Latrunculus--Part 7

The next day found them in the Hogwarts library. The arrival of the Golden Trio with the equally famous Ginny Weasley-Potter caused some excitement. However, Madam Pince quickly ushered out most of the students.

The few who managed to escape the herding quickly resumed interests in their books. Or made to appear that way. Yet Ron could feel the stares boring into his back.

“Weird, isn’t it?” Ginny whispered.

He followed her line of vision. He exchanged looks briefly with a group of students before they quickly ducked back into their books. One girl was trying to put the Weasley blush to shame.

“You’d think people would be over it by now,” his sister continued. “I mean some of them probably don’t really remember the war.”

“Yeah,” Ron agreed. The students across the way seemed so young and so small. Had others seen him that way when he was their age?

He bit back a laugh as he realized they probably had. Had anyone during their first few years of school guessed what he and his friends would eventually accomplish? He doubted that few other than Albus Dumbledore had.

He was still amazed by people’s reaction to him and the others after the defeat of Voldemort. And that was before he became an Auror. It was still a bit much, even after all this time.

Realizing that he was wool-gathering, he reached for the next book. Ginny was fortunate to have a table of contents in hers. The siblings quickly fell back into their work. Harry and Hermione mirrored them across the table.

Much of their reading was not pleasant, making Ron glad that there were no students relatively close by. Their research had them delving into some of the darker texts of the restricted section. The illustrations weren’t helpful.

He didn’t know how long he had worked before his stomach rumbled. Harry’s stomach answered. Rolling her eyes, Ginny shut her book and announced that they were going to the kitchen.

Ron was already on his feet before he thought to glance back at Hermione. She was still absorbed in her book. He waved for Harry and Ginny to go on. Harry glanced from Ron to Hermione before smiling as he followed Ginny out.

“Hermione,” Ron said quietly, “time for a break.”

“Later,” she replied absently, eyes never drifting from the book.

“You have to eat some time,” he persisted.

“Later, Ron,” she hissed.

He was having none of that.

He plucked the quill out of her hand and set it on the table before lifting her bodily out of her chair. For a moment, he thought about slinging her over his shoulder and walking her out that way. It was very tempting.

She seemed to sense his thought. “Let go of me this instant, Ronald,” she said with surprising venom considering how low she was keeping her voice. “I’ll go with you to get something to eat, all right?”

He followed her out of the library. He thought that Madam Pince seemed amused as they walked by. However, when he glanced back, the expression was gone.

Hermione refused to speak to him as they made their way to the kitchen. He decided not to push the issue. He merely held the door open for her and followed her inside.

Harry and Ginny were already being mobbed by the house elves. Dobby was practically tripping over himself as he worked to serve the Great Harry Potter. The old elf nearly had an apoplexy when he saw that he and Hermione were there as well.

They kept the break short despite the overwhelming hospitality of the house elves. As soon as they were done eating, Ron could tell that Hermione was ready to head back to the library. He thanked Dobby and suggested they all get back to work.

Ginny let Harry pull her to her feet. She bade her brother and Hermione to head on. She claimed that she would only slow them down.

With a nod, Ron took Hermione’s arm and headed out of the kitchens. He suddenly became aware of the gesture and released her. He prayed that he wasn’t blushing.

She only eyed him for a moment before walking again. He followed. He wondered if she would resume her silent treatment on the way back to the library. Was she really that mad at him?

“We could have waited for Ginny,” she said. She didn’t look back at him or slow any.

Ron frowned as he caught up with her. He would not be talking to her back. “I thought you wanted to get back to the library quickly.”

“Well, I do,” she said, glancing at him, “but it was rude to just walk off and leave her.”

“It was her suggestion, Hermione.” He was confused, as he usually was where she was concerned. “And we didn’t exactly just leave Ginny. Harry’s with her.”

She managed a glare. “You have the emotional sensitivity of rock, Ron.”

“What!” He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “What brought this on!”

“Oh, never mind,” she huffed. She moved to free her arm but his grip held. “Let go.”

“No,” he said, fighting to keep the volume reasonable. “Why are you like this? What did I do to piss you off?”

“Language, Ron!”

“I think we’re allowed to say pissed off, Hermione.” But he wasn’t allowing her to change topics. “Now, why are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you.”

“Could have fooled me. First, the silent treatment, and now I have the emotional sensitivity of a rock. Not exactly complementary.”

She sighed and her defensive posture relaxed slightly. “I’m sorry, Ron. I didn’t mean that. And I’m not mad at you.”

“Okay,” he said slowly, “so what is it?”

“It’s finally hitting me,” she confessed, averting her gaze. “I’ve been cursed. I may have only a few days of magic left. And we’re no closer to finding a counter-curse than when we started. It seems pretty hopeless.”

“Hey, don’t talk like that. We’ve only been at this a few hours and we still have a ton of books to go through.” He tipped her chin up so she would meet his face. “I’m not giving up on you, Hermione, and you’re not either.”

Tears welled in her eyes and he panicked. He never did do well handling a tearful Hermione. He grabbed her arm and headed up a staircase. “Come on, we have work to do.”

* * * * *

Harry went to grab the next book and stopped. He shook his head as he found Ginny asleep on top of the volume she was supposed to be reading. “I think I should get her home,” he said quietly. “Are you guys ready to go?”

Ron caught the flash of panic in Hermione’s eyes. “Nah, mate, you go ahead. I think I’ll finish this one at least.”

“I think I’ll stay, too,” Hermione said.

Harry didn’t seem surprised. “Just don’t forget to sleep at some point tonight. The books will still be here tomorrow.”

“Sure, Harry,” Hermione replied, her face already buried back in her book. The two men exchanged amused smiles.

Ron and Hermione continued working, slowly making their way through the various volumes. One book that Ron grabbed was the diary of a witch whose husband had been hit with the Latrunculus curse. She described in agonizing detail how the curse slowly drained the life from him until finally the man died.

Ron slammed the book close.

The noise caught Hermione’s attention and she glanced up at him with worried eyes. He managed a smile, which seemed to satisfy her as she went back to her work. He opened the next book. As he tried to read, he tried to banish the image of a slowly dying Hermione from his mind.

“Excuse me.” Both Ron and Hermione jumped at the voice. They turned to find Madam Pince at their table. “It’s time to close the library.”

“Can’t we have a few more minutes?” Hermione asked.

“I’m sorry, Miss Granger,” the librarian said, “but I’ve kept it open for longer than I should already. You are welcome to come back in the morning.”

“Okay,” Hermione said, closing her book. “Thank you, Madam Pince.”

The two left the library quietly. They made their way a fireplace that McGonagall had designated for their use. He took a pouch of floo powder from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. “Ladies first.”

Hermione smiled as she rolled her eyes. She took a handful of the powder and handed the pouch back to Ron. “See you at the Burrow.”

He watched her disappear in a roar of green flames. He gave her enough time to get out of the fireplace at home. He hoped he would have better luck the next day as the flames surged around him.


Part VII The next day found them in the Hogwarts library. The arrival of the Golden Trio with the equally famous Ginny Weasley-Potter caused some excitement. However, Madam Pince quickly ushered out most of the students. The few who managed to escape the herding quickly resumed interests in their books. Or made to appear that way. Yet Ron could feel the stares boring into his back. “Weird, isn’t it?” Ginny whispered. He followed her line of vision. He exchanged looks briefly with a group of students before they quickly ducked back into their books. One girl was trying to put the Weasley blush to shame. “You’d think people would be over it by now,” his sister continued. “I mean some of them probably don’t really remember the war.” “Yeah,” Ron agreed. The students across the way seemed so young and so small. Had others seen him that way when he was their age? He bit back a laugh as he realized they probably had. Had anyone during their first few years of school guessed what he and his friends would eventually accomplish? He doubted that few other than Albus Dumbledore had. He was still amazed by people’s reaction to him and the others after the defeat of Voldemort. And that was before he became an Auror. It was still a bit much, even after all this time. Realizing that he was wool-gathering, he reached for the next book. Ginny was fortunate to have a table of contents in hers. The siblings quickly fell back into their work. Harry and Hermione mirrored them across the table. Much of their reading was not pleasant, making Ron glad that there were no students relatively close by. Their research had them delving into some of the darker texts of the restricted section. The illustrations weren’t helpful. He didn’t know how long he had worked before his stomach rumbled. Harry’s stomach answered. Rolling her eyes, Ginny shut her book and announced that they were going to the kitchen. Ron was already on his feet before he thought to glance back at Hermione. She was still absorbed in her book. He waved for Harry and Ginny to go on. Harry glanced from Ron to Hermione before smiling as he followed Ginny out. “Hermione,” Ron said quietly, “time for a break.” “Later,” she replied absently, eyes never drifting from the book. “You have to eat some time,” he persisted. “Later, Ron,” she hissed. He was having none of that. He plucked the quill out of her hand and set it on the table before lifting her bodily out of her chair. For a moment, he thought about slinging her over his shoulder and walking her out that way. It was very tempting. She seemed to sense his thought. “Let go of me this instant, Ronald,” she said with surprising venom considering how low she was keeping her voice. “I’ll go with you to get something to eat, all right?” He followed her out of the library. He thought that Madam Pince seemed amused as they walked by. However, when he glanced back, the expression was gone. Hermione refused to speak to him as they made their way to the kitchen. He decided not to push the issue. He merely held the door open for her and followed her inside. Harry and Ginny were already being mobbed by the house elves. Dobby was practically tripping over himself as he worked to serve the Great Harry Potter. The old elf nearly had an apoplexy when he saw that he and Hermione were there as well. They kept the break short despite the overwhelming hospitality of the house elves. As soon as they were done eating, Ron could tell that Hermione was ready to head back to the library. He thanked Dobby and suggested they all get back to work. Ginny let Harry pull her to her feet. She bade her brother and Hermione to head on. She claimed that she would only slow them down. With a nod, Ron took Hermione’s arm and headed out of the kitchens. He suddenly became aware of the gesture and released her. He prayed that he wasn’t blushing. She only eyed him for a moment before walking again. He followed. He wondered if she would resume her silent treatment on the way back to the library. Was she really that mad at him? “We could have waited for Ginny,” she said. She didn’t look back at him or slow any. Ron frowned as he caught up with her. He would not be talking to her back. “I thought you wanted to get back to the library quickly.” “Well, I do,” she said, glancing at him, “but it was rude to just walk off and leave her.” “It was her suggestion, Hermione.” He was confused, as he usually was where she was concerned. “And we didn’t exactly just leave Ginny. Harry’s with her.” She managed a glare. “You have the emotional sensitivity of rock, Ron.” “What!” He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “What brought this on!” “Oh, never mind,” she huffed. She moved to free her arm but his grip held. “Let go.” “No,” he said, fighting to keep the volume reasonable. “Why are you like this? What did I do to piss you off?” “Language, Ron!” “I think we’re allowed to say pissed off, Hermione.” But he wasn’t allowing her to change topics. “Now, why are you mad at me?” “I’m not mad at you.” “Could have fooled me. First, the silent treatment, and now I have the emotional sensitivity of a rock. Not exactly complementary.” She sighed and her defensive posture relaxed slightly. “I’m sorry, Ron. I didn’t mean that. And I’m not mad at you.” “Okay,” he said slowly, “so what is it?” “It’s finally hitting me,” she confessed, averting her gaze. “I’ve been cursed. I may have only a few days of magic left. And we’re no closer to finding a counter-curse than when we started. It seems pretty hopeless.” “Hey, don’t talk like that. We’ve only been at this a few hours and we still have a ton of books to go through.” He tipped her chin up so she would meet his face. “I’m not giving up on you, Hermione, and you’re not either.” Tears welled in her eyes and he panicked. He never did do well handling a tearful Hermione. He grabbed her arm and headed up a staircase. “Come on, we have work to do.” * * * * * Harry went to grab the next book and stopped. He shook his head as he found Ginny asleep on top of the volume she was supposed to be reading. “I think I should get her home,” he said quietly. “Are you guys ready to go?” Ron caught the flash of panic in Hermione’s eyes. “Nah, mate, you go ahead. I think I’ll finish this one at least.” “I think I’ll stay, too,” Hermione said. Harry didn’t seem surprised. “Just don’t forget to sleep at some point tonight. The books will still be here tomorrow.” “Sure, Harry,” Hermione replied, her face already buried back in her book. The two men exchanged amused smiles. Ron and Hermione continued working, slowly making their way through the various volumes. One book that Ron grabbed was the diary of a witch whose husband had been hit with the Latrunculus curse. She described in agonizing detail how the curse slowly drained the life from him until finally the man died. Ron slammed the book close. The noise caught Hermione’s attention and she glanced up at him with worried eyes. He managed a smile, which seemed to satisfy her as she went back to her work. He opened the next book. As he tried to read, he tried to banish the image of a slowly dying Hermione from his mind. “Excuse me.” Both Ron and Hermione jumped at the voice. They turned to find Madam Pince at their table. “It’s time to close the library.” “Can’t we have a few more minutes?” Hermione asked. “I’m sorry, Miss Granger,” the librarian said, “but I’ve kept it open for longer than I should already. You are welcome to come back in the morning.” “Okay,” Hermione said, closing her book. “Thank you, Madam Pince.” The two left the library quietly. They made their way a fireplace that McGonagall had designated for their use. He took a pouch of floo powder from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. “Ladies first.” Hermione smiled as she rolled her eyes. She took a handful of the powder and handed the pouch back to Ron. “See you at the Burrow.” He watched her disappear in a roar of green flames. He gave her enough time to get out of the fireplace at home. He hoped he would have better luck the next day as the flames surged around him.


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