AN: Hello! I have been working on this chapter for what seems like forever. I have reached some of the later chapters I wrote awhile ago, but as the story has evolved, so has the timeline and thus the pre-written chapters are out of whack and needing some serious rewriting... Hence why it has taken SO long to update... I have more chapters written, but there still needs some buffer chapters and time line error corrected. Also, I am going on a road-trip starting tomorrow, and will not be back in town for a week and a half. So expect at least 3 weeks before the next chapter is posted.
Thank you for taking the time to read and review! ;0)

All bold writing are quotes from the fabulous Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I claim no credit whatsoever for them as they are straight from her feathered pen.

Chapter 25

Hermione sat near the entrance to the tent as a tear ran down her cheek. Sometimes she just wished she was a hermit with no friends to cause her worry or grief. Ginny was off on some messenger mission for the Order, Severus had informed her that Neville had nearly been beaten to death by the Carrow siblings at Hogwarts before he was notified to intervene, and Ron… Ronald had abandoned them in a ridiculous fit of rage and of false feelings of isolation. Of course it was only too late when they realized the cause of his abnormal behavior was due to the horcrux he was wearing around his neck. Still, the git had left, and they had needed to move locations again in order to keep safe, meaning he had no way of knowing their location, should he wish to return at some point. But most importantly, Hermione missed Severus. It had been a week since both had been able to meet because either Severus was being watched by a member of the staff (of either side), or Hermione was re-establishing camp some place and was needed to help set up wards which left her too drained for long-distance apparition.

And now Harry and Hermione were preparing to pick up camp again. After reaching a dead end of not knowing how to proceed with their search for horcruxes or how to destroy them, Hermione had finally given into Harry's desire to visit Godric's Hollow.

"Alright everything's ready inside. We just need to collapse the tent now." Harry said as he appeared at the entrance.

Hermione quickly ran her fingers under her eyes to confirm there were no more tears, and stood to help him with the tent. After she had the tent back in her bag, she faced him. It was a show of Harry's trust when he didn't even blink when she pointed her wand at his face and began disillusioning him. Harry was confident in her abilities, and besides he had not done anything recently to result in fear of a hex. As she began disillusioning herself, she spoke, "So we will apparate together right outside of the town limits, and then visit the graveyard. We'll have a look around, and then get out of there before anyone notices us. If anything suspicious happens, we leave immediately. Okay?"

"Alright."

"Now do you want to apparate us or shall I?" Hermione inquired. She was putting a lot of faith in Harry by asking, because this would be his first side-along apparition where he was the apparator.

"I'll do it." Harry swallowed.

Hermione nodded and although she tried to prevent it, a small nervous breath left her. When they arrived on the outskirts of town, Hermione took a moment to inventory her body parts before she opened her eyes. When she seemed to have everything accounted for she opened her eyes to see Harry looking at her with an amused, but proud smile. When his smile widened as if saying, 'see I did it! You were worried for nothing' Hermione just grinned and rolled her eyes.

They began quietly making their way toward the graveyard when Harry stopped. When she glanced at him, his face was one of shock, "I think today is Christmas Eve, Hermione." He pointed to all the holiday decorations and Christmas tree that was prominent in the town.

"I… I think you're right." With all the drama that had recently happened, neither had thought of the holidays. Hermione was hoping for a Christmas miracle where she could spend part of her Christmas with Severus.

They kept walking toward the graveyard when Hermione gasped. She would know that shape anywhere. "Harry quick over here." She dragged him behind a building.

"Hermione what is it?" Harry asked as he tried to look around the corner. Hermione quickly stopped him.

Severus! What are you doing here?

Hermione?

We are around the corner from you. What are you doing here?

I… I was visiting an old friend's grave.

Oh. Who's?

Lily Evans'.

Lily… Harry's mum?

Yes. She was the friend I had told you about.

I… Hermione didn't know what to say. She wanted to comfort him, but there was no time. You need to leave. Harry and I came to visit his parent's graves.

I have left. You can come out now. It was time I left anyways. Merry Christmas, my dear. I will meet you in a few days.

I miss you.

I miss you as well.

"Alright Harry, let's go."

"What was that about?" Harry asked. He hadn't noticed Severus in the graveyard luckily.

"There was someone over there. They left though."

"Oh." They walked arm in arm through the graveyard, up and down the rows on the cold, snowy night.

Harry suddenly stopped, "There they are." Sure enough there were two tombstones side-by-side

JAMES POTTER BORN 27 MARCH 1960 - DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

LILY POTTER BORN 30 JANUARY 1960 - DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

Harry didn't know what he expected to find when he got here… inspiration perhaps, but as he stood there the only thing he found was grief. This was as close to his parents as he would ever physically be: Standing on the ground six feet above their rotting corpses. His parents had loved him enough to die trying to protect him, and their sacrifice was needed only because of some prophecy a power seeking maniac had accounted to him. He could have been spending a nice cozy Christmas Eve in a home with them, but instead he was crying tears in a graveyard while holding his best friend's hand. Harry suddenly had the urge to run. He did not want to spend one more second in that place.

As they were walking back to the outskirts of town, Hermione suddenly stopped. "Harry look."

There at the end of the lane off to the side stood a house in complete disarray with a statue of a family. "Harry, I think that was your home."

She felt Harry tighten the grip on her hand before he changed direction to lead them down the lane.

As they neared Harry gasped. When they had walked up to the front walkway of the house, a magical sign had appeared

On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981,

Lily and James Potter lost their lives.

Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard

Ever to have survived the Killing Curse.

This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left

In its ruined stated as a monument to the Potters

And as a reminder of the violence

That tore apart their family.

Hermione looked to Harry and noticed him grinning. He noticed her confused frown, "Look at what they've written!" He said as he pointed to the edge of the sign.

All around the words were encouraging, recently hand written messages:

Good luck, Harry, wherever you are.

If you read this, Harry, we're all behind you!

Long live Harry Potter.

Hermione, while not a supporter of graffiti, was glad that the messages had brought a smile to Harry's face and some encouragement he seemed to so desperately need.

The two linked arms and began down the lane again when they heard a rustling in the bushes. They immediately whipped out their wands and pointed it at the sound. Harry slowly walked towards the bush, but Hermione tried to pull him back. Right when he turned to tell her to let his arm go, Hermione gasped as she saw the two black eyes staring at her from in between the leaves. Hermione barely had the time to send a shield in front of Harry before a giant snake struck out at him. It hit the shield as if it was an invisible wall, but neither Harry nor Hermione were quick enough to cast another shield that could physically stop the snake from striking again.

"Harry look out!" Hermione gasped as the snake's fangs elongated as if to bite his arm. Somehow Harry managed to wedge his wand sideways as the snake bit down.

It could have been a scene out of one of the cartoons Hermione used to watch as a child; Harry's wand propping the snake's mouth open was the only thing keeping the snake's fangs from imbedding in his arm. Suddenly Harry gasped as he heard the snapping of wood. Hermione didn't hesitate as she grabbed his free arm just in time and apparated them away leaving the snake behind.

She was breathing hard as they landed in the next forest. Once she caught her breath she turned around to see Harry clutching his arm, staring in horror at his wand which was broke in half.

"Harry, are you hurt? Did it bite you? I might have something that may help in here…" Hermione questioned one after the other as she began digging in her seemingly endless bag.

"No, it was close, but it didn't bite me." Harry was still looking in horror at his broken wand, "It may as well have though."

Finally Hermione turned to survey the damage Harry was so disheartened over. She tried spell after spell, but no spell could mend his wand. "I'm sorry, Harry."

"It… It's fine… I need to get some air, are you alright to set the tent up?" Harry didn't even wait for her to answer before he was stalking off into the forest to find a way to let out his frustration. Hermione sighed as she watched her friend walk away before setting up wards and then setting up the tent.

AN: Hope the chapter didn't seem too rushed...