Chapter 3- The decision

Harry and Ron quickly made their way over to Hermione, and shook her awake. Her chocolate brown eye's slowly opened and stared questionably back at them.

"Time to go already?" she inquired in a sleepy voice.

"Yes." The boys answered back. Hermione groggily got up off the chair and stretched.

"I'll be down in a few." She told them, and with that she was already making her way up the stairs to the girls' side of the dorm. Harry and Ron made their way over to the couch and sat down. Thoughts began to run through Harry's head once again as they waited, tearing him in two.

Hermione scrambled to get ready as fast as she could, but this was terribly hard for her because she had not gotten any sleep last night, and had just closed her eyes when the boys came to wake her up. Thoughts had run through her head all night about the decision they had to make today, and she wondered if either of the boys had had any sleep either.

She was now undecided about what to do. Some pros of the situation had won her over last night, such as the thought that Dumbledore was the person suggesting them to do it, but she was not convinced towards either option otherwise. She supposed that the rest of the day would be composed of an argument about what they would be doing, and she was definitely not looking forward to it.

After she had finished getting dressed, she glanced into the mirror to see how she looked. She had on a pair of jeans along with the boys, and had thrown on a light pink long sleeve shirt with a white tank top underneath it. She decided that the outfit was fine for the day and then made her way up to her face. Her hair was getting easier to brush and tame now as she got older, and she was grateful for it. It was less bushy now, and fell into beautiful waves alongside her face. Once she was pleased with her appearance she headed back down the stairs to see Harry and Ron sitting on the couch in animated conversation.

"Ready?" Hermione inquired. The boys turned around and quickly nodded their heads. As they headed towards the door, they each took their cloaks off the stand that was holding them, and made sure each of them had their wands. Once they were ready the trio stepped out, and started to walk to the great hall for breakfast with their old classmates.

When they opened the doors to the great hall, Harry quickly made his was over to Ginny, Ron's sister, and his girlfriend. They gave each other a light kiss and he sat down and grabbed a plate next to her. Ron and Hermione quickly followed suit behind him, each grabbing a plate as well. They had a long day ahead of them, and needed to energize what little energy they had left in their bodies.

"So what classes do you have today, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, nothing much," Ginny replied. "I have first and second block off, then lunch, then double potions with Slughorn, and finally DADA with Lupin. But since Harry helped us with DADA, that class is easy, even with Lupin back."

"You want to hang out with us then, this morning?" Harry asked, even with Hermione's stare telling him, "Don't do it, Harry!"

"Sure," Ginny answered, "What are you talking about this morning?"

"We'll tell you later." Hermione answered. "Harry, can I have a moment with you please?" She said in a very Mrs. Weasley mock voice, which Harry knew not to object to.

"Sure." Harry replied as he got up and moved next to her, while Ron began a conversation with his sister.

"What do you think your doing, Harry?" Hermione raged. "Were going to be talking about a very delicate subject today, one that I don't even know if Ginny should understand were even considering!"

"Hermione," Harry said back ignoring the anger and concern in her eyes,

"Ginny is as much in our discussion as she wants to be. She is only a few months underage, and then she will be able to join us. Plus, her whole family is in the order, and I don't think that you would prefer a really bad bat-bogey hex in your face would you? She's my girlfriend, and I say that she is old enough to hear what her boyfriend might or might not be going to do!"

Hermione was about to fight back with him, but realized that he was right. Ginny was like one of them, whether she was younger or not. "Very well," she told Harry, "You can go back now."

Harry then got up, and sat back down in his old seat, continuing Ron and Ginny's conversation, thankful for Hermione's understanding.

Once the four of them were done with breakfast they made their way outside to the courtyard. Snow was falling around them like little drops of heaven, landing in piles on the ground. It had risen about an inch high, and was the perfect amount of snow. They found a bench in the corner and each settled onto it. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had each been planning to sit under their normal tree by the lake, but seeing the circumstances as they may, decided otherwise.

"So can I know now what you guys are talking about?" Ginny inquired.

"Yes." Harry replied. He then began to explain about last night in Dumbledore's office to her, how they were out of solutions, and going into the future was the only one that Dumbledore could come up with.

"Dumbledore couldn't come up with anything else?" Ginny asked, astonished, "Seriously, nothing else?"

"No," Hermione replied still not believing it herself, "Nothing else."

"Well, then I think that the answer is simple then," Ginny told them,

"If Dumbledore was the one to suggest it, then I think that it is the best thing for you to do." Hermione was starting to interject, but Ginny cut her off. "I know, Hermione, that there are many dangerous consequences in going into the future, but Dumbledore wouldn't suggest something that had a completely high percentage in hurting you. He would never forgive himself then." In the background behind her voice, the clock stuck out, and Ginny jumped up in surprise. "Is it eleven already?" she asked herself, "Wow, time flies by fast! I've got to go get ready for class, ok? I'll meet you in the great hall for lunch!" And with that she ran out of the courtyard, and was gone. There was a pause before anyone spoke again.

"I agree with my sister so far on this one, guys. She's got a good point, and I wasn't swayed to begin with!" Ron told his friends.

"You know what," Harry replied, "Me too. Ginny has convinced me, and I would probably have decided to go anyway, in the end! Hermione what about you?"

"Guy's, I still don't kno—."

"Hermione…"

"Fine, I agree, we should go." She answered.

"It's settled then!" Harry told them. "After lunch we will start packing, and tonight we will tell Professor Dumbledore our decision. But in the meantime we told Ginny that we would meet her in the great hall for lunch, so let's get going." The trio then got up off the bench, and made their way over to the great hall. Even though it had only been a few hours ago that they had had breakfast, they were all once again starving.

Student's were beginning to trickle into the great hall as Harry, Ron, and Hermione started to head over to the Gryffindor table for lunch. They saw Ginny already sitting down at the table with her school bag looking around for them when they had spotted her. Once again Harry took a seat next to his girlfriend, while his other friends sat on his opposite side. All at once, plates began to appear on the table, filled with sandwiches, and other delicious lunch foods. They all began to dig in, and Harry turned to talk to Ginny.

"Your argument has convinced us all," Harry whispered to her.

"We're going into the future to find out how to defeat Voldemort."

"Good." Ginny whispered back, "I just knew that if Dumbledore thought that you should do it, then it was the right solution." The rest of lunch continued in silence as the four of them ate. Nobody had anything left say to each other, and even more, no one knew what to say to each other. But as He, Ron, and Hermione got up to start packing, he couldn't help but notice the hint of disappointment in Ginny's eyes as they walked away.

Harry and Ron were animatedly discussing what they imagined the future to be like once they were back in their dorms packing. Spells were flying everywhere, while clothes and objects were being summoned to their owners. Hermione couldn't help but still feel uneasy about the situation. She knew that Harry and Ron were right, and she also would have probably chosen the same decision in the end, but Hermione was still being stubborn in her head about it.

She threw some of her clothes into her bag, wondering how much the wizarding world will have changed if their plan succeeded and Voldemort was defeated. It would be terrible if they walked into a future where Voldemort was the supreme ruler and…

"What are you telling yourself?" Her mind screamed at her. "If you keep thinking negatively you will end up changing your mind, and Harry and Ron will be angry at you! Be positive!"

Once she was done packing, Hermione made her way over to the boys room. She was surprised to see that they were having a big argument.

"I think that it's a good idea!" yelled Harry.

"Well I don't, and since I have a say in that situation I say no!" Ron yelled back.

"BOYS!" Hermione screamed at both of them. "Calmly one of you tell me what's going on so that we can settle this argument. We don't want to go through fourth year all over again do we?"

"No." they both answered.

"Now what's going on?" Hermione demanded.

Harry started to open his mouth, but Ron was quicker to say what was on his mind. "Harry thinks it's a good "idea" to take Ginny along with us!" Ron told her, staring at Harry the whole time. "I told him that it was a stupid idea, that he was pushing it, and that I could just as easily take my permission to date her away from him!"

"Oh, so I need your permission to date your sister?" Harry yelled again.

"Yes, you do!" Ron yelled back.

"BOYS!" Hermione yelled for the second time. Each of them held their tongue, and turned to her.

"Harry, even though I don't think that it is the best idea for Ginny to come along with us, this morning you proved to me that she is a part of this group, so I don't mind as long as you ask Dumbledore's permission."

"But Hermione…" Ron complained.

"Ron, even though she is your little sister, she is only several months younger than you, and it's time you gave up on this whole permission thing and started treating her with the respect that she deserves."

"But—." Ron began.

"Ron…"

"Alright… Harry, I am sorry, and it's ok if you ask if Ginny can come along, and you don't need my permission to date my sister."

"Apology accepted." Harry told him.

"Well if you two are done, bring your bags down with mine, and we will head down to dinner. But Harry you mustn't tell Ginny that you are asking Dumbledore until he tells you that it's alright."

"Fine." Harry replied, and with that their bags were flying down the stairs to meet Hermione's.

The Great Hall was already filled with students when the trio arrived. Ginny was already eating having decided to start without them when they didn't arrive on time.

"Hey Ginny!" Harry said as they sat down at the table.

"Hey!" She replied back.

"How's dinner?" He inquired.

"Good as usual, the house elves did a good job again." Harry smiled. The house elves were good at what they did, and always succeeded in making a wonderful meal. Harry could never get through summers at the Dursley's without missing their cooking. Thankfully he never had to go back there again.

Dinner was once again quiet as they ate, having everything already been said. Once they were done, the trio made their way towards the seventh floor to be a few minutes early for their meeting with Dumbledore.

"Phoenix Tails." Harry said to the stone gargoyle. It then sprang to life to reveal a set of stairs leading to the headmaster's office. The trio walked up to the top and knocked on the door.

"Enter." said Dumbledore's familiar voice within the office, but when the trio slid the door open, their jaws dropped in surprise.