Dumbledore sat down in deep thought. Harry looked at him expectantly whilst everyone else continued to stare at him as if he were a monkey in a zoo. Well, Harry kind of supposed he was. Everyone else was normal. He was now officially a freak with extra powers.

When Dumbledore finally spoke, it wasn't with words Harry had expected. "Harry," he started slowly, "I have…expected this to happen for quite some time. Although, I expected it to happen sooner. Maybe in your fifth year. I had almost given up this theory of mine but today you've have proved me right. Thank you."

Harry blinked. "Right," he said slowly. "Um, that's ok, I guess…"

Dumbledore looked at Sirius. They had obviously been talking about him. Sirius looked at Harry seriously (a/n: no pun intended). "Harry, we…" He stopped and looked at Dumbledore.

Harry laughed out of his nervousness, and everyone in the room turned to stare at him. Harry grinned nervously. "If it's this hard to say maybe I don't wanna know!" he said weakly, trying to keep his grin steady.

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Harry – we believe that you are the heir to Godric Griffindor."

Harry blinked again. He seemed to be doing that a lot. "Sorry, what?"

"You are Godric Griffindor's heir."

Harry leaned back in his chair and took in this thought. Godric Griffindor, co-founder of this school, supposedly one of the four greatest wizards in history, was supposed to be his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great…and so on, grandfather?

Well, I supposed it makes sense. After all, what else would explain this mind thing I can do? But I didn't know that Griffindor could do that… Harry voiced this thought to Dumbledore.

"No, not many people do know that. But he could. It was one of his specialties, just as speaking parseltongue was one of Salazar's."

Harry frowned. He was still confused. "But, professor, why did the hat say to me in my first year that I would be good in Slytherin? I mean, I know I had all those things that Voldemort passed to me when he tried to kill me, but if I'm Godric's heir, wouldn't that be stronger?"

"Yes, but you only now realise the true strength of your powers. We only now know that you are Godric's heir. Or, think, at least. Even Tom Riddle didn't figure out he was Salazar's heir at first. It took you longer to hone in your powers, I must say."

Harry didn't like the sound of that. It meant that Voldemort (Tom Riddle) was stronger than he was. "Ok. So…I'm the heir to Griffindor, Voldemort's the heir to Slytherin… I have to fight him?" Harry's voice was quiet. Dumbledore didn't say anything. He simply leant back in his chair. Harry turned to Sirius and Remus in support, but neither spoke. "Are you saying that you are going to let me go kick Voldemort's butt before he comes to find me first?" Harry's mouth was twitching into a strange smile. All these years, Ron and Hermione had always warned him against going to get revenge on Voldemort for what he did to his parents. They'd always kept a close eye on him. And now the head teacher, two strangers, a teacher, and two of his parents' closest friends were basically telling him that this was what he had to do?

Sirius frowned. "Harry, are you ok?"

Harry stood up and grinned. "Yes, I'm fine. I've been wanting someone to say this to me for a long time. Voldemort has hurt me too many times for me to pass an opportunity like this. Let's do this." He turned to Dumbledore who was smiling proudly. "When do we do it?"

Ron's mouth dropped open as Harry finished speaking. They were in the library, where Harry had found Ron, after his meeting with Dumbledore and the others had finished. Ron stood up, but Harry placed a firm hand o his shoulder and pushed him back open. Ron's mouth was still open, so Harry shut it for him, laughing. "You are heir to Griffindor?" he whispered, pointing at him slowly.

Harry grinned. "Yeah, it was a shock to me, too. But it makes sense, right? With all these new things I can do…"

"Harry, that's brilliant!!" Ron stood up and pulled Harry into an over-enthusiastic hug.

"Ok…" Harry pulled away smiling at Ron. "What's this about?!"

Ron sat down again and so did Harry. "That means that you're not evil!"

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"My dad said that this year, with everyone getting older, there might be some new things happening, strong powers and stuff coming out of shells. He said they were most likely to be evil powers, happening to evil people. When you showed me that white queen shoot into your hand, I was really worried, and tried not to think about it. But then when you killed that hermitan with the really powerful, supposed-to-be-hard spell, I knew, or, I thought that Dad was probably right."

Harry smiled and raised both his eyebrows this time. "Well, that explains a lot!" he said laughing.

Ron laughed as well. The sound that Harry knew well from his best friend – but suddenly – it stopped. It didn't die down. It just stopped. Ron's smile disappeared and his face went white. "Ron?" Harry looked worried and stopped laughing as well. "What? What is it?"

Ron looked angry, but didn't frown. "You said you were going after Voldemort."

"Well, yeah…"

"How…how could you…how could you do that?"

"Ron, we've already been through this. Both my parents and Hermione meant the world to me. And I lost them both. The price of my life was theirs. But don't you see? It's all part of the plan. They died so that I could live to stop Voldemort. They helped me to stay alive so that I could stop Voldemort – I can't just dismiss this and pretend all this stuff isn't happening to me, can I?" Ron was quiet. "I'm the heir to Godric Griffindor – that means a lot more than some people may think. I have to do this, Ron. I…I want to do this."

Ron frowned and his mouth fell open. "You want to? Ok, you can think of it as your destiney, if you want, whatever, but you actually want to?" Harry tried to explain, but Ron stood up, not letting him. "What about me? What would I do if you died? I've already lost Hermione!"

Harry stood as well, frowning. Ron scorned, "Oh, is it such a big surprise that I miss Hermione? Sorry, did you forget that she was my best friend as well? Did you forget all those years the three of us spent together before you two decided you were in love?"

"Ron, we never left you out or anything…"

"No. No you didn't. You two were the best friends I've ever had – and ever will have probably. We went through everything together…and you didn't think I would miss her?"

"No, of course I thought you would miss her, I just…" Harry didn't no what to say.

"You just thought that you missed her more, did you?" Ron dropped his voice to a low whisper. "I would give anything to have her back again, just like you would. Anything. And now you're thinking of leaving me too." Ron picked up his books and stormed out of the library. Harry sat down, mouth open, frowning in confusion.

Ron didn't speak to Harry for days. Harry attempted to speak to Ron, but after a while, seeing it wasn't working, he gave up. If anyone noticed this rift in their friendship, no one mentioned it, although whenever Ron and Harry were in the same room together, people did look up, expecting to see a fight. Usually, in these situations, Harry would look at Ron, his eyes pleading with him, but Ron would look away, and walk on past, and so Harry would do the same. And talk sprung up again.

Hallowe'en came and went, with no special tricks from the Griffindors; although they themselves were set upon by thousands of mice in their common room, whose bites turned your skin temporarily green, much to the Slytherins' amusement. Everyone had expected Harry, Ron, and the others to come up with something to get the Slytherins back with, but with Harry and Ron's "disagreement" (for no one knew exactly why they weren't talking), Dean, Seamus, Neville, Parvati and Lavender thought it would be unsuitable to think up something without them.

In their fourth year, there had been a time when Harry and Ron hadn't spoken. It had been during the "Triwizard Tournament" – a tournament in which different seventh years competed in dangerous competitions. Harry's name had been chosen; even though he hadn't signed himself up for it, and was a fourth year. Everyone thought he had signed himself up, though. And Ron had got jealous, accusing Harry of always having to be the best, always having to win everything and be the famous one. They hadn't spoken for weeks. Harry remembered how he had felt then: horrible and lonely. But what he felt now was ten times worse. Because back then, he knew that Ron was in the wrong. But now, Harry knew exactly why Ron was angry, and he didn't blame him.

Harry was depressed. He had lost Hermione, Ron was angry at him, and he was walking himself slowly into death. Dumbledore had already started on the plans to seek out Voldemort. The one thing that drove Harry crazy was: Would any of this be happening if Hermione were still alive? Probably not, Harry concluded. Because he wouldn't be so driven with the idea of revenge that he probably wouldn't have agreed to helping Dumbledore. And even if Harry had wanted to agree, Ron would have ignored him and been angry at him, like he was doing just then, and Hermione would have pleaded with him not to. Both forces usually worked on Harry in the end. But right then it was just Ron. And Harry wasn't sure whether that was enough to change his mind.

He did like his life (apart from the one at home with his lovable Aunt Petunia and Uncle Dursley, who, still, after 16 years of looking after him, hated his guts). But did Harry like his life more than he hated Voldemort? He wasn't sure. All he knew was the pain that he'd been through…he didn't want anyone else to have to feel that.

So was Ron right? Was Harry just trying to be a hero and look good that he died facing up to Voldemort? He didn't know. He didn't know anything. He felt lost and alone. He needed help. But he couldn't ask anyone for advice. He couldn't ask Dumbledore; all he would say was, "It is your life, Harry; it is up to you to make your own life decisions." Sirius would probably remind him that his parents sacrificed their lives for him, and Remus would remind him that Voldemort was an evil criminal who needed to be stopped. Harry already knew that Ron was against it, and Hermione was dead. Who else was there? No one. No one else knew Harry well enough to advise him.

Of course, there was Hagrid…

"Hagrid?" Harry banged on the door again and again. No answer. It was raining, and Harry wrapped his cloak around him as he shivered from the cold. He took a few steps back as he heard Fang bound to the door. The door opened and Fang leapt out, just missing Harry, as he ran into the warmth of the little hut.

Harry walked straight over to the fire and stood by it, shaking. He could hear Hagrid do something in the kitchen, and then appeared to the left of him holding two warm cups of coffee. Harry took a cup, "Thanks, Hagrid," and sat down.

Hagrid sat down on the chair opposite him across the table. His expression was a worried one. " 'Arry, you haven't visited me in a while."

"I know, I'm sorry, Hagrid. I've had…I've had a lot of things on my mind."

"I can see that." Hagrid leaned forward and set his quickly-empty coffee cup down. Harry still had some left, and warmed his hands on the outside of the cup. Hagrid leaned back again comfortably. "What's wrong, 'arry?"

Harry took a deep breath, and slowly explained everything that had happened in the last month or so to Hagrid. He knew that he could trust Hagrid, and so also told him about a certain wizard called Godric being an ancestor of his, and surprised Hagrid by making his fire leap up higher and send out even more warmth.

Hagrid was surprised by what Harry told and showed him, but managed to stay calm and didn't leap out of his chair in fright, much as Harry had expected him to do. Though he didn't say anything for a while, and Harry was afraid to speak; he didn't want to interrupt Hagrid's thoughts.

After a few minutes, just as Harry was going to give in, Hagrid spoke, in a quiet, thoughtful tone (which was quite rare for him). " 'Arry, I know ya gonna be angry, but… I already knew 'bout all this."

Harry leaned slowly back in his chair. He already knew? "Well…how…how did you know?"

"Something you should also know…Professor Dumbledore has known for as long as I 'ave."

Harry was surprised. "So…why has he only told me now?"

Hagrid looked uncomfortable. "He…he wanted to protect ya. Couldn't 'ave the whole school knowing you was Griffindor's heir. 'E thought it would complicate things."

"Well…" Harry didn't know what to say. He thought he should stay quiet and let Hagrid talk for a bit.

Hagrid got the hint (Harry was staring at him expectantly) and sighed. "Well, for starters, o' course your mum and dad knew. It was on your dad's side o' the fam'ly, o' course. James never told no one, 'cept for his Lily, and Professor Dumbledore. When ya parents died, the only people who were told was Sirius and Remus, as they were close friends, and me and Arabella Figg. He thought we could help protect you. Arabella at home and me 'ere. Professor Dumbledore said he would 'elp keep an eye on ya as well, but being a Headmaster o' a school like this one, it's a tough job. He said he would tell ya when the time was right, but, I din't think that he would tell ya when you were still in school. It's gettin' bad though, 'arry, as you o' all peoples should know. I guess he thought he 'ad to tell ya."

The fact that all of the adults closest to Harry at that moment, had known something about him all his life, and had never told him, angered him a little. "So…so that's why I was put onto the Hogwarts list," he said slowly. "Dumbledore knew that one day, he would need me. Sorry, no, he would need my powers…"

" 'Arry, don't put it like that. It makes Professor Dumbledore sound bad. He only did what anyone would do. We need ya, 'arry. V-V-… you-know-oo aint gonna go away ya know…"

"I know. You need me," Harry said quietly. He looked directly at Hagrid then. "So, basically, I have no choice. I came to you for advice, then you come right out and say that I have no choice whether I want to die or not. It's in my blood, it's what my parents would have wanted of me…"

Hagrid looked troubled, and leaned forward. "O' course ya 'ave a choice, 'arry. No one's gonna force ya to do anyfin. It's your life. All I was tryin' ta say, was…"

"That I am like a tool in the universe. I might as well be a rabbit for God's sake. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I am Godric's heir, and therefore I have no choice in my destiny." Harry stood up. "Well I'm tired of not being in charge of my life." Harry did then what he had wanted to do for a long time. He burst into tears, and ran out of Hagrid's hut into the cold desolate life he had always known.

Hermione sat on the arm of the sofa that Harry was sitting on. He grabbed her arm and held onto her hand softly, stroking it. Hermione slid from the arm into the space next to Harry, and he slid his fingers more firmly into her hand, smiling. She smiled back. "Don't let anyone force you into anything, Harry. It's your life." Harry continued to smile into her lovely face. "All that matters is that we're together." Harry leaned in to kiss her, and when he pulled back, Hermione had gone, and Cassandra was sitting there.

Harry just smiled. He felt happy. Cassandra smiled back, and they both turned to Harry's parents. "The two sides – united in peace at last," said Lily formally. She turned to James and kissed him on the cheek. James smiled at Lily then at Harry. Harry turned back to Cassandra, who kissed him again on the lips. She pulled back. "I love you, Harry…"

Harry shot up in bed, sweating. He looked around him anxiously. No one was there. He reached for his glasses and put them on, laying back down again, shaking. What troubled him about the dream wasn't exactly that Cassandra had seemed to replace Hermione. It was that he felt happier with Cassandra…

a/n: ok, before you get scared and worried and angry with the Cassandra/Hermione thing, I want you all to take deep breaths and calm yourselves!! DON'T HURT ME! I'm sorry! But worry not, my friends. It will all be sorted out in the end. For the time being though, REVIEW!!

~rowan

xxxxxxxx