Things were tense these days. Grimmuld Place had been turned into a kind of headquarters with witches and wizards going in and out at all hours of the night. About a month ago rumors of Voldemort's final stand began to spread as the possibility of an end-all battle began to quickly become a reality.
The school year ended about a week ago. Many families were leaving England altogether and going to stay with relatives elsewhere. The streets of Diagon Alley were filled with a strange churning fear as were those of Hogsmeade.
The resistance movement quickly began to shift from tentatively defensive to openly preparatory. The kitchen was filled with the strange smells of various anecdotes and elixirs to all sorts of nasty spells which may be unleashed. The dining room was filled with various maps and indicators as to the possible whereabouts Voldemort and his troops.
The rooms upstairs were packed with people. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley occupied one room as Hermione, Ginny, and Luna shared the room that had previously been Hermione's own room. Ron and Neville shared Ron's old room. Lupin and Tonks shared a room. Professor McGonagall had the room at the end of the hallway. Bill and Fleur shared a tiny room, Harry was sure it had been a broom closet when he, Ron, and Hermione had moved in. The library had been moved around so it could accommodate a bed or two and the attic was recently being transformed into another room; however, the floors had a nasty habit of giving out before anyone could cast a spell to fix the place.
Harry still had his own room. People seemed to be too formal around him. They were too respectful of his space in his opinion. He did feel important however. He was always invited to the meetings that Lupin held. He spent most of his days talking about plans, reviewing tactics, and learning dueling techniques from Lupin or Mr. Weasley. His days were filled with talk about Voldemort, the final battle, and death. They were all the same in his opinion.
He and Hermione still tried to find time to meet but the minutes were going faster and faster and often he would wake up in his bed the next morning with no recollection of getting there the previous night.
He walked down the steps into the living, which was the only room left unaffected by the resistance movement. The fireplace was ablaze and Ron and Luna sat in one corner talking quietly, looking disinterested in the game of wizard chess between them. Hermione was talking with Ginny; a book was open but forgotten in her lap. He presumed Neville was upstairs. Lupin and Tonks had left to get Neville's grandma.
It was raining outside and the occasional lightening bolt would make everything flash blue for a moment. He stood there for a moment, feeling like an outsider as his friends went about their everyday lives. Suddenly Hermione looked up at him and smiled, trying to hide her excitement to see him. Ron too had turned away from Luna to look up at his best friend.
"Oi, don't just stand there, Harry, come on." Ron nodded his head in the general direction of the group. Harry smiled as he sat down in one of the arm chairs near the fire. He picked up one of the books on the coffee table between the two chairs and leafed through it trying to feign interest.
"Harry, did I or did I not punch Malfoy in the face?" Hermione asked him. He looked up at her and then to Ginny's disbelieving face.
"She did." He said smiling at the memory.
"That was bloody brilliant. Oh, and when Moody turned Malfoy into a weasel!"
"What about when Fred and George turned the hallway into a swamp?"
"Brilliant!" Soon the group was energetically recalling all the best memories of their years at Hogwarts. They were interrupted by the crash of the front doors opening.
"Turn on the wireless!" Lupin demanded as he, Tonks, and Neville's grandma burst through the doors, wet and breathless.
Luna rushed to the wireless and turned it on. The frantic voice of a newscaster filled the room.
"It seems that You-know-who has taken control of Hogwarts. After destroying the town of Hogsmeade You-know-who and his army of hundreds have barricaded themselves within the castle of Hogwarts. Tentative reports are already saying fifty dead and many more injured. The Ministry of Magic has declared a state of emergency…" They sat there in silence, all listening, all knowing: their time was up. Hermione glanced at Ron who looked at her, worry in his eyes, most-likely for Fred and George. Luna put a comforting arm around Ron.
Hermione looked up to catch her eyes with Harry but he was staring far off into the distance, his fist covering his mouth in determined concentration. She could see he was thinking, planning, preparing for the worst-for Voldemort.
"Alright," Lupin let out a shaky breath as he tried to collect himself, "I'll wake the others, we'll prepare a strategy. I'll get into contact with the Ministry. Prepare to leave tomorrow. Hermione, go wake the others and tell them we're meeting in the dining room in ten minutes." She silently went upstairs to rouse the others.
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She couldn't believe it was happening, and it was all going so quickly. They all sat around the dinning room table as Lupin and Tonks headed the conversation.
"Now we believe Voldemort chose Hogwarts for strategy rather than personal gain. He's going to use it as his headquarters. It's near impenetrable. Also, the community views Hogwarts as a keystone, a stronghold. He's done it to break morale. If Hogwarts falls, he thinks the community will fall."
"So what? Do we just wait for them to make another move to attack?" Ron asked, his voice almost cracking.
"Well, that's the problem, if we could find a way to get into Hogwarts, unnoticed, we might have a better chance to catch them by surprise. Do you know of any way Minerva?" Tonks asked the stricken-looking woman.
"There are so many passages within Hogwarts, it's impossible for someone to know them all. I haven't heard of one that leads off of Hogwarts grounds…"
"I have." Harry spoke and everyone turned to him. "From the basement of Honeydukes, it leads right into the school."
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The meeting had gone as well as a meeting could. It made everything seem more real and she hated that. Harry had holed himself up in his room. She and Ron were quietly discussing things in the library.
"I'm sure they're okay Ron. If they can survive Umbridge…"
"But this isn't Umbridge, Hermione, what are we going to do?" She was silent.
"I don't know."
"Hey, can you two come to my room now?" Both their heads snapped up in surprise that Harry was at the threshold of the library.
"Sure Harry," Hermione said, "we'll be right there." Harry left without waiting for them and she and Ron exchanged an apprehensive look before getting up and quickly following Harry. They closed the door behind them and Harry sat down on his bed.
"Look, I don't want to make a big deal about this or anything. I just want you both to know that I appreciate all the help that you've given me over the years. Merlin knows I would have died about nine times over if you two weren't watching my back for me." The two bowed their heads, refusing to make eye contact. "I know a thank you doesn't even begin to repay you for all you've done for me, but just know that your guys' friendship means more than the world to me."
"Harry," Hermione began.
"I know, I shouldn't be thanking you but please just let me say it." Hermione was silenced and Harry went on. "I not only wanted to thank you guys but I also wanted to talk to you about Voldemort." She and Ron slowly brought their gaze up to meet his. "Yeah, You-Know-Who. We've all heard about the prophecy. In the end it's going to be him against me." Harry got up to look out the window as if keeping lookout. "I'm not afraid." He turned to them. "I've spent my life living for this moment; I'm not afraid, but I do need you guys to promise me something."
"What is it Harry?"
"Yeah, mate, anything." Harry smiled weakly..
"You have to promise not to go after Voldemort. No matter what happens to me, or how bad it looks like it's going; Voldemort is my fight. I don't want either of you trying to take him on, before…or after I have."
"But-" Ron began stubbornly.
"No Ron, promise me." Hermione and Ron exchanged looks. "You too Hermione."
"Harry-"
"Just promise me okay? I've caused so much pain, so many people have died. I need you to promise me this." The trio stood in dead silence. Harry daring them to object again.
"I promise." Hermione quietly whispered. Ron glared at her for a moment but Harry's shoulders slumped in relief. Ron noticed this and then turned to Hermione who, despite her shinning eyes, gave him a small nod.
"Alright, I promise." He begrudging admitted. Harry slumped back down on the bed, letting out a large breath he had been holding.
"Thank you."
"You're really not afraid?" Ron asked. Hermione nudged him in the shoulders.
"I don't think so." The tense feeling had been lifted. "I'm just kind of … relieved."
The trio continued to talk for around an hour. They didn't talk about anything in particular, simply the things they would normally talk about. They talked about what was going to happen tomorrow, but mainly what had happened to them in the past years.
"Well, I think I'm gonna go talk to Luna."
"Ron, are you two dating?" Harry asked him. Ron smiled sheepishly.
"Luna won't give me an answer until You-Know-Who is gone. She says it will give me some 'incentive'." He shrugged. "Good night." Ron left and Hermione turned to Harry, looking down at him as he sat on the bed.
"Guess I should be turning in also?" He grabbed her hand and tugged it close to his heart.
"Don't go. Stay here." He mumbled. She looked down at him as he kissed her hand reverently. She kissed the top of his head and smiled.
"I'd love to, but you need your sleep."
"Then we'll sleep. Stay. For me?" Hermione looked down at him and smiled.
"Oh please Harry, you didn't have to ask twice." Harry pulled her down next to him and snuggled against her. She turned to face him.
"There's so much I want to say to you, Hermione." He drew his finger slowly down her cheek.
"You can tell me later." She smiled as he leaned in and kissed her goodnight.
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Morning started at five o'clock for the residents of Grimmuld Place. They gathered at the front door, all wearing sturdy shoes, dueling equipment, and grim faces. Hermione walked towards the front of the group with Harry following close behind. Ginny gave her a strange look as she passed by, not quite angry, just perplexed and perhaps a dash upset.
"Oh Harry, Hermione, there you are!" Lupin exclaimed. "Alright then, everyone ready?" Harry was pretty sure no one was actually ready. "Okay then, let's go." And with that everyone grabbed hold of the portkey and they were gone.