Empty souls

Chapter 11. The critical eye of Mad-eye.

>>>>Three weeks before the battle<<<<


“¿Why not, Hermione?”

“Because it’s too soon... maybe we-we need to... ¡oh!” she gasped. “¡Please!”

“Please, What?” his mouth vibrated against the skin of the valley between her legs. For a replay, he got a quiet moan that left her throat dry. Ron smiled wider. Hermione wnated to say ‘stop’, but her body was refusing, bucking her hips against his mouth. She was in a total bliss of sensations gathered in her lower body.... and they had took their clothes off yet. Unfortunately or fortunately, depends on whom you’re thinking, that night, Hermione had being wearing a short skirt and a shirt that clunged to her body like a second skin, and Ron was getting mad just seeing her like this.

The beginning of spring in Ottery St.Catchpole was a wave of heat for the lovers, suggesting it was time to let their inhibitions thrown out of the window.

“We need to...” she panted. “¡Oh! Wait until get married. ¡God!”

“I can’t... and I won’t.” With this, her panties were off her body in an instant. And all Hermione could do was enjoy the delicious movement between them. She knew it would happen sooner or later... she knew that she wanted this... need this... but not exactly with Ron. Although she had made her mind up, because she loved Ron... that... she loved him... long time ago... or maybe was she just fancied him while he didn’t look in her direction. Resignatedly, frustration got the better of her when Ron was with Lavender... and then, Hermione looked in Harry’s direction. She was fond of him, but when she saw he was with Ginny, reality strucked to her with horror and fear and... jealous. She realized she had fell for her dark-haired friend. Sadness overwhelmed her heart and soul, and after Dumbledore’s burrial, she sucumbed to Ron’s antics... when she already realized that he was just a crush... and nothing else.

But she accepted Ron’s proposal... she saw it coming while they were looking the horcruxes... she accepted.

‘At least’ she thought ‘three of the four of us will be happy... at least... maybe with time, I’ll learn to love Ron... just like he’s loving me right now’. The thought vanished from her mind when Ron slipped slowly inside her. A jolt of pain let her panting and tears forming in her eyes. Ron wipped off the tears with light kisses.

‘Maybe this is the way it’s supposed to be.’

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


-Present time-

When the fourth group saw what was happening, was because they were close enough to see death-eaters fighting viciously against the light side. They survied the scene before them... there in the ground, bodies crumpled between here and there, but now, the circumstances turned into another level because while they were watching the battle in front of them, closing the gap to the fight, the ground grumble and the air fulled by cold air, dark sensations and then... they knew...

“¡Giants!” yelled one of them.

“¡Damn it!” responded Seagam, and Neville was startled.

“It can’t be” whispered Neville furiously in the direction of the first yell. The grumble on the earth was, this time, more close. Big shadows were now covering the space between the threes. Then, other shadows passed above them and a chill air cursed their bodies. Neville lifted his gaze to the sky and another shadow passed deliverately slowly for the fourth group to see. “¡Dementors!”

“¡Everyone! ¡Get ready!” and with that, the room for words was over because the form of the giants were near them and the few dementors, that came from nowhere, assaulted the scattered group surrounding Malfoy Manor.

Neville felt like all the happines was sucked off of him and was getting weak by the second. He didn’t know what exactly do. He was torn between battling the giants of dementors. Then, he thought it’ll be better erase this last problem first, if not, their energy would weaken beforedefend themselves. ‘Think, Neville, think’ thought desperatly while looking two of his fellows trembling on the ground. ‘Think of... think...’ a dementor catched him and Neville fell on his knees panting, pointing to the horrendous creature with his wand, gripped loosen in his right hand. The dementor was winning over him... and then, a desperate image in the back of his mind reinvigorated his body a bit. Neville took a deep breath and , blinking, he focused on his target, all the time replaying the beautiful image of his blonde girlfriend, becoming more and more intense... and their first kiss came into his mind...

“¡Expecto patronum!” yelled Nevilled with all his might.

Bright waves of light came off from the tip of Neville’s wand, his hand gripping it tightly now, and the focus on his target full of emotions. The waves of light traveled through the woods, pulling screechs from the six or seven dementors, blinded by Neville’s performance, but tey weren’t escaping yet. It wasn’t powerful enough, but at least stopped their attacks, and the rest of the fourth team, rised their wands crying out loud their own patronus. This did work.

Neville was trying to get up, but suddenly, before any move was made, heavy steps were getting near him fast and before Neville lifted his knees from the ground, a big hand pushed him down a bit and a familiar voice came to his ears.

“¿Yea’ righ’, Nev?”

“¡Hagrid!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“¡Sir! ¡Sir!” yells coming from the corridor in the department of mysteries caught the attention of Rufus Scrimgeour.

“¿What now, Klein?” this wasn’t the best of the minister’s days. He just found out that a good bunch of aurors left two or three ours ago, along half of the unspeakables and that’s why he was there. ‘¿Why would they left when St.Mungo’s was attacked just this afternoon?’ Scrimgeour thought turning around just to find his secretary, Karl Klein, a boy in his mid twenties, whose appearence was the look of someone that just got up from a nightmare; his eyes were open wide by horror.

“Sir” Karl Klein panted. “We have... word of... the aurors... that left”

“Breath” ordered the minister urgently. Few seconds later, Klein regained his breath.

“Sir, one of our informants said our people left from Birmingham an hour and a half ago”

“¿Birmingham?... to where?”

“Our informant doesn’t know, sir.” And when the minister was about to ask something else, another yell came from behind Klein.

“¡Sir!”

“¡Now what!” cried Scrimgeour, glancing over Klein’s shoulder. The secretary turned around to see the undersecretary running, though he didn’t spoke until the panting thing subsided.

“Sir, we were just informed that our department detected a good bunch of unforgivable curses rang throughout in a forest.”

“¡¿How’s that?! ¡¿Where?!”

“We only know is somewhere in Glasgow, sir.”

Scrimgeour was taken aback, thinking rapdly what was going on and then thought on the aurors and unspeakables that left earlier, and something in his head made click... he put two and two together and began to shout orders here and there all the time cursing to the heavens.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

At this point, Harry’s mouth was bleeding while shooting disarming charms and his shirt had a cut at abdomen’s height. Panting, he found shelter in a corridor aside to get a breath while hearing his companions battling against the remain of death-eaters. That was when he realized few of the foes weren’t there and frantically began to search for Bill or Tonks or the twins, but he only spotted the female auror mending a broken arm. With the reflex gained by years of quidditch games, sorted out shouts of differnts lights coming his way until he crouched beside Tonks.

“¡¿Where is Bill?!” yelled Harry trying to be heard over the yells and screams the duelist were making. “¡¿And the twins?!”

“¡I don’t know! ¡Stupefy!” this last shout aimed the head of a death-eater that was pointing Harry’s back. “¡He just left!”

“That elf...” inquiered Macklaklan, who came running to them and crouched beside Harry and shouted a freezing charm to another death-eater.

“¿Elf? ¿Dobby?”

“¡That one!” panted Macklaklan. “The elf got out of God knows where and they left.”

“¿They?”asked Tonks.

“Bill, the twins and Bellatrix Lestrange.”

“¡¿What?!” yelled Harry and Tonks at once. Suddenly, an explosion was heard from above and instinctively all the presents winced and covered their heads. “¿What the hell...?”

“That were the twins” said Tonks.

“¿How on earth they managed to go upstairs?”

Before anyone said a thing, a second explosion shook the ceiling. Now they were worried.

Tonks reflexes were faster when two death-eaters were running in the direction of the stairs and stunned them before reaching the first step. Macklaklan recovered faster than Harry and stood up to do battle.

‘Maybe they found her’ thought Harry, seizing his oportunities, ‘if it’s that so...’ and with this, he broke in a run to the stairs. This movement caught Tonks’ gaze and, turning around in slow motion, saw an unforgivable his way. The green light was close to stuck Harry’s head and Tonks yelled at the top of her lungs.

“¡NOOOOOOOO!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Bill and the twins were shouting curses and jinxes to their foes in the first floor. The portraits on the walls were masked by hundred of blast from the wands fo the death-eaters. The curtains were on fire as was half of the corridor in it’s lenght. They didn’t know where the hell they came from, but seems that they multiplicated.

A killing curse was about to take the life of Fred, but George was faster. Bellatrix was still unconcious and George took her body throwing her in the direction of the curse, instantly blasted by the green light, colliding with Fred, both crumbling to the floor. This action left atonished all of the spectators; friends and foes. Bill was beyond belief but nodded in aceptance with a grim smile. Any other thing that could cross his mind was forgotten when a explosion he knew would come shook the perimeter between the floor and the ceiling... instants later a second blast shook everyone and everything. ‘They found her’ thought Bill standing straight while the rest were crouched on the floor by teh impact, his scared face scanning the corridor full of bodies and fire. Again, he shouted more curses and more jinxes before the death-eaters reacted, succeding in caught out of guard three or four masked foes and then, he heard a yell... no, a scream, from the floor below... Bill’s eyes widened when he recognized the voice... the scream belonged to Tonks. ‘God’.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Weakened, Hermione’ knees faltered and fell on all fours aside Lucius’ body. Moans of despair left her mouth in desperation of what just she had done. She couldn’t describe to herself what she was feeling at the moment... the only thing crossing her mind was that the murderer of her fiancé... the father of her unborn baby was dead.

Hurriedly, Mad-eye stood up and embrace Hermione. She instantly clunged onto him for dear life with raspy and erratical breaths, treathening to break her in any moment. Remus, with difficult, reached his wand and pointed at his wounded hand, healing it in seconds. Then, strode to where the old auror and the young witch were, and bending down, placed a hand onn her shoulder making her cringe at the contact letting out a groan of pain. Without permission, moved a bit the robe covering her almost naked body, finding the injury she got while in St.Mungo’s fight. With two flicks, the injury healed. Remus tried to remove the rest of the robe but Hermione hold it tightly and began to shake.

“Hermione” said Remus smoothly. “I need to see if you have other injuries. Please, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I-I... I know, but...”

“We already heard you, child.” Said the raspy voice of Mad-eye. “You need atention immediatly.” Hermione lifted her gaze to see, for the first time, simpathy in the scared face of Mad-eye Moody, then turned her gaze to Remus’ face and he opened his eyes in shock; half of her hair was plastered with dried blood and both cheeks cuted. Remus rised his wand to touch the sides of her face and head healing her.

“¿Did you loose blood?” Hermione nodded slowly to remus question. The last of the marauders snatched her body from Mad-eye’s arms and hugged her tightly, but not enough to not hurt her. ‘Thank God’ thought Remus thanking whoever was looking down at them for take care of her. Any other thought was interrupted when they heard a faint sceam. Remus’ brows furrowed in confusion and suddenly a chill ran through his body. Mad-eye seemed to felt it too because he stared into Remus’ eyes.

“That was Tonks” Remus’ voice was barely audible.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Harry never saw it coming. Generally he was aware of his surroundings, and his senses expanded even more in combat, but for the moment, his only concern was his Hermione and nothing else. He heard distantly Tonks’ yell, and he was brought back to the fight, and was just turning around at the same moment a green light was going to collied with him... but that never happened, because he tripped and fell to the marbel floor. The killing curse passed above his head leaving in it’s wake the whisper of death.

He looked for the reason that made him fell, trying to move his legs but couldn’t. He spotted something wrapping both his legs; it was Dobby. The elf just got out of the hide passage and search with his bigger eyes his new ‘master’ and saw a death-eater aiming to Harry’s back and without thinking, he broke in a run to Harry’s legs, making him fell hard... but saving his life.

Tonks let out a sigh in relief an shoot the death-eater a strong stunner, lifting him up from the floor and was thrown in the air, landing against other two death-eaters with a sickening crunch. Her two-side mirror began to emitt sounds from a worried Remus. She pulled it out and faced her husband.

“¿Are you ok?”

“Yeah... did you find her?”

“Yeah.”

“¡Thank God!” exclaimed Tonks loudly, bringing the attention of Harry and Dobby that were at the feet of the stairs and attempting to get close to her, but couldn’t because three death-eaters surrounded them and again Harry dueled them, now with the help of Dobby. “¿Is she ok?”

“No.”

“¡Oh no! ¡Please tell me what_”

“No time” interrupted Remus. “Mad-eye is with me. I need you.”

“But_”

“Tell Dobby you need to get here.”

“He’s with Harry” Tonks glanced in the direction of the elf and the man who lived. Then, she heard a frantic Hermione yelling ‘¡No!’, then an argument and then Remus spoke again.

“Don’t tell Harry, just bring Donny to your side and get here in this instant.” And the comunication broke. Tonks wondered why Remus asked to not let Harry knows but didn’t linger it anymore and ran to Dobby’s side. So she dove down the ray of light it was coming her way and she realized that the fight was diminishing and the light side was winning. Empowered by this new improvement of the situation, gripped Dobby’s hand as soon as she reached him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Don’t, please.” Begged a dishelved Hermione in Remus’ arms.

“Hermione, Harry is worried sick for you.”

“¡I don’t care!” she yelled.

“¿Why are you doing this, Hermione?” for reply, Remus got a deadly silence. “Because you’re ashamed?... because you’re pregnant?... please, answer me ¿Did you leave because you’re pregnant? I can’t believe that you don’t care about Harry, ¡He’s your best friend! ¡And right now he’s fighting to save you!” Hermione conected her eyes with Remus’ ones and he gasped at the intensity of that glare. ‘She’s broken’ thought the marauder.

“I don’t want him... or anyone for that matter, to know that I’m pregnant.”

“¿Whose this baby?”

“Ron’s”

Remus closed his eyes tightly.

“Molly will be more than happy to know that_”

“¡No! ¡They hate me!”

“That’s not true” replied Remus not believing his own ears.

“Yes, all of them... they hate me... because... because...” Hermione was breathing faster in shallows as though she was running and finished with a wail: “Because Ron’s death. It’s m-my fault.”

“¿What do you mean?”

“The killing curse that killed Ron... it was going to hit me, b-but he stood up between the green light and me ¡God!” Hermione broke in tears. Remus understood then, why Hermione ran away.

“¿When did you find out about your pregnancy?”

“The next day after the battle... while the healers checked me out. I begged them to not say anything.”

“¿How long you_”

“Three months.”

“¡Merlin’s beard!” exclaimed Mad-eye.

Hermione and Remus turned in the direction where the old auror was. The marauder was wondering what had impressed the old auror to making him claim when he usually swear to the heavens. Then Remus spotted Mad-eye’s hand holding Hermione’s cloak, and he turned to find her eyes wide open. Then the old auror rumaged in the hiden pocket and Remus saw what impressed Mad-eye; in his left hand was hanging a time-turner. The last marauder looked Hermione’s pale face.

“You knew...” whispered Remus. “You knew this would happend... ¿How?”

“First let her get dress, Remus.” Said Mad-eye sternely while reaching the young witch handing her her clothes. Remus released Hermione and both wizards turned their backs and she started to dress her almost naked body. For a fleeting moment, Hermione thought in obliviate them when she saw a wand... Lucius’ wand close to her, but...

“Don’t even try, Granger” exclaimed Mad-eye, making Hermione turn around in fear.

Ashamed, Hermione lowered her gaze to the dirty floor. As soon as she finished, Remus helped her to stand on her feet, but her legs failed and if it wasn’t for Remus’ arms, she would have fell on her arse. The marauder heard hurried steps and turned to the door or at least what was the door.

“It’s Tonks” replied Mad-eye to his unasked question. Hermione tensed and an instant later Dobby went in trailed by a tired Tonks. She quickly scanned the room letting out a gasp... then a sceech when her eyes landed upon Hermione’ body supported by her husband. The female auror in few long strides reache the girl and almost squashed her if Remus hadn’t stopped her.

“Careful, Tonks.”

“¡Oh, Yeah! Sorry Hermione. ¿Are you hurted?” Tonks looked out the girl for any injury, but to her it seems that she was well enough. All the time Hermione remained silent.

“Tonks, is urgent that you take Hermione with Pomfrey.” Remus pointed out and his wife looked at him, then to Hermione and at him again... Tonks was feeling puzzled.

“She seems to be fine, Remus. We just make a portkey and_”

“No, she’s not.” Stressed her husband. “She lost a lot of blood and I healed her injuries.”

“She’ll recover with Molly’s care.”

“¡No!” cried Hermione visibly paled.

“¿Why not?” Tonks questioned to the brown glazed eyes of the girl waiting for a reply, which she got, but from Remus.

“She was hurted, Tonks.” Remus sighed deeply and glancing quickly Hermione’s eyes of plea was too close to say a lie, but he refrained hinself. Hermione was even more weak when she saw the determination in Remus’ features. “and she’s pregnant.”

Tonks’ eyes almost poped out of their sockets. “¡Oh my God!”

“Here” said Mad-eye handing her an orb that she took without hesitation.”this will get you both in the hospital wing of Hogwarts. Keep an eye on her, would you?”

Tonks just nodded. Now she knew why Hermione was so adamant and Remus so stressed. The female auror hugged a weak Hermione in her arms and seconds later, both girls disapparated in a blur of colours before both men. Remus and Mad-eye watched them leave, then to one another, and ran downstairs in the direction of the fight below.



On the grounds, the fight was almost won. Few of the fourht group had already fell. With the help of Hagris that had brought Gwrap with him, made the giants retreat, two of their kind were now dead. The dementors flew away when a good bunch of the team fought with their patronus against them. And Neville was standing, with injuries and bleeding lightly but much in the fight, proud to has a teacher like Harry.



In the corridor of the first floor, everything was slowing down thanks to Bill. At last he realized what was happening.

Two death-eaters performed Doppelganger spell on themselves and their colleges, duplicating the number of the ligh side’s foes, until Bill spoted the two blokes that were doing the trick, sending them curses that knocked the two performers, efectively making the golem’s turn into grey smoke before his eyes. The rest of the first group kept fighting and soon just four of them were standing and the light side stunned and tied them, ready to be sent directly to Azkaban.

It was then, when Remus and Mad-eye surged from the space in the stonewall, watching the outcome of this fight. But no one said a thing, even when Bill and the twins were looking to them. In a silent agreement, they all ran for the stairs and while they were going down, shoot to whatever death-eater had in the vicinity.

When they took on their surroundings, the first thing that Remus was looking at, was Harry’s form, but couldn’t see him. ‘¿Where the hell is Harry?’ thought Remus. Suddenly aware that, if he was alright, Harry would be there fighting, but no... he wasn’t there and Remus was afraid that maybe he was in the pile of bodies laying between the duelers still shouting curses at random or a target specifically. In any case, he kept looking. Mad-eye stood beside him and wordlessly, pointed with one finger near the back entrance... a death-eater looming over his body. The last of the marauders was looking what seemed to be the dead body of Harry Potter.

* * * * * * * * *

A/N: This is not over yet. I’ve been listening ‘Somewhere I belong’ of Linkin Park, I highly recomended it to accompany this chapter... or ‘Precious’ Depeche Mode.

You lot won’t get rid of me.