Chapter Two

It was time to go back to Hogwarts again. It was time to see the Weasley's and Hermione again. It was time to break their hearts and keep them safe.

Harry didn't know how he was going to do it, but he knew he had to. There was no way that any of them would hurt because of him. There was no way he would let them be in danger because of him.

As Harry climbed down the stairs, walked out of the house and into the Dursley's car, he caught a glimpse of Aunt Petunia at the window. She looked sad for a moment, but just as quickly as Harry had thought that, she had walked away from the window. Harry smiled. He understood. Maybe it was confusing, but he understood his aunt. He didn't condone all the things she had done, or the way she acted, but at least Harry knew that she didn't hate him as much as it seemed.

When Uncle Vernon had made it to the station, he quickly got out of the car, got Harry's trunk and Hedwig out of the back seat and put it on the ground.

"Don't get into too much trouble now. We wouldn't want you to make any unnecessary trips back here and have us deal with you. Behave."

Harry laughed. He guessed that was the closest thing to caring he would ever get out of Uncle Vernon. He didn't care anymore though. After hearing the prophesy and realizing his fate, nothing seemed to really matter. The trivial things that had bothered him before seemed laughable now. The Dursleys knew nothing of the real world, or the dangers that were headed their way… They would never understand who Harry was, or what he was capable of. They would never be able to comprehend, what Harry's sole purpose in living really was. To rid the world of the biggest evil there was. Voldemort.

"Thanks. Will do." Harry said to the wind, because that's all that there was left, after Mr. Vernon Dursley had driven away as quickly as he could.

'Now for the hard part.' Harry thought. 'Now to make my friends and my true family turn away from me.'

Harry walked into the station and up to platform 9 and ¾. He had considered not coming at all, to protect all of Hogwarts but, he knew that would only make matters worse. It would make too many people worry about him, and put them in danger looking for him. As he walked through the wall to get to platform 9 and ¾ he felt the familiar rush of going to what felt like another dimension. He smiled as he looked at all the wizards around him. All the first years scared to go on the first trip to Hogwarts, and all the reluctant mothers to let their children go because of how much they would miss them. At that moment, Harry knew he just had to save this world. He couldn't let Voldemort win and destroy something so beautiful.

Family. He never really had one, but just looking around he knew that it was the most valuable thing in this world. He wouldn't let all these families be destroyed, even if it meant his own life being forsaken.

Dragging his trunk with his left hand and holding Hedwig in her cage in his right, Harry entered the train. He found an empty compartment and went in it. He had come early so he wouldn't have to face everyone else. He figured he could try to hide until at least they got to Hogwarts and then he could cut his friends loose from him forever.

Ron; his brother, his partner in crime. Hermione; his best friend, the one person, one girl who has always been there for him, the one girl that… It didn't matter now, that would all be part of the past shortly.

Just as he had thought that, he heard a huge commotion outside his compartment and what seemed the train itself.

"Ronald Weasley, we can not and will not let this train leave without Harry on it!"

He heard Ron sigh. "Hermione, did you ever think we should check the train? Harry might already be on it."

"Fine. You go and check it. I am going to stay outside here and wait. I am going to make sure that this train does not leave." Just as Harry thought she was done, Hermione seemed to have started yelling at someone else.

"You! Mr. Conductor sir, you will not move this train until I say so!"

"Ms. I have strict orders and obligations that I must move this…"

"No. I don't think you understand…"

He smiled. Hermione was such a strong-willed person. She could do anything when she put her mind to it, even it seemed, hold off the Hogwarts Express from leaving at its normal time that it did every year.

Lost in his reverie he hadn't noticed the knock on his door, or the person that had opened it with a big smile on his face.

"Hermione, I found him, can you leave the poor conductor alone now! He's inside the train." He heard Ron's laughter. "Jesus Harry. You would have thought that after you heard all the commotion outside you would have come out and saved the poor conductor of the train from Hermione…"

Harry suppressed the smile he wanted to give Ron. He couldn't be friendly. He wanted to wait until they got to Hogwarts but Ron had given him no choice in the matter…

"Ron I…" Just as he was going to cut his friendship with Ron short, Hermione came running on the train and straight into Harry's arms.

"Oh Harry! I was so worried. I thought you might do something stupid and not come, oh I know that sounds just horrible, but you know yourself just as well as I do and we both know that is something that you would think of doing…and Oh Harry it is so good to see you!"

"Hermione, would you let the boy breathe? The hug you are giving him is going to choke him to death! And slow your words down, I don't think anyone in this compartment understood one word you said."

That's where Ron had been wrong. Harry had understood all of Hermione's ramblings and he always had.

Hermione let go of Harry and turned to Ron. "Well you are wrong Ronald, because I am not through with Mr. Potter yet!"

Harry gulped. God, this was going to be harder than he had originally thought.

"Harry James Potter. I have not heard from you once this summer, and from what I have gathered neither has Ron."

"Hermione I…"

"Uh-uh. Don't you even think it Harry. You will not, and I mean you will definitely not be able to push us away. You may have been able to hide from us all summer Harry, but now we are here, and in your face and you can not, no matter how hard you are going to try, get rid of us. Do you understand me?"

Damn. Plan one, struck down. She always seemed to know exactly what he was planning.

"Hermione…"

"Do not Hermione me Harry and do not try to explain yourself either. You don't have to. I understand you had a very hard summer and…"

Harry couldn't stand it anymore. "Oh do you Hermione? You understand what its like to have never had parents and then after years and years of emotional abuse from your so called guardians, what seems like an angel appears out of no where, a man who turned out to be the closest thing you could ever have to a parent comes and cares for you and helps you through things just like a parent would and then one day because of your stupidity have that one man taken away from you in one instant? Oh, I do not think you understand Hermione. I am leaving." Harry felt his arm grabbed.

He looked up at Hermione. She had tears rolling down her cheeks. "I guess I don't understand. I guess I can try all I want, but I won't ever really be able to understand. I can tell you one thing though. I loved Sirius too, and when I found out he was dead, I mourned him just like you. I am as hurt from his loss as you are. He was my friend too. He was Ron's friend. A lot of people cared about him Harry…"

Harry pulled his arm out of Hermione's grasp.

"Yeah. Did they? Well guess who took that away from them?" Harry's voice was cold and void of emotion.

Ron finally decided to speak up. "No one blames you mate. It wasn't your fault. If you had cared to read any of the letters we sent you this summer you would…"

"No, just stop. That's it. That is just it. I didn't. I sent them all back. With the same reply. I didn't care to hear from any of you, and I still don't. I don't even want to be in the same room with any one you. I want to be alone. I don't need you guys. I don't want you as a part of my life anymore. All your good at doing is getting in the way." Harry didn't really mean anything he said, but he knew that he had to say these things to save them from being hurt because of him in the long run.

"Harry you do not mean any of that. So stop and shut up."

"Hermione. I don't think you understand. I do mean all that I said, and I am leaving." And with that, Harry left the compartment with his things in search of another one.

---- should I leave you guys hanging????? Hmmmm… well I will, only because I want to start another chapter!!!