Spellbound Sacrifice: The Hidden Truth (Book 1)

Chapter 1 - The Invitation

Chapter 1 - The Invitation

Life after Hogwarts was very difficult for Hermione.

Trying to fit back into the Muggle world, without anyone, apart from her husband, Ron to talk to about all the perils and fun memories they had, left her feeling deflated and in need of something more to set her mind alight again.

Which is why, when Harry made a surprise visit to they're modest north London terraced house, she jumped into his arms with excitement and wouldn't let go.

"Harry! We haven't seen you for ages! How are you? Where is Ginny?" She screeched as she realised he couldn't breathe and released him from my tight grasp.

"It's nice to see you too Hermione" Harry laughed as Ron shook his head at her over excited welcome and showed him to the living room.

Sitting in front of the fireplace, Harry rubbed his cold hands against the roaring flames and welcomed the steaming hot cup of tea Hermione put beside him.

"So what brings you here then, Harry? Not another argument with Ginny?" Ron chuckled as the last time they received a visit from him was when he told Ginny he was offered a job by Dumbledore to teach 'Potions', when Professor Snape deserted the school in the middle of term, and she refused to go with him so he reluctantly declined the job offer and settled back into his accountancy job in the city.

Harry took a small sip of the sweet liquid and gave a smirk to the memory.

"Not quite but it does involve going back to Hogwarts again but this time McGonagall wants to see all three of us" he revealed as the laughter evaporated from the room and Ron slumped down in the chair at the thought of going back to the place where he lost his older brother,

"I don't know if I can go back Harry" Ron admitted as Hermione joined him on the soft suede sofa and placed her hand on his own trembling fist.

She looked at Harry for support, knowing this was the thing she needed to give her some much needed purpose and direction in life and he gave a small nod in recognition of her obvious desire to go back 'home'.

After the final war was fought at the Hogwarts prom (10 years ago) and Lord Voldemort escaped, Dumbledore shut down the school for five years to ensure he could secure it properly, before putting any more lives in danger, however, due to the tragic death of Ron's older brother, Fred, the memories of Hogwarts have always tainted Ron's nightmares, leaving him with no desire to ever go back.

Harry slowly moved over and sat on the other side of Ron as he looked at his friend's hanging head and felt his despair.

"I know that it would be really hard for you to go back there but all I ask is for you to think about it. I think we all need closure as we all lost something, or someone special, at that time and I don't think we've really been able to blend into the Muggle world as easily as we thought we would" Harry suggested as Ron whipped his head up with fury and gave Hermione a stern look of disapproval.

"Have you been moaning to Harry about your journalist job again? Or have you been gossiping about my inability to maintain a job like you did with Dina next door?" Ron shouted as he leapt to his feet and stood in front of the worried pair with a ferocious questioning glare.

Harry stood up and wave his hands frantically in protest.

"No! I have not spoken to Hermione for months. I have no idea about what is going on" but Ron was not listening and started pacing around the room,

"You never really knew your mother and father and have no siblings so how can you tell me what I need to gain closure from losing Fred? He was my older brother, part of a twin, one half of the energy that is no longer part of my family and why is he not here today? Because you said you knew how to defeat him! You said with all the Horcruxes destroyed, the Elder wand would definitely kill him but you didn't predict Draco getting it and using it on Fred did you? Do you even care? As long as the famous Harry Potter is still alive then nothing else matters!" Ron cried as the photographs of us at Hogwarts provided a mixture of emotions and came smashing down from the mantle above the fireplace with one swoop.

Harry attempted to stop him but it was too late.

"I miss Fred too. He was like a brother to me and if I could have got to him in time, he would be here today and not me. I would have given my life him and the others who did not make it. Do you not think I have nightmares about that every night too? He died because of me. Many died because of me but many also lived and have gone on to have great lives and that's what I have to remember otherwise my son and daughter would not have a father here to teach them not to make the same fatal mistakes I made! Your niece and nephew!" Harry confessed as he joined Hermione's distraught husband on the floor of smashed glass.

She cautiously walked over to the distressed pair and joined them as she crouched down beside them on the floor.

Resting her head on Ron's quivering shoulder, Hermione could feel the bubbling torment through his trembling shirt and reassured him.

"I will always be there for you and if we do not put these nightmares to rest now, we will not make it through another year".

His watery blue glance greeted her anxious brown stare and he gave a slow reluctant nod before wrapping his strong arms around Hermione's slender waist, giving her a strange feeling of renewed solidarity - which has not been felt between the pair for the past two years.