Title: Harry Potter and his Trusted Followers
Summary: Post HBP. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others search for the horcruxes. They skip their last year at Hogwarts, so that they can find and destroy all of Voldemort's horcruxes.
Disclaimer: The characters are not, and were never, mine.
Knock, Knock, Knock.
"Coming, who's there?" a familiar unfriendly voice rang from inside the door.
When the door slightly opened, a large head popped out. The head had a huge mustache and was round. Quickly, Vernon Dursley opened the door to admit Harry inside. When Harry squeezed past him, he stood in front of the door, staring at the remaining people on his doorstep.
"Let them in. They're Ron and Hermione, my friends," Harry explained.
At the word "friends," Uncle Vernon barked a short laugh and made to slam the door shut. Before he could though, Harry grabbed the door and opened it wider.
"If you don't let them in I'll make you grow an assortment of odd things in weird places," Harry warned keeping his face as straight as possible.
Uncle Vernon decided against yelling and settled for turning a deep shade of purple and telling Harry to sleep with one eye open, although, he did allow Ron and Hermione to enter his home. Aunt Petunia was holding her son, Dudley, close to herself, and trembling uncontrollably.
"They will be here for the remainder of my stay, which won't be for long," Harry stated, and before Uncle Vernon was able to say anything, Harry was already safely locked in his room with his best friends.
"So, how long do you reckon we should stay?" Ron asked after a moment's silence. "A week, maybe? A month?"
"Probably closer to a week," Harry decided.
"What shall we do first then?" Hermione asked with a slightly frightened look on her face. "There will be nothing about Voldemort's horcruxes in a muggle community."
"I know. That's what I'm worried about. I know what I must do, but not how to do it, or even where it is."
"Don't worry, mate. We're here for you if you need help," Ron said in a consoling voice.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks a lot guys. I should probably find everything I own in this house, because when I leave, I'm never coming back," Harry said with a dead serious face that clearly showed he remembered all the torture he had endured over the years.
"I don't blame you," Ron said, staring around. "With relatives like them, I would have run away years ago."
Before Hermione could mention the fact that they have never held a conversation and that he shouldn't judge them too quickly, Harry immediately changed the subject to what they were going to do after they left Little Winging. They talked while they gathered Harry's things that he didn't bring with him that year to Hogwarts, like old spell books. They decided to go to the Burrow and that they would stay for about a week or two, at most, a month. After that short detour, they decided to go to the town where his parents were buried.
The week in his uncle's house went quickly enough and they avoided his family as much as possible. When they were ready to leave, they packed everything and went outside. As soon as the street was deserted, Hermione "helped" Ron and Harry to apparate because they didn't have their licenses. They arrived in front the Burrow. It was just as Harry remembered it to be and he got the same excited feeling. Hermione walked straight to the door and knocked three times. Almost as Hermione's fist was landing on the door for the fourth time, Mrs. Weasley opened the door. She graciously stepped aside so that they could enter. Once in, they were greeted by Mr. Weasley, Fleur, Bill, Ginny, and the twins, who were also only visiting.
"You are, of course, welcome at any time, but why did you come?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Ron made us come," Harry answered.
"How long will you be staying for?"
"Probably just a week or two, if that's ok with you."
"Of course, it is," Mrs. Weasley responded quickly, looking a little offended.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley, and sorry to just pop up on you like this," Hermione apologized.
"Oh, it's quite all right. Harry, you can stay with Ron in his bedroom, and Hermione will have to stay with Ginny. Bill, would you move in with the twins, and Fleur go with Hermione and Ginny."
"Sorry to trouble you all."
"No trouble at all, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. Everyone else agreed without hesitation.
They stayed for a week and a half, having fun and talking to each other. Harry spent most of his time with Ginny because he would be leaving her again soon.
The day they decided to leave, they brought down their bags and said good-bye.
"Oh, Harry, I forgot to tell you, after Dumbledore… well, you know. The Order has been leaderless, and in case you wanted to know, Moody has been chosen to run it."
"Really?" Harry asked, wondering lately who would fill Dumbledore's place. "That's great."
After they said good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Fleur, they turned to Fred, George, and Ginny.
"Good-bye. It was nice to see you again-" Harry started, but was interrupted.
"What do you mean goodbye?" Fred asked, looking stunned, but still smiling.
"Yeah, what are you playing at?" George asked, completely grinning.
"I mean we're leaving now, as you can see by our luggage being at the door," Harry answered with little annoyance hinted in his voice.
"We know that you're going, but what do you mean by, good-bye," Ginny said, fighting back laughter.
"You do know that we are-," Fred started, grinning from ear to ear, now.
"Coming with you. Right?" George finished.
"What," said Ron looking like he was just hit in the face with something very hard.
"You are not leaving us here with them alone. We are coming with you, and Fred and George are older than you, so age has nothing to do with it," Ginny stated.
"And, we're old DA members. What was it that that was for, again?" George asked.
"To defend ourselves from Voldemort, I think," Fred answered.
"It's too dangerous. And besides, it would be too many people. Voldemort might try to use you to get to me," Harry replied simply.
"You're bringing Ron and Hermione, and they're your closet friends. And also, if you bring Ron, his whole family is in danger," Fred said.
"Which includes us," George helped.
"So why not fight, instead of wait and be defenseless?" Ginny finished, looking like she won the point for them.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing there trying to find a good argument, and Mrs. Weasley was shocked into silence. Bill and Fleur were listening as if were interesting television. Mr. Weasley was the only one to speak, and he spoke in a stern voice, that did not sound like his normal friendly voice, but like a man putting his foot down.
"You are not allowed to go with them."
"But they're going," Ginny pleaded.
"I have no control over Harry and Hermione, so I cannot stop them, even though I disagree with them."
"What about Ron? He's your son."
"I am aware, thank you. I don't want him to go either, but I believe that Harry and Hermione will need his help. If I can't stop them, I want to help them stay out of danger, or at least, have help."
"You can't command us anymore, we're of age, and don't even live here anymore." Fred said.
"Fine, you two can go if you want, but Ginny stays."
"But I come of age in just a few months," Ginny protested.
"And until then you are not to go with them. Final decision."
Finally finding her voice again, Mrs. Weasley spoke before Ginny could.
"Your father is right; you are not going while we are still responsible for you."
"I think that she should come," Harry said changing his mind.
He was already going with four other people, what would one more be. And she was always good in the DA which was two years ago, she could only have gotten better. He especially wanted her to come, so he wouldn't have to be without her anymore.
"What?" said Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"Thank you, Harry," Ginny said now smiling. "See Harry wants me to come, and he knows how dangerous it is."
"But Harry-," Mrs. Weasley started.
"No, I think she could help a lot. And it would be better to have six than five. I won't take no for an answer. And besides, in a few months, she will come of age and be able to leave even without your permission."
After a short argument, they finally gave up and Mr. Weasley said, "Fine, but take good care of her."
"I will."
And with that they all left feeling great.