" Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, their friendship is as true as ever…" - Deng Ming-Dao

Coming to Terms

Harry stood there, happiness welling strongly in his heart. He hadn't felt this alive, this comfort since leaving the world he belonged to all those years ago. Just being in the presence of his best friends made him want to shout out in joy; but instead he just grinned broadly into his friends shoulder, the red head still being taller than him, if not by an inch. Just when Harry was about to pull away, he was pushed back but Ron. The look on his face made Harry's happy grin vanish completely. Ron was not smiling. There was no expression on his face and only a cold anger burning in his blue eyes. Without a word, Ron Weasley turned and walked to the door. It shut loudly as he passed through.

The silence could have been sliced with a knife. Harry made to follow, but Hermione stepped forward and clasped his hand. Her eyes were sad and she shook her head.

"He needs time," she murmured. Harry understood. Ron was not as forgiving as Hermione and it would be a while before he accepted that Harry was once more apart of his life. Harry sighed and hung his head; he hoped it was sooner rather than later. Before Harry could fully look around at the place he thought of as his home after Hogwarts, he was pulled into an extremely tight hug from a short Molly Weasley. Harry tensed, not having been hugged this lovingly from someone in a long time. But he relaxed into the embrace, hugging her tightly in return. Her warmth made him feel home and he remembered that feeling in his body as one belonging to a hug given by a mother. When the woman pulled away, her face was puffy and eyes red. Tears were slipping freely from her eyes as she looked at the man she called a son.

Harry looked at Mrs Weasley. Her once vibrant red hair had faded and a few grey strands were mixed in with the others. Her face had aged but still held that warm smile and loving gaze. She quickly wiped away her tears and smiled motherly.

"Harry, dear, you look so good! But still skinny as ever, and I bet you three are hungry?" Harry, Hermione and Ginny all nodded quickly. "Then I will go make us all dinner then we shall discuss what you have been up to for the last five years, okay?" They each grinned and followed Mrs Weasley into the kitchen were she immediately started to prepare for cooking. The three friends took seats at the wooden table. They talked of small things, like how well Arthur Weasley had been doing as Minister or how well the Fred and George were doing in the shop. For a while Harry just sat back and watched the two girls, no, women, talk about life.

Not long after dinner had been served and Harry was savoring the taste of a Molly Weasley Home-cooked meal, the front door was opened. The table was silent as footsteps approached the kitchen and a voice called out form the hall.

"I think our clocks playing up," said the familiar voice of Arthur Weasley. "It says that Ginny, Hermione and Har-!" at that moment his voice trailed off and his briefcase fell to the floor. Mr Weasley had just entered the kitchen and spotted the guests staring back at him. There was a silence only broken by a scraping chair as Ginny got up and wrapped her father in a hug. But the eldest Weasley's eyes were still placed on Harry, his mouth slightly open. Harry stood nervously and smiled in welcome. Arthur let his daughter go and moved forwards finally shutting his mouth.

"Harry?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes with a shaking hand.

"Hi," said Harry simply, stepping closer to the man. In a rush Mr Weasley had taken hold of him and was roughly giving him a fatherly hug. When he pulled away, Harry spied a glistening tear in the corner of his eye. Mr Weasley's age was now showing. His hair was specked with grey and his head was slightly bald. There were traces of worry lines on the man's forehead even though his expression was one of excitement and disbelief.

"Merlin, I wasn't sure if it was you! You have changed! Grown into a man! If it wasn't for the clock you would have had me making introductions!" said Mr Weasley, letting his wife kiss him on the cheek. "What are you doing here, not that I mind, its just...its been so long?" Harry sighed and sat back down at the table.

"Yes, it has been so long..." Harry murmured, chancing a glance at Ginny. She was watching him with a careful eye and his gaze did not go unnoticed. "I probably would have still been in London now if Ginny hadn't came and found me," said Harry, smirking as the youngest Weasley blushed. At this statement, Arthur turned his head to his daughter.

"You went to London to find Harry? You said you went shopping for some new robes and that you were going to spend a few days in the city!" Ginny turned even redder at this, making Harry laugh.

"No, she turned up at the end of last week and convinced me to come back. So after fetching Hermione, we came here," Harry said. But Mrs Weasley had gone white.

"But something happened on the way! Your hands went to Mortal Peril and we thought they had got you!" she stammered clutching her husbands hands. Harry thought back and remembered what had happened, but something else in her sentence had shaken him.

"Who are they?" he asked, glancing at Ginny. She had been smiling, but that faded slightly. "Oh, that! We were coming into London via Floo and I tripped through the wrong fireplace. I landed in a church in front of a whole bunch of religious muggles. The fireplace was hooked up to the Floo Network for some reason. So I just stood there, staring at them staring at me. Then this old guy comes at me wearing a thick purple robe with a sharp pole with a candle on the end. He was shouting something about devils and I was full of the dark stuff! So I just stood there, too dumbstruck to move when Harry appeared behind me from the fire and swore when he seen were we were. It would have been hilarious if I wasn't almost skewered to death by a crazy pope!" Ginny answered, laughing. Harry knew she was dodging his question.

"How did you get away?" asked Arthur Weasley in awe. "Oh, we apparated to the Leaky Cauldron were Hermione was waiting for us. And from there we came here," she finished laughing with Hermione.

"Who are they?" Harry asked again, gaining everyone's attention. Hermione seemed to be waiting as much as he for the answer. The three red-heads glanced at each other when a voice from the doorway answered for them.

"They would be the death eaters," Harry looked up to see Ron leaning against the door frame, his face blank of emotions. Harry hadn't even heard the door open, it seemed none of them had.

"Hello, Ron, I wasn't sure if you were here or not!" said Mr Weasley, smiling.

"Death eaters? What are death eaters doing without Voldemort throwing orders? I thought the rest of them had been rounded up and sent to Azkaban?" Hermione nodded along with him but Ron snorted.

"Good lot of help that did. They were only in there for about a year before they were released." The red head said, scratching his arm. "What? Why?" Harry stammered.

"Fudge thought they would be no threat against the magical community since Voldemort was gone. That was the last major thing he did before dad took over, except for that statement about you," Ron said seating himself down at the head of the table.

"Then what is happening with them now? What are they doing?" Harry said. He thought, that once Voldemort was gone, that it would be the end of the dark times. That the death eaters would disappear with their lord, never to be seen or heard from again. But this news was startling.

"They have not done anything major at the moment," said Mr Weasley. "There has just been some activity around the old places were they mostly had their gatherings in the second war. There has been a few mysterious deaths and disappearances in the last few weeks, and we just thought they were accidental deaths and the disappearances were random. But we have been following the number killed and who they were and it turns out they were once death eaters or suspected activists in Voldemort's circle."

"So, someone is killing off the death eaters, why should we care?" Mr Weasley looked at him sadly. "We believe the inner circle is trying to get the death eaters together once more, and those that refuse to join are killed." Harry gaped at him. Death Eaters killing death eaters? And who was commanding them? Death eaters didn't usually go off on their own free will, summoning their fellow Voldemort supporters after many years apart. It just didn't make sense.

"Then who is controlling them? Without Voldemort, who is there that the death eaters would follow?" All faces turned to him, even the pale cheeked Hermione.

"We thought you might be able to answer that. That's why I came and got you and Hermione. If anyone knew that I was going for you, who knows what might have happened!" said Ginny, face serious and eyes pleading.

"You came and got me to help fight the death eaters once more? Couldn't you have got someone else?" Harry said. Anger was building inside him. Here he was thinking that Ginny had came for him because she missed him. But it turned out that the only reason they wanted him, was for the same reason as last time. But now, he was back to sweep up Voldemort's leftovers.

"Harry, you're the only one that can help. You defeated Voldemort at only seventeen! Imagine the things you could do now, five years later! The death eaters were only ever afraid of two people, even if they didn't show it! They were afraid of you and Dumbledore. Now that Dumbledore is gone, there is only you left to help!" as soon as she said it, she knew she shouldn't have. Harry's eyes had clouded over. Pain and guilt flooded through his body and memories surfaced of that final day.

"Harry, you are the one who has to stop him, you are the only one that can. My time has come but yours has just begun! I will die today, that is certain, but the future of your life and the life of many others is in your hands. Fight, Harry, fight for your friends, fight for me and fight for yourself. All the pain you have suffered through the years was caused by Voldemort. Avenge your parents death!. Put Cedric to rest as well as Sirius. Take him down Harry, it has to be done. You are the only one who can save us all. Fight, Harry, and remember those who have fought with you through this age and will continue to do so for the rest of your life. Fulfill the prophecy and live!"

Those were the final words of Albus Dumbledore spoken to Harry. The headmaster knew that his life was to be taken on that day and in that battle. And he fought till his death. And when it happened, the world seemed to stop. Harry had watched the curse leave Voldemort's wand and speed to its victim. Dumbledore had watched it with a reflected green in his once twinkling eyes. Harry's body had froze as Albus Dumbledore turned his head and looked into his eyes as the curse sped towards him. And just before the man was killed, he smiled at Harry. A smile a father would give a son to show how proud he was of him. A smile that held so much love for the boy in front of him. A smile that remained on his face even in death.

A hand on his shoulder pushed the memories form his mind. Harry looked up into the face of Hermione, tears glistening on her cheeks. Her eyes held so much sorrow as she looked down at that broken boy. Harry shook his head and stood. All eyes were on him as he exited the room, the pain and darkness following close behind.

The path took him to the back of the Burrow, through a small woodland and to the side of a small stream. There Harry sat, back against a tall tree and mind off to another place and another time. The memories took over his mind and visions from that day resurfaced.

"There's nothing left for you, Harry. Dumbledore is dead and soon, so will your friends. Why don't you just join me, while you still can. Together, we can rule this world and rid it of all that is impure. If we combine our powers, all shall be ours. We would rule everything and all would be in our command. Join me and your friends can live. Join me or die!" said the monster before him. His red eyes reflected the blood and pain surrounding them. Students dying and fiends falling. Harry looked into the eyes that had haunted his life.

"Do you think I would join the monster that killed my parents? Do you think I would join a murderer who has destroyed the lives of thousands of families across Britain? Why do you think I would join you, Tom? Is it because you think if I fight you, you will die? So by offering your alliance to me, you would not have to face me in battle as you have done so many times before and lost? I would rather die before joining you." Harry answered, spitting blood onto the ground at the feet of the man before him. Voldemort's lipless mouth turned upwards in a crude smile.

"Then get ready to die!"

"Then get ready to come with me!" said Harry, drawing the glittering sword forth.

The trickling stream was the sound that met his ears. Harry watched the glittering water run over the smooth pebbles beneath it. Watched how the light reflected off the surface and caught his eye in an enchanting play like a crystal in sunshine. Harry put a hand down the collar of his shirt and pulled out a chain which was hung around his neck. Upon it was a small, silver key. He watched the light catch the metal and shine in his eyes. Running his finger along the smooth surface, Harry got lost in the memory that accompanied the silver charm.

"Here, Harry, take this." The headmaster placed a chain in his hand. Attached was a silver key, no bigger than his little finger. "What is it for?" Harry asked, staring into Albus Dumbledore's clear blue eyes.

"I can not tell you that, but one day, when the time is right, you will know what to do with it and what lock it fits!" said the old man, smiling in that familiar way.

"Why are you giving it to me?" he said, looking back down at the chain. "It is your destiny. So place it around your neck and keep it safe as the secrets it can unlock will change the way you live. I am sorry, Harry." Harry looked up at Dumbledore, clearly confused now.

"Sorry for what, sir?" he asked. The headmaster sighed, taking off his half-moon spectacles and wiping them on his robes. When he placed them back onto his face, the twinkle was gone from his eyes.

"I am sorry for keeping so many things from you. I am sorry for keeping you locked up for so many years. And I am sorry for not giving you a better life. I am sorry for everything!" Harry watched the headmaster as he stepped onto the revolving staircase and watched him until the doors slid into place and the stone gargoyle sprang to life and blocked the way. Looking down at the chain, Harry placed it over his head and hid it beneath his robes.

Harry looked at the key and wandered like the many times before, what secrets the key unlocked. And what Albus Dumbledore had hid from him again. Coming to a decision in his mind, he smiled crudely. It was time to go back to Hogwarts.

A sudden snap of a branch drew Harry's attention to the path. Letting the grip on his wand loosen, he greeted Ron. The red head walked nervously towards the stream. He picked up a stone and dropped it into the flowing water. Turning to him, he smiled.

"You had Ginny freaked out back there. You know, I think she still fancies you!" Ron said, grinning broadly. Harry smiled. "Its been over five years and all you can think of is your sisters feelings for me in second year." Harry said, throwing a stick into the trickling water.

"Well, we can talk about what happened in there. I know you still feel responsible for what happened back then, Harry. I know you feel guilty about Dumbledore's death and the people that were killed in the Hogwarts Battle. But you shouldn't." he said. Harry looked up at him, eyes stinging.

"Shouldn't I?"

"No, you shouldn't. They died for a cause. And you made their death something instead of nothing. They died while fighting for the Light. Dumbledore died fighting by your side. So did Sirius." This last comment brought back even more feelings from old, and Ron knew them all too clearly.

"And don't start on that 'I killed Sirius I was so stupid' stuff again. Once more, it was not your fault! If you have to blame anyone, blame Voldemort. But wait, you have killed him already, so why are you still cutting away at yourself? You have avenged your parents' death. You have avenged Sirius's and Cedric's! And you have avenged Dumbledore's while fulfilling your prophecy. So why all this crap, Harry?"

Ron had changed. Harry knew it by listening to him speak and watching the facial expressions light up his face. His best friend had just told him what he needed to hear. Harry grinned and stood up, wiping away the dirt from his pants.

"You know Ron, Hermione's looking more beautiful than ever! I was wondering if you had noticed?" Harry laughed as Ron's face turned beet red. The two walked by the water a but before turning back on the path, laughing and talking like old times. But in the shadows of the woods, a lone figure stood behind a tree, face hidden and an evil smile playing on their lips.

Hey hey! How was that one? I just wrote most of it just then and I'm posting it now! So, enjoy it and please review! I would love, love, love to get to one hundred reviews by chapter ten. And if I do, I will post two chapters in one! So, there is a deal for you!

Thanks!

DW