked at Harry with concern.

“Are you alright, Potter?” She asked. When he nodded, she turned stern.

“Leaving the manor without anyone knowing! We had a heart attack! It’s a very good thing Ted Tonks send us an owl! Molly is very upset! And what has happened to Ms. Granger?” She said, her voice rose with each word.
Harry laid out the entire story to her in five minutes. She put her hand to her mouth and looked horrified.

“Ms. Granger?” She asked, when Harry told her about Hermione’s heroic act. Harry nodded.

“Where is she?” He asked.

“Mr. Weasley took her to Poppy. Go on and see her.” She said, pointing him from her office. He ran up the stairs, past Peeves, and into the hospital wing. Hermione laid in the first bed on the right, Ron by her side.

“How is she?” He asked, sitting on the other side of her. Ron looked tired and worn, but answered.

“Madame Pomfrey says she won’t be awake for a few days. He hit her in the middle of her back. Harry, why do they want that stupid stone for?” Ron asked his voice cracking. Harry shrugged. He hadn’t the answer.

“I don’t know, Ron. I don’t even have it. When Snape caught me, they went through my things, but they said it wasn’t in there. But I know I put it in there.” Harry said, his hands roughly messing his hair up.

“I don’t know Harry, but you do know she saved our asses. Stunning him, and then helping Ted….What if we lose her or something?” Ron said, leaning forward and holding her hand. She stirred, but did not wake.

“Yeah. She saved us, alright. And we won’t lose her. I….I mean, we, won’t let that happen. We will die first.” Harry said. He looked away from Ron. He had left Hermione to fend for herself, and he felt the blame for her laying here now. Sure, there was Ron, but he couldn’t help her either. Madame Pomfrey broke his thoughts.

“You both need to go. I’m going to be dressing her for bed now. Go on; get to your common room.” She said, shooing them out of the hospital wing. On their way to the common room, Harry glanced over and noticed someone in the dark staircase looking at Ron. Lavender Brown was heading the opposite direction, but her eyes were on Ron. Harry had an idea. He was sure he could get some love potion somewhere. What if Ron “accidentally” drank some with Lavender Brown in his midst? Harry smiled silently as the door to the common room opened and he entered with Ron, the door closing on his back and his plan….