Disclaimer: Honestly, must I repeat myself. Only in my dreams willI have the entitlements of J.K Rowling or Joss Whedon.

AN: this chapter is filled with tears and angst just like the last chpater. Hermione is still meeting old friends so hence the need for tears. cause honestly do you think you could not cry after being away from your friends for five years? well, i felt the need to justify myself. don't worry the rest of the story won't be this angst filled. the crossover section of this story is coming to an end soon, but bear with me cause it does get better. enjoy!

Chapter 5: Tears and Fears

When Hermione entered the kitchens, she smelled the sweet scent of tea brewing over the fire. Mrs. Weasely and Draco were sitting at the table in silence, awaiting her entrance. She seated herself in silence and waited. Mrs. Weasley broke the silence first, "I'm so glad you're here Hermione. It was hard when you left."

"I couldn't stay. It was eating me up inside to see him, to see her, to see everyone. I needed to leave. I never expected to stay as long as I did. I kept telling myself that I would go back, but then I was afraid and never could and the weeks lengthened into months and months into years. I'm so sorry." Hermione eyes glistened with unshed tears and when she looked up Mrs. Weasley's were the same.

"Why were you so afraid? We would never be angry at you, we could never. You were like a daughter to me and seeing my own become an empty vessel, I was lost without you." The kettle whistled in the background and Draco went up to get it but the two women stayed as they were, both lost, both scared of the other, both wanting so much but too afraid to ask.

The Americans trickled down into the kitchen by the smell of cooking food. When they entered, they were greeted by Draco and several new faces. A haggard looking middle-aged man, two young women and a man in his late twenties. Draco introduced. "That's Remus Lupin," he raised his cup to them in greeting, "Fleur Weasley," a woman with shoulder length blond hair nodded her head in acknowledgment, "Ginny Weasley," the girl with red hair lifted her hand in acknowledgement, "and lastly, Bill Weasely, Fleur's husband." The young man had flaming red hair like his sister. He walked over to them and said, "Don't worry if they aren't very lively, it's too early."

After they exchanged names, Mrs. Weasley put plates before them each. As they dug into their food, Hermione walked in. Ginny looked up and they could all see the vacant expression in her eyes. She was confused, then suddenly understanding shown. The two girls stared at each other waiting for the other to make their move. Ginny got up and walked over to the other girl and threw her arms around her. Both had waited for this moment for a long time, but now that it was here, it was awkward and forced.

"What time did you get here?" Ginny asked pulling back.

"Around midnight. I used the portkey that you gave me before I left. I was long overdue."

"How come you never owled, or flooed?"

"I couldn't. At first, everything was too fresh, too painful. Then I became afraid that you all hated me, were mad for me leaving."

"Hermione, we don't hate you. We never did. We could never understand what it was like for you. They were your whole life and you lost both at the same time. Don't be sorry." Lupin added from his place at the table. Hermione looked around at the rest and saw the same thing in their eyes. She now knew she could move on and be at peace with her decision.

She sat down at the table across from Ginny and she could see a little light come into the younger girl's eyes. Everything was very peaceful until a shadow loomed in the doorway. They all looked up and saw the Boy-who-lived, or rather the hollow shell of the man they once knew. The Americans had never seen the boy but each had wished they could have seen him in his younger days. He was tall but very skinny as if he didn't eat often, and his face held the look of someone once strong but was now gaunt. His cheekbones were very noticeable and his hair hung limply around his face. It was really his eyes that a person was riveted by, they were devoid of all emotion and he didn't even register the other people in the room. He scanned the room listlessly and sat at the table in silence. Hermione looked at the boy before her and couldn't believe this was once her friend, her strong, capable friend. Anger welled inside of her at the thought of what he had let himself deteriorate into.

She stood up to her full height, sucked in a lungful of air and began her tirade. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! What the hell have you done to yourself!" Harry looked at the girl as recognition lit in his eyes. "Look, I've lost a friend too but I didn't withdraw into myself. I started—"

"NO! YOU LEFT. You left me. I needed you and you left." Harry was no longer sitting in his chair, but on his feet. His friends hadn't seen him this active in a very long time.

"You're right I did leave, because of YOU! You drove me away like you did everyone. You couldn't handle Ron's death, you wouldn't talk with anyone about it. I needed you to talk about it. You were the only one who could know what I was going through."

"I couldn't. I had lost too many people, seen too many lives destroyed. How was it that I should be spared but his life cut short?"

"Harry, I don't know why fate gave you this life. But I do know something. Ron would not want you throwing your life away, he would want you to live, to use his memory for good, to help people, to love, to show you that evil won't control you. You want to know why I know this? Because he told me. We talked about what we would want for you if we weren't to make it. We never got the chance to tell you but I know Ron would hate what you did with your life." Harry looked at her imploringly, his eyes begging her to tell him more. She walked over to him and took his hands. "You could change, become the person he always wanted you to become. Help us Harry, fight the good fight again." Harry looked into her questioning eyes and around the room at the people who had tried for so long find him. "What's their name?" Hermione squealed as she threw her arms around his neck. "Because fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." He finished through her hair.

The entire room released a tremendous sigh. Ginny was crying tears of joy. She had her boy back! Lupin sat in the back watching the entire thing play before his eyes; he was for the first time in five years happy.

"So are you going to tell me who our friends are or are you going make me guess?" He said with a smile on his face. Once introductions went around the table for the second time that morning, the breakfast went along as normal, or as normal as it could in a wizarding household.

well, i think i said all that i needed to say at he beginning. oh yes. thanks to LeoLupin and hazelburger for reviewing. also for those of you who want to see this crossover continue, tough. it won't be. but i have a story in the works that will be crossover the whole way, but it's not quite ready to post yet, so be patient. justonemore thing, that feeling youfeel in your right index finger is the need to push the review button and tell me what you think. i thought i'd let you know.Thanks again.