Latrunculus--Part 17

"Bulgaria?" Harry grabbed Hermione's wrist to stop her frantic movements. "Why would Ron go to Bulgaria?"

She placed a pile of papers back on the table. "He read a letter Viktor sent me. Viktor thought he may have found a cure."

"A cure!"

"But I can't use it, Harry. It involves dark magic, so dark that Viktor would barely alluded to it in a letter."

"And you think Ron went to Bulgaria for this cure?"

"It's the only thing I can think of, especially if he's not on Auror business. And it sounds like something he would do, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does." He released her wrist. "I can meet you at your flat in an hour. Can you be ready by then?"

She wanted to leave now, now before Ron did something stupid. But she understood that Harry needed to make some arrangements. She did as well. "Yes, I'll be ready."

"Good."

As he walked away, she resumed putting her belongings in her bag. She hoped that Viktor would be able to get Ron to see reason. But she knew how hard that could be.

* * * * *

Viktor paused after opening his door. "Vell, I vasn't expecting you."

"I bet," Ron replied.

"Herm-own-ninny's not coming?"

"No."

"I see." He studied the Auror for a long moment. "I don't tink she vill be happy vith you ven she finds out."

"Let me worry about that."

"Oh, I vill." He opened the door wider. "Come, ve have much to discuss."

* * * * *

Hermione fought back frustration as they were delayed again at another apparation checkpoint. Their fame, especially Harry's, would usually overcome any bureaucratic hurdle. But her magic-less status was what was causing the problem.

At first, the officials were not convinced that she was indeed Hermione Granger. Harry was offended by the implication that he was trying to smuggle a Muggle across borders but managed to keep his temper in check. But each formality, each delay frayed his temper a bit more.

Hermione tried to keep her temper in check as well. She had tried so hard to keep the exact nature of the curse from the public. She had no doubt that her return to being a Muggle would on the front page of the Daily Prophet in the morning if it hadn't already made the evening edition.

"It will be a moment," the latest official stated as she exited the room.

"How many more checkpoints do we have left, Harry?"

"Just one, but at this rate, we won't get to Bulgaria until Christmas."

She managed to laugh. "I think we'll manage to get there by tonight."

"What do you think Ron's doing right now?"

"I'm hoping he's frustrated because Viktor has told him nothing and is on his way back home."

Harry glanced at her. "You could have your magic back."

"But at what cost? This is Dark magic, Harry, very Dark magic."

"What is the cost? Do you even know?" She lowered her eyes, confirming his suspicions. "This isn't like you, Hermione. You usually have to know everything. Don't you want your magic back?"

"Of course, I do! You think I enjoy being a Muggle again? My parents are dead. There was nothing left in that world for me. I've have to start completely over."

"Then why not at least learn about this cure?"

"Stopping Dark magic is not easy. Reversing it take even more effort. Think of Neville's parents. Years of magical treatment hasn't been able to cure them."

Hermione hugged herself. "And I'm not even sure there is a cure. Viktor wrote there was a possibility but Malfoy had told Ron that he made sure there was no cure before he used it."

"And you believe him? Malfoy?"

Hermione was saved from answering by the return of the official.

* * * * *

Ron shook his head. "I don't read Bulgarian."

"It is Medieval Bulgarian."

"I definitely don't read Medieval Bulgarian."

"I did not tink so," Viktor said with a smile, irritating Ron. "Latrunculus is usually used to steal victim's life."

"Yes, I know that part." Ron tried to banish the image of a dying Hermione from his mind.

"It has been used to steal a person's sanity as vell. Tis is first time it has been used in tis manner that I have found."

'Leave it to Malfoy to be original with a curse,' Ron thought. "What about the cure?"

"It gets a bit fluffy."

"Fluffy?"

"Fluffy. It is not clear."

"Fuzzy."

"Ah, tank you. It is a bit fuzzy about a cure."

"Then why would you get Hermione's hopes up about a cure." Ron clenched his fists as he fought the urge to throttle Viktor. "I thought you liked her. I thought you were her friend."

"I am her friend. I vould not get her hopes up vithout cause. I said possibility of cure, not guarantee."

"I just want Hermione to get her magic back."

"And vhat vould you do for tat?"

"Whatever is necessary," Ron replied without hesitation.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

Viktor laid out another manuscript. "Tis is possible cure."

To be continued


Part XVII "Bulgaria?" Harry grabbed Hermione's wrist to stop her frantic movements. "Why would Ron go to Bulgaria?" She placed a pile of papers back on the table. "He read a letter Viktor sent me. Viktor thought he may have found a cure." "A cure!" "But I can't use it, Harry. It involves dark magic, so dark that Viktor would barely alluded to it in a letter." "And you think Ron went to Bulgaria for this cure?" "It's the only thing I can think of, especially if he's not on Auror business. And it sounds like something he would do, doesn't it?" "Yes, it does." He released her wrist. "I can meet you at your flat in an hour. Can you be ready by then?" She wanted to leave now, now before Ron did something stupid. But she understood that Harry needed to make some arrangements. She did as well. "Yes, I'll be ready." "Good." As he walked away, she resumed putting her belongings in her bag. She hoped that Viktor would be able to get Ron to see reason. But she knew how hard that could be. * * * * * Viktor paused after opening his door. "Vell, I vasn't expecting you." "I bet," Ron replied. "Herm-own-ninny's not coming?" "No." "I see." He studied the Auror for a long moment. "I don't tink she vill be happy vith you ven she finds out." "Let me worry about that." "Oh, I vill." He opened the door wider. "Come, ve have much to discuss." * * * * * Hermione fought back frustration as they were delayed again at another apparation checkpoint. Their fame, especially Harry's, would usually overcome any bureaucratic hurdle. But her magic-less status was what was causing the problem. At first, the officials were not convinced that she was indeed Hermione Granger. Harry was offended by the implication that he was trying to smuggle a Muggle across borders but managed to keep his temper in check. But each formality, each delay frayed his temper a bit more. Hermione tried to keep her temper in check as well. She had tried so hard to keep the exact nature of the curse from the public. She had no doubt that her return to being a Muggle would on the front page of the Daily Prophet in the morning if it hadn't already made the evening edition. "It will be a moment," the latest official stated as she exited the room. "How many more checkpoints do we have left, Harry?" "Just one, but at this rate, we won't get to Bulgaria until Christmas." She managed to laugh. "I think we'll manage to get there by tonight." "What do you think Ron's doing right now?" "I'm hoping he's frustrated because Viktor has told him nothing and is on his way back home." Harry glanced at her. "You could have your magic back." "But at what cost? This is Dark magic, Harry, very Dark magic." "What is the cost? Do you even know?" She lowered her eyes, confirming his suspicions. "This isn't like you, Hermione. You usually have to know everything. Don't you want your magic back?" "Of course, I do! You think I enjoy being a Muggle again? My parents are dead. There was nothing left in that world for me. I've have to start completely over." "Then why not at least learn about this cure?" "Stopping Dark magic is not easy. Reversing it take even more effort. Think of Neville's parents. Years of magical treatment hasn't been able to cure them." Hermione hugged herself. "And I'm not even sure there is a cure. Viktor wrote there was a possibility but Malfoy had told Ron that he made sure there was no cure before he used it." "And you believe him? Malfoy?" Hermione was saved from answering by the return of the official. * * * * * Ron shook his head. "I don't read Bulgarian." "It is Medieval Bulgarian." "I definitely don't read Medieval Bulgarian." "I did not tink so," Viktor said with a smile, irritating Ron. "Latrunculus is usually used to steal victim's life." "Yes, I know that part." Ron tried to banish the image of a dying Hermione from his mind. "It has been used to steal a person's sanity as vell. Tis is first time it has been used in tis manner that I have found." 'Leave it to Malfoy to be original with a curse,' Ron thought. "What about the cure?" "It gets a bit fluffy." "Fluffy?" "Fluffy. It is not clear." "Fuzzy." "Ah, tank you. It is a bit fuzzy about a cure." "Then why would you get Hermione's hopes up about a cure." Ron clenched his fists as he fought the urge to throttle Viktor. "I thought you liked her. I thought you were her friend." "I am her friend. I vould not get her hopes up vithout cause. I said possibility of cure, not guarantee." "I just want Hermione to get her magic back." "And vhat vould you do for tat?" "Whatever is necessary," Ron replied without hesitation. "Are you certain?" "Yes." Viktor laid out another manuscript. "Tis is possible cure." To be continued


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