Deception Hurts More Than Death

‘Although Philimenathia has been around long before Shakespeare, many have titled it the 'Romeo and Juliet' plant. Although it may be used for many things from headaches, warts and Narcolepsy.’

‘But most attribute it with the effect it can have if brewed with Ginger root, hence the 'Romeo and Juliet' title. If brewed with ginger root at the proper temperature Philimenathia may give off the affect of death.'
Ron nearly dropped the book. He stared ahead, not wanting to believe the insane ideas coming in his head. He looked back to the book.
'The individual who wishes to create this affect would drink the brew. In under an hour they would be in a deep sleep. So deep in fact, their heart rate slows, their breathing shortens, so drastically, it is not visible and they appear dead. Their body temperature will also drop, to the touch they will feel dead. Every base is covered. No one would know the difference. The individual will appear peaceful, as if they are in a deep sleep.'

This time Ron dropped the book. Everything flashed in front of him.

**
Neville was at St. Mungo's that night, waiting for them.
"Guys, I'm so sorry. I was teaching a class and rushed down as soon as I heard." He gave Ginny a tight hug as she wept on his chest. He pulled away from Ginny and placed his hand on Ron's shoulder. "They need someone to identify the bodies, immediate family. I tried and they wouldn't let me." Ron nodded his head.

"Ron." It's all Ginny could make herself say. Ron grabbed her hand.
"It's okay., Ginny. It's better me then you." Ron stepped to the door and turned around. "Can you come with me? I don't want to go alone." Ron asked Neville, who nodded and followed him in. They looked peaceful, as if in a deep sleep. They were clean, no bruises, no blood. "Why aren't they more, hurt?" Ron asked, his voice shaking.

"The healers always put concealment charms on them, for times like this. It’s easier on the family and friends if they don’t look all mangled.” Neville said, less caring than he should have.

“Is this Hermione Jane Weasley and Harry James Potter?” A healer came and asked Ron. He only nodded. “And you are Ronald Weasley, wife and brother-in-law to the deceased?” Again, Ron nodded. “I’m so sorry. Thank you for coming in.” The healer left around the corner and Ron turned to Neville.

“Can we go now?” Neville nodded. Before they left Ron reached down and brushed his finger across Hermione’s cheek. She was cold as ice. He pulled his hand away, regretting doing it. Wishing his last memory of touching her was when she was warm, and alive. Ron hugged Ginny as he re-entered the hall.

“They’re really dead? It’s not a mistake? You saw them?” She plead. Ron nodded against her head, and Ginny wept again.

**

Harry and Hermione were cremated, and Harry gave eighty percent of his money to an undisclosed charity.

“What do you mean they were cremated?” Ron shouted. Ginny next to him, holding his arm, stopping him from attacking the lawyer.
“It is what they requested in their wills.” The lawyer calmly answered.

“I want to see this. My sister and I gave no consent for this. I want proof it’s what they wanted.” Ron yelled. Visions of Hermione burning scarring his mind.

“Wills are private, unless otherwise stated. And neither party wanted information disclosed, to anyone.” The lawyer, again, calmly answered.

“It’s fine, Ron. There is nothing we can do. It’s already done. Sorry, Mr. Clinefelt, for my brother’s behavior.” Ginny nodded to him.

“There is one other matter that involves you Mrs. Potter.” The lawyer stated. Ginny looked at him in anticipation. He looked to Ron, and back to her.

“My brother may stay in the room. Now what is it?” Ginny requested.

“Mr. Potter’s assets. He liquidated eighty percent of them to an undisclosed charity in the event of his passing. It still leaves you a considerable amount of money, but I needed to tell you of this matter, seeing as you are his beneficiary.”

“What charity?” Ron yelled, still fuming from before.

“Like I said, Mrs. Potter, it was undisclosed. You may be able to get some information from the goblin’s at Gringott’s, they are the one’s who arranged it with Mr. Potter.” Mr. Clinefelt nodded to Ginny.

“Thank you, sir.” Ginny turned to Ron and pulled him to the door.

“This is bullshit, Ginny.” Ron yelled, in the hallway of the offices.

“Ron, I don’t care about Harry’s money. Like the lawyer said, even twenty percent makes me well off. I don’t know why you are so upset. What’s done is done. Harry wanted the money to go to charity, so it did. He wanted to get cremated, so he did. We can’t go against their wishes.” Ginny hugged Ron, trying to calm him down.

“I just don’t like how we are kept out of all of this. We didn’t know they wanted this? Were we that uninvolved, to not know this stuff?” Ron asked, but Ginny did not answer. The truth being too painful.

**

When he ran into Neville and questioned him on the Philimenathia, he had stuttered greatly and seemed surprised to be asked.

"So, Ron, how are you really holding up? I hope you're doing better then her." Neville asked concerned.

"I'm doing fine, Neville, really. I wanted to talk to you about something else. I was going through Hermione's office and came across a scrap of paper with your writing on it. It said 'Philimenathia' on it. What does that mean?" Ron asked, steering clear of any talk of him.

"Oh, that.....well it's a plant she asked about..... it ....uh... helps you sleep. She was having a hard time sleeping a few months ago and asked if I knew of anything that would help." Neville stuttered, acting almost guilty of something.

"Really, hmmmm. I don't remember her mentioning anything about not getting sleep. Thanks, Neville."

Then when he went to apologize he heard those voices and he swore it was Hermione. Then he saw her in the fire. She was as clear to him as if she were standing in front of him. Neville talked him into to going out of town and when he comes home the only evidence he has of all of this is gone. But how would he have gotten in the house, he thought? Ron’s mind ran a mile a minute, flashes of the last month making him dizzy. He slid down the wall and sat down, leaning over to pick the book back up. He continued to read from where he left off.

‘If an individual chooses to do such, as the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ effect, they must be awakened by someone within two hours, or truly sleep forever. See, Ranchilia, for details. The author must strictly warn readers, Philimenathia is a wondrous plants, but please use extreme caution when using for death effect, if instructions are not followed carefully, it will result in death. Only use in extreme circumstances.’

Ron lowered the book to the floor at his side, he couldn’t believe it. If he was right in his thinking, Harry and Hermione were alive, they had faked their death for the ultimate get away. Ron could imagine everything.

**

Harry and Hermione go to Neville for help, knowing he kept their secret once and would do it again.

“Neville, please, I know you’re upset with us now, with everything we just told you, but please, we don’t know what else to do?” Hermione begged Neville. “You’re the only one we know we can trust.”

Neville nodded and turned to his desk. He grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled something down. He handed it to Hermione. She read it and looked to him, confusion on her face.

“Read about it and let me know. It’s the only thing I can think of.” Neville looked to Harry, who had mostly been quiet. “You were always there for me. Always stood up for me. You always protected me. You are a true friend. I don’t condone what you have done, but I will do what I can to help you.” Harry smiled a weak smile to Neville and nodded.

After researching the plant, Harry and her decide to do it, it’s the best option. Harry travels to Gringott’s, tells the goblins he needs to withdrawal and tells them to adjust his will saying it was for an undisclosed charity. They will agree to anything for the right price, and so they do. They get everything in order with Neville.

**

They plan a night of fighting and storming out and they meet.

“I can’t take this anymore. All we do is fight. We barely ever see each other and when we do you bring up stupid shit, Ronald!” Hermione yelled.

“Well, if you didn’t make me feel like a worthless asshole all the time then I wouldn’t bring up stupid shit, Hermione!” Ron yelled back.

“I’m not staying here. I’m going out. Don’t wait up for me!” Hermione stormed out of the house. But before she could reach the door Ron yelled back.

“I won’t! Don’t feel obligated to come back at all, if I’m that horrible!”

**

Harry gets his car, stands on the curb, on an isolated street and waves his wands, the car flies through the air into the light pole. He and Hermione rush to St. Mungo’s, where Neville is waiting.

“It’s going to taste awful. I’ll wake you guys in two hours. Ron and Ginny are on their way already. We’ll get one of them in to see you dead, and there should be no loose ends.” Neville rushed his sentences, out of breath from nervousness.

“Thanks, Neville. You’ll never know what this means.” Harry said, placing his hand on Neville’s shoulder. Neville nods and hands Harry a vile. He turns to Hermione and hands it to her as well.

“And your sure this won’t hurt the baby?” She asks for the hundredth time.

“I’ve researched it as much as I could, and there is no problem. It won’t affect the baby. And since no one knows your pregnant, no one will look to your stomach for a heartbeat. The healer on duty is new, she has no idea who you guys are. I told her it’s a practical joke. She will act professional.” Neville looked to the clock, and synchronize his watch. “Drink it now.”

Harry and Hermione look to each other, take a huge breath and down the vile. They both gag on the taste and chuckle. They kiss each other softly and lay on the cold, metal slabs. They slowly drift asleep, and Neville takes his place in the hall.

**

Ron says his final good-byes to them both. As he and Ginny leave the hospital Neville gives them the antidote and they awaken.

“Everything went as planned. Ron came in and identified you, the healer did great. They left a few minutes ago. I had the healer check on your baby while you were coming to and everything is fine. I’ll place the memory charm on her once you’ve left. She won’t remember a thing. I feel like the lowest piece of shit for this, but it worked.” Neville says, hurt on his face.

“I know, Nev. How do you think we feel?” Harry said, still groggy from the sleep.

“You know we can’t tell you where we’re going, but we will contact you when we can. We’ll pop into your fire at Hogwarts. It’s the safest way.” Hermione finally spoke, her hand on her stomach, still fearful of the baby, despite the check.

“Thanks again, Nev. You’ll never know what this means to us.” Harry patted Neville on the back. Neville looked out into the hallway and nodded back to them. They covered themselves in Harry’s invisibility cloak and vanished.

**

Hermione realizes how Ron must know about them. She contacts Neville and tells him what it is and how he can get in the house, past the wards and get the pensieve. Neville enters the house while Ron is away and takes the pensieve.

“It’s taken care of. I poured your memories into a flask and cast it into a fire. Then I shattered the pensieve against the ground down by the lake. There will be no proof that the pensieve even existed.” Neville spoke to his fireplace.

“Thanks, Neville. I think in all of my rush and panic to get out of London, I total forgot I had that. I fucked it all up. He knows everything now anyway. Do you think he’ll tell Ginny? Then all of this was for nothing.” Hermione asked, distraught.

“I don’t think Ron would put her through that. Plus, she’ll want proof and he doesn’t have it now. Don’t worry. He’ll know you did all of it not to hurt him. You tried your best not to love Harry, you just couldn’t. And he’ll still think your dead.” Neville tried to comfort her.

“We’ll contact you in a few weeks to make sure everything is okay. Thanks.” And Hermione disappeared from the fire.

**

Ron understood it all. He saw everything so clearly. Their plan was impeccable, all except the pensieve. If he hadn’t found the pensieve, he would have never known. He would have lost them both and never looked twice. And despite it all Ron was thankful they weren’t dead. They had led the worst deception possible, had cause more pain then they could imagine, but they were alive.

Amidst the pain and sorrow he had to chuckle. They went through all of it for nothing, it seemed. He had known the truth and all thought they did spare Ginny, it would have all been easier if they had told the truth. The same goes for Romeo and Juliet. If they had told the truth, they would have lived. They could have ended their parents feud and lived happily ever after. Harry and Hermione were never destined to be in love, they had duties and expectations that drew them apart. But their love was too strong, and they came together. They went to unbelievable depths to keep it a secret and make a life together, and they did it all with the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ plant. He couldn’t help but chuckle.


THERE WILL BE ONE MORE CHAPTER. MAYBE TWO, SO KEEP A LOOK OUT