Stronger for You

Chp. 32 Hold on

Author's Note: This one has a bit of a twist. Pay attention to the words in between these *. VERY IMPORTANT. I hope you all enjoy. Remember, I do love comments. 

Seriously, PAY ATTENTION TO THE BOLD *WORDS* WITH THE STARS. THE PART IN BETWEEN THOSE DOES NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

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Chapter Thirty-Two

“When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot into it and hang on.” - Unknown

I slam my head against the tent flap as they begin to argue again. Ron’s fiddling with his wireless, trying unsuccessfully to find the newest PotterWatch. The sound is driving me bat-crazy but I let it go. Any news is better than no news.

I poke my wand absentmindedly into the dirt, tracing the words that go with this day. This time I really don’t mind that it had been forgotten. I knew they had not celebrated Ron’s, so why should mine be any different?

Happy Birthday

It is so strange. Today, I am eighteen. A year ago I was sitting in the distant Hogwart’s library fuming over how my friends had forgotten my birthday and now I am fuming over them fighting over some silly possession and more Horcruxes.

Oh, and not to mention that we were running for our lives because a crazed snake man wants to kill our best friend, the only one who could defeat him. There’s that minor detail as well.

“Guys, shut it! I got the password.” Ron’s voice filters through. I give a precursory glance around the silent surroundings and mutter strengthening spells at the wards before slipping inside. They are already listening enraptured.

It was a bucket of cold water on a hot day. It is so refreshing to hear Fred and Lee’s voices, and then Remus and Kingsley’s. They were okay. It was devastating to hear of Ted Tonk’s death and what Remus was doing at some silly radio show instead of his pregnant wife’s side, I did not know but I would slap him later for it. I tune back to the trio as they begin to argue again. I grind my teeth in frustration.

“…Vold—” Hermione’s scream drowns out the rest of the name but it is already too late. I jump to my feet as I hear the barrier breaking apart.

“Hermione!” I hiss to break her from her trance as Ron bellows at Harry. I begin to tell her to stay down so that I can transform, but her wand is out and aiming at me. I take a few hasty steps back as I feel myself shrinking.

The kitten? Seriously? I pull on my power, preparing to change back. I see her send a stinging jinx right into Harry’s face, wincing at his agonized yell. My body ripples, ready for the change.

I’m stuffed into her bag. Her bag! What the duck, I could help them escape, the fools! The bag is stuffed into another location and I pause as I feel the ground under my paws wobble.

Whoa, it’s a giant room filled with columns of books and supplies. I grip my claws onto the book’s edge, digging my front claws into the side of the bag. The magic of the bag would not allow me to leave, I discovered, as I sent out my Power to find an escape. It would tear the power from the bag and all of the supplies would spill out and I could not risk that.

I prick my ears when I hear muffled voices, dull thuds, and more talking. It feels like hours later, when in reality it was only minutes that the tight feeling of apparation closed around me. Hermione was walking jerkily, as if held in someone else’s hands. The snap of a door opening and closing and more voices.

“I can’t— I can’t be sure.” My front claws release the bag in my surprise and I totter frantically on the edge of the book. His voice was so loud and clear. I mew out his name in kitten-speak, confused. Why was he here? Why was he traveling with snatchers?