A crisp cool summer breeze filtered through the trees and into the open window of Harry Potter's room at number four Privet Drive. The lights were out in the manicured house and everything was still. Harry laid spread across his matress in a fitful sleep. His few days at the Dursley's seemed to span on for months as he kept to his room, refused most of his modest meals and spent most of his time crying or sleeping. Harry was at a loss. He was grieving for Dumbledore and scared at the prospect of finally facing Voldemort. He felt guilty for bringing Hermione and Ron with him and feared for all of their lives. He also felt terrible about how he had left things with Ginny, but didn't know how else he could protect her. His emotional turmoil lead him to isolate himself from the Durselys and brood. The only light thought in Harry's mind was leaving the Dursley's for the Burrow and attending Bill and Fleur's wedding. It would be his last chance to be happy for a long time, it could be his only chance.
As dawn drew near, Harry ripped himself from his nightmares and began to dress and pack his things into his trunk. Hermione would be picking him up at seven sharp and he did not want to incure her wrath. He folded clothes and threw books into his mish-mash of belongings. He found his pictures of his parents, of Ron and Hermione, and of Ginny and put them in the trunk as well. Finally, Harry put his stash of letters from Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore all in the trunk and closed the lid, locking it. He hoisted Hedwig, who sat in her cage, off his dresser and began to levitate the lot down the stairs. At seven sharp and blue mini cooper pulled into number four's driveway and Harry left the house for good. The Dursley's slept as their nephew departed, neither longing to say goodbye.
"Harry," Hermione greeted as she ran to him and gave him a hug.
"Hey 'Mione," Harry said with a thick voice.
"How are you?" she asked as she appraised her friends disheveled apperance.
"I'll be fine as soon as we've left," Harry said briskly as he began to load his belongings into Hermione's trunk. "Nice car by the way."
"Thanks," Hermione smiled, "Father bought it for me as an early graduation present.
"Brilliant!" Harry laughed as he sat in the car and Hermione turned over the engine. The two shared a sad smile as they drove out of the driveway and out of Little Whinging and the Dursley's grasp forever.
It was a long drive to the Burrow, but Hermione insisted. The duo were undoubtably followed by Order members, but neither minded. Hermione wanted to lend her car to Mr. Weasley while they were away and knew of no other way to get it to him without leaving it for him when they left. At mid-day, Hermione drove into Ottery St. Chapole. The drive had been quiet as Harry spent most of his time sleeping, which worried Hermione. She knew her friend was grieving and only hoped that seeing the Weasely's would cheer him up a bit.
As they drove into the driveway, Molly came rushing out of the house to greet them. "Harry! Hermione!" she shouted as Ginny and the Delacours followed her out of the house. Soon, both were adequately hugged and kissed by the group of the women. Ginny and Harry smiled unsurely at each other and kept themselves apart. Ginny blushed when Gabrielle Delacour kissed Harry firmly on the mouth and the boy tried to escape her. It was then that the twins decided to appear from their shop and began to take the mickey out of poor Harry.
After what seemed like ages, Hermione finally asked, "Where is Ron?"
Molly shook her head. "He's in the garden denoming. Been at it for hours now, but it's looking rather pretty. Bill and Fleur want an outdoor wedding." Molly smiled knowingly at Hermione. "Why don't you go round back and get him for lunch?"
Hermione nodded. "Thanks Mrs. Weasley!" and ran towards the back of the house. There she saw Ron, shirt off, jeans slung low on his hips, throwing nomes out of the garden and sweating profusely. After appreciating his backside, Hermione smoothed down her sundress and softly called, "Ron..."
Ron turned and wiped some sweat off his brow. "'Mione? That you?" he asked as his eyes squinted against the sun.
"Yes," Hermione beamed as she walked closer to her Ron, throwing her arms around him and kissing him on the cheek. Ron stood stalk still, not daring to breathe. Hermione's kiss was devine and he didn't want it to ever end, but sadly it did. Hermione stepped back and blushed as she realized how irradick her behavior was. The duo didn't notice Harry or Ginny arriving to ask them to come to lunch as they avoided each other's gazes.
"Ah-hem," Ginny coughed, but the couple didn't notice.
"Guys, um, guys!" Harry shouted.
Ron and Hermione jumped apart, embarrassed and guilty. "Oh Merlin, Harry!" Hermione winced. "We weren't...we didn't..."
Harry grinned. "Wow, he's rendered her speechless," he said to Ginny with a snort.
"Harry!" Hermione chastised.
"Well..." Harry laughed as Ron flushed fully.
Ginny picked up his disgarded t-shirt and threw it at him. "You might want this."
Ron caught the shirt. "Thanks," he said roughly. "You mind getting lost?" Ginny stuck her tongue out and waited as her brother rolled his eyes.
"Ronald," Hermione scolded. "You don't have to be so rude..."
Ron rolled his eyes as he pulled on his shirt. "I wasn't rude..." he mumbled as the two began to fight.
Harry turned to Ginny. "Gee, that lasted all of ten seconds," he joked.
Ginny shrugged. "Wouldn't it be weird if they weren't fighting?"
"True," Harry grinned.
"It's a Weasley thing," Ginny whispered as the two fought. "You can tell how much they love each other by the way they fight."
"Right," Harry said, suddenly uncomfortable as he remembered fighting with Ginny.
The first scoff was over within minutes and Ron turned to the secretive couple with a raised eyebrow. "What is with you two?" Hermione asked with curiosity.
Harry sighed and Ginny stomped her foot at the inuendo. Ron smartly decided not to ask them about their break-up just then and changed the topic. "Let's get some nosh, yeah?" he suggested as they left the garden and Ginny stormed away.
"You might want to scourgify Hermione clean again first," she said cheekily as she entered the house through the back door.
Ron turned to his friend, noting the sweat stain on her dress. "Sorry 'Mione," he sighed as he pointed his wand at her and said "scourgify." She shook her head, smiled and charmed him clean as well. The couple shared a smile and snuck into the house for lunch. The rest of the day was spent preparing for the wedding. The twins closed their shop up early to help with the preparation and the mood was one of excited tension. Dumbledore's death and everyone's lack of safety was on their minds amidst thoughts of a pleasant future for Bill and Fleur.
Evening came and Mr. Weasley arrived from the Ministry. "Good evening Weasley's!" he greeted as he walked in the door.
"Hi Dad!" the family greeted him.
"Is that Miss Granger's lovely car out front?" he asked.
"Yes Mr. Weasley. My father bought it as an early graduation present." Hermione explained from the living room.
"Ah, splendid," Aurther smiled as he gazed at the clock. "And is Charlie still away? I thought he'd beat me here." he said as he walked to the kitchen and kissed Molly's cheek.
"Well, I'm sure he'll be here soon," Molly said as she pointed to the family clock that had Charlie's name pointed at traveling. The couple smiled and Molly handed her husband a dish to set on the kitchen table.
"Mum!" Charlie yelled as he walked through the doors of the Burrow. "I'm home."
Molly Weasley dropped her pastry brush and ran to the front door, throwing her arms around her second eldest son. "Charlie!" she sighed with relief as tears streamed down her face. "We've missed you!"
Charlie pulled away from his mother as his father and the twins came to the entry to greet him. "Dad," he grined as he was enveloped by another hug. "Good to see you."
"It's lovely to be seen, son," Arthur smiled. "We were afraid you wouldn't make it."
Charlie pulled away and winced. "Sorry, it''s just that Shep and I had a hard time getting away from the preserve. We've had a devil of a time leaving Norbert. He just won't part with Hannah." Arthur gave his son a strange glance and then noticed the figure standing at the stoop.
"And just who is that?" Molly said with exhasperation as she opened the door wider and let the stocky blond woman in.
Charlie blushed and took the woman by the hand. "Mum, Dad, this is Medi-Witch-in-training, Hannah Shephard. She's my date for the wedding," he added.
Molly smiled appraisingly at the young woman. She was maybe twenty one years old and was slightly taller then Charlie, but with the same build. She had sparkling grey eyes and a curly mess of blond hair. She wore long grey traveling robes and smiled shyly at the matriarch. "Well, you shouldn't have left the poor girl on the stoop, Charlie," Molly scolded as she shook the women's hand. "It is nice to meet you Miss Shephard," Molly greeted enthusiastically wthout giving the girl a chance to talk, and then turned to Charlie. "You should have told us you were bringing a date. I don't know where she'll sleep, the house is full as it is with family and friends," she chastised.
"She can sleep with Charlie, Mum," George said cheekily from the banaster.
"Yeah, I'm sure neither of them would mind," Fred agreed.
Molly set her jaw squarly as Charlie and Hannah blushed. "Don't mind Fred and George, dear. They're crude and rude and will be staying at their own flat tonight so that you can have their room." She said with a glare at the twins.
"Turned out of our own house. How do you like that?" Fred asked George.
"And she calls herself our mother," was all George would reply.
"She can't help it if some of her son's actually have a life, Forge," Charlie said acidly. "And bring home a bird."
The twins shot their older brother angry glares, "Shove off!" Fred spat.
"Prat," George mumbled.
"Oh never mind the boys," Molly sighed as she waved her hand and took Hannah through the house by the arm and gave her a tour. "This is the living room," she said as they entered. A group of teenagers sat close together playing chess and another sat on a couch reading a book. "And the tall one is Ron, the brunette is Harry, and the curls belong to Hermione. The one on the couch is Ginny. Ron and Ginny are our youngest. Children, this is Hannah Shephard, a Medi-Witch friend of Charlie's," Molly intruduced as the small group said hello. Hannah wasn't given a chance to reply as she was quickly whipped into the kitchen, but Charlie stayed behind.
A group of women sat around the kitchen table magicing ribons to tie into fancy bows with another couple charming the cake topper to look like the bride and groom. In a chair next to one of the women sat a disfigured red head with long red hair. Hannah glanced at each, but shuttered when she saw Bill. "This is the bride to be, Fleur Delacour, her mother Mrs. Louise Delacour, and her sister, Gabrielle. The tall red head with the poney tail is the groom, Bill, the pink hair belongs to Nymphadora Tonks, and the sandy brown is Mr. Remus Lupin." Molly said without taking a breath. "Everyone, this is Charlie's friend, Hannah Shephard of Romania."
"'ello Han," Fleur greeted with a genuine smile. "Et is good to see you again"
"And you, Fleur," Hannah smiled with a flat American accent. "I can't believe I've been away from school for three years now"
"Ah yes, how time does fly," Fleur said as she smiled at Bill.
Hannah returned the grin, but was unable to say anything else as she was drug from the room to the stairway. "You know Fleur from school then? Wonderful!" Molly said briskly as she tore up the stairs and continued the tour. "There's a garden and pond out back near Aurther's shed. Your room's up here," Molly said as she pulled the young woman up the stairs. "Fred! George!" Molly bellowed, "Take Miss Shephard's trunk up to... now let's see here... Louise and Fleur are in Percy's room, Ron and Harry are in Ron's, Ginny, Hermione and Gabrielle are in Ginny's, the twins are in their room, Charlie can bunk with Bill and you, Miss Shephard can stay in Charlie's room." Molly said as she began draging he girl up the stairs and pointing out pictures of family and friends who were and were not going to be at the wedding tomorrow. Outside Charlie's room, Molly stopped talking and let the young woman go. "Here is Charlie's room, the loo is across the hall. Please feel free to make yourself at home, we'll have dinner in an hour."
With that, Molly rushed downstairs leaving Hannah and the twins to enter Charlie's room together. "My goodness, she talks fast," Hannah commented with her flat accent as she opened the door and looked around the room.
"She has too, with a lot like us," Fred snickered.
"There are a lot of you, aren't there!" Hannah sighed as she flopped onto the bed. "Six."
"Yes there are," Fred grinned as he sat on her trunk. "And it's actually more like eight with Harry and Hermione always here."
"But you get used to it," George said consolingly.
"I don't know..." Hannah sighed. "I mean, I've seen pictures of the family, and Harry and Hermione of course. But then there's the Delacour's and Mr. Remus"
"You mean Lupin," George corrected.
"Yes, sorry, Mr. Lupin and his friend Nympha... something," Hannah complained.
"It's Tonks," Charlie grinned from the doorway, "and don't call her anything else or she'll have a fit. My mother and Remus are just about the only people who are allowed to call her anything else." Hannah rolled her eyes and fell back upon Charlie's bed.
"Well, that's our cew to go," Fred grinned as he stood.
"Yes, we'll leave the lovebirds alone and let Mum discover they've been alone together in a room..." George chuckled as they reached the door.
Charlie laughed. "That's nothing compared to what I've got to tell her..." he mumbled under his breath.
"Ohh! And what's that?" Fred asked greadily.
"Tell us now Charlie, be a good lad," George cooed.
"Get out you gits," Charlie muttered. "I'm not telling you anything... yet."
The two begrudgingly left as Charlie pushed them out the door.
"Merlin's beard, Charlie! Don't do that!" Hannah sighed as she sat up on the bed. "I thought you were going to tell them."
"Oh no, I'm smarter than that, I have every intention of telling everyone after the wedding, when they're bevvied up and won't be so angry. I do not want the wrath of Molly Weasley or the mirth of the twins, thank you very much," Charlie sighed as he sat next to Hannah.
"She seems very nice, Charlie," Hannah said softly as she laid her head down on his shoulder.
"She is," he said as he wraped his arm around her. "I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly after she's done being angry at us for being married."
Outside Charlie's door, the twins shared a look of evil pleasure as they pulled extentable ears from the door jam and quietly snuck downstairs.
Dinner was an event. Molly had seventeen mouthes to feed and a small kitchen to do it in. The Weasley kitchen table was extended and everyone sat down with mountains of food before them.
"You've outdone yourself Mum, and it's not even the wedding!" Bill grinned.
"Oh you do go on," Molly blushed.
"No Mollywobbles, it's lovely," Aurther said softly as the woman blushe from the endearment.
Everyone agreed. The meal was Hogwarts quality and the food and wine ran on like a river. There was laughter and tears as Molly and Louise discussed the prospect of grandchildren, but the twins remained oddly silent throughout the dinner. By the end of the meal, Tonks sat affectionately in Remus' lap. Aurther and Charlie discussed politics and Dumbledore's death. Hannah appeared pained by their discussion and quickly began to discribe the benefits of Mudpore for wrinkles with Louise. Bill and Fleur held hands and shared a piece of pie while Molly, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Gabrielle all cleared the table and did dishes. After all was clean and the crowd had settled in the living room, the twins began their attack. Ron and Hermione sat side by side as Ron played Harry in Chess. Ginny sat with Gabrielle tying pew bows. Louise, Molly, and Fleur discussed last minute seating plans. Aurther, Bill, Remus, Tonks, Charlie and Hannah discussed Charlie's work in Romania with the twins.
"So I went to Russia with Chow and that's where we discussed the Order's plans with Damian Potrovski and he's agreed to spread the word and the support for the Order," Charlie finished.
"Good work, son," Aurther smiled.
"Those contacts will be invaluable," Remus agreed.
Charlie glanced at Bill and his scar, "Well, I'm glad I could be of SOME help..."
"You were little brother, you were." Bill said, patting Charlie's arm.
The group grew depressingly quiet and Fred glanced at George to change the topic.
"So how did you meet Miss Shephard then, Charlie?" George asked none to innocently.
Charlie sighed with knowing irritation, but answered the question. "She's training with the Healer at my preserve site. Patched me up real good when that last Ridgeback got me," Charlie explained, raising his shirt to show off his muscled chest and lack of scar. All conversation stopped as the group became aware of Charlie's state of undress.
"Charles Gideon Weasley, put on your shirt!" Molly screamed. "Of all the indecentcies."
Hermione blushed and she looked at Ron nervously. Ginny rolled her eyes and stared at Harry, willing him to turn around and look at her, but he did not. Charlie pulled down his shirt and continued. "I was scarred from sternum to pelvis, but Shep fixed it and now you can't see a thing."
"Good show!" Aurther said with praise. "You must be highly skilled if you can heal a scar like that."
"Hannah blushed. "Oh no, it was actually quite simple. A wonderful Healer taught me a special spell and sent me directions for a healing salve that I was taught to use back at St. Mungos, so it was really Her work, but thank you sir."
"Spent a lot of time with our dear Charlie then?" Fred asked loudly.
"Um, yes, I did..." Hannah said softly.
"Seen a fair bit of his bits then?" George asked with a chuckle.
"Oh no," Ron mumbled as he pulled Hermione closer to him and farther away from the bergining fight.
Molly stood and through a pillow at the twin. "George Weasley! Honestly, you'd think I didn't teach any of you any manners." Harry chuckled and Gabrielle giggled nervously.
"Oh Mum, I just think Miss Shephard's got some great tales about bagging off with our older brother," George said with a smirk. Hannah blanched and Charlie's face turned beet red. "Played a bid of..." he began, but Charlie was up off the floor and holding his brother by the scruff of the neck up against the fireplace mantle before he could finish speaking.
"Charlie!" Molly screamed as Ron pulled Hermione up and behind himself. Shielding her from his brother's fight. Harry also stood up, but Ginny grabbed his arm, and pulled him back from the fight.
"Go on then!" Charlie roared. "Say it, say it!"
"Charlie stop!" Hannah shouted.
"My, my Mr. Weasley. Bit sensitive about the Mrs." Fred said with a sing song voice. Bill shot Charlie a curious look, but said nothing as Charlie dropped George. "I'm gonna beat the seven shades of shit outa you!" Charlie yelled as he grabbed Fred by the arm and twisted it behind his back.
"I mean it Charlie, knock it off!" Hannah warned, but the firey red-head didn't hear her.
"Bloody Hell," Ron mumbled.
"Charles Weasely!" Aurther shouted angrily. "Let go of your brother now." When Charlie hesitated, Aurther quieted his voice. "I said now."
"Oh it's hit the fan now," Ron whispered to Hermione. "Whenever Dad breaks us up, we're in for it." Charlie let go of George and leaned against the mantle. The twins both sat on the floor where Charlie had deposited them and attempted to catch their breaths. Hannah glared at Charlie, but said nothing.
"Charles Weasely, what is the meaning of this?" Molly asked with embarressment.
"They know," Charlie sighed to Hannah who sat quietly on the floor.
"No kidding. I can't believe you rose to their bait," Hannah shouted. "Of all the idiotic... immature..."
"Oh and you wanted them to accuse you of..." Charlie began.
"They were mocking you!" Hannah interrupted.
"I don't care!" Charlie screamed as the young woman stood and slapped him.
"Charlie!" Molly growled.
Hannah turned away from Charlie to face his parents and family with a barely controlled sob. "I'm so sorry..."
"Bloody Hell," Bill mumbled to himself.
"You might as well tell them. There is no use in keeping it a secret," Hannah sighed as a tear fell down her face. "I'd rather it was done with and you were not fighting with your brothers over it. This was not supposed to cause a family fight."
Louise coughed. "Gabrielle, dear, why don't we go upstairs." The two French women ran upstairs.
"Um, yeah. Aurther, Tonks and I are going to go home now," Remus said and the two quickly apperated out of the house.
With the crowd disappating, Molly turned to Charlie. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. "And who the Hell are you to be slapping my son!" she added as she glared at Hannah.
Charlie took a deep breath and chuckled, waving his wand over his and Hannah's left hands. Matching wedding bands appeared. "She has every right Mum," Charlie smiled weakly. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my wife," he said softly.
Molly collapsed into a chair and Aurther paled. "Your wife?" he choked.
"Yeah Dad. Shep and I got married six months ago," Charlie said as he held his wife's hand.
"Oh dear Merlin!" Molly sighed as she began to sob. "But she's just a child"
"Mum, she's ninteen," Charlie interrupted.
Molly shook her head. "I thought she was older than that! Merlin she's younger than Fleur! And she's not even done with school and... and... are you so ashamed of us that you wouldn't even allow us to be present at your wedding?" she cried.
"Bloody Hell," Ron mumbled.
"Ron!" Hermione chastised, though she haden't flinched when his brothers swore.
"Maybe we should leave," Harry, who had been quietly observing, whispered to Hermione.
"No bloody way," Ron whispered back, holding Hermione's hand, without thought.
Charlie crossed the room and knealed before his mother. "No Mum, it's not that. I love you all so much, it's been killing me to keep it a secret, but we didn't know how to tell you. We got married at the New Year. I was going to bring her home to meet you, but then the war and Voldemort and Dumbledore's death... I just didn't know how to tell you," he cried. "Please don't be angry."
Molly continued to cry and Aurther stared at his first daughter-in-law. The girl had tears streaking down her face. "I'm so sorry Mr. Weasley," she cried. "We really did want you to be there, but we were in Romania and it's so far away. We had every intention of having you there for the wedding, but we didn't have the time to have you apparate from England and we didn't think you all could just up and leave and with the world in the state it's in."
"Why the hurry?" Molly asked in between sobs.
"We're in love Mum," Charlie said with pride. "We'd waited long enough." Aurther shook his head in understanding.
"And we had planned to tell you, but we wanted to wait until after the wedding because we didn't want to take away from Bill and Fleur's day..." Hannah sobbed.
Charlie quickly stood and ran to his wife. "Shep, honey, please don't cry, it's okay. Don't cry," he tried to console her.
Hannah took a deep breath and smiled at her husband who hugged her. "I'm sorry I hit you."
Charlie smiled. "Ah, it's been a while since you gave me a good slap. It's about time you laid one on me."
"Bloody Hell," Fred and George said in unison.
Ginny laughed. "The more they argue, the more passionate the love."
Ron glanced awkwardly at Hermione, who blushed.
Charlie fell forward on his wife and kissed her. The various Weasley's cat called, cooed, and smiled knowingly.
"Brilliant!" George and Fred said again in unison.
"So you married January first?" Molly asked with pain.
Charlie released his wife and knealt in front of his mother. "Yes. In a church in town. Dumbledore officiated, even though he was ill and he agreed to let us be the ones who told you."
Harry, Ron and Hermione perked up at the mention of the Headmaster's name.
"Albus Dumbledore officiated?" Aurther asked with curiosity.
"Yes, he was a friend," Hannah said softly as a tear streaked down her cheek.
Molly stood and walked to the tall blond. "I am so very sorry for your loss dear," she sighed as she wrapped her arms around the girl and held her.
"Thank you," Hannah smiled. "I'm sorry you didn't get to be at our wedding..." Molly nodded and lead the young woman to the couch where they discussed the wedding. From then on, the evening went smoothly as focus shifted from the eloped couple to the future newly-weds. Hannah and Charlie kept mostly to themselves after the young woman moved to sit next to her husband by the hearth and soon Molly and Aurther went to bed. After several hours, they were followed by Fleur and Bill, the twins, Ginny, Charlie and Hannah, until it was only Harry, Ron and Hermione who sat in the living room.
"So, we should probly discuss our plan for leaving, yeah?" Harry asked nervously.
"Yeah," Ron shook his head with hesitation as Hermione remained strangely quiet.
"The wedding party should last until eleven or so then everyone will be busy fining a place to sleep it off. I think we should go then..." Harry whispered.
"Not a bad idea," Ron agreed.
"It'll be easiest if we can just leave a note that explains what we're doing and not have to try and explain ourselves," Harry added.
"There will be no explaining, Mate," Ron sighed. "If Mum discovers us leaving, we're ruined. She won't let us go."
"I agree. If we wait until the wee hours of the morning, we should be able to escape without being found. I think three in the morning should do it. We can bring our shrunkin trunks in back packs and head to town. We can then take the Knight Bust from Ottery St. Chapole to London and go to Grimmauld Place to look for Slytherine's locket," Harry said firmly.
"Sounds like a plan," Ron agreed sullenly.
"But where do we go after that?" Hermione spat. "Have you really thought this out Harry?"
Harry frowned with frustration. "Yes, I have. What about you? Are you backing out?"
"No," Ron said firmly.
"No," Hermione said less assuridly. "I'm... I'm worried. You have theories and ideas, but no real proof. I've spent my entire summer looking for information on Horcruxes, but I've found nothing! We have no idea where we should really be going or what we'll do once we find these fractured parts of Voldemort's soul! We could be in real danger here."
"I know that!" Harry said with anger. "That's why I didn't want you to come"
"Harry," Ron sighed. "We're not just scared for ourselves, we're scared for you."
Harry nodded and glanced at Hermione before continuing. "Well, Dumbledore thought that the other Horcruxes might be in belongings of the other Hogwarts founders. I know that Salazar Slytherin had a golden locket that Voldemort gave to Sirius' brother."
Hermione perked up. "Really? And the golden ring and the diary have already been destroyed. So that leaves important articles of the other founders that we still need to find."
"I know Helga Hufflepuff had a special golden cup," Ron suggested flippantly.
"And Rowena Ravenclaw had a golden quill!" Hermione said with excitement. "I read it in Hogwarts, a History."
Ron snickered and Harry smiled. "Yeah, and Voldemort has a snake called Nagini that I think might be posessed by him. When Ron's dad was attacked, I saw it through Nagini's eyes."
Ron nodded and Hermione took a slow breath. "Then what about you and or Ginny? Couldn't you be Horcruxes too?" Hermione said stiffly.
"Bugger!" Ron cried.
"Ron! Language!" Hermione said with exhasperation. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Wait, why me or Ginny?" Harry asked with concern.
Hermione took a deep breath. "Voldemort posessed Ginny in second year Harry. He could have left a piece of himself behind."
"But his diary was the piece of himself, 'Mione. The diary was a Horcrux. I don't think that it made another Horcrux in Ginny," Harry said sternly.
Hermione's brows wrinkled together. "That makes sense, but then that leaves you as a possible Horcrux."
"And how is that again, love?" Ron asked.
Hermione blushed at the pet name, but then frowned at her unpleasant theory. "Well, Voldemort left a piece of himself with Harry when he "marked him as his equal," so to speak. I mean the parseltongue gift, the scar burning, they could be what remains of a Horcrux."
"And just how are we to know if Harry's got one in him?" Ron said hotly.
"Well, we'll have to find and destroy the other potential Horcruxes first and then, if Voldemort isn't weakened, we'll know that the last one is in Harry," Hermione said softly.
"Bugger," Harry swore as he fidgeted with his hair. Ron noticed Hermione's lack of chastizing for the language.
"Has your scar been hurting?" Hermione asked with worry.
"Nope," Harry said with mild frustration. "Not even a twinge. It's as if he knows I want to know what he's up to so he's hiding everything from me."
"Evil git," Ron mumbled. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder and they shared a sad smile.
"You can back out, you know," Harry said as he looked at his loyal friends. "I won't think any less of you."
Ron shook his head. "Never, mate. I'll never let you do this on your own."
Hermione looked stricken, torn between what she wanted to do for her friends and what she wanted for herself. "I can't let you do this without me," she sighed after a minute. "You might need my help."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, but I need you to do this more for yourself than for me. I need to know that you're with me."
Hermione looked at Ron who eagerly smiled down at her. "I'm in, Harry. I'm in." Harry grinned and stood and stretched.
"Well, come on then, let's get to bed," he said with tired resolve. "We leave tomorrow at three in the morning and we're gonna need all the sleep we can get."
"Harry," Hermione said nervously. "Have you thought about money"
"Huh?" Harry said with confusion. "Um not really..."
"Well, you see," Hermione said softly. "I... I don't have much money and neither does Ron." Ron winced at the fact.
"Oh, yeah, well we'll be fine," Harry mumbled. "I'll share what my parents left me."
"But Harry, that's meant for you," Hermione protested as Ron grumbled.
"'Mione, I don't know that I'm gonna live long enough to spend it all, so we might as well use it," Harry said with ire. Ron watched the two interact, but said nothing, though money was never far from his mind, he had no intention of talking about it now.
Hermione had tears dropping down her cheeks. "Oh Harry," she cried, as she took him into her arms and sobbed. The two held each other and Ron put his arms around them both. He held them tightly.
"Are you lot sure you want to do this?" Harry asked for the last time.
"I'm in," Ron said gamely.
"As am I," Hermione sniffed.
The trio slowly broke apart. "Thanks guys," Harry grinned as he walked up the stairs followed by his greatest friends. Each collapsed into their perspective beds and slept with exhaustion.
