Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling should rule the world.

A/N: I know, I know. ANOTHER short chapter. But … that's the only way this one can be, I think. I'll update as soon as I can.

Harry stares down at the letter, his hands trembling slightly.

This is impossible.

He sits down on the edge of his bed and reads it again.

Over and over, he stares down at the words.

Harry,

We found her. Finally. Her cover is pretty bloody impressive, to be honest. We need you here as soon as possible. Everything will be explained when you get here.

Lupin.

Cryptic, but Harry understands.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

All the hatred churns inside of him, coursing through his veins.

The one he never found.

Harry puts the letter down, rubbing his eyes furiously. He can't make this decision right now. He can't choose between hunting down Bellatrix Lestrange and staying here with Hermione. He just can't.

He hadn't anticipated this. True, since Sirius's letter, his desire to find her had been relit, and he had gone into work every day since with new determination. But he hadn't found anything. And he hadn't expected to find anything.

Why now?

"Harry?"

Hermione's standing in the door, a tentative smile on her face. "I—I heard you talking to Hedwig. Did she bring you anything interesting?"

"I'm so sorry," Harry says quickly. "I should have been quieter—I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Don't be ridiculous." She walks in to his room slowly. "I was already awake, anyway." She looks at him, concerned. "Are you all right? You look like there's a lot on your mind."

If you only knew, he thinks, watching her move towards his bed slowly. She sits down next to him.

"It's just – well see," he stutters, stalling for time.

How can he even begin?

"Harry, what's going on?"

Harry sighs.

He can't hide this from her.

"They've - they've found Bellatrix."

Hermione gasps.

"I don't know how, I don't know where she is, but they've found her." He stops. He doesn't know what else to say, so he hands her the small scroll of parchment.

Hermione reads it quickly. She knows what this means. Of course she does. His hatred for Bellatrix has grown stronger since Mrs Weasley found the letter from Sirius. He's been working like a madman with the team, tracking down every single Death Eater that escaped. Bellatrix is the very last.

She can sense his hesitation as he sits here next to her. She knows he won't be able to make this decision.

And, even though she can feel her throat constricting as her lip begins to tremble, even though she knows that she wants him to stay, to be with her … she understands. She knows. It kills, really, and she's having difficulty breathing. But this is what Harry needs to do.

"You need to go," she says quietly, rolling up the paper.

"What?"

"You heard me. You need to go."

"But Hermione, I don't know if -"

"I know," she says. "You need to go." She stares straight into his eyes. Can he read her mind? She's saying it, over and over again. I love you. I love you. I love you. Does he know that? "You need to go," she repeats.

I love you, she adds in her head.

-------------

Hermione watches him. Don't even think about crying, she orders herself.

But she can't help it.

What if something goes wrong?

She feels her stomach. Her baby is moving.

His baby.

Their baby.

He turns towards her. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promises, running his fingers through his hair.

He's nervous. She can tell. He bites his thumbnail. She bites hers.

He's standing near the door, and she's across the room.

It feels like there are miles between them.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks again.

Hermione nods, her eyes watering a little. But she doesn't cry.

He fastens his cloak. "Owl me if anything happens. Do you promise? Hedwig will find me."

"But isn't that dangerous?"

"I don't care. I want to know if anything happens. Understand me?"

"I promise," she whispers.

Harry doesn't know what else to say. He walks to her, hugs her, and turns away, walking towards the door.

"Harry -" she begins, and stops, watching him turn towards her.

She can't.

He looks for answers in her face, but he can't find any.

Her lip trembles as she steps towards him.

Their lips meet, only for a brief moment.

But it's enough.

"Go," Hermione says, wiping her cheeks.

Harry hesitates.

"Go," she repeats forcefully.

Harry nods.

And he leaves.