A/N: Thanks to those who continue this long and incredible journey with me! Thanks to all those who continue to leave amazing and kind words in their reviews! They really mean a lot to me!
It was late into the evening at Grimmauld Place. Sirius found himself surrounded by a familiar group of occupants at the kitchen table. Many of them with saddened faces while other figures noticeably absent entirely.
"First order of business," Sirius cleared his throat to address the dwindling Order he had known for so long. "What are we going to do about Harry?"
"Harry?" Molly Weasley looked up at him concerned. "What's wrong with Harry?"
"Nothing is wrong with him," Sirius said calmly. "But with Dumbledore gone, his life is more at risk than ever. Especially after Snape betraying us."
"I still can't believe Snape killed Dumbledore," Remus commented. "Dumbledore had always trusted him above everyone else. Well… everyone except Harry probably."
"Yes… I think I speak for all of us on how shocked we all were," Sirius said. "But we can not dwell on that now. Harry is vulnerable now more than ever with Dumbledore not around to protect him anymore. We need to come up with a plan."
"He's shouldn't be going back to Privet Drive," Tonks suggested strongly. "We all know what happened last time he was there."
"Exactly," Molly agreed. "We can't risk the blood wards failing again. Especially not now. We got lucky last time. Dumbledore isn't here to rescue him this time."
"Why did the wards fail in the first place anyway?" Remus asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Sirius rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Maybe it has to do with the fact that he doesn't see it as home anymore or that night he had no intention of ever coming back. I'm still not entirely sure."
"Then where is he to go?" Molly pressed. "Surely you're not sending him back there?"
Sirius shook his head. "No, we can't risk it."
"May I suggest Harry come and stay with us for the summer?" Arthur Weasley offered subtly.
Sirius took heart to the man's words as he knew how risky it would taking in Harry now. He would essentially be putting all his family at risk from Voldemort himself because of it and painting a target on his back.
Arthur Weasley had been one of Harry's first father figures to actually care for Harry. Sirius knew Arthur did not hesitate a second about sheltering Harry from Voldemort as he knew the man saw Harry as one of his own sons.
"A perfect idea!" Molly beamed at her husband. "And we can make sure Bill has the strongest wards in place."
"An excellent idea," Sirius smiled at the two Weasleys. "Thank you."
"But Harry should stay at Hogwarts until he turns seventeen," Remus countered. "Some of Dumbledore's protections will remain on Harry until he turns seventeen. Those can only remain strongest on him unless he stays at Hogwarts."
Sirius nodded in agreement. "Yes, that will be best for Harry. I will make sure to stay with him until then."
"And who will be taking Dumbledore's place as leader of the Order?" Tonks changed the topic.
Silence filled the room.
"I will," Sirius stood to face the table and was relieved to find that no one rejected his proposition. "That is why Harry will need to go to the Burrow when he turns seventeen. We have much work to do and it is our duty to finish this once and for all."
Everyone cheered in agreement and the necessary ceremony and ritual were held, passing the leadership over to Sirius. It was a simple, but at the same time, a very complex procedure. After several minutes, it was finally done.
It was now official. The Order of the Phoenix had a new leader. And that new leader was Sirius Black.
"It's going to be alright," Hermione tried to comfort her friend but was doing so unsuccessfully while Ginny shoved her belonging into her school trunk rather aggressively. "He's going to be fine."
"You don't have to keep telling me that," Ginny spat, becoming annoyed at everyone's attempt to comfort her.
It was the last day of term—but the day previous—she had been bombshell with the news that Harry would be staying at Hogwarts and no one would be allowed to stay with him. At least not her or any of his friends.
"Sirius will be here… and so will McGonagall and even Remus," Hermione said calmly as she continued to watch Ginny forcefully stuff her belonging into her trunk. "Then he'll be at the Burrow once he turns seventeen. We can all celebrate his birthday together when he gets there."
"Then what's the big deal if I stay with him too!" Ginny roared angrily.
"Because it needs to seem that he has gone home with the rest of the students too," Hermione explained. "Voldemort needs to believe that he got on that train too. The less attention he has on Hogwarts the better."
"Fine," Ginny pouted, realizing this was a battle she would never win. Not against Hermione or her mother it seemed. "I hope he doesn't get too bored."
"Ginny, he has Sirius and Remus with him," Hermione laughed. "Just imagine what the three of them are going to get themselves in to with a castle all to themselves."
Ginny had to chuckle at this. "I can only imagine."
"Are you sure you're going to be alright mate?" Ron asked his best friend as he finished packing the last of his things into his school trunk.
He looked upon the dorm he had come to call home the last six years realizing this was going to be the last time he ever saw these walls. Ron knew Harry had no intention of coming back to Hogwarts next school year as he was going to begin his hunt for the Horcruxes to finally put an end to Voldemort and he had every intention on joining him on his quest. Hermione too had said she would not be coming back and would be joining them alongside Ginny.
Ron didn't like the idea of his sister joining them but knew Harry was going to need all the help and support he could get. Fortunately, Ginny was able to do that more than anyone else.
"I will be," Harry nodded but Ron still could see the sadness in his friend's eyes. "Better than going back to the Dursleys."
"That's for bloody sure," Ron chuckled. "And before you know it you'll be at the Burrow with me, Ginny, Mione, and everyone else."
"Just in time for my birthday and the wedding," Harry observed.
"Yeah," Ron said excitedly. The first of the Weasley brothers were finally getting married and to Fleur of all people.
Ron looked at his friend and could still see the yearning of wanting to go with them beneath his eyes. He knew Harry wouldn't be alone but knew at the same time he wanted to ride home on the Hogwarts Express like any other student, next to his friends and girlfriend. All Harry wanted was what every other student was. He wanted to be normal.
"You know Ginny was livid when she found out you were staying here and couldn't be with you," Ron tried to cheer his friend up. He had come to learn that when he talked about his sister it always seemed to lift Harry's mood.
That gave him a smile and a low chuckle from him.
"I heard," Harry laughed lightly. "Got in quite an argument with Sirius and your mum. She only calmed down once your dad finally stepped in."
"It's all true," Ron said with a grin across his face. "She's mental that one. You know she has every intention of coming with us?"
"I tried," Harry replied, his face dropping again as he thought about the previous day's events in how he tried to break up with her for her safety but she refused to allow or hear any of it.
"I heard," Ron said calmly as he gripped Harry's shoulder to show his support.
Ginny had told Hermione everything, which in turn, she had then told him everything. At first he was furious at why Harry had tried to break up with his sister but quickly had calmed down when he realized why Harry had tried to. He really did care for and love her and they were probably going to be together forever if they all survived to see the end of this war. This made him even respect his friend even more because of it.
"I thought you would be mad?" Harry asked when he saw that Ron's face and emotions had remained calm. If anything, they had become warmer towards him.
"I'm not because I know why you did it," Ron smiled. "And anyone who puts the safety of my sister above themselves has my utmost approval. Plus, the two of you are stronger and better together. You're going to need her. Heck, we're probably all going to need her. Don't tell her I said that last bit."
Harry laughed before embracing his friend. One of the few times that had ever done so.
"Thanks, Ron," he said. "I'm so grateful you came to sit with me in that compartment all those years ago."
"Me too, Harry," Ron spoke faintly, refusing to let go of his friend as if Voldemort was right outside the door and going to take his friend away from him forever. "Me too."
Ginny had slowly made her way to the front gate of Hogwarts when she felt her trunk drop to the ground beside her. Everyone else had gone up ahead of them leaving Harry and Ginny at the rear.
"I can't do it," Ginny said, feeling the light tears begin to slide down the side of her face. "I can't leave you… not again."
Harry did not let go of her free hand that he was still holding on to and went to embrace her tightly.
"Everything is going to be alright," he whispered into her ear. "I'll be there before you know it."
"Last time I left you for the summer I saw you all bloodied and bruised," she cried into his shoulders. "I don't want that to happen again. I have to see you again. This can't be it."
Harry took her by the shoulders, forcing her watery eyes to look into his own calm, but determined ones.
"You will," he said without hesitation. "I will return to you. I promise."
Ginny nodded in agreement. This was silly of her. She was overreacting and she had to stay positive for Harry's sake. He had enough to worry about already; the last thing he needed was to worry about her as well.
"You better," she calmed herself. "Or I'll find a way to bring you back so I can kill you myself."
Harry chuckled at this. "You know, sometimes you scare me more than Voldemort."
"Good," Ginny grinned up at him. "Let's keep it that way."
Harry picked up Ginny's trunk and carried it down to the Hogsmeade Station the rest of the way, storing it in the luggage compartment at the back of the train for her.
Ginny noticed many of the students were paying extra attention to Harry when he made his appearance on the platform. Some were whispering and pointing him out to their friends while others went up to him to give their condolences and even show they were with and supported him.
It was about time people started showing him support. Especially after everything he went through last year of people not believing him that Voldemort was actually back.
"Quite fascinating, huh?" Hermione said, bringing Ginny's attention back from her thoughts.
"Sorry… what?"
"Harry," Hermione smiled as she continued looking at him interacting with all the other students, shaking hands and giving hugs. "The majority of them didn't believe him last year and made fun of him, but here he is forgiving each and every one of them like it was nothing even though it destroyed him in the inside."
"Because Harry has a big heart," Ginny smiled as she joined Hermione in watching Harry from a distance. "I think that's why I love him so much."
"And keep that in mind," Hermione said. "Dumbledore always told him that above all love is his greatest weapon. The one thing Voldemort could never have and I think it is ours as well."
Ginny nodded in agreement but said nothing more. How was someone supposed to respond to something like that? She knew it was all true though but prayed it was enough for him to rid Voldemort so he could live because it was either him or Voldemort. Not both. Not none. One had to die for the other to live and it had better be Harry.
Finally, the words came to her. "It's our love for Harry. That is our strongest weapon."
"I think you're right," Hermione said before taking Ginny by the wrist as the two of them made their way over towards Harry. "Let's go say our goodbyes."
Ron soon joined Hermione and Ginny as the three of them bid their farewells to their friend. Ginny engulfed him in one last passionate kiss and could care less of who was watching; including her brother.
"Remember your promise," Ginny muttered to him once they broke away.
"I promise," he replied, kissing her passionately once more. "Make sure my bed is ready for when I get there?"
"I will," she smiled back as she let go of his hand and followed Ron and Hermione on to the Hogwarts Express.
The three of them quietly found a compartment with Ginny taking the window seat so she could wave off Harry until she could see him no more.
She quickly noticed several emerging figures come from behind Harry and stood next to him. There was McGonagall, Remus, and Hagrid who was accompanied by his dog Fang. Additionally, a scruffy-looking dog emerged from behind him as well. Snuffles and Fang chased the train across the platform until there was nowhere left to go. Ginny kept waving at Harry until the train turned the corner and he could be seen no more.
"Feels weird doesn't it?" Ron commented as the three of them had noticed the dead silence that had filled their cabin. It was never this quiet.
"It just doesn't feel right without Harry," Hermione agreed.
Ginny did not respond but simply rested her head against the window and closed her eyes, wishing the next time she opened them she would see Harry.
Harry found himself that evening in front of Hagrid's Hut alongside Sirius and Remus with Fawkes and Hedwig taking the opportunity to fly around the castle's grounds above them. They stood slightly behind their giant friend who cried over the enormous spider that now laid dead in front of his house.
Aragog had died the previous night.
"Hagrid always had a way with creatures," Sirius whispered to Harry and Remus.
"Even though if they did try to kill you," Harry said as he remembered his and Ron's run-in with Aragog and his children during his second year.
"Ah, yes," Sirius laughed. "I remember telling me about your experience with him during your second year."
"And then he couldn't get enough of it so he moved on to Dementors and Werewolves the next year," Sirius joked.
Are Dementors even considered creatures?" Harry asked.
"No idea," Sirius replied. "But the world would be better off without them. That's for sure."
"Agreed," Harry and Remus said jointly.
Soon later; Harry, Remus, and Sirius followed Hagrid into his hut as he passed around celebratory drinks to everyone. They toasted to Aragog and Dumbledore; Hagrid becoming drunk shortly after his toast.
"This is for you," Harry felt Sirius take his hand and place a glass vial in them. "It's Slughorn's memory. Ginny had it and wanted to make sure it got to you."
"Thanks," Harry said before quietly storing the vial in his pocket. "I'll make sure to view it later. I think it's best I do this one alone."
"Just let me know if you need anything," Sirius said. "I'll always be here."
"I know," Harry smiled. "I'll let you all know what it says afterward."
Harry returned to his drink and spent the rest of the night chatting away with Sirius, Remus, and a very drunk Hagrid.
Ginny felt her eyes bolt open as she felt a violent tug almost causing her to fall to the compartment floor.
She looked out the train's window and noticed it had stooped. Why had they stopped? They had not made it back to Platform Nine and Three Quarters yet clearly. They were in the middle of an open field surrounding by nothing but hills and nature.
Then she saw it. Two black streaks had passed outside her window and had now made their way onto the train.
The three of them got up and opened up the compartment door to see who had stopped the train. Everyone else around them had done the same. Two large men dressed in all black with wands raised began making their way through the cabins, eyes briefly searching each compartment as if they were looking for someone in particular.
Death Eaters.
Ginny felt Hermione grasp her arm as the two Death Eaters walked closer to their compartment, their eyes still eagerly looking for Harry.
Ginny looked down and noticed that Hermione was tightly holding on to Ron's hand as well. She noticed his free hand was gripped tightly around his wand but hidden away from view in his pocket. Harry was not here to protect them now so Ron had placed the burden on himself now.
"Don't do anything stupid," Ginny heard Hermione mutter under hear breath to Ron.
"I won't," he whispered back at her, his voice clearly on edge. "Unless they do something first."
Ginny then found herself gripping her own wand in her pocket, doing the same as Ron. She wasn't going to be afraid of no Death Eaters. It was only two of them anyway. They could easily take them. What worried her was who might get hurt in the crossfire.
The Death Eaters had now approached their compartment and looked at them fiercely.
"He's not here," Ginny heard Seamus spat from across them, causing the two Death Eaters' attention away from them.
She could see Seamus gripping his own wand but was a lot less hidden about it compared to her and Ron. Seamus was known to have a temper but an even greater loyalty to his friends. Ginny found her respect for the boy who had a thick Irish accent increase tenfold.
The Death Eaters hissed at Seamus but carried on their way to search the rest of the train.
Ginny mouthed a silent 'thank you' at Seamus who responded with a simple nod before returning to her compartment with Ron and Hermione.
The three of them sat together silently for several long moments; their eyes either glancing out their compartment door or window, looking for any sign of more Death Eaters.
After another long several moments, the train slowly began to move again, signaling that the Death Eaters had finally left and given up on their search.
"That was close," Ron let out a deep breath that he seemed to have been holding in. "Good thing Harry stayed at Hogwarts."
"I knew things were going to get worse after Dumbledore's passing but I didn't think things would change this quickly," Ginny said.
"Voldemort only ever feared one wizard… Dumbledore," Hermione looked out the window without turning to face her two friends. "With him gone, Voldemort sees himself as unstoppable. He'll be after Harry more than ever now."
"I can't wait until Harry is back at the Burrow with us," Ginny crossed her arms. "I'll feel a lot better when he's there."
"I think we all would," Hermione agreed.
Harry found himself unable to sleep that night in the Gryffindor dormitory. It was silent and too quiet for his liking. He had grown used to hearing Ron's snoring or Seamus's slight movement as he turned in his bed. All he could hear now was the steady breathing of Fawkes and Hedwig on either side of him.
He pushed the covers off to the ground and made his way out of Gryffindor Tower with Fawkes and Hedwig deciding to join him on his midnight adventure. Where was he to go at this late hour of the night? He had no idea but was not surprised when he later found himself in Dumbledore's office, staring up at the headmaster's portrait that hung on the wall behind his desk.
The portrait had been done just a few days prior to his death and captured every essence of Dumbledore magnificently. His eyes were twinkling but full of wisdom like Harry had always seen them. What he would do to hug that man one last time. If only he had known what was to come.
Dumbledore's head turned at the sound of his incoming visitor and smiled brightly down at Harry from his portrait.
"Harry," he smiled brightly at the sight of his student and phoenix who now sat on Harry's shoulder. "I'm glad to find that Fawkes has chosen you as his new companion and lifelong friend."
"Thank you, sir," Harry smiled back at the professor. "I wasn't sure you would be awake. Professor McGonagall said it takes a couple of days for the portraits to come alive when first painted."
"I just woke a few hours ago," Dumbledore said, the twinkle still in his eyes. "You are my first visitor."
"I'm sorry, sir," Harry found himself breaking down in front of the portrait. "For everything."
"Harry," Dumbledore now looked at him straightly. "Whatever it is… whatever happened… it was not your fault. I'm afraid I only have the memories of what happened before I was painted."
Harry nodded as he wiped away the tears that had straked his face. He found himself wishing to tell Dumbledore's portrait about everything. How Snape had betrayed them and that their entire journey to the cave was for nothing but knew the portrait would not want to hear any of it because he was not real and only a memory of Dumbledore. He had even lost the real locket and had now noticed the sword of Godric Gryffindor had now disappeared from its usual hanging place behind Dumbledore's desk. Everything had gone so wrong.
"I know you face some difficult times ahead of you, Harry, but I know you can do it," the portrait finally spoke again after the room had filled with several long moments of silence. "Remember what your greatest weapon is. Love, Harry. Love for your family and friends."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"I got the memory," Harry held up the glass vial of Slughorn's memory for Dumbledore to see.
"Perfect," Dumbledore gleamed. "Let's see it now shall we?"
Harry went to grab and move Dumbledore's Pensive over to his desk so his portrait could watch it with him from above. Harry slowly poured the memory into the water of the Pensive and began to watch the true memory unfold.
It was much like the memory he had seen before except a few key differences. Slughorn actually explained what a Horcrux was to the young Tom Riddle this time before his student began asking how many times one could split his soul.
"What about… seven?" the pale white child asked before being replied with a horrific face coming from Slughorn.
Seven Horcruxes? Harry always knew that Voldemort had always been obsessed with the magic number seven. Dumbledore had told him that. But for one to actually split their soul seven times? No wonder why Voldemort looked so horrific and like a snake…
"The snake!" Harry exclaimed out loud as the memory ended and he was back in Dumbledore's office.
"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore acknowledged Harry's revelation. "It would seem Nagini is indeed one of his Horcruxes."
"And we destroyed his diary and ring," Harry pondered. "And then there is the locket as well. That leaves us three more to identify."
"Two actually," Dumbledore said. "I do not believe Voldemort succeeded in making his last Horcrux."
"Okay then," Harry continued thinking out loud alongside Dumbledore. "Any idea on the other two?"
"Remember, Voldemort liked making his Horcruxes on items that held great significance," Dumbledore explained. "I believe they have something to do with the other founders. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to be exact. He tried to make his seventh something of Gryffindor but could never find the sword. Thus, resulting in why he failed to make seven."
Harry felt like Dumbledore was hiding something but continued on anyway. There was no point in trying to persuade a painting anyways.
"Hermione probably has some guesses," Harry said after thinking about what the other two Horcruxes could possibly be. "Or at least an idea on where to start."
"I'm sure she does," Dumbledore smiled brightly.
Harry spent the next hour in Dumbledore's company but they did not talk about Horcruxes anymore. The two enjoyed each others' company even though one was not really there.
I better get back to bed, sir" Harry stood to take his leave for the night. "Thank you… for everything."
"Take care, Harry," Dumbledore looked upon his student one last time while Fawkes made his way up to Harry's shoulder once again. "And you too… old friend."