HARRY POTTER AND THE STONE OF DUMBLEDORE’S MANOR

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Vindicated and The Story Behind the Stone

THREE DAYS LATER

Ron lowered himself in his chair. He was in Transfiguration with Harry. He did not want Harry to know he saw what went on in the dorm, and he certainly did not want him to know what he had done to the stone. Ron remembered coming back from the Room of Requirement, where he often went to hide from people. He had gone back into the common room, when he saw the orange light around the door. Hermione had taught him what it meant and he had snuck up to the door. Hearing nothing from inside. He came down to the common room. Ron had found the stone sitting near his trunk (which he had stored in the small notch near the portrait of Noah the Magnificent because someone kept putting stink pellets in it). He knew it wasn’t there before. He had picked it up, and inside the granite center, he saw what was unfolding upstairs. His anger was strong. First, he had thrown the stone, but it did nothing more that issue sounds of their love-making through it. Ron had then whipped out his wand and destroyed the stone that held his heart in limbo.

Professor McGonagall snapped Ron back into reality. Ron looked around and saw everyone else getting up from their seats and heading to get the Streelers McGonagall set out for them to change into Alarm clocks.

“Mr. Weasley, if you don’t pay more attention here, I will keep you after. Now, please, go get your Streeler.” She said, pointing to the front of the class. Harry had already sat down with his and was trying to transfigure it. Ron got up, got his streeler and sat down again. He looked at it with disgust. He tried to transfigure it, but instead he turned it into a fat crow. Harry laughed.

“Oh, man. Mate, you got to jab it, not hit it on the head.” Harry laughed. At the corner of the room, Hermione looked over, then back down. She had started to sit away from them both, because Harry and Ron sat together all the time. She had not spoken to Ron since that night, and Harry she spoke to only in private. Hermione did not know if she was doing the right thing by doing exactly what Ron had did to her back to him. She didn’t care either. She felt betrayed and she wanted Ron to feel what it was like to suffer. Though she did not see him last night, she knew he had watched what happened with her and Harry. Her love for him died when he was seen laying on the stone floor with that slut Lavender Brown. She took the streeler she was working on, and turned it into an alarm clock with no effort at all. She looked once more at Ron and Harry, and this time, Ron returned her stare. His eyes glowed with guilt to her, but hers glowed of rage and hurt. He looked away from her as the bell rang.

Hermione gathered her stuff and headed for the door. A hand on her shoulder made her turn around. Ron stood there, his hand still firmly on her shoulder. Harry walked past, but looked all the same. Ron spoke to her, his voice more of a commanding then a suggestive tone.

“We need to talk, Hermione.” He said. She did not turn to face him. She simply walked away from him. He caught up to her and walked beside her.

“Hermione, I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything! I swear! I love you, and you know that. Why would I do anything to hurt that? It don’t make sense….Harry gave me…..Wait! Harry!” He said, his teeth grinding. Hermione stopped and turned to him looking at him with some curiosity.

“What about him, Ron?” She snapped.

“He gave me this letter that day! Said he didn’t know who gave it to him! I bet….” He started. “Hermione, I’ll be back. Meet me at Hagrid’s.” And with that, he ran off into the opposite direction.


Ron ran to the girls’ dorm. A group of girls were coming out of the hole. Ron looked among them but did not see Lavender. He asked one of the girls that emerged from the hole.

“Have you seen Lavender?” Ron asked her. The girl shook her head and walked on. Ron waited for a minute or two before he saw her come from the hole. She saw him and made a beeline for him. She reached up and kissed his lips. Ron pushed her away. Looking at her shocked face, he asked her something.

“Did you write me a letter the night…well, you know..” Ron asked.

“No. You wrote me a letter. Ron, what is going on here?” She asked, her arms crossing.

“I think I made a mistake, Lavender. I mean, I don’t think we were meant to sleep together.” He said truthfully. She looked horrified.

“So, you didn’t want to sleep with me?” She asked, her eyes huge.

“No.”

“Why did you, then?” She asked her eyes full of tears. He shrugged.

“I don’t know, really.”

“You’re a jerk, Ronald Weasley!” She sobbed, running off and out of sight. Ron left, making his way to Hagrid’s for Magical Creatures lesson. He went out of the huge doors that hid the inner Hogwarts. He walked down the long stone steps, and into the grounds that Hagrid called his yard. He saw Hermione standing next to Harry. She moved from him when she saw Ron. He stood beside her, but did not talk because Hagrid was explaining the lesson.

“Alrigh’ there! So, ye can grab yerselfs a Skrewt. And I know ye already studied them, but ya need to learn how to de-explode them now. Get yerselfs a partner, a skrewt, and get goin’! And them are double-ended skrewts they be!” He said, his belly jiggling with laughter. The crowd of students disbursed and Ron followed Hermione over to the table where the skrewts were being held. He grabbed one, then made his way to Hermione, who had sat down behind a tree. She looked annoyed, as she turned away from him.

“Hermione, Harry lied to me and you. Harry gave us those letters so we would meet. I asked Lavender if she had sent me the letter.” Ron said to her.
Wrong thing to say.

“Oh! So that is where you went? To talk to her?” She said, turning a fierce look at him. He recoiled.

“Look, I didn’t realize what was happening! Harry must have…” He started.

“Old desires don’t just not happen, Ron. You slept with her! And you have the nerve to blame Harry?” She said loudly. Ron put his finger to his lips to quite her.

“No, Ron. You slept with her when you were supposed to be with me! You messed it all up, Ron. Big time!” She said, closing her Care of Magical Creatures book, and looking away. This enraged Ron.

“But it’s okay to sleep with Harry then?” He said his voice cracking. Hermione looked at him with something between shock and surprise. “Oh, yes. I did see it. And you call me on the carpet about messing things up?” He said, his satisfaction of her shock echoing in his body.

“But you started it! Sleeping with that hussy! And anyway, we aren’t together anymore, remember?” She said. It was his turn to issue a shocked face.

“Over? You can’t be serious?!” Ron said, turning himself to see her face better. He saw she was.

“What did you think? I would still be with you?” She said sarcastically. Ron had enough. He grabbed his wand from his pocket, and headed over across the grassy hill. Hermione knew where he was going, and ran after him, leaving her things behind near the tree. She ran in front of him, but he bypassed her and continued on. He got to where he wanted.

“Ron, NO!” Hermione yelled. Ron ignored her. Taking aim at Harry’s back, Ron unleashed a spell Harry knew well, but had no time to defend.


“Sectrumsempra!” Ron shouted. All this anger toward Harry came to a head. Sleeping with Hermione again just made him lose control. The spell Harry had found bounced from Ron’s wand and hit Harry between the shoulder blades. Harry gave a small moan before he fell forward onto his knees, the back of his robes torn in three clean lines. Blood leaked from the wounds. Hagrid and the students looked stunned at first. Hermione, on the other hand, had fallen to her knees and turned Harry over.


“Harry! Are you alright? Someone get Madame Pomfrey NOW!” She roared. She felt his face. He was not responding, and his skin was turning blue. With quick thinking, Hermione whipped her wand out and pointed it at Harry.


She mumbled an incantation as she moved her wand near his head. Nothing. Hagrid had come to his senses, and had grabbed Ron by the arm and roughly shoved him out of the way. Hagrid picked up Harry, and carried him off to the hospital wing. Hermione, shaking with fear and anger, whipped around at Ron, who was still sprawled on his back.

“You bastard!” She shouted to him. “Don’t you ever talk to me again!” And with that, she turned around and ran after Hagrid and Harry. Ron got up, looked around at the shocked faces on everyone, and walked away, down the path that led away from Hogwarts. He knew he messed up, and big. He didn’t care really. He knew that he had just made another mistake that drove him further from Hermione and her closer to Harry.


Hagrid placed Harry onto a bed that was unoccupied. Madame Pomfrey rushed over and took one look at Harry and rushed to get replenishing potion. She returned, and forcefully opened his mouth and made him drink it.

“What happened to him, Rubeus?” She asked, sitting the bottle on the nightstand. Hermione, who had followed Hagrid, answered.

“He was attacked. They used Sectrumsempra on him.” She said, standing next to Harry. His face was pale and he did not move.

“Who did it?” She asked, looking from Hagrid to Hermione.

Hagrid looked at Hermione, and then did something unexpected.

“We didn’t see, Poppy. He just went down.” Hagrid said, looking at Hermione’s open mouth. She was about to protest, when Hagrid spoke once more.

“I’ll take Hermione here to see Minerva. Excuse us. He will be ok, right?” Hagrid asked. Poppy nodded her head. Hagrid nodded, and then guided Hermione out.

“Hagrid! Why did you do that?” Hermione asked when they were far enough away.

“I promised I wouldn’t tell.” he replied.

“Ron told you about what is going on, didn’t he?” She arched her eyebrows.

“No…..Ok, he did. But Hermione, you have to understand that Ron ain’t meanin’ to be this way. He told me about what happened with…what’s her name?” Hagrid asked, looking sideways at her.

“Whore. Her name is whore.” Hermione replied nastily. Hagrid’s lip curled.

“The point is,” Hagrid started. “Is that the boy is in love with you, Hermione. He told me he didn’t remember anything that happened. He said he just felt funny an’ all.” Hagrid told her, his eyes straight ahead.

“And you believe him?” She asked her voice rough.

“I do, Hermione. An’ so should you. Amorentia is something’ that can make you forget what happened. I ain’t sayin’ what he did was righ’, but you need to think about it. He loves you. Do you really want him expelled from Hogwarts for this?” Hagrid asked her.

“No.” She said quietly. “Did he tell you anything about Harry?” She asked.

“Came ‘round last nigh’ talkin’ bout Harry. He just said he thought maybe Harry had something’ ter do with what went on. I don’t know bout all tha’.” Hagrid said, as they approached the office of McGonagall.

“Just let him talk to you is all. Hermione, you need this and so does he. Harry isn’t the person yer supposed to be with. I’ve known it a while now.” He smiled at her. With a wave of his large hand, he left her. She knocked on McGonagall’s door. Going inside when Minerva answered, she saw Ron had been caught. He was now sitting in the chair to the right of the large desk. Hermione took the left one and stared straight ahead. With that, McGonagall opened her mouth, but not to talk. Shouting, she relayed the punishment for them both.

Walking back to the common room together, but in silence, they had five weeks of cleaning out the owlery. Heading past the one-eyed witch, Ron reluctantly looked over at Hermione. Her head down, she kept walking.

“How is Harry?” Ron asked, truly feeling guilty at what he had done. Not to mention the school was talking now.

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry. I really am.”

“Ok.”

“Hermione, you need to talk to me.”

“No, I don’t.” She kept walking as he stopped.

“Please, Hermione! I’m begging you to!” He pleaded. This seemed to make her stop. She turned to him, and then checked her watch.

“Five minutes, Ronald. Five!”

He walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I talked to Lavender today. No! Listen!” He said, as Hermione walked away again. “Turns out, Lav got a letter from Harry that was supposed to be from me!” Ron said. Hermione scoffed. “Look! I can prove it! Can you test the cup I had pumpkin Juice in? I know he put something in it!” Ron asked, his eyes alight.

“What? You think he put Amorentia in your juice? Ron, it’s late. Please, let’s be serious.”

“I mean it! Could you?” He asked. She sighed. “Fine, Ron. Bring me the damn cup, and I’ll do a substance detecting charm. Now, your five minutes are up.” She said, not saying goodnight, she turned and vanished into the darkened hallway.


The next morning, Hermione went to visit Harry. He was alert, but weak. He smiled at her as she entered the wing.

“Hi.” He said.

“Hi.”

“You look beautiful as always.” He told her. She simply smiled. He looked troubled. “You alright?”

“Actually, No. Did you do something to Ron’s drink?” She asked. For not more than ten minutes ago, Ron had brought her his cup. She did the substance detecting charm on it. It in deed showed Amorentia in it. Ron was overjoyed.

Harry looked as though he just got hit in the face by a bludger. He looked away. The wounds that Ron had inflicted burned, so he had to sit on an incline so his back would not touch anything.

“Oh, my god! You did do it! Didn’t you?” She got to her feet and advanced on him. He looked kind of scared as she neared.

“It was for us…to be together!” Harry said defiantly. Before he could say another thing, Hermione had launched at him.

Punching him in the side of the face, he retreated, his back touching his pillow. He cried out in pain. Hermione launched a punch at his chest. A cry from the back of her sent her off her feet.
“Protego!” Madame Pomfrey had sent the spell to them as she saw Hermione on Harry.

“Ms. Granger! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!” She pointed to the door. Hermione looked at Harry and said one thing before she got to her feet and ran from the wing:

“You asshole!”

Harry looked at the blur of her, and knew he was caught. He tried and failed to make her his. Again, Ron had won her. He decided then and there, that he was not going to try to make something that just wasn’t with Hermione. He instead, could try to get her the old fashion way…..Doing it behind Ron’s back. He would make her fall into his web and she would do whatever her passion told her to. Harry knew Hermione could not control her passion when it came down to Her passion had made her make what she called a “mistake” three times with him. Many more would come if he had his say……


Ron was happier than ever. Hermione finally realized the truth. That Harry was the lying, cheating bastard. Hermione had come back from her visit with Harry visibly upset. Ron did not know if he could comfort her. But he stopped her near the stairs she was headed to. He turned her around and hugged her tightly. She did not let go, but instead, clinged to his chest for dear life. Ron stroked her hair.

“I’m sorry, Ron. I didn’t think he would be capable of this!” She said, crying into his shirt.

“It’s alright. You know the truth. I really didn’t want to sleep with…”

“That bitch.” Hermione finished, Ron smiled. “Bitch.” He agreed. He reached her lips with his. The taste he so longed for during this disaster, had him on another planet, His mouth filling hers as she looked into his eyes. She pulled away. She did not want to end up doing something she wasn’t sure she wanted just yet.

“Hermione, I need to tell you something.” He then told her about what the stone showed, his anger showing and how he destroyed the stone.

“Ron! How could you destroy it? You knew it was important!” She said, though she looked like she was thinking. “Come on.” She pulled him by the hand.

“Where are you taking me? The broom closet?” He said hopefully. The look on her face made him cringe. “Sorry.” He mumbled for his bad joke.

“The library, and If I ever see you in a broom closet with anyone but me, Ill jinx your belt to strangle you!” She said, a smile playing on her lips. He shrugged, “Won’t need to worry bout that. If I ever see you with anyone else, I’ll jinx their …” He let the sentence trail off, but Hermione got the idea.

They headed to the library. Hermione knew her way around, and led Ron to the section labeled THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY DEPARTMENT. Hermione took down an old book labeled SEER STONES AND FUTURE TELLING GRAPHITES.

“I knew it was here!” She said, taking the book to a vacant table. Ron sat beside her as she flipped through the pages.

“Here it is!” She said pointing to an exact replica of the stone Ron destroyed. She read the excerpt aloud:

In 1432, Arimand the Armless invented the Seeing Stone. When this stone is enchanted using the right incantations, it can be used to unseal futures of those in which the Seeing stone is left for. The person wishing to enchant the stone must first have it taken to a seer, who can enchant it with spells that affect the future. Once the stone is enchanted, the person with the stone will then leave it for the person in which it was meant for by hiding it somewhere about. The stone is known to show what the desirer needs to see. Used in the wrong hands, and with the right breakable incantations, the stone can be unlocked and seen by those who are less then honorable. Only two of such stones are known to be around today. In 1636, a stone was taken from a seer named Miranda Trelawney. Those, and the other stone, are missing to this day.

“The seer must have been Trelawney’s kin! But how did Dumbledore come to get the stone?” Ron asked. Hermione shushed him and read on.


It is believed the Miranda Trelawney took the stone.

Hermione thought a minute.

“What if she never really took it? What if she gave it to someone or put it somewhere?” Hermione thought aloud.

“What?” Ron asked, confused.

“Well, I mean, she is a seer. What if she foreseen this in the stone after she incanted it? She could have hid it in the plaque at Dumbledore manor knowing Harry would find it?” She said, looking at Ron with satisfaction.

“But what about Dumbledore? How would he have known it was it the plaque?” Ron asked.

“Think about it! Who did Dumbledore go see that night he was looking for a tea reader?” Hermione said. She did not wait for his reply. “Trelawney! Our Trelawney.” She said, excitedly. Ron got it.

“You mean Trelawney told Dumbledore that night? That her great-whatever hid this in his house?” Ron asked. “Didn’t you say she was an old fraud?” He smiled. She playfully slapped his arm. The story was far from over.

“Why did it show me what was going on with…You know…..That night?” Ron asked. Hermione thought.

“I don’t know.” She admitted. She thought she had an idea. “Maybe because it is a Seer stone. I mean, what if she predicted that we would be with Harry when he picked the stone up. Wouldn’t it effect us to?”

Ron shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t ever want it to show me anything like that again!” Hermione was pink in the face with embarrassment. “Don’t be embarrassed. You were still hot.” He smiled. Hermione closed the book and bent her head to allow him to kiss her. She was happy again. But she still had to make amends with Harry, so she could tell him this information. Ron would not be happy, but he would need to deal with it. This was important…. Hermione realized something as she pulled away from Ron, who grunted in protest.

“Wait! There is another stone somewhere! The book said two. So who has the other?” She asked herself more than Ron. Ron shrugged anyway.

“Voldemort?”

“No, or he wouldn’t have sent Snape and Malfoy to retrieve it. Who would have had access to the stone? And where is it now?” Hermione asked herself, her eyes alight with wonder.

Hermione thought another minute on it then decided she would need to come back to that when she needed to. She got up and returned the book. She and Ron left the library with little more information then they arrived with. Now, she had to go to Harry and Ron would not like that all.


Harry sat in bed, his eyes flickering to the small window beside his bed. The stars had come out and he was looking at them shining so bright. The hospital wing was dark and Harry was the only one inside it. He sighed, then turned away from the window. He had to wonder how this war was going to end, over top of wondering if Hermione could ever forgive him enough.
A sharp rap on the door of the wing made Harry twitch. He could not reach his wand, which was placed on the nightstand that he had used for his medications. The door flew open quietly, and two figures emerged through it.

“Ouch, Ron,” Hermione whispered, “That was my foot!” Harry knew then it was Hermione coming toward him Ron in tow behind her.

“You aren’t supposed to be here.” Harry replied, his face hidden in darkness. Hermione fumbled for something.

“Lumos.” She said, flicking her wand up. The tip of her wand lit their faces and the cubicle Harry was in. “Yeah, well, we need to talk.” She replied.

“Look, I told you I was sorry about…” He started.

“It’s not about that.”

“Well, then, apology excepted.” Harry looked at Ron and stared at him.

“I didn’t come to apologize, you git!” Ron said angrily.

“Shut up! Both of you!” Hermione shouted. Ron clamed up as did Harry. “This is not about apologizing, but if it were, you both would be apologizing all damn week to me…” She said. “No, Harry, it’s about the stone.” Hermione relayed what Ron had done (though not why), and the information they gathered.

“Seeing Stone? Trelawney? Two?” Harry repeated his face in thought. Ron, who had his hand on Hermione’s knee, was also thinking. Hermione, however, sighed deeply.

“Apparently, someone other that Trelawney got a hold of the other stone. It’s missing. We need to find that stone.” She said.

“But we don’t know who has it. It’s been ages since it’s been stolen! It could be anywhere and with anyone!” Harry said, his face falling. Hermione looked the same way. She nodded her head.

“I agree. But we’ve got to try and locate it. Harry, we need it. It’s the only way to see what’s going to happen with this war. And I know Voldemort does not have it. He sent Snape and Malfoy to get it.” She said. She shifted in her seat, which made Ron’s hand fall off her knee.

“It’s hopeless, Hermione. We are never going to find a stone that has been missing for ages! We don’t even know where to start! How the hell do we track down something when we don’t have a clue to where it is?” Harry said, his head turned away from them, and he smashed his hand onto the tray next to his bed.

Hermione took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. Although she was angry at Harry for what he had done, she had to let him know what she was thinking.

“So, you’re going to give up? The Harry Potter I knew would not give up! And you need to remember that Ginny died because she and her family were trying to protect you! You can’t walk away from this now, Harry. Ron and I are here to help you, and even though you both have done things that were stupid and petty, I need you. We need you. Hogwarts needs you.” She said, her hand still placed upon his shoulder. Harry looked at her, then Ron. He nodded his head and looked down.

“I’ll look up some things at the library and see what I can find. No guarantees, Okay?” She smiled a little. He smiled in turn. If he dared, he could kiss her sweet lips, like he wanted to do so badly. But instead, he tapped her hand with his. “Okay.” He replied.

Hermione and Ron left quietly after a while. As they left, Harry saw Hermione and Ron hold hands. His loneliness for her seemed to grow. Ron and he had apologized to one another for what was going on. Hermione had chosen Ron, and Harry could not, would not, except that. But he had to play the part of friend to him. Harry needed Ron more that Ron needed Harry. He had to remain a “mate” to Ron. Harry laid awake, his thoughts returning to the stone. Who could have it? Where is it? Why did they take it? Harry fell asleep, but his dreams were invaded by Hermione and the stone. And what Harry saw in the dream stone did not make him feel safe at all. The last thing he remembered before he fell into a deep slumber was the image of Hermione flying into a gravestone after being hit by the Avada Kedavra. As Harry looked up to see who had cast it, he was staring into his own eyes….And then the blackness of deep sleep took him once more to a dreamless sleep.


Hermione and Ron made it back to the common room late. The fire just embers now, they sat on the couch. Hermione looked into the fire, flicked her wand, and produced a fresh fire. She looked troubled.

“What’s a matter, Hermione?” Ron said, pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his broad chest.

“I’m worried about Harry. I mean, he sounds as if he is just giving up. We can’t let him do that. We need him.” She said, burying her face into Ron’s shirt.

“He won’t give up, Hermione. He’s just trying to figure out what’s going on here. Some one takes the stone. Where is it? He doesn’t mean what he says. Yeah, it’s been ages, but it is somewhere.” Ron said, his face buried in her hair. He moved his arms down to her waist so he could allow her to lean more onto him.

“But where?” Hermione said, her voice muffled as she had her mouth buried into his shirt. They sat like this for a long while. Either understanding that they had to take things slower or they would end up doing what had already been done between them again.


Harry got released from the hospital the next day. Ron was waiting outside for him, as Hermione told him he had to or he would not be able to kiss her until he did.

“Hey.” Ron said.

“Hey.”

“Hermione is at the library, You up for some research?” Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. “You?” Ron shook his head, which made Harry, laugh.

They walked into the library annex. They searched the isles for Hermione. Coming to the end of one of the shelves, they heard a familiar drawl.

“My mother insisted I come back here for term. This hell hole is nothing more than a place for me to enhance my skills and join the ranks of…” Draco Malfoy stopped at the site of Ron and Harry. He came nearer, followed by Goyle and Crabbe.

“Potter, the murderer. Surprised they let you back in here, being that you murdered my father! I’ll get you Potter! It’s one thing to smash me against a vase, Potter, another to kill my father. I will fu…” He stopped, as Hermione had come around the corner, her wand raised.

“If you want to keep your nuts, I suggest you move your ass.” She said, pointing at his genital area. Draco looked at her wand, then at her. He left without another word.

“Remind me to never make her angry at me again.” Ron mumbled to Harry, who nodded.

“Okay, so I found something we can use.” She said, replacing her wand in her pocket. Ron and Harry gathered around her as she sat the book she had onto the table. She opened it and slid it to Harry.

“Read the page on the left.” She said, pointing to it. His eyes followed her finger as he read.


Miranda Trelawney--Born 1620 Died 1674

Miranda Trelawney was born in Otter St. Catchpole to a poor mother, Rosita, and a rich wizard-father, Grindland. In her early years, Miranda found she had the gift to see into the future, when an Auror accidentally knocked her in the head with his sneakoscope. She began to foretell certain events and was often shunned because she would murmur to people about their untimely deaths. Her one and only friend, her husband, Matacolo Black, began to carve her predictions into wood from old willows. He was arrested for destroying 200,000 year old trees, and sentenced to 14 years in Azkaban. Miranda gave birth to a daughter, Paralisa, before her husband was tried in front of the Wizengamot. In 1666, her husband was released. He died some ten years later. Miranda died two years earlier in a potions related death.

“Black? Surely not?” Harry asked, the shock echoing on Ron’s face as well. “It isn’t possible is it?” Harry asked Hermione, who just shrugged.
“He did have a lot of holes burned into that drapery, Harry. Isn’t it possible that his relative was much like he was, a supporter of doing what was right? Perhaps he took the other stone into the jail or in his old house?” Hermione offered. Ron looked confused.

“His old house?” Harry asked, confused.

“Read on, Harry.” Hermione said. Harry lowered his eyes once more and read.


The home in which Miranda shared with her husband, is still standing. Right beside the now famous James and Lilly Potter’s home in Godric’s Hollow. Although the house has been empty for thousands of years, it is the site of many sordid activities. One, which led to the death of James and Lilly Potter thousands of years later. They are now buried side by side, and their souls rest in peace.


“Next to my parents? In Godric’s Hollow?” Harry asked, his eyes watering at the thought of his parents. Hermione took his hand and squeezed. Harry looked away from her. “And what do they mean ‘many sordid activities. One that led to the death of James and Lily Potter’.”?

“It’s believed Voldemort hid there the night he…and he waited for your father to come out of the house. He probably was not wearing his cloak. And…” Hermione trailed off.

“My dad did not have his cloak that night. Dumbledore had borrowed it.” Harry said. Though he did not know how Hermione knew this information, he did not bother to ask her either. And he had no interest in telling her about how he knew Dumbledore had the cloak.

“You know what we need to do, don’t you?” Hermione said, her hand still firmly locked on his. He nodded.

“How are we going to get there?” Ron asked, ignoring the hand holding.

“I think I can make a portkey. But we need to do it soon. Harry, I need to go and try to do this portkey. Come to the entrance hall tonight. Bring the cloak.” She said. Harry looked surprised.

“I don’t have my cloak anymore. They took my cloak when they captured us.”

“Damn. Well, I’ll meet you at the common room. I’ll disillusion you and Ron, then.” She said. Not bothering to replace the books, she got up and left. Ron made to follow her.

“No, mate. I think she wants you and me to meet her there.” Harry said, his eyes twinkling. Ron looked flush.

“Oh, right, yeah.” He said, sitting back down.


Hermione was sitting on the floor of her dorm, looking at some portkey making instructions. Though she had never done it before, she was sure she could do it. She looked at the book, and then pointed her wand at the small broken broom she had stolen from Filtch. With a complicated wave, she chanted under her breath. The broom lit up blue. Hermione smiled in satisfaction. She did not touch the portkey, even though she knew she had timed it for ten that night. Instead, she went over to the dorm window, used the floating charm to float the broken broom out the window and into the grounds below.


Heading down the stairs, she caught site of Ron and Harry. Both near the fire. She hurried over to them.

“Ok, the portkey is ready. Come here, Ron.” Ron went to her. She pulled her wand from the jeans she was wearing and tapped Ron smartly on the head. Ron shivered as he felt an icy chill dance up and down his spine. When Hermione backed away, he looked down, but saw only his surroundings. He had blended in. Hermione did the same to Harry. They both stood there undetected, just their faces visible from the fire light behind them.

“What about you, Hermione?” Ron asked her, looking at something on her she gave him a hard stare for. His gaze lifted to her eyes, and he smiled.

“I won’t be using it. I can’t do it on myself, and you two don’t pay enough attention to know how.” She said, she did not smile back at Ron.

“You can’t! Your going to get in trouble, wandering around!” Harry said, his face hidden by the charm.

“Come on! Didn’t you once tell me to be more adventurous?” Hermione smirked. Ron looked at Harry and smiled, too. “Let’s go.” Hermione lead the way, Ron in back of her his one hand holding on to her waist, and Harry behind him. They quietly made their way down the stairs, past floors one, two, three, four, then five, then six. When they got to the seventh floor, Hermione turned into the hallway.

“Why here? The front doors are down there, Hermione.” Harry said, looking over the railing.

“We won’t be able to open those doors, Harry; we need to use the cabinet that Fred and George stuffed Montauge into. Come on, and be quiet!” She said, ushering on down the hall.

“Hermione, don’t people get lost in those?” Ron asked his hand still firmly on her waist.
“Yeah, if they are stupid enough not to know the way out.” She replied. She slinked near the wall. Suddenly, she stopped cold, sending Ron crashing into her from behind, and Harry into Ron.

“Hermione, gee…..” Ron started.

“Ssshhhh!!” Hermione said, taking her hand and swiping behind her, catching Ron in the face. McGonagall was out looking for student that were in the hallways. Disengaging Ron’s hand from her waist, she crept up slowly. She reached the cabinet, as she felt Ron and Harry come behind her. She silently opened the door and went inside, as did Harry and Ron. Ron closed the door behind him and looked around. The charm they had been placed under lifting, Harry could see Ron looking around to see where Hermione had gone.

“Hermione!” Shouted Ron and Harry. No answer. As their voices echoed against the walls of the cabinet, they heard her shout back.

“Here! Turn left at the Four-legged statue!”

They followed her instructions, and saw her kneeling near the ground, all the lost and hidden objects people had placed in there for years crowding her. Harry and Ron saw a small hatch on the floor. Hermione pulled the old knob and lifted it up, Ron helping her to get the door to open all the way.

“Okay, Ron, you first, then Harry.” Hermione said standing and nudging Ron near its opening.

“I’m not going to jump down there! Who knows what’s in there?” He said, looking at Hermione as though she was crazy. Hermione stared at him and he pushed on.

“I mean It, Hermione. I’m not jumping in there!” He said, crossing his arms. She stared at him, and then she spoke.

“Fine, Ron! I’ll go ahead and jump first. This way, if I die, you can say you found me first.” Hermione said, taking a few steps near the open hatch.

“Oh, alright! Lord knows, if you die, what is there left to live for?” He said, moving her aside gently. He gave her one last look, and then plummeted down into the deep, dark hole. Harry and Hermione heard him squeal as he descended.

“Alright, Harry, Your turn.”

Harry went to the opening of the hatch, looked at Hermione, then plunged his way down, as he had done to get to the Chamber of Secrets. Hermione heard him yell out, too. Next, Hermione closed her eyes, and jumped down the hatch. The whooshing from the tunnel making her hair fly around as she descended down. She finally landed on something that moaned. She realized it was Harry.

“I’m so sorry, Harry.” She said, getting to her feet, and helping him up. He grabbed his glasses from the floor. They were outside Hogwarts. Ron, who had landed on his feet, was looking around. The Whomping Willow was standing no more that 500 feet from them, and could reach them with its old branches.

“Come on.” Hermione said, heading toward the broken broom lying near the castle wall.

“Hermione, what the hell is that?” Ron said, hitching up behind her.

“A portkey.” Harry answered. Ron furrowed his eyebrows. Hermione looked down, and found out why Ron was confused. The broom no longer glowed blue. It laid in the grass as if someone had just threw it there.

“Damn it! We missed the timer!” Hermione said, stamping her foot. “What?” She snapped at Ron, who was smiling.

“You look cute when you’re mad.” He replied.

“Shut up and help me!” She said, bending down to take the broom. “Here, hold this. I need to charm it again if I can remember the spell.” She said, handing the broom to Ron. He held it out for her as she took her wand and did another complicated wave on the broom. It once again glowed.

“Alright. Ron, put it down. The timer will activate in one minute. Grab onto the handle and hold on tight. Harry, you should probably hold onto the end of the broom for balance.” She said, as Ron plopped the broom down onto the ground.

Hermione took the side of the handle, as did Ron. Harry took the tip. Hermione counted down.

“Three…two….one….” Hermione’s last count was interrupted by a loud whooshing, followed by darkness. Ron and Harry were hurdled forward, still clutching the handle of the broom. Hermione was knocking into Ron with great force, and yelled out in pain. They fell to a heap onto a sidewalk. Opening their eyes, they found they stood in front of a sign: GODRIC’S HOLLOW.

“Well, we’re here.” Hermione said, getting up and brushing her pants off. Ron was also on his feet, wiping his pants. “Come on, Harry! We’ve got to look before someone detects us!”

Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way over to a house that was clearly decrepit. Although there was no sign, they knew this was Miranda Trelawney’s old place. The place was in ruins. The house had been recently in a fire, according to the burn marks on the brick still left.

“Oh, no!” Hermione gasped. Harry picked up a brick that was laying on the grass and inspected it. Ron held Hermione by the hand, not wanting her to go inside the ruins any further.
“Someone used Incendio on this and watched it burn.” Harry said, setting the brick back down. “Come on, we need to look around.” He left the other two, and walked forward.

“NO! Hermione! Come back here. It’s too dangerous!” Harry heard Ron protest as Hermione let go of Ron and walked forward with Harry. When she did not listen, Ron followed her.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you about it!” He mumbled.

Harry and Hermione started to dig into the brick still left. The house was just a burned out shell, and nothing inside. Hermione got to the side of the building and yelled in surprise.

“HERMIONE!” Harry yelled, and Ron ran to them. “What’s a matter?”

Harry did not have to ask her really. There on the side of one of the bricks, was part of the Dark Mark. It had been carved into the brick and something smaller than a pearl glowed out from the brick. Voldemort was here and he had destroyed what was here. Harry slammed the brick down, breaking it into small pieces. Hermione went around the stone fireplace that seemingly was the only thing left. She bent down and looked up into the chimney.

“Harry! Come here!” She said, emerging, her face full of ash and soot. “Look up there!” Harry did so, and saw a small piece of parchment stuck to a brick inside. Harry tried to reach it, but could not.

“Ron, come try to get this out!” Harry said. Ron stepped forward and looked inside.

“Harry, light your wand, I can’t see.” He said. Harry lit the end of his wand. “A little to your right, Harry.” Harry did so and heard Ron reach and scrape brick. Hermione placed her hand on Ron’s back, which seemed to make his reach higher.

“Got it!” He said, emerging from the fireplace, also black and sooty. He handed the parchment to Hermione. Hermione lightly opened it.

“Well! Read it aloud!” Ron said, his face so close to her hair, he could smell the Peach shampoo she used.

“It’s very brittle. It looks thousands of years old!” She exclaimed. She showed the letter to the other two as she skimmed it herself.

My dearest Miranda,

Azkaban is hell. I have done as you asked. The stone is safe and sound. I assure you no one will find this. Your carvings have improved. The stone looks like the real one so much! I hope you are well, and that I can once more see you again. Until I can sneak another letter by owl, I shall think of you always!

Yours Truly and Only.


Your Husband,
Marcolo Black


Hermione gasped. Ron had nearly unhinged his jaw and Harry couldn’t say anything.

“That stone we found was a fake! It just showed us what we wanted to see!” Hermione said, folding the letter once more. “The real one is the one that is hidden!”

“And it isn’t hidden here! Where is it then?” Ron asked. Harry turned and started walking toward the road. Hermione and Ron ran to catch up.

“Harry, where are you going?” Hermione said, trying to catch her breath.

“I want to see the place my parents died in.” He said simply. Hermione made to grab is arm, but he jerked away and faced her.

“You don’t know what it’s been like! Not knowing anything! Having other people tell you how and why your parents died! There has to be something!” He shouted at her. Tears swam in Harry and Hermione’s eyes. Ron stepped between them.

“No need to yell at her, mate. She’s been trying to help you this whole time.” Ron said, not angry, but rather complacent. Harry looked at them for a second then forged on.

“Can we help you understand, Harry?” Hermione asked, tears falling from her eyes. Harry turned to her and nodded. The three walked silently to the house next door. It was fairly new, and it was boarded up, but not destroyed.

Harry entered the tattered gate, Ron and Hermione beside him. They went up the broken path way and to the front door. Harry tried the lock, but it was doing its job. With a click, Hermione opened the door with her wand, and they all went inside.

“Lumos.” Hermione muttered, her wand tip lighting up. Ron and Harry had done the same. Looking around, they found themselves in a small corridor with steps leading to the second floor.

Harry gazed at the blackened, faded photos on the walls. Some were too badly faded. But one, Harry had stopped to look at, had his parents holding a baby in between them. Harry Potter stood smiling out of the photo, his parents waving from either side. In the stillness, Harry took the picture down and stared at it. Hermione and Ron were looking further down the hall. Harry let tears escape from his eyes. Sliding down the dirty wall, he sat on the floor, the picture firmly in his hands. This was one of the last memories his parents got to share with him. Harry could no longer control his emotions. He sobbed as he looked at his mother, her eyes staring at him, and his father, a big smile. And, oh, baby Harry and his play broom in his hand! There was someone beside him. Hermione had slid down the wall to. Looking at the picture in his hands, she hugged him tightly. Harry returned the hug as he cried into her shoulder. Ron put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. They were like that for a while before Hermione said she wanted to check out the other areas in the house.

“Will you be ok, Harry?” She asked, getting to her feet.

“Fine, You go on. If you find anything, let me know.” He smiled a watery smile at her, and then she turned and left, Ron with her.

Hermione looked around the small kitchen. Finding nothing, she headed for the basement, where a loud bang issued. She backed away from the door, and ran into Ron. Both wands ready, they slowly let the door creep open.

Ron shielded Hermione, but there was no need to. No one was there. Hermione grabbed Ron by the waist to move him aside.

“Oi! Where are you going?” He said, descending the stairs. Wands lit, they ventured into the deep mass of basement. Hermione looked around at the broken shelves that crowded the room. Ron behind her, they made their way into a small, circular room hidden by broken bottles and vials.

Ron turned Hermione around to face him.

“What are you doing?” Hermione asked, her eyes locked onto his.

“You have soot here,” He said, siphoning it off with his lit wand, “and here,” He got the spot on her cheek, “and here.” He said, brushing her lips with his. He lowered his wand so that their faces were in total darkness. Hermione placed a hand on his chest and the other on his arm, her wand still lit. Swimming in his mouth, she let him slowly kiss her, pulling on his bottom lip with her teeth. She took her hand off his chest and placed it on his cheek. They swayed to unknown music as they never broke the kiss. Ron reached down and grabbed for the bottom of her shirt. She pulled away from him.

“What’s a matter, Hermione?” He said, watching her turn from him.

“I don’t think we should start this just yet, Ron. Look what happened before!” She said, turning to face him again.

“It was just a kiss, Hermione. We’ve done worse than this. What do you mean before?” Ron said, placing his hand in hers.

“You were reaching to take my shirt off, Ron. I’m not stupid. And before, You…” She trailed off.

“Slept with Lavender? That was not my fault, Hermione. And you never complained before when I took your shirt off!” He said, anger giving him a cherry color to his face.

“Ron, please! Give me some time. Ok? Just some time.” She said, heading away from him. Ron angrily swiped at a potion vial on the shelf next to him, which crashed to the floor.

Hermione looked around the room, Ron mopping behind her. Picking up a potion vial, she looked at the label, but could not read it because it was faded. She gingerly held it in her fingers. She looked at it and decided it wasn’t something she had seen before, so she replaced it. They started to make their way back to the stairs, but as they neared, Ron felt Hermione fall back on him and onto the floor. Hermione felt herself fall to the floor into something sticky. She seemed to have slipped on it. As she landed on the substance, a burning sensation pulsated into her skin. She screamed in pain as it seared clear up her body.

“Hermione!” Ron yelled. Trying to retch her up from the floor, he saw she was severely burned on her back and legs. “HERMIONE! HERMIONE!” He screamed, as he has caught a glimpse of her face. She was not responding and was very, very pale. Ron did the only thing he knew to do for her.

“Aquamenti!” Ron yelled, water spurting from the end of his wand. He dosed her in water. Harry had run down the stairs at the screams of Ron. Harry, his wand raised, ran over to her and knelt. Harry shook her, but no response.

Ron made to pick her up.

“NO! She’s covered in that! You’ll get burned to, and she needs us both!” Harry shouted. He instead got off his knees, pushed Ron back and lifted her lifeless body with the hover charm. “Go siphon off that stuff and be careful!” Harry instructed.

Ron ran over and siphoned the potion off her back and legs as he had done the soot. Harry hovered her over to where they were standing. He again gave Ron instructions.

“Hold you arms out. I’m going to lower her and you catch her. We need to get her back to Hogwarts!” Harry said. Ron did what was asked. She landed into Ron’s arms. He tried to hold her gingerly near her burns and he ran with her up the stairs.

“Harry! We don’t know how to make a portkey! How are we going to get back to Hogwarts? And we can’t apparate there either, remember?” Ron said, looking down at Hermione and wishing she would wake up.

“Shit.” He said. “Alright. Stay here with her. I’ll be right back.” Harry ran from the house and Ron heard a pop of a disaparrater.

Ron gently slid down the wall, she in his lap. His hand touched her cheek as tears slid down his face. He knew why she was like this. He hadn’t the heart to tell Harry. The vial he had knocked down in anger was the one Hermione slipped on. He sobbed openly now. He spoke to her, knowing she could not hear, not caring, not wanting her to leave him.

“Hermione, I’m s--s--sorry! Please! Don’t leave me! I didn’t mean it! You can’t leave, you need to stay here and give me those facts from those books you read so often,” He laughed, “and you can’t leave Harry. What are we going to do without you? All I’m living for is in you, and you can’t leave.” He cried hysterically as he looked at her pale face. Her breathing had become labored and she was so cold. Ron took hold of his shirt and pulled it off. Covering her with it, he held onto her tightly as he stroked her face.

It seemed like hours that Harry was gone, but was an hour at best. He had run in with things in a bag he had gotten from wherever he went. Ron looked at him as he came in.

“Where have you been?” Ron asked his tear stains still visible.

“I went to Ted and ‘Dromeda’s and got some medical supplies. Dittany and some replenishing potion. Come on, help me turn her on her side.” Harry said, taking the dittany out of his bag. Harry applied the dittany to her wounds, he glanced at Ron as he had to unhook her bra closure and move it aside to get to the wounds under it. Harry got up flicked his wand and transfigured an old footstool into a bed.

“Place her on the bed, Ron.” He said as he got the replenishing potion out and a glass. Ron gently got up with her and gently placed her on the new bed. Harry poured the potion into the glass and made to give it to her. Ron placed a hand on Harry’s wrist.

“Let me.” He said, taking the glass without waiting for a reply. He knelt beside her, opened her mouth gently and poured. She did an involuntary gurgle, then laid silent again. Ron kissed her forehead and handed the glass back to Harry.

“How long will we need to stay here?” Ron asked, placing his hand into Hermione’s limp one.

“It can’t be long. We can’t trust this place. We’re going to need to move on as soon as Hermione wakes. She should be fine. Ted said it sounded like Fire Melt. Said they used it to melt snow and ice in the winter off the entire house in one pass. Anyway, she will be ok.” Harry said. It hurt him to know that they could not trust his parent’s home, but the death eaters would be on the lookout for the other stone once they realize the other was destroyed. And Harry had no doubt they knew Ron destroyed it. They knew he had had it, and he did not announce it to everyone, so he knew it would no longer be safe after awhile.

Ron slept beside Hermione in another transfigured bed. He had insisted on it, and Harry was not going to argue. Harry slept on the floor, in a transfigured sleeping bag. Ron laid in bed facing Hermione. His guilt of what he did welling inside him, he felt strangely disconnected from everyone. His eyes darted to the scene of what he did. The angry way he smashed the vial. How could she make him so crazy? Yeah, he loved her for a while, but he did not know his feelings were so passionate for her. He only wanted to taste more of her. Not just her lips, but her. He turned from her, unable to justify himself for his actions. He loved the way she flung her hair when she was upset, the way she laughed, everything. He carried these thoughts into his mind as his slumber came deep and hard. Harry was already asleep, and the gentle noise of Hermione’s breathing was the only sound that echoed that night.

At daybreak, Ron was lifted forcefully off his bed. Harry was pulling him upwards as he struggled.

“Bloody hell, Harry. What are you doing?” Ron said, grabbing Harry by the shoulder.

“Death eaters posted outside. Come on! We have to apparate!” Harry said, running around to Hermione’s side. He grabbed Hermione’s wrist and Ron did the same. With a loud crack, the front door was blown open. Looking at the shallow face of Severus Snape, Harry forced Ron and Hermione, who was still out of it, into darkness. The roar of Snape could be heard as Harry, Ron and Hermione were forcefully bounced to the ground. Grunting in pain, Harry opened his eyes. They were in a small, dense woodland area. Ron, he saw, picked Hermione up off the ground and was carrying her over to Harry.

“Where are we, Harry?” He asked his hands careful not to touch Hermione’s wounds.

“I don’t know, Ron. Where ever it is, it has a lake.” He said, pointing to a lake down a large embankment. “Here.” Harry said, flicking his wand and transfiguring a boulder into a make-shift bed. “Put her on that.”

Ron laid her on it and looked around. “Can’t be far from people, then?”

“I don’t know. I just thought of somewhere safe, and it took me here. Snape was stupid that time. His hands were so greasy, he could not open the door knob. I heard him fiddle with it.” Harry smiled slightly. Ron returned the smile. A noise behind them made them turn around quickly.

“Wh---Where are we?” Hermione asked, sitting up and rubbing her arms. Ron ran over to her, but did not hug her because of her burns.

“Do you remember what happened?” Ron asked. “You were burned, Hermione. Don’t worry! You’ll be ok!” He said when she stared at him in horror.

Her robes had a hole in the back, exposing her unclasped bra and burned back. She felt behind her and moaned.

“It’s alright! I can fix it!” Ron said, taking his wand to her robes. He burned them more than before. “Uh….” He started. “Here.” He said, taking his shirt off a second time and handing it to Hermione. “Put this on.” He said. She took it, and undid her robes. Her bra still hanging on her shoulders, she redid the clasp behind her and put on Ron’s shirt, Ron eyeing what he found staring back at him through the lacy material. She stood up and looked at Harry, who was looking at her. Then she turned to Ron.

“Come here, Ron.” She said. She flicked her wand and a shirt appeared onto Ron’s bare chest. “There.” She smiled shortly at him. He smiled back.

“Where are we?” She repeated the question that never got answered. Looking around, she saw Harry still staring at her. “What?” She asked.

“It’s just…They knew we where there, Hermione.” Harry blurted out. “How did they manage to do that so quickly?”

“Huh? Who?” Hermione blinked in confusion. Harry looked away from her. Ron spoke for him.

“Snape. Death eaters. They broke the door in as we apparated. How did they find us so quick?” He looked at Hermione and smiled. She looked funny in his shirt.

“I don’t really know. They traced you by your cloak; maybe they have traced something else. I mean something very small, that you would never notice.” Hermione said, wincing as the pain started on her back again.
“Never mind that, now. We need to be searching for that stone before the death eaters get to it. I think I found where to search, but you both need to stay here. We can’t all go.” Harry said, looking at Ron and Hermione.

“No, Harry. We have…”

“No, Hermione. We really can’t. The Dementors will be all over you both. I know how to deal with them, to sneak by. Azkaban isn’t fun and games and that has to be where the stone is. Marcolo Black had to have hid it there.” He said, pacing the grass.

“But, Harry, we don’t even know where Marcolo was housed. It could be anywhere in that prison. How on earth do you think your going to find it?” Hermione said the large shirt of Ron’s flapping in the light breeze.

“Records. They keep records, don’t they? I could sneak into the records room and steal a look. It can’t be hard, can it?” Harry said, his face hitting the sun just right to cause a long shadow.

“I don’t think it’s a very good idea, Harry.” Hermione said.

“What’s new?” Ron grumbled. Hermione smacked him upside his head.

“Just a joke…” He mumbled, rubbing his head. Harry laughed.

“Hermione, please, you told me to trust you, now I’m asking you to trust me. Please.” Harry begged, looking at her with begging eyes.

“Fine! But you must be careful, Harry. Azkaban is full of old death eaters.” She warned.

“I’ve got to go tonight. It’s my only chance. Can you disillusion me again?” He asked Hermione, who looked defeated.

“Yes.”

“Good. So, tonight then.” He said, turning from them. Hermione looked at Ron and shook her head. He had become reckless in her eyes…..Would he continue to play these games with his life?