Of Butterflies in a Hurricane

*

Three days later found Harry and Hermione sitting in silence in Harry's bedroom at Grimmauld Place. Harry sat on his bed, knees curled up to his chin and Hermione on the floor next to the far wall, staring straight ahead.

They hadn't talked much since that day, only to communicate where they had to go. It hadn't been safe to stay in the Riddle House, and Harry hadn't wanted to anyway. With the help of Kingsley, they sneaked out and Apparated back to Grimmauld Place with Kingsley's promise that he would take care of everything.

The next day, the owl had arrived with the Daily Prophet clutched in its beak, dropping it at Hermione's feet. Neither of them had opened it for fear of what it might say. Instead, they had skirted around the paper and retreated upstairs to Harry's bedroom where they had stayed since.

Harry had been scared out of his wits the day after when Mrs. Weasley had come bursting into the room in tears. She had rushed over to him and taken him into a bone-crushing hug. He could barely breathe as she squeezed him. He thought his ribs might be breaking from the pressure.

She had finally released him and asked him if it was true. Harry hadn't been sure what she meant since he hadn't read the paper. She told him the Prophet reported that Ron had died in a scuffle with Death Eaters.

Harry had then had the unfortunate business of telling her that it wasn't so, that he had died while with him and Hermione. It was then that Mrs. Weasley had noticed Hermione curled up in a corner. She had gone straight over to her and pulled her into a much gentler hug than she had Harry.

Harry hadn't been surprised to see Hermione break down once more and start crying all over again. It had been happening off and on for the past few days, triggered by the smallest things.

She and Mrs. Weasley sat together for some time, grieving. At length, Mrs. Weasley had risen and turned to Harry, while wiping away a lasting tear, and told him she didn't blame him at all. It had been Ron’s decision and she was glad he could have chosen.

That, if anything, had made Harry feel even worse and he barely spoke as she left them. He'd been thinking about it for days. Ron wouldn’t have come if it had been anybody else, but it had been Harry. He had trusted Harry and Harry had failed him. He hadn't been able to protect him or save him.

It was like Draco all over again. He could have saved him but he didn't. The thought of Draco twisted his stomach. He had never told Ron about him. Ron had been his best friend and he couldn't even trust him enough to tell him why they had gone for those Horcruxes so quickly. Ron deserved to know why Harry had been so adamant on getting the Horcruxes. Maybe if he had told him, Ron would still be here. Maybe Ron and Hermione could have stopped him from diving headfirst into this mission.

Harry felt himself slipping into a fitful doze as he sat on the bed. He had hardly slept in the past few days so it wasn't surprising. On his wrist, the green snake hissed quietly as Harry yawned and nodded down, his head falling forward onto his knees.

He woke with a start, clambering to his feet. He swung his legs off the bed and nearly fell off. He steadied himself and climbed off his four-poster and ambled into the bathroom to wash his face. He splashed the refreshingly cool water on his face.

He stood up straight and looked in the mirror, messing with his hair, trying to get it to lie flat. It was to no avail, though, and his hair remained as messy as ever. He sighed and gave it up, turning and going back into the dorm. Once he was dressed and ready, he left the Tower for breakfast, wandering aimlessly down the corridors alone.

He was about halfway down to the Great Hall when, suddenly, someone seized his arm and pulled him into an abandoned classroom. Harry was confused for just a moment until he looked around and his eyes fell of a smirking blond leaned casually up against a desk.

"Draco," Harry sighed, but smiled all the same, "you can't do that. What if someone sees someday?"

"They won't," Draco replied confidently, sauntering towards Harry. Harry saw him take out his wand and lock the door behind him.

Harry just shook his head in disbelief. "What about Ginny? Someday she's going to figure out that I don't sleep late."

"Well, then you'll just have to explain to her," Draco said in a low voice, coming ever closer, "that you prefer blokes over girls and would rather be shagging me."

Harry laughed for a moment. "I'm sure that would go over well."

Draco shrugged indifferently and continued his path toward Harry. He finally reached him and pressed Harry back against the wall of the classroom, moving his body closer. It slid perfectly into place with Harry's and Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's neck.

"Then just break-up with her," Draco said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Harry sighed and leaned his forehead against Draco's. "I can't. Ron would kill me."

"Screw the Weasel," Draco said in a hot voice. "Harry, I want you, not some tag-a-long girlfriend."

Harry sighed again, wishing it was so simple. "Draco, I do too, but I can't. Ron would never forgive me."

"But," Draco said, tilting his head up so his lips were barely touching Harry's, "what do you need him for? You've got me." He then pressed his lips against Harry's in a soft kiss. Harry's hands came to Draco's hips, holding him lightly in place.

Draco took control of the kiss, running his tongue teasingly over Harry's lower lip. He was granted entrance to the hot caverns within and lost no time thrusting his greedy tongue inside. Harry groaned appreciatively as his mouth was plundered by Draco's talented tongue.

The tongue ran over the interior of Harry's mouth, mapping out every contour. It massaged Harry's own tongue, urging it to respond to the challenge. It was taken up eagerly and Draco moaned softly.

Finally, Draco pulled away, panting lightly and smirking at Harry. "If you won't break-up with her, you'll at least meet me tonight?"

Harry grinned and pulled Draco closer once more. "I always do."

With a quick kiss, they parted. Draco stuck his head out the door, checking to make sure it was clear, and then left quickly. Harry followed soon after and watched Draco disappear down the corridor.

Draco was just to the corner when someone stepped out of the shadows, a wand in hand. Harry's eyes widened as he realized who it was and he sprinted after Draco.

He saw Ginny Weasley raise her hand with the wand and bring it down through the air, pointing straight at Draco.

"NO!" Harry shouted as the corridor was filled with a flash of green light.

Harry jerked awake, panting and sweating. He swallowed hard and saw that Hermione was standing over him, a worried expression on her face. She appeared to have been shaking him before he had woken up.

"Harry," she whispered in a scared voice, "what's wrong? Are you okay?"

He pushed himself up, hastily wiping his forehead and taking breaths to calm his thundering heart. "I'm fine," he muttered.

"No, you're not," she said, still whispering. "What is going on, Harry? Why can't you tell me?"

Harry could see that she was on the verge of tears once again as she looked at him. He knew the time had come and he couldn't bear to do it. He had kept it a secret for so long. It seemed almost pointless to tell her after all that had happened. She would surely kill him. It had, after all, been the reason for Ron's death, or so Harry believed.

"Hermione," Harry said then paused. He had no idea how to tell her. What was he supposed to say? That he had led them searching for Horcruxes, knowing it could only end in grief and all for the boy who had made their lives a living hell for the past six years?

"What, Harry?" she asked pressingly and he knew he couldn't lie. He had to do it now.

"I-- There's something I need to tell you."

Hermione gave him an uncomprehending look and he scooted over, motioning that she should join him on the bed. She climbed on slowly, all the while searching his face.

"What is it?"

"You know when I cursed Malfoy last year, in the bathroom?" Harry asked and she nodded slowly. "Well, I didn't mean to and I--it-- something changed. I went to visit him that night and I realized what I'd done wrong. Hermione, I never meant to do it, I didn't want to hurt anyone! It just kind of happened, and I couldn't tell anyone. Ginny didn't know and I couldn’t tell Ron. He would have killed me. I just-- Hermione, believe me, I didn't want-- He’s just so-- It's all my fault."

Hermione was looking at Harry with an expression of puzzled confusion. "What?" she asked finally, not understanding at all.

"Hermione, I--" He buried his face in his hands, trying to force himself to say it. "I fell in love with Draco Malfoy."

"You-- you what?" she whispered, though she had heard quite clearly.

"I know!" Harry exclaimed, his words muffled by his hands. "And he kept his promise! He didn't kill him! I can't believe-- I let him go! Snape took him away and now I don't know where he is and... I just don't know, Hermione. I need him."

Hermione was silent as she stared at Harry, who was still burying his face in his hands. Her expression was blank as her mind worked furiously.

"So... so you and Malfoy were... together?" she asked like she couldn't believe it.

"Yes," Harry answered reluctantly. "He's out there somewhere. He's not safe. The stupid snake keeps telling me. I'm worried, Hermione. What if he dies? Then it's all my fault! I could have stopped him!"

"What snake? And why would it be your fault?" Hermione asked, confused.

"This one," Harry said, raising up the bracelet on his wrist. The tiny green snake hissed at Hermione and continued its agitated circling. "It's my fault because I could have stopped him after Dumbledore died but Snape was pulling him away and-- I couldn't reach him. I should have tried harder."

“Malfoy was there?"

"He was supposed to..." Harry trailed off, not wanting to tell her the full extent of what Draco's involvement in Dumbledore's death had been. She would never accept him if he did. But he also knew she would never trust him unless he told her all. "He was supposed to be the one to kill Dumbledore, but he promised me he wouldn't; he didn't! Snape did it instead. But then Snape dragged him away and I couldn't catch them. By the time I got close enough, they were already gone. Hermione, I just don't know anymore. I'm so sorry! This would have never happened if I had just told you earlier! Ron might still be--" He cut himself off and forced himself to change the direction. "I didn't want to disappoint you. I know it's my fault. I should be able to stop this."

Hermione just stared at Harry and he looked away, not wanting to see the disappointment in her eyes. He propped his chin on his knee and stared intently at the wall, determined not to look back.

"Harry," Hermione asked seriously, “do you love him?"

Harry froze for a second and said nothing. Then, turning back slowly to face her, blinking back tears, he whispered, "Yes… yes! And he's out there somewhere in danger. This should have never happened."

"Don't blame yourself, Harry," Hermione said suddenly and sternly and he was taken aback. "You can't control other people's actions. You just have to trust that it's going to be okay."

"Hermione, what are you saying?"

"Harry, Ron didn't want to die in vain. I'm sure Malfoy didn't want to leave you. But that doesn't mean you should blame yourself for what happened. It won't help anything!"

"But... you're not mad?" Harry asked, completely unable to believe what he was hearing.

"Mad about what? That finally found someone who makes you happy and then he was taken away? No, Harry, despite what you may think, I care more about you as a person than what you're doing and with whom."

"Oh, Hermione," Harry said, "I can't believe you. I am possibly the stupidest person in the world, and you're still my friend."

"Yeah, well, someone's gotta do it," she said, giving him a small smile.

Harry sighed; feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. Knowing that Hermione accepted him for who he was felt amazing. He was almost free from the confines of his Golden Boy status.

"I am so glad, Hermione, you have no idea," he said finally.

She smiled sadly at him. "Well, I'm happy you could tell me. But, Harry, have you thought about the future?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, after we get rid of this Horcrux, there's still two left; the snake and Voldemort. How are you going to kill them?"

"I don't know," he said hopelessly. "I'm just hoping it will somehow work itself out."

Hermione nodded but frowned all the same. "I've been thinking... about the cup, how to destroy it," she said tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"It's gold, like the locket. Gold is easily molded and melts at lower temperatures. Maybe we could melt it."

"You don't think it has protective spells against that?"

"Not likely. A Founder's object would never be imagined to be destroyed. A Founder would assume someone would want the object for its powers. They wouldn't want to destroy it, so why bother putting protective spells on it?"

"Good point."

"I say we try to melt it and hope that it works. I'm really out of ideas. Voldemort had to have spent a long time thinking up these Horcruxes."

"I bet he did," Harry muttered mutinously. "But let's try. It just might work. Everyone has a weakness, everything does."

Hermione nodded and took out her wand, conjuring a pot and a small fire. Harry reached over and retrieved his bag, pulling out the small, golden cup. He handed it to Hermione, who placed it at the bottom of the cauldron and set the melting temperature higher.

They waited a few moments until the gold began to sizzle as it slowly melted into the bottom of the pot. The liquid metal bubbled and sizzled, and the cup slowly melted down. The wrought handles went first, sliding off slowly and plopping to the bottom of the cauldron.

Harry grew increasingly anxious as the bottom of the cup bubbled and frothed. He heard a hissing noise from the pan and a jet of steam shot up. Hermione was watching the top of the pot carefully as she poked the fire with her wand, making it even hotter.

Harry peered into the cauldron and watched as the gold sizzled against the hot metal, melting lower and lower. Finally, Harry heard an almighty hiss and the familiar shadow of a skull appeared out the top of the cauldron.

He and Hermione watched as the skull vanished in a small puff of grey smoke. They leaned over the cauldron, seeing that the cup had melted into a puddle of gold at the bottom. Hermione removed her wand and the fire went out.

"It worked," Harry said simply.

"Yes, obviously Voldemort never dreamed people would destroy a Founder's object, neither did the Founders themselves."

"We were lucky, then."

"Very." Hermione picked up the pot by the handle that was now cool. She watched as the gold slid around the bottom. Finally, she set it down and waved her wand. The gold was immediately Vanished from the pot. She waved her wand again and the pot disappeared.

At length, she pushed herself off the bed and walked to the door. Once there, she turned around and looked at Harry gravely. "Ron wouldn't have been angry. He would have tried to understand, and if he hadn't, I would have made him." She gave Harry a tiny smile and walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.


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A/N: Please review!