A/N: The second chapter! Thanks to all the reviewers! I love them all! I write better to when I get reviews!

Chapter 2:

"What do you mean Harry?" Hermione exclaimed after Harry had told her and Ron about his plan. "You can't do that! It's a death wish!"

"I have to go," Harry said.

"You might be killed if you go!" Hermione continued.

"I know, but," Harry said with a pause, "it'd wouldn't be as bad as what will happen if I don't go."

"I'll look after him," Ron chimed in.

"Not you too!" Hermione said. "I'm fine!"

Then contradictory to her words, she began to violently cough. Each time she did her whole body shook.

"I guess not then," she said panting for air.

After that it seemed that the full force of what was going on hit her. She began to sob and tears streamed down her face. Harry sat down on the bed next to her and gently pulled her onto his lap. She laid her head against him and he could feel her trembling. He stroked her hair trying not to join in with her and cry himself. I have to be strong for her, he thought to himself. She needs me.

"I don't want you to go," Hermione cried pressing her face into his chest.

"I have to go Hermione," he replied with a gentle tone. "I have to do this for you."

"You don't have to do anything," she said.

"Yes I do," he said partly to her and partly to remind himself why he was doing this.

"I promise I'll save you," Harry said. And I won't forget this promise.

"I know you will Harry," Hermione said. "I just… I don't know what I'll do if you get hurt."

"If I don't go you'll…well," he said not finishing his sentence. "That's why I have to go."

"Harry," she said.

He pulled her away and looked at her. She did look paler and tired. He wanted to cry just looking at her. Why did it have to be her? he asked himself.

"Here take this with you," she said looking away from him and taking something off her neck.
"Hermione I can't," he said as she handed him a silver locket with her name engraved on it. He had bought it for her last Christmas.

"Just take it," she said folding his hand around it. "That way you can't forget your promise."

"I wouldn't think of forgetting," Harry said.

She looked at him for a minute like she wanted to say something else. After a moment she decided against it.

"You'd better get going," she said instead.

"I guess so," Harry said hugging her.

He carefully lifted her up and set her down on the bed. She feels so much lighter. He noticed. He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Remember," he said. "I promised."

She nodded and he almost kissed her. Just do it Potter! His mind screamed. This could be your last chance! He didn't do it. Instead he smiled numbly at her and left the infirmary.

"Harry?" Ron said from behind him.

"We'd better get our things we want to take," Harry replied ignoring the worried look on Ron's face.

Ron opened his mouth to argue with him, but then shook his head knowing it wouldn't do any good. Harry Potter wasn't one to talk about something until he was good and ready. The two boys walked up into the Gryffindor tower ignoring glances from other students. Do they know now? Harry wondered. Do they even care?

They went up into their dormitory and pulled out their suitcases. Harry thought about leaving his stuff in the suitcase and bringing it, but the more he thought about it the more it seemed like a bad idea. He pulled out an extra duffel bag and started shoving clothes into it.

Suddenly he remembered Hermione's locket in his hand. He opened his fist and looked at it. It had left a small heart shaped impression on his palm since he had been holding it so tight. He leaned back against his bed and gave up on concealing his emotion. He sat there and began to cry. Ron looked up at him not surprised. Ron stood up and sat down by Harry's side.

"It's all right mate," he said. "She'll be fine."

"It's not all right," Harry said with sorrow and anger mixed into his voice. "I have to go, but I don't want to leave her. I don't even know if we can get back in time."

"What are you talking about?" Ron said. "Of course we'll be back in time! Hell, we'll be back early!"

"What if the cure doesn't work?" Harry asked. He was now asking Ron all the questions he had not dared to ask Dumbledore or even Hermione.

"It had better work," Ron said. "Besides you know Hermione. Stubborn that girl is. She'll fight to the very end."

Harry didn't say anything for a moment, but Ron could tell his words were helping.

"You're right," Harry said finally. "She'll wait for us and we'll make it back with time to spare."

"That's the spirit!" Ron said. "Now we'd better finish packing so we can go talk to Dumbledore."

"Oh yeah," Harry said.

He quickly put the locket around his own neck. When he did he felt a strange warmth around it. Hermione must have put a charm on it, He smiled tucking it into his shirt.

Ron and he quickly finished packing up their things. They headed out of the common room to Dumbledore's office. Part of Harry wanted to go into the infirmary one more time, but he didn't want to put Hermione or himself for that matter through a sad goodbye.

Suddenly Draco Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of the two with his henchmen Crabbe and Goyle. He smiled evilly and blocked the way to Dumbledore's office.

"Hey look guys it's Potty and Weasly," Malfoy laughed.

"Shove off Malfoy," Ron said trying to get past them.

"Oh no," Malfoy said. "I'm not finished just yet."

Ron took a step back and glared at Malfoy. Malfoy smiled and walked over beside Harry and grabbed the locket from his neck.

"Oh isn't this cute!" he said. "Potty's wittle mudblood girlie gave him a necklace."

"Give it back," Harry said between clenched teeth.

"It'd look rather cute on Pansy don't you think so Goyle?" Malfoy said. "Of course we'd have to scratch off mudblood's name and put Pansy's, but still."

"I said give it back," Harry repeated.

"I don't think I will," Malfoy said slipping the locket into his pocket.

Harry had finally had it. He stepped forward and punched Malfoy solidly on the jaw. It knocked Malfoy back since he wasn't expecting it. He stood back up with a tiny bit of blood dripping from his lip.

"Is that how you want to play?" he asked sourly.

He turned and punched Harry in the gut, but Harry no longer cared. He wanted to kill Malfoy. He pushed Malfoy into the wall and punched him until Ron pulled him off.

"He's not worth it Harry," Ron coaxed.

"Yeah, he's not," Harry agreed taking the locket back from Malfoy and putting it back around his neck.

They left Malfoy there with Goyle and Crabbe and rushed into Dumbledore's office and found talking to someone they couldn't see. It took Harry a moment to realize that he was talking to a head in the fire. Something Sirius had done last year. They couldn't hear the other person that was speaking.

"Yes," Dumbledore said calmly. "Of course we will. Until then I suppose."

Dumbledore turned and saw Harry and Ron standing in the doorway. He smiled and invited them in.

"Good timing boys," he said. "I was just finishing up with one of your contacts."

"Contacts?" Harry and Ron asked in unison.

"Let me explain," Dumbledore said sitting at his desk. "The ingredients for this potion are very dangerous to get. I have arranged for someone to help you out with each one."

"Who are they?" Ron asked.

"You'll find out in good time," Dumbledore chuckled. "Now here is a list of the ingredients. I think you might find it will come in handy when memory forgets."

Harry took the parchment from Dumbledore and scanned down the small list. The things on the list seemed impossible, but he didn't care.

"Dragon fang, unicorn hair, mermaid scale, werewolf blood, basilisk venom, and hippogriff feathers," Harry read aloud.

"Now the truth comes out," Ron said. "We're not going to find a cure at all! We're heading to our deaths!"

"That's why you'll have a contact," Dumbledore said.

"Big help they'll be," Ron said folding his arms and leaning against the wall.

"Look at the time!" Dumbledore said suddenly. "You'll be late if I keep you any longer!"

"Where are we going?" Harry asked.

"Not sure exactly," Dumbledore said stroking his beard. "Place called Whiteblood Tavern."

"Sounds nice," Ron said sarcastically.

"Here is floo powder for you both," Dumbledore said. "It will be enough for each time you have to go to the next place. Try not to lose it, but if you do your contact will have more for you."

"Thanks professor," Harry said.

"Now go on," Dumbledore said.

Ron stepped nervously into the fire and shouted the name of the mysterious tavern. In an instant he was gone. Harry went forward to follow, but Dumbledore caught his arm.

"Harry," Dumbledore said. "I saw the locket around your neck. I expect Hermione gave it to you."

"She did," Harry said putting his hand around the locket.

"Keep it with you always," Dumbledore said seriously. "She was not lying to you when she said it would protect you."

"I know she wasn't," Harry said.

"I expect she also charmed it for you, but it has something else," Dumbledore said. "Remember Harry, love is the strongest force anyone can know. This locket has that strength. Keep it with you and it will help you through the darkest times."

"I will professor," Harry nodded.

"Now you'd better get going," Dumbledore replied. "Ron will be waiting."

He gave Harry a push into the flames and Harry shouted the name of the tavern. Then the flames went green and roared up around Harry.