Left Behind 3: Curses

Pridigal Son

Hello lovely humans. This is the only update this week since I am traveling (literally leaving as soon as I am finished my shift) and will be away from internet.  ITS A NICE LONG ONE! <3 Hope you enjoy.

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Inside Hermione's tent, agitated to the point of gnawing, Harry paced.

"What happened?" asked Mrs. Weasley  sensing Harry's frustration, as she lay a cool cloth against Hermione's burning forehead.

"She woke up," said Harry. "Ron was here."

"Good, it's nice that they could see each other," Molly said with a small smile.

Harry's face said otherwise and the smile on Mrs. Weasley's lips turned down into a frown.

"What happened Harry?" she asked folding her hands and looking at the young man she had practically adopted as her son.

"Ron told Hermione that he blames her for Fred's death."

"What!?" Mrs. Weasley's hand flew to her chest. 

After a moments pause where Harry did not explain further Molly shook her head and pursed her lips. Even though her heart was wrenching thinking of her lost son she still was more angry at Ron's words than anything else.

"It isn't her fault!" she snapped. "I'm going to have a word with that boy."

"It's because she was asking after Draco," Harry admitted looking away. 

Mrs. Weasley took a moment to process that.

"What else," she prompted, sensing that there was something more.

"I..." Harry started and then pushed a hand back through his hair. "I don't know what the hell is going on." Harry shook his head. "The Draco in that tent is not acting like the one I knew from school and I can't figure out if that's because he's messing with me or because he had a mental breakdown and genuinely believes all the things he is saying or..." Harry trailed off.

"He's been living with the Dark Lord in his house for these past months. Its not a surprise that he's gotten darker."

"That's the thing," said Harry. "It...doesn't feel like that."

"Dear you're going to have to be a bit more specific then," Mrs. Weasley said gently "What are you thinking?"

"I don't know, "said Harry. "I think....I think he might have used the Imperius curse on Hermione."

Mrs. Weasley looked at Hermione. Then she let out the breath and closed her eyes.

"I shouldn't be surprised," she said shaking her head slowly. "That photo..."

"That's the thing," said Harry. "I think he used the curse it to convince her that they were friends."

"What?"

"I think he might actually believe that they are...He's acting like he cares about her and I think that might actually be the case. But the way she called out for him, it just does make sense with everything he put her through. He has to have convinced her somehow and the Imperius curse makes sense. It's all so fucked up."

Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips at the language, but said nothing.

"I don't know what to do," Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Mrs. Weasley got up and put her arms around him in a warm hug.

"There, there boy," she said rubbing his back. 

Harry leaned into the motherly gesture. 

"Everything is going to be alright. The import thing is that she is back safe. So let's keep her that way." She gave him a gentle pat on the back. "You stay and watch over her," Mrs. Weasley offered him a smile. "Call me if you need anything."