Author's Note: Wow, such a fast reply, it's only been, like, five minutes! Thanks! I'll explain why Voldemort had the cup with him... eventually. ;)

Harry walked down the stairs, a couple of hours later, with a bit of a limp, but otherwise ok. He still wore black though, a black t-shirt with black jeans, and black trainers. Ron and Hermione walked with him, going on about the world.

"Well Harry, you almost missed Fleur and Bill's wedding!" Hermione said after an interesting conversation on Hagrid occupying his spare time trying to get a hold of a Chimera.

"Really? I was kind of hoping I had..." Harry teased.

Fleur Delacour was Bill, Ron's eldest brother's, fiancee. A part Veela, she looked good, caught the eyes of men around her, and she knew it too. Harry had been one of the only boys not to fall to her charm... though Ron had. Ron DEFINETLEY had. Ron was still infatuated with the woman, though, hopefully, Ron would get over her.

"Oh, don't let Mum hear you say that, she'll kill you." Ron groaned.

"I know." Harry laughed.

Harry listened to his two best friends as they went on about Fleur and Bill's wedding. It was good to see the two of them again, and to have at least a bit of normal in his life, espicially at the moment. He was kind of savouring in the feeling, letting it seep in, before he had to go back out and do his thing...

Alone.

Harry still couldn't get over it. A road he had set down, with his teacher, his mentor, a dark, cold, hard road, full of trial and suffering, he had to walk it alone. All because...

Harry shook his head. Snape. All because of Snape. Snape had killed Dumbledore-

That was too harsh, too cold. Dumbledore, dead. Dumbledore, gone. Harry continued on, in his memory, for him and for himself... but truly, he couldn't see the end. He couldn't see what would happen, after the end. It was just dark, light was only behind him, behind, in his past.

Dumbledore had been his light.

"But you know, happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times. As long as one knows, to turn on the light." (Author's Note: Yes, I know it's from the POA movie, I was just really touched by it.)

Where was the light to be turned on?

His light had burned out, and he had gone too far to walk back for another one.

The wind had snuffed out his light.

Snape had snuffed out Dumbledore's life.

Tears would have come to Harry's eyes, had he not detached himself from his feelings somewhat, but one thing still went through his head.

His light was snuffed. His life was snuffed. Now...All he could do, was go all the way. Without his light.

Harry, Ron and Hermione came to the ground floor, where yelling from the kitchen came to his ears.

"I DON'T BLOODY WELL CARE IF MY NAME IS VIRGINA, OR GINEVRA! FRED, TURN MY HAIR BACK TO RED RIGHT NOW, OR A BIT OF RED IS GOING TO BE SPLATTERED ON THE BLOODY WALLS!"

"GINNY!"

Harry's heart started pounding. Ginny... no, he shouldn't be here! He can't be here! What if something were to happen to her! NO!

He stopped, dead in his tracks, at the last stair. Ron and Hermione kept chatting and walking, but Hermione noticed him, pale as a ghost, frozen on the stair, and stopped, looking at him.

"Harry?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"Your scar isn't twinging, is it?" Ron asked, face screwed up in worry.

"I have to go." Harry said stupidly.

"But, you haven't seen Ginny yet!" Hermione exclaimed, shocked.

"T-that's why I have to go!" Harry took a step backwards. "I..."

He looked at Ron, almost afraid. Wait... did Ron know? Did Ron know that he broke up with his sister? Did he know WHY? Apparantly not, because Ron was looking bewildered.

"Harry... she'll kill you if you don't go see her mate! She's been worried sick! I swear, she hasn't eaten in a week!"

Harry's mind raced again. Hasn't eaten in a week? Oh good lord, what did I do!

It was for her own good.

I can garuntee her safety if she's at my side!

She's safer here.

But-!

Remember the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry's face was screwed up in frustration. He wanted to see her, so desperatley... his nobility was kicking in, however. His urge to do the right thing... but his urge to see her, to love her...

Hermione looked at him critically. "Ron, could you go into the kitchen for a moment?" she asked.

Harry suddenly felt relieved. Good. Hermione was mind-reading again. How she did it, he would never know, maybe she was a Legimens, but he was thankful for it now.

"Er... why?" Ron asked, suspicious.

"I'm going to knock some sense into him. But, if you truly want to stick around..." she took out her wand.

Ron got the gist immediatley, and scuttled into the kitchen at top speed.

"That was harsh. You're not truly-"

"Oh, of course I'm not going to Harry, honestly!" Hermione pocketed her wand. "Now, what's going on?"

"I broke up with Ginny right after Dumbledore's funeral." Harry muttered.

Hermione looked stunned for a moment, but regained her composture. "Well... that explains a lot. Why?"

"Remember second year?"

"I was out for half of it, but yeah." Hermione replied with a smile.

"She was-"

"Yeah."

"Well... Voldemort tried to kill her, for his life?"

"Yes... what does this have to do with it?"

"Think Hermione. Tom used her for a chance to see me. She was just my best friend's little sister at the time."

Hermione sighed. "I see your reasoning. I see one flaw, as well."

"Yeah?"

Hermione shook her head. "Voldemort's still going to know."

"How?" Harry replied hotly. "I mean, she'll be away from me, I won't be thinking about her all the time-"

Hermione broke out into sad laughter. "Harry, Harry, Harry." she said, almost as if she were chiding a child. "Harry, you tend to wear your heart in your eyes."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked, his eyes glinting with anger.

"I mean, Voldemort just has to make one mention of the diary that you destroyed, you think back, it shows in your eyes... I don't know how to explain it. It's just... when he sees something is effecting you, he'll break into your mind, to figure out what that is. Your own heart will be your downfall."

Harry looked at her quizzically, his eyes sparkling with puzzlement.

Hermione laughed. "Like right now. Don't worry... in time, you'll come to understand." And, without knowing it, she gave a Dumbledorish wink.

As she walked into the kitchen, Harry looked after her in shock.

How did she know these things! It was scary...

Before you ask, no, the fact that she seems to be a lot like Dumbledore is NOT going to be really there in the plot... It's just the beginning of Harry realizing that he's not as alone as he thinks.

!Katrina!