They ran back to their rooms, hoping that no one would see them looking such a state. They flung themselves through the door and Hermione quickly sealed it. Harry sat heavily on the couch and closed his eyes, trying to get the image of the burning creature out of his mind.

"What the bloody hell was that thing?" Ron asked. Hermione and Harry both shrugged their shoulders. Ron muttered to himself for a while, Harry could only here the odd words like 'axe', 'take that' and 'bloody hell'. He pretty much got the picture though. Harry looked over at Hermione and tried to see of she was hurt anywhere. Her hair was a bit dishevelled, but other than that she looked ok. Harry felt completely relieved. He closed his eyes and pondered the thoughts that had been flying wildly through his mind whilst they were running for their lives. He felt guilty. He had been worried about Ron of course, but he had kept close to Hermione at all costs. Everything he had done back there, he had done with her in his mind. He thought back to Luna's words the night before but quickly pushed them out of this mind. He wasn't ready to think about that yet. Hermione's voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked up at her and felt a wild urge to just grab her hand and run off with her. He tried to get a grip on himself and was suddenly aware of Hermione looking at him oddly.

"What?" Harry asked her.

"I asked if you felt up to destroying the Horcrux now. I don't feel comfortable having that thing with us…" Harry nodded his head in agreement and sat up on the couch. He retrieved the tiara from his robes, and they all just stared at it for a while. Harry thought he could feel the magic within the tiara, and then wondered if he was going mad.

"Can anyone else feel that?" Ron asked timidly. They both shook their heads and Harry felt mildly relieved.

"It's almost like there's magic in here," Harry said "But I thought only people were really magical…" He looked towards Hermione hoping she would know something about it.

"Well you know that there are magical things out there Harry! How can you think it's only people?" she asked him incredulously.

"That's not the kind of magic that this is though." Harry said, "I can feel the magic in here. I've never felt that before…" To Harry's surprise Ron was the one who explained it.

"I was always told that there is magic in everything around us," he said, "Great witches and wizards used to be able to put their magic into objects. So if ever they were weakened in some way they could use the power in the object. But magic Harry, magic is all around us. The most powerful witches and wizards in history have been able to use the magic from the smallest ant to the largest tree. But not just anyone can use this kind of power. You have to get the permission from whatever it is that has the magic you want, and that isn't easy. It's not well practiced for those reasons. I remember Fred and George tried it when we were little and they set their hair on fire…Anyway it's very uncommon that people try and do that sort of magic. Wands and stuff is much easier."

Hermione stared at Ron open mouthed, Harry was just amazed by the whole concept and was staring at the floor trying to imagine the great and powerful witches and wizards that he had never heard of. Ron got sick of Hermione's open-mouthed stare and finally retorted with -

"Don't worry, I didn't read a book or anything. My granddad used to tell us all kinds of stuff when we were little…" He blushed a little when Hermione eyed him slightly suspiciously. Harry moved the tiara to the top of his head and could feel his scalp prickling slightly. He tried to make his mind blank and think of nothing but the tiara. He didn't know how long he sat there for, but eventually when the tiara was the only thing that filled his mind he uttered the words

'Liberatio pravus fascino'

Harry felt his energy being drained from his body bit by bit. First his leg felt like he had a jelly legs jinx cast on him. Then his arms started to feel quite numb and his head was getting dizzy. He slumped back into the couch, his energy depleted. He could feel a slight burning sensation from the tiara…but not uncomfortable enough to be painful. Harry's vision swan before his eyes, and just when he thought he was about to pass out the tiara fell from his head and slammed onto the floor. Harry's vision cleared, and he saw a green patch of mould growing on the wall opposite him. He wondered if maybe he was going mad, then Hermione stood up and raised her wand. 'No!' Harry wanted to shout 'Please don't try and destroy it, I don't want you to get hurt!' but when he opened his mouth a groan was all that came out. Hermione closed her eyes and concentrated on the murky green patch. A cold chill filled the air, and then a bright white light flashed from the end of Hermione's wand and collided with the green. They watched, transfixed, as the green turned to a light green, then a dull white. Then finally, it disappeared. Ron sighed deeply and began to shake his head.

"I don't get it," he said looking confused "I was expecting some huge fight to the death! Look what happened to Dumbledore! It was harder getting the bloody thing than it was destroying it. Do you think we did it right?"

"Yes Ron," Hermione said patiently "Of course we did it right. I had a feeling this might happen. I think it was easier for Harry to destroy the soul because Harry was the one that was meant to do it. When Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a baby he 'marked him as his equal.' Not only did he give Harry some of his powers but also he gave him access to the very thing that will destroy him. Harry is the chosen one. I'm not usually into this prophecy nonsense but in this case I'll make an exception. Harry can destroy the Horcruxes because he was meant to do it." She looked at Harry meaningfully and he could see tears beginning to form "You will kill Voldemort Harry, because you are meant to do it. He gave you the power when he gave you that scar, and his mistake will be his downfall." With that she rushed over to Harry and buried her face in his chest and cried. Ron looked at Harry and rolled his eyes. He gave him a look as if to say 'Why do girls always get so emotional?' Harry stroked Hermione's hair, trying to comfort her but look nonchalant at the same time. After a while her cries subsided to hiccups, and eventually she was silent. Ron was feeling slightly uncomfortable at Hermione's emotions and decided that it was about time to get some lunch.

"I'm going to the kitchens," He announced loudly "What do you two want?" They both shrugged their shoulders and Ron mumbled something about having to get a bit of everything, and then left the room.

The second the door shut Hermione looked up at Harry with watery eyes.

"I was so scared Harry. I'm so glad you're ok…" Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione and tried to be comforting…but he was just so tired. He tried to tighten his arm around her but his arms wouldn't move. He felt his eyes closing out of exhaustion but didn't want Hermione to be worried.

"I know," he mumbled "I was scared of losing you. It's ok now though…s'ok…" and with that he fell into a deep sleep which he most definitely needed. Hermione looked at his sleeping face a smiled, feeling lighter than she had done if the last couple of days. She decided to take a walk around the grounds while Harry was sleeping, so quietly crept around the room to find her cloak, then slipped out the door.

She walked to the lake and was thinking of the times that they had all spent sitting by it when they had been at school. She smiled to herself as she remembered Harry rescuing both Ron and Gabrielle Delacour during the second task of the Triwizard tournament. Just like Harry, always the hero... She heard someone approaching her from behind, and turned around clutching her wand. She wasn't sure whether to put it away or hold it tighter as Ginny stalked towards her.

"Hermione! I was hoping to catch you," she said smiling. Hermione lowered her wand and returned Ginny's smile. "Why haven't any of you come to see me? We're supposed to be friends you know, but you've all been hiding away since you got here!"

"Sorry Ginny. We meant to, we've just had so much to do since we got here that we haven't found the time." Hermione said apologetically.

"But not too busy to see Neville and Luna?" Ginny said, and crossed her arms defensively. Hermione rolled her eyes. She really didn't come for a walk to have an argument with Ginny.

"Neville and Luna stopped by on the night we arrived, but we haven't been going out of our way to meet up with them. Like I said, we've been quite busy." Hermione said, sounding final on the matter.

"He's not been too busy to see Luna though, has he?" Ginny said, her eyes narrowing "Everyone says they're going out now. I don't believe it mind you. You would be walking around here with red puffy eyes if he'd decided to go out with her."

"Ginny, I really don't want to discuss this with you," Hermione said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice "If you want to know why Harry hasn't come to see you then I suggest you go and ask him, not come and make snide remarks to me. We're friends at the moment, nothing more so you needn't worry about it."

"At the moment?" Ginny said and started to laugh "So you actually think Harry might be attracted to you? Come on Hermione, you're his best friend, nothing more.You'd better start getting over him."

"Ginny," Hermione said warningly "You and I have always been friends, and if you want to keep it that way then you'll stop this nonsense. I'm sorry if you're hurt about you and Harry breaking up, but there's no need to take it out on me." Ginny raised her wand threateningly and pointed it towards Hermione. Naturally, Hermione did the same. They stood there for a few moments staring at each other...

"Ginny," Hermione said angrily "I doubt Harry will find you hexing his best friend very attractive.There's no need for this, put your wand down. We're supposed to be friends, remember?" Ginny stared at Hermione for a while longer, then lowered her wand furiously and stormed off. Hermione was left standing there rather shocked at Ginny's actions. She had a horrible feeling that things between them were only going to get worse. The happy feeling she had earlier was replaced, once again, with melancholy. She sat on the grass and stared at the lake for a long time, trying to forget everything that was going on around her.