Legs dangling from the rock that he was perched upon, a blanket tucked around his shoulders, Harry Potter was currently deeply immersed in the large, weighty tome spread open on his lap. His slow breaths misted in front of him, one hand playing with his lip idly, the other tracing on the page as he read intently. Before him was the open sea, calmed and peaceful, the distant waves lapping against the jagged rocks below. He sat a few feet from the cliff edge on the most comfortable rock he could find.

He was alone, a solitary figure exposed on the island, his wand rested beside him and his Invisibility Cloak was tucked under his coat. As much as he loved Hermione's company, especially now when just the thought of her made his heart skip, he struggled to concentrate when his brain and his balls were in constant battle. It had been three days since Ron's sudden appearance, three days since he and Hermione had fully explored each others' bodies, and it was becoming increasingly hard to not spend every second alone with each other, touching each other, kissing each other.

Harry shifted on his rock, looking up from the page and staring out at the view of the open sea. The mainland shore was visible, but Harry had no clue where he was. When Vernon brought them to that rock all those years ago, Harry hadn't been all that bothered about where they were going. He had been lost in a haze of total confusion. Judging from the sheer amount of driving Vernon did, trying to 'shake em off', he could have easily travelled around the entire country. He wasn't too concerned that he had no idea where he was geographically. In fact, it made it all the more safer. How could any Death Eaters think of this location when he himself had no idea where he was?

That morning, Harry had taken the Marauder's Map out from his mokeskin pouch for the first time since the first Argument. He studied the Common Room for the appearance of Ron's name, but it appeared he hadn't returned yet. He felt a guilty jump in his gut when he caught Ginny's name, but he quelled it. She likely expected that there was a chance for them to get back together, or even expected to join them once she became of age and the Trace was no longer an issue. He searched the rest of the school, smiling a little as he saw the familiar names, doing his best to battle the homesickness that he inadvertently triggered.

After planting a kiss on Hermione's cheek, he had sought the need to distract himself. He had tucked Hermione's copy of Hogwarts: A History under his arm. Hermione hadn't questioned his choice to read outside. She gave him a reminder to not fall off a cliff and that was it.

He had started to enjoy the fresh air and the wide, open space before him. After a childhood of confinement and suppression, he enjoyed being outside. It was likely why he loved flying as much as he did, the feeling of freedom, liberation. He wanted to take every moment he could without walls around him. Even canvas walls.

His eerily sharp hearing caught the distant footstep. Knowing that it could belong to no one else, he smiled to himself as he heard his girlfriend approaching him.

"I have tea," she informed him as she approached. He turned and, at the sight of her, his heart swelled. The feeling in his heart was growing stronger, warmer, with every passing day.

Hermione was dressed in her padded coat with the faux fur hood, her hair loose on her shoulders. She carried two cups with her, showing her intention of joining him on the rock. He scooted over to give her some space.

She settled down beside him, her leg pressing against his. He reached over, taking the mug from her hand.

"Thanks," he said, looking down at the book, seeing the pages ruffling a little in the breeze. Hermione gripped her mug in her hands and looked out at the sea. Harry followed her gaze and then closed the book on his lap, setting it to the side.

"I can see why you like this spot," Hermione remarked.

"It's even better now," Harry said softly, shooting her a side-along glance. Hermione's pink cheeks brightened and she nudged his arm.

"Flirt."

Harry quickly began to enjoy their banter. He loved that she teased him, especially after their shopping trip the day after Ron returned. He looked down at the black coat that he was wearing, the brand-new garment replacing the knackered jacket that he had inherited from his cousin. It matched the black jeans he wore, and the black shoes. There certainly was a theme to his new wardrobe. Studying his new clothes, he thought back to the shopping trip where he had made the purchases.

Hermione, disguised as a black-haired muggle, looked despairing at the clothes that Harry had picked out.

"Why is everything black? You'll look like a mugger.""

"I'm a dangerous fugitive. I need to look the part."

"At least pick something with a bit of colour. What about blue?" She grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the clothing rails.

"For Merl- God's sake, Her- Jean," Harry was so flustered that he stumbled on his cover as a muggle. "We don't have time…"

"This is nice," Hermione picked out a long-sleeved blue shirt. Harry blushed furiously and took it from her. "It's in your size."

"How do you know my size?"

"I know everything about you… James." She then publicly kissed him in the middle of the store.

Harry sipped at his tea, lapsing into a content quiet as the waves battered the cliffside below them. A gust of wind ruffled their hair as they sat, cold but not frigid. So far away from civilisation, the chilly mists of the rampaging dementors hadn't clung to their particular spit of rock.

"Harry?" Hermione threaded her arm through his when she spoke his name.

"Hmm?"

"About these Hallows… I'm not uncovering any mention of them whatsoever in my books, not even the ones that chronicle Grindelwald's rise and fall. Which is strange, considering what you said Viktor told you," she flashed her eyes up to his face, reminding him of a discussion they had the previous night when he told her in detail the conversation he had with her ex-boyfriend during Bill and Fleur's wedding.

"About him carving the symbol into the wall at Durmstrang?" Harry posed. Hermione nodded.

"If he is synonymous with this symbol, why is there no mention of it?"

"Hmm…" Harry thoughtfully pulled at his lip. "Well… his regime was a lot worse in Europe than it was in Britain so maybe he is a lot more like Tom for them than he is for us." He saw Hermione's confused expression at his answer. He lowered his hand.

"Here, everyone is so scared of him, even when they thought he was gone, they refused to say his name. What if Grindelwald is like that in Europe, so they are so scared of him, they don't want to write his mark or talk about it? That would explain Krum's behaviour at the wedding. It was only his honour that stopped him from causing a scene."

Hermione regarded him with the appraising look that made him what to kiss her senseless. She nuzzled her face into his arm.

"You are quite brilliant sometimes."

Harry snorted. "Only sometimes?"

"Yes."

Harry smiled, enjoying her clinging to his arm.

"Although, it does raise the question of why Xenophilius Lovegood was wearing that symbol in the first place," Harry said. "Maybe he had no clue and was ignorant of it. I told Krum that he probably thought it was a cross-section of a crumple-horned snorkack."

Hermione didn't laugh, but instead, she peered up at Harry as if he had said something curious.

"It is possible that he didn't know, but if Mr Lovegood is anything like Luna, I don't believe he would be ignorant. If anything, Luna is incredibly inquisitive to the point that she will invest her time in conspiracy theories that have little proof. A fairytale-like story about three powerful objects that can give one dominion over Death seems to me the sort of theory that would be of interest to her… and by extension, her father."

Harry couldn't argue with Hermione's acute observation into their friend's eccentricity. He knew how difficult Hermione had found it to be patient around Luna and eventually, they had struck up a polite accord, especially after the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries. Near-death experiences had a habit of forming friendships despite a difference of opinion.

He then thought about Xenophilius. Admittedly, he hadn't spoken to him much at the wedding, but then he had been disguised as someone else. If he had been himself, he strongly suspected that the man would have been all over him like a thestral over carrion. The man had printed his interview in his publication and, according to the conversation they had overheard a couple of weeks ago, he was still in open support.

"It's a huge risk going to speak with him. Even if he's on our side, he could be watched, expecting me to show up and shake his hand or something," Harry said, then sipped at his tea. Hermione's mouth downturned at his sensible point.

"Maybe if you go under the cloak and I disguise myself, it would look less suspicious to an observer. Two invisible people showing up on a doorstep, on the other hand…"

"Right, well I suppose that could work, but you would be in disguise… oh hang on," Harry brightened as his mind triggered. "Luna recognised me despite the polyjuice. Why… why don't we visit during the Christmas break when she will be home? She can vouch for you, ask you security questions, and then she'll likely guess that I'm with you and give us sanctuary."

Hermione nodded, smiling up at him. "I love it when you use that brain of yours."

"Yeah, only because you're putting me through the paces and making me use it." He leaned over her and they kissed, just a light dusting of their lips, but enough for him to communicate that he was teasing her.

"Speaking of which, how are you doing?" She asked him once they parted, her gaze dipping down to the book at his side. Harry followed her gaze and his shoulders slumped.

"Lousy," he said glumly. "I'm not sure what I thought I'd be able to find when you've read it so many times, you can recite passages. Besides, I keep having urges to send the publisher a letter to point out gaping holes."

He saw Hermione's eyes light up. "Oh, enlighten me, Mr Scholar."

"Well, where is the mention of the Room of Requirement? It's not a mystery, after all, when I found out about it from a House Elf. It's the most interesting room in the castle and not once in all the thousands of pages is it mentioned!"

"Perhaps it's on purpose. Imagine if it was common knowledge?" Hermione asked him. "Historians know when it is best to keep a secret a secret." Harry scowled at her common sense but continued.

"I suppose, they did purposefully keep out the fact that there are over a hundred House Elves living in the castle," Harry said begrudgingly accepting her point, "and they didn't mention about how Slytherin built a secret chamber in the school that could be opened at any time by his heir to release a deadly serpent in the school and wipe out all the muggle-borns."

Hermione's expression went stiff as he brazenly brought up the attacks. He winced at his insensitivity.

"But then, I suppose, it's unlikely that the author knows about that. What with it being the Chamber of Secrets and all. Clue's in the name," he went to hold her hand and he sipped some more of his tea. He gave a laugh. "Maybe I should write them a letter. I've probably exposed more of the school's secrets in my time than anyone else and I dropped out!"

Hermione's smile returned. "I'm sure they would really appreciate your feedback, Harry Potter. "

"Ha! Imagine the headline. Hogwarts: A History author receives angry feedback from Harry Potter, telling them to do their research. "

"It'll really endear you to your adoring public to know that you have your priorities in order," Hermione teased him.

"Not only am I fighting in a war, but I'm also trying to preserve our history," he said, playing with her fingers in his, "really, they deserve to know that there's a great big chamber under the school with a big, fat snake just… just…"

His face slackened as he thought about what he was saying. There was a snake in the chamber, a dead snake, deceased and decaying for a few years now. And it was still there. Harry released Hermione's hand, springing to his feet, causing Hermione to squeak in surprise. He wheeled around, facing her, seeing her utter bewilderment at his behaviour.

"The basilisk… Hermione…" He was struggling to put his thoughts into words. "The corpse. It's… it's still in the school."

Hermione was frowning at him, her eyes ranging over his face, trying to work out what he was saying. Then he hit her, then thunked her mug down on the rock, hands flying to her face.

"Oh my god!" She burst out. "You… you're right."

Harry fished under his coat, pulling out the horcrux, staring down at the serpentine S set in emeralds. He gripped his fist around it, his mind spinning as he contemplated what he had just realised.

"No clue what state it'll be in, but… I'll tell you, it had a lot more fangs than the one that I used to destroy the diary with," Harry said, his voice a little hoarse with shock. "The venom… there should be some there. It's magical… it'll still be potent."

Hermione leapt up from her seat, flinging her arms around Harry's neck and her lips squashed against his in a hot, passionate kiss. She swallowed his grunt of surprise, nearly knocking him to the floor. He had to plant his feet down and hold her steady before she pitched them both off the cliff in her eagerness to kiss him.

They parted and Harry gazed down at her, seeing her bright, energised look. Her fervour ebbed away as her mind got to work.

"Harry… are you suggesting we go to Hogwarts, slip into the Chamber of Secrets, take some basilisk venom and destroy the horcrux with it?" She asked him huskily. Harry held her, studying her face.

"I think I see the problem."

"It's near impossible to get into the school," Hermione said quietly, "portkeys won't work anymore, not since Dumbledore increased the security, and I strongly suspect that Tom has only added more layers of security. The students there are his hostages, his control over the wizarding population. He will have every measure at his disposal used, Harry. Dementors, Death Eaters… maybe even giants ."

Harry dropped his arms from her and stepped back, thinking, pulling at his lip. He then reached for his mokeskin pouch, moving back to sit down on the rock.

"It's near impossible," he said, reaching in his pouch and rummaging for the Marauder's map. "From my understanding, one passageway in and out of the school is still a secret. The one that leads into Honeydukes."

He unfolded the parchment, laying it on his lap. Hermione returned to sit with him. He snatched up his wand from the rock and tapped the blank sheet.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. "

They both watched as the ghostly lines of ink formed on the page, sketching out the detailed map that Harry's father, Sirius, Remus and Pettigrew had created together. Harry searched for the one-eyed witch statue.

"Here," he found it, pointing it out to Hermione. "It's a bit of a trek from there to Myrtle's bathroom, but with the map, we can avoid any patrols. I've been exploring the castle undetected for years."

"That was before you had a bounty on your head."

"Hmm, yes, but they're never going to expect me to just waltz in back to school and revise for my NEWTs."

Hermione's eyes were narrowed as she examined the map. Her finger tapped on the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom.

"Look, Amycus Carrow. " She said quietly. "He's a Death Eater." Harry followed her point and scanned the names of the students in class. He recognised one name. Dennis Creevey . He bleakly searched the rest of the school for another name he was nervous about. He found him in the Headmaster's office, pacing.

"This is no more dangerous than what we did at the Ministry," Harry said quietly, "but here, the danger isn't for us. Not really. No one can know that we are there. If we're spotted and someone tries to help us, they would get in a lot of trouble. Likely Azkaban. Or worse."

Hermione's face was pale as she nodded in agreement.

"If we are going to do this, we have to go at night." He traced his finger down to the edge of the map. "We apparate to the edge of the enchantments and make our way to the village on foot. I would suggest that we scout it out first, but it's too risky to make multiple trips."

"Agreed," Hermione said under her breath, "there will be a Death Eater presence in Hogmeade. As it's the only full magical settlement in Britain, it'll be under tight guard."

"Getting into Honeydukes is the biggest hurdle," Harry said, tapping at his chin with his wand.

"We could use the staff access at the back of the shop."

"Good thinking. We have some decoy detonators left over too, and some darkness powder, though I'd rather we not use them."

Hermione considered him for a moment, her gaze appraising, almost smoldering. Harry felt electrified under her gaze. She sighed, her lips curling.

"I'm struggling to think of an excuse to not try this at least. We're no closer to finding the Sword and we know of no other fool-proof way to dispatch the horcrux. If we set the soul-fragment loose without a means to destroy it, it could end in disaster."

Harry nearly shivered at the thought. The Riddle that had come out of the diary had come very close to killing Ginny and himself. If the soul fragment in their horcrux was anything like that, they would need to be very certain about their methods before trying. Steeling himself, Harry finished his tea.

"Right, let's head inside and plan this properly," he said to her, leaning in. He brought his hands up to her face, feeling her chilled skin under his fingers. Hermione's eyes then suddenly ignited with a fever that sent his insides squirming.

"Or we can stay out here for a little longer." He suggested instead, tapping the map on his lap with his wand. " Mischief managed ."

Grinning, he stowed the map safely away, just in time for Hermione to push him back against the rock, nearly winding him from her eagerness. She climbed over him, her weight settling on his lap, her legs on either side, straddling him.

"You are far from 'managed', Mr Potter."

She pulled his glasses from his face, setting them aside, safely out of the way. His glasses had already been close casualties from Hermione's sudden passionate kisses. Her hands pinned him down, her hair cascading to surround their faces with a warm tent, shielding them from the sea breeze.

"Are… you going to manage me?"

"Someone has to."

His hands went up to touch her, his desire inflamed. But her hands caught his. She took him by surprise, grabbing his wrists and pulled his arms above his head. His heart went wild at her dominance. He was gasping out hot, heady breaths as she pulled his wand out of his hand, setting it next to his glasses.

"Oh no, you don't."

"Wh-what are you doing?" Harry was bewildered but incredibly aroused. He was rapidly stiffening in his new jeans. She didn't answer, holding him prone as she claimed his lips. He moaned into her mouth, thoughts wild, as she kissed him hard, his head and back pushed against the rock.

She pulled away and he felt her hands leave his wrists. He went to move them back down, desperate to touch her, to please her in the same way she was pleasing him. But her wand tapped against his wrists. He felt something cold twine around them and pulled them back against the rock. His eyes widened, realising what she had done.

"Hermione… what…?"

"Trust me, Harry," she said, her voice husky. The moment he felt her fingers undoing the button of his jeans, he dropped his head back.

"I always knew you… were bossy, but this?" He jerked his wrists against the magical binds keeping his hands above his head.

"You're going to stay that way until I reward you for being as brilliant as I know you to be," Hermione's voice was slightly muffled as she was crouched over his penis, pulling him free from his boxers and jeans. The cold air struck his sensitive skin, making him give a rather pathetic tremble.

When her fingers took his length and started to grip in the way he showed her during their nightly explorations into how to pleasure each other, he had to bite his lip to suppress the sounds of his ecstasy. Somehow, being completely vulnerable, completely in her hands, made every touch, every sensation like fire. The hard, comfortable rock under him was forgotten as bliss surged through him.

"Ah… Hermione… I can't…" He was struggling to hold on, his bound hands balled into fists.

Her hot mouth took him in. Harry squirmed under her, his face now flushed. She bobbed her head up and down, taking it slowly, which made it all the more harder for Harry to keep himself from ejaculating too soon. He was caught in a half-panic as he fought against his own body so he could enjoy as much of Hermione as he could. When her teeth raked down him, his body jerked. Hermione pulled her head up.

"If I hurt you, just tell me to stop…"

"N-no… it… doesn't hurt," Harry could barely speak. When her mouth returned, he let out a pleasure-filled moan, shuddering as she brought him closer to the climax. He was fighting against her restraints now, his primal need to touch her overpowering him. Her mouth continued to suck and pull, each movement sending sparks through his mind. Then when he felt her tongue run over his sensitive tip, he nearly screamed.

His magic ripped out of him and his arms wrenched free, snapping out of Hermione's charm. He brought his liberated hands to Hermione's head, touching her hair, panting.

Hermione jumped a little when his ejaculation rocketed out of him, but she claimed it, taking it for him, his reward. He shuddered as the orgasm flashed through him in brilliant waves, his magic excited by his emotions. He could see the slight sparkles in the air. Hermione raised her head, wiping her mouth on her coat sleeve.

"Now I think you can say 'mischief managed'. "


It took them another day to fully plan and prepare themselves for another mission. Like they did when they planned the Ministry heist, they repeated the plan to themselves, each step, right down to the letter. Hermione had even the foresight to stick her dragon-hide gloves in her pockets, ready for when they would handle the highly dangerous venom that they were going out of their way to obtain.

Harry stood, leaning against the wall of the hut, tapping his arm with his wand as he went over their plan again. Hermione was stowing the tent into her bag, still crouched on the floor, likely doing the same thing he was doing. He checked his pockets once again, making sure everything was in place. His emergency portkey, which would only work outside the castle, a decoy detonator, two crystals of Instant Darkness Powder, and a small vial of Essence of Dittany that Hermione decanted for him in case of emergency. And then there was his pouch, equipped with his keepsakes and his essentials. His Invisibility Cloak was slung over his shoulder.

"I think we should apparate near that cave where Sirius hide during fourth year," Harry announced when Hermione straightened. "There is plenty of cover there and it's not out in the open. We can scout out the presence in the village from there."

Hermione considered his suggestion and nodded. "I'm more worried about dementors than Death Eaters. The Cloak doesn't shield us from the effects and you feel them a lot more keenly than I do."

"A patronus would be a beacon to our presence too," Harry said, "then we should move fast, take the route we did in fourth year to the cave."

Hermione was nervous. She stepped up to him, burrowing her head into his chest. He held her.

"We can do this, Hermione. We're a team, you and me," he kissed her hair, "this is nothing like what we did to save Sirius. No hippogriff, no werewolf…"

"No breaking the laws of time."

"Nah," Harry said, giving a dismissive wave of his hand, "just breaking and entering, a piece of cake really."

Hermione stepped back from him, nodding. Harry reached up for his pouch, taking out the map. It was already activated.

"Snape is in his office. The Carrows are in the staff room," he reported.

"Malfoy?"

"Slytherin Common Room."

The movements of those four were the most important. They had a direct line to Voldemort.

"Alright… well… if there is no need to wait, shall we?" Hermione stepped up to him, arm out, ready. Harry tugged his cloak from his shoulder, moving up to her, throwing the legendary Cloak over their shoulders before taking her arm. They both checked that they were completely covered before looking into each others' eyes. Harry kissed her for good luck and turned, pulling them both into the suffocating darkness.

Harry's feet slammed into the dirt track at the back of Hogsmeade, pulling Hermione tightly to himself to steady her and keep her under the folds of his Hallow. He squinted in the darkness, crouching down, bringing Hermione with him as every single one of his senses was sharpened. His hearing picked out the sounds of the wildlife in the Forest behind them, the rustling of leaves.

His heart ached at the familiar sight of the stone cottages in the distance, but he pushed aside his sentimentality, glancing back at Hermione, seeing her pale face close to his. He gestured at the path, indicating to Hermione silently that they have to keep moving. She nodded, hand gripping his arm, her wand held firmly in her other hand.

He led them down the path that curved from the rugged mountains that bordered the village, eyes darting at every hint of movement. His heart was racing, adrenaline steeling his nerve. Approaching the village limits, Harry pulled Hermione to a halt. Harry listened intently, trying to make out any signs of life, any waiting patrols. It was eerily silent.

He felt a strong sense of foreboding, his hair standing on end. The silence made him think he was walking into an ambush. Pushing down his unease, he took the initiative and moved steadily towards the outer village, horribly aware of how loud their tentative footsteps were as they crunched on the path.

He shouldn't have worried about how loud their footsteps were. As they passed through the boundary of the village, a scream slammed into their unsuspecting ears. They both gasped, reacting, as the alarm wailed, echoing through the village, deafening. Harry yanked Hermione to him at once, setting off at a fast pace. He knew their presence had triggered the alarm. He heard doors being thrown open, shouts now ringing through the shrieking, wailing alarm.

"Harry! We need to go now!"

As their shuffling flight took them around the back of Dervish and Banges, they caught sight of a crowd of cloaks wizards surging out from the Three Broomsticks, wands lit and held aloft. The shrieking alarm ceased and Harry pulled Hermione back behind the building they were hiding behind, standing flush against the stone wall, peering out.

" Accio Cloak!"

Harry and Hermione grabbed the cloak, but it made no attempt to leave.

"Not under your wrapper then…" Harry recognised the voice as one of the Death Eaters he had run into at Godric's Hollow. "Spread out. Either it's Potter or someone else daring to break curfew. Either way, they can't get far."

Harry shared a wide-eyed look with Hermione, thinking fast. Honeydukes was on the other side of the main street where the Death Eaters were currently patrolling, searching. He backed up with Hermione, putting a finger on his lips and reached in his pocket for a decoy detonator. He saw Hermione's eyes widen as she saw what he was thinking. He wanted to cause a distraction and then run.

"What about the dementors?" A gruff voice said, sounding loud, close. "

" Shit, " Harry breathed out. He palmed the decoy. Dementors definitely wouldn't fall for a decoy. They would be drawn to him immediately. They always were. "Hermione, we need to get away. We're likely trapped behind anti-apparation jinxes. Try your portkey."

"It won't work, Harry, we're in the village." Her voice was terrified.

"Then we head into the Forest before the dementors corner us. Come on." He pushed down his terror, focusing. They had to run, move, not let the trap close around them. Angry thoughts jabbed at him, but he had no time to chastise himself for this plan, for endangering them.

They moved back, away from the high street, towards the less commercialised part of Hogsmeade, towards the houses and the back to where the Shrieking Shack sat perched on its hill, alienated. Harry looked up, his eyes widening. The Shrieking Shack! The passageway in the building took them out of the village and into the school grounds. They could evade the Death Eaters.

And then what? It might be a bit noticeable when the Whomping Willow freezes. Then we'd have to find a way into the castle. It'll be locked down.

As he led Hermione down the narrow side streets, the voices of the Death Eaters at their back, he felt the unnatural cold being spread over the street. Light was sucked from the environment right up to the stars, which vanished. Their panicked breaths were puffing out of them as they groped blindly down the narrow street. Harry yanked Hermione back as he heard the rattling breath before he saw them. Gliding in front of them, closing in, were three dementors. Harry glanced behind, seeing the wandlight of the searching Death Eaters. He had the choice of losing his life or losing his soul.

He pulled Hermione behind him, snapping his wand up, filling every fibre of his being with the thought about the witch at his back, trembling in the unnatural chill.

"Grab Harry and run!"

Harry flinched as he heard his father's voice. Hermione's arms clung to him.

" Expecto patronum," he whispered the charm, but there was no need for subtly now. His patronus erupted, brilliant, bright and powerful, immediately charging, antlers first, towards the dementors. Harry tugged Hermione behind him, following in the wake of his patronus.

"THERE! Potter's there! I saw his patronus. A stag."

Harry wheeled around as they cleared the narrow street, seeing the two Death Eaters running towards his patronus, coming closer. Before Harry could decide whether to attack them or not, he heard a scraping of bolts behind him.

"Potter, in here, quick!"

It was Hermione who grabbed Harry around the middle and dragged him into the offered shelter without hesitation. Harry, thoroughly disorientated, staggered through the open doorway. A tall figure stood over him.

"Upstairs, keep the Cloak on and keep quiet," he muttered, then stepped out of the doorway into the night, slamming the door shut behind him. Harry stared, shell-shocked, but again, Hermione tugged him around, leading them into a darkened room, illuminated by a single candle on a bar. He recognised where they were then. The Hog's Head Inn. Hermione lifted up the hatch, leading the way behind the door towards a rickety wooden staircase. It opened out into a surprisingly cozy sitting room.

They both spotted the window, hearing voices outside. They crossed the room, moving close. Harry glanced around at their surroundings. There was a small fireplace, fire spluttering in the hearth. Hung above was an oil-painting of a girl who gazed out at the room with a kind of a vacant sweetness.

There were shouts below. Harry turned to peer out the grimy window, Hermione at his side. His gaze was fixed on the only one of the men who didn't wear a hood, their savior.

"You send dementors down my street, I'll send a Patronus back at 'em! I'm not having 'em near me, I've told you that. I'm not having it!"

"That wasn't your patronus. It was a stag. Potter's stag!"

"A stag? You idiot!" The man roared. " Expecto Patronum. " Something huge and horned erupted from the wand. Head down, it charged toward the High Street, and out of sight.

"That's… not what we saw, right Moore?" said the Death Eater unsure.

"Curfew's been broken. Even if it wasn't Potter, you heard the noise," the other man, Moore, said gruffly. "Someone was out on the streets against regulations-."

"If I want to put my cat out, I will, and be damned to your curfew!"

"You set off the Caterwauling Charm?"

"What if I did? Going to cart me off to Azkaban? Kill me for sticking my nose out my own front door? Do it, then, if you want to! But I hope for your sakes you haven't pressed your little Dark Marks, and summoned him. I doubt he'll be best pleased to come all this way for me and my old cat, is he, now?"

"Don't worry about us. Worry about yourself, breaking curfew!"

"I still say I saw a stag Patronus!" shouted the first Death Eater.

"Stag?" roared the barman. "It's a goat, idiot!"

"All right, we made a mistake," said Moore. "But break curfew again and we won't be so lenient!" The Death Eaters then turned, moving away. Harry took a step back, feeling weak with relief. Hermione moaned under her breath, burrowing her face into his arm. Her arms wrapped around him, holding him close.

They heard the door below open.

"H-Harry, we can leave," Hermione said to him quietly.

"He saved our lives." His lips felt numb. "We can't leave without thanking him."

Her arms relinquished their pressure around him and they heard then the footsteps coming up the stairs. He shielded Hermione with his body protectively, keeping her behind him. The door creaked open, candlelight flickering as the old man stepped inside. He grunted, shutting the door behind him.

"You can take off the Cloak."

Pulling the shroud off from him and Hermione, Harry revealed them to their savior. The man gave Harry a very unimpressed look as he stepped up to him.

"What were you thinking, boy?" The old man said gruffly, "coming back here…" He then bustled into the room, his wand sweeping out. The curtains pulled themselves shut, the fireplace roared into life.

Being called 'boy' rankled Harry. He slipped out from Hermione's arms, following the old man as he headed to where there was a table and some ramshackle chairs. As he approached the man, he pulled himself short, looking at the man's face properly. When his piercing blue eyes met Harry bright green, he knew, immediately, who he was. Harry would know those eyes anywhere. He had seen them many times, twinkling with amusement, wet with remorse, even hard with cold fury. They were the eyes of Albus Dumbledore. A dead man. He then studied the rest of the man's appearance, taking in his brown robes and general disheveled appearance. His face was heavily lined and his back bowed with age.

"You… you're Aberforth Dumbledore?" Harry asked, stunned.

"I am and I know who you both are. How could I not when your faces have been plastered all over the paper?" Aberforth said as he rounded on Harry. "So I ask you again, Potter." Harry kept himself in front of Hermione, shielding her. "What were you thinking?"

"I didn't come here without a reason," Harry replied firmly. The old man grunted at that and he pulled two chairs out from the table.

"Take a seat, both of you." He gestured at the chairs that he had moved for them. Harry begrudgingly took the lead and moved over to the table, knowing better than to refuse the hospitality of someone who had just saved his and Hermione's life. He sat down, watching as the old man strode out of the room through a door. When he was gone, Harry looked up at Hermione.

She sat next to him, taking his hand in his.

"I know… but we're safe."

"For now," Harry said, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I should have guessed there would be something waiting for me after Godric's Hollow."

"I didn't expect a Caterwauling charm either, Harry. You're not omniscient." She played with his fingers.

Aberforth returned, this time carrying a pewter jug and three cups. He set them down on the table and settled down in the chair opposite them. He went to pour. Harry was a little surprised to see that he was giving them mead, but said nothing, excepting his drink. Hermione took hers with a subdued 'thank you'.

"Right then," the last Dumbledore surveyed them, drinking a healthy gulp of his mead before setting it down. "We need to think of the best way to get you out of here. Can't be done by night, you heard what happens if anyone moves outdoors during darkness."

"We can't leave… we need to get into the castle," Harry said, shooting a glance over at Hermione. "I know there's a passageway under Honeydukes that leads in."

"Did you not hear what I just said, boy?" Aberforth sharply cut over him. "You step outside this building, they'll be onto you like bowtruckles on doxy eggs. Wait until daybreak when curfew lifts."

Harry could see Hermione's awkward shifting in her seat. He knew that she wanted to leave right now, but they were stuck with their impossible mission. They had no choice but to continue into danger.

"You can get back under the Cloak in the morning at dawn and set out on foot. You can disapparate in the mountains."

"Yeah, that's where we apparated," Harry said, running his fingers down the pewter cup. He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing. "But we really do need to get into the castle. We… have something to do, something important. Dumbledore - I mean - your brother - wanted us…"

Harry's voice faltered as the elder man across from him leaned back in his chair, causing it to creak. His eyes narrowed at Harry at the mention of his brother and he picked up his cup.

"I ought to have known you were risking your hide for one of his grand plans. Mr brother Albus wanted a lot of things and people had a habit of getting hurt while carrying out his orders." He drank some more of his mead. "Forget my brother and his clever schemes. He's gone where none of this can hurt him and you don't owe him anything."

Harry didn't know what to say. He had never had anyone to tell him to let it go, save himself. Not even Sirius had put it to him in such a way, though maybe he would have had he lived long enough.

"It's not for him," Hermione said, sparing him the need to speak. Harry looked up at her and saw her furious look as she confronted the older wizard across from them. "It's for everyone still living under this tyrannical regime and for everyone who lost their lives because of Tom Riddle."

Aberforth scrutinised her, drinking deeply. "And yet, it was my brother who set you on this path. Why you, boy, why not someone older, more qualified-?"

"Because it's got to be me," Harry burst out, flinging his hands up in the air.

"Give it to someone else!"

"I can't ." Harry was getting angry now. "And you should understand that. Weren't you in the Order of the Phoenix?"

"I was," he said grimly, "but the Order of the Phoenix is finished. You-Know-Who's won, it's over, and anyone who's pretending different's kidding themselves. It'll never be safe for you here, Potter, he wants you too badly. So go abroad, go into hiding, save yourself. And take your missus with you." His piercing eyes settled on Hermione. "She'll be in danger as long as she lives because she's with you."

That stung more than anything.

"You aren't listening, Mr Dumbledore! Harry can't leave, he can't give it to someone else. He has the hopes of everyone out there on his shoulders. Don't you understand what pressure he is under? Do you think if he had a choice, he would choose a different way?"

Aberforth's gaze moved over to Harry and his hard look dwindled. "Trapped in your own legend, eh?" Harry's eyes snapped over to him. His anger, his fear, his overwhelming despair that his fate was rushing up to meet him soon, everything hardened over as he looked across at the cynical old man across from him. He put his hands flat on the table and turned his furious green orbs at Aberforth.

"Don't mistake me for being a happy pawn in someone else's game," he said in a low voice, "I've been moved about the board since before I could speak. All my decisions were made for me and it's only now, in the middle of a war, that I finally have the right to my own say, and I still have no free will. So don't lecture me about my choices. The very few I have to make are mine and mine alone. Yes, I might have the choice to leave, pack up and let someone else take out Vol- Riddle, but I am not a coward."

He stood up, pressing his hands into the table, glaring down at the man.

"My only memory of my parents is them dying to protect me. You really think I would use the gift they gave me to save my own skin?" He could see Hermione's wide eyes watching him, but he had eyes only for the old man in front of him. He could see a glimmer of respect. "Maybe your brother had a greater plan, but I am not doing this for him. I am doing it for me. I'm doing it for them. " He gestured over to the castle where the distant lights were visible. "So you can either help us get into the castle or we'll wait until daybreak and do it ourselves."

He sat down, snatching up his cup of mead and gulped down. Its warm, steadying taste bubbled through him. He felt Hermione's hand on his leg.

Aberforth leaned back in his chair and he gave Harry a surprising grin.

"You've got your mother's fire, boy," he said to him. He drummed his fingers on the edge of the table. Harry lowered his cup, raising an eyebrow. "Oh aye, I knew her. And your father too. You are certainly your parents' son. I'll help you, lad, but like you, I will do it for me, not for my brother."

He pushed his chair back. "I've not got any guests so there's no harm in putting you up for the night. I'll get you the key to your room and show you through."

Harry sat back, stunned. He had gone from having let loose his temper at the man to now being his tenant. He watched as the old man descended back down the stairs. Hermione's hand gripped his leg.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, her voice low with concern.

"I'll be fine," he replied, knowing that she would read between the lines. ' No, but I will be' . She nodded and he put his hand on hers. "I need to wrap my head around what happened over the last few minutes."

"I think what happened is you just earned his respect by standing up for yourself," Hermione said to him, appraisingly. She stared up at him and the look in her eyes warmed, blazing. Harry wanted very desperately to kiss her but then he heard the plodding steps returning up the stairs. He stood up as Aberforth returned, holding a keyring with several large, bronze keys rattling off it.

"Right, follow me," he stopped, scrutinising them for a moment, "I take it you have everything you need?" He pushed through the door he had gone through earlier, taking them out into a narrow, dingy corridor. The floor was worryingly uneven.

"We do," Harry said.

Aberforth grunted in response. "Well, I've got a house elf who is extremely eager so if there is anything you need, just ask."

Harry caught the tight look on Hermione's face and knew that it meant that they would not be asking for a house elf's services. They followed Aberforth's candle to the very end of the hallway. He pushed the key in the lock, fussing with it until at last, it clunked unlocked. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that these rooms were not in use very often.

The door creaked open and Harry followed Aberforth in, peering around in surprise. He had been expecting a room to be in a similar condition to the rest of the Inn, but instead, it was rather homely. He noticed immediately that the bed was a double, not a twin. He recalled earlier that the old man had referred to Hermione as his 'missus'. Perhaps it was obvious that they were together then.

Hermione let out a soft sigh of relief behind him and he smiled despite himself. Aberforth went to light the candles. He gestured at the narrow door on the right.

"Bathroom's there. Keep the curtains drawn. There are privacy charms, but you can't be too careful." He turned, shuffling over to the door. "I break my fast at nine. You are both welcome to join me. I suspect you… may have some questions. I have some of my own. Then, we will talk about getting you into the castle."

Harry nodded, grateful now that his temper was cooled. He stepped up to the man, staring into the eyes that were so much like his older brother's and get different, harsher. He held out a hand towards him.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice at you. After you saved our lives… it was pretty rude of me," Harry said to him, "Sorry." Aberforth took his hand in his gnarled one.

"No need. I provoked you. I've heard about your famous temper, after all."

Harry gave a short laugh. "Most rumours about me aren't exactly true but that one certainly is." He released his hand. Hermione came over to shake his hand as well.

"I didn't introduce myself."

"You don't need to, Miss Granger," Aberforth said to her, taking her hand more gently than he did with Hermione, patting it graciously, "I recall you hosting a rather suspicious meeting in my pub about learning Defensive Magic from Mr Potter here against the Ministry's wishes."

Harry ducked his head to hide his smile at Hermione's shocked and embarrassed expression. Aberforth nodded at them both and then turned to leave.

"Oh, right, I forgot to give you the elf's name. Just call for Dobby and he'll appear. Now that you're guests, he's your host, as well as me." He turned before he saw the matching looks of shock on Harry and Hermione's face. Aberforth put their room key on the desk and left the room, closing the door behind him and locking it.

Silence fell between the couple as they stared at the door. Harry recovered from his shock first, turning to Hermione, pushing his glasses up his nose. Hermione looked over to him, her look of shock morphing to a look of utter joy.

"Did… did he just say Dobby? " Harry gasped.

From behind them, there was a loud crack. A sound Harry was all too familiar with. He didn't have the time to turn before there was a high-pitched squeak and an excited, overjoyed voice screamed behind him.

"HARRY POTTER! "