Chapter two
Back in England and Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione were looking everywhere for Harry, but no one has seen him; they were the last to see him when they left Dumbledore's office. Arthur Weasley wanted to get his family home, which included Harry and Hermione, but so far no one was having any luck locating Harry. Finally he called everyone together and they decided to leave. When Harry turned up, he'd know where they were and hoped it wouldn't take long. The Weasley family along with Hermione all headed to Muriel's until Arthur could check the Burrow to make sure that it was safe for his family. So everyone ate, but no one talked, they were either in shock for the loss of Fred or that Voldemort was finally dead or they were exhausted. The fight had gone on for so long and all of them had injures, some worse than others. But right then, no one seemed to care very much. So they ate, drank some tea before all heading to different parts of the house to sleep.
The following day everyone at Muriel's were still quiet as they sat around her magically extended table. They knew eventually they were move on with their lives, but just now, it was too soon.
'Oh,' Hermione cried out and put her hands to her head.
'Hermione,' Ron said looking anxious, 'what is it?'
'Harry, he's talking in my head, he wants me to repeat what he's saying,' Hermione shook her head, 'First is I'm fine, but I left, left the country, I needed to get away. I'm sorry not to be there for you during this time, but right now I don't have anything left to give. Know this, I'm going to be gone for a very long time and when I return you won't recognise the boy you have known for years. Even though Ron and Hermione are my best friends, I kept part of myself hidden even from you, the dark part. You probably don't believe I have a dark part, but I do, more than you realise. At first I was never going to tell you this but after all the support you gave me I believe you should hear it, you deserved to know. As you all know I killed Quirrell when I was only eleven, but he was not the only person I killed, in total not including Voldemort, I have killed thirteen and I'm not sorry for that, they deserved to die. My life from the time I was born was about death, so it is going to continue that way. I will say this; if I never became friends with Ron then maybe you might not be mourning one of your own, Fred. I came to care very much for the whole Weasley family, more than I should have. If I was stronger I would have walked away and saved you from the suffering you are going through right now. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you are great people and wonderful parents, I will miss you both very much. Bill, what can I say, you are one great bloke, a good big brother to have, I loved your look, long hair, earring, it suits you, so be you. Fleur, after our initial awkwardness when we first met, we became good friends, I will always have a place in my heart for you. Sorry about this Bill, but thank you for my first real kiss Fleur, I will never forget that and if Ron is wondering, I'm not talking about the way Fleur kisses on the cheek either, a full on lip joined kiss. Charlie, just like Bill, I loved your look mate, your hair and earring are just so cool, never change, it's you. Percy, well, you made up for it mate, always believe in your family, you don't know how lucky you are to have them. George, you and Fred made my life interesting, funny and gave me some times I can look back on with a smile, I'm sorry you lost your other half. Ron, my mate, we had our fights; I suppose all good friendships have those, but we always made up. I couldn't have found a better friend and you will always be my friend, even if you can be the biggest prat there is. Ginny, we had some good times and even though you're brothers will hate this, you have a wicked tongue. I enjoyed my time as your boyfriend, but that will never happened again. Please find someone that you can spend the rest of your life with, it cannot be me and if you ever see me again, you wouldn't want that anyway. Hermione, oh Hermione, my friend and as everyone knows, just my friend, my good friend, a friend I could talk to about anything even embarrassing things. Ron's ears would go red and he'd leave but I would listen. I want you and Ron to do me a favour now you have finally admitted how you feel, compromise, talk, give and take, be honest and open with each other, do everything you can to stay together and never go to bed angry with the other, find a way to make up. I'm saying this all now because very soon I won't care about anything, I shouldn't have cared from the beginning. Do you know that I only ever said I love you once and that was to Sirius, now he's gone, the one person I did tell everything too. I will never love anyone ever again; I will not allow myself to care anymore. So when or if you ever see me again, don't expect the Harry Potter you have known for years; that name as well is going to be gone. He was that life; my new life will be so different, so a different name is needed. I won't speak with you this way again or contact any of you. I just wanted to let you all know that I do care, did care and if I can stop this from ever happening again, then I will. No family should ever go through what all of you are. Every one of you can now have a fairly normal and safe life, me, well, my life was never normal, so it will continue that way. One thing I ask of all of you; never let a day go by without telling each other how you feel, tell the ones you love that you do love them, because Dumbledore was right, love is the most powerful magic there is and the one thing I will never have or know again. You all have each other, tell them how you feel. I will always remember every one of you no matter what I'm doing or where I am, for the last time, Harry Potter,' Hermione slowly removed her hands from her head and looked around, she had tears running down her face but she wasn't the only one, Ginny did, Mrs. Weasley did, Fleur did, but the men around the table also looked upset and also worried. What was Harry going to do, why had he killed, that didn't seem like him at all. Maybe they didn't know the real Harry Potter, just the part he let everyone see and know. One thing they all did hope; was to see him again and just hoped he was okay because right now he sounded anything but okay.
A few days later that an owl flew into Muriel's kitchen and landed in front of Arthur Weasley. He took the bag that was tied to its leg and the owl flew off. Everyone watched as Arthur opened the bag took a letter out then tipped money, lots of money onto the table, then he started to read.
'I figured until you could get on your feet you could use a helping hand. You know I care for all of you and you know I was left a lot by my parents and Sirius; I wanted to help you out, help all of you out. You were in hiding for months, mainly because you were close to me, you haven't worked, none of you, so sometimes you need to shove your pride and take some help when it's offered, Sirius told me that. So please accept this as a thank you for taking me into your family and a wonderful family it is, once more, Harry Potter.' Arthur looked up at everyone, 'It seems he still cares but I wish I knew what he meant before.'
'So do I Mr. Weasley, he's got me worried,' Hermione sighed but like everyone they went back to thinking about where Harry was and what he was up to and just hoped he was okay.
It was two weeks later before the Weasley's and Hermione headed to the Burrow. They stocked up on food, Molly bustling around her kitchen. Arthur knew she missed it, they had been in hiding for so long and it was good to be home and thanks to Harry, they were able to eat until he returned to work. All of them were worried about Harry; no one had seen him or heard a word from him since his letter. Even though they wanted to keep searching for Harry, the Weasley's had Fred's funeral to contend with and Hermione had to find her parents. So for now they had to forget about the young man that had defeated the worst dark wizard in history and hoped one day he would come home, but more importantly, that he was still the same caring young man they all knew.