The Choices We Make
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All I am doing is making these little characters, which I do not own, do what I want. But alas it is my fantasy.
Chapter 1
This Ain't Burger King, You Can't Have It Your Way You Son Of A…
Harry Potter sat, uncomfortably hunched over a stone basin in his small cluttered room at #4 Privet Drive. Along with the broken toys and signs of a teenage boy, parchment was seen all about the room covered with notes and ink blots. Books were scattered around the room, but these were not books on the Hogwarts book list. These books contained subjects much deeper, and some much darker. Most of them had several dog-eared pages, and highlighted passages. All in all Madam Pince would have felt violated to see the books in that condition. Harry kept glancing at Dudley's old alarm clock, Dudley threw it across the room one morning and now it periodically went off. Harry figured he had approximately three minutes before he had to throw his measly possessions into his open trunk.
Bill and Fleur decided they were going to get married as soon as possible and eventually they settled on a date conveniently two days before Harry's birthday. Harry liked this date because it gave him one last visit to the Burrow before he went to look after the Horcruxes. As far as Harry knew this could be his last time at the Burrow and he was glad that it was revolving around such a happy occasion. Hopefully it would take his mind of the task at hand; Harry thought he would go crazy trying to figure out where Voldemort hid his soul, and who R.A.B could be. Harry looked at the clock again, and decided that it was time to pack. Mr. Weasley was coming at 4:00 and already it was 3:57. Harry filled his trunk with his books, parent's photo album, invisibility cloak, the rags he called clothes, and an emergency bag of money. Finally Harry carefully packed the stone basin, also known as Dumbledore's Pensieve.
Like Sirius, Dumbledore decided to leave most of his possessions to Harry, including his Pensieve. Dumbledore thought that it would be a great tool in helping Harry defeat Voldemort. And although Harry agreed, every time he looked at it he was faced with the reality that Dumbledore was truly dead, and Harry was all alone. Harry was getting rather tired of people dying and then leaving him things, which only serve to remind him of the pain of loss. But Dumbledore's Pensieve was also giving Harry some comfort. Because Dumbledore's memories helped Harry through the pain, it let him reflect on his old mentor with happiness. Harry quickly finished packing and put his trunk in the hallway, Hedwig had already left for the Weasley earlier today. Harry thought he would leave her cage and let Mrs. Petunia Dursley clean it up. Before Harry went downstairs he took one last look at the empty shell that housed him during many of his darkest hours.
Harry then proceeded to drag his trunk down the steps making a loud thump as it hit each step. Harry thought that it created a nice beat. Harry set his trunk by the door and decided that he should at least tell the Dursley's that he was leaving. Harry walked into the Living Room where Dudley was transfixed by the television, Mr. Dursley was smelling the paper, and Mrs. Dursley was conveniently mesmerized by a light post outside.
Harry cleared his throat, "Well I should be leaving soon."
Vernon grunted, "I hope you don't forget all that we have done for you, and all that we sacrificed."
"I'm sure I won't," Harry said through clenched teeth.
"Not everyone would have taken in a stray like that. You should be grateful."
"Grateful is not the word I would use."
Vernon lowered is paper, "And what word would you use boy?"
Suddenly all eyes were glued on Harry. "Unlucky is the word I would use, sir."
"Why you ungrateful little rat! I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up like your parents!" Vernon bellowed as his face turned a lovely purple shade.
"That wouldn't surprise me either," Harry responded quietly, which silenced the room very quickly. The silence was broken by the doorbell, "Well, that's Mr.Weasley. It has been fun, stay sweet." And with that Harry Potter turned away from the Dursley's and did not look back.
Harry quickly went to the door and was surprised to see a smiling Ron and Hermione at the door.
"Alright Harry?" Ron asked.
"I'll be alright, as soon as I leave this place forever."
"Well that's quite understandable," Hermione said as she hugged Harry.
"Okay, we should get going then," Ron said as he shrunk Harry's things.
"And how exactly are we getting to the Burrow?" Harry asked.
"Our handy dandy Porkey young one," Ron said as he held out an old book. "Since you are still underage Apparating is out of the question. Of course me and Hermione could Apparate since WE are of age, but you…"
"Shut it will you," Harry said while smiling.
"Everyone ready?" Hermione asked while everyone grasped the book. "Percy is a prat." And Harry felt that familiar tug and the world became nothing but a blur. Soon his feet hit the ground and he was greeted by the familiar site of the Burrow.
"Fred and George mad the Porkey," Hermione explained as she started walking toward the front door. "That is the reason for that ignition phrase."
"Are you telling me we used a Portkey that Fred and George made?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Dad checked it out," Ron said explaining.
"That makes me feel slightly better," Harry said as he entered the house. Immediately he was ambushed by Mrs. Weasley. She gave him a bone crushing hug and then held him at arm's length.
"Harry! You've only been out of school for a couple of months and already you look as if you haven't eaten anything in years. Come, come let me fix you something to tide you over until supper." Harry was quickly ushered into the kitchen, Harry froze in the doorway. There sitting at the table innocently peeling and cutting potatoes was Ginny Weasley. The monster in Harry's chest erupted, why did her hair have to look so soft? And why was the sun hitting her at the perfect angle, accenting all of her features? Harry couldn't stop and stare for long because Ron harshly poked him in the back. Harry tried to quickly compose himself and sat down.
"Hullo, Ginny," Harry said nervously.
"Oh, hi Harry," she replied with a forced smile and a quick glance.
Harry's stomach dropped somewhere near his feet. The mantra She hates me, kept running through his head and he felt as if he was going to be sick. Look on the bright side Potter, at least that way she's safer, Harry tried to console himself.
"So Harry," Mrs. Weasley said as she prepared dinner. "Your birthday is in a couple of days, have you thought about what you wanted to do."
Harry gave Ron a glance that clearly said Have you told her? And Ron replied with another look that said Hell No! "No, Mrs. Weasley I haven't given it much thought to be honest."
"That's a load of rubbish! All of my children spent nights planning what they were going to do once they were of age. For example Bill thought he would do every single task with magic. He ended up with his pants on fire, and some raw roast beef."
"Needless to say it didn't turn out the way I planned it," Bill said as he walked into the room.
"You are home early," Mrs. Weasley stated.
"They were a bit slow at work, so I asked if I could start my holiday a few hours early." Bill replied as he kissed Ginny's forehead. Harry finished his sandwich and motioned for Hermione and Ron to follow him upstairs. The proximity to Ginny was unnerving, and Harry really needed to have a talk with Ron.
Harry walked into Ron's room and sat on the bed. Hermione closed the door and put a silencing spell on the room, successfully cutting them off from the rest of the world.
Harry rounded on Ron, "You haven't told your mother yet!"
"No, what was I supposed to say. 'Hey mum, I'm going to follow Harry around trying to find Voldemort's soul'." Ron exclaimed.
"That's what I basically had to say," Hermione said.
"Your parents actually know what we are going to be doing, and yet they are still letting you go." Ron clearly did not believe her.
"Yes, Ron. My parents and I have a very strong relationship. It took a lot of effort to get them to approve, but eventually we settle on an agreement." Hermione retorted.
"And what agreement did you settle on?" Harry asked.
"Well, I told them that I would keep in contact regularly. And I might have said that an adult was coming with us." Hermione said while not making eye contact with Ron.
"Ha! I knew you didn't tell your parents the whole truth. They probably think we are looking for some lost puppy or something."
"Before you two get into it," Harry cut off Hermione's reply, "we do have some important plans to make. Like how we are going to tell the very protective Mrs. Weasley about our trip, and when exactly we are going to leave."
"Mum's planning a surprise party for you mate," Ron said. "So we are going to have to wait until after your birthday."
"And I did some research on inns near Godric's Hollow and I found some very promising places." Hermione added.
"Well, when do you think we should tell your mum?" Harry asked Ron.
"Never," Ron said looking very ill.
"We should wait until after the wedding. We don't want her to be worrying about us on her son's wedding day." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"That's good, we'll tell her afterwards. We can't tell her where exactly we are going but…" Harry trailed off.
"I've done some research on Horcruxes and I think I know how to tell what is one and what isn't and of course how to destroy one. It took me forever to find a book that mentions them," Hermione said.
"Well, I'm excited about this little holiday. I mean what could be better than trying to find Voldemort's soul. I personally didn't think he had a soul but I guess he's just a very complex man…um thing."
"Hey," Harry said. "You said Voldemort's name without stuttering or getting pale!" He looked at Hermione, "Our little Ron is growing up."
"Shut it," Ron said as he threw a pillow at Harry.