1Harry Ron and Hermione arrived at #12 Grimmuald Place tired but in great spirits. Hermione was the first to reach the fireplace.
"Hey! We are out of floo powder!" she exclaimed.
"Really? What are we going to do?" said ron, "we promised ginny we would return to Hogwarts with news."
"Maybe we can aparate to Hogsmeade Village and go into Hogwarts from there." said Harry.
"But that's too dangerous!" gasped Hermione looking aghast at the idea.
"I have my invisibility cloak," said Harry who since Dumbledore died has kept his invisibility cloak with him at all times.
"Ok, then, let's go"
they aparated to Hogsmeade village right near Zonkos shop. It was really hard to walk as all three friends grew to the size of almost adults. Their feet were showing every time they felt they must straighten up; their backs were aching from crouching. But they walked on, slowly; quietly.
Suddenly Harry heard a hissing voice from under their feet say, "nice to see you again."
Harry jumped, causing the invisibility cloak to fly up almost to their knees.
"What happened?" whispered Hermione fearfully, "be careful!"
"Someone just spoke!" said Harry looking all around.
"What do you mean, I didn't hear anything!" said Ron.
"Why are you so afraid? Look at me, I'm talking to you" hissed the voice again, and this time Harry recognized parseltongue.
Harry quickly brandished his wand and looked around wildly, forgetting to worry about staying invisible.
Ron and Hermione looked terrified as harry turned around and around in panic looking for the source of the voice.
Suddenly Hermione screamed.
Harry turned to look and saw her pointing to the ground. A Huge snake was uncoiling itself toward Harry. He looked at the snake and suddenly let out an "oh!" of relief.
"Hello, my friend," said Harry happily in parseltongue, "why are you not in brazil?"
"I couldn't find the way. I find England to be quite comfortable, though. How have you been doing, though you seem very jumpy. I thought you would recognize me right away, who else can speak my language?"
"Oh, you don't want to know," said Harry, but suddenly a thought occurred to him. "Have you met any other human who can talk to you?"
"No, never," replied the Boa Constrictor "I don't think there are any people who can. I have been around humans for years while at the zoo, and even now, I never met anyone like you. You did grow up nicely."
Harry looked around at Ron and Hermione. Both looked at him in awe. He suddenly realized that neither of them could understand what was going on.
"Hey, remember I told you about that Boa Constrictor I set free before I knew I was a wizard?" said Harry, "well, here he is. Er- I guess you can't really say hello," smiled Harry.
"Listen," he told the snake "we are kind of on the run so we er- have to run. But it was swell seeing you."
"Same here," said the snake "sorry I gave you such a fright."
Harry, Ron and Hermione readjusted the cloak when a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Say," hissed Harry in parseltongue "would you be around this area for a while? Only I would really like to see you again."
"Sure, I'll hang around for a while."
"Thanks," said Harry and walked away with his friends.
"You know, it's really creepy the way you can speak to it," said Ron.
"Sorry" said Harry.
As they made their slow progress to the castle, Harry was deep in thought. It suddenly dawned on him in how much danger Ron and Hermione were. It might have been true that voldemort and his death eaters couldn't touch them, but there are many other ways to kill...
Harry remembered how Quirrel cursed his broomstick during Quiddich. Ron was Quiddich captain this year. He remembered the basilisk. What can stop Voldemort from creating another one? Or sending an army of snakes after them?
He can send an army of dementors: Those dementors in Scotland could have easily finished Ron and Hermione. Voldemort hadn't known that Harry would be there with them. Harry was the only wizard besides for Dumbledore who can produce a patronus against hundreds of dementors at once.
Voldemort can poison them or send them cursed necklaces... there were so many ways to kill someone with out having to touch them.
Harry was so worried for his friends, he didn't want to let them out of his sight. He knew that he must kill voldemort as soon as possible. Now that all the horcruxes besides Nagini were finished, he couldn't let it wait. Especially not now, that Pettigrew probably informed voldemort about Ron and Hermione being in that cave. Now that Voldemort knows that at least one of his well protected horcrux could be distroyed. How long would it take him to check on all his horcruxes and see they are all gone? Would Voldemort then decide to create more horcruxes? How long would that take?
When Harry met his old friend, the Boa Constrictor, he decided it was time to stop relying on Hermione for plans. He knew he must form his own, and he did; right then and there. He will send the snake to trick Nagini into leaving Voldemort's side, Harry will then kill her with the Griffindor sword. Then when Nagini is gone, Harry knew what he must do.
"I will do it" thought Harry steeling himself, "I have to; there is no other way."
"Are you all right?" Hermione asked looking at Harry.
"Sure, yeah, I'm fine..." mumbled Harry as they reached the gates of Hogwarts.
Hermione quickly undid the jinxes protecting the castle grounds and within minutes they were safely in Hogwarts grounds. They took off the invisibility cloak and started walking much faster towards the castle.
Harry kept stealing glances at Hagrid's hut which looked dark and desolate. Hagrid was in St. Mungo's badly injured during a battle with a bunch of giants. He fought alongside Madam Maxime and his little brother Grawp.
Harry thought about Hagrid's bravery, and realized that his own task was just another thing that must be done. Evil must be vanquished once and for all, he thought as they reached the castle doors. Even though...
"Put your invisibility cloak on," said Ron, "you never know who might be up-even at this time of the night."
As Harry walked through the corridors he was ovewhelmed with emotion. He knew this would be the last he will see of Hogwarts. He looked around and noticed every detail, as if this was the first time he was seeing it.
"Puplewear" said Hermione as the reached the portrait of the fat lady.
The portrait swung open and Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked into the Griffindor common room. They looked around and saw Ginny sitting on the couch by the fire, asleep, her cheeks streaked with tears.
"Ginny," said Ron gently shaking Ginny awake, "we're here."