Chapter One: The Argument
Harry sat on his bed at the Weasley house. He was still in a slight daze from the weeks previous. After all that had happened at the end of his Sixth year, he was expected to be dazed. Dazed, but not all out depressed. It had surprised him that he hadn't fallen into depression after Dumbledore's death, in fact, his resolve had become stronger than ever. The same way that Sirius's death had affected him. But now he also had a purpose. He had to continue what Dumbledore had set him out to do. He had to find those last Horcruxes. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, but then again, nothing was going to be easy till Voldemort was dead.
The walls of Ron's room were as they always had been. Disorganized, and covered in Chuddley Cannon's posters. It was sometimes hard to look at the bright blazing orange walls, but over the years of being here, Harry had gotten used to it. He loved this house. Not for the structure, but for the emotional support that it provided him with. It was his second home, and when he came here, he knew he could be `just Harry'. He didn't have to be the Boy-Who-Lived, he could just be himself. He never knew what kind of a burden it was all year at Hogwarts, till he was back at the Burrow. It was a lot on him, but he managed it all the time.
The hardest part about coming here this year was Ginny. He had felt so uncomfortable seeing her again. When he had first come back from Privet Drive, she had taken one look at him and burst into tears. It was to be expected. He had of course dated her, and broken up with her for no real reason. But in Harry's mind it was reason enough. Once Ron had learned about what he had done to Ginny, he had become increasingly upset with him. But they had managed to come to an agreement about it. They were still friends, but the tension was there in plenty. The roaring monster that had lived in Harry during the previous year was gone now. Snuffed out like a candle. He had no feelings for Ginny any more, other than brotherly protection. But as for the romantic side of it, he couldn't believe that he had kissed her. Now, he knew more than ever that he couldn't be with anyone. He wouldn't target anyone like that. It wasn't fair, nor was it necessary. He was going to have to finish this all on his own. It was a daunting feeling, but he knew he was on the right track.
Slipping out of the bed, he crept out of the room, and into the dark hallway. It was the pitch of night, and it was hard to see in the hall. The wedding was scheduled for next week. Something Harry was not looking forward too. He didn't particularly want to see some of those people again, and he was afraid of the emotions that would come with it. It was supposed to be such a happy thing, but Harry was having a hard time finding happiness within himself. It was such a dark time for him. He had so much in front of him, and happiness didn't seem to fit into the picture. With a quiet word, he lit his wand. It was on him at all times, since he was never sure what was going to be around the next corner. He was the most wanted Wizard in the world at the moment. That wouldn't be that bad, other than the fact that the person who wanted him was the most powerful wizard in the world. Not a good combination for Harry. He was seventeen now, and full capable of doing magic whenever he wanted. Not just that, after what Dumbledore had told him, the Ministry couldn't keep up with Magic usage in a wizarding household anyways.
The flight of steps creaked some, but Harry ignored it. No one would wake from that. Not with the ghoul in the attic making noise all the time. In the burrow you learned to sleep with noise in the background. In the kitchen he had no trouble finding something to drink. Hopefully that would calm him down. He was so tense all the time. But he expected that of himself. How could he calm down when his life had been turned upside down like this? The cool water cooled his throat and his nerves some, but when he heard a creak behind him, he dropped the glass and spun, wand pointed and a jinx on his lips. The glass shattered, and he winced at the tinkling noise.
The bushy head of hair however marked his attacker before she even made a noise.
"Hermione?" Harry questioned quietly, repairing the glass on the floor with a swish of his wand.
"Why are you still awake Harry? Do you ever sleep anymore?" She inquired with some sarcasm hidden in her voice. He could almost see her smiling in the half light of the room.
"Yes, I sleep…I just have so much on my mind right now, can you blame me?" he asked quietly.
"No, not entirely, but you need to calm yourself for a while. I know you have things you need to do, but lets take this week off before we start on that." She said in reply. The subtle hint was not lost to Harry.
"Hermione, you know very well how I feel about you coming." He said exasperated. They had been over this a number of times already. The argument was the same. He didn't want her and Ron to come because of the danger. And they didn't want him to go alone because of the danger. It was a back and forth thing. Hermione just wouldn't give it up.
"Yes I do Harry, and you understand why I can't let you go." Hermione replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder. The dim moonlight from the window seemed to make her hair glow, and her eyes to shine slightly.
"That doesn't change the way I feel about it. We both have perfectly good reasons for wanting it the way we want it. I don't particularly like the idea of you two coming, but I will not deny that I am surprised that you want to come." Harry said, his voice dropping as he said the last bit. He was surprised that they wanted to come. It was going to be the most dangerous year of their lives, if not longer, if they decided to do this. Constant fear, constant running, and more than likely, constant fighting. It would only be so long before Voldemort and his cronies realized that they were going after the Horcrux's. For the moment, they had the advantage because Voldemort didn't know, but that would only last for so long.
"Oh Harry," she said reaching out for his arm and grasping it gently. "We will always be here for you. We are your best friends, and no matter what happens, we are going to be there with you during that final battle." She said with tears in her eyes.
"How can I let you do that? How can I lead you to your possible death? Look what happened to Dumbledore when he tried to help me. He was the most powerful wizard alive, and he still fell to the same curse that everyone else does. I brought him to his death. It was his choice yes, but it was my fault. I can't do that to you or Ron." Harry said, turning away from her penetrating gaze. Her eyes seemed to bore into his, even though he could only half see them.
"Harry," she said again, and pulled herself closer to him, now more tears spilling from her eyes. "Why can't I let you go? Because I won't be able to live with myself knowing that I didn't help, knowing that I didn't go with you. I would rather die helping you than die not doing anything. You know as well as I, that Muggleborns are targeted above others. I am a target either way. Let me at least do something! I can't let you go alone…." She said fiercely.
Harry was having a hard time arguing with her. The more she said, the more it made sense. He hugged her close, and rubbed her back. "Calm down Hermione. Don't cry…." Harry held her till her shoulders stopped heaving, and her breathing returned to normal. He pushed her back some and looked her in the eyes. "Give me one good reason to make me change my mind Hermione. I know you want to help, but can you help?" Harry asked seriously.
"Yes," she said looking at the ground. "You are going to need us Harry, me and Ron. We are your best friends, and the Power that is going to take down Voldemort in the end is Love. You are going to need someone to love Harry, and that is going to be me and Ron." She said looking triumphant.
Harry hated it when she proved him wrong, or proved herself right. The fact that he was going to need someone to love, or friends to love, was going to be a deciding factor. How could he deny such brilliant logic? He couldn't.
He heaved a huge sigh, and Hermione took that to mean that she had won. "Your right, I am going to need you two." Harry said, feeling the tears in his eyes. No one had ever loved him before, yet he knew that his two best friends loved him more than anything. "Thanks Hermione. I never knew what it really felt like…you know…to be loved like that…." He finished, stumbling through his words.
She just smiled. "I think its time for bed Mr. Potter."
The next morning proved to be an interesting morning. After breakfast Harry called Hermione and Ron into the garden. He wanted to tell them what he had decided after yet another sleepless night.
"What's up mate?" Ron asked curious to why he had been torn away from his food. Meanwhile Hermione just smiled, knowing what Harry was going to say. The girl knew him so well.
"I have made a choice about next year. I will not be returning to Hogwarts, even though it will be open. I don't have time for such trivial things as N.E.W.T's or anything like that. I have to stop Voldemort. I know what needs to be done, and as you both know, I am the only one who can do it. Dumbledore would have wanted me to do this. The question is, do you both want to come with me? We will probably be traveling a lot, and it will be dangerous. But I won't go as far to say that I don't need you. That would be a lie. I do need you. Both of you. You are my best friends, and my closest confidents. If you want to, you can come." Harry said, trying to remember the way he wanted to say it. It sounded good.
Ron looked pensive for a moment, but when he looked into Harry's eyes there was a determination in them that was unmatched by any. "Of course Harry, I'll be there with you every step of the way." Harry had rarely heard such sincerity in his voice. Apparently his emotional range had expanded from a teaspoon to a cup….
Hermione on the other hand didn't even wait to think about it. "Harry you know very well that I wouldn't let you two go off without me. They don't call us the golden trio for nothing." She said with a smile. It was good to have Hermione back on his side. Harry would never admit how hard it was for him to have her on the outs during the last year. It was so difficult to have his best friend against him the whole time. Harry needed her on his side, but unfortunately, he had never known how bad he needed her till she had been gone.
A slight twitch of movement caught Harry's eye, and before he could respond to his friend's words, his wand whipped out and shot a light shock into the flesh colored string under the bush. As Harry suspected there was a squeal of pain, and the Extendable Ear was retracted in a hurry.
"Ginny come out here." Harry said, not liking where this was going to go.
A furious red head came around the corner. "Why didn't you ask me to go? I was your girlfriend!? Why didn't you tell me about all the different things about Voldemort!? Didn't trust me enough? Was I only good for a quick snog?" She yelled, her temper rising.
"Ginny!" Hermione gasped.
"I've heard enough from you, Ms. Bookworm." Ginny responded coldly. The hair on the back of Harry's neck rose.
"Your right Ginny, I didn't tell you any of that. And I didn't ask you to come. You're too young, and I won't put you in that danger. I thought you understood that!?" Harry said, now very aggravated.
"What I understand Potter is that you never really liked me! You always trust her before me anyways." She said with an angry gesture to Hermione. The added `Potter' irked Harry too. This was going too far.
"Enough Ginny. This is why I didn't ask you to come. Now either leave us alone, or I'll erase your memory of this whole thing. I won't have you risk our chance at taking down Voldemort." It was a bluff, but it worked.
"Fine! But don't bother crawling back to me Harry." She said, and stormed off.
"I hate younger sisters. How could she say all that?" Ron said, shaking his head.
"You don't need her Harry; if that's the way she wants to be….We are still here for you." She said, laying a comforting hand on his arm.
"Ron, I am sorry I said that to your sister, I can imagine that you didn't like that." Harry said studying his shoes.
"No Harry, I understand. I don't know why she is being like this. Besides I knew you would never Obliviate my sister." He said with a grin.
"Good…" Harry was lost for what to say next. "So you're sure you two want to come?" He asked one last time.
"Yes!" They both said with more than a little enthusiasm.
"I really can't explain how nice it feels to know you two are backing me up…" Harry started.
"You don't have to." Hermione saved him. "We already know…."
"Thanks." He mumbled back.
They all started to walk back to the house, but as they approached the door, Hermione spoke up, and asked if she could talk to Harry alone. Ron gave her a strange look, but he nodded, and Harry followed her back to the garden. She sat on the bench, and folded her hands in her lap, looking intently at them. For once, Hermione Granger was lost for words. Harry sat down next to her, and waited for her to start. He knew what it was like to try to come up with something important to say.
"Harry, before we three leave, I need to get something out of the air first. During the last year, I can't help but feel I need to apologize for my behavior. I never believed you about the Malfoy thing, and even when you had clear proof, I was too wrapped up in other things to notice. I don't know how I let something as material as grades get in the way of helping you. I was so upset. I was so mad, that I couldn't see straight! Then there was the whole thing with Ron…." She trailed off.
"You two…?" Harry left the question unfinished.
"No, it ended before it began. We discussed it at the funeral. I just don't think we would be right. Besides look who I became when I tried to get him!? I was a caddy teenage girl! Something I always prided myself in not being. The person I became when I tried to get him was not someone I liked.
"The thing is this. I can't help but feel guilt for last year. I should have helped you. I should have been there with you. And I can't apologize enough for not. Maybe things would have been different if I had helped more…I don't know. But I do know for sure that it was the last time I am going to act like that." Hermione said looking deep into his eyes. He had very rarely felt a stare that powerful, and he was surprised by the sheer force of it. But he knew what he was going to say anyways.
"Hermione, don't worry. I understand. Although I admit that I missed you during that year. I missed having you by my side. I missed your friendship, and I can't help but feel that we totally missed out during that year. I missed you Hermione, and I am so glad that I have you back." Harry said, never breaking eye contact with her. She smiled, and leaned over and hugged him. It felt good to have her back. It felt good to have his friends on his side.
Now that he knew that he had their support, he could relax. After the wedding. After all that, he would get down to business….
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