To Friendship

Well, here is the final chapter, I hope you enjoy it.

Harry was warm and comfortable as his eyes flickered open. He was in a dank room lit only by candles and small rays of sunlight that came in through the cracks of the window. He shifted uncomfortably in order to stretch his stiff and sore muscles.

"Good morning Harry."

Harry heard the sound of a familiar, friendly voice. He turned towards it and saw through his blurry eyes, the fuzzy figure of a tall, thin man. Harry reached for his glasses on the bed stand and fumbled to put them on.

The man was Lupin, who had now pulled his small wood chair up beside Harry's bedside.

Harry sat up in bed and cringed slightly from a raging headache.

"Who punched me?"

Lupin let out a small laugh. "Bill Weasley has quite the right hook."

Harry groaned in pain as he rubbed the side of his head.

"I'll remember to thank him."

Lupin's expression turned serious.

"You should thank him, Harry."

Harry sighed deeply and hung his head to the side. He knew where this conversation was going.

"Are you going to lecture me?"

Lupin pursed his lips and frowned.

"No, I won't."

Harry looked to Lupin curiously.

"You know what you did was reckless and wrong, but…I also understand your intentions."

"You do?"

Lupin nodded kindly toward Harry.

"I know you feel alone in this Harry, but we all understand how hard this is for you and everyone is more than willing to stand with you through it all."

Harry, not wanting to continue this conversation replied with a simple thank you.

Lupin sensed this and was silent for a moment, contemplating his next words.

"Er-Harry… I know how close you had grown to Sirius and I want you to know that I'm here for you if you ever need some kind of…father figure."

Harry let out a small smile of gratitude and nodded silently.

"Also, I'm not supposed to say, but I think you're old enough to make your own decision."

This now sparked Harry's interest.

"What do you mean?"

"Sirius…in his will he divided his Gringotts bank account between you, I and the Weasley's…You have also inherited Number 12 Grimauld place."

Harry's eyes lit up for a moment.

"What?...Are you serious?"

Lupin only nodded trying to fight the smile that was reflecting Harry's.

"Well…Can I move in?" Harry asked with excitement.

"You know the consequences Harry…You have protection at your aunt and uncles home, but it is your decision."

Harry thought for a few short moments before making his decision.

"I want to…I'm only at the Dursely's for two months out of the year…I think I can handle it."

Lupin nodded in approval of Harry's decision.

"Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"they're fine…already back at Hogwart's which is where you'll be off to tomorrow morning to finish term."

Harry shifted in his bed. School hardly seemed important this year what with every thing that had happened.

"It's Hogsmead weekend tomorrow…Hermione should be sending you an owl as to where to meet them in the village."

"Right," Harry said nodding.

Lupin smiled mildly at Harry and stood from his chair. As he was about to exit the small room lupin turned around slowly.

"You know," He started. "As angry as everyone was with you for your recklessness…we were also very impressed," Lupin smiled slyly and finally left the room.

The memories of the night before finally came flooding back into Harry's mind. He and his best friends had pulled off with ease one of the most difficult charms known in the wizarding world. Maybe the adults in his life would start treating him with a little more respect and not like a helpless child. And with the prospect of his future living condition…Harry could already tell that his next and final year at Hogwarts would be better one.

Hermione trudged down the cold, wet dirt path. Her small legs, numb from the temperature and jeans soaked from the puddles that splashed up water as she stepped through them. It was early March and the heavy rain that had fallen earlier caused a sharp chill, which made Hermione wrap her pink corduroy jacket even tighter around her.

It was a late afternoon on a Hogsmead weekend, and Hermione had owled Harry late last night informing him of to where to meet her in the village. She was on her way there now. The incident at little Hangleton was only three days ago, and it was fuzzy in her memory like a dream.

As Hermione paced quickly down the abandoned streets her thoughts ran wildly through the events of her sixth year. Her horrifying meeting with the dark lord, the difficult classes with difficult Snape, the growth of her relationship with Ron, the death of Charlie, and her most recent adventure: The trio's battle against Voldemort and his death eaters.

The year had certainly gone by fast and as she had predicted, it had been harder, but at least she was alive.

"Hermione!"

Hermione heard a familiar voice yelling to her through the rain. She turned towards it, the wet strands of hair whipping her in the eyes.

It was Harry. Waiting for her at the exact cross streets she had instructed him to be at. She wiped the hair out of her eyes and ran through the puddles toward him.

He was standing in front of the book store, wet and cold.

"Hi Harry, How are you?"

"Freezing and soaked to the bone…You?"

Hermione looked at her best friend incredulously.

"Harry…Why didn't you wait for me in the store?" She said signaling to the near by book store.

Harry look towards the store and frowned, "Because I didn't want to be caught willingly going into a book store by you…I'd never hear the end of it."

"Haha," Hermione said and motioned for Harry to follow her.

"Come on, Ron is waiting for us at the three broomsticks."

Harry and Hermione walked down the soggy streets in silence until they finally reached their destination.

Once inside, Harry and Hermione removed their wet coats and quickly found Ron who they comfortably sat down with. Ron passed out the butterbeers to them as they settled in.

"So…did you pair come straight back to Hogwart's?" Harry asked.

"Straight away…Professor Jones took us back," Ron started.

"Dumbledore was upset," Hermione added

"Angry?"

"Not angry…mostly worried I think."

Harry frowned and shook his head.

"I didn't want to hurt any of you…I just wanted to put an end to it all."

"We know you did, Harry," Ron consoled him.

And Hermione nodded in agreement. Hermione knew exactly what Harry's intentions were. She also understood how alone he must be feeling, but he had to understand how much people cared about him and that no matter what he said he wasn't going to be alone.

"And you two…Your alright now?" Harry asked in reference to his friend's fight they had at Valentines Day.

The couple smiled and Ron took Hermione's hand in his.

"Well, we haven't had much time to talk, but-" Ron started.

"But, I simply told Ron he was being daft, but I love him for it," Hermione finished.

"That's great!"

The group smiled warmly and grew into an uncomfortable silence. Every one of them thinking about the recent events. Harry's thoughts, however had actually wandered off to a certain Red-haired girl. He had kissed Ginny only a few nights ago with the expectation that he would probably never see her again. The sudden thought of having to confront his actions scared him and excited him and the same time. Even through all of the madness of the war, he had to have time for a social life.

After some time Harry finally spoke up quietly.

"Thank you."

Ron and Hermione looked to him curiously.

"For always being there…even when I don't want you to be," He continued.

"Harry…" Hermione started. "I may be wrong about this, but the fact that the three of us were able to perform a rare defensive charm proves to me that we are stronger together than alone. I don't care what the prophecy says…you may be the one who can vanquish Voldemort, but it says nothing about you not having help, Harry I think-"

"Hermione…" Ron said her name quietly but with force. She cut off her speech and looked to her boyfriend. "Harry doesn't need a lecture." Ron finished.

Hermione blushed "Sorry."

"No problem, I actually, well, your right," Harry confessed and his friends smiled at him.

Harry had realized that love truly was going to be the force that defeated Voldemort, and while Harry probably had plenty of love in him, he would need that of his friends too.

"So Harry, have you given any thought to this summer, or is it back to the muggles again?" Ron asked.

A spark of happiness suddenly went off inside of Harry.

"Oh, I can't believe I almost forgot! I've inherited Sirius's place! I'm going to live there!"

"Are you bloody serious?" Ron exclaimed.

"yeah, isn't it great?"

"I'm so happy for you Harry!"

"What about you guys, what will you be doing?"

"Studying for our apparition test first and foremost," Hermione stated and Ron groaned.

"I was actually hoping we could study a few other things," Ron said while grinning mischievously.

"Ron!" Hermione blushed and laughed softly.

There had been heartache and losses this year, like all the others and Harry knew that there was more to come. But this year, also just like the others, Harry and his two best friends would be traveling home together, safely on the Hogwart's express.

Harry smiled at his friends and raised his glass.

"Well, here's to getting through another year."

Hermione smiled as well and raised her own glass.

"And here's to getting through next year."

Harry and Hermione touched glassed and they both looked to Ron, who appeared pensive.

"Ron?" Hermione asked with concern.

After a few moments Ron looked up at them, not smiling but impartial and relaxed.

He raised his glass as well. "To friendship," Ron stated.

The three friends touched glasses and drank deeply with high hopes for a better year. However, they all knew that no matter how bad it got; all would be good as long as they had each other.

There it is, The END! I really hope that you have enjoyed the whole story, and I greatly appreciate all the support I had from my reviewers, you guys kept the story alive. Please write in your last review and let me know what you thought. Thanks again, I'm going to miss writing this story