Disclaimer: Harry Potter and associated material is owned by JK Rowling.
Author's Notes: Well, hopefully I won't be seized by apathy in the course of writing this, like I have my other stuff. In any case, I'd like to thank Christa for beta-reading this for me. Her suggestions helped out a lot. On with the show.
Chapter One: New Beginnings, New Faces
Harry stood alone in his room, silently brooding. Today was the day. He had promised Dumbledore he'd stay here until this day had come. As the night settled in on the world outside, he stood stoically, refusing to give into his protesting knees. He would be leaving Privet Drive. And he knew he would not return, no matter what the coming year entailed. Nothing could convince him to return to this place that had been his own personal hell for so many years.
As he stared out the window as the dwindling sun sank further beneath the horizon, all he could recall were all the things Dumbledore had tried to tell him. All the pieces of wisdom the old man had attempted to impart upon his stubborn mind.
But for all his wisdom, the simple truth remained. Dumbledore was dead. Killed by a man he thought he could trust implicitly. Slain by someone Harry had always suspected, always known would turn against them at any opportunity.
He breathed the name. "Snape…"
Harry felt his hands clenching unbidden as the foul face of the twisted Potions Master erupted from his mind's eye-the man who had betrayed Albus Dumbledore. Harry was only now realizing how much he owed Dumbledore. Snape would pay, just as surely as Voldemort would pay for his parents' deaths.
Breathing deeply, struggling to control the angry magic that welled within him as he thought of such things, he sat down, staring at his parents' smiling faces on the photo on his desk. Even now, it soothed him. Smiling slightly, he stood up and went downstairs. Ron and Hermione should be here in only a few more moments.
His aunt and uncle sat watching TV. Harry had not let them know about what was happening in the Wizarding World. It would be enough for them to know tonight he would not be returning to them ever again. Abruptly the doorbell rang. Harry sprinted to it before his guardians could react.
"What in the devil are you doing, boy?!" demanded Vernon, rumbling to his feet.
His face blank, Harry replied, "I'm expecting somebody."
A look of rage and fear crossed Vernon's face, and his feet seemed glued to the ground. Harry opened the door. There stood his two best friends, along with Mr. Weasley as well.
"Hi," said Harry, with a smile he didn't completely feel.
Hermione's smile, on the other hand seemed genuine. She gave him a quick hug. "Hello, Harry. Have you been alright so far?"
He nodded. "Yeah, but it's been tough waiting for today."
Ron gave him a tight smile as well. "Everything ready, Harry?"
"Yeah, it's all upstairs. C'mon."
He was heading for the stairs when his uncle found his voice again. "So, leaving are you?"
Harry turned a glare to him. "That's right. And you can be glad; this time I won't be coming back."
Vernon took a step back at first, then leaned back forward aggressively. "You're damn right you won't be back. And good riddance to you! We've spent enough time of our lives taking…" His voice trailed off as he saw the iron hard look in Harry's eyes. Hermione gave a small gasp and stepped back as she caught his gaze as well.
Harry took one step towards his uncle, who stumbled to retreat. "Save it for someone who cares. I'm just as happy I'm never coming back here either." He walked out the door, past a slightly shell-shocked Hermione, Ron, and Mr. Weasley. They recovered quickly, and followed him out, Uncle Vernon still sputtering in their wake. Harry turned around, and took one last look at the place that had been his near-prison for most of his life. Any sorrow he might have had over leaving had been dampened by his joy at finally leaving. He had no regrets, and did not plan to ever see this place again.
The four of them stood in the dim stillness of the street. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. "All right. Now, you've all gotten your Apparition licenses now, right?" The trio nodded, Ron grimacing somewhat. He had taken the test twice, the first time ending up quite far from where he had planned, as his brother Charlie had. "Good. Now, then, you all Apparate to the Burrow. I'll follow behind and make sure nothing goes wrong."
With that, the three teenagers vanished with a pop.
Harry found himself standing in front of the Burrow. Ron dusted himself off. "Well, that's over with. Nice to have you over again, by the way, Harry, even if it is only for a few days."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, well, it'll be a chance to settle in before heading off to Godric's Hollow." He paused, contemplative. "You know, you guys don't-"
"Don't you even think it, Harry," interrupted Hermione sharply. "We said we'd go along with you, and that is exactly what we'll do. Don't you dare try to get us to stay behind."
Ron laid a heavy hand on his shoulder, as Mr. Weasley appeared next to them. "She's right, mate. You don't have to think you need to protect us. We know what we're getting into with this. It was our choice."
Mr. Weasley stood silently for a moment, gazing at his son with a heaviness in his heart. He was terrified for Ron, yes, going out on his own, with only Harry and Hermione as companions. But Ron was his own man, now, and he had to stand on his own two feet. It was always hard to see your children grow up.
Harry laid his own hand on Ron's shoulder. "Thanks," he said, with the hint of a genuine smile now. "To both of you," he added, with a look at Hermione, who smiled back. With that, they headed into the house.
Only Mrs. Weasley was there, busy making some food for them. While Harry tried to insist he was fine, his stomach's rumbling betrayed him, and the three teenagers sat themselves at the table and helped themselves to a light meal.
Ron was the first to speak up. "So, Harry, once we do get to Godric's Hollow, what are we going to do? I mean, obviously you want to find where your parents lived and all, see what you can turn up there, but what then?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione beat him to it. "Well, I would think we need to lay low, stay off Voldemort's-oh for heaven's sake Ron-radar. And we need to find out about this RAB you mentioned, Harry."
Harry nodded. "Yeah… I've had a few thoughts about that, but they're just thoughts. I don't really know what to think about that." He frowned and turned to Mr. Weasley, who was helping himself to the food, as well. "Are most of the Order members still at, um, you know?"
Mr. Weasley looked up at him. "Grimmauld Place? Yes. And thanks again, Harry for letting us continue to use it."
Harry looked at his plate. "It's what Sirius would've wanted." Looking back up, he frowned. "I have to ask you something, are you going to send Order members to follow us?"
Mr. Weasley coughed slightly. "Well, of course, Harry. It's far too dangerous for you to be out there on your own. What if you were attacked?"
Harry gripped his fork tightly. "I know there are risks, Mr. Weasley, but I'd prefer if nobody went with us."
Hermione pursed her lips. "Harry, Mr. Weasley's right, it'll be too dangerous. At least let them send one person. Maybe Professor Lupin or Tonks?"
Harry shook his head. "No. Look, Hermione, I have my reasons. Please, just trust me."
Ron looked sideways at the both of them. Hermione locked eyes with Harry for a moment, then nodded. "OK, Harry. I will."
"I trust you, too, Harry. We'll do it your way."
Mr. Weasley sighed. "Look, I can't really stop you, but… I think you're making a mistake."
Harry's eyes burned. "It's my mistake to make. And if we never get allowed to make our own, we'll never learn, will we?"
Mr. Weasley closed his eyes. "No, we won't… OK, Harry, just… You three be careful. Be as careful as you know how to be. This is serious. The first mistake could be your last." He opened his eyes again, staring at all of them. "I'm not saying this to try and frighten you. But you need to understand how dangerous these people are. They will kill without hesitation."
Harry's face tightened. "I'm well aware of that." Hermione looked at him, her eyes turning down and she swallowed hard. Sometimes he seemed so distant and cold, she wondered what had happened to the Harry she used to know.
After a few more minutes, they headed upstairs. Hermione followed them into Ron's room. Harry frowned at her. "Er, Hermione, I am kind of tired, so…"
"I know, Harry, it's just…" She took a deep breath, looking at him with something like a sad curiosity in her eyes. "You want to kill Snape, don't you?"
Ron frowned, turned to look at Harry, too. Harry tightened his jaw, looked away, not wanting to meet Hermione's eyes. "He killed Dumbledore in front of my eyes, Hermione. He probably had a jolly time when Sirius died, too. And he's been helping Voldemort all along." When looked back at her, she took a step back jaw becoming loose as she saw the smoldering in his gaze. "Don't tell me he doesn't deserve it."
It was Hermione's turn to look away. "I… I won't say that. If anyone deserves death, he…he does." She turned back to him, pleading note in her voice, her face taut with a hint of desperation. "But… I don't want you to kill anyone."
Harry swallowed, his stare softening. "Neither do I. But I don't have much choice about that. I have to kill at least one person before this is over."
Hermione bit her lip. "I know. I'm sorry, Harry. I'll let you two sleep, now." With that, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Ron flopped on his bed, while Harry settled himself into a chair. Ron turned to him. "You know, it's funny Ginny didn't ask to come along with us, or even came down to greet you." Harry heard the unasked question in his tone.
He sighed. He knew he'd have to tell Ron about what had transpired eventually. "Look, Ron… I really do like Ginny and all, and er, well… I told her it would be safer for her if she didn't come with us. I didn't want her to get hurt."
Ron frowned. "Well, I guess that makes sense… Still, I'd have expected her to put up a bit more of a fight. She's pretty stubborn." He paused. "And Harry, I just want you to know, if you were anyone else, I'd have already broken your legs for seeing my sister."
Despite himself, Harry laughed, and after a moment, Ron, unable to resist any longer, joined him. With that, Harry retreated to the sleeping bag on the floor and let sleep take him.
The next morning, Harry awoke, finding Ron still snoring. He quickly dressed, careful to not make any noise and wake Ron, and headed downstairs. Arriving at the foot of the stairs, he noticed Hermione outside on the lawn, watching the last vestiges of the sunrise. He strode outside to stand next to her.
She glanced at him. "You're up early," she commented, her eyes never really leaving the red and orange patterns crisscrossing the sky.
Harry shrugged. "Wasn't as tired as I thought, I suppose."
Hermione pursed her lips. "So, tell me Harry… Is there any particular reason Ginny isn't coming along? And why she didn't greet you? And why she didn't ask me about you at all, except to ask how you were when I got up to her room?"
Harry sighed, for what seemed like the hundredth time. He wondered just how many times he was going to have to explain this. He turned to face Hermione, and waited until she turned her eyes towards him as well. Her face revealed nothing, except perhaps some curiosity. "Well, it's like this… Hermione, I… I really feel like, I don't know, like Ginny is the best girl out there for me. She makes me feel content, makes me laugh, makes me feel like I don't have to be a hero. And that's why I didn't want her to go with me."
Hermione frowned. "Harry, that-"
Harry held up a finger. "Please, just let me finish. As I was saying, that's why I didn't want her along, because I don't want her to be hurt. I know this is really dangerous, and I can't risk her. I told her to stay behind for her own protection," he finished. To his surprise, Hermione didn't take Ron's stance of acceptance immediately. Instead, she looked furious.
"Harry James Potter," she said indignantly, eyes flashing dangerously, "that has to be about the stupidest, most loathsome idea I have ever heard. Don't you want her around so you can protect her? Don't you want her by your side so she can help you through what you're going to be going through?"
Harry took a step back. "Hermione, I…"
"No, Harry. How can you say you truly care for Ginny if you won't even let her make her own decision about this? How can you just cavalierly send her away? How can you even think you did the right thing? What does she think about this?"
Harry swallowed, his throat tight. "She understood, Hermione. She agreed this was best. So did Ron. I don't know why-"
He was cut off sharply by the impact of Hermione's hand on his face. "You sicken me," she said harshly. "How can you even think that's love?"
Harry stood there, shocked. He wasn't sure how to react to this. He loved Ginny, he knew that. How could Hermione suggest he didn't? Shaking his head, he went back inside.
They spent the better part of the day packing supplies and working out what the first few steps would be once they arrived in Godric's Hollow. Mr. Weasley told them the Order had already arranged for a house for them to stay in there, so that was the least of their worries. Hermione had barely spoken to Harry since the morning, so he made care to intercept her while she went outside for some fresh air in the early evening.
"Hey," he called softly. She turned to face him, before lowering her eyes.
"Harry, I… I'm sorry I hit you. I shouldn't have." He heard the trembling in her voice. He walked over to her quickly, laid what he hoped was a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright, Hermione. Don't worry about that. He peered at her down turned face. "Something else is bothering you, isn't it?"
She sighed heavily. "Oh, it's just… Well, Ron told me… How he feels about me. He really likes me, Harry, and… I think I like him, too. He still frustrates me, but I know he cares. The thing is, though," she finally lifted her head, and he saw tears were starting to form in the corners of her eyes, "I thought that once we had both admitted to what we felt, things would be different. But they're not. It doesn't feel any different, and I don't know why. I was so angry with him for what he was doing with Lavender, and I thought once I was sure he liked me and I told him I liked him, I wouldn't feel so empty inside." She sniffed a bit, dabbing at her eyes. "I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about my problems."
He shook his head. "No way. You're one of my closest friends, Hermione. I… I know I've kept things from you and Ron before, but I don't want that between us at all, not anymore. Not when I need you guys so much." She smiled, and he wiped a tear off her cheek. "You worry too much, Hermione."
She laughed. "I know. I worry about everything and anything. I guess I just sort of projected my frustrations onto you, Harry. I really am sorry for acting the way I did this morning… And… all of last year. I was so horrible to you."
He tried to shrug it off. "You were stressed. And you turned out to be right, I guess. I should have listened to you."
She laughed again, but this time is was shallow and self deprecating. "Right. I doubt anyone would listen to me when I was being that bothersome, never giving them a moment's peace. I don't really have any excuse. I just hope you realize how sorry I am."
Harry shook his head. "I've already forgiven you, Hermione. There's no need to keep saying you're sorry." He grabbed her wrist and dragged her back in. "Come on, let's get some food before we leave tonight."
Ron greeted them at the table, along with Charlie, who had dropped by. "What were you two talking about out there?" asked Ron.
Harry shrugged. "Huh? Oh, you know, just stuff."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Stuff?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, does it really matter, Ron? If you really have to know, I was just apologizing to Harry for the way I acted last year. If you recall, I wasn't exactly the best friend to him."
Ron looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Hermione punched him in the arm. "Thanks for your support, you prat."
"Ow!" said Ron, rubbing his arm. "You're the one who said you weren't nice to him, what'd I get punched for?"
Charlie laughed. "Ron, never agree in those situations, even if the girl's the one who said it in the first place," he said, somehow managing to sound sagely, even with a ridiculous grin on his face.
Everyone but Ron laughed, whereas he plunked his forehead on the table, muttering, "What did I do to deserve this?"
After about an hour, as the sun had set and the skies grew dark, the trio set off to begin their quest. While Harry had explained some of the details to them, he figured he'd wait until they were settled in before telling them everything. He didn't want anything left unsaid between them, just like he had told Hermione. The three of them marched out the door, their traveling bags filled, through shrunken for easy carrying. With an abbreviated goodbye, the three Apparated to the small community called Godric's Hollow.
The streets were dark, with only a few scattered streetlights illuminating the gloom. A light fog had settled over the neighborhood, adding a bit of an ethereal feel to the street they were standing on. Nobody appeared to have noticed their arrival, and so the three started towards the address Harry had been provided. They walked for two blocks, before arriving in the front of a small, one story home.
Harry breathed deep. From what he knew, the house had been completely destroyed when Voldemort attacked his family. It made sense that someone had rebuilt here, though. He wondered if this house was like his had been. He heard Hermione saying something.
"We probably shouldn't linger too long here. We don't want people getting suspicious. I think the place the Order set up for us is a couple blocks that way, Harry." She and Ron started to move away, but Harry stood transfixed. She stopped and gave his arm a tug, startling him from his reverie. "Come on, Harry, you can come back later. Let's go."
He nodded, swallowing hard. He wasn't sure what he would find here, didn't even really know what he was looking for. But seeing as how this is where it all began, he decided this was the best place to start.
As they made their way down the streets in the cool twilight, Harry thought he heard someone approaching. He quickly stole a glance over his shoulder. There was someone behind them. He couldn't see them well in this light, but they looked like they were wearing a cloak. He nudged his two companions, and gestured with his head, as innocuously as he could. They nodded, started to pull out their wands.
The fog seemed to thicken, the streetlights growing dimmer and seeming to fade into the mist. Suddenly, the light above them flickered and died with a small pop, and they glanced about wildly.
"And what would three young magic users be doing out at this time of night?" came a light voice from in front of them. Harry whirled about, seeing the person behind them had vanished. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione had their wands at the ready. "Oh, put those away before you hurt someone, really. I think the question was innocent enough, don't you?"
Harry swallowed. If this person worked for Voldemort, they needed to get away, fast. "Mind telling us what you're doing here?" he asked, trying to sound intimidating.
The figure chuckled softly. "Quick turnabout there. I'm going for a walk. How about yourself, then?"
Ron spoke. "We were going for a walk, too."
Harry thought he saw whoever it was smile slightly. He couldn't see their eyes behind the hood, though. "Really? Never seen you three around here. Just move to the area?"
Harry felt his heart pounding. If this person was going to attack, why did they waste their time talking? It was bad enough they were trapped here, conversing on the street with a stranger, worse that they were in unfamiliar ground, with the most powerful Dark Lord in a century after them. "Erm, that's right, we're new here."
"Interesting. I haven't seen any moving vans or the like… Or do you prefer the nocturnal hours for all your activities, hmm?" Harry swore he caught the sign of a playful smile on the face of the person facing them, and grimaced. This was definitely not a good situation. He saw Ron fidgeting, and knew he was about to do something rash. Great.
Ron growled. "We don't have time for this." He opened his mouth to begin an incantation, when the figure winked into existence in front of them, driving a hard fist into Ron's gut, and swinging an elbow at Harry, catching his temple as he tried to duck. As he fell, ears ringing from the blow, he realized that they had done a quick Apparition, like he had seen Dumbledore do against Voldemort.
Hermione managed to jump away, screaming "Stupefy!" The figure somehow dodged, leaning forward, and then quickly pirouetted on one foot, driving a kick into her abdomen. Harry struggled to his feet, his vision blurry and moving slowly in the aftermath of the blow to his head, pulling out his own wand, before stopping at seeing a lethal looking dagger aimed right between his eyes.
"Attacking a perfect stranger without any provocation is hardly becoming of you, Mr. Potter. And I would've thought the company you keep wiser than to begin an assault without knowing anything at all about your foe. You have a lot to learn about combat." This close, Harry realized suddenly the voice was that of a woman.
We just got beaten up by a girl, he thought with dread. How could he expect to beat Voldemort if he was getting beaten by random women on the street?
The woman lifted her knife, hiding it in the sleeve of her cloak, before holding out a hand to Harry. "Don't worry. If I wanted you dead, your bodies would be lying outside the first house you stopped at."
"That doesn't make me feel very reassured," Harry bit out.
The woman sighed. "No, I suppose not. Look… I'm here because, well, despite what Mr. Weasley said, the Order wasn't exactly going to let you gallivant out on your own. So they sent me to keep on eye on things."
Ron, gasping with pain, said, "He promised he wouldn't have an Order member tail us!"
The woman seemed to shrug, cocking her head to one side. "True enough, I suppose. But I'm not a member of the Order, so technically he did not break his promise. I should've been clearer; I was hired to keep an eye on things."
Hermione frowned, struggling to her feet, as Ron did the same, nursing her surely injured belly. "You're some sort of mercenary?"
The woman's head turned to look at her. "Something like that. Now come on, it is best to not be standing here, drawing attention to ourselves. Let's get inside, and I will explain the best I can."
Harry finally accepted her hand, and she hauled him up. Her grip was strong, though her fingers and hand were slender. She was shorter than him by a touch, and though he couldn't make out anything about what she looked like, but he guessed she was slight from her hand and wrist. "One thing, first, if you would. What's your name, since you know who were are?"
She laughed softly. "That's only fair, I suppose. Call me Lyss. Lyss Kendricks."