He could run, or he could fight. Those were the only two options Harry ever had. And his decision to stay and fight the Death Eaters was a foregone conclusion.

What he really needed, was a miracle. They couldn't possibly fight five Death Eaters together. If only the Order was here...

Now that's a thought. Where was the Order? Guarding some long forgotten tome? Keeping another 15 year old locked up in his home?

Having no time to waste, he quickly did a tactical analysis of the situation.

They were at the front door, and were milling about just outside the boundary of the house. Because of the wards? Hmm. Anyway, they only had about half a minute before they entered the house and cursing everything in sight.

Okay, Harry think. Come on.

He remembered the second year, when Dobby had thrown Malfoy down the corridor, to protect him.

Would it work? What's the harm?

He called out. "DOBBY!"

The elf popped into view.

"The Great and Kind Harry..." Harry cut him off.

"Please Dobby we're under attack, can you help us escape? Hermione's parents are also in the house."

"Dobby can help!" He nodded vigorously.

"You bes holding Dobby's hand..."

As soon as they firmly gripped his hands, they felt themselves being transported away. It was a whirlwind of colour and sound. Suddenly, it stopped. They noticed they were in a forest somewhere.

Before they could so much as blink, Dobby had popped away, to rescue Hermione's parents. A few moments passed by. They waited with their breaths held, eyes closed.

Well, Hermione did. Harry was much too disgusted by her father to muster any pitying sentiments.

Suddenly the elf appeared right in front of them. Holding him was her mother, father nowhere in sight.

As soon as he arrived, Dobby started wailing, "Dobby was very late. Harry Potter's Grangy's father was already dead. Dobby is very sorry! Dobby will iron his hands. Dobby will drown hisself. He is much too unworthy..."

"Dobby, STOP!" Harry exclaimed.

"But Dobby is much too unworthy. Harry Potter Sir is the greatest wizard alive and Dobby could not do what he said. Dobby should punish..."

"No Dobby. Please don't punish yourself. You're a very good elf. In fact, you may ask any thing of me, if I can provide it I will. You've just saved my life Dobby, and that of Hermione, one of the only few friends I have left now. You did good. Honestly!"

Finally the elf calmed down.

"But where are we?" Hermione asked, while her mother was still standing, and gaping at the little elf.

"You bes in a forest near Malfoy Manor. Dobby be collecting vegetables and herbs here, when Dobby worked for Bad Master."

"Oh."

There was a very awkward and suffocating silence. Nobody wanted to say something wrong.

As the initial shock wore off, Hermione started sobbing quietly, silent tears falling down her face. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out.

Hermione's mother, practically an elder model of her daughter, was also sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Her eyes were suspiciously dry.

Harry still didn't know her name. Ever the brash Gryffindor, he decided to break the silence.

"Hi. I am Harry Potter. You don't know how sorry I am about..."

She cut him off. " Don't be."

Again the silence.

Harry started to say, "It's all my fault you are here. I take complete responsibility..."

This time it was Hermione who cut him off.

"Harry James Potter!" she exclaimed. "Don't you dare complete that sentence! It. Is. Not. Your. Fault. You Hear Me! My parents and I were always going to be a target. On the other hand, if it wasn't for you, I don't think we'd have been alive. So stop!"

Okay, that's a pretty good argument, he thought. Anyhow, they needed a place to sleep, as the house would probably be in flames at the moment.

"Okay. I'm going to Gringotts this instant. Potters were a rich family. They probably owned more properties than Godric's Hallow. I'll have to look for a secure place. Meanwhile, I withdrew about 250 Galleons and converted it to Pounds. It should be enough to book a hotel room for a few days, while I find a good place for us to hide..."

He trailed off, hoping for some further ideas from the ladies. He wasn't disappointed.

Hermione started planning, ignoring her tears for now. "We'll need clothes and food, our top two priorities. Because we can get food at a hotel, clothes are our top priority. How about this Harry? You go to Gringotts, while we deal with the Muggle world. Dobby will know where we are, so he can get you to us, if needed. You don't know how thankful we are, hotel rooms in London are very costly. Thanks Harry, you have been a big help."

She hugged him, one of her patented bone-crushing ones, and reached out a hand to her mother.

Both started talking, giving him time to collect himself, and he teleported away, to find a new home, not that he had an old one, anyway.