Hallowed
Chapter Six: A Visitor, A Warning, and A Departure

A/N: Normally, I won't point out much in author's notes for this fic. I will let the chapters do most of the talking. There is one thing though that I thought I would mention: I did reference something from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" video game for PC and various consoles in this chapter. We'll see who knows it :)


His dreams, while very vague, didn't disturb him. Every now and again, he could hear the manic laughter of Voldemort or even the distant screams of some unknown captive. Everything was a muffled blur, to where there were no specific details about anything. Only when there was a flash of green light and the sound of metal screeching against glass did he wake quickly. The sound was still ringing in his ears when he sat up and pulled his glasses toward him.

Candles were lit in the chandelier above, and he could smell dinner being prepared downstairs. Clearly he had slept throughout the rest of the afternoon. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, Harry got up and went to the window. The street lamps outside were just coming on to cast the square in a soft orange light, but they were drowned out by the hazy blue of the misting rain hanging on to the last hours of daylight. He chanced a look out of the window by pulling back the sheer curtains, and he saw the two cloaked figures still standing around just near number 14's stoop. Both of them seemed distracted; one searched the moist ground, while the other's eyes roved the misting skies. It seemed the latter found something a bit more interesting than the former, though. His eyes were following something, and when Harry followed his gaze, he had to squint to see it. A hawk with a silver-flecked feathered crest had just entered the square and circled the two hooded men. It made a graceful ark high above them and then went into a steep dive toward them again. This caused one of the men to pull out his wand. Harry hoped the bird would evade any spell the man sent toward it, but that wasn't necessary. As the hawk neared the ground, a few things happened: A jet of red light came from the one man's wand, the other swore when it missed, and the hawk transformed into a very familiar looking witch.

Her black robes were tattered and frayed in places while the white-collared shirt she wore beneath them was no longer crisp and buttoned to her neck. Silver flyaway hair was waving like mad in the wind as she plunged her hand into her robes for a wand. Once drawn the two watchers moved forward; sending curses left and right after they had gotten over the initial shock of the witch's sudden appearance. She however, used a powerful impediment jinx to knock them clean off their feet and then made a mad swipe with her wand as if cutting the air with a knife. This reminded Harry of Snape's "Sectumsempra" spell. He could see blood seeping through their hands as the two men clutched at their chests. Yellow eyes narrowed in concentration, the witch shot two stunning spells in succession at the two howling men and immediately their bodies fell limp. She stood over them and muttered something Harry could not work out, but he did recognize the memory modification spell she used afterwards. Satisfied that they wouldn't remember a thing, she added insult to injury by transfiguring the two into a hedgehog and squirrel respectively before replacing her wand and looking up toward the door to Number 12.

Moving from the window, Harry headed for the door and wrenched it open. When he reached the end of the landing, he could just hear the front door bang open and Alastor Moody's voice. This drew the attention of Ron and Hermione, who had been in the drawing room downatairs. Harry made it to the second floor landing when he saw them poking their heads out, and Harry could swear he saw the tip of Hermione's wand poking out just past the doorframe. Moving further down the stairs, Harry saw the dusty figure of Dumbledore form and rush toward the entrance hall. The voice he heard confirmed his suspicions on who this woman was.

"I did not raise my wand against you, Albus." With that, the dust cloud settled and Harry could just see the woman step past the entrance hall. She had her wand out again and seemed to be casting a drying charm over her robes and hair. Her eyes roved the ground floor quickly, as she did this, but they settled on Harry when moving up the staircase. "Ah Potter, I had hoped you lot would still be here." Considering him for a moment, she added: "Just for security reasons, in your first year after you proved yourself a more than capable flyer, I asked you to assist in catching Hagrid's flutterby moths that had gotten loose in the courtyard. You will notice that I didn't assist; that was just to evaluate your broomstick control for myself, seeing as I missed your capture of Longbottom's rememberall."

"Madam Hooch…" Harry had never expected to see the flying instructor and quidditch referee again. He had assumed she was still at Hogwarts. "What are you doing here?"

"Not that we're not thrilled to see you." Ron corrected as he and Hermione came down behind Harry. "Thought you'd still be at Hogwarts."

"Been on the run since the end of September, I'm afraid." Rolanda, who had shaken her hair out of her eyes, flicked her wand and straightened her robes. "I can only hope the other staff members are fairing better than I did."

"Why were you on the run?" Hermione asked as she led the way down into the kitchen. Harry's assumption that Kreacher was making dinner was proven correct wit the opening of the door. It seemed the house elf was working on a few things that night; steak and kidney pie, roasted potatoes, and a treacle tart to top it all off.

"Let's just say I disagreed with a few of our newest staff members." Hooch said as she sat down at the table near Harry while Ron and Hermione took chairs opposite.

"You mean the Carrows, don't you?" Harry asked.

"Bloody well right I do." The flying instructor, normally a cheerfully impatient woman on the pitch, spoke more venomously now. "Their idea of a good time was setting first years' brooms on fire as they were taking their first lessons." Seeing Ron and Hermione's horrified expressions, she went on. "I trust by now, you know who they are."

"Amycus and Alecto Carrow were two of the death eaters that were on the astronomy tower the night Dumbledore was killed." Harry clarified. He thought he had told them this, but apparently not. "Them, Fenrir Greyback, Snape, Bellatrix, and Draco."

"Right." Rolanda nodded as she spoke again. "They're teaching Defense against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies respectfully now."

"I can only imagine the sort of defense they're teaching." Hermione scoffed as she rose to assist Kreacher with the dinner plates. The elf had objected the first time, but then he seemed to accept the help with more and more gratitude each time.

"Rumor has it that Amycus' first real lesson in "defense" was to cast the imperius curse on unsuspecting students and force them to hurt their closest friends." Rolanda muttered. "Alecto's Muggle Studies classes are more like Muggle Bashing. She is teaching that their deaths will better glorify the witch or wizard that commits the murder."

"What do the parents say about this?" Ron couldn't believe such things would happen at Hogwarts.

"They don't have much of a choice, do they? If they question the "Professors'" teaching policies, they tend to disappear." Rolanda said sadly. "Susan Bones' aunt, Amelia, disappeared as soon as the ministry was compromised. She used to be the head of magical law enforcement, but now… well…"

"Yaxley is in charge of that now." Harry said. "We ran into him at the ministry."

"Heard about that." The flying instructor's yellow eyes focused on Harry again. "Went there to attack Dolores Umbridge and steal her prised possession, eh?" Harry's expression must have shown more than he intended because she explained. "Ran into Alastor two days ago; posing as a homeless outside St. Mungo's. I read the story in the Prophet this morning. Looked like an artifact of Slytherin's."

"It is." Ron said as he removed the locket from his neck. Passing it across the table, he watched as Madam Hooch ran a few fingers over it carefully. It didn't last long; as soon as her hand touched it, she withdrew it.

"You'll need something powerful to destroy that."

"I take it by that you know what it is." Harry said gravely. "What I don't get is how."

"Family dealt with the dark arts." She said absently; eyes now fixed on Slytherin's locket. "I was one of the first to not be sorted into Slytherin. Mother was a Hufflepuff and I was a Ravenclaw. There were stories about wizards trying to create these things to keep themselves from being killed, but I never thought I'd actually come across one."

"We've got a means of destroying it, or we will once we actually find it." Harry admitted.

"I assume that is what you're really after; It's why you didn't return to school and why you're here."

"Yeah, which reminds me," Harry passed the horcrux back to Ron, who put it back on. "How did you know we'd be here?"

"I heard from your source within Hogwarts." At the three mildly stunned expressions, Rolanda elaborated. "There were members of the Order at Bill Weasley's wedding; some were there in person, and others… well," She transformed into the silver-flecked hawk again and back. "Others were keeping an eye in other ways. I saw you and Minerva talking."

"You saw the parchment, didn't you?" Harry already knew the answer.

"I did. One of Fred and George's more brilliant ideas. We've adapted them for covert communication between select order members; as well as the bewitched galleons that you lot used to plot secret meetings in your fifth year." Hooch addressed Hermione with that comment,. "Well done, Granger."

"It was one way to get meetings planned under Umbridge's nose."

"Minerva was keeping an eye on you, Potter. That was her main reason for being there. Pomona Sprout and I were there as animals keeping an eye on the guests. After the attack during your transport, it was assumed that someone would have been at the wedding, but thankfully that wasn't the case."

"So, how was it at Hogwarts before you left, aside from the Carrows?" Ron asked as he assisted Hermione in passing around plates full of food that Kreacher had prepared. "How are the teachers handling it?"

"Sprout has already threatened to release a hoard of mandrakes and venomous tentacula on any death eater who raises their wand to her students. They've taken over Hogsmeade as well." Rolanda added. "Flitwick is opposing them but he's not being too vocal about it. Slughorn is just keeping his head down."

"Slughorn is still there, then?" Harry asked. "I didn't think that he would have stayed after Dumbledore was killed. He only really signed on for the job because Dumbledore asked."

"Yes well, he's not the bravest one, is he?" Ron snorted at this due to the thought of all of the arguments they had over the "Slug Club" and Slughorn's parties. "As for your head of house… Well, you all know how she deals with people who shouldn't have the power they do."

"Wouldn't be a good thing if she got taken down by them like when Umbridge ordered those Ministry officials on her in fifth year."

"Ah yes, I also saw that you paid her back in kind for that. Well done." Madam Hooch paused as Hermione and Kreacher were moving the last of the plates to the table. "Bloody hell… Outdone yourself, haven't you?" She addressed Kreacher.

"Kreacher hopes it pleases Master and his company." The elf said, making a bow to them all.

"You've done very well, Kreacher, thank you." Harry said as he motioned for them all to eat. "You don't have to go back to the boiler to eat, either. You can stay here, if you'd like."

As they had dinner that night, the four spoke of the progressive takeover. Voldemort's return to power had sparked a massive breakout from Azkaban. Any death eaters that had been locked away while Scrimgeour was in power had been released. Muggle-borns were still being pulled off of the streets and questioned or even locked away and tortured. On the up side, eeves was giing the Carrows hell and Snape had not agreed to banish him from the castle's grounds. Hagrid had gone on the run, however. By the end of the evening however, it was time for Madam Hooch to move on. She rose from her place and pocketed her wand, but before she headed for the door, she turned again to Harry and the others.

"I'll advise you on this: You'll need to move on from here. Those watchers out there were death eaters. They knew you were here, but they had no idea where or how to find you. They'll spend the rest of the month trying to figure out how to tell someone that they are not, in fact, rodents, but eventually they'll find some means of communication."

"Where do you suppose we should go?" Ron asked.

"Anywhere but here, Weasley." She replied. "I would suggest looking for that sword that disappeared from Albus' office."

"How did you-" Hermione was answered by a wicked grin.

"Well, the sword disappeared from his office before Severus became headmaster. I assume it was so that he couldn't get his greasy hands all over it. I'm sure that You Know Who knows very well what it can be used for. Legend has it that you killed a basilisk with it." Before Harry could say anything, he was silenced as a silvery patronus in the form of a tabby came through the fireplace. When it leapt gracefully onto the table, Harry noticed the square markings around its eyes. He wasn't the only one who knew to whom this patronus belonged. When it spoke, the voice carried quite easily throughout the kitchen.

"They have summoned him; he is aware of your location. I will attempt to delay him, but you must flee as soon as possible. Do not return here."

"Where do we go?" Ron asked again as the last traces of Minerva McGonagall's voice faded from the room.

"Anywhere but here." Madam Hooch had started up the stairs with the others on her heels. "Gather anything you'll be needing from here and leave as soon as possible. I had a feeling that they had summoned him. It's why I attacked them." She pulled an old traveling cloak down from a collection hanging on the wall. "Be quick. Do not leave anything that could give them the slightest clue as to where you've gone or what you're doing." She looked directly at them as she finished her thought. "Keep that blasted thing safe but beware: It will effect you if you wear it too long. I'll wait here until you're ready. No sense in causing a stir and alerting anyone who may be here to your presence."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione swept through the house and collected everything they had brought and anything they might need. The drawing room, Sirius' room, and the bedroom on the second floor were the mainly occupied parts of the house, while there were a few things in the kitchen. Harry packed everything into his rucksack while Hermione threw things into her magically expanded handbag. Ron had collected everything they would need from the kitchen and was handing it off to whoever needed it. Only when they had gotten everything squared away and taken a few sets of robes from the closets, the ones that Hermione and Kreacher had cleaned anyway, did they head back downstairs where Madam Hooch and Kreacher stood waiting.

"Are you ready, then?" The former asked as she readied her wand. When the three looked to one another and nodded, she went on. "Right. If there are any of them out there, disapparate and don't look back. I don't care if they all come swarming. Do not look back."

"Kreacher," Harry said, looking down at the elf. "I want you to go to Hogwarts. Keep yourself safe. Take Hedwig with you. Get her to McGonagall's office. She'll know why."

"Yes, Master." Kreacher bowed before disapparating.

"Right, then." Rolanda readied herself and had her wand pointed at the door. When she pulled it open, Harry, Ron, and Hermione darted beneath the invisibility cloak. When she emerged, jets of red and green light started flying in the air around her. In the midst of the shouting, Harry heard her voice. "Go! Now!"

Hermione's hand clamped down on both Ron and Harry's arms and the scene around them faded into an inky blackness. Harry experienced that same compressed feeling as if he were in a rubber tube. He felt as if he were doing the right thing by sending his owl with Kreacher due to the fact that she wouldn't be able to fly openly while they were on the run. As soon as it had started, the feeling went away, and Harry found himself face up in a forest. The snapping of twigs around him told Harry that Ron and Hermione were starting to get up. When he sat up fully, he heard Hermione muttering protective charms that she had practiced so that they would not be seen, heard, or detected in any other obvious way. Once she was done, Hermione returned and looked through her bag while Harry straightened his glasses.

"Hermione, where exactly are we?" He asked as she pulled a few rather large things from her bag.

"We're off the beaten path. It's a forest trail my parents and I hiked several years ago. This was a place I got lost in once."

"What's all this then?" Ron asked as he looked through the pile of what looked to be rubbish that Hermione had taken from her bag. "Just going to kip under that, are we?"

"Yes, actually." Hermione said as she turned back. Flicking her wand, the pile of cloth erected itself into a very familiar tent. "It was the one Perkins leant Mr. Weasley for the World Cup three years ago. He never said he wanted it back, so Mr. Weasley kept it and leant it to me. He said he knew we'd need it."

The three entered the tent and had gotten everything situated before midnight. Hermione revealed the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black that she had taken down from her and Ron's bedroom. It would not do to have him there and let one of the death eaters know they had just been warned and by whom. When she explained this, Harry had a sudden idea. He sat down on his bed and looked through his mokeskin for the parchment he had kept in there. Removing it, he pulled out the same quill he had used before and was prepared to scribble a message on it, but he saw words already there.

"Managed to divert him to Hogsmeade."

"Got away in time. Madam Hooch was there to keep them at bay while we disapparated. We are safe." Harry wrote this but didn't feel safe at all. They were out in the open. The only good thing about Number 12 was that death eaters couldn't get in there because they did not know how.

"Until this war has ended, no one is safe." It was a simple and very powerful statement to Harry. As he read it, he knew McGonagall was right. "Your owl just arrived. It was wise to send her here. She is too easily noticed otherwise."

"What did you do to distract him?" Harry wrote this quickly as Ron and Hermione had come to see what had him preoccupied. "What did it cost you?"

"She said she'd hold him off if she could…" Hermione muttered. "Harry, what did she mean by that?"

"Finding out now. She said she diverted him to Hogsmeade, but I'm not sure how."

"Not nearly what it was worth." Was all that appeared on the parchment, and when Harry said it aloud, he received worried loos from both of his friends. They were probably thinking the same thing he was; something had happened when she had lured him away, but she would not be clear as to what. Either way, it was cause for concern. Harry wasn't sure on just how to respond, though. Words appeared again, but it was a definite topic change. "Did Rolanda make it out alive?"

"I don't know. There were several death eaters there when we left-" Just as Harry had finished writing this, a patronus in the form of a hawk flew into the tent and disappeared after only three words were uttered. "Safe for now." Harry resumed writing as soon as the hawk's silvery whisps had vanished completely. "Just heard. She made it out and is safe for now."

"Remain on alert."

That was the last they had heard from anyone having to do with Hogwarts for several weeks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had moved off and on over that time with the intention of staying hidden. Ron had listened to the wireless more often than not these days, and Harry's temper was flaring at the worst of times. He would not say a word; choosing to go off on a walk with the invisibility cloak on. Hermione was caught in the middle of it, and for that Harry felt he should apologize. She was spending time with Ron, just easing his fears of his family's untimely capture; that resulted in long hours of them just talking and looking at Harry awkwardly when he walked in on it. Still, Harry had his own issues to deal with. He heard the names, knew the cost, and shared in Ron and Hermione's fear for their families' safety. He had come to think of the Weasleys as his own family; he also worried for friends that had actually gone back this year.

One cool November morning found Ron and Hermione eating breakfast and Harry coming in from keeping watch for the evening. It was still dark and starting to spit snow again; he was cold, and they had offered him some hot toast and piping tea, or Hermione had, anyway. They had all spent the previous day ignoring one another due to the all-around bad mood the horcrux had put them in. Hermione had spent an hour or so looking over her old family photos, Ron had spent the afternoon on the wireless, and Harry had poured over the marauders' map when he wasn't out on watch. Now however, they all were sitting around a table and had nothing else to do but look each other over. With the wireless on in the background, Harry was already ready to avoid the morning meal.

"Harry, pass on the horcrux. I'll take the first watch." Hermione said as she refilled his and her teacup. "You know, we'll have to move sometime today or tonight, right?"

"Yeah." Harry said as he put a knife-load of jam on his toast. "Remember you saying that yesterday. Where do you think we should go?"

"I don't know, to be honest." She said back; Hermione had just put the locket on and was prepared to head out. "Were you thinking anything in particular?"

"I dunno." Harry had wanted to go to Godric's Hollow since they had started traveling, but he was sure Hermione was right; that Voldemort expected him to go there. "Can't really think of anything at the moment. Maybe go a little further north."

"A good idea." Hermione nodded as she took one last piece of toast. "Seems there's less activity up that way. We need to get to another shop and get more provisions as well. I'm running low as it is."

"I could have made a run while out last night." Harry volunteered, but Hermione shook her head.

"It's fine. I think we've stayed here too long as it is." She headed out toward the tree where they usually kept watch and called back: "Can you start throwing the non-essentials into my bag? I'll help pack the rest later."

"Sure." Harry was thankful for the excuse to get up and start doing something. He pulled a few things like books and Hermione's copy of The Tales of Beadle The Bard off of their respective resting places and placed them into Hermione's bag. He even took the essence of dittany from its shelf and placed it carefully in a small case of phials and potions that Hermione stored Moody's polyjuice potion in. When all of that was done, he drained the remainder of the tea and headed for his bed. Pointing his wand at the parchment lying on it, he tapped it carefully. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

While he watched dots with various labels moving on the map, Harry felt his eyelids getting heavy. He had just seen Mr. Filch swearing as a dot labeled "Peeves" zoomed past him. He could see Snape sitting in the headmaster's study, but had no idea what he was doing. Amycus Carrow was having what looked like a discussion or argument with Professor McGonagall; seeing as they were still standing in the same place for over five minutes. He even saw Ginny heading to the great hall for breakfast with Seamus and Neville. Only when he felt he could hold his head up no longer did he tap the map again and mutter "Mischief managed." The ink lines and dots disappeared from the parchment and he replaced it in the mokeskin before he removed his glasses and wand to sleep. As his head hit the pillow and eyes closed, he barely heard the wireless anymore. Its announcer's dull voice droned but changed into a hissing sound over time. He could see a corridor, a broken down door, and a skeletal man cowering on the floor; the tip of a wand pointed just between his eyes.

"Tell me where it is!" Harry said in a high-pitched and desperate cold voice. "I must know where it is!"

"I do not know…" The eastern-european accented man looked up with his body shaking in fear. "I… It was stolen-"

"By whom, Gregorovich! Tell me who stole it!" The cold voice spoke again, and Harry swore the thin man on the ground was prepared to vacate his bowels as the wand drew closer to the spot between his eyes.

"I-I do not know the thief…" Gregorovich screamed in earnest. "I do not know his name!" Harry saw a flash of bright light, the window of a shop, a pillow in the display, and a man's grinning face as he leaned over and took the wand that lay atop the pillow. Just like that, the man was gone and the wand gone with him.

"I know…" And another jet of light illuminated the room. This time, it was green as it enveloped Gregorovich; killing him instantly.

When Harry woke, it was to Hermione shaking him slightly. He opened his eyes and saw her looking at him oddly. Perched on the edge of her bed, she was holding his glasses and a cup of tea in her cold hands; when he fully regained awareness of his surroundings, she handed him both. He put on his glasses and drank the tea slowly so as not to burn his throat. Once he had done that, he looked her in the eye and spoke in an excited tone.

"Hermione, he's after a wand. Gregorovich made it, and he thinks that it is the one that will help him win this war. He found Gregorovich and the wandmaker told him the wand he wanted was stolen; that he didn't know who had taken it, but I think Gregorovich was lying. I think he knew exactly who took that wand but didn't tell him his name-"

"Hold on, Harry!" Hermione said, while trying to take it all in. "You think… he… is after a wand that is special or something; a wand that Gregorovich made?"

"Yeah. He's after it, and Gregorovich told him it was stolen from his shop. I don't know who it was, but I saw the thief. He was a young man, blonde hair, and he looked… " But Harry could barely remember what the young and eager wizard had looked like. He had fair hair and blue eyes; he was also wearing a self-assured expression that Harry had seen too many times with some of his not-so-friendly classmates.

"Did you let him in again, or did this happen while you slept?" Hermione asked somewhat excitedly.

"Happened while I slept." Harry admitted, and as he got up, he went to the table nearby to pick up an apple from the basket. "I think this is still the same wand Ollivander told him about."

"But what makes this wand better than others?" Hermione asked; still doubtful that it was merely a wand that would hold someone like Voldemort off. "Where is the thief now?"

"Dunno, but it looked like the wand was stolen years ago." Harry said. "The shop looked ancient."

"Are you sure Gregorovich made it or was it one he found?"

"I don't know… There wasn't enough there to know… Just saw an old shop, a pillow, and the wand being nicked by some young man. What time is it?"

Just after noon." Hermione said quietly as she moved from his bed to her own. "I just came in for a sandwich and saw you all rigid."

"I'm fine." Harry assured her as he got up and retrieved his wand. "I'll take watch for a bit. Do you want me to take that as well?" He indicated the horcrux that Hermione had absently removed from under her shirt

"No..." She looked over to Ron, who had been sitting on his bed for a good while now. "Ron can take it for a few hours." She tuned and looked Ron over curiously "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, don't s'pose I do." Ron said as he took and donned the locket. His tone suggested that he did mind, but Hermione waved it off. She began packing a few more things while Harry went back out to stand watch.

He couldn't quite wrap his mind around just why Voldemort was chasing after a wand that had been stolen several years ago. What was so special about this wand and why did he think it would ensure his victory over Harry's? As he sat up in a tree to keep a better watch on te area around him, Harry's thoughts returned to the horcrux Ron was less than enthusiastic on wearing. He wouldn't have minded taking it himself. Ron had gotten more and more irritable when asked to take the horcrux for any amount of time, but it was something that had to be done. It affected Hermione and himself as well as Ron. Unfortunately, they still were no closer to finding another horcrux or the means to destroy it. That was what frustrated him most.

He didn't know how long he had sat there, but the snow had started sticking to him more as the sun sank lower. That meant that nightfall was fast approaching, and they would need to leave soon. Getting down from the tree, he heard voices; they seemed very close, and as he searched the area around wht his eyes, he spotted them. There was a group of people traveling together. There were three humans and two goblins. Two humans and a goblin were familiar; Ted Tonks, Dean Thomas, and Griphook were among the travelers. Ted was Nymphadora Tonks' father and Andromdea's husband. Dean was a classmate and fellow seventh-year gryffindor. Griphook was the goblin that had escorted him to his vault the first time he had gone to Gringotts with Hagrid. They were across the river from where Hermione had set up the tent, and they were talking about a little of everything. Harry was half tempted to make contact with them, but as they approached, their voices became hurried and changed from a jovial tone to hushed whispers.

"They've spotted us!" Dean had frantically whispered while he and the other man had pulled out their wands. "We've got to go!"

"Grab hold, you two!" Ted whispered harshly to the goblins, but before both could, snatchers had come upon them, and Griphook was left behind. The three wild-looking snatchers lead by a gruff looking thing Harry recognized as Fenrir Greyback, took the goblin and were off. This left Harry to return to the tent to warn Hermione. Reaching the entrance, he touched Hermione's shoulder as she was putting a few other things in her bag.

"They're in the area; snatchers." He said as he was making sure everything in the tent was secure. "We need to get out of here, now."

"Right. I'm getting everything else packed." Hermione motioned to the tent, which she was preparing to collapse, but then Ron exited. "Oh good. I need to pack this away."

"Forgot I was here, did you?" He asked crossly as Hermione collapsed the tent and replaced it into her bag. "Noticed how you two just went on talking this morning like I wasn't there."

"No." Harry and Hermione said this together; sharing a look of confusion.

"Right, well carry on with your planning then."

"What are you on about?" Harry asked; his eyes on Ron, who looked livid. "Not like we don't involve you."

"Oh, right. All that talk about Gregorovich and the wand earlier was a general discussion."

"Come on, Ron." Hermione muttered exasperated. "It isn't like it was just between us. We didn't whisper to keep you out of it."

"No, he was too busy listening to that wireless again." Harry said hotly, as he pointed a finger at Ron. "Honestly, as if that will make matters any easier."

"Maybe you don't give a damn about other peoples' families in this war, but I've got mine to worry about!" Ron began tis argument again. He turned to Hermione as if to try and persuade her. "He's got a contact with the Order, and we don't hear anything about my family!"

"You don't think I know how that feels-" Harry started.

"No, you DON'T know how it feels!" Ron shouted back. "Your parents are dead! You have no-" He didn't get to finih that statement. Harry had moved forward with full intent to strike Ron,and he did; he punched him straight in the nose as hard as possible.

"Not like she knows anything about your family. What part of their being in hiding and not in contact with anyone do you not seem to get? What about Hermione's family? Not like you're worried about them, is it?"

"Please leave them out of this…" Hermione muttered. She had already told them what had happened to her family; how she had wiped their memories clean and made them think that they were natives of Australia and that she had been their travel agent's assistant while they had toured Ireland and the UK. "Ron, just calm down!"

"I will not calm down!" He shouted; knocking a pile of packed items to the ground. "We've been out here for how long, and we've accomplished what?"

"We've found one of the horcruxes. What did you think, that we'd have them found and sorted and be home by Christmas? Hoping to be safe with mummy and having a good hot meal, were you?" Harry snarled.

"Just because you don't have parents that did anything for you-" Ron started, but Harry cut him off by hitting him.

"You have no idea the sacrifices people have made for me!" Harry hissed as Ron recovered from the initial shock of being hit. "You think you have a clue about what all of this is like? Like you understand everything that people seem ready to put on my shoulders now that Dumbledore is dead? Just once, I wish you were in my place; that way you'd know just what I'm having to deal with when I hear you complain about not finding these things fast enough!" While Hermione had tried getting between them, Harry had advanced past her. "Go home to your Mum if you don't like what we're having to do here! Go on!"

"And you?" Ron, who had taken in every word Harry had said, was looking to Hermione. "Are you staying or going?"

"What?" Hermione looked between the two best friends and seemed about to cry. "Ron, I-"

"Right, you're staying then. Fine." He went to stomp away, when Hermione grabbed his shoulder.

"Ron, take off the locket… If you weren't wearing it, you wouldn't be saying any of this."

"And what's his excuse, then?" Ron growled as he shot a look at Harry. "He got a reason for spouting off like he did?"

"Ron, take it off!" Hermione shouted; her eyes flashing warningly for Harry to not say a word. "Take the locket off!"

"Keep the bloody thing!" Ron bellowed, and he took the locket off and threw it at Harry. Harry caught it and glared back as Ron turned on his heel and marched away; reaching a spot just beyond the tree where Harry had been and disapparating.


A/N 2: Happy reading, you lot :) I'll be posting the next bit soon.

Cheers!