It was an extremely dark and humid night on Privet Drive. In the shadows, a small crack was heard. Harry Potter stepped out onto the street, looking quite tired and weak. He sat on a bench and waited. Ron and Hermione had gone back for Bill and Fleur's wedding, but Harry had stayed behind. He couldn't stand seeing any of the Weasley's again for what might be the last time - especially Ginny. One good-bye was hard enough.

Soon two more cracks were heard farther away. "Ow! Ron! You stepped on me!"

"Sorry." Harry spotted his two best friends coming down the road. He stood up to greet them.

"So this is it, huh?" Hermione said, looking to number four.

"Yep." Harry mumbled, looking across the street. He turned to Ron and Hermione. "Listen - If you want, you can still go back. You don't have to come with me."

"Drop it already." Hermione said. "We're going whether you like it or not."

"But - If you -"

"Harry, we've been around you long enough." Ron interrupted. "If we haven't died by now -"

"That's not the point!" Harry snapped back. He sighed dramatically. "This is the same reason I didn't want to involve your family in this. If something happens to one of you, it'll be my fault. I don't think I could stand it."

"Nothing is going to happen," said Hermione softly. "If anything, you need us here for moral support. You look as if you're about to fall apart."

"I already did." Harry mumbled. "Well, if you're coming along, I guess I can't talk you out of it." He turned to number four. "You might want to come back in the morning. Vernon is not going to be happy."

"He has no say in it," said Ron.

"That's right," Hermione agreed. "You might not be able to use magic, but we can. If he doesn't let you in, we'll -"

"You won't do anything," interrupted Harry. "We're only staying here for one night. I have to keep coming back to make the protection magic work. If you hex them all, then they won't be so hospitable to us if we need protection later on."

"Okay," said Hermione, "Only if it's necessary. Right Ron?"

"But -" Ron started. Hermione raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Okay - I shall refrain from hurting the defenseless muggles, with or without magic."
"If you hex them," added Harry. "I'll hex you both. Now come on before it gets any later." He lead the way up to the Dursley's house and knocked on the door. He could hear the television inside, so he knew someone was still awake. There was the sound of a lock being unlocked, and Dudley's face appeared through a crack in the door.

"Oh, it's you." Dudley pushed the door open and looked quite shocked when Ron and Hermione followed. Vernon was sitting in an armchair.

"So, you're back again, are you?" he said upon their entrance. "Figures – well it seems that you've brought some more friends. It's alarming how many you have. But at least you didn't bring the old guy this time -"

Before Harry knew what he was doing, he had his wand so close to Vernon that it was almost up his nose. He felt Hermione's hand on his shoulder. Harry lowered his wand and turned around. Ron stepped next to Harry, his wand also drawn.

"Don't be silly." Vernon said. "You can't do magic outside of school."

"Wanta bet?" Ron said, inching his wand closer. "As soon as you turn seventeen you can do whatever you want. And I turned seventeen more than three months ago. In three days he'll be able to do whatever he wants too. But until then -"

"Ron." Harry warned. Ron lowered his wand and stepped back. Harry turned to his uncle. "You remember what he said last year. I need to come back so that the magical protection will continue to work."

"But you're going back to school, aren't you? So it doesn't matter -"

"I'm not going back. I dropped out." Vernon chuckled. Harry felt the anger growing to the breaking point within him and whipped his wand back out. "I don't care which age I am." He walked closer. "Do not ever insult Albus Dumbledore or Hogwarts or anything magical in my presence or I swear I will torture you until your eyes bleed! Got it?" He nodded. "Good." Harry lowered his wand. "We need a place to stay for the night."

"And I don't think you'll have any problem letting us stay here, will you?" Hermione asked. "I don't make a habit of hurting anyone, but if you do anything to hurt Harry or Ron I will turn all of you into blast-ended skrewts."

"And she knows how to do it too," Ron added. "So I wouldn't push it."

"We'll stay up in my old room." Harry said. "And we'll be gone before you wake up." Before Vernon could say anything, the three of them went upstairs, pushing Dudley out of the way.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Eww." Hermione said as they entered his old room. "This is where you lived?"

"Better than the closet under the stairs." Harry said. The room had gotten very dusty with misuse. He looked at Hermione. "Would you mind?"

"Oh, yeah." She flicked her wand and everything cleaned itself up. Two blue sleeping bags had appeared on the floor. Harry fell on the floor beside the bed. "You okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied. "Just tired. And hungry."

"You should've come to the wedding with us." Ron said, sitting on one of the sleeping bags.

"I already told you why I couldn't."

"Yeah, but -"

"Ron, for crying out loud!" Hermione exclaimed. "I swear you have less sensitivity than a dragon on a rampage." Harry smiled. He was glad that at least one of them understood.

"I can't think about her anymore, Ron." Harry said quietly. "If Voldemort reads my thoughts and sees her, then he could have her killed. Or use her as bait, like he did with Sirius. If she died, and it was my fault – I don't think I'd be able to live anymore."

"Well then, let's change the subject." Hermione interrupted. "Any luck with the other horcruxes?"

"Not much." Harry said. "Still nothing on Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Or R.A.B." He lied on the floor. "I'm not having much luck with this at all."

"You just haven't been looking in the right places, is all." Hermione said. "Plus you've been really flustered these last few weeks. So let's think. What would Gryffindor or Ravenclaw have had that would bee valuable to – to -" She took a deep breath and said quickly "Voldemort."

"Thanks." Harry said, smiling at her effort.

"Well, you should know, Hermione." Ron said. "You've had Hogwarts: A History memorized since the first train ride there."

"I have not! I've only read it six times."

"Which is about six more times than either of us have read it." Ron mumbled. "Try to remember something."

"I have tried, Ron. Believe me, I would tell you both the minute I remember anything. All I can think of for Gryffindor is the sword."

"No." Harry said quickly. "It's in -" He stopped, suddenly realizing that he couldn't say Dumbledore anymore…

"Yeah, I know. He would have already gotten that. As for Ravenclaw – I dunno. It's the house of intelligence, so maybe a book?"

"Maybe." Harry said, remembering Tom Riddle's diary… the Chamber… Ginny… Stop it Harry, he told himself. "We still have to remember Slytherin's locket and Hufflepuff's cup. And the snake. Any idea who R.A.B could be?"

"I looked in a magical history book while we were at the wedding." Hermione said. "No one of any historical importance."

"What about Borgen or Burkes?" Ron said. He had been so quite that Harry had almost forgotten he was there. "They both have the B, and we don't know their first names. Didn't you say that shop had the locket for a while? Maybe they took it back."

"Maybe." Harry said. He really wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. He yawned loudly.

"We should all get some sleep." Hermione said, standing up to get the light. "Maybe we will remember more when we can think clearer." Harry was pulling himself up when he spotted something. The loose floorboard under the bed – he had forgotten about that. Harry pulled himself under the bed, realizing that he didn't quite fit anymore.

"Umm Harry?" Ron said. "You sleep on top the bed, remember?"

"Shut up." Harry said, pulling himself back out after reaching into the hiding place. "There's a loose floor board under there. I used to hide stuff in there." Harry pulled the old box onto the floor and opened it. It was full of letters from Sirius, birthday cards, old sweets… Harry picked up Sirius's last birthday card to him and read it. Hermione and Ron peeped over his shoulder. Harry smiled and put the letter in his pocket. He slid the box back into its hiding place. "I think I'll keep this with me. The rest can stay here, for safe keeping." Hermione turned off the light, and the three of them went to sleep.