The Heart Is A Hunter

One Bird Said…

It seemed as though the thick rain had been falling for an eternity. The Hogwarts express had left Hogsmeade Station hours ago and it seemed a lifetime to Harry. As he sat silently in the train compartment the events of the last three days kept replaying through his head. If he dared close his eyes he was visited with the images that haunted his mind both day and night; Snape killing Dumbledore, the exact angle in which the aged professor's body was arched as he rose and then plummeted down to earth from the Astronomy Tower. Then flashed the next series: he and Hagrid approaching the growing crowd around the body, Hagrid's strangled cry, and that tiny trickle of blood that Harry himself had wiped away.

If he tried to stay awake or even keep his weary eyes open, they stung fiercely with tears that somehow seemed to be attached to his heart. Every time he felt that sudden pang of grief, or sadness, or anger, he would brush at his face, preventing any tears that may come from falling.

Hermione and Ron sat across from him, much closer than was usual, their hands lightly lying atop one another's. Hermione brushed a silent tear from her own face and cleared her throat gently.

“Harry, do you think that the Dursley's will let us all stay a night or two before we set off? I mean, they're horrible people aren't they? Won't they turn us out?”

Harry sat silently for a moment, pushing all other thoughts into the back of his mind.

“Well, they don't have a choice do they? We'll stay tonight, possibly tomorrow if we need to, and they can't say a damn word. Honestly, the Dursley's are the least of my concerns right now. If they choose not to cooperate then I won't have any choice but to use force.”

Ron moved slightly closer to Hermione and nodded his head in agreement.

“I know you said we're going to Godric's Hollow mate, but what exactly are we looking for there? I mean, do you even know how to get there or where your parents' house was?”

Harry sighed and let his head sag a little.

“As for how to get there, yea Hagrid told me. But what I'm looking for isn't such an easy question to answer. I guess I just want to see my house, where I lived with my parents…where their lives were taken. I'm kind of hoping that maybe there will be some kind of clue as to what I'm supposed to do. I really haven't got any idea how to go about all this.”

The tears Harry had been fighting suddenly came and he let them fall. Hermione and Ron moved to either side of him and enveloped him in a tight embrace. They let him cry, for his parents, for Sirius, for Dumbledore. They let their own tears fall as the grief of Dumbledore's death settled into them and for the heartache they felt for their best friend. He had seen so much death, so much pain but there he was, strong and ready to continue on, even at risk to his own life.

The three sat together, united, a symbol of what Voldemort was facing and the strength and courage that comes from the young and loyal, an almost menacing sight to those who stood to oppose them.

Harry stood suddenly and moved to face the compartment window. He watched the countryside rush by in a blur.

That's like my life, he thought. Always shifting and changing, never clear, never simple. He turned again to face Ron and Hermione and got a sick feeling in the pit of his gut. Ron was sitting upright, head resting back against the train seat while Hermione rested her head on his chest. Ron's arm rested casually across her shoulders as he gently stroked her hair.

As Harry watched them together, he felt a strong urge to punch Ron in the face. He wanted to hurt him, to disfigure him, to damage him in any and all ways possible. He didn't care that Ron was his best friend; all he knew was that he could hardly stand the sight of him anymore. Come to think of it, Harry could not figure out why he was even allowing Ron to accompany he and Hermione on their quest. Unable to stop himself, Harry moved to stand in front of Ron, an angry, yet steady, gaze on his handsome face.

“Do you think you two can take this somewhere else? The last thing I need right now is watching you pair cuddle and snog the whole time you're together. We have an important mission and it's not going to be accomplished if you two can't get a grip.”

His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable cruelty hidden beneath.

Hermione bolted upright and Ron took on an air of the offended. He and Harry gazed heatedly at one another, fists clenched, teeth grinding. Hermione stood up briskly and slapped Harry across the cheek.

“Harry Potter, if you have something to say, you could be a little nicer about it. I know that you are scared and sad but there's no need to take it out on us. We are here to help you, protect you and be as much help as we can.”

“No Hermione, you have NO idea how I feel. You have no idea what it is like to face what I am facing and what's worse, to be alone in it! You may argue that you and Ron are here to help me, but in the end, I-am-alone. You two won't fight Voldemort, or whoever else happens to try and attack. You don't know the fear I know. You don't know the grief I know. So miss know-it-all Hermione Granger, for the first time in your perfect life you are WRONG.”

Harry ignored the tears that were pouring down Hermione's face and he turned once more to look from the cabin's window. The train slowed and then stopped completely. Without turning around to look at his friends, Harry gathered his belongings and started to the compartment door.

“We're here.”

He walked from the compartment, leaving a baffled and angry Ron and a bawling Hermione.

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Chapter 2

Author’s Note: Sorry this is late guys, but I had a very busy weekend. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Please read and review!

The arrival at King’s Cross station was welcome for most of the passengers on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were not among them. Harry had calmed himself some after his outburst on the train but Ron was fuming and Hermione looked like a woman scorned. Ron decided to give Harry the silent treatment accompanied by a series of ominous glares. Hermione, on the other hand, decided to put the incident aside for the time being. The fact of the matter was that the trio was fearful and apprehensive about meeting the Dursleys, who would undoubtedly be waiting impatiently for Harry. Ron, having met the wretched people before, was almost sure of their reaction at the prospect of one inconvenience but three. Hermione, albeit clever, had no idea what was in store.

After arriving on platform 9 ¾ and retrieving their belongings, Hermione decided enough was enough and resigned herself to talk to Harry if it killed her. She approached him gently and her voice was small but assertive nonetheless.

“Harry, about the Dursleys…I know you’ve said they’re awful people, but surely they aren’t that bad.” Hermione spoke with confidence but the menacing look that Harry gave her in response shattered her fragile confidence. Ron looked as though she had just cursed his mother. As mad as he may have been with Harry, Ron knew th extent of the Dursleys’ cruelty. Harry turned on Hermione, drawing himself up to his full height and took a step towards her. His voice was calm and steady but only just and he spoke through clenched teeth.

“Hermione, need I remind you that these are the people who forced me to live in a broom cupboard for the first eleven years of my life? Or how about the fact that they allowed their brute of a son to abuse me every chance he got! Oh, and we mustn’t forget that time when they, oh, LIED to me about my parents’ deaths and how I was a wizard!” He stopped to take a breath and collect his composure. “And I’m sure you would love to hear the riveting tale of how they denied me any kind of love or affection.” At this he lowered his head and Hermione, tears spilling down her face, moved forward quickly to embrace him.

He felt safe in her arms but it was a comfort short lived as reality flooded back to him. Hermione was Ron’s girlfriend and he had no right to feel for her what he did. So he decided to add those feelings to the conglomeration of emotions that he could not express. He released Hermione and turned to face a very agitated Ron. Harry extended his right hand as a peace offering but Ron only glared at him.

“Ron, I’m really sorry. I guess my anger just got the best of me, you know? I didn’t mean it. I swear. I just…lost control. You’re still my best mate…right?”

Ron’s expression softened slightly and he extended his left hand. The shook hard and Harry grinned, relieved and yet somehow still just a little bit disappointed.

“I forgive you Harry, but just try not to be such a prat alright? There’s just no room in the family for another one and Percy’s already claimed that spot.”

Everyone laughed, even Hermione even though she still had tears pouring down her face. Harry felt his heart break because he knew that he caused her tears.

“Hermione, I’m-“ But she cut him off mid sentence.

“Don’t Harry. I know you didn’t mean it. I may not understand your pain and your loss or your anger, but I hurt for you because you hurt so badly. What I do understand is that we have a job to do, and it won’t get done if we are at each others’ throats all the time. We have to be strong. It’s a matter of life and death. So I forgive you Harry, because I do know that it was just your emotions getting the better of you.”

She always forgave him, even when he didn’t deserve it. That was one of the reasons why he cared for her so much; she was just so uniquely Hermione.

Harry stepped back and looked at his friends. He knew that meeting the Dursleys was not going to be a pleasant experience at all. While he said that he would use force if necessary, Harry really did not want it to come to that. He had a fool’s hope that the Dursleys would just let he and his friends stay for a day or two until they went on their merry way. Unfortunately, Harry Potter knew better than to expect his aunt and uncle to be nice.

“Well guys, this is it. Lets run through the barrier and head on to our first big challenge- the Dursleys.”

Harry turned with his trunk and Hedwig’s cage and ran through the barrier and Ron and Hermione followed suit.

The terminal was bustling and busy as always but through the crowd Vernon and Petunia Dursley were waiting impatiently for their nuisance of a nephew. They had already been waiting for five minutes and as far as Vernon was concerned, that was five minutes too long. Then out of the crowd he saw Harry, that unruly black hair and round-rimmed glasses. As if the sight of Harry himself was unwelcome enough, a lanky redhead and a bookish looking girl trailed him. Skipping all the formalities, Vernon approached Harry and stopped he and his gang of misfits in their tracks.

“What’s this boy?” Vernon nodded his head in the direction of Ron and Hermione.

Harry set his trunk and Hedwig’s cage down and turned slightly towards Ron and Hermione, then back to his enormous uncle.

“Uh, Uncle Vernon, these are my friends from school, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They uh, they are coming with us…to Privet Drive.”

It took only a second for Vernon Dursley to bow up and position himself dangerously close to Harry. The vein in his forehead was pulsing threateningly as he breathed heavily, trying to restrain his obvious anger.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you boy, but these freaks, are not stepping foot anywhere near MY house. You tell them to turn around and get right back on the ruddy train!”

Expecting this reaction, Harry pulled his wand into view from his pocket. He adjusted it just enough that it was pointed directly at his uncle’s chest. Vernon Dursley moved back ever so slightly, a look of pure terror on his rotund face. Harry watched him, slightly amused.

“Uncle Vernon, my friends and I only need to stay for a couple of days. After we leave you will never see me again. Now, Ron, Hermione and I are on a very important mission and we need to get to Privet Drive right away. Please get in the car. If you choose not to cooperate with me, then I will have no choice but to jinx you. And might I remind you that I have learned a lot of new jinxes this year.”

Harry knew he’d said the right thing as Dursley moved backward, stamped his foot in anger, and walked over to his wife.

‘Petunia…car…NOW!” Aunt Petunia whimpered and followed her husband to the car.

Harry, Ron and Hermione lagged behind to avoid hearing any of the obscene names they were now being called. Ron patted Harry on the back and grinned widely.

“Harry, mate that was fantastic! You showed him who’s boss!”

Harry grinned in response but his face became somber almost immediately.

“Yea well, unfortunately it’s going to get a lot worse once we get to the house.”