Only Time Will Tell

4 Privet Drive

Harry sat in his room, looking at his bedside table on which his parents' photo stood. They seemed to be so happy together. Harry still couldn't understand how his mum could have started liking his Dad, from what he saw in the Pensieve she was absolutely repulsed by the sight of him.

Harry rubbed his eyes and walked to his window where Hedwig was sitting. "Hey girl," Harry said, and gave Hedwig a little treat. Harry noticed she had a letter attached to her scrawny little leg. Harry pushed his glasses up and took the letter. It was Remus's handwriting yet again. Remus had been writing to him almost on a daily basis, and Harry felt now that Remus was his father. Harry had always seen Sirius as his father figure, rather laid back and neither overbearing nor overprotective. And Remus was a father figure in a whole different way. Harry had always looked to him as his former professor, the only Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that knew what he was talking about. He opened the letter, which held a picture of his mother and father, Sirius and Remus. Harry smiled down at the picture and put it to the side as he read the letter.

Dear Harry,

Dumbledore told me we were allowed to bring you to Grimmauld Place on July 25, but only if you like. Hermione has been asking me for the past couple of days to ask you, as she didn't feel it was her place to ask you - I think she was ready to send me a howler if I didn't write to you soon. I am sorry I couldn't have written sooner, the full moon was yesterday so I was too weak to do much of anything. Ron and the rest of the Weasleys are here as well as Luna, much to Ron's objections. Luna seems very nice doesn't she Harry? Well write soon! Or Hermione might just send a howler to you.

Talk to you soon,

Remus

Harry rolled his eyes at the mention of Luna being a 'nice girl'. Remus was always pushing either a relationship with Luna or Ginny. Harry thanked Merlin he hadn't mentioned Hermione as someone to have a relationship with; Harry wasn't sure how he would answer. Harry looked on his calendar; the 25th was 10 days away. Harry could already predict that they were going to be ten extremely long days. He got out a quill to write a reply.

Dear Remus,

I'd love to come to Grimmauld Place on the 25th. I'd like to come sooner, but I know that Dumbledore will object to that. I hope you're recovering all right from the transformation. Yes Luna is a 'nice girl', but I don't think of her in the way that you're implying. She's nice as a friend; must you keep trying to set me up with people? Thank you for the picture of my parents, Sirius and you. Well, you'd best go and tell Hermione I can come on the 25th, wouldn't want to have to get a howler from her she can be quite scary when she is angry!

See you soon,

Harry

Harry attached the letter to Hedwig's leg. "Take that to Remus," he said as Hedwig picked at his hand. Harry smiled and gave her a treat, petting her affectionately. Hedwig went off. Harry couldn't wait to be out of this place. Although the Dursleys had left him alone for most of the vacation, they would bother him occasionally, mostly Dudley, until Harry spoke the words 'Mad-eye'. It was quite funny, really. Dudley's eyes would widen and would run out of Harry's room, and Harry had trouble not laughing at Dudley whenever that happened.

All of Harry's essays were finished, Hermione would be proud of him. Ron probably hasn't even started his, and Hermione's are probably three times the size of mine, Harry thought. Harry looked outside where the sun was hanging at its zenith in the sky. It was probably around noon, and his stomach was rumbling.

Harry walked downstairs; to his relief Aunt Petunia was in the basement doing the laundry, while Uncle Vernon and Dudley were out somewhere - it wasn't like Harry cared. Harry looked in the refrigerator and took a cold slice of pizza and a cola can.

He walked in the back garden and ate. He saw Mrs. Figg eyeing him. He walked over to where she was. "Hello Mrs. Figg," he said.

"Hello Harry, are the Muggles giving you any trouble?" she asked him, eyeing the house as most people would eye their enemy.

"Nope, they've hardly even talked to me the whole summer. Dudley was being a git but I scared him away by mentioning Mad Eye." Harry said as he finished his pizza. She nodded her head.

"Okay then, see you around Harry." Harry nodded, and sat leaning on the bark of a tree. He finished his cola and set it down next to him. He closed his eyes and thought of the past year, From the Order coming to his house, to Ron and Hermione becoming prefects, to the meeting of Luna Lovegood, The DA forming, his date with Cho, his first kiss, to Sirius dying. Harry grabbed a piece of grass and threw it out in front of him. It was his fault Sirius was dead, he knew it was. It was his fault Hermione had almost died too, as well as Ron. It was his fault for everything that went wrong. The only thing Remus had never talked about in the letters he sent was Sirius' death. Harry opened his eyes and saw Dudley in front of him.

"What do you want Dudley?" Harry asked, balling his hands into fists.

"This is my house, I can be here if I want to." Dudley said. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Hicatatus Pocataus!" Dudley's eyes widened and he ran. Harry smirked. Dudley was so stupid; those weren't even words in the most foreign of languages. Harry chuckled, but then thought back to Sirius. He felt tears prick at his eyelids. "No, you're not going to shed a tear," Harry told himself. "Why couldn't you just have taken those goddamn lessons, and not gone into that stupid Pensieve of Snape's? Then Sirius wouldn't be dead, and Hermione and Ron's lives wouldn't have been threatened." Harry sighed and walked back into the house, where Uncle Vernon stopped him.

"What," he said with spit coming out of his mouth, "have you cursed my son with?" Harry wiped his face.

"Nothing!" he said.

"He said you were doing some wacky spell."

"For most spells I need my wand, which I wasn't holding at the time." Harry said.

"You're grounded." Vernon said.

"What's new?" Harry retorted and walked into his room. He sat on his bed and saw Pig was sitting there too. Harry saw Ron's handwriting and opened the letter.

Harry,

I'm going bloody mad here! Ginny invited Luna! She freaking invited Luna! As in Loony Lovegood! The girl is always staring at me, and quite frankly it's creeping me out. I'm dying here! It's a bloody loony bin house! Did you know that four girls are likely to PMS every single day! Gah! And Remus is no help! He just avoids talking about them. I need to get out!

Talk to you soon.

Ron

Harry chuckled at Ron's letter. It didn't sound as though he was having a peaceful time. It was pretty obvious to Harry that Luna liked Ron. Just if Ron would stop calling her Loony, they might actually have a chance to be together. Harry shrugged it off. He had received letters from practically everyone except Hermione; he had even received one or two from Luna. Was Hermione angry with him? Harry wondered.

Well then again you haven't written to her have you? a nagging voice said.

Well no, but I've tried... it just always sounds stupid, he thought. Maybe it's the same with her.

"Let's hope so," Harry thought, realizing he was talking to himself. Wow he must really be bored. And there were still ten days to go. Harry sighed and put his pillow on the top of his face...

"Harry, what are you doing out here?" she asked him. Harry's eyes widened.

"Hermione, leave!"

"Harry?" she said, and was hit with a curse by a man in a hood. Harry ran to her side.

"Hermione! Hermione?" he asked and took her pulse. It was gone. He pointed his wand at the three hooded people. "Leave!" he said a tear falling down his pale cheek. They all unhooded themselves. He recognized them as his parents, and Sirius. Lily came forward.

"Everyone dies because of you." she said. Her eyes were all black with no other trace of color in them.

"It's always your fault, if you hadn't been born none of us would be dead." Lily looked over to Hermione. "And I would have thought you would at least try to save her, you selfish little boy." She said.

Harry bolted upright, his breath raging. He groped his nightstand for his glasses, and found them. He put them on.

"No she's not dead. She's at her house, totally fine," Harry said trying to convince himself. He rubbed his scar, noticing it slightly hurt, but it always did, so he dismissed it. Plus it happened with him, so he just had to keep his distance, right? Right. Harry looked to his digital clock, which read 5:53am. It was too early in the morning for him to be up, but yet he was up, and probably wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Harry sighed and was happy to notice Hedwig in her cage. Hedwig flapped his wings over to Harry.

Harry,

Hermione was very excited to know you were able to come. Hermione always does seem excited about that doesn't she?

Harry gulped, he was going to avoid answering that question.

Well, everyone is excited about seeing you in nine days. (well it'll be nine by the time you get this) Ron says "Rescue me". Not quite sure what that means, so I leave it up to you to decipher.

See you soon,

Remus

Harry sat on his bed, and sighed; He would have to spend nine lousy days here. He opened his window, and breathed in the cold yet refreshing air. He looked down the street where he saw hooded men walking down the street. He heard a cackle, not different from one he'd head a month ago. "Bellatrix… they got out, again." Harry groaned. He quickly closed his windows, and grabbed his invisibility cloak. He watched them come up to his house.

"Oh Harry!" He heard, and saw her struck with a jet of light. Harry decided it was either the Order or aurors, okay probably not the latter, but one could dream. He saw a flash of pink run into his house.

"Tonks." He muttered to himself. He dragged out his trunk, which had everything except his invisibility cloak and Hedwig. He saw Tonks open the door.

"Harry?" She asked into thin air. He took off his invisibilty cloak.

"Here."

"You've got everything?" Harry nodded.

"How are we going to get rid of them?" he asked nodding to the Death Eaters. Tonks took out a piece of parchment and put it on Harry's bed.

"Moody's got it covered." She told him. "Remus, Fred and George are waiting outside."

"Fred and George?" Harry asked incredulously. Tonks smirked.

"That's what Remus said, but the were the only ones who could fly on brooms that were available, besides Ron and Ginny. Molly forbade them from going." Harry nodded. Harry opened Hedwig's cage.

"Hedwig, go to Grimmauld Place." Hedwig did as she was told. Luckily none of the Death Eaters saw the snow white owl, they were too busy defending their own lives. Harry stuffed his invisibility cloak into his trunk and took out his broom, making it become the normal size once again. Tonks and Harry walked through the back door. "Hello Harry," Remus said calmly. Fred and George grinned at him and he grinned back. So he didn't have to wait nine days after all! Harry mounted his broom, and they all set off into the night sky. Harry looked back and saw Moody, accompanied by some others fighting off Bellatrix and company.

"Well Harry, it seems your wish has been granted." Remus said.

"What wish?" Harry asked.

"The wish to come here sooner then the twenty-fifth." Remus said. Harry smiled. That wass true; one wish granted, but another thousand to go. They landed in front of 12 Grimmauld Place and walked in. He was blown with conflincting emotions as he walked in. He saw Ron run down the stairs. He had said something but Harry didn't catch it as so many thoughts were going through his head. Sirius was dead… Wormtail was alive… Bellatrix was out… Dementors were on Voldemort's side… Hermione was in danger near him. He felt Remus' hand on his shoulder, which took Harry out of his reverie.

"Sorry, what was that Ron?" Harry asked him.

"Who attacked you?"

"Bellatrix and some others, I didn't see their faces." Harry said softly. Ron nodded.

~*~*~

A/N: Review pretty pretty please. This is my first attempt at writing a long-term Harry era fiction. I am trying to follow the books as well as I can. Tell me if you liked the story or give me some constructive criticim if you hated it! Thanks to Racheal for betaing this chapter.

Hermione's Arrival

If you asked Ron how Harry was doing, he would reply, "He's gone bloody mad." Ever since the first night Harry stepped into Grimmauld Place, he had been someone else entirely. Countless people had tried to get Harry to his

normal self again, but it just didn't work.

"Harry," Remus said sitting, next to Harry on his bed. "Hermione is coming today." Harry looked at Remus, and he nodded. "She's going to want to talk to you." Harry just nodded again. "Harry, what's wrong?" Remus asked him.

"Nothing." Harry said, now staring straight ahead. Wondering why he caused so much death. Why people always suffered because of him.

"Harry, you've managed to put off not telling us since you came here, but I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

"Death." Harry said. Remus nodded.

"I thought so, I wasn't sure." Remus admitted to Harry.

"He's dead because of me. The whole summer, I'd been able to just push it away. But I-I can't now." Harry said stumbling on the 'I' as his eyes were brimmed with tears. "She's going to be next…" Harry told Remus.

"Hermione?" Remus asked for affirmation. Harry nodded, afraid to speak because of the tears. "Harry, just because you are close to somebody doesn't mean they are going to die." Remus explained to him.

"That's not it," Harry said. "A dream…"

"Harry, last time…" Remus trailed off.

"It wasn't like that, it-it was… They were all there, Mum killed Hermione. Sirius and Dad were there too…" a lone tear came down his cheek, which he wiped away quickly. "They all blame me for their death, and for hers." Harry told Remus. Remus put his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Harry, they don't blame you for their death." Remus said. Harry got

up.

"How do you know that?" He yelled at Remus. "You don't! If I hadn't been born none of this would have happened!"

"No Harry, if you weren't born Voldemort might be in power right now. If you weren't born hundreds more people would be dead… if you weren't born, your parents and Sirius, along with your friends would be dead at this very moment," Remus told Harry. Harry looked away from Remus. "Harry, you can't blame yourself for these things that are out of your control, no matter how hard you try you can't save everyone, what's one person to the hundreds you

saved by just being born?" Remus asked Harry. Harry nodded.

"Okay, I get it," Harry told Remus. "But th-they're all still gone, and what if the dream was a foreshadowing?"

"Only time will tell," Remus told Harry. "Hermione will be here in an hour, I think she would really like to see you." Remus said, and left Harry to himself. Harry walked into the bathroom and splashed his face with water.

"Be brave, Harry…" He said to himself as he watched the water drip down his face. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face. "She's not going to die…you won't let her die." He said trying to reassure himself. He heard the door open, and could hear Mrs. Weasley asking Hermione how her trip was. He took a deep breath, and rubbed his temples. He walked out of the bathroom, through his room and came face to face with both Ron and Hermione. Hermione

looked at him worriedly, but Ron seemed to be enjoying Hermione's company, no matter if they were bickering or not.

"Harry…" She said tentatively. Harry smiled at her.

"Good to see you Hermione," he said and hugged her. She seemed rather taken aback at this gesture. Harry could only assume that Ron and the others must have told her about his weird behavior.

"So… Professor Lupin got through to you?" Ron asked. Harry nodded at

him.

"Yeah… It was just... this place… it brought back memories of him." Harry said. Hermione nodded knowingly, and squeezed his hand. He felt his stomach flip-flop and he gave her a small smile.

"Hello Ronald," said Luna Lovegood from behind Ron.

Ron closed his eyes. "Hello Luna," he said, grinding his teeth.

"How are you today?"

"Fine, I'm fine everyday, I'm trying to talk to people I actually like!" Ron said bursting out at her. Luna nodded her head and walked towards Ginny's room.

"Ron, why were you so mean to her?" Hermione asked.

"She's Loony Lovegood!" Ron said. Harry folded his arms, remembering his conversation with Luna last year.

"Don't call her that," Harry said, as the three of them walked into the room Harry and Ron shared.

"Why not?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Because Ron, she may be a bit… different. But she still has feelings!" Hermione said.

"You're the one always saying, 'Those aren't real'" he said in a girly voice. Hermione glared at him.

"Harry…" She said. He opened his mouth and looked at Ron, and closed it again.

"I-I'm not taking sides."

"Harry!" They both said. Harry inwardly smirked; yes, everything was exactly the same again. Hermione glared at Ron.

"Go and apologize to her," she ordered.

"You can't order me around, you're not my mother!" Ron said.

"Oh, but I can tell your mother."

"You would not..."

"You underestimate me." Hermione told him and started downstairs.

"Do you think she would?" Ron asked Harry, who bit his lip as they both raced down the stairwell. Hermione was smirking in the living room talking to Remus. Ron let out a sigh of relief.

"Lunch time," Mrs. Weasley said and smiled at Harry. "Good to see you've finally come down Harry."

The Weasleys, Remus, Luna, Tonks, Hermione and Harry sat down for lunch. Harry overheard Hermione trying to convince Remus into joining SPEW. Harry heard someone sit next to him, and saw Luna. He gave her a smile.

"Hello Luna," he said.

"Hello Harry." She said in return. "Ronald doesn't like me very much." Luna stated. Harry ate a piece of bread and shrugged. "I think he fancies Hermione…" Luna said.

"No, I don't think so Luna," Harry replied. He couldn't like Hermione…could he? No, definitely not. He would have noticed by now. Right?

"They've been owling each other a lot these days," Luna told Harry. Okay, maybe they are going out. Harry thought. Why would she keep in touch with Ron but not him? Harry suddenly became very jealous of his best friend, well, the male one anyway.

"I'm sure it's just to keep up during the summer." Harry said, chewing angrily on his food. They finished lunch and Ron, Luna, Ginny, Hermione and Harry sat in the living room.

"So Hermione, how was Jason?" Ginny asked Hermione whose eyes widened and she threw a pillow at Ginny.

"They," Hermione said nodding over to Harry and Ron, "Don't know." Ginny gave her an apologetic look. Ron and Harry looked narrowly at Hermione.

"Who is Jason?" Harry asked.

"He's just," she looked pointedly at Ginny. "A friend."

"I don't like the sound of him," Ron said.

"Me neither," agreed Harry.

"He's a childhood friend!" Hermione retorted.

"How come you've never talked about him?" Harry asked her.

"He moved to France, and now he's back in the UK, it's great. He's just the same, he still has his English accent, and he told me he has always been teased about it at his school…" she said. Luna and Ginny smirked. Harry had a surge of hate towards this Jason person. As the day went by it became night Luna and Ginny had gone up to bed, and Ron had fallen asleep. Hermione's head rested on Harry's shoulder.

"Harry, I'm tired…I think I'm going to go to bed." Harry nodded.

"I-I have to tell you something…" Harry said in a serious tone.

"What is it, Harry?" she asked him, concerned because of the tone of his voice. He took a deep breath. He needed to tell someone. He couldn't tell Ron, for some reason he had tried but he couldn't get it out. But he had to tell Hermione, he needed to tell someone, and she seemed to be the only one that would take it in, and not fuss over him.

"I- Dumbledore." He said choking on the words.

"Harry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Hermione told him. He shook his head.

"No I want to, I need to tell someone." Hermione nodded. "After the fight, after Sirius died, after Dumbledore fought off Voldemort." Harry took a moment to look at Hermione who seemed to be listening intently. "Dumbledore

and I were talking in his office… well he was talking, I was yelling. He told

me the prophecy that had been in the crystal ball." Hermione's eyes widened. "It said… 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…'," Harry repeated the

horrific words Dumbledore had spoken to him all those nights before. Hermione hugged him, and he hugged her back.

"So… you have to kill Voldemort?" Hermione asked.

"Or he will kill me."

Hermione shook her head. "No, that won't happen," Hermione said, with tears coming down her cheeks. "It can't happen."

"Hermione, don't cry," he said, wiping away her tears. "Don't cry for me," Harry told her.

"Harry, the prophecy… how did you deal with this all alone since June?"

"I tried not to think about it," Harry told her. "While I waited for you to owl me," he mumbled under his breath. But she had seemed to hear him.

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry," she said. "I just, I couldn't think of what to say to you, Ron had been asking me so many questions, and Ginny… I couldn't wait for you to be here… I missed not talking or owling you," she told

him.

He nodded. "It's alright, I should have owled you too… I just couldn't find he words," Harry told her truthfully. Hermione wiped away the remainders of her tears, and stood up. Harry stood next to her and they walked up the stairs in comfortable silence. They were at Harry's door first.

"Well... see you tomorrow then…" he said awkwardly, putting his hands in his pockets. Hermione nodded, and kissed his cheek. He smiled as he watched her walk away. He walked into his room and happily got into his bed.

~*~*~

A/N: I hoped you liked that chapter! Please review and tell me what you think!

Thanks to gilda j, Creepy Susie, SilverFoot, shawnpickett, tracie1976, ridxwan, telmie, Pottersgirl2003, Kayce, eMeRaLd EyEz, Muirnin, Sarmi and the Three Anynonmous Users.