Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter One

After the Funeral

Harry smiled at Ron and Hermione, then walked away from them. Just looking at Ron made him think about Ginny. Get a grip on yourself! You've only been away from her for five minutes! He needed to get out of here. He decided to head towards the forest, and hoped the others wouldn't follow him. So, he walked away from them, comfy in his solitude and went away to be alone.

Hermione looked concerned. Ron didn't like it when she got that look. It normally meant he would get into trouble. What had he done this time?

"What is his problem?" she demanded furiously, stamping her foot.

Ron shrugged, and Hermione shook her head. She cast around the lake, at the people still mourning the loss of the great headmaster Dumbledore, killed by their very own Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Severus Snape, at the Battle of Hogwarts. Then, she saw something that almost broke her heart. Molly Weasley, Ron's mother, was consoling a weeping Ginny, who was crying like there was no tomorrow. With a flash of insight, she realised what had happened.

"Oh Harry!" she shouted.

Ron turned to look at her.

"What?"

"He broke up with her."

Ron's face went scarlet.

"He broke up with my sister!? Is he mad!?"

"He thinks he's protecting her."

"Physically! He's just broke her heart though!"

Hermione looked at Ron in surprise.

"What?"

"I take it back"

"Take what back?" he asked, a stupefied expression on his face.

"What I said in fifth year. About you having the emotional range of a teaspoon."

Ron blinked. Hermione started to laugh.

"So, you don't think I'm an insensitive wart?"

Hermione looked him up and down, as if sizing him up.

"No."

For some reason, Ron went scarlet.

"However, if you had said that to me earlier in the year, I would have had to say yes."

Ron hung his head in shame. Yes, he had been horrible to her this year. More horrible than before. I had been fine until fourth year. Then, that bloody git Krum appeared, and swept Hermione off her feet. Which was more than he would ever be able to manage. What did he have to offer the brightest witch of the age, who was also, in his opinion, one of the prettiest? Answer: nothing. He didn't deserve her friendship, not one bit.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm really sorry."

Hermione was taken aback. He rarely said sorry, especially to her. Why couldn't he just come out and say what he felt? She had picked up on it the moment he had looked at her on the train in first year. She remembered it well. She could see in his eyes that he had already thought of the odd girl a lot differently than most people. True, he could be horrible to her, but she gave as good as she got normally. And anyway, she returned the feelings. The moment she had seen him she had had a crush on him. It was one of the things she just knew were right.

"Sorry for what?"

"The way I treat you. I treat you like dirt. Worse than that. You are better off with Krum." He then looked mortified.

"What do you mean, I would be better off with Krum?" she asked, her eyes flashing like McGonagall's.

"I didn't mean that." He said, starting to walk away.

He actually wanted to run. He never wanted to talk to her again. All because he had slipped his tongue. What an idiot! Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut for once?

"I know you didn't. "

She grasped his arm gently, and turned him to face her.

"I know you can be horrible to me. Harry can be too, but to a much lesser extent."

"Then why do you keep coming back?" he asked curiously.

Hermione laughed, despite the fact that he was being dense.

"Probably the same reason you keep being horrible to me."

Then, abruptly, she started to cry. Ron pulled her close.

"What is it?"

She looked up at him, smiling through her tears.

"You still don't get it?"

But he did. He knew what she wanted. She wanted him to treat her properly, like a proper human being. He did try to do that. Sometimes he was just horrible to her. He couldn't explain why.

"I really appreciate it when you stick up for me. Against Malfoy, Parkinson, Snape, Umbridge. I don't deserve it."

"Hey," Ron snapped, "You do deserve it. No one should get treated that way. Least of all you. You're special."

This time, he wasn't embarrassed by what he had said. Bending down, he wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"Thank you. You always make me feel better, even when I'm mad at you. Normally I want to either hug you or throttle you. I still can't decide."

Ron thought it was unbearably hot. He couldn't handle upset girls. Harry really wasn't much better. Look how his dates last year with Cho went. And his with Lavender weren't exactly a resounding success.

"You are different. In a good way. You don't deserve what I put you through. Or what any stinking Slytherin puts you through. It's me who deserves it."

"You do not. You're a good person. And you prove that every time you stick up for me. I just want you to know, I really appreciate it."

She was still crying though. He didn't know what to say.

"What did you say that about Krum for?" she asked, sobbing quietly.

"No reason." He said simply.

He let go of her, and started to walk away. This was driving him insane!

"What's got you so worried about him anyway?" she asked tearfully.

"Nothing."

Hermione looked at him curiously. Then, it abruptly clicked. Why didn't she see it before?

"You're jealous."

He stopped.

"I am not." He said with dignity.

She could hear the lie in his voice.

"Why are you so protective?" she asked.

"Because I know that people like that will hurt you."

"How do you know he'll hurt me? What if it's him I want to be with?"

"He'll break you heart."

Hermione shook her head.

"What's got your wand in a knot? I thought you didn't care who I dated."

"Well I do!" he shouted at her.

She was shocked. She knew he felt for her, but not like this.

"Why are you so angry?" she demanded.

"Because I'm in love with you, you bloody daft girl!" he yelled.

Then, a moment of recklessness seized him. He bent his head down, and not thinking at all, kissed her. He broke off quickly.

"Sorry."

He tried desperately to get away from her, to escape, but she held him fast. She had a calculating look on her face.

"Feel good to finally get it in the open?" she asked.

"What?"

Hermione grunted in frustration.

"Why do you keep being horrible to me? Why do I keep coming back for more?"

Ron shrugged.

"I don't know. I'm not good at that sort of thing."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Because you have feelings for me, you great dolt. You just admitted it. And I have feelings for you."

Ron looked at her in amazement. After all this time, it was all working out. She had figured out his interest. How could he have totally missed hers?

"You want me?"

"Yes." Hermione said in amused exasperation.

"And I want you."

He went back in for a kiss, and he had no more doubts. His heart was dancing to victory in his chest.

"Me? Not Krum?"

"Not Krum." She answered.

He went back to kiss her, but she placed a hand on his chest.

"Me? Not Lavender?"

He shuddered.

"Hell no."

He went back and kissed her again, and his heart roared in triumph. He and Hermione were together at last!

Minerva McGonagall looked at the kissing pair. About bloody time! She was due twelve galleons from Pomona Sprout. She had had a bet on that the pair would get together by the end of their sixth year. Sprout had said the end of their seventh year. McGonagall smiled lightly. She turned to the white marble tomb that held her friend and confederate, Albus Dumbledore. Abruptly she felt angry. It was all bloody Snape's fault! He had killed him. Murdered him, despite all of Harry's warnings! Why did adults never listen to children? So, Dumbledore had been killed by the very one he so implicitly trusted. Damn you Snape! And now, Hogwarts would close. She knew it in her heart. She had seen the smug look that Devil's Daughter, Dolores Umbridge had sent her. Umbridge would rather Hogwarts closed than allow McGonagall to lead it. All because she hadn't assisted the old hag in her hostile takeover of Hogwarts. She wept silently, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She expected one of the staff. When she turned, it was Harry.

"Potter!" she said in shock.

"Are you all right professor?" he asked in concern.

"I'm fine Harry. I will see you over the summer."

With that, she transformed into a cat and shot towards the castle.

Harry shook his head. That was it. He was going to kill Voldemort, and Snape, and Bella, and Pettigrew, and all the other Death Eater scumbags. McGonagall was one of the strongest people he knew. For her to cry, things were bad. He looked happily to where Ron and Hermione were kissing, pushing thoughts of his upset teacher from his mind. Then, a bell tolled. Time to go back to the place he hated the most. And from then, who knows? Taking one last look at his home, he shook away tears of his own, and made his way towards the station.

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The journey on the Hogwarts Express was silent. Harry told Hermione and Ron about McGonagall, and that had been it. They were all just looking out of the window. Harry was content that he was with his friends this one last time. He would rather they wouldn't come. Everyone who cared for him, ended up either hurt or dead. His mum and dad, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, and now Ginny. He struggled against the tears. He had a strong suspicion that Ron knew he had broke up with Ginny, and that he would dearly love to beat his best friend to a pulp, but he had relented for the moment. Harry supposed Hermione had warned Ron that this wasn't the best time.

True, he had broken up with Ginny. It was the right thing to do. He needed to protect her. But telling himself that didn't make it any easier. His heart was broken. He knew it needed to be done, and had known it would hurt, but he hadn't known it would affect him like this. He missed her above all else. When had things gotten so complicated? He promised himself, he would make it up to her one day. If she would let him. He had broken her heart too, along with breaking his own. Hell, why was this so difficult?

Getting away from thoughts of Ginny, he thought about Voldemort. He must be practically skipping. Dumbledore was dead. His last opposition was finished. Voldemort would be on the move. He would forgive Draco for not killing the Headmaster by the simple fact that Malfoy had got Death Eaters into Hogwarts. He would be backed up by that traitorous murderer Snape, and the insane killer Bellatrix. Voldemort thought no one had the strength to stop him now. Harry's eyes flashed, and he promised he would fight Voldemort until the bitter end. He knew it wouldn't be long however. Voldemort would be gathering the Dark Arts to him. He would gather the captured Death Eaters from Azkaban, utilise the Dementors, join forces with the giants and persuade more and more to take up arms. Professor Trelawney had been right. He was greater and more terrible than ever before now.

The train pulled into King's Cross Station. The three disembarked the train, and headed through the barrier to the muggle world. The Weasleys were waiting there. They had come on ahead, to ensure security. Mrs Weasley was there with Mr Weasley, Bill and Charlie. Tonks and Lupin were there too. Harry smiled at them, but the Weasleys ignored him. What? Then, it dawned on him. Ginny. They hated him for breaking up with Ginny. Lupin and Tonks gave him pitying glances. Hermione hugged him tightly, as he tried to stop the tears. He had been rejected by the best family he had ever known, by the closest thing to a real family he got. Fine. He turned, letting the tears flow freely and headed to where Vernon Dursley was waiting. He sneered at Harry, then went to the car. Harry followed miserably. Hermione glared at the Weasleys, then went to her own family. Ron looked miserably after them. Mrs Weasley looked mortified.

"Well, hurry up boy! I haven't got all day!" Vernon snapped.

Harry ignored the beefy man and got into the car. He didn't even look back as the car left the station.

Hermione watched as Harry climbed miserably into his horrible uncle's car. The Weasleys should know better. Especially Ron. She sighed. He hadn't done anything. That however didn't stop her being furious with the rest of them for their treatment of her friend. The look of total rejection on his face haunted her thoughts. She was about to climb into her mother's car, when Ron came bounding up to her.

"They shouldn't have done that."

"Really? Did you see the look on his face?" she asked angrily, though, for a nice change, it wasn't directed at him.

"Yeah. Mum's already wailing, but the others don't seem to care. They hate him for breaking her heart." He said sagely.

Hermione looked at him sadly.

"We need to get this sorted out. Is he still allowed to come to the wedding?"

Ron looked uncertain.

"Mum will let him come, and the others will relent eventually. But it won't be easy. I'll see you at the Dursley's on Wednesday."

Hermione shook her head. He would get there an entire day before she did.

"Do not hurt him." She warned.

"I'm not going to. Not much anyway."

She gaped furiously, but he winked at her.

"Kidding. I think I understand why he did it. I won't hate him for it, but I won't be too chuffed with him for it either."

He kissed her on the cheek and went back to his family. Hermione sighed in exasperation. Harry had no girlfriend, his best friend wasn't going to be talking to him, and the closest thing to a family he had ever known had just rejected him. Add on that the fact that he had lost his mentor and the greatest dark wizard of all time was trying to kill him, Harry was about to have a really rough time. And Ron would be with Harry a day more than Hermione would. With those horrible muggles… With a shake of her head, and a slight jump, because her mother had just honked the horn, she got into the car. What a jolly holiday this was going to be.

Sorry, I was just reading through this and I noticed I didnt have any disclaimers or notes! So, I'm away to fix all this. Not much needs mentioned in this chapter, so i wont linger. But welcome if you're new to the story. To the old hands, four sequels are up. Please read and review!