Hannah lay crying on Mrs. Figg's shoulder and was being comforted by several witches who worked at the bar of the Leaky Cauldron.

Dumbledore was outside with Ministry wizards who were investigating the portkey, which Hannah had just recently appeared from, in a terrified state. They has surrounded and questioned her profusely but it was to understand anything that she was saying because she was completely devastated and was crying hysterically.

All that Fudge and the reporters could make out was that Hannah had been taken hostage and that Voldemort had killed Harry. Dumbledore had soon come to her rescue and taken her into the Leaky Cauldron where she was greeted by Mrs. Figg who snatched her into her arms and patted her on the back. Dumbledore had to go back outside to keep things calm.

'Leave her be!' Mrs. Figg would snap every time a reporter tried to question Hannah about the incident. 'Can't you see that she is no state to talk. She just lost her brother for gods sakes!'

After the reporter left, Hannah wailed harder. 'He sacrificed himself to save me, he is dead and it's all my fault!'

'No Hannah, it wasn't your fault.' Said Mrs. Figg, a tear running down her own cheek. 'You didn't have any power over tonight's events.'

'Don't be hard on yourself like that dear, it was just meant to happen.' Said one of the bar ladies.

Hannah looked up at her with a pained face, 'But why, why was it meant to happen?'

'Who knows. Fate is a strange phenomenon that cannot always be explained. But everything happens for a reason.' The lady answered.

'It's just not fare.' Hannah said softly.

Just then there were many loud shouts of surprise coming from outside. Everyone turned to look as the door swung open to reveal Dumbledore followed closely by Harry.

Hannah was so shocked to see his pale face staring back at her that it took a few seconds before she jumped to her feet and ran over to hug him. They shared an equally emotional embrace, which like all the others was especially hard to let go of.

'Harry, I thought you were done for!' Hannah cried.

'I know, I thought I was too.' He replied.

'What happened?' Then she stared at him in horror, 'What about Voldemort, what happened to him?'

'It seems Harry has escaped him for yet another time.' Hannah looked up to see Dumbledore's face smiling down at them, relief evident on his face.

'So he is alive?' She asked.

'Wait. We shouldn't talk here. I will rent a few rooms for you to stay the night in and we can talk further about this there.' Said Dumbledore.

Before they could leave though, the door opened again and Cornelius Fudge appeared.

'Dumbledore, you can't just leave now, the reporters need to know every detail for the Prophet! I need to know!' He said furiously.

'There are two things that are worth learning Cornelius, and that is sympathy for others and patience.' Said Dumbledore calmly. 'How can you expect to get any information out of two youths who have only just suffered a very traumatic experience? Be reasonable, they need some time to settle down.'

'I am a sympathetic person Albus but this is very important news. The community need to know what has happened in case of immediate danger. How can you expect me to be patient!' Fudge exclaimed.

'I will tell you everything in the morning. There is no serious problem at the moment, it can wait. Listen, it's late. Why don't you go home and have an early nights rest, I will see you soon.' Said Dumbledore.

Dumbledore made it clear that the conversation had finished. Fudge just glared at them angrily.

'I will make it clear Dumbledore, that I am Minister and not you. I will let it go now but next time I won't stand for this nonsense!' And he stomped off.

Dumbledore turned to the others, who where all in a state of shock and relief, 'Come along, we don't have to worry about him anymore.'

Once they were in a room upstairs away from the crowd and noise, they made themselves comfortable. Before Dumbledore could start however, Mrs. Figg lunged for Harry and gave him a strangled hug.

'It's amazing what watching over a person for sixteen years can do to a person.' She sniffed.

Harry was surprised but hugged her back. Hannah watched them with her puffy eyes and smiled.

'Alright Harry and Hannah, I need you to tell me everything that happened and if you know it would be useful to know where Voldemort is hiding out.' Said Dumbledore.

'I thought we were too traumatised to recap what happened.' Said Harry sarcastically.

'You know I just said that to get rid of Fudge. The Ministry will only be told what they need to know. That's all. It could be devastating if they found out where Voldemort was staying.' Said Dumbledore.

'Okay,' said Harry. 'Well I first landed on a dirt road after going through the portkey and followed the left side. I remember having the feeling that I was being watched, which I was actually (he told them about Nagini) and then as I was going down the road I came across some blood and knew. hang on, Hannah your not even injured.' Said Harry looking confused.

Hannah's face twisted into a devilish grin.

'That's because I was never hurt. Actually I've done a little martial arts training in Italy and so when I was captured I put up a bit of a fight. They weren't going to get me that easily. I ended up throwing a rock at a Deatheater , Dolohov .and it hit the side of his head. That must be where the blood came from.' She said. 'But Lucius was with him and them managed to grab and bind me before taking me up to the house.' She shuddered at the memory.

'A house? Do you know where?' Dumbledore asked.

'No. It was just somewhere in a country area. Probably a small town nearby.' Hannah replied.

'I know what it is but not where. Malfoy called it the Riddle House. Apparently Tom, Voldemort lived there for a little while before killing his family. That's what he told me before I got away.' Said Harry.

Dumbledore registered triumph. 'Of course. It's the perfect place to hide. In a small muggle town in a deserted house.'

'Wait a moment. Harry how did you escape then?' Asked Mrs. Figg.

Harry explained about how Wormtail had saved his life unexpectedly, giving him time to run for the portkey and return like Hannah had.

'Peter died!' Said Dumbledore. 'Yes, it makes sense.'

'What do you mean?' asked Harry.

'Remember what I told you three years ago, how saving his life had formed a link between the two of you. That is one reason for Peters sacrifice. The other is that he must have been very unhappy and constantly regretting his decision of finding and bringing back Voldemort. (Mrs. Figg flinches). It was an escape route.' Said Dumbledore.

'Yeah, well none of this would have happened in the first place if I hadn't have let him live.' Said Harry.

'If he hadn't have found Voldemort then someone else would have. This was the best way for it to happen.' Dumbledore replied.

Harry merely nodded.

'But I still don't understand everything.' Said Mrs. Figg. The rest turned to look at her.

'How come no one else followed Harry through the portkey? They would have been able to fight off the ministry members.' She asked.

'Good question and simple answer.' Said Dumbledore wisely. 'The portkey had a special charm on it so that only Harry and Hannah could enter, making sure that no one else could follow them to Voldemort's secret hiding place. The mistake was that by chance if Harry managed to escape, which he did, no one was able to follow him out either. He must have been very sure that he had you this time.'

'Well he would have it Wormtail hadn't have intervened.' Said Hannah.

'Very true.' Said Mrs. Figg.

Harry smiled. 'You know, it's a strange coincidence that I always seem to encounter life threatening danger around the end of the school year or before the beginning of a new year.'

'You just have to be careful.' Said Mrs. Figg in a tense and serious tone. 'He is very strong right now and won't miss the chance to get you again if possible. And now he knows about Hannah so you both have to watch out.'

'I agree.' Dumbledore added, 'You will only be safe at school and at the Dursley's home. Hannah, I will have to arrange it that you stay with the Dursley's too for your own safety. And at any other time you must inform me if you want to go out, perhaps to Hogsmeade, and I will arrange for safe transport. Do not go wandering off at any time, please.'

Harry and Hannah nodded in agreement and then looked at each other gravely.

How much longer would they have to be so cautious for their lives and have to live in fear?

How long until Harry would have to finally meet his fate with Voldemort?

And would the world ever be in peace again or would Voldemort and his supporters continue to plague the world and cause devastation?

The answers are unpredictable. Only time can tell.