Authors Note – Please review. If you can spot any spelling errors please tell me. I'm a horrible speller and often tend to make mistakes even without realizing them so please tell me.
I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 3
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the duration of the trip planning what they were going to do about Voldemort. They all agreed that they would reveal that Scabbers was actually Wormtail a few days after Padfoot breaks into Gryffindor tower. Sirius would most likely get a fair trial and found to be a free man and instead of being cooped up in Grimmauld Place with the world thinking he was raving lunatic.
Their next course of action was to salvaging a Basilisks' tooth from the Chamber of Secrets to destroy the diadem. Hermione argued that Ravenclaw's Diadem was a historic artefact and they should first find a way to destroy the horcruxe inside the diadem but not actually damaging it's container by searching through the restricted section once they arrived at Hogwarts.
Both Harry and Ron quickly voiced their opinion on that matter, arguing that the sooner that they destroyed all of horcruxes the better, and that it could take months or possibly years to search through every single book. Not wanting their group to be spilt apart Harry became the peace maker in the argument; he proposed that if they couldn't find a way to preserve the artefact while destroying the horcurxe inside of it before Christmas break they would simply destroy them both. Hermione agreed to this peace offering with a resigned look on her face.
Soon the Golden Trio arrived at Hogwarts, changed into their school robes with their house emblem gleaming proudly on their chest. They each looked upon Hogwarts tower with separate thoughts racing through their heads. Hogwarts was the first place where they truly felt as though they belonged.
Hogwarts was the place where Hermione made her first friends and wasn't made an outcaste of because of her gift. To Harry Hogwarts was his true home. He had never felt as though he belonged at the Dursley's house and he wasn't treated as a freak there. To Ron Hogwarts was the first place where he felt as though he was his own person; the first place where he wasn't overshadowed by his older brother's achievements. When his family had died he had felt extremely guilty for being jealous of his brothers and not spending enough time with Ginny because he was envious that their mother paid Ginny more attention than she had to him.
Hogwarts had always been their true home and when it had been destroy a part of their hearts' crumbled away too. With these thoughts racing through their heads they stared at the castle for a moment before seating themselves on the thestral drawn carriage.
The Trio slipped into the Great Hall with the last stragglers and quickly spotted some spare seats on the Gryffindor table. Barely paying attention to the Headmasters yearly speech they couldn't help but frozen in shock, slowly taking in the faces of those they had seen die during the war siting around them.
'They're all here . . . . alive,' Hermione said projecting her thoughts into Harry and Ron's mind.
'I know I just can't believe it' Ron thought starring at Ginny, eye's wide open.
'Yea' Harry thought marvelling at the faces surrounding him, 'remember what we're here to do; destroy Voldemort and the war can be prevented from ever starting and killing our friends'.
Harry turned to face both Hermione and Ron as he said this. Both Ron and Hermione nodded and before setting their faces into a determined grin. As tradition Dumbledore introduced Remus as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher before clapping his hands together making the feast suddenly appear.
The Trio shoved the delicious food in their mouths hungrily, ignoring everyone that surrounded them, savouring their food. It had been a while since they had eaten a full meal not to mention one as delicious as the food sitting in front of them. Filling their stomachs to the brim they each leaned back in their chairs before looking around the hall searching for familiar faces. Harry could spot Neville sitting just a few seats away from him, trying to grab a drumstick but instead knocking over a jug of water. A simile formed on Harry's lips as he watched the scene evolve.
'Good old Neville' Harry thought fondly. While Harry hadn't been close to Neville before the war began they become closer once the war had begun.
Hermione could spot Luna sitting on alone sitting on the edge of the Ravenclaw table with a carless look on her face. She was trying to explain to a first year two seats way from her about one of her non existing magical creatures. The young boy was shooting Luna scared looks as edge away from Luna. The brightest witch of her age shook her head amusedly at the scene. Hermione had always felt guilty about treating Luna as a dumb blonde bimbo before the war had begun. Luna had become the glue that held their little group together, giving them all hope even when the future seemed bleak.
'This time I'll treat her like a true friend. I won't underestimate her this time, I won't belittle her this time round' Hermione thought determinedly after what use was it being the brightest witch of her age when she couldn't see her true friends standing right in front of her.
Ron spotted George and Fred sitting at the very front of the Gryffindor table laughing happily with Lee without a care in the world. Ron had once been described as 'having the emotional range of a tea spoon' by Hermione but watching Fred and George laughing happily brought a smile to his face. It seemed as though it had been forever since he had seen his family alive and well.
'I'll be a better brother this time round. I'll try not to become the jealous prat I was last time. I won't abandon Harry or Hermione when they need me most' Ron silently vowed to himself.
Soon the feast was over and they were ordered to head back to their common rooms and retire for the night. Students of various houses and years group all stood up looking for their friends before following their house prefects to their individual common rooms, chattering loudly about their adventures during the summer.
Hermione, Ron and Harry all stood together from their seats following Percy to Gryffindor Tower wordlessly. As Harry walked through the castle halls he couldn't help but remember all those that had died in the castle he had begun to call their home. Trying to block the horrifying memories of the war from his thoughts, he carefully masked his face into an expressionless mask before turning to his friends making sure they were okay. Ron's face was much like his own but only paler making his freckles stand out. Harry turned to Hermione to find her in the middle of a mild panic attack. She didn't look like she was breathing at all and beads of sweat was rolling down her face. Quickly signally Ron for help, they together pulled Hermione out of the crowd of student towards the wall of the corridor. Both Ron and Harry looked at Hermione worriedly as she continued to freak out. Hermione had always been the rational one of their little group. She didn't get angry when someone was baiting her as easily as Harry or Ron and would always remain calm depict the circumstances. For her to freak out like this made them both very troubled.
'Hermione are you okay?' Harry said projecting his thoughts into Hermione's and Ron's minds with a troubled look on his face.
'Mione . . . . are you okay, you never freak out like this' Ron thought placing his hand on Hermione's shoulders.
Hermione melted at Ron's touch crying, 'I-I just thought I would be able to handle everything . . . seeing everyone alive and happy. I was okay until I saw Luna but then the dam broke. You saw what happened to her.' Luna's body had been found just 1 month before the Battle of Hogwarts. Her body was almost unrecognisable, with bruises scattered all over her body with deep cuts all over her body.
'Shh Mione, it's going to be fine. Everything is going to be okay. Luna won't dye and everything is going to be okay' Harry said making circle on her back with his hand.
'It's going to be okay Mione, their all alive, we have a second chance to fix everything and we need you now more than ever. We would have died within the first day if we left you behind to hunt down the horcurxes by ourselves. We need you; the brightest witch of the age' Ron said softly projecting his thoughts directly into Hermione's mind, letting her cry on his shoulder.
"You guys are righty" Hermione sniffled aloud drying her tears.
"Now are you okay to walk back to the common room. You're not going to break down crying again on me are you?" Ron said with humour that could be clearly found in his voice.
Hermione let a small giggle escape from her lips before it turned into full blown laughter. Ron encouraged by Hermione's laugh started to crack out some more really cheesy jokes, happy that Hermione wasn't crying any more as they walked towards Gryffindor Tower. Harry smiled at the scene evolving in front of him. With the pressure that had been weighting down on their shoulders since the war had begun, it was nice just to let loose and just relax with friends.
They continued laughing together at Ron's cheesy jokes as they made their way to their common room. Harry had his hands inside his pockets smiling softly, Hermione's hazel eyes were glittering with laughter and Ron was talking loudly with his hands making eccentric gestures.
Harry mumbled the password to the Fat Lady before the trio stepped through the portrait together into the Gryffindor common room. Everyone stopped and starred at the three of them as they walked in the room. Not realising everyone was staring at them because they had come late; they continued to laugh amongst one another. Just realising that everyone was staring at them the trio blushing bright red at the attention they were receiving.
"What are you all looking at" a loud voice said drawing the attention away from the trio.
Slowly everyone began to return back to their activities though not without glancing at them first nervously. Thanks, Harry mouthed to the boy who shifted the attention away from them. No problem he mouth back.
The Golden Trio traded looks between each other, communicating quietly between each other before moving to a small corner where they couldn't be heard.
"Why don't we meet down here at 8 o'clock sharp tomorrow morning before breakfast?" Harry asked Hermione and Ron.
"Sure" Hermione agreed with Harry. Ron nodded his head in agreement.
Hermione silently turned around heading to her dormitory and both Ron and Harry walked to theirs each waiting for the morning to come quickly.
Authors note – Please review! If you can tell me where to improve please tell me.