AN: Thank you, Yen, for helping me get through this. I know I took a lot of time, but your support helped a lot.

Run or Stay

Harry peered out onto the streets filled with people who couldn't even see the window he was looking out. Grimmauld Place was both a blessing and a curse. It was shelter, Kreacher made sure they had food, kept the place clean, and was helping to find the locket. But they were also unable to walk out the doors. Outside periodically lurked Death Eaters. 'Bellatrix or Mrs Malfoy probably told them the general location of the house and they are looking for it.'

Twitching the curtain closed, Harry walked away deeper into the house. Over the last several weeks they had explored rooms that had been off-limits while the Order lived there. Harry had gone through Sirius' room, sorting the things left behind. Ron and Hermione had insisted on helping and together they not only cleaned up what Kreacher wouldn't touch but also sorted their leftover grief. Harry had also found a priceless picture – at least to him – of his Mum, Dad, and him all together.

"Harry," Hermione held that day's Prophet out to him, "look."

Taking it, Harry couldn't help but smile slightly. Snape had to be cringing at the full front-page coverage. 'Or he could be enjoying it as it can be used as a distraction to other events.' He paused, his eyes darting over to Ron and Hermione before looking back at Snape's scowling image. "Can we use this as a distraction? As a way to retrieve the locket?"

"How do we destroy it once we have it?" Ron paced between a chair and the sofa. "I mean – you said the diary was one and we saw what it did to Ginny. I don't think we should be exposed to one of those things for long, especially in a place with this much affinity to the Dark Arts."

Harry and Ron both looked at Hermione.

"Fiendfyre curse, but I wouldn't dare use it." Hermione shuddered slightly, "It's practically impossible to control."

Ron turned to Harry, "You stabbed the diary with a basilisk's fang. Do you think the corpse is still in the Chamber?"

Harry nodded even as he pulled out the compact. "So, shall we congratulate Professor Snape and ask how to get a fang?"

"In the morning, mate, when you normally message him," Ron nodded towards the kitchen. "Dinner's ready and we don't want to worry him unnecessarily."

The next morning, Harry propped up against his pillows and watched the compact's mirror fade away. "Good morning, Professor. Ron, Hermione, and I wish to congratulate you on your promotion and hope you can do some good with it." He paused a moment not sure if Snape knew about the Horcruxes, but decided to continue. "To complete part of the mission assigned us, we need a basilisk's fang that we think can still be obtained in the Chamber of Secrets. Do you think there is a way for us to get one? Thanks, sir."

He clicked the lid closed and knew it was now time to wait.

§§§§§

Snape returned his message by lunchtime. All three of them crowded around the compact and watched as Snape came into view once again with a forest behind him.

"Midnight, Potter. Give me warning and I will make sure the halls are cleared. Have a way in and out of the Chamber. Let me know when you have succeeded."

Snape's gaze shifted from looking in the centre to just over Harry's right shoulder. "Mr Weasley, please explain to Mr Potter and Miss Granger what a Taboo is. The Dark Lord has instigated one on his chosen name."

With that, they saw their faces looking back at them. Harry and Hermione turned to look at Ron, waiting.

Ron sat back, his eyes wide. "That's why they're out there. The Death Eaters – they can find us because we keep saying his name."

Hermione raised an eyebrow causing Ron to rush to continue.

"The name, it's jinxed – that's what it means. Taboo jinxes a word and then the casters can track where it's being said. So, if we use Vo... that name, then they'll be able to find us."

Hermione frowned slightly, "I refuse to call him You-Know-Who."

"Death Eaters' Boss?" Harry offered, "Or maybe Riddle? Tommy?"

Ron chuckled, "Or we can call him like Snape does – the Dark Lord – and that'll confuse them into wondering who we really were if they captured us."

"As much as I like the idea of Boss Tommy," Harry grinned, "I think Ron's idea has merit and Snape will know who we are talking about."

The other two agreed.

"Okay," Harry pulled his knees up to him and studied the other two. "So, we go after the locket tomorrow, get to a Floo, Floo into Hogshead, get to the Chamber, get a fang, destroy the thing, leave, Floo back to London, and get some sleep. I'll let Snape know tonight."

§§§§§

Getting the locket didn't go as smoothly as they'd hoped, and Yaxley caught Hermione during her Apparition away. Luckily, her goal was the Leaky Cauldron so they didn't give their home away. A quick repelling charm from Hermione had Yaxley letting her go, and Harry was positive that Tom did something as they Flooed away.

Aberforth might have seen them leave his Floo, but they didn't see the man as they slipped out his front door.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione darted back and forth through the lanes, making their way to the Shrieking Shack.

Sinking on the floor near the opening to the tunnel, Harry sighed. "We made it this far."

"Now we just need to get into the school and up to the second-floor bathroom," Hermione eyed the tunnel entrance with trepidation.

"But first we need to stop by the pitch's broom closet and borrow two or three," Ron added even as Hermione made a mew of distaste. He rested a comforting hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

"Let's go," Harry started into the tunnel, "Snape said by midnight and I don't want to be late."

The other two followed behind him.

Getting across the grounds, through the front door, and to the second-floor girl's bathroom was surprisingly easy. Crowding around the sink, Harry concentrated on an image of a snake and started to speak. Ron nudged him, stopping him.

"Can I try, mate?"

Harry grinned and slid over just a little, "Go for it."

Narrowing his eyes, Ron hissed the word he'd been practising for over a month. "Open."

Harry shook his head. The first sound was off.

Ron tried three more times, each time causing Hermione to get more and more anxious, but the fourth time worked and the sink moved.

"You want to slide down or fly down?" Harry peered into the gaping darkness.

"Slide," Hermione said as she pushed herself off the edge and into the long pipe.

Ron and Harry's eyes met. Ron shrugged and followed Hermione. Harry followed him. Ron caught him and kept him from falling over the bones littering the ground. All three lit their wands, and Harry took point, Ron and Hermione following.

Ron and Harry both stopped where the rockslide was supposed to be.

"Where?" Ron shot Harry a puzzled look.

Harry could only shake his head and worry that the basilisk wasn't there any more either. Hurrying, he continued on to the Chamber's door. He was going to let Ron open it too, but he was so concerned, he did.

He stopped just inside the door, his eyes searching the oppressive darkness. "There were torches but I don't know how to light them."

Hermione frowned slightly and then cast a Fire-making Spell at one of the discernible pillars nearest the door.

Flames leapt from its top to both its neighbours, lighting them up and then continuing to the next until all were aflame, lighting up the entire space.

Blinking, adjusting to the light, they saw the skeleton of the basilisk still stretched out on the floor. Harry fought against the fear that rose up in him and walked resolutely to it. A hand landed on his shoulder, pulling him around and into a tight embrace.

"Mate, thank you," Ron squeezed him even harder. "Thank Merlin you lived."

Reaching around, he patted Ron's back. "You're welcome."

It was all he could say. He patted the back one more time. "Come on, Ron, let's get those fangs."

Ron let him go and they both moved next to Hermione to study the skeleton.

"Be careful – those fangs are sharp and deadly poisonous," Harry said while absent-mindedly rubbing his arm.

The other two nodded, and the three went to work pulling the fangs out of the snake's mouth and storing them in a bag that Hermione had brought for it.

Ron dumped the locket on the floor and knelt next to it with a fang in his hand. As if sensing the danger, the locket popped open. Smoke billowed up and showed his fears, ones half-formed, to everyone. Hermione walking away. Harry dead. Hermione dead. His family dead. Harry and Hermione together, him left behind.

Ignoring them, knowing it had to be the piece of metal, Ron jammed the fang through the smoke, into the bottom of the locket where it was coming from and dragged it across the locket, leaving a trail of melting metal in its wake.

A horrific scream filled the chamber reminding Harry eerily of the diary.

When it ended, Ron looked between Harry and Hermione, his expression a bit guilty. "I … I don't think anything is going on between you two, but sometimes..."

Harry rested a hand on his shoulder and then helped Ron to his feet. "I get it mate, I do. Now, go talk to Hermione, she seems shocked."

Ron handed him the fang and crossed over to where Hermione was still staring up into the area where his fears had projected.

Harry watched him start a conversation that should have happened during their Fourth Year. Affording them as much privacy as possible, he picked up the locket, grateful that it just felt like cold metal now.

A moment later a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Thanks, mate," Ron murmured, a smile curling his lips.

"Welcome," Harry turned towards the entrance, glancing at Hermione who beamed at him, "now, let's get out of here."

In deference to Hermione, they walked the path back to the pipe, then they flew back up to the bathroom. Hermione was Ron's passenger while Harry went in front, using his wand to light the way. Getting out of the school was as uneventful as going in. So, Harry was shocked to see Snape waiting for them in the Shrieking Shack.

"Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger," he pointed to three transfigured chairs around a table and a pot of hot soup and three empty bowls waiting on them. "I trust your task was successful?"

Harry started in on the creamy chicken and vegetable soup, "Yes, sir. Do you know anything about it?"

Snape tipped his head, "To hunt down Horcruxes."

"Yeah," Harry watched as Ron and Hermione slowly joined him, but neither had touched the soup. He dished them each a bowl. "Do you know where we should look next?"

As he spoke, Harry reached into the bag and pulled out two fangs, offering them to Snape, "Just in case you need them."

Snape blinked but accepted them just as carefully as Harry offered them. "Thank you, Potter." They went into a dark bag that Snape had pulled out of his robe. "All I know is that the Dark Lord entrusted an artefact to Bellatrix Lestrange. It's the only one I haven't been able to discount as an ordinary thing he wished to be stored."

Harry nodded, "I know there should be something that was important to Ravenclaw, but after that, I'm not sure."

"How many are left?" Snape asked.

"Three," came softly from Ron as he started eating the soup.

Snape nodded, "I will attempt to learn what I can."

"Thank you, sir," Hermione murmured finally trying the soup.

"Finish quickly," Snape gestured to the soup, "You need to get back and so do I."

The three ate quicker.

§§§§§

It was Hermione who suggested that Kreacher could access the Lestrange Vault. It came after he'd refused to accept the locket back, preferring to keep the RAB locket.

Harry grinned, 'Ron suggested giving Snape Slytherin's Locket remains as the man was the Head of Slytherin.' Kreacher caught his wandering attention.

"Kreacher can get into the Vault, but he has to tell Miss Bella where Harry Potter is," the elf looked at him for his permission.

Harry looked at the others. At Ron and Hermione's nods, he looked back at the old elf. "Go ahead – tell her we're here. We'll leave. You get into the Vault and use one of the fangs to destroy the cup. It should have the same feel about it as the locket had."

Kreacher studied the three before accepting the fang Ron held out to him. "Kreacher will. Then Kreacher will go to Hogwarts so Miss Bella can't ask me again."

"Good plan," Harry said, "just make sure to stop by and let us know that the cup is destroyed."

"Kreacher will. Now, Kreacher will help Master Harry pack."

Leaving Grimmauld Place was sad, but they all agreed it was necessary

§§§§§

Harry leant back against a tree, his eyes searching the empty branches, wondering what was going to happen next. They'd been camping for the last week – Hermione's wards were holding up well – and in that time, they had become bored.

Kreacher stopped by last night and let them know he'd succeeded in destroying the cup in the Lestrange vault. He also told them that the Death Eaters couldn't find the house, but were hovering around it. He was willing to stay there if they wished to return.

Hermione urged him to go to Hogwarts. He only complied after looking at Harry.

Digging into his pocket, Harry pulled out the compact as he was in the habit of using it like a worry stone. His fingers slid around the edges of the smooth metal just outside of the ring, his gaze on the leaves on the ground, trying to figure out the next step. 'We just don't know how to figure out the next Horcrux. There has to be more, I can't see Boss Tommy not making several backups and Slughorn's memory points to six of them. That's why Ron told Snape there were three left.'

Glancing at the compact, he noticed the ring was darkened. He jumped to his feet and rushed into the tent, totally forgetting that this was Hermione and Ron's private time.

"Harry!" Hermione jumped away from Ron, her skin slightly flushed.

Ron had his wand in his hand as he searched beyond the tent flap.

Harry stopped, "Sorry guys, I forgot …"

Ron relaxed and shook his head, "What happened, mate?"

He held out the compact, "We have a message from Snape."

The three crowded around the mirror as Harry opened it up. Snape came into view, the Forbidden Forest in the background.

"Potter, the things you are looking for – could Ravenclaw's diadem be one? Miss Lovegood was talking about possibly seeing it in the place where you met with the DA." An eyebrow raised before Snape's black wand flicked, creating a smoky illusion of a crown-like thing. "If you recognize this, and can tell me where it is located, I'll see if I can destroy it."

The diadem floated there for a few moments, rotating around before the mirror reappeared.

Harry looked at both Hermione and Ron. "Do either of you?"

Both were frowning hard in thought. Sitting on a bunk, Harry joined them.

"Luna said it was in the Room of Requirements?" Hermione mused, "I think there was a crown or tiara like thing on one of the shelves in there when we first met. The day we were deciding what to call ourselves and signing the paper. It was near a bust."

Harry and Ron frowned harder. Ron shook his head, "I don't remember it, but if you and Luna do…"

Harry nodded as he pressed his finger onto the metal ring waiting for it to brighten. Flipping the compact open, all three of them peered into the mirror.

Hermione described what she remembered and then Harry spoke up, "You've got to go to the seventh floor and pace the area near Barnabus the Barmy's tapestry. Think of the room for the Defence Club, or just the diadem. It might show up."

"If you stab it or scratch it with a basilisk fang, that should do it. Just beware – it can attack you. The locket showed me my worst fears as if they were the truth." Ron studied the glass before adding, "Please, look after my sister the best you can. Bye."

Hermione and Harry added their goodbyes and Harry closed the compact. "I hope he finds it."

The other two nodded in agreement.

It was a month later that Snape let them know the Horcrux was destroyed.

§§§§§

Harry stared out into the forest through the tent flap. It was snowing. Luckily, the tent was helping to keep it warm inside and there was a source of water nearby. 'We still need food though.'

Sighing deeply, he turned away from the outside world and surveyed the one inside the tent. He was alone at the moment – Ron and Hermione were out looking for anything that might be edible – and he spotted the laundry pile. 'No way we can afford a laundrette even if we decided to go into town. I don't know if Boss Tommy's people are casing out Muggle towns. I might as well make it look neat.' He knew it was a habit left over from the Dursleys, but he couldn't leave the mess any longer.

Once everything was folded and neatly put into piles, he decided to organize his bag. It was then he found the travellers' cheques. Flipping open the book, he paged through them, determining how much money he had left. 'I might have some coins at the bottom of my bag too.' Setting the book aside, he dug to the bottom of his bag, finding loose change and a small folded up stack of notes. 'We've been needlessly starving... I should have remembered that I had some left. But, can we go into a Muggle town? It might not be that safe, but we need to eat and it would be nice to have clean clothes. Maybe one of the hostels? Is there one close enough nearby? Some of them had a place to wash your clothes and there were small grocers that packed easy to carry food near them.'

Reaching for the map, Harry's gaze was immediately drawn to the river Severn. 'He's still taking care of me. I need to remember to pay him back after all this.' Snape's payment request drifted through his mind. 'Something more than just ending this war, too.' He spread the map over the table, hunting for their current location. It took a moment to find the small section of the Forest they were hiding in, and then he began looking for a hostel in a small but large enough village nearby.

§§§§§

Hermione suggested they transfigure three bikes before they walked into the small village. Harry considered riding his but didn't want to leave Ron or Hermione behind. He wasn't sure if Ron could ride a bike, and was wary of asking Hermione if she could.

Harry showed them where to park their bikes and then entered the hostel, heading towards the reception area. In a trice, he had them a warm dinner and baths for later, a camping spot even though the owner preferred them to have bunks, and found out where the nearest laundrette was. That it was right next door to a grocer was even better.

He asked for his change from the travellers' cheque in small notes and coins. The owner had smiled knowingly and did so without question.

"Just in case, we should get the food first, then the laundrette, then come eat, bath, and then set up the tent," Hermione said as they moved their transfigured bikes to their designated campsite.

Ron nodded and Harry frowned, "We can start the clothes and then while their washing or drying, we can shop, then come back for the clothes. It will cut back on the time we're visible."

The other two grinned. Harry showed Ron how to work the coin washing machine and he noticed Hermione was paying close attention and was following his directions as she filled one.

Once all their dirty clothes were in the wash – Ron had insisted on them transfiguring something to wear so everything could be cleaned – they headed to the grocer.

"Simple things," Hermione said as she pushed the trolley towards the produce. "Potatoes, rice, beans, onions, dried vegetables if we can find them if not then canned ones."

"We need a can opener too," Harry added, "Unless there is one in the kitchen supplies."

Hermione and Ron both shrugged, so Harry kept an eye out for one.

Ron added a few tins of meat to the trolley to everyone's approval.

Two hours later, they returned to the hostel with clean clothes and groceries.

The owner directed them to a corner table of one of the long tables and brought them meat pie and salad. A hot pot of tea was already sitting near them with three cups.

"Enjoy, the baths will be open until nine." He waved as he headed back to the front.

Ron took a small first bite and closed his eyes, "This is good, mate."

Harry tried a bite and smiled, "It sure is."

Taking their word for it, Hermione tried hers and smiled. All three dug in and finished the meal in record time. That night, they had some of the best sleep of their lives, feeling clean and full.

The next morning, as they were finishing breakfast, three wizards rushed through the front door.

Harry glanced around. 'The room is empty except us – the owner is in the back and everyone else is already gone.'

The trio jumped up and darted towards the nearest door. Harry and Hermione cast shielding spells, blocking the cutting and stunning spells coming their way as Ron flung the door open. They darted through and Harry slammed the door shut behind them, praying that the nice owner wouldn't come out until the wizards were gone.

The door was flung open again as they Apparated back to the forest.

Harry was glad he had already paid for the meal.

"We can't stay here," Ron said as he scuffed out the signs of their firepit. "We have to go someplace else."

Hermione paced as she banished the rocks they'd used to hold their makeshift spit, "Where?"

"Let's go towards Hogwarts – they might not expect that," Harry said while scouring the area, looking for any signs that they were followed.

"The Shrieking Shack has a roof, and people already expect sounds from it," Hermione said, "But we'll need to go in stages and let Snape know."

They agreed and left their comfortable campsite.

§§§§§

"Potter, don't come any closer to Hogwarts," Snape said, "The Dark Lord is coming for a visit."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at the mirror's now empty glass.

"We can't get too much closer," Harry set the now closed compact on the scarred table. "So, I guess we should let him know we're already here?"

Ron nodded.

"We've only one Horcrux left and then we can face him," Hermione frowned. "I just wish we knew what it was."

Harry pressed the ring and then opened the case, "We're in the Shack already, sir. Do you have any idea what his last Horcrux is? We are out of ideas. We'll leave when we know, and we'll keep low while he's around."

He closed the lid.

Ron hopped up and headed for the dilapidated kitchen. "We need to spell the chill box and cook up some meals now. That way we only have to warm them later."

Hermione and Harry followed him and together they whiled away a few hours going through their store of canned food.

Snape's return message was brief with a dank stone wall behind him. "Keep in hiding – don't come out of the building. The Dark Lord is coming tonight."

The next morning they received another message from Snape.

"I believe it is the snake. All evidence points to it." Snape's background was the frozen Black Lake. "I will try to remove it."

Harry sent a message back immediately, "I'll see if I can draw him out of the castle and we'll confront him outside of Hogsmeade. Maybe he'll leave the snake behind."

He didn't expect to get a reply back within a minute of shutting the case.

"Potter," Black eyes stared into his, seemingly searching his face. Harry knew the man couldn't see him but it felt like he could. His heart started to beat faster. Whatever Snape was going to say couldn't be good. "Albus told me to relay this message to you. If you do not wish to do as he says, then flee the country with hints that you've gone."

He paused and Harry felt a heavy dread settling in his stomach, his heart beating even faster, "According to Albus you need to let the Dark Lord kill you without you fighting back. A sacrificial lamb," the last words were spat out. "Albus believes that you are also a container for a Horcrux."

Harry dropped the now blank mirror onto the table, his eyes searching out Ron's and Hermione's. They both looked equally stunned.

"Mate..." Ron clasped Harry's shoulder and dragged him close. "Run. We'll let Snape know the choice we made and then I'll go with you. Just let me tell my family. We can get lost in Romania, Germany, or Hungary."

Hermione joined them, making it a three-way hug, "I'm going too. You know my parents don't remember me now."

For a long, long moment, Harry let himself dream of the choice Ron and Hermione chose for him. For all three of them. Settling down together, learning a new language, trying out new foods, while attempting to access their money and possibly getting the Weasleys to move there with them. Then he let them go.

"If I do that, then Voldemort will win. He can't die with me alive. Then everyone's death will be for nought. Everyone's sacrifice will be for nothing. I … I can't accept that." Harry pulled back just enough to see Ron's face. "Can you see if I can be buried with your family? I … I know them better than mine and ..."

Ron searched his face, tears welling up in his eyes. He scrunched his face up to prevent them from falling. "I'll make sure of it, mate, if I can. You're not going out there alone."

"We'll both be with you," Hermione's voice cracked around unshed tears.

Harry picked back up the mirror, his hand shaking a bit. "I'll let Snape know."