The Forbidden Ship

A/N: no sex

Prompt: Extra

Extra

Diagon Alley was not the same, Harry realised as Ron, Griphook and he moved underneath the Invisibilty Cloak to get to Gringotts. It was dark and messy. Beggars were a common sight. People rushed past them to get home as fast as they could. Nobody did any shopping just for pleasure anymore.

"Extra, extra, read all about it!" the scruffy wizard shouted, holding out the newspapers in his hand. "Special news coverage of the Dark Lord's wedding."

"Wedding?" Harry said, confused.

"Who'd marry that?" Ron muttered.

"Bellatrix?"

"You think he want that?"

"Can you see what's on that photo, Ron?"

"I - I ... blimey."

Ron and Harry held their breath underneath the Invisibilty Cloak. There, on the frontpage, stood a picture of their best friend, the one they had to leave behind at Malfoy Manor when Lord Voldemort had apparated in. Hermione Jean Granger was alive and well, smiling and waving at them. Ron pushed away from Harry, making a beeline to the man and yanking a copy out of his hand.

"Oye! That's one Sickle."

Ignoring that, Ron began reading. His eyes widened and he turned around, holding up the newspaper to his invisible friend. Harry yanked the cloak away and grabbed the paper. Griphook muttered something incomprehensible and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

"No," Harry whispered.

"Hey! Aren't you, aren't you Harry Potter?" the newspaper vendor said nervously, his eyes flickering around.

"No," Harry repeated. "Hermione is not marrying Lord Voldemort.

The vendor screamed and ran, dropping his papers, as Apparition cracks occured all around them. The air was thick with magic. There wasn't any time, they were disarmed before they knew it.

"Oh, but I already have, Harry Potter," Lord Voldemort said sibilantly. "I knew you'd be foolish enough to forget about the Taboo if you saw this news. So predictable," he said, stroking his wand. "So foolish. So utterly stupid. You really are worth nothing if she's not around, aren't you?"

"You leave her alone," Harry said furiously. "You got what you wanted: me"

"Oh, such ego, thinking the world revolves around you. I do admit the headline was for ... your benefit. Yet my marriage is entirely for mine. I daresay you should've never left that clever little witch behind, Harry Potter. She really knows how to think on her feet and turn a disadvantage around. Do you have any idea what she did to stop me from killing her, Harry?"

Harry stayed silent, his face red in anger and worry.

"No?" Lord Voldemort mocked, turning his attention to Ron who cringed at having to meet that red gaze.

"What about your precious Weasley then, any suggestions, Ronald? Any ideas lingering around in that one brain cell you fail to use?"

Ron swallowed, his fear clear for all to see.

"She really was the brains of your pathetic operation, wasn't she?" Lord Voldemort snorted and turned to his Death Eaters. "Take them to the dungeons. I'll deal with them tomorrow." He looked back at Harry and Ron. "Wouldn't want to upset my wife on her wedding night, now would I?" he taunted before disapparating.