Author's Note: I'm really disappointed… one review. I apologize to my one faithful reviewer for the wait on this. I wanted to wait until I had two reviews before I submitted this, but it seems that won't happen anytime soon. Come on people, I really do enjoy reviews, even if you're criticizing my work (but be nice about it, tell me what I did wrong). Anyway, without further ado, here's Chapter Two, hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Harry Potter, that honor goes to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: The Decision

The next morning Harry awoke to see his bag packed and sitting on the foot of his bed.

"What the…!"

Harry leaped out of bed, put on the only remaining wardrobe of his left outside of his bag, and walked downstairs to see the Gryffindor common room one last time. As he turned to face the backside of the portrait, he was greeted by Hermoine, Ron, and Ginny.

"Hope you don't mind I packed your bag, Harry," said Ron with a slight grin, "After your potion saved us, I figured it was the least I could do."

Harry mouth formed a smile for the first time since the night of Dumbledore's death. "It's alright, Ron. Thanks."

Next was Ginny's turn to speak, "Harry, where were you last night after Dumbledore's funeral? We all stayed up until about midnight waiting for you, but you never showed."

Harry remembered that it had been about one in the morning before he finally made it back to the common room. However, Dumbledore had made him swear he wouldn't tell anyone he had returned. Dumbledore had said he wanted to reveal that to the school himself. Quickly, Harry came up with a lie, "I… uh… was in the… bathroom."

As soon as he said that, Harry realized just how stupid that was. It seemed Hermoine noticed that as well, "The bathroom, Harry? You're telling me that you were in the bathroom for six straight hours!"

Quickly, Harry recovered, "Well, of course not, but on my way out… uh… Peeves gave me some trouble… then McGonagall wanted to talk with me in her office."

None of them seemed convinced, but they let it go anyway. They made their way to the Great Hall in silence. When they entered it, they noticed the whole school seemed to share their silence. Even the Slytherin table was silent, but Harry assumed their silence was for Draco and Snape. When they sat down, they noticed that the Headmaster's chair was empty.

"Shouldn't Professor McGonagall be sitting in that chair? I mean, she was the Deputy Headmistress," said Hermoine. With the rest of the Great Hall near complete silence, her voice seemed to be amplified five times louder than normal.

"Do you think maybe she's leaving it open out of respect for Dumbledore?" suggested Ron.

With a grin Harry said, "Yes, Ron, that's probably it."

It was at this time that the reason McGonagall left the Headmaster's seat alone became clear. Dumbledore had suddenly appeared from the wall behind his chair and had stepped forward to address the students. The only ones who didn't appear to be surprised were those at the staff table, and Harry. Seeing the shocked looks of the students, Dumbledore began to address them.

"My beloved students, as most of you are probably aware by now, I am dead. However, I will retain my Headmaster status until the current crisis has been overcome. At that time, Professor McGonagall will become Headmistress and I will become a teacher. With that being said, I can assure all of you that Hogwarts will reopen next year. Professor Slughorn has agreed to be the head of Slytherin House. The next year, despite the going-ons, will continue as a normal school year. Except, I'm afraid to announce that the trips to Hogsmeade are to be cancelled as long as I am Headmaster. Now, let us feast for the last time this year!"

The feast went on in complete silence, obviously people were pretty shook up at having been addressed by the very man they saw be buried the day before. Suddenly there was a loud pop next to Harry and everyone around suddenly jumped. Harry looked down to see Dobby standing next to him.

"Mister Harry Potter, Headmaster…" Dobby stopped when he realized that his voice could be heard by almost everyone around him. He quieted his voice to a whisper and continued, "Headmaster Dumbledore wishes for Harry Potter to report to his office after the feast with his three closest friends."

As soon as he finished talking, Dobby disappeared in a puff of smoke. Harry leaned down to finish his dessert, but to his displeasure, it suddenly disappeared as well. Dumbledore rose and spoke, "That concludes our end of the year feast, if you will please make your way to the front door where you will all be escorted to the train. And fret not, your bags and all belongings are already there waiting for you, you just need to pick them up."

As Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny began to stand up, Harry grabbed them all and pulled them back down.

"What your problem, Harry! The train will leave without us if we don't go!" whined Ron.

"Ron's right this time, Harry, we really do need to go," replied Ginny.

"Just shut up! Dumbledore wants to speak with us. So come on, I'll bring you guys to his office."

Harry got up and led them down a few corridors until they came face-to-face with that ever-familiar gargoyle. Harry said the password and then led the other three up the spiral staircase into Dumbledore's office. Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny all stared in awe at all the artifacts that cluttered the office. Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared from the wall behind them.

"Hello, I'm so glad you could all make it," Dumbledore said with a smile.

The four jumped in surprise and were about to turn to face him but he simply glided through them and went to take his spot behind his desk. He stared at them through his half-moon glasses and began to speak.

"It has come to my attention that some of you have decided not to return to school next year."

Ginny turned to face the other three and looked hurt. "You all secretly decided not to come to school next year without me! You were just going to leave me here alone were you! Well I'll tell you one thing…"

Ginny was cut off by Dumbledore, "Do not worry Miss Weasley, the three of them will return next year."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore in surprise. He had no intention whatsoever of returning to this school before Voldemort was defeated. How could Dumbledore just suddenly decide his fate without ever asking him at all?

"But Professor, I can't just sit around here and watch as Voldemort destroys anything he so pleases! I need to go out there and find those last Horcruxes! You can't just…"

Again, Dumbledore interrupted, "Harry, you are so close to finishing your education. And look at what you're doing. In your haste to defeat Voldemort, you are uprooting three of your friends from completing their education. All four of you have such great potential after you have finished your schooling, especially Miss Granger. Are you going to deny them their education and therefore a decent shot at life after Voldemort? Harry, I know it seems as though there's nothing to life but defeating Voldemort right now, but Harry, there is a life after Voldemort. Once he is defeated you will all have to go back to living a normal life. Allow that normal life to be better with your education under your belt."

Harry contemplated this a little, then looked back up at Dumbledore. "Alright Professor, I will return next year."

Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny all nodded in agreement, and Dumbledore looked pleased.

"Excellent! Now, I regret to inform you all that you have missed the train." At this, Ron hit Harry's arm and gave him a look that said 'I told you so!' But Dumbledore continued, "However, I'm sure alternate transportation can be arranged. I have asked Remus and Nymphadora to apparate the two of you that cannot apparate to the headquarters of the Order. As for you Harry, Minerva will take you to the Dursleys where you shall spend the summer unless otherwise instructed. Do you understand me? You are not to leave that house until you are told to do so by someone of the Order. So long as you stay there, you are protected, you understand? We cannot take any risks here. Well, now would be the time for you four to leave, your escorts are waiting on the front grounds."

Sure enough, Lupin, Tonks, and McGonagall were waiting for them outside the castle. McGonagall had Harry's trunk in one hand and Hedwig in the other. As soon as she saw him, she motioned for him to follow and she immediately began walking towards the edge of the grounds so as to apparate. As soon as they were off the grounds, McGonagall put Hedwig's cage under her arm, grabbed Harry and apparated.

By this time, Harry had gotten about as used to the feeling as he felt he would ever get, although it was still very odd. At the Dursley's front doorstep, McGonagall finally talked to Harry.

"Mr. Potter, please, you must remember not to leave this house during the summer. Stay in there and don't send any post at all. It is alright to let your owl loose at night, just don't do it too often. Someone will be sent for you when the time for school draws near. Until then, Mr. Potter, goodbye."

And with this, McGonagall was gone, leaving Harry alone to endure one last summer at the Dursley house.

Hope you liked it! - I know it's starting off kind of slow, but it will get better I promise.