Chapter 1: Harry's Letter

Dear Harry,

It has been almost five years since we have all been together at once, but what I hear about you is you never leave your home anymore. I have already sent letters to Ron and Ginny and they have agreed to come if you do. We all want to see you again. I would love you to come and recall some of the good times we had. I was thinking we could get together at Halloween in two weeks. Please send your response back with my owl.

Your friend,
Hermione

"Recall the good times?" Harry asked himself after re-reading the letter for the fourth time.

Harry sipped from his morning coffee pondering his thoughts over seeing everyone again after so long of being around no one, but himself and Hedwig.

'It would be good to get out and see them all again. Merlin knows you hardly leave the house as it is now.' A voice inside of his head reminded him.

'Yes, but Ginny will be there.'

'So, you never let her know how you felt did you?' The voice retorted.

"No, but if I found out she was married now and had a family I would never forgive myself that I didn't take that chance." Harry spoke aloud this time.

'And whose fault would that be I wonder?'

"Voldemort, that's who!"

'Oh, really? I was under the impression you were scared shitless of her six brothers.' The voice chided.

"Scared? I wasn't afraid of them they were like my family back then." Harry replied still speaking aloud.

'Don't kid yourself that way, Harry, if-'

"Just shut it OK! I'll go if you'll just zip it for one bloody day!"

Silence invaded his head as he scrawled a short inadequate response on a scrap of parchment.

Hermione,
I'll be there around six. I hope dinner will be served! Just kidding.

Harry

'It was crap, but who cares really, my people skills have always been like that.' Harry thought to himself as he tied the "letter" to Hermione's owl and sent him on his way after letting the owl drink a bit of water.

After sending, the owl on its way Harry returned to the kitchen table and attempted to read the Daily Prophet, but thoughts of his friends kept returning and breaking his concentration.

Had it been five years already? Well, Hermione was never wrong it seemed, so if she says five years it must have been. He had talked a little with Ron at the Ministry two years ago when he was promoted to Head of Magical Games and Sports.

He had not seen Hermione in almost as long it seemed because he could not recall clearly the last place he saw her. Then there was Ginny...the last time he saw her was at her graduation from Hogwarts. She had hugged him and he had given her a small kiss on the cheek before disappearing from public view a few hours later.

He had given no excuse and rarely responded to his mail. After awhile it seemed everyone had just given up on trying to contact him by any means. Most of the Post he received lay unopened in the bottom drawer of his desk in his study where he spent most days just sitting and looking out of the window. It was mere chance that he had opened Hermione's letter this morning.

Harry tossed the Prophet aside as a lost cause and knocked back the rest of his coffee before heading out for a walk in the cool morning air just to try and clear his thoughts before all these memories were rehashed in two weeks with everyone present to watch him fall apart remembering all of what he wanted to forget.

'Well, Mr. Know-It-All conscience where are you now with your words of wisdom?' Harry thought as he walked toward a stream that marked the end of his property.

Silence was the answer he received.

'What am I going to do in two weeks time when get to Hermione's home?' He continued when he got no response.

'Toss you heart on the table?' His conscience spoke at last.

"Oh, there you are. I knew you couldn't keep it quiet for a whole day. And no I don't plan on tossing anything on the table."

'Well, keep your damn moping about for Ginny quiet or do something about it! I thought we were in Gryffindor, the proud and brave.'

"My courage and bravery disappeared with Voldemort." Harry replied.

'A likely excuse coming from a man who still enjoys flying his broom at break neck speed and doing high risk maneuvering once up in the air.'

"I liked it better when you were quiet, I think."

'Why, because I tell the truth without polishing things up?'

"No, you just get on my nerves!" Harry grunted.

'Well, next time you want an opinion or advise from me make sure you take it.' The voice said before leaving Harry to his owns thoughts again.

"Great, I've alienated my own damn conscience." Harry said to himself before sitting on a rock next to the stream and watching the sunrise fully into the sky.

'I guess it's time to open a few of the letters Ron, Hermione and Ginny sent to me before we all get together so I can at least answer some of the questions about why I disappeared.'

'I'd say it was!' The voice said suddenly.

"You again, I thought you were taking the rest of the day off to let me drown in self-pity."

'Your drowning whether I stay quiet or not.'

"Too right." Harry said getting to his feet and returning towards his home.

'What you need to do Harry is go through all your letters you've never opened along with all your effects from school and then you'll be all set to tell your story without too many 'errs' that you like to spit out when talking.'

"Will you give me peace while I try to that?"

'Perhaps, but no promises.'

Harry entered his home and headed for the stairs that would lead him to his study where he keep most of the things he wanted to forget, but never really could.