Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of the Potter-verse. Everything you recognise belongs to the magnificent Ms Rowling. I do, however own any characters you don't recognise.

A/N: I kinda didn't do what I had planned to do in this, I managed to turn this into another filler chapter, sorry! I swear my muse just ran away with the story and took Harry on an unplanned trip. Anyway, explanations will be either next chapter or the one after.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you guys motivate me (did that sound as cheesy as it did in my head ;).
Lil Miss Potter I'm glad you noticed the band's similarities to Fred and George! It was something I was aiming for, so yay! There should be a little bit more interaction before Harry goes back, but even when he does, the band and Allie will still be in the story.
Santa Claus I'm sorry!! I kinda wished I hadn't killed Ginny, but then that's kind of a big part of the story, so I didn't have much choice, do you forgive me? I'm thinking Harry won't have much in the way of relationships, and if he does they definitely won't be with Connie or Allie, they're just friends. I know exactly what you are saying about Ron and Connie, and have already thought about all that, so hopefully it will all work when they meet (which they will). Thank you for the long review! I appreciate it :)
Thank you to everyone else who has reviewed too!

Fulfilling Prophecies

Chapter six

October 29th 2000

The next morning, Harry woke up wondering why he was feeling so nervous. It didn't take much for him to remember Ron showing up at his place last night, and the awkward conversation they had had. And, of course, the promise of more conversations to come; with both Ron and Allie.

Getting up, Harry made his way to his desk to check his appointment diary to make sure he had nothing on today. As he looked, he noticed it was the 29th, of October. He hadn't really realised what the date was, and now he had a lot of other things to think about on top of all the memories of previous years. I really hate this time of year, Harry thought, I never seem to get a break at Halloween.

Showered and dressed by six-thirty, Harry felt glad he had a tendency to wake up early; he at least had a chance to have a brief conversation with Ron before Allie woke up. He found Ron asleep on the couch where he had left him, and began to make a cooked breakfast as quietly as he could.

Not quietly enough to keep Ron asleep, however, as he rolled over in a daze, misjudging the size of the couch and landing in a heap on the floor, which Harry could just see through the open door.

Giving a quiet snort, Harry said, "Some things don't change much, do they Ron? I lost count of the number of times you did that after sleeping down in the common room."

The red-head looked around him, looking, for all appearances, as though he was trying to locate himself. His gaze settled on Harry and he gave a half smile, "Yeah, but some things do. I never remembered you cooking breakfast for me before."

Smiling back, Harry decided he would say as little as possible about the previous night. He wanted to enjoy this semblance of friendship for as long as he could. "So, what would you like? Bacon? French toast? Eggs?"

"It all sounds good." Ron asked as he made his way into the kitchen, sitting himself down at the table.

"The works it is then." He piled a plate with some of everything and placed it in front of Ron, who began eating as Harry helped himself to his own breakfast.

They sat in silence, eating and shooting nervous glances at each other when the other wasn't looking. Harry finally broke the silence when both of them had finished eating their second helpings.

"I'm going to go out this morning, I have to meet a few people. I'll be back just after lunch. Then you can tell me what you need to say." Harry spoke softly, trying not to make a big deal of it, even though it was most definitely a big deal to Ron who had turned slightly pale. Ron simply nodded in acknowledgement. Harry sat for a moment longer before standing and putting the plates in the sink to deal with later. "You're welcome to use the shower, if you need anything ask Allie. She'll probably be up at about nine. She doesn't know about me by the way. I haven't told her anything, and I would appreciate it if you didn't either until after I've explained things." Another nod. "Well, I'll be off then. I'll see you later." Harry sighed as he left the room, leaving a desperate looking young man alone at the table.

---

He had lied a little to Ron when he said he had to meet a few people. He hadn't had any definite plans other than a passing comment that he might visit Connie at some stage, and the idea of going to see the guys. Harry mostly just wanted time to think about things, straighten his mind out a little more before talking to his best friend. So he sat.

He was at a park far away from the anywhere he frequented, his motorbike parked a short distance away. It was still rather empty, being only seven-thirty on a Sunday morning; the only other people were just passing through on their way somewhere else, or just getting some exercise. Harry made himself comfortable on one of the benches, lying stretched out on his back with his feet hanging over the end. Running his hands through his black hair, Harry thought about how Ron had seemed last night.

His friend had been nervous, scared, and reluctant to talk. Ron had never seemed that way, not even when Harry had told his friends about the prophecy. It was disconcerting to think what may have caused this reaction, and – judging by what Ron had said – why he had done something so obviously distressing.

The mere fact that Ron had come to see Harry meant that it was big, and unfortunately bad in the Dark Lord way. He wished Ron would have come to talk to him sooner, and in better circumstances. Harry had tried to send letters to Ron in his first year away, but Mrs Weasley had eventually said in one of their infrequent conversations that he wasn't even reading them, simply destroying them as soon as he could.

Mrs Weasley. That was someone else he would have to talk to. Maybe she would be able to tell him what Ron had been doing? Better to talk to her after I've spoken to Ron, Harry thought as he raised himself into a sitting position, he might just blow his top if he hears that I went to his mother. Before he left he had told the Weasley's his plans for the next few years, and said he probably wouldn't be in contact with them very much, if at all. It would be easier for him if he didn't have any contact with the wizarding world and thankfully they had understood and accepted this. He did still receive his Weasley jumper every Christmas though.

Letting his thoughts wander, Harry thought about each of the Weasley's in turn, wondering what they were up to these days. They had mostly been planning on staying close to home and family. He knew Bill had been planning on getting a desk job at Gringotts in Diagon Alley because a stray curse had slowed him down a little. Charlie was probably still helping Hagrid teach care of magical creatures with a little bit of Quidditch refereeing and training. Percy, who had finally been forgiven at the end of Harry's sixth year, had just received a promotion to head of international wizarding relations before Harry had left. Fred and George, hopefully they were still running Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, Harry didn't want to think his continued investments had already become redundant. It would be good to see them all again, thought Harry.

Once again his thoughts strayed back to Ron, now the youngest Weasley without his younger sister. Ron had been troubled in his sleep last night, something so unlike the red-head who used to appear completely innocent and relaxed when he slept. Harry had been the one who would lie awake trying not to let the nightmares disturb him. Ron had had nightmares, who hadn't back then? But on the whole they didn't seem to trouble him too much or too often. Harry thought about the last time he had seen Ron. It had been shortly after he had woken from his three-month stay in the hospital wing. He had wanted to talk to his friend about what had been happening between them. He had wanted to try to restore their friendship in light of Riddle's defeat.

Ron was standing on the top of the Western tower, staring out over the Forbidden Forest. He looked like shit, which was pretty much how Harry felt. Approaching Ron with heavy footsteps – nothing good would happen if he startled him – Harry tried to calm his nerves.

"Hi," he began weakly as he stood next to Ron. "How are you doing?" Harry was trying. He wanted to work things out. Ron didn't.

"Get away from me." Ron said, pushing Harry away from him and turning towards the open door.

"Ron – " Harry began to speak, trying to make the other boy listen.

"Don't Potter. There's nothing you can say to me. Just go somewhere else, and don't bother me." The red-head's voice was cold, and Harry couldn't stand it. He was used to being cast aside by now; hell – he and Ron hadn't been real friends for a while now. But he had thought that after it was all over they might at least try to fix what had been broken.

Reaching out, Harry put his hand on Ron's shoulder. That was the wrong thing to do. "Don't touch me, freak! Everything you touch dies." Ron pushed Harry away from him – towards the edge of the tower. "Cedric, Sirius, He-Hermione and Ginny, everyone dies – because of you." Continuing to push him, with words as well as actions, Ron was being cruel in a way he never had been, deliberately making Harry feel guilty. "Why don't you just finish yourself of too? You've done your job. You've killed the bad-guy and become even more of a hero. There's nothing left for you here." He pushed Harry one last time, and he felt the wall of the tower against his legs. Ron walked away from him, turning at the door and pulling something out of his pocket. "Here, you can take this back." He threw the small object at the raven-haired boy who automatically reached out to grab it, almost losing his balance off the edge.

As the tower door slammed, Harry sank to the cold stones, clutching the object to his heaving chest. He sat for a long time, eventually his sobs died down and he looked at the object. It was a chess piece. A black rook carved delicately from ebony. The figure riding the armoured horse looked remarkably like his red-haired friend. This was the last present Harry had ever given Ron. He had carved and charmed it himself to replace his friend's missing piece. It was also a reminder of all they had been through together, a particular memory of their first year.

Bringing himself back to the present, Harry decided he had done enough thinking. He needed to take his mind of Ron for a bit. Standing up Harry glanced at his watch; it was now eight-thirty, still early. Making a quick decision, he went to his bike and started it up, zipping up his leather jacket before putting on his helmet.

Soon he was heading down the road, out in the direction of Little Whinging, Surrey.

---

A while later Harry found himself turning down Privet Drive, giving a dry smile at the unchanged houses that lined the street. Number four was likewise unchanged. The garden was still well-kept, meaning either Harry's uncle had given and hired a gardener, or his aunt had found a new interest besides spying on the neighbours.

Harry had parted with his family on good terms; largely due to Petunia's negotiations and explanations. When he had come back after his torture session at the end of his sixth year, she had looked after him, making sure he had taken the necessary potions at the correct times. The two had talked and he had learnt more about his mother, while she had learnt more about her nephew.

Leaving the bike in the driveway, Harry took of his helmet and held it in the crook of his arm as he knocked on the door. It wasn't long before the door opened and Harry was facing his Aunt Petunia for the first time in over a year.

"Hello, Aunt Petunia." Harry spoke with only a hint of nerves, unsure how she would react to him showing up on her doorstep. She didn't say anything as she stood there, raising a hand to her mouth in shock. After a moment she wrapped her arms around her in an awkward (and slightly bony, Harry thought) hug.

"Harry, it's so good to see you again." She quickly ushered him inside and into the kitchen where Vernon was sitting at the table. He lifted his eyes to see who the visitor was, and Harry saw them widen in surprise.

"Harry?" He stood up and offered his hand, which Harry shook as he smiled softly at his uncle. While the two hadn't gotten along as well as Harry and Petunia, they had managed to come to a sort of truce, which had become much more comfortable when Vernon had seen how useful magic could be. "It's good to see you again, boy. Here, let me take that for you and leave you two to talk." He took Harry's helmet from him, and Harry heard him go into the living room and open a newspaper.

"He didn't have to leave." Harry said to his aunt.

"I know, but he hasn't been well recently and likes to take things peacefully. And one thing you never seemed to be was peaceful."

"Isn't that the truth." Harry paused awkwardly for a moment before taking the seat Vernon had vacated. "Look, I'm sorry for just showing up here, but I needed to take my mind of a few things, and there aren't many other people I could talk to who would understand."

"It's all right Harry you don't need to explain yourself; though it would be best if you didn't stay too long. Dudley is coming for lunch at eleven-thirty, and I think it best if you're paths didn't cross." She said this with an apologetic smile. While Harry had learnt to get along with his aunt and uncle, his cousin had been a different story. Things had become increasingly strained between the two after Harry had been allowed to use magic at home. "Now, how about some tea? It always seems to help the conversation flow."

"That would be nice, aunt Petunia."