Chapter 3

'I'll help you unpack, we've got a while before the 1st September.' Harry called as Caitlin went to fetch her other bag from downstairs.

He reached into the trunk and pulled out a few clothes before his hand finally rested on a large leather bound book. It wasn't one he recognised. Intrigued he couldn't help opening it, he just wasn't prepared for what he found. In the back of his mind he'd known it would be a photo album but somehow he still hadn't expected to find a picture of his eleven year old self, next to a similarly aged Ron and Hermione, smiling back at him. He sat down without taking his eyes off it. Flicking through the pages he discovered many similar photographs of the three of them at Hogwarts, he only vaguely noticed that the photograph Ron and Hermione got closer together in each photograph and that the photograph version of himself looked more and more disturbed. These photographs were interspersed with pictures of other people and there were even a few of the Hogwarts castle, along with a few pictures of just Ron and Hermione that Harry didn't remember ever seeing before.

When he reached the last photograph he eventually looked up to find Caitlin and Molly watching him. He wasn't sure how long they'd been standing there.

Caitlin walked over to the trunk, kneeling down beside it and pulling out a wad of parchment tied together with a ribbon. 'I found these too,' she said quietly before handing it to him. He took it with shaky hands and carefully untied the ribbon, not really sure what he'd find when he did. He unfolded the first page to find a familiar messy scrawl all over it. Ron's handwriting.

Dear Hermione,

Happy Christmas!

Hope you liked the present, thanks for the every-flavour beans. Really great, although I reckon I might have found a bogey flavoured one, George warned me about them.

You'll never guess what Harry got, an invisibility cloak! No name on the tag, still it is really amazing! I'd give anything for one of them!

Haven't found anything on Flamel yet, but we could look anywhere with an invisibility cloak! I'm sure we're bound to find something.

See you when you get back.

Ron.

He flicked to another page.

Dear Hermione,

How are you?

I got your letter and you're right, I haven't heard from Harry either. I know you're worried but maybe we should give him a bit longer. I'm sure he won't do anything stupid. He probably just needs some time, you know, after what happened to Dumbledore. We'll see him soon anyway; he'll probably tell us everything we need to know then.

You should see what it's like round here at the moment. Mums going mad with all the wedding preparations. Fleur has all these big plans for it and a guest list that's taller than me! Ginny's not happy either, doesn't like the bridesmaid dresses. Can't get any peace. Bill's looking much better though, just a bit wolfish.

Hope everything's alright with you. I don't think you should be worrying about saying goodbye to your parents; we are going to come back. And things aren't exactly set in stone, Harry might decide that we should go back to Hogwarts.

Just don't worry, take care, and I'll see you in a week.

Love Ron.

He scanned through the rest quickly. She'd kept them all. Every letter Ron had ever sent her, right from first year. Feeling a bit overwhelmed he flicked to the last letter.

Hermione,

Still set for tomorrow. I'll apparate to you and then we'll find him. Remember to bring the book with you; I think we'll need it.

Love Ron.

'Where did you go?' he heard a small voice ask. He looked up.

'Sorry?'

'They were looking for you, where did you go?' Caitlin asked again. He thought back, to the memories he'd rather forget. He remembered leaving them to find the last horcrux himself, he had thought he'd known where it was and he'd been doing what he'd considered the noble thing at the time. He'd left them while they were sleeping with a note telling them not to follow him. It seemed Hermione had been right to worry about him doing something stupid.

'I went to finish it myself,' he said only vaguely wondering if Caitlin would understand that. It was clear that Molly did from the look on her face. He turned back to Caitlin. 'How did you know they were looking for me?' he asked her.

'Grandma said that…that mum came back, just for one night. Said she needed something.' The book Harry thought glancing back at the letter.

'I didn't know that,' Harry muttered more to himself than anyone else. What did they need a book for he thought. Mind you since when had Hermione done anything before consulting a book first?

'Did they find you?' she asked. Harry breathed out slowly and ran a hand through his hair before replying.

'Yeah', he whispered 'they found me.'

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A/N :-

Okay I think I may have found my storyline, don't think its all too clear yet. Watch this space!