Truth Among Friends
Chapter 1
Harry Potter was shaken awake in the dark of night by Hermione, who was bending over him, grinning excitedly.
"Harry! HARRY! Oh, where have you been all these years? I've finally found you, oh, thank goodness! It's been ages!"
Harry, twenty-seven and living alone, sat up and groped around groggily for his glasses. "Wuzzgoinon..." he mumbled.
"Oh, Harry, don't you remember? After Dumbledore died, well, we came for you over the summer, but you weren't there! Oh, Harry, how could you forget what Dumbledore said? You didn't go back to the Dursley's to finish your protection that he placed on you when you were a baby! You weren't there on your seventeenth birthday, oh, Harry, this is terrible... you ran off and we never saw you since! It's been exactly a decade! Harry..."
Hermione was practically breathless. She kept muttering "Oh, Harry," as she bustled around, making tea for a very confused Harry.
It was true, Harry had run away when Dumbledore died, and he spent ten years in a small house, recovering, getting his strength, and mastering magic. He was prepared to fight Voldemort, but something stopped him.
Now he realized what it was, and it was that he had not seen neither Ron nor Hermione. He needed their support, and more than that, he needed Ginny.
He knew that it was wrong for him to sometimes think that he should chase after Ginny, because Voldemort could kidnap her in order to get him. He wanted nothing to happen to her, and therein lay the strength of his love for her, a strength that not even he knew.
Little did he know that love would lead to Voldemort's undoing.
He was jerked out of his thoughts as Hermione handed him a mug of steaming ginger tea.
"Oh, I'd better get Ron, he'll be eager to see you again," Hermione said, and she apparated.
A few minutes later she returned with a grinning Ron at her side. Ron rushed toward Harry.
"Harry! Blimey, it's been ages since we've seen each other, mate!" He gave Harry a bear hug and stood back.
Harry grinned as well and Hermione poured Ron and herself a mug of tea.
Harry found this a good time to tell them what he had been planning to do for so long. Here he was, standing with his two best friends in the entire world, why not now?
"Erm, there's something I have to tell you," he began. "I-I am ready to defeat Lord Voldemort, but I couldn't do it all these years because I needed... I needed you, both of you, to help me. I need your support, I need your help. Being alone for this long made me realize how much I did need you." He finished, feeling slightly embarrased. He looked away.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see Hermione staring at him. Ron was looking at Harry seriously. There was no hint of amusement or any other emotion that crossed his face.
"Harry," Hermione said quietly, "We will, of course we will. We know how important this is to you. We promise, we swear we will help you defeat Voldemort."
There was a look of earnesty on her face, and Ron was still looking at Harry seriously. Harry smiled. "I was hoping I could count on you."
They planned to leave in the morning, in search of Voldemort, using the evidence that Harry had tracked for so many years. They went to bed happy.
Harry rose early in the morning. "It's time, you lot. C'mon." He looked over at where his two best friends were sleeping.
They were gone.