Disclaimer: Harry Potter or any of its other characters do not belong to me. I am not JKRowling. I am L. A. Burchell, author of this fic. The plot is mine…nothing else. Okay? Okay!
A.N Wow what a response! Never have I received so many reviews in such a short space of time. Within 10 mins of updating I got 3 reviews! What a joy! Thank you so much for your positive feedback. is great because it gives people a chance to improve their writing skills and I've improved thanks to your advice and criticism. I'm ready for some tough people now, so be as harsh as you can (but don't be negative just for the sake of saying something mean that wont help anyone!) Good reviews are always lovely to have so if you don't have anything in particular to say just say what you think! Go for it people.
Oh and Lily 101, your poem has confused me immensely. My guess is Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna. However, I really have no idea to be honest. I guess we'll see who will survive in my version. In Harry Potter and the Never Ending trials, everyone except for Ginny, Ron and Hermione, died at Hogwarts. I'll leave you with that note, not saying either way concerning the life of other characters. At present, Harry believes that everyone died. This may be true, this may not. Oh dear, I've said too much.
Colin Creevey there is a chapter coming up that will be especially for you.
I've waffled enough, here's the rest of the story.
Enjoy!
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Harry felt Ginny's hand still clutching his arm as he apparated. The hall of 12 Grimmauld place disappeared and they whirled into a blur of colour until they found themselves in another place.
The two of them let go of each other as they looked around. Heart thumping against his chest, Harry stared at the grave of Tom Riddle set before him. He must have apparated at this spot because the picture of Tom Riddle's grave had burned into his memory.
The sky was dark and cloudy in the graveyard it contrasted greatly with the brilliant sunshine outside 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry shivered as the icy wind seemed to slice the top layer of skin off his arms.
He held Ginny close and looked up at the dirty Mansion that sat on a hilltop in the distance. Perhaps that was where Voldemort was keeping Ron. How ironic Harry thought, he killed his parents there, and has used their home as a slaughter house.
Harry looked about the graveyard. It was dark and eerie and the gravestones loomed over him. Giant gargoyles perched themselves on graves and peered down at Harry with sinister eyes. The ground was covered in moss and Ginny and Harry's shoes sunk into the ground.
Suddenly, there was a yell and a huge gust of wind swept over the two of them. Harry whirled around and looked up. There was Hermione, on Buckbeak, who was lowering to the ground. Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and they hurried away to avoid being trampled on. The ground juddered as Buckbeak's hooves hit the ground, followed by the gigantic claws. Hermione screamed and fell off his back. Harry whipped out his wand and flicked it, keeping Hermione floating in mid air.
She was bent over her stomach and her brown hair fell loosely, concealing her face, she struggled to free herself, smiling, Harry flicked his wand again and Hermione was slowly lowered to the ground. One her feet touched the mossy earth she stood up straight sunk a little and moodily pushed her hair out of her face.
"That was the worst experience of my life!" she exclaimed as she tried to tame her bushy hair by running her fingers through it. "Seriously, the things I do for that Ronald. He better be here or I will personally remove the reason Voldemort calls himself a man in the meanest, slowest, and most painful way POSSIBLE!" she ended in a scream as her feet sunk lower into the ground.
Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable between his legs and crossed his right leg over his left one in order to protect himself.
Ginny hurried over to Hermione who looked at her as though for the first time.
"Oh Ginny!" she exclaimed as they embraced in a tight hug.
"You are so clever Hermione, what made you think of Buckbeak leading you to Ron?" Ginny asked amazed. Hermione shrugged.
"Hagrid told me in my third year." She said as if some had asked her what colour her hair was.
Buckbeak was making fuss over the soggy ground and nipped at the moss as if curious to see if it would be tasty, only to spit it out in offence at the taste. Harry uncrossed his legs and joined the two women. He wiped sweat off the top of his lip and looked up at the mansion again.
"I think Ron's up there." He said, partly to himself. Hermione and Ginny looked up too.
There was a sombre silence between the three and all that could be heard was Buckbeak's in contented squeals and squawks.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ginny asked suddenly. Hermione nodded.
"Shall we apparate?" she asked hopefully, clearly not happy with the idea of riding Buckbeak again.
"What shall we do with Buckbeak?" Asked Ginny. Harry rubbed his chin.
"We'll leave him here, he won't go anywhere too soon," he grinned as he watched Buckbeak trying to tip toe a few feet only to find his hooves sliding further into the dirt. "Yes, we'll apparate." He said, turning back to them.
The three of them looked at each other then apparated to the front door of the mansion. It was tall and made of a dark, rotting wood which appeared to have suffered from wood worm. There were several small hole around the door and the frame was battered.
Hermione, Ginny and Harry pulled out their wands as they each pushed the door. It swung open easily and made no noise.
The large greeting hall was empty and atrociously dirty. Harry knew that Aunt Petunia would have a fit if she knew where he was. He shook his himself mentally. Why had he thought about Aunt Petunia? He hadn't thought about her for years.
The three of them walked upstairs, not caring about the noise they made. Hermione's heels hit the solid wood and the noise echoed about the house. It sounded to Harry like a horse was in the house, but he didn't say that. He knew that if he did, Hermione would curse him.
Slowly they reached the top which led to a small hall. It led to a grimy door. Harry and Ginny exchanged looks before they continued.
Then Hermione pulled them back. "no." she said forcefully in a low voice. Ginny and Harry looked at her in surprise.
"Stay out here and come in if I call." She said.
"What?" Harry exclaimed. Hermione gave him a hard look.
"I mean it Harry. This is between me, Ron and Voldemort." She said firmly.
"But Ron is my friend too," Harry protested.
"And he's my brother!" Ginny said quickly. Hermione looked unfazed.
"I need to do this alone. I'm a powerful witch, I know I can do this." She said.
Harry thought for a moment and then nodded in defeat. At least he could run in and fight if she needed him. He thought that were he in Hermione's position and it was Ginny in that room, he would have done the same.
Ginny however, was having none of it.
"I have already lost my parents and two of my brothers." She said acidly. Her eyes screwed up in hurt and anger and she hissed at Hermione, who's eyes grew wide and watery.
" I have every right to be in there to fight. Harry, you can stay outside. I'm going with Hermione." Ginny continued, she gave a look so scary at the two of them as if to dare them to argue.
"Why do I have to stay outside?" Harry asked in a shocked voice. If Ginny was allowed to go in, surely he was too?
"Stay Harry," Ginny ordered as if she thought he was a dog.
Harry froze on the spot and nodded with wide eyes. Of course he'll do whatever she says.
Hermione and Ginny turned and walked down the hall. They reached the door, and without looking back at Harry, the opened the door…
…Harry held his breath, suddenly someone placed a hand on his shoulder, making Harry gasp and clutch his wand tightly.
"Hello again, Potter," said a malicious voice.
Harry turned and his eyes turned cold as memories flashed before his eyes. Anger boiled in his veins and he glared at the wizard before him.
"Malfoy," He whispered.
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