After the wedding, a reception was held in the Weasely's garden, which Fred and George had made gnome free, where toasts were made, people danced, and everyone was happy. It was the perfect time for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to slip away; no long goodbyes, no tears, and no one missing them till they found out they'd gone. While everyone else wined and dined, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sharing a compartment with Muggles on their way to Godric's Hollow.
"Oh look Lucy, cows!" One of the Muggles exclaimed, pointing out the window of the train.
"Where, where?" Lucy, a middle aged woman with long dark hair, pressed her face against the window as if she had never seen the spotted animal before.
Ron snorted in laughter, but the Muggles ignored him, as the one who had spotted the cows pulled out a camera. There was a click, and the flash went off temporarily blinding Harry, who found this all rather annoying.
"Ummm… excuse me." Hermione caught the women's attention. "I just thought you should know, that the glass of the window is reflected. So any picture you take through the glass is ruined by the flashes reflection."
The two women looked at each other, then down at the camera, before saying uncomfortably, "Oh, that's interesting."
At this point, Ron got up and left without saying a word. Harry glanced at the ladies, who were whispering suspiciously behind cupped hands, and followed.
"Hey, Ron wait up!"
The tall, redhead turned and let his friend catch up. In the solitude of the corridor Ron had no problem confessing, "Harry, those Muggles are driving me mad. I don't see why my dad likes them so much."
"Come on Ron, they're not that bad." Inwardly Harry was glad he wasn't the only one who found the women rather irritating.
His friend frowned but had to agree, "Yeah, I suppose."
"Look on the bright side," Harry said chummily, "After today we never have to see them again."
Ron perked up at these words, "Yeah, you're right."
The compartment doors opened and Hermione strolled out, quickly shutting them behind her.
"Whew." She sagged against the doors, "I thought Voldermont was bad."
The three friends exchanged a smile, before busting out in laughter.
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Lily and James Potter, unofficial residents of Godric's Hollow, had lived cozily among Muggles during the first year of their son, Harry's, life and the last of their own. Since then Harry had not visited the place of his parents' death; although he had thought about it numerous times over the years at Hogwarts, without managing to pull himself together and make the trip. So why was he so damn terrified? It was just a house.
"What do you hope to find there Harry?" Hermione whispered as they crowded in the back of a taxi cab. When he didn't answer, she looked back at him to make sure he had heard. What she saw surprised her.
Harry was as pale as a sheet, his eyes small and beady, and his face coated in sweat. At first Hermione thought a young Dementor was near by, but then again the ghost like joy- sucker would have affected her as well. Turning to Ron, as if his response would prove her conclusion, she saw him nodding off; his nose was pressed against the cab window, as his breath fogged the glass. So if there was no Dementor, why did Harry look like all the world was filled with dread?
"Harry?" Hermione tentatively shook him.
"They'll be there Hermione." He didn't see the confused look of concern on her face. "My parents will be there in every crook and cranny, they'll be alive again in the things they cherished during their lives. I don't know if I'm ready to face them again, knowing they're gone; knowing that it was in that house they died."
"Harry," She began but her words caught in her throat. What was there to say? Yes, Harry, your parents are dead but you're still living, and you're the only one who has a chance of betting Voldermont. The only problem was, he already knows that and that's more than likely the reason he is so down trodden in the first place.
"We don't have to do this Harry." Hermione found herself whispering instead. "You know that don't you?"
Harry shook his head, his eyes glistening with tears. "No, you're wrong. I do have to do this, I can't keep running away. By going to my parent's house I will finally be admitting to myself that they are dead. That they won't come back." He choked up at this but continued explaining, "If I don't go, don't see for myself, I will forever be lying to myself. Telling myself that they're at home, waiting for me to come back to them."
Hermione shut her eyes to the tears that were threatening to fall, that would be the last thing they needed; for the both of them to start losing their head. It was unfair; unfair that Harry had to deal with this and had to deal with this alone. Sure, Ron and she were there, but they couldn't understand the pain that he must be feeling. They couldn't even begin to comprehend what lay behind Harry's false smile.
"Harry, you are very brave and I know you can do this." Hermione reached out to him, letting him rest his head on her bosom as she smoothed back his hair comfortingly.
"You're a true friend," Harry sighed, releasing all his tense muscles to melt into her embrace, "Hermione."
One listened to all this in silence, hearing every word. One who's face burned with fury enough to match his hair, as the two fell asleep in each other's arms.
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The cottage stood looming two- stories above them, as they hurried up the gravel walkway and out of the rain. It had begun to rain shortly after their arrival, a quiet drizzle that quickly became a downpour. Ron was the first to reach the dry alcove of the front door, since he had basically jetted out of the cab leaving his two friends behind. When he tried the front door he found it unlocked and quickly hurried inside, throwing caution to the wind. It was only when he had crossed the threshold, and his eyes had adjusted to the absence of light, did he understand that something was wrong.
Harry hurried in behind Ron, with Hermione at his heels, when he saw the room he almost screamed. It was bare, completely bare except for a thick film of dust. It seemed that it had been ransacked, and had just sat here forever- smoldering in its own filth.
"This isn't how it is supposed to be." He stared wide-eyed at Ron, who merely shrugged unconcerned. Turning to Hermione he asked, "Didn't McGonagall say that things were exactly the way They left it?"
Hermione turned around and headed out the door, only to turn around again and peer at the house as if it held all the answers. Harry followed, numbed and sullen, leaving the irrepressible scene behind. He looked at Hermione eager to see a glimmer of hope in her eyes; there was none, she was just as confused as him. "What now?"
"Now we leave, there is no point in staying in this dump." Ron stepped out behind Harry, his eyes knit in callous.
Dump! Harry whirled on Ron, anger flaring in him despite his attempt to squelch it. "Take that back, Ron."
"Why should I?" A dark expression crossed Ron's face, as he glared down on Harry.
"Because this is my parents' home!" Harry found himself lashing out with a furry that he couldn't control. "This is their home, their home, the only thing left of their life!"
Ron shrugged and turned his back on Harry, his voice dropping a decibel, "Fine, but there is still no reason to stay here."
Harry felt like ripping him to shreds; but Hermione caught his attention before he could begin. "Harry!"
The witch was pointing to four golden words, engraved above the door, with a smile splayed across her face. Harry took a closer look and read out loud, "Speak Friend, And Enter."
Ron dropping his sullen pose popped up beside Harry, "What's that supposed to mean?" Although Ron tried to play it off like he was unconcerned, Harry could tell he really was, only he couldn't figure out why his 'friend' was being so unfriendly.
"Don't you see," Hermione started explaining excitedly, "Speak friend… and enter."
Ron and Harry cocked their heads to the side simultaneously, both completely lost.
"All you have to do, is speak friend and then you can enter." She finished triumphantly, "It's some kind of Wizard security."
It finally dawned on Harry; speak friend and enter. "You're brilliant Hermione, absolutely brilliant!" Congratulating the witch enthusiastically, Harry embraced her in a warm hug.
"Now, now Harry. It wasn't all that hard, anyone could have done it." Hermione played the modest card very well, but couldn't keep the slight rouge from her cheeks. On a more serious note though, she continued, "I think you should do the honors Harry. I mean it is your parents' house."
An icy hand gripped Harry's heart; this was it, he was finally going to return home. To bad he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe either, it was all too much. He had waited for this moment for a while and now that he was here, how could he do it. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but before he could move Ron shoved him aside.
"You're taking too long." Before Harry could stop him Ron shouted at the door, "Friend!" And the door swung open to reveal…
A/n: Sorry about this, I was grounded so I did this in a rush. I can't be blamed for any misinformation in this chapter; I know nothing about Godric's Hollow. I hope you like it though; I'm going against my restriction code to write it. I'm also sorry about any spelling mistakes. Please review.