Rhonda and Hermione are dealing with the pain of their break up. The quest for Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw begins. The creation of Trasfiguration Toffees. More Potter madness abounds.

This is a work of fiction using the characters created by J.K. Rowling. They are not used with her permission. All actions follow the events of book six of the series. Any similarity between any person living or dead is purely coincidental and unintentional. If you happen to find your life reflected in this piece I’ll be impressed.

The Chalice and the Wand
poetheather
Story ideas by poetheather and Wintermoon3
Beta by Redpiratemel

Chapter Five

Rhonda padded towards the bathroom. Her head ached, throbbing in time with her heart beat. She made it to the bathroom but she was so lost in the post drunk haze that she lifted the lid and tried to take a leak in the old way.

Urine sprayed all over her. Rhonda looked down and then muttered, “Bloody Hell, not again.”

A hot shower followed by a cold one really woke her up. Her nipples were hard from the cold but she wasn’t too concerned. She got dressed, no longer struggling with the bra. She was trying to rub the sleepy out of her eyes as she stumbled out into the living room. When she saw Luna sleeping on the couch all of the events of last night came crashing back, worse than the hangover.

Her sobs woke Luna. Luna quickly went over and hugged Rhonda tight. While it would have been nice to have taken advantage of the situation last night, it wouldn’t have been an act of friendship. She murmured soothing words into the short red hair, trying to get Rhonda to relax some. After a while it seemed that Rhonda had cried herself out.

Luna helped Rhonda to the couch. She then hustled to the kitchen to make a quick cup of tea. Rhonda needed the tea, as the magical essences in the tea leaves would help her to relax. Luna had studied those, as there had been several adult education classes on Herbalism she had attended in Salem. There had been lots of classes on calming teas. Apparently America was a stressful place.

She looked over into the living room and Rhonda was still shaking, though there were no more tears. Once she had the water in the pot she carried the whole thing over with two cups floating along behind. She set down the pot and then grabbed the tea cups and set them down. Rhonda was curled up on one end of the couch.

Luna scooted over and hugged Rhonda. “It’ll be okay, really. I had a friend of mine look at your planets and it doesn’t look all bad. Things will work out.”

Rhonda looked up, her eyes red. “How can you say that?”

Luna looked confused. “What? That things will work out? But they will. I saw no signs of any infestations of any of the usual creatures that cause these things, so it is just a disagreement. Those can be fixed easier that an infestation.”

“What?”

Luna sighed and sat back primly. “This seems to be a simple case of misunderstanding, which means we can fix this. Maybe she simply has got some sort of mistaken notion in her head? We get that out and it’s all good.”

“I can’t see how this is a misunderstanding. Hermione left me. She left because she couldn’t cope. What does she think I have been trying to do? Does she think this has been easy for me? This whole thing has been driving me insane. And she can’t cope?” Rhonda was clearly upset, her voice raising through the whole thing.

“Well then. Maybe you should simply get on with your life? Simply deal with this on your own and not worry about her. She will either come around or she won’t.” replied Luna calmly, hoping that her longing for Rhonda wasn’t making her advice less accurate.

Rhonda sat there with the idea floating around her head. She had no idea if this spell could be reversed. If it hadn’t been reversed by now or had faded then it was doubtful that an easy solution to this problem would arise. She would have to get on with her life and just try to cope with things. Maybe she would be able to at least find out more about Chalice and the Wand.

“I think I am going to go on a trip. I don’t know if I can handle being here day after day, with all these reminders of Hermione all around me.”

Luna was a bit surprised by that. Rhonda was going to actually try and deal with this? Ron hadn’t been known for moving on; in fact he had gotten all tangled up about a number of things all through their school years. Maybe this change had actually had been good for him. “Are you going to tell anyone?”

Rhonda thought for a minute. “Yeah. I’m going to talk to work and maybe get some funds for this. I also need to grab my camping gear from my Mum’s house. That should be about it. I can leave Hermione a scroll if she even cares.”

Luna could see the pain through the resolve and attempt at sounding brave. She couldn’t let Rhonda travel around with all of that, without someone there to help. “Can I come with you?”

* * * * * *

Hermione looked up as someone opened up the study room. Harry walked in and he did not look happy. Hermione looked away. She couldn’t meet her friend’s eyes as she was embarrassed by the way she had treated Ron. But what else could she have done? She looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes. “You’ve heard?”

“Bloody well right I heard. What were you thinking Hermione? Ron has loved you forever it seems and you do this to him?” It was clear that Harry was not pleased by the way his first real friend had been treated.

“Her.” Hermione said this sadly. “It’s her now Harry. Ron’s a girl and there is nothing I can do. It’s not like I hadn’t tried with a girl, especially with the way that Luna and Ginny were eying everyone. But it didn’t do anything for me. It was wrong. And it’s not like I don’t want to be with Ron, I do, with all my soul, but Ron’s not Ron anymore. He’s a she. I…I can’t do she’s…”

Harry strode over and took her in his strong arms. She cried out her pain and loss against the Boy Who Lived. Harry scanned the room, wishing he could see something that could help. There was nothing. “Hermione, Ron is still there. He is. You can see it plain as day in the way this girl still bumbles exactly like him. If you love him, really love him, look past the body and into who he or she really is. That’s the reason I’m with Snape. I saw past what I thought into the truth of who he is. You can do the same.”

“I don’t think I can Harry. I’m afraid to even try, because if I fail I’ll lose him forever.” She began to sob some more, clutching at the heavy, armored Auror robes that Harry wore.

“Hermione, you are losing him by acting this way. How do you think he is going to react to this? He’s stubborn and when he gets upset he pouts forever practically. Remember that bit with the Goblet of Fire? It took almost getting burnt to a crisp for him to realize I had been telling him the truth. With this chain of events…who knows?” Harry rubbed her hair and then held her out at arms length. “Is that what you want to happen?”

She shook her head, her curly hair shifting. She let out a muffled “No.”

“Then maybe you need to go back there and let Ron or Rhonda know what you feel and try to work it out like adults. There is not need to freak out. Honest.” He gave her another hug. “Now Floo the git and work on getting back together.”

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and headed to the fireplace. She threw some of the powder into the fire and as the flames turned green she put her head in the flames, announcing where the call was supposed to go.

As her face pushed out of the coals in their apartment, she realized that the lights were off. She didn’t see anybody there. “Ron? Rhonda? Anyone there?”

There was only silence in the room.

Hermione pulled her face out of the flames and looked at Harry. “There’s nobody there.”

Harry and Hermione both grabbed powder and Floo’d over to Ron and Hermione’s flat. It was quickly evident that there was no one home. A quick check of the bedroom showed that someone had packed, messily. Empty bottles were in the living room and there were signs that the bed and couch had been used for sleep.

Hermione was getting frantic. Where had Rhonda gone?

* * * * * *

“Thanks Mom, I’ll bring everything back.” Rhonda hugged her mother.

Mrs. Weasley looked a bit sad. “I know you will. I’m just sad that things with Hermione didn’t work out.”

Rhonda shrugged the backpack into place. It was carrying lots of supplies for the trip. Her department was fine with the trip and had given her a healthy stipend of Galleons to cover it. The camping gear was old but serviceable. The tent was the one that they had stayed in at the World Cup match. It was singed a bit, but overall in good shape.

She was meeting Luna at this little village called Batsworth by the Dover coast. There was a nice inn there where they would have lunch and then Floo across the channel. Ginny was going to meet them there and assist in what ever last minute things needed to be taken care of.

“I’m sorry too. What did I do Mom?” Rhonda looked sadly at her mother.

Molly took her newest daughter into an enveloping hug. “Nothing at all Rhonda. Sometimes these things happen. She might get her head on straight and come find you. That would be a good start. Now, off you go. If you have any trouble in France floo your brother for help.”

“I will Mom.” With that she took a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the flames. “Batsworth!”

She stepped out into a small tavern. Luna was easy to spot, as that white hair was obvious. She was drinking a mug of something. She turned and smiled at Rhonda, her radish earrings wobbling.

The food wasn’t bad. Rhonda had Bangers and Mash, with some ale to wash it down. Luna got the Fish and Chips and was using Brown Sauce instead of vinegar. Rhonda looked at her oddly, but Luna didn’t notice or didn’t care, one or the other.

After they had both tuckered in, Ginny came out of the fireplace with her partner Tonks. Ginny smiled and hugged her sister tightly. “I’m gonna miss you sis.”

Rhonda found that she was crying and felt overwhelmed with happiness touched with melancholy. “I’ll miss you too. Thank you for all the help you have given me so far.”

She shrugged. “What are sisters for?”

Tonks looked over at the bags, “Got everything?”

Rhonda nodded. Ginny sat next to Luna and Tonks next to Rhonda. “I think so. I have the detectors I am sure I’ll need. I got a broom packed, in case I need that as well.”

“Got plenty of food?” asked Ginny.

“Yeah. Got lots of stuff. And plenty to drink. We may need to pick things up but they gave me a real nice stipend.” Rhonda was fairly sure she was ready for this.

“Just be safe sis, there are still Dark Wizards running around and this search can bring them your way.” said Ginny.

“I’ll be safe Gin. I got Luna to watch my back, a bunch of detectors and everything. I even have a hold out wand, just in case. I’m not going to do anything stupid. Honest.” Rhonda was sure that her sister cared, but she was an adult and did sort of know what she was doing.

Ginny nodded, her face turning worried. “Look, I’m sorry about Hermione. She’s being a prat. Nymph and I will try and talk some sense into her, okay?”

Rhonda’s eyes grew wet, thinking about Hermione. She had gone on plenty of adventures with ‘mione and Harry and now the woman who she loved had abandoned her. After everything they had been through, to leave her over this. She fought off the tears, hurt and anger giving her the strength to pull them back. “Thanks Gin.”

The hug surprised Rhonda. Ginny held her sister tight and whispered in her ear, “No worries Sis. I’ll do what I can.”

The fireplace flared green and two tall redheads dressed in expensive dragonhide suits stepped out. Fred and George spotted the group swiftly and sauntered over. They grinned broadly. This made the others nervous and more alert.

“We managed to get some…” began George.

“…information about the fortune cookie spell.” finished Fred.

Everyone looked expectantly at them. It was clear that the twins were enjoying the spotlight.

“It seems that this particular company…” explained Fred.

“Wei Ling Lam’s.” supplied George helpfully.

“…has been in business making such fortune cookies for a while”

“About thirty-five years.”

“And has been using the same process the whole time.”

“And we get the spell.” George’s grin was wide and excited.

“And we have been working on a Transformation Toffee, so that has been very helpful.”

“Any idea if we can fix this?” It was clear that Rhonda was desperate for a solution to this particular problem.

“Sorry Ron…da. The spell lasts twenty-four hours, max.” George laid a hand on his recent sister’s shoulder comfortingly.

Rhonda sighed in surrender. Luna rested a hand on her back. Rhonda turned and smiled at the white haired Ravenclaw. It was a small smile of thanks. Ginny and Tonks watched this and then turned to face each other. It was clear something passed between the couple, just no idea what that could have been.

As the two stood, pulling on their packs. Ginny motioned for Luna to join her, apart from the others. Once they were together the youngest Weasley grew some what stern. “Luna, don’t hurt Rhonda. She has enough going on without other things messing it all up.”

Luna smiled at her old lover. “Don’t worry Ginny-bear, I won’t try to hurt Rhonda.”

Ginny’s look softened. “Help her Luna. I know Ron was usually a prat around you, but Rhonda is really vulnerable and in pain. She needs help and a friend.”

“I will do that.”

The two hugged, each fitting into the others arms easily, still knowing each other well enough to do that.

Rhonda and Luna headed for the fireplace. Luna had gotten the reservations for them at a nice village near Karlsruhe, at the northern tip of the Black Forest. Luna grabbed the Floo powder and went first. Rhonda smiled at everyone one last time and then vanished in a burst of green flame.

* * * * * *

Hermione was cried out. This whole situation was making her crazy and she wasn’t sure what to do. So, she went to her office to do some work.

Cho Chang was busy working when she entered. The Ravenclaw was busy with research on several of the spells that Hermione had been working on. The Asian girl didn’t even look up as her boss walked in.

Hermione set her satchel down on her desk as she dropped into her chair. There was nothing she could do now except keep going on. Her secretary, Regina, came in with a mug of tea and some messages.

The former Hufflepuff smiled broadly. “Here are all the messages from the last few days. Also we got a Floo from America. Some gent from California is coming to interview for the assistant job.”

Hermione looked up. Assistant? Then she remembered that she was looking for another research assistant. Chou needed help with the work load and this new position should fix that. She nodded. “Do you have his resume?”

Regina beamed and handed over a folder. Hermione opened the folder and scanned the sheet. They had certainly done very well in Potions and Transfigurations. That might make him a good addition to the team. She nodded her head again, her thoughts working nicely on the problem. “Let him know that I would like to see him tomorrow if at all possible.”

As Regina left, Hermione turned to her work. It was hard to focus. She kept thinking about Ron. She ran through her years at Hogwarts, all the good and bad things that had happened between them. She loved Ron, with everything in her and had for years. This spell had torn them apart and now she was left without half of her heart.

What made it worse was that she could clearly see Ron in the woman’s face. It was her Ron with breasts and a vagina. Her Ron transformed into something…different. This Rhonda was not her Ron. She wasn’t! Hermione was angry over this, wanting to lash out at something. Rhonda had been the target of opportunity. She didn’t want to imagine that woman’s face covered in tears. She didn’t want to imagine the sounds of the sobbing after reading that letter. Hermione didn’t want to imagine what this could have done to Ron.

She wiped tears from her eyes and threw herself into her work again. She would find a cure. She would get her Ronald back, whatever it took.

* * * * * *

Luna watched Rhonda as they headed to the Potrtkey they needed for this trip. Te Floo to Calais had gotten them to the Juncture, where a great deal of the international traffic went through. It was clear by the set of the Weasley’s shoulders that she was upset and struggling to hold it in. If it was just from the situation or because her now slighter frame didn’t forge through the crowd as well wasn’t something she could answer. There were too many things that it could be, maybe even all of them.

Garflats were attracted to this kind of spirit and it worried her. They made the depressed feeling contagious, moving from one person to another. That was harder to fight than taking them on early, before the nesting and spreading phases began. Rhonda glowed like Garflat bait. It looked like she needed to do something to change the situation.

With her thoughts directed to the problem, she came up with an answer before they reached the portkey to Germany. It was an audacious plan and one that could end up with her old school friends never talking to her again, but it was the only thing she could think of to help Rhonda and Hermione be happy again. It was inspired and just a bit crazy with more than a dash of sexy. With a deep breath, she resolved to set her plan in motion and help her two friends.

The portkey was a moss covered rock with a splotch of red on it. Luna took Rhonda’s hand as they moved towards their destination. Rhonda glanced over at Luna questioningly but did not release her hand. Luna smiled encouragingly. She really did want for Rhonda’s happiness and she would make sure she could make that happen.