True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)

Chapter XII {Taboo}

the world spins as i lie on my back on a bed of leaves and twigs. above, sunlight streams through a canopy of trees. wincing, i rise on my elbows, and see the locket lying in the dirt next to a confused, awake Harry. 

"Vanessa, quickly, in my bag there's a small bottle labeled 'Essence of Dittany.'" Hermione says 

i turn and see her hovering over Ron's twitching body

"quickly!" Hermione yells

i stumble dizzily to the bag. as i reach in, objects present themselves in furious succession. 

"Accio Dittany!" i say holding my wand to the bag

a small brown bottle lands in my palm

"unstopper it." Hermione demands while ripping open Ron's shirt, which is soaked in blood. the flesh of his upper arm is flayed, as if someone had scooped a portion away.

"Hermione, his arm." Harry begins 

i hand Hermione the bottle. she sprinkles three drops onto Ron's bleeding wound. greenish smoke billows.

"what happened? i thought we were going to Grimmauld Place?" i ask

"we were. we were there. but Yaxley had hold of me. and i knew we couldn't stay once he'd seen, so when he let go i brought us here. Ron got Splinched. im...sorry." Hermione explains

"don't be stupid." Harry says

the smoke sifts, clears. Ron's wound no longer bleeds.

"its all i feel safe doing." Hermione rises, takes her wand and begins to walk in a wide circle, muttering "Salvio Hexia...Protego Totalum..." 

"what're you doing?" Harry asks 

"protective enchantments. i dont fancy another visit like we had on Shaftesbury Avenue, do you? especially with Ron like this. you two can get going on the tent." Hermione says

"tent? where am i supposed to find-" i ask but i suddenly glance over at the beaded purse...she even packed the tent

Hermione pours tea from a kettle into cups "how're the mushrooms? seem to be the only edible things growing round here." 

i grimace as i chew "they're great." i say trying to put my best fake smile on

"make sure to leave some for Ron." Hermione says 

"no problem."  Harry whispers pushing his plate away

i glance over at Ron "how bad is he?" i ask

"he'll be alright in a few days. hopefully. if we could take him to Hogwarts, to Madam Pomfrey-" Hermione begins

Harry glances at her, confirming what she knows. 

"so where do we go next?" Hermione asks

"Dumbledore had a theory. he felt that the Horcruxes would not be made out of random objects. and he felt they wouldn't be hidden randomly either. we know of three so far. the ring, which according to Dumbledore belonged to Tom Riddle's grandfather. the diary, which belonged to Tom himself. and this," Harry holds up the locket "which--again according to Dumbledore--belonged to his mother."

"it scares me a bit, that, thinking its a piece of Vol-" Hermione starts

"no, don't! don't say it!" Ron yells suddenly interrupting her "its taboo, You-Know-Who's name. that's how they track people now. its how they found us in the cafe that night."

"how do you know?" i ask

"i overheard a bloke from the Enforcement Office talking about it at the Ministry. blimey, what's that smell?" Ron asks

"dinner?" Hermione says not as confident as before

"not bloody likely. smells like something Ginny would cook." Ron says

"tea?" i ask

Ron nods, grimacing, he pushes himself up, and notices he's wearing a sling of Hermione's fashioning. he looks from it to her as she tends the tea, a flicker of remorse playing over his face for his 'dinner' remarks.

"is that it?" Ron asks

Harry nods, hands him the locket. Ron turns it over in his hand, frowning. looks at Harry, who nods "i know. i felt it too. its...its like its ticking or something, like it has a tiny metal heart, like its-"

"alive" Ron finishes

"i hate it. its like he's here with us." i say

"that's why we're going to kill it." Harry says as we all glare at the golden locket hanging from Ron's fingertips