Disclaimer: These characters are the creation of J.K. Rowling. The characters from my own brain and the plots I weave for them will be evident for HP fans as they will have little to do with the original story. This narrative was created purely as a way to continue to live in the magical world.

Harry thought he was somewhat of a Ron and Hermione expert when it came to their rows, but he could not be more surprised to see them both at the breakfast table talking civilly.

Percy and George were both to be thanked for the array of food before them. Harry guessed that Percy took his mother's instructions very seriously when she told him to feed the others because of the obscene availability of dishes on the table.

"A very good morning to you, Harry," sung Percy. "Have as much as you can!"

Harry smiled at him, and took a seat beside Ron with watchful eyes on his two friends. He could not understand how normal they were both acting. It was almost as if there had not been a fight between them last night. The only really difference that Harry saw was that Hermione was not reaching his eyes. When George announced he was going to be working in the store, Ron jumped at the chance to help him.

"If all goes well, the store will be running up to speed by the end of the summer," said George with newly found hope. Percy beamed.

Breakfast was over, and the Weasleys' departed to work leaving Harry alone with Hermione. She filled the air with endless talk as if trying to avoid discussing last night's events.

"Ginny wants to go to a small gathering of the survivors of Dumbledore's Army. She invited us, naturally, but Ron and I thought it best to put it off for a while. It was right, don't you think? Anyways, let's get going to the Grimmauld place because I found some new spells..."

But Harry cut her off by saying her name firmly. "I've heard you and Ron fight enough times, so there's nothing to be ashamed of."

She sighed deeply and continued telling him about some new cleaning spells she had discovered. Harry knew he would not be able to get any more out of her for the moment.

The two found Kreacher as usual in the kitchen busily preparing the day's lunch. Harry noticed and thanked Kreacher for the newer improvements on the house as he saw that some of the older furniture had already been disposed of.

"Why don't we pick up where we left off?" Harry asked Hermione, and they climbed the stairs to the rooms they had been cleaning the day before.

It was easy work in Harry's opinion for nothing he found in Mistress Black's room was worth salvaging. Sirius had barely touched his parents' room, and so other than Kreacher's painting and dusting, the clutter had not been looked through. Before Harry knew it, he had completely emptied the room save for a dresser and the prized things he saved for the house elf.

Harry wandered back into Sirius's old room to try to continue his first cleaning. What he found, however, made such a big impression on him that he merely sat down on the bed to read. Sirius had apparently been writing letters to James since the time he had first met Harry. The oldest one Harry could find mentioned Sirius's escape from the dementor's kiss and how it had been Harry and his friends who had helped him.
"He looks just like you, James. Why would you do that to the poor kid?" This line in particular made Harry laugh out loud with his eyes full of tears. Harry went on and on just reading until he reached the very last letter which had no date.

James,
There's no life for me here. Harry is troubled, it's true, but he is so loved by everyone around him that not even he needs me. Talk to someone for me, mate, and tell them I'm ready.

"Harry?"

He did not know when Hermione had entered the room much less when she had sat down beside him, but he felt a weight lift off of his shoulders when he handed her the last letter to read. She finished quickly and hugged him. She hugged him through a sudden outburst anger, and she never let him go. It was only when Harry let go of her because he needed to wipe his face that she let him out of her embrace.

"He was miserable. He thought I didn't need him."

"Sirius knew you loved him. Believe me, Harry, if he was miserable it was because he wasn't fighting for the cause." She took a moment before continuing. "I don't know why you have lost so much. It makes no sense for someone as selfless as you to be without a natural family. But, I know that Sirius is right when he said that you'll never be without love. You have made a new family, Harry, and this family would do anything for you."

Hermione held his hand with both of hers as if trying to pass on whatever strength she still had to him. She stared intently at him, and he finally met her eyes. Harry nodded at her words and kissed her forehead.

He knew she was talking about herself and the Weasley's. She was talking about his new Godson whom he had only seen at Remus and Tonks' funeral. She was talking about the friends who shared the pain of surviving. Harry had a family, and he needed to stop neglecting them.

"Can we talk about Ron and you now?"

"Why Harry when there's more important things?" she pleaded. But, when she saw that he was not going to let it down, she asked what he had heard, and Harry told her.

"Well then you know everything, Harry. My feelings have changed," she said simply.

"But why did they change because Voldemort died?"

"Harry, I really don't know how to explain it. We aren't like you and Ginny. We didn't have an official relationship before we went off to hunt down horcruxes. I feel like we were stuck in this 'now or never' mentality. Afterwards, I didn't seek him out, and he relied on you to help me through my pain. It wasn't a normal relationship, Harry. It's better to just go back being friends."

They were silent as they both thought about what Hermione had just said. Harry could understand her point of view except when it came to Ron's feelings in the whole matter. If what she said was true, then why did Ron think the relationship was really working in the first place?

Harry agreed that the whole thing was odd, but he moved on to tell her what he had told Ginny.

"I really thought when you went to see her at the Quidditch field that you were going to ask her back."

"I feel like I have changed, you know? I feel like after having gone through everything there is just too much for me to think about that I can't even pinpoint how I feel about her. The only thing for certain is that the time I spent with her is like a dream that I had to wake up from. Now that everything is over, I can't go back to dreaming. I can't remember how it went. I'm not sure if I am making any sense."

"You are to me. I thought life after the war was going to be so different than what I'm experiencing," she said rather sadly.

"In what ways?" Harry asked curiously.

"I thought I would go get my parents back immediately, and instead, I considered leaving them. I figured I would end up with Ron, but he's not for me. I'm also in this constant fear that I'm going to lose you and your friendship."

"But what would ever make you think that, Hermione?"

"You don't need me anymore, Harry. I'm not the friend you go to when you need company. No, I'm the friend that you go to when you need help. Now that you don't need any help, it's obvious…you don't need me. I'm done cleaning for the day, Harry, I'm sorry I am just exhausted."

Before Harry could get a word in, Hermione had let go of his hand and disapparated. Harry sat there stunned and a bit hurt by her comments. He was right in thinking that he had to stop neglecting his family. Here was one member saying that he only went to them when he needed them. Harry wanted to think this was untrue, but past events made it hard to argue with.

It was obvious Hermione was loyal to him as she chose to send her parents off without her and stayed by his side. It was this that made him want to go with her to get them back in the first place. He wanted to be there for her when she needed him, so was that the basis of their friendship? Harry hoped he could convince her that there was more than just a give and take relationship between them for he knew how much he cared for her.

Kreacher broke through his endless jumble of thoughts as he forced Harry to eat the lunch he had finished an hour ago. Harry recognized that having been stuffed for two consecutive meals meant he needed to move around and be active. So instead of continuing with the house projects, he decided to walk in Diagon Alley while safely under his invisibility cloak.

One month after the end of the war and Diagon Alley was still a way from being the place Harry remembered it to be. Many shop owners like the Weasleys had suffered so much they were slow to recover. Other store owners had been downright killed without a family member to pick up the pieces. Still, there was life in the Alley as more people walked up and down visiting and giving business to those stores already open.

Harry did not mind the extra bodies, but it did make life underneath the cloak impossible. He finally reached his destination and slipped inside.

"Who's there?!" someone had shouted, and now Harry had two wands on him.

"It's me. I've been cleaning at the Grimmauld place and eating Kreacher's cooking."

"Ah, great of you to come, Harry! We need all the help we can get and an added hard worker will mean getting the store up sooner!" George hummed happily.

"He's in a chipper mood today," said Harry when it was just Ron and him.

"Yeah, well he should be. Angelina Johnson came in earlier today to see him and the store. Apparently they've been sending each other letters since Fred's funeral. This makes me the only Weasley without a date well other than Charlie, of course, but he never wants to marry."

"That's not true Ron," began Harry but was interrupted. They now had started to place items on the shelves from boxes they had.

"Of course it's true. Percy has Penelope, Bill married Fleur, George started dating Angelina, and Ginny has you. Come off it, I know Hermione told you this morning. She can never keep a secret from you."

"I'm not with Ginny, and Hermione didn't tell me, I sort of overheard your fight." Harry now had to endure the back of his neck burning as Ron stared at him work.

"Why aren't you with Ginny?"

"I couldn't do it," Harry said facing him. "I couldn't pick up where I left off. That part of life is over. The only thing left to do is move forward, and if Ginny crosses my path again then so be it."

"Well, I never noticed how much like Hermione you are. You are both willing to blow off something that could potentially be perfect. Who says Ginny will wait for you again? Who says I'll wait for Hermione to wise up?"

"Who says we want you two to?"

Harry did not know why he said this, but the effect was immediate.

"So, she told you this was it? That it wasn't just another fight?"

Harry sighed, "All she said was that her feelings had changed and that you were better off as friends."

Ron continued with his work which he had stopped with the turn of the conversation. "Perfect," he said sarcastically. "And you told Ginny you wanted to be just friends?" Harry nodded his head which caused Ron to continue.

"You're different, Harry. It's like you are taking more care to make sure you do the right thing. You always used to just—to just act first and think later."

"Well, I don't want to be a prat anymore, and I don't want anyone else to be hurt. I'm sorry I eavesdropped on your conversation."

"That's fine because it saves me the embarrassment of having to tell you myself. So what happened after?"

"Well," Harry started, "Hermione left your room, and I was right outside. As soon as she saw me, she got all red and practically ran away from me. I followed her to her room, but she closed the door on me. I guess she didn't think I would find out."

"Yeah, I guess so…"

The rest of the afternoon went on without much talking since Ron was in deep thought, but the day took a nasty turn when they found George crying in the backroom.
Harry somberly left Ron to sort George out and headed back to the Burrow. It was shocking to see a once happy twin turn into a mess in a matter of hours, but it seemed as though his happiness had made him feel guilty about moving on. Whatever the cause of George's sadness, it had impacted Harry's mood dramatically. Would any of them ever find peace?

He found Hermione in front of the fireplace reading, and he picked up a book to read as well. He needed to escape his mood but at the same time keep her company. Harry knew they had left many things unsaid, and although it was empty enough in the Burrow to talk, he let them stay unsaid. Harry and Hermione read on into the evening relatively unbothered save for Ginny talking about her day.

She was happier than what Harry had seen recently, and she even announced that she would be making dinner all on her own. Hermione had offered to help but was heartily shot down, and all she could do was chuckle. This small noise made Harry want to reach her eyes, and when he did, Harry he tried to emit his apology.

"Oh stop looking at me as if I'm all hurt. I know where I stand with you, so there's no need to blame yourself."

"But, I do blame myself." He heard her mutter something like 'big surprise' under her breath, but he pressed on. "I hate that you think you aren't really my friend until I need you. The problem is that I always need you to help me with something be it school or something personal. It's not that I only want to be in your company when I need something, it's that I always need something. Please forgive me for being a git."

"So now you need me to grant you my forgiveness?" she said smiling causing Harry to smile as well.
They left it at that, and just when they were about to join Ginny for what she referred to as her marvelous feast, a note arrived by floo.

Harry caught it and announced that it was from Ron. It read simply: I'm bringing someone over. Don't argue until you hear her out.

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny did not have any time to ponder this before Ron was knocking on the door having just apparated outside. Ginny went to open it and allowed for two people to enter. One was tall and lanky with violent red hair, and the other was tall as well but with short brown hair and very pretty.

For one wild moment, Harry thought that Ron was bringing a date in order to get back at Hermione. Instead, Ron introduced her as Marie Watson, an aspiring book author.

"Miss Weasley, very nice to meet you. Hermione Granger such a pleasure to meet you. Harry Potter, it's such an honor, a true honor to meet you. Just to be in the same room as the Golden Trio is an honor."

She was clearly excited as she shook hands with those around her. But, before Harry could ask what Ron had promised her, Ginny spoke.

"And now that you've met them, would you mind explaining what Ronald has told you?"

"Ginny, it's time for people to understand our part in the war. Marie is not just doing a book on Harry but a sort of background on how the war ended. Show them Marie."

At his request, Marie took out a bag full of shrunken scrolls she revealed to be other interviews. "I have Rubeus Hagrid, Professor Slughorn, Hannah Abbott, Neville Longbottom, Mr. Olivander the wandmaker, the Minister of Magic plus countless others whom I don't believe you know."

Harry and Hermione looked at one another clearly surprised at her work. Hermione spoke up for the first time to ask if she could see one of the scrolls. Marie obliged and began explaining some of the questions that are driving her work.

"It's to be a book with everything that went on during the war. I have done my research, and I'm not looking to get famous off of this. The book, I hope, will be popular because there won't be one like it not with the approach I'm taking."

"And what approach is that, might I ask?" Hermione was handing back the now normally sized scroll to Marie.

"I'm going to reveal the truth. I'm interviewing as many people who have the knowledge of what was going on so that it is not just one person's reality."

Harry watched her stuff the scroll into the bag and saw it shrink and place itself back in line with the others. "Have you already agreed to this?" he asked Ron.

"Yes, I don't want you to have to use the cloak whenever you are out in public. The sooner people know the truth, the sooner people will stop bombarding you with questions."

"Come off it," Ginny said angrily to her brother, "things are just going to get worse for Harry if he tells the truth. You know all that he's done."

"Hermione, you think I'm right don't you?" Ron asked her as a sort of plea.

Harry remembered what Ron had said about depending on Hermione to persuade Harry. As he curiously looked upon her to wait for her answer, he realized Ron was right about Harry.

"The attention will never be off Harry especially not when people hear all he really did for them. But, it needs to be said, and it would be better for him to say it then it to be speculated."

Her answer had the final say, and the only request Harry had was that it needed to be done as soon as possible. When Hermione hesitantly agreed to this, arrangements were made for the following day to meet Marie in a private room at the Leaky Cauldron. It would be a grueling day, but at least it would be over with.

When it was time for Marie to leave, Ron handed her the portkey she had apparently used to get there.

"There's no other way for people who aren't family to reach the Burrow," Ron explained. "When she came up to me at the store, she had this letter of clearance from the Ministry saying she was who she said she was. I didn't believe her, so I went to the Ministry myself. I just so happened to run into Kingsley who said that he had given her an interview. I told him that you would never meet with her even if she was genuine, and the only way was to bring her here, I'm sorry."

"The only way? Ron, you could have alerted us," Hermione said.

"I'm sorry, but I knew the only way was to do this was without giving you much time to over think it.

This is the right thing to do. She's the daughter of a ministry official, and I think it's better than the other vultures who keep requesting an interview with Harry."

"Why better? Because she's good looking?" Ginny mused.

"No, because she saved our interviews for last. She wanted to put in the work to show us that she means well."

After a very quiet dinner, Ginny wished them all good luck with a very skeptical look and excused herself to bed. Harry watched her leave wondering if he should be as unconvinced as she apparently was. Still, the trio went to bed anticipating the next day full of interviews and hardly looked forward to it.

It was the earliest they had woken up all summer, but since it was obvious they wanted to get it over with, it was not surprising. Again, Percy was there to greet them with breakfast served now with a side of "I don't think you are thinking this through." Ron held his ground against his brother, and in no time they were holding hands and apparating into the Leaky Cauldron alley.

"Don't take off your cloak until we are in the room, Harry," whispered Hermione.

She and Ron managed to avoid a long conversation with the only inhabitant so early in the morning, and they were all finally in the room Marie had reserved for them. Harry took off his cloak and began laying the protective wards he and the others had agreed to place before the interview. He was surprised not to hear Hermione's incantations beside him, but he heard something that made him understand why.

"Do you know Rita Skeeter?" Hermione had skipped the pleasantries with Marie and had immediately placed herself in front of their interviewer.

"Yes, I know that vile woman," was all that Marie could muster as she was clearly uncomfortable under Hermione's glare.

"What you may not know is that she is an animagus, and I can do to you what I did to her for spreading lies about Harry…I kept her in a jar with a leaf until she learned what it was to be genuine."

"W-when was this?" Marie stammered and caused Harry to smile so slyly.

"During our fourth year when she was fifteen," he answered for her, and Ron let out a great laugh.

"Hermione, I would not betray you or your friends. I would be a fool to even try." With that Marie cautiously smiled at her and beckoned them to sit down. "Well," she began clearly flustered but still content, "why don't I start by telling you what I know?"

The others agreed and patiently listened to a very detailed list of facts about the war and about Harry.
"Dumbledore alone knew how to defeat Voldemort, and he entrusted this task to you three. Neville Longbottom said you arrived at Hogwarts because you were in search of something from Ravenclaw house. People took your entrance as the beginning of the Battle of Hogwarts and called more and more people to help take up arms. Everyone heard that you needed to be turned in, Mr. Potter, in exchange for lives spared. The next time Voldemort spoke he was saying that you were dead although you clearly were not. Longbottom obeyed your last request by slicing the head off of the snake, Nagini. Then, I have a detailed account of your words at the final battle between you and Voldemort. This is where you mentioned the Elder Wand and Severus Snape's innocence."

"Well what else would you need to know?" joked Ron.

Marie smiled at him, "I need to know about Dumbledore's plan for you, why he chose you, what you were doing while not at school, and how Harry faked his death."

"Ok, I can help with the first parts," said Ron, and he described the events after the headmaster's funeral as well as the items left in the will for them.

Ron continued to include their life on the run with only Hermione to help with the explanation of the horcruxes and the close call at Godric's Hollow.

"But, where was Ron during that time?" Marie was free to ask questions as her quill was writing for her. Unlike Rita Skeeta's crocodile quill, this magical quill transcribed word for word what the person speaking was saying.

"I had left them…I wasn't being productive in the search for the horcruxes, so I didn't think they needed me," Ron said sadly, and this time Harry came to his aid as he described the occurrence by the frozen lake.

Harry mentioned the doe, and the fact that they now knew it to be Snape's patronus. There was no mention of Harry's mother nor the love Snape had for her which was a relief.

Ron then came forth to mention the time during the Malfoy manner with Hermione's torture and the loss Harry had endured there. This miserable recollection was short lived as Hermione went on to describe their venture into Gringotts Wizarding Bank which Marie had not heard of since she thought this to be only a rumor. Her quill tried hard to follow the flow of information. All in all, the effort was mutual between the three of them until only Harry could state what happened in the forest.

"I had seen Snape's memories, and I knew that it had always been Dumbledore's plan to sacrifice me, although, I didn't know that was just the surface of his greater plan."

Marie remained extremely quiet as Harry continued to describe walking to his death and omitted the part about his parents being beside him. Then, when Voldemort's curse hit, he mentioned how he now understood the real truth behind Dumbledore's plan when he noticed that he didn't die.

Harry carefully looked at Hermione who alone knew the real experience Harry had had in the moments after the curse hit. He did not want to share them, and if Harry was reading her properly, he could see that she was relieved he had not told Marie the whole truth.

Instead Harry told her that because he was not dead he figured it meant that only the part of Voldemort that was within him was dead. He never mentioned he was directly told all of this by Dumbledore in the mysterious experience he had. The rest was easy to recount because it was straightforward and mostly things she was already aware of.

He spoke of Mrs. Malfoy's betrayal to the Dark Lord when she hid Harry's survival. The similarity between his sacrifice and his mother's for him was also mentioned when they described how no one was getting hurt by the killing curses either. In the end, Harry could tell this whole episode was more than Marie had ever imagined.

"Thank you," she said simply as she wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself. Hermione spoke up after seeing Marie somewhat break down.
"Many people who are close to Harry don't even know this part of the story. Please understand that you are now responsible to write it so that he may never have to go through this pain of retelling." Hermione's voice was softer as she saw how moved Marie was by the entire interview.

"I'm sorry," Marie began, "but this book may be more about Harry than I anticipated. You are clearly the reason why the war ended. You three and Dumbledore. I told Ron that I would keep it away from being a Harry Potter memoir, but it will be hard not to do that now that I know the truth."

"Just try to stick to the war," said Hermione patiently. "Don't go into Harry's life other than Dumbledore's mission."

"I will do what I can and either way, as a promise to Ron, you all get to read it before it is released."

Ron was the first to call it a day since they had skipped lunch, and there was nothing left to be said. Marie thanked them individually once again and stated that she would be in touch when a draft was ready.

The trio made their way to back to the Burrow and learned there was to be a large dinner with several special announcements according to a distracted Mrs. Weasley. They did not have to wait long before the house filled up with family. The added dinner guests included the rest of the Weasley children, Fleur, Andromeda Tonks, Teddy, and Kingsley, the Minister for Magic. Harry was overjoyed to see them all especially Teddy Lupin.

Upon seeing his Godfather, the tiny baby turned his own hair jet black and his eyes bright green.

"Oh! How lovely!" said both Mrs. Weasley and Ms. Tonks.

Teddy relished the added company as he continued to change hair colors with every new person that held him. The band of people settled down to their chairs with Teddy now back with his grandmother, and they all enjoyed the dinner. It was not until Mr. Weasley cleared his voice that they all quieted.

"I have asked the new Minister here because he has some very special news to announce that concern many of you here."

"Thank you Arthur," said Kingsley as he stood up. Harry remembered the day he heard that Kingsley Shacklebolt became the official Minister for Magic and was again thrilled.

"It has been agreed by the Wizengamot to grant every official member of the Order of Phoenix an Order of Merlin, 3rd class. This includes those that were of age to be participating in the Order's activities as well as those that are no longer with us." He took a moment to let this settle in as both Mrs. Weasley and Ms. Tonks dried their eyes.

"Also, anyone who personally destroyed a horcrux will be awarded an Order of Merlin, 2nd class. This has been verified to include: Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, and Albus. Harry Potter will earn an Order of Merlin, 1st class."

An elated applause broke out by the end of the Minister's words and nearly overshadowed his last words of a ceremony that was to be held to officially grant every person their awards. At the end of the minister's announcement, a conversation between them all broke out even over Teddy's scream for what he called, "cake-a."

"Harry, you must be so proud!" said an elated Ginny beside him. "I know I am. My entire family is being honored thanks to you."

It dawned on Harry that since she had not been old enough to officially sign up for the Order, she alone would be left out at the ceremony.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," he stated humbly. "I could talk to Kingsley to see if anything can be done for you."

"Please don't do such a thing. I am extremely happy, and you are making this about me."

"Are you happy, Ginny?"

She observed him for a moment before asking, "Why is it your mission to ensure everyone's happiness?"

But, before he could respond, he saw Hermione quietly hail Kingsley in a corner for a private conversation. Harry guessed at what they were discussing before Ginny reentered his thoughts.

"Not everyone's… just the people I love," he answered her, finally.

She gave him a warm smile which he returned, and they both accepted Mrs. Weasley's cake that was being handed out by an over enthused Percy.

The dinner party ended and most of the guests went home. Harry would have loved to crawl into bed if he did not need to hear what Kingsley had responded to Hermione. He told Ron, and they both followed her to her room where they closed the door behind them.

"When you are growing up in the wizarding world, all a kid dreams of is being ones of those heroes who receive an Order of Merlin," said Ron. "Blimey, I can't believe we did it."

Harry and Hermione exchanged a happy look as they gazed at their elated friend who alone knew the importance of the honor they would all receive in due time.

"Ron," Harry began, "Hermione wants to bring back her parents soon." This snapped Ron out of his pleasant daydream.

"When?" he asked urgently now staring at Hermione.

"That's what I was discussing with Kingsley. He said that as soon as they could spare two Aurors, we can leave for Australia."

"Is the trip so dangerous that we need guards?" asked Harry.

"I'm sure it's only because I told him you wanted to go with me."

"Hang on," interrupted Ron, "you've already said we'd come? Because I got to say that I'd feel sick leaving George after his meltdown yesterday."

"No one is forcing either of you to come, Ron. I'll go on my own."

"Hermione…"

"I mean it. I was silly to assume you would."

This last comment seemed to sting Ron, so Harry quickly interceded.

"George needs you, Ron, so I'll go with Hermione that way everyone is covered. It wouldn't be long anyways, right?" he asked her.

"No, it will take a day to arrive via portkeys. Then however long it takes to lift the spell and convince them to come home."

She sadly looked down and began playing with the bed sheet she was sitting on. Ron considered her intently clearly split between her and his brother.

"When would you leave?" he asked quietly.

"In a week."

They continued discussing their packing and where they would stay once they arrived until Hermione yawned. This seemed to be the unspoken signal because Harry and Ron stood up to say their good nights.

"Actually, can I talk to you for a moment longer, Hermione?" Ron tentatively asked.

She nodded, and Harry alone climbed the stairs to his room. They were to stay in a tent by the ocean which would no doubt remind them of their time on the run. There was something genuinely sorrowful about the way Hermione had mentioned the possibility of having to convince her parents to come home. Although he highly doubted they would abandoned Hermione after what she did, would they choose to once again uproot their lives?

His head was swimming with questions, but sleep came to claim his body soon enough. He dreamt he said Voldemort's name out loud and was captured by a band of wolves. They took turns ripping off the flesh of their hostages but saved Harry for last. He watched and cried out to them begging them to stop. They last thing he saw was the bared teeth of a wolf as it bit into Hermione's throat.

"Harry! Please wake up!"

His face was framed by soft hands as he finally opened his eyes. Hermione was there with a look of pure worry on her face.

"You were shouting her name, mate. I thought someone had broken in or something," Ron said from the foot of his bed. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley stood near the door both with tears in their eyes. Harry sat up and looked away.

"Son, drink this," said Mr. Weasley as he entered the room as well.

He carried a vial of potion which his wife took from his hands to move towards Harry. Hermione stood up from her seat on Harry's bed wiping her tears silently to let Mrs. Weasley have room. Harry still did not meet any of their eyes but took the potion which he recognized to be for dreamless sleep.

"Dear," began Mrs. Weasley, but Harry cut her off.

"I said his name, and we got captured. They tortured her…you wouldn't believe her screams…" From somewhere in his room he heard silent sobs, but he still continued.

"Dobby died, then Fred, then Remus and Tonks…"

Mrs. Weasley could only hug him until his ranting subsided and the potion did its' job. When morning came, Harry could remember enough of the night to want to stay in his room. He lay there hoping to be left alone, but a knock at the door told him it would not be so.

"Mum and Dad grilled me last night for more details, so I wrote to Watson. We need that bloody book out already."