Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything in the Harry Potter universe.
Okay, adding a last part to the letter from the last chapter.
Neville: You're brave. Never let any rotten Slytherins get you down. Never.
So, now here's the chapter. I'm sorry if this is getting kind of drawn out, I've got bits and pieces of the rest of the book already written and I'm working on how they fit together.
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Harry walked through Hogsmeade with Renata on his arm. Hermione and Ron were walking on his other side. Harry felt the calling charm beginning to work. Calling charms were easy; he knew how to block one. Renata had taught him. He knew it was a trap. Voldemort must know he knew that. So, Voldemort must know that he knew it was a trap, then he must also know that Harry would come anyway. Harry could deal with that.
"Hey, why don't the three of you head over to the Three Broomsticks. I'll be along in a few minutes." Harry tried to make his voice sound as casual as possible.
"Where are you going?"
"I just want to get something from one of the stores."
"I'll come with you," said Renata.
"It's a surprise from all of you." Quick thinking, Potter, he thought.
"I don't like surprises. I'll come with you," she insisted.
"No, no, I'll only be a few minutes. Go on, bye!"
"Okay," she said hesitating.
He gave her a kiss, one last kiss. "I love you, never forget that," he whispered. "Bye. Go on." He plastered a grin on his face. It felt so forced; it was so forced. "I'll be right back." He took off in the direction the Calling pulled him, running as soon as he was out of their sight. He ran for five solid minutes before slowing. Now that he had a good head start, he decided to start slowing down and decide what to do. When he got to the edge of the village he could put on his father's cloak, he'd brought it. Then he'd let the Calling keep guiding him again, anything else, well he'd have to see what was waiting for him.
He had just about reached the edge of the village when he heard heavy breathing and voices behind him.
"POTTER!" someone screamed. "I told you he'd be here! I'm never wrong!"
Harry knew that voice. He didn't turn around. He couldn't, he couldn't make himself do it. If he did, he'd never move on again. "I know where he is, Renata. I'm going after him."
"Harry! Are you blind, deaf, and dumb? This is obviously a trap!" She spun him around gripped his shoulders frantically, trying to shake sense into him.
Harry forced her to release; he was oddly calm. "I know good and well it's a trap. I also know that what's going to happen today has to come sooner or later. I'm as ready now as I'll ever be. I'm going to walk into this trap."
"Then we're coming with you," said Ron, fierce. He reached out and gripped one of Harry's hands.
Hermione gripped Ron's other hand. "To the end. We'll always be here for you, Harry. Just like we always have been."
Renata took Harry's other hand. "I'm ready to stand with you to the end."
Neville stepped up to take Renata's other. "Me too, Harry. V-V-Voldemort must be stopped at all costs. I'm with the rest of you."
"You're all sure?" Harry looked at them. Standing there were 4 of his companions. Which would survive? Who was the fifth?
"Yes, Harry. We're coming and you can't stop us."
"I can't?" He gave a sad smile. He could, he knew he could. But they'd follow and there was nothing he could do about that. If they followed, they'd be in even more danger than if they came with them. "If you come, you follow my rules." It wasn't a request; it was an order.
"Harry, you can't go without us."
"My rules," he repeated.
They nodded, all but Renata. "Only as long as I think your rules are the right rules."
"He knows I'm coming. I've got my cloak, but there's not point in me wearing it, is there? I want the four of you to put it on. You'll be a surprise."
"Will we all fit?"
"I hope," Harry said. But they'd only ever managed 3 before and that had been tight enough.
"Are you sure you want to come?" he asked again. "It's not too late to turn back and I won't judge any of you if you do. Being here isn't your place. It's mine."
"I'm with you, Harry. You know that. A brother to me you've always been. This is what brothers do. They are there for each other no matter what."
"You said it, Ron. You're my best friend, Harry, and kind of like a brother to me. You can't keep me away."
"Me neither, Harry. You keep saying I'm brave. I don't think so, but if anything, I'm going to prove it to myself today. I'm going to get back at the man who destroyed my family," vowed Neville.
"Yes, I'm sure I want to stay," said Renata. "Wherever you go, I go. That's final. Not another word about it, Harry. Not another word. We're all coming."
"Have it your way. Ron' can you let go of my hand a minute?"
Ron didn't let go, he looked at Renata, "Is it safe to let go of his hand? Or will he run off?"
"I think he'll stay. I've still go a good grip on him," she smiled. She always tried to lighten the mood.
Harry reached into his robes and pulled out the whistle around his neck. He blew it but it emitted no sound. "Help's coming," he said simply. He stuck his hand into his robes again and pulled out the invisibility cloak.
Renata grinned, "I thought you'd put on a little weight, fatso."
"Let go of me and I want the three of you to put this cloak on," Harry said.
"I don't want to let go. I don't want you to go without me," she said.
"I won't but I've got to lead the way. I'm being led by the Calling charm. As it is, it's kind of a strain standing here and not moving."
"I know you know how to cancel a Calling charm," Hermione said.
"Yeah, I taught you how," Renata added.
"I know, but if I do, I won't find him. Anyway, I'll make this quick. I have to lead, and the three of you have got to follow. No arguments now. I already explained why you have to wear the cloak. I can't follow you if you're invisible so don't even think about it. Throw the cloak on and let's go."
Neville didn't seem surprised at the cloak. Harry tried to remember if he'd ever told Neville about it. "Seven years, Harry, and I'm sure you deserved a lot more detentions than you got. I knew there had to be a reason."
That explained. Renata gave his hand a final squeeze and whispered, "I love you, Harry," before slipping something in her mouth and disappearing.
"Okay, how'd she do that?" asked Neville. "That one's got me stumped."
"She must have brought that candy thing she has that makes her invisible."
"Candy thing?"
"Yeah," Renata's voice said from somewhere near Harry. "I found a recipe years ago and made it. As long as it's in my mouth, I'm invisible. I had a funny feeling today and I brought it in case I needed to follow Harry. 4 of us would never fit under the cloak, Harry."
"I hadn't counted on their being quite so many when I brought it. I'd been planning on using it to escape from you. You 3 under, now. Renata, please stay back behind me, with them."
"Of course I will, I can't lead, I don't know where we're going."
Harry didn't believe her for a minute.
Renata leaned forward and kissed Harry, hoping that it wouldn't be the last time. "Now we can go," she said simply.
Ron and Neville (and Hermione in between) through the cloak around themselves, leaving just their heads exposed.
"You're all the best friend a guy could have," Harry said. They pulled up the hood and vanished the rest of the way.
"Are you ready?"
A chorus chimed, "Yes. We're ready."
"Then let's do this." Harry led the way as they started walking into the woods, his invisible companions behind him.
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Hope you like it. They are getting ever closer to the final battle, I'm not making any promises, but it'll probably be THE next chapter.
