But For All the Whole World

By Headupintheclouds

"I really think we ought to-" Hermione started, beginning to stand up. Her eyes were glued to the bottom of the stairs, her ears pricked for any noise from the upper level of their home.

Ron put his hand over hers, causing her to shift her eyes to him. "No, Hermione. He needs to be alone. We can't do anything."

"But we could-" Hermione started.

"No," Ron shook his head sternly. "What would you say?"

Hermione lowered herself back into her chair. "I- I don't know," she admitted.

Ron nodded, his eyes also falling upon the stairs.

For a few blissful moments, there was no sound. They were barely even aware of their own breathing; nothing in the world seemed to be moving.

And suddenly, the peace was shattered.

A CRASH! came from upstairs.

Hermione's eyes widened, meeting with Ron's. "I think we should-" she started.

"Yeah," he agreed readily. They bound up the stairs to find the door to Harry's room shut. They hurried over to it, Hermione trying to force the lock. She wrenched the knob several times before Ron got out his wand, and the door was open the next second.

Harry's bedside table had once held a framed newspaper clipping from years ago. The edges were bent, the clipping itself was yellowing with age. But it remained.

It was a photo of his parents, an announcement of their marriage. Hermione had tracked it down for a birthday present a few months ago.

They found the clipping bent on the floor, the frame that had contained it shattered on the ground. They turned to find Harry, a deep gash in his right hand, mumbling and collapsed at the foot of his bed. It was obvious that he had been crying.

"-nothing-…" was all they could make out.

Sweeping the glass out of her way with her foot, Hermione knelt to sit beside Harry. She placed her hand deftly on his shoulder, worried he might fright easily.

He slowly let his eyes ride from the ground, connecting with her.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"I- I…" Harry started. He shook his head.

Ron swiped the back of his hand across the floor next to Hermione, and then knelt down as well. "Harry, talk to us." There was no denying the plea in his voice. The fear. Harry could get angry, as could anyone, but he never got violent. Never, unless it was about Voldemort.

"I- it was all for nothing!" Harry exploded. Despite the anger, the fierceness of his voice, he sounded young again; as thought he was suddenly unsure of himself.

"What was for nothing, Harry?" prodded Hermione.

"My mom- I- she shouldn't've DIED; It was all for nothing! IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!" Harry bellowed. Ron appeared unfazed, but Hermione was a little scared. The hand that had been slowly rubbing his back stiffened for a moment.

The tears started to flow down his face again, and he reached underneath his glasses to wipe them away. His head shook slowly from side to side.

"Harry- no. Don't ever think that. Ever." Hermione voiced. She sounded much less sure of herself; she sounded as though she was afraid to might mess up.

"But it's true! Voldemort could've killed me, and she'd still be alive!" Harry said. His voice was suddenly void of emotion, and it was more terrifying than him throwing things, yelling, cursing.

"We wouldn't be here," Ron said.

"'Course you wouldn't- why would you come to bloody Godric's Hollow?" Harry asked bitterly.

"No- I mean us; everyone. You-Know-Who-"

"Voldemort." Hermione corrected quickly.

Ron groaned, but continued, "Yeah- him. He'd be in charge, Harry. There'd be no Order- no Hogwarts- no Snape to find and hang by his entrails…" he trailed off. "Nothing," he finished.

"I can't kill him- do you understand that? I have waited years- all my life, even, for this one moment, when he's dead, at my hand. And I can't have that moment- I have to be DEAD for him to be killed," Harry spat suddenly.

"Harry, you're not doing this alone," Hermione soother. Harry would have none of it.

"Which part am I not alone in, Hermione? The part where I KILL MYSELF, or the part where I'm dead? Cuz I'm really not seeing anything else that matters," he said bitterly. Hermione looked a little shaken, but instead of replying, she reached for his bleeding hand.

"Come on," she said, pulling him up by the elbow. He followed without thinking. She tugged him down the hall and into their bathroom, Ron in tow. Hermione ran his hand under some cool water, before gently applying anesthetic. Then she bandaged the hand. Her and Ron exchanged looks; Harry would be needing a doctor, but wasn't really fit to go; he seemed to have slightly bigger troubles at the moment.

"When?" asked Harry suddenly, his head jerking up.

"When, what?" returned Ron.

"When will I have to off myself?" Harry replied morbidly. Ron shook his head a bit.

"Harry, mate, I dunno. Probably when we figure out where he's hiding."

"Who'll kill him?" Harry responded levelly.

"I'll do it," assured Ron. Harry shook his head discontentedly.

"No- you and Hermione need to stay away. I'll figure out something. Someone else will do it."

"Lupin," Hermione interjected suddenly, and Ron nodded vehemently.

"Yeah, Lupin'll do it."

"I dunno, guys. He and Tonks… it's too early to separate them." Harry responded.

"I dunno then," Ron answered.

"Come on, Harry. Go to sleep," Hermione eased. Harry merely stood up and ambled off to his room. The door shut firmly, and Hermione and Ron waited a few seconds before letting out breaths of relief.

A knock resounded from the lower level; Ron sprinted down to answer it. Hermione followed at a slower pace.

"Dad!" Ron called out, and Hermione felt more relief. They could explain the situation to Mr. Weasley; he'd know how to help. Or, if not him, Mrs. Weasley would definitely have a solution.

"Hi, Ron!" From what Hermione could tell, she expected to round the corner and see them embracing in the doorway. A few more steps proved her right. She grinned, and hung back a little.

When they stopped hugging, Ron gestured her toward them.

"I have some news-" Mr. Weasley started.

"So do we!" exclaimed Ron.

"We've managed to figure out who R.A.B. is: Amy Benson."

"…Who?" Ron asked, looking a little confused.

"Oh! I remember Harry telling us about her: didn't she stay at the same orphanage as Voldemort, and he took her into the cave and-"

"Very good, Hermione. Her first name is Rylee, and she has confirmed that she destroyed the Horcrux, many years ago. A tremendous feat for a Muggle, but she described her exact methods, and what happened after. The Horcrux is gone; there is only one left to find!"

"Ughhhhhhh…" Ron blanched, reaching back to grip the wall behind him. His eyes flitted about the room, failing to settle on anything.

Hermione's eyes grew round, and tears began forming in her eyes. "No," she breathed.

"What's wrong?" asked Mr. Weasley, his eyes filling with concern.

No answer came.

"What's happened?"

"It's- it's- Harry," Hermione said slowly.

"Wasn't he fine a minute ago?" Mr. Weasley asked, a puzzled look taking over his visage.

"No- and he'll be worse now," Ron replied, his first somewhat cohesive response to his father.

"Mr. Weasley- I- We… we think Harry's the last Horcrux," Hermione stated, her eyes failing to meet those of Ron's father.

"Then calm yourselves- he can't be," Mr. Weasley reassured.

Hermione let out a breath of relief. "Why not?" she questioned.

"He's alive," scoffed Mr. Weasley.

The look of horror leapt back to Hermione's face. "Nagini was one," she said.

"No…." Mr. Weasley exhaled. He shook his head violently.

"Yes- Harry destroyed Nagini last night," Ron confirmed.

"But- why d'you think it's Harry?" Mr Weasley responded, trying to block the terrible idea from his mind.

"Voldemort wanted something from each of the founders. Even in an obscure sense, Harry belongs to Gryffindor. The night he- he- killed Harry's parents, he might have accidently stored a piece of his soul in Harry. It's possible to have accidental Horcruxes- I've read about them. He was probably searching for something of Gyffindor's at that time. After he- you know, made Harry one, he might not have seen the need to search further," Hermione explained breathily.

Mr. Weasley slowly nodded his head, when the information suddenly seemed to process. "But- that means that- Harry's- he's got- he needs to KILL HIMSELF!"

Hermione nodded weakly.

Hermione felt chills go up her spine as Mr. Weasley's eyes appeared to refocus on something behind her.

"Yeah, I do."

A/N: Aw, crap, Harry was there the whole time? Well that just sucks. I wonder what sort of awful person would want Harry to hear all of that…. Surely not I –innocent smile- So anyway, I bet all your jaws are dropping from the sudden update. I'm in an update-y moods, my lovelies. Happy Eve of Christmas.