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CHAPTER 1 – ECHOES FROM THE PAST

"...what is right, and what is easy."

Harry Potter's eyes opened and he laid motionless for a handful of minutes. This is how it was these days. He no longer woke up from dreams with a start. They happened so frequently that he actually snapped awake when he didn't have a dream.

Dumbledore's words echoed through his head. Harry now knew what he had meant. It was not easy for him to leave everyone like he did. He had stayed at the Dursley's until his 17th birthday, which he spent in Godric's Hollow. He spent another week there before he set off on his journey.

Ron and Hermione had told him they would come but Harry never told them that he was not going to let them. Hedwig was sent to the Burrow just before he left the Hollow with instructions to drop off his letter and stay there. The letter told them what he was doing and how he would not be going to Bill and Fleur's wedding. He also told them to be careful.

He had been doing this for two weeks now, sleeping in the woods, moving in shadows, hoping to find information about any of the Death Eaters. He thought that if he could find and follow them that one of them might lead him to some clue as to where the last horcrux was. He returned to Grimwauld place to destroy the locket and he had tracked down Hufflepuff's cup. But he stumbled upon rather than found Nagini, who was with a couple Death Eaters a week back. Though he killed the snake, he had not left that battle unscathed. He unconsciously stretched out his right leg, it had not been the same since that encounter.

Not wanting to dwell Harry gathered his things and took off through the woods. He had a meeting to get to and he couldn't be late. Arriving to his destination, he set his bag next to a stump, took a seat and waited. He was somewhere west of London but did not have an exact location although he was sure this was the place he was supposed to be.

A loud crack moments later told him he was right. He stood up and helped the new arrival to his feet. Although it was forced, he gave a quick smile to Mr. Weasley who dusted himself off.

"Thank you Harry," Mr. Weasley said. Harry simply nodded towards him and motioned him to take a seat on a nearby stump.

Mr. Weasley gave him a folder with some papers in it that Harry thumbed through.

"Thank you," Harry said. "I know this isn't easy for you but I'm appreciative that you took this risk. This should be helpful to me." Harry got up walked over to put this folder in his bag, limping slightly as he did so. His leg gave him aches sometimes when he stood up.

"Are you alright Harry? What happened to your leg?"

"I had a run in with a certain possessed snake I believe you're familiar with." Harry replied alluding to Nagini's attack on Mr. Weasley two years ago, who had obviously remembered for his face went pale.

"What happened?" Mr. Weasley said, still slightly unnerved.

"I was battling with a couple of Death Eaters about a week back and he just showed up. I dunno. Maybe he was there keeping an eye on them or something."

"You battled with Death Eaters?"

"Yeah, I surprised them, which gave me some time, but I think they were more afraid of me than I was of them. I think after the escapes from Voldemort they don't really know what to think of me." He continued his sentence through Mr. Weasley's gasp and shudder at the name. "They ended up escaping. Well except for Nagini, he wasn't so lucky."

"Harry, everyone's worried about you. You should come back at least for a little bit. Bill and Fleur's wedding is only a week away and it would be great if you could make it." Mr. Weasley sounded somber as he said this, almost as if he feared that Harry would get angry at him. But Harry had expected this.

"I'm sorry, I can't. The Order has its own things to worry about and I would just put everyone in more danger if I was there." He continued before Mr. Weasley could deny this. "Look, he knows I'm coming for him. We both know it and neither of us fear that meeting. But I know that it would save a lot of trouble, not to mention lives, if I did this on my own."

Mr. Weasley looked at Harry for a moment and sighed. "You've grown up a lot Harry." There was a minute of silence before Harry spoke.

"How are everyone Mr. Weasley?"

"They're okay. I mean as good as can be what with everything that has happened."

"And what about Ginny?"

Mr. Weasley smiled but was a little surprised, thinking that Harry must have had a lot of self control to hold that question in for so long. "She's upset but she is strong. Everyone is worried though."

Another moment of silence passed as neither of them knew what to say. Mr. Weasley rose signaling that this meeting was over and went to shake Harry's hand.

"Harry, please think about what I said. Everyone would be happy to see you."

"I will think about it, Mr. Weasley. And again, thanks for your help."

"Anytime Harry. I hope to see you soon, and good luck." And with that Mr. Weasley apparated back to wherever he had come from.

Harry went back over to the stump and looked through the folder once more absent mindedly. He did want to go back and see everyone but he knew that his first decision was right. Still, Bill had sacrificed a lot for the Order, and deserved the respect of Harry's presence.

Harry let out a sigh and, packing up the folder, set off through the woods.

"…what is right, and what is easy."