Lupin looked shocked. "How did you-"
"I saw it. In my dream, I saw him and, oh it was horrifying, he murdered them He wanted me."
Harry's eyes widened. Voldemort wanted his best friend and he thought he knew why.
"The house is still standing though. I know that much."
"There's more Hermione." Lupin continued rubbing his chin. "Professer Trelawney went into another trance. It seems that not only is he looking for Harry, but something of yours as well. We detected a powerful magical object in that house and-"
Hermione held up her hand. "With all due respect, sir. I know what it is." She pulled out a necklace that had been concealed under her shirt. It was a white orb spinning in all directions, suspened in light blue smoke. "It's the Oracle. I know what it does. Meanwhile, I must be off. I want to see my parent's house before anything else happens." Grabbing Harry around the waist she apparated with a crack and Harry and Hermione disappeared.
Crack! A moment later Hemione and Harry were standing in front of a white, two-story, suburban home. Hemione's hand fell from Harry's waist and she ran inside. Harry ran after her and opening the door he saw the living room much neater than it had been. There were no signs of stuggle or a battle. Not even forced entry.
"Harry, they died in the backyard. Ministry enforcements have already cleared the place up, alright. So, don't worry about seeing any mangled bodies." Hermione's voice was surprisingly strong.
"Hermione, it's okay to cry you know. It's unhealthy to bottle up feelings inside. I know how you feel, if you want to let it out, that's okay."
Hermione turned to face him. She smiled slightly. "Harry, I'm not upset."
"What? You're parents just died Hermione? How could you not be upset?"
She shook her head, laughing softly. "Harry, Harry, Harry. I'm not upset. I'm not sad. I'm not even lonely." Her face neutralized somewhat as she stared out their sliding glass doors, that lead to the back yard. "Didn't I tell you? The people we love never truly leave us." Her face hardened as she continued to stare into the spot her parents' were murdered at. "If I had to pick one emotion I felt it would be anger, no, beyond anger, resentment, hatred. Harry, I'm going with you to kill Voldemort. He's going to feel what he did to my parents. And he's going to regret it. Now there's only a few other matters to discuss." She walked into the living room and sat down on the flower-print couch. Harry walked over and sat down next to her, still amazed at how well she had taken her parents' murders. He was sure that if it had been his parents, well, let's just say he wouldn't have been so civil.
"Harry, I need to talk to you about what we're going to do about destroying the Horcruxes. We need a plan. I also need to know what you think about Rons' coming. I still don't think he's…comprehended, what's going on. I think he still thinks this is some game. Honestly Harry, Ron can be one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest, people you'll ever meet but I think he still is just a kid. I don't think he's outgrown some of the…immaturities, if you will, that he's had since our first year. So, I just thought I'd bring it up about him going, just in case.
Also, Ginny. Do you want her along Harry? I think she's a bit young, considering what she's done. But, if you want them along, I say let's go full throttle. Because I'm going with you all the way. No matter what. I'm willing to risk whatever it takes because you or "The Chosen One" or "The Boy Who Lived" are not going alone. I'll have to keep you out of trouble."
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"That is the most honest, kindest, most loving things anyone has ever said to me in my life."
"Well, you're the most honest, kindest, most loving person I've ever met in my life." There was a twinkle in Hermione's eyes. Suddenly they were leaning in and their lips touched each others. The next thing either of them knew, they were in each other's arms, kissing. Hermione's fingers running their way through Harry's mess of black hair. It all ended when Hermione pulled back holding a hand to her head.
"Hermione, are you all right?"
"I-I-I don't know. I feel, oh." Hermione fell back into Harry's arms, unconscious again. Harry laid her on the couch and got a cold, damp washcloth that he placed on her forehead.
A half and hour later Hermione woke up feeling dizzy and weak at the knees. "Harry." He was sitting on the end of the couch. "What happened? I can't-I can't think straight."
"Hermione, this is exactly what happened last time. I think I should be asking you that, braniac."
"I need time to think. I'll look into it later. Meanwhile," She sat up as Harry scooted closer to her. They faced each other Harry placed a comforting hand on hers. "Meanwhile we have more pressing matters. Who's going, how we're going to get there, how'll long we'll be gone, where we'll be staying and what'll cover our expences."
Harry sighed and leaned back into the couch. "Let's see," He began. "You and me, I think Ron'll have to go, Ginny I'm not sure about, and, I guess that's it. So, we'll apparate. I'll go with Ron once we get back to the Burrow to take our tests. I think we'll be gone at least a few months. Research, training, actually getting the Horcruxes, destroying them, yeah. That sounds about right. I guess we could stay in hotels-"
"Hotels? You're joking right? For a few months, that'd be way to expensive. For a month alone it'd be about two thousand galleons. We'll need to stay somewhere. I think my parents' house'll do. They have a couple guest bedrooms, mine, and of course, living areas and research. I suggest turning our library into a research area."
"Library?"
"Well, you didn't expect me to go the entire summer without reading every day did you? Now, I've inherited all of my parent's stuff, so I suggest selling all the technology since it'll go haywire once all three of us are using and practicing magic. Now, I'll apparate us back to the Burrow to get Ron, but you have to decide whether Ginny-"
"No, she'll stay. I think…I think her mum wouldn't let her anyway. We'll have some difficulty getting Ron, but I don't think Mrs. Weasley will let go of her only daughter quickly, do you?"
"Honestly, no. Let's go." Hermione got up and brushed herself off. Putting her hand around Harry's waist she apparated then back to the Burrow to find the Weasleys already home.
"Hermione!" Ron nearly jumped out of his seat when Hermione appeared in his kitchen.
"No time Ron. We have to go. We're going to move to my house. It's going to be our headquarters."
Ron ran upstairs and didn't come down for about fifteen minutes. When he finally did appear he had his school trunk in tow and a larger trunk full of more personal items. "I wasn't sure if we were going back to Hogwarts, so I decided to bring it just in case." Ron gestured toward the smaller trunk. "Now, we're staying at your house? But I thought your parents were dead."
Harry sent Ron a glare from behind Hermione's back while Hermione just shrugged the comment off. "They are, which means I own everything they used to own. The house, the money, everything. It's all mine."
Ron's mouth dropped and he looked at his trunks. "Are we making a second trip? Or twelve? I don't know how you're going to apparate all my furniture there but-"
"We have furniture at my house. Yours is staying here."
"Oh…remind me why again."
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, getting impatient. "There's plenty of furniture, bed, dressers, nightstands, at my house. Yours is staying here so when, and if we ever have to stay here or just come to visit you can sleep here without taking up anymore room. Besides, my house would be to overcroweded if you did bring and I can do side-along apparation, but I'm not sure about furniture apparation."
Ron looked back at his trunks. "You know, I'm surprised it fit into that. I had to squeeze, but still. Should I bring my cauldron?" Ron asked turning back toward Hermione.
She stared of into space for a moment, lost in thought. "I'm not sure…I suppose…but it'd be a lot…no, no. No." She said finally. "I have one and so does Harry. I think we should leave you're here unless we actually know we need it. Also, Ron-"
"RONALD!" Ron's face turned white and he slowly turned around to see a furious Mrs. Weasley storm down the stairs. "I was just in you're room about to put away your dress robes and guess what I find?"
Ron squeaked a reply. He was a lot taller then his mother but she frightened all his brothers and Ron to pieces.
"YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE MISSING!" Mrs. Weasley shouted. Harry was surprised her voice could be that loud. "Oh, hello Harry dear. Hermione sweetheart, why don't you and Harry go into the living room while I have a chat with Ronald here." She quickly glared at Ron, muttered, "Don't you move.", and quickly ushered them into the living room, before stomping back to Ron, her foot steps echoing throughout the hall.
"Wait! Mrs. Weasley, I think we need to talk, together." Hermione said not meeting her eyes.
"Oh," Mrs. Weasley looked surprised but that quickly faltered turning her expression into something that looked like she was frightened.
"Mrs. Weasley, I need to say this as politely as possible. It's Harry's duty to defeat Voldemort and he needs to do it soon or the world might not stand a chance. I also feel it's my duty to help him as much as I possibly can and Ron sees it as his duty as well. I may not be the best at Divination but something gives me the feeling that all of our destinies are still intertwined." Mrs. Weasley looked shocked but it turned to a mixture of sadness, and letting go of her better instincts.
"All right. I can't stop him now anyway. He's of age. Just before you go," She got up and hugged Ron tightly. "Remember Mummy loves you sweetheart. You two Harry." She said giving Harry a hug as well before turning to Hermione. "Thank you, look after him for me, won't you? Give him a nice whipping when he deserves it?"
"You can count on it Mrs. Weasley." She said as she gave her a hug. "You can count on it."