Edits: 06/07/08

Disclaimer: I do not own or thereby claim the rights to Harry Potter and subsequent characters, plots, etc. They all belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic Books, and Warner Bros.

Summary: Harry, Ron and Hermione forgo attending Hogwarts their 7th year in order to finish the task Dumbledore set forth for the Chosen One; finding and destroying Voldemort's horcruxes.

Chapter 3

The sun seemed to rise earlier than usual the morning after Bill and Fleur's wedding. Harry, not generally being one to wake up with the sun, rolled over and groaned when its rays spread over his eyelids. "Don't wanna," he muttered to his pillow.

"Come on, then, dear," Mrs. Weasley chirruped pleasantly, drawing the curtains in the room Harry was sharing with Ron. "You've had a bit of lie in, but it's time you've gotten up!"

Harry ever so slowly opened his eyes and peered up at the woman who had been like a mother to him. "Whaddya mean?"

Mrs. Weasley smiled gently at him and pointed outside. "It's after ten o'clock, Harry. Everyone else has eaten and now they're enjoying a nice game of Quidditch."

Apparently the sun had not risen earlier than usual. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. I'll be downstairs in a moment."

"Very well, dear. Would you like some biscuits?"

Harry nodded. "Mmm. Yes, that would be wonderful." He watched as Molly left the room and shut the door to give him privacy while he changed; he was going to miss that woman.

Now rushing to get dressed and go outside to join his friends, Harry finally managed to pull himself together and went downstairs to the kitchen. After eating Mrs. Weasley's biscuits and drinking a glass of pumpkin juice, Harry grabbed his broom and went outside to join the Quidditch match.

"Two against two?" Ron suggested as Harry walked over to join them. "Me and Hermione against you and Ginny?"

Harry glanced over at Ginny who winked at him. "We'll smoke 'em." Harry laughed and mounted his Firebolt, enjoying the wind rushing past his ears and tried to forget that this might be the last bit of fun he would have for a long time.

The atmosphere around the Burrow had turned very morose since they had started their little game. It was as if reality had settled in around them and Harry wondered if this was what it felt like when families sent their sons and daughters off to war. "I'll go pack my things," he told his two companions as he passed them in the kitchen. Ron and Hermione barely heard him, both too preoccupied with what was to come.

Ginny sat down at the table with them and sighed, gazing despondently up the stairs after the boy she was supposed to be with.

Hermione looked over at her younger friend and looked at her with concern. "You all right, Gin?"

Not trusting her voice at that exact moment, the redhead just nodded. "I guess."

"You know you can still write to us, and we'll try to get back as soon as we can," Hermione consoled her.

Ginny chuckled wryly. "No offense, Hermione, but I'm probably going to more excited to see one of the three of you than all of you…God, that's not what I meant!"

"It's okay, Ginny. I know what you mean. Of course you'll miss Harry most of all!"

At that, Ron looked up at his sister and girlfriend. "Oy! What am I? Chopped liver?"

Hermione sighed patiently. "Ron--"

"I'm kidding, Hermione," her boyfriend held up a hand to halt the flow of words he knew would be pouring from the witch's mouth. "Ginny loves me. She loves Harry, too, just in a different way. Right, Gin?"

Ginny's mouth turned up at the corners as she looked across the table at her brother. "Definitely different, that's for sure." She laughed as Ron processed her comment and proceeded to look at her in disgust.

"Ginny! That's just…Ew!"

"Ever the wordsmith, Ron," Hermione smirked.

Ginny regarded her brother a little more seriously once they had finished chuckling. "Really, Ron, I've always known that it would be hardest to watch you go. I was so young when Bill and Charlie moved on, and I was never that close to Percy. Fred and George, well, they're always around, so it's like they never left. But, you Ron, you've always been there. The one year you went to Hogwarts before me gave me a little taste of what it would be like without you around; this is different, somehow. You might not come back."

Ron shrugged. "That is a possibility. Being Harry Potter's best friend kind of puts me at risk. It'll be okay though, Gin. We'll all come back."

Ginny gave him a knowing smile that made her look much wiser than her years. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Ronald. What you guys are doing is deeply dangerous--"

A loud THUNK interrupted Ginny's next comment as Harry had just tossed a duffel bag down the stairs. "You guys about ready to go?" He hollered from Ron's room.

"We're the ones waiting for you!" Ron yelled back. "Hurry up; we're not getting any younger here!"

At that, Harry entered the kitchen with a grim look on his face. "You ready for this?" He wasn't entirely sure what 'this' was going to entail, but Harry was sure the following months would not be easy.

"As we'll ever be," Hermione rose to place a supporting hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Mum!" Ron hollered, "we're getting ready to leave."

Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen holding a handkerchief to her red and tear-filled eyes. "Oh, Ron!" She wailed as she embraced her youngest son. The rest of the family had already left earlier that morning, either to go to work, or, in Bill and Fleur's case, to go on their honeymoon.

Ron blushed to the tips of his ears and squirmed in his mother's tight grip. "Mum," he whispered, "stop. I'll come home to you." But her hold on him only got tighter. Ron finally relaxed into it, realizing that perhaps he wouldn't be coming home. This really might be the last time he would ever see his mom. Suddenly, the emotions swept over him as he thought of all the times she had been there for him. And there wasn't really anything he could say, partially due to the lump in his throat, but he managed to swallow and pull away, holding her at an arm's length. "I know I haven't always been the most grateful son, but everything you do for us; I can't tell you 'thank you' enough. I love you." Then he leaned over, as he was at least a head, or more, taller than she was, and kissed her on the forehead.

Still whimpering, but much less emotional, Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry next. "You know, you were like another son to me, Harry. Promise me you'll be careful, dear."

Harry regarded the woman who had become like a mother to him with fondness. "I'll do my best, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for everything."

She smiled and embraced the younger man tightly. "You know, you can call me Molly," she whispered.

"Goodbye, then, Molly."

Hermione had been hanging in the background, simply observing. She and Molly had gotten along for the most part, with the exception of that time in fourth year when Rita Skeeter had led everyone to believe Hermione was stringing Harry along. They had never been terribly close, however, so she was completely taken off guard when the woman pulled her into a very tight embrace.

"You take good care of those boys, Hermione. You'll be the one that holds them together; you know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Hermione replied, trying to sound strong. Could she really handle that?

"You're the smartest witch I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Don't be afraid of your emotions, though, my dear. Follow your heart."

The two women pulled away, looking at each other with understanding. Now there was nothing left to do except gather up their things and go to Godric's Hollow.

Harry quickly shrunk all of their trunks and handed them to Ron and Hermione. Ginny and Molly stood together by the stairs, simply watching, their eyes overflowing with tears again. Harry walked over to Ginny and held her by her upper arms, looking into her watery eyes. "Goodbye, Gin. I love you."

Ginny nodded, unable to trust her own voice. "Come back to me," she finally managed to whisper.

Harry nodded, and then turned to face Ron and Hermione. "Well?" And with one final glance at each other, the trio apparated away, leaving the two Weasley women behind.

Godric's Hollow

Godric's Hollow was fairly quiet for it being mid-afternoon on a Sunday. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around, observing their surroundings, taking everything in. It really was a quaint little village, with a large fountain in the center and cottages surrounding the whole area.

"Where do you suppose--?" Hermione asked, turning around, trying to see where the Potter's old house must have been.

"My parent's house is?" Harry finished for her, also looking every which direction. "Maybe we should try to find someone and ask."

"What, just knock on someone's door?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "Why not?" He walked swiftly to the nearest house and knocked on the door. An elderly woman answered and looked kindly out at the three young wizards.

"Yes?"

Being the more diplomatic one of the group, Hermione stepped forward and smiled brightly. "We're terribly sorry to bother you, ma'am, but we're a little lost and were wondering if you could help us?"

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you happen to know where the Potter's old house is?"

The woman's gaze suddenly took on a far off look. "Potter's? You don't mean James and Lily Potter, do you?"

Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes, ma'am."

She shook her head sadly. "They aren't there anymore; died years ago. It was a tragedy, really. They had a little boy, but I'm not sure what ever came of him."

Harry smiled at her sadly. "That would be me."

Her eyes widened in shock and sympathy. "Oh, you poor dear! When that man murdered your parents it was all over the news. Terrible, just terrible."

Harry, Ron and Hermione just stood there, waiting and smiling with understanding.

"Oh! You were wanting directions, weren't you?" Within five minutes, the elderly woman had explained that the Potter's house was on the outskirts of Godric's Hollow, that it was mostly in ruins, but no one had had the heart to tear it down. With a tearful smile, she waved them on and wished them luck.

"Thank you, Ms--" Harry let the sentence hang, suddenly realizing he had not asked her for her name.

"You can call me Clara, dear."

"Well then, thank you, Clara."

"You're most welcome, my dears. I hope you find what you're looking for!"

A few miles down the road, they came to a fork and stopped, trying to remember what Clara had told them. "She said to keep going straight, didn't she?" Hermione asked.

Ron shook his head. "No…that was at the first intersection we came to. She said go right."

"I swear it was straight."

"No, right."

"Straight, Ronald."

"Right, Hermione."

"Shut up," Harry finally said, mimicking their increasingly haughty tones. "Besides, you're both wrong. She said left."

Continuing on, Harry was struck with a thought. "Do you suppose Clara is a witch?"

"Well, Godric's Hollow is supposed to be an all Wizarding community," Hermione answered, "so I would imagine so."

"That's odd," Harry mused.

"What is?"

He frowned for moment, lost in thought. "Well, she acted like she didn't know anything about me or what's been going on the last few years. Like she was totally clueless to our world."

"Maybe she doesn't keep up with things like that. This is a pretty remote location. Out of the way from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you know?"

Harry nodded, looking around again. "It is nice and quiet, isn't it? I can see why my parents would have liked it here."

They fell silent again, walking together in the comfort of knowing they could all just be together without saying a word. A little while later, Ron stopped and pointed a few yards ahead. "There! I see it!"

Sure enough, a small cottage that was barely standing had appeared. Harry broke into a run, desperate to see the place that had once been his home. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and hung back a little bit, knowing that Harry would want some time alone.

They found him a little while later, sitting on the floor of what must have been his room, for there was a crib by the window and infant toys scattered throughout. Harry was holding an old, ratty, blanket, staring at his crib.

Hermione knelt by him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay, Harry?"

He was quiet for a moment, still trying to fight back the tide of emotions that had threatened to engulf him the moment he entered the room. This was where his mother had died to save him. This was where she had rocked him to sleep and probably sang him lullabies. He had most likely played here with his mum and dad, and even Sirius and Remus. He could almost hear the laughter echoing through the room.

"I'm not sure," Harry finally answered softly. "I didn't know it was going to be like this, you know? She died in this room."

Hermione simply nodded, keeping her hand on Harry's shoulder in support. Ron hung back in the doorway, knowing that he really wasn't very good in situations like this. He figured the best he could do was wait and let Harry work through things.

A few minutes later, Harry sighed and rose from the floor. "Let's start looking around," he said, "and try to find whatever it is this key opens."

Harry, Ron and Hermione then set to work, exploring the inside and outside of the Potter's cottage. After a while, they found themselves talking and joking as though the work they were doing was something they did everyday and not something that may hold the key to the future of the Wizarding world.

A shout went up from what used to be James and Lily's room. Hermione had been rifling through drawers and cupboards, trying desperately to not think about how eerie it was to be going through Harry's parent's things seventeen years after they had died. That was when she had come across a small, ornately carved wooden box. It had a small lock on the front, just about the same size as the key that RAB, whoever he was, had sent Harry.

After Hermione had shouted out, Ron and Harry ran out of the rooms they had been investigating and rushed into the master bedroom. "Did you find something, 'Mione?" Ron asked breathlessly.

"Here, Harry," she said, handing the book to him. "Maybe the key will fit in there. It looks to be the same size."

Harry fished the key out of the pocket of his jeans and slowly placed it in the keyhole. He turned the key and heard the lock click open. Glancing nervously at Ron and Hermione, who were both holding their breath, Harry slowly opened the box to reveal a locket on a gold chain.

A/N: I felt like it took a really long time for them to get to Godric's Hollow. Kind of how it took me a really long time to write this chapter! Life is crazy, that's the only excuse I have. Next chapter: Harry has to figure out what the locket is and what to do with it, Ginny deals with life at Hogwarts without the trio, and Harry, Ron and Hermione set off on the rest of their journey.