Harry Potter crouched in a ball in his room, a crumpled photograph scrunched in his right hand. In it, an old man with a silver beard looked up at him, beaming. In the background of the photograph, a young couple danced around while a handsome man with dark hair looked on with joy. His parents wedding photo, Harry had noticed, showcased every person who had stepped in front of Voldemort's ultimate goal. Every one of them had sacrificed their own life, for Harry's sake.
Dumbledore's death was more though. The greatest Wizard in the world had fallen. In Harry's heart he knew the dark lord had won. Despite Ron and Hermione's and Ginny's protests, Harry would not be returning to Hogwarts, and he would be completing his mission alone. No one would be sacrificed again.
As for now, he was stuck at Privet Drive until someone came to get him. He wouldn't miss it, and he knows they won't miss him. It was a week before his birthday, and he would be gone from this place forever. Although the order hadn't contacted him, he knew that if he wasn't gone, Voldemort would show up at his doorstep in a week. Therefore it was only a matter of time before someone in the order rescued him.
Harry heard a soft knock at his door. Harry really didn't feel like talking to anyone, especially not a Dursley. Harry thought it was weird that one of the Dursley's might want to talk to him. Curiosity getting the best of him, he called for whoever was knocking too enter.
Petunia Dursley entered with a handful of letters. She wore a worried expression; her normally perfectly placed hair looked as messy as Harry's. They stared in silence, until Petunia broke it.
"Is he really gone?" Petunia whispered. Harry looked her in the eyes, noticing that the shape was similar to his own. He just nodded. "I was told, to give you these, if this occurred." She put the envelopes on his desk. He glanced at the letters and noticed Dumbledore's slanted scroll, as well as neat writing that looked similar too Hermione's. He also noticed a third writer. He would never forget that particular handwriting. The writer that had seemed like such a friend to him in the previous year. This particular writer, the Halfblood Prince aka Snape, was responsible for the fall of the greatest Wizard he'd ever met.
"Wait, you've been in contact with wizards?" Harry asked.
"Just Dumbledore in recent years, the other letters were written before you were dropped on my doorstep."
Harry took the letters, looked at Snape's, and threw it in the trunk. He didn't have the energy to rip it up, and he didn't feel that Snape was worth the emotion.
"Harry, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you're gone forever. I never hated you. I resent what you are. I'm sorry, sometimes childish emotions can take control of someone. I'm not here for forgiveness, or to make peace with you. I doubt I could. But I just wanted you to know." Harry stared blankly for a moment, and then awkwardly leaned over to hug his aunt.
"I won't let him hurt you. I promise." Harry whispered. Petunia knew what he meant, and who he was referring too. She quietly left the room, and Harry sat, staring at the letters. He moved to pick up one of Dumbledore's, but knew right away this action was fruitless. He wouldn't be able to read it with the downpour of tears running down his face. He tucked the rest of his letter into a safe place in his trunk, and sat on his bed, wondering how he was going to keep the Dursley's from harms way as well.
He laid down, figuring he'd be hearing from the Order soon, and it would be best that he was well rested. He drifted off too sleep. A monster from within him purred as he saw a red long mane dancing in the wind. He soon smelt the sweet flowery smell that he so loved.
CRACK
He woke up startled. He knew that specific sound, someone magical was around. Interestingly enough, Harry could still smell Ginny's scent.
"Ginny Weasley, what the hell are you doing. You're gonna get caught, the ministry is looking for any reason to put one of us away. What the hell is wrong with you?" Harry yelled, but could only hear a pair of giggles.
"She's not alone Harry." Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley removed their invisibility cloaks, still holding hands from the apparition. This was short lived, as Hermione bolted towards Harry. His face was soon covered with chestnut curls. The hug lasted a while, he rubbed the small of her back, the happiness he felt from seeing and holding his best friend allowed him to forget his anger at the two of them for traveling alone. They broke apart. Ginny looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment, but then spoke up.
"What, no hug for me?" Then she smiled, and gave Harry a soft hug. He once again noticed her sweet scent. He closed his eyes feeling as if he was in a trance. However, the realization hit him like one of Ginny's bat boogey hexes, Ginny and Hermione were in his room! Harry and Ginny broke apart, as both Ginny and Hermione sat on Harry's bed.
"What's going on? Why would the Order send you two? It's too dangerous." Harry looked at both Hermione and Ginny. His world would end if something happened to them. "Ginny, we broke up because-"
"You're a git. Do you think that just because we broke up, I'm not going to help. " Ginny said sternly.
"And Harry, I'm going to be going with you. Do you really think I'm in more danger apparating to the protected Dursley's house than wherever you'll be taking me?"
"About that Hermione--" Harry started.
"About what? I'm going with you. Ron's going with you. That's the end of it. You've given us plenty of opportunity to change our minds, to go back. We are legal adults, we are going with you."
"And If my mother--" Ginny started to say.
"Ginny, I wouldn't give in to letting you come."
"You wouldn't have had a choice." She finished. Harry smiled; he knew she was right, as she was every bit as stubborn as he is.
"Listen, before leaving, I think we should explain how we are going to protect the Dursleys to the Dursleys." Hermione said, in her business like fashion.
"Hermione, I think you should explain to me why you two are here, why Ron isn't here, and where the hell the rest of the order is."
"The Order is in chaos Harry. After Snape was shown to be a traitor, everyone is paranoid." Ginny responded.
"The group is splitting over what should happen. Some want you to tell the Order what your mission is. Mad Eye and Lupin say you should keep your mouth shut. They say Dumbledore told you too, and they think there is another traitor among us. All of the Order members have been put under questioning Harry. I have to say, I agree with Lupin and Mad Eye. Voldemort knows things that only the members of the Order would know. And I think Harry," Hermione continued, "that you should continue to learn Occlumency. Ron is getting better at it, and I can train you as I've learned Legilimency. It isn't that hard, but you have to be able to do it around all members of the Order. This is why Ginny and I are here. We decided, Ron and I and Ginny, that it would be best if we got you, surprised the Order, and got in trouble for it, but at least you were warned." Hermione finished, looking very serious.
"Hermione, we'll talk about Occlumency later, but you didn't answer me about Ron."
"Well, Fred and George are working on making invisibility cloaks. They've only made one, and Ron's kinda tall. And Ginny and I fit better together under it. So it would either have to be an individual coming to get you, or two of us. So Ron's covering for us right now. We thought it was better that way. Mrs. Weasley would notice that the three of us were missing." Harry stared at the two of them.
"But how can I leave, if someone's going to try and read my brain, and how do you know when people are trying to read your mind?"
"Because Harry, I can feel it. I can tell when someone is trying to read mine. I figure, I can teach you to recognize that before we go back, and if you can't block your mind you can at least leave the room."
"And when are we going to do this?"
"We've got a week before your birthday, if it takes a few days, it takes a few days, but I'd like to get going as soon as possible. Ginny, we need to go explain to the Durlseys exactly what you and I are going to do to protect them. As this seems to not be a big deal for the Order at the moment."
"Why not?" Harry questioned.
"Well, some members of the Order feel that muggles are really far down on the list for protecting." Hermione continued, although didn't look too happy, "And some feel like these particular muggles deserve what's coming to them." Ginny coughed in a way that sounded distinctly like Tonks, Lupin, and Mum. Harry smiled, and if it wasn't for his "saving people thing" or his previous conversation with his Aunt, he would probably havepartially agreed. "So, I decided that we are going to give your Aunt and Uncle the same protection my parents received, and the same yours did. I think it would be best for you to be secret keeper." Hermione finished. And looked at Harry, not sure if he was willing to do what she had asked him to do.
"You know how to do it."
"Of course she does." Ginny answered, in a "how could you ask such a stupid question" tone. The trio exited Harry's bedroom, and went down the stairs, he noticed the stair no longer creaked…of course it wouldn't, he thought, there were no longer letters holding it up.
Dudley's eyes darted from both Hermione and Ginny. Certainly, the prettiest girls he had ever had in his house. He licked his lips and started to get up, Ginny moved her hand instinctively to her pocket, where her wand was, Hermione quickly pulled Ginny's hand back down, in a "now's not the best time" sort of way. Dudley, however, saw a flash of a wand, and quickly returned to his seat.
"We need to discuss your means of protection." Hermione said, looking Vernon Dursley straight in the eye. His face turned red. Harry could tell he was about to blow. After all, it wasn't very often that he ever took orders from 17 year old girls, and one that was surely a wizard no less. Hermione's appearance of normal muggle attire seemed to comfort Mr. Dursley, or at least Harry hoped so. Harry noticed that Ginny's attire wasn't completely muggle-esque. He figured she more than likely did that on purpose in an attempt to scare the Durselys a little bit. He laughed to himself as he once again smelt Ginny's flowery scent, and had a sudden urge to wrap his arms around her. No, he thought, no that's over, and it needs to be over. Don't give her false hope. Ginny looked disgruntled.
"Are you really leaving Harry?" Dudley asked. Harry nodded, surprised at the sorrow in Dudley's voice. "Then, can I have a word." Harry looked over at Hermione and she motioned for him to go.
"I can explain it, Harry." She said. Ginny nodded in agreement.
"Oh my sweet Dudikins, wanting to wish Harry a good life." Mrs. Petunia wailed. Hermione looked from Mrs. Dursley to Dudley in confusion, and Ginny stuffed her knuckles in her mouth to stop herself from laughing. They watched as Dudley and Harry exited the room.
"Okay, so this is how this incantation works. I'm going to cast a spell outside of the House, and Voldemort will not be able to find your house unless your Secret Keeper tells him."
"Well, who will be my Secret Keeper?" Vernon asked.
"Harry." Ginny answered.
"He wants us dead."
"I assure you, if he wanted you dead, you would be." Ginny snarled back, leering at both Dursleys. Hermione looked at her suspiciously, but then looked back at the Dursleys. They stood in silence for a moment, waiting for Dudley and Harry to get back.
"Out of curiosity, Mrs. Dursley, why didn't you boot the two of us out?" Hermione asked.
"Harry had said that some members of his group would be coming. I just expected better protection." Vernon Dursley answered, he looked just as disgruntled as Ginny did.
"Right now, I'm afraid, this is the best protection Harry feels comfortable with giving you. This was what protected Lily and James."
"They're dead." Mr. Vernon shot back.
"Only because someone told, you git, hence 'secret keeper.'" Ginny snapped back, impatiently.
"We'll just need to stay here a few days though, until Harry is ready to leave. I hope you don't mind." Hermione said politely.
"Maybe I do mind"
"Then maybe we won't protect you." Ginny answered.
"Vernon just let them be." Petunia said, wisely. She smiled at Ginny and Hermione. They reminded her of a pair of loving sisters.
