Chapter 2
The next morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione met each other at the bottom of the stairs. They had planned to meet so they could talk to Mr and Mrs Weasley together.
They took a deep breath just before entering the kitchen. Mr Weasley, Ginny and the twins were sat around the table. Mrs Weasley was by the stove, directing the piled plates towards the table.
"Mmm, smells good, mum" Ron piped up as he went to quickly sit down.
Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "Mrs Weasley, Mr Weasley, we have something to tell you" Hermione announced.
The twins looked up, mischief gleaming in their eyes. "You're pregnant!" George cried.
"Wow, Ronniekins. You do work fast!" Fred finished. Harry burst out laughing, only to be whacked around the head by a very red faced Ron.
"Boys!" Mr Weasley warned, "Carry that on and I'll have you de-gnoming the garden for a month".
Mrs Weasley turned to look at the trio. "What is it dears?"
Hermione looked at Ron nervously, then at Harry, the back to the Weasley's.
"Erm, maybe you should sit down" Hermione told them anxiously.
"What is it dear?" Mrs Weasley asked again.
"Well, you see, Professor Dumbledore and I have … had been working through possible places for Horcruxes, as you may have already been aware. I don't intend on stopping that. In fact, I'm going to go looking for them. We can't keep waiting around for Voldermort to attack again. I'm going to destroy the Horcruxes, and then I'm going to destroy him" Harry told them, trying his best to use a tone that would let them know this wasn't up for discussion.
"And we're going with him" Ron added without looking up.
"Ronald Billius Weasley, you will do no such thing. That goes for you two as well" Mrs Weasley shrieked.
Ron looked up at his mother, knowing that he was about to do a very dangerous thing by answering her back.
"Mum, we're of age now. And we've already faced you-know-who and his followers twice now. We've got as much chance of being killed here than out there. At least by doing this, we're weakening him.".
Hermione stared at Ron in awe, as well as the other occupants in the kitchen, shocked that Ron had stood up to the Matriarch of the family. He had definitely upgraded from a teaspoon in the maturity and emotional department.
"I will not let you put yourselves in more danger".
"Molly" Mr Weasley addressed his wife, "They are not children anymore. Albus believed in them. It is their destiny, we've always known that. We can't hold them back, they'd go anyway. Besides, we can keep the order in touch if we allow them to go"
"Mrs Weasley" Harry stepped forward, "I have to do this, and I need Ron and Hermione to be there with me. We've talked about everything. We'll use the coin to keep in touch, and if we need help, the order can be there in a second."
Molly Weasley looked around at her family, then at the three standing on the other side of the room. Her husband had a point, they would go anyway, at least by letting them go, she would be able to give the help.
"I want to always know where you are and how you're doing"
"We promise mum. And we'll take help if we need it" Before they knew it, Molly was grabbing all three, squeezing them, sobbing and choking out how they'd grown up so fast.
After breakfast, Mr Weasley convinced Harry to talk to Remus Lupin about their plans. Considering Lupin's previous position as DADA teacher, and current Order Co Leader, Harry agreed that it would be for the best.
Hermione had to say goodbye to Viktor, and Ron had asked if she would mind if he went too. Surprised with his suggestion, she readily agreed and left Harry to wait for Lupin.
A soon as they left, Harry reached into the pot, and pulled a handful of floo powder, throwing it into the fireplace, he called for 12 Grimmauld Place.
The first thing he saw was Kreacher, the Blacks' house elf which Harry had unfortunately inherited along with the house and the rest of Sirius' possessions when he died.
"Kreacher, get Remus to come to the fire, now". Kreacher didn't reply, instead, he gave Harry a loathsome glare and stalked out of the lounge, muttering how his mistress would be turning in her grave.
Within a few seconds, Remus was on his knees by the fireplace.
"Harry? What is it, what happened?" he asked, panicking.
"Remus, calm down. Nothings happened. We told everyone what we're going to do and Mr and Mrs Weasley would like me to sit down with you and talk about it.".
Lupin already knew about the hunt, Harry had told him the day of Dumbledore's funeral.
"Tonks and I will be right there" Remus replied.
True to his word, a minute later, Tonks came stumbling into the kitchen, knocking into the kitchen table, as clumsy as ever, Harry mused. Remus followed soon after.
After the usual offering of tea and biscuits, they all sat down around the table and began discussing the trio's journey.
"Harry, as I have known of this matter for a couple of weeks now, I have had the time to dig deeper into the work Albus carried out. I am sure he never informed you of his niece or your father's cousin?".
Harry shook his head, confused. He never knew that Dumbledore had a niece, and he didn't know that he himself had another relative.
"Alicia Dumbledore and Megan Potter are a rare variety of Aurors. Albus enlisted their help before your 6th year. They were taking care of international matters throughout, trying to trace Death Eaters that had gone into hiding after Voldermorts demise. They were searching for clues Harry. It is down to them that Albus was able to find and destroy Slytherin's' ring." Remus continued.
"How is it that I was never told about Megan? And why weren't they at the battle at the school?"
"Shortly after your parents' death, Megan went somewhat AWOL. She and James were rather close, and she took his passing, well…" Remus hesitated for a second "… she went off the rails for a while. Nobody knew where she had gone, all we knew was that Death Eaters were being found brutalized. One day, she came across a girl not much younger than herself, who went by the name of Alicia Dumbledore. Alicia had quite the effect on Megan. They had an instant connection and have traveled together for the last 12 years. Megan didn't want you to know about her, in case it put one or both of you in more danger than you already are."
"What has that got to do with the hunt?" Harry asked, still slightly confused.
"They will be meeting you at Godrics' Hollow just before you leave. I know you think you can handle yourself, Harry" Tonks finally said, "But you are still so young, and you will need a certain amount of help, protection and expertise. Megan and Alicia are two of the best. Half of Azkaban is filled because of Mad Eye. Quarter is filled because of them"
"And the other quarter?" asked Harry.
"That would be yours truly!" Tonks replied with a smirk.
Harry laughed in return, but soon turned serious again.
"Will they be with us all the time? We don't need baby sitters"
"Not all the time. They'll mainly be there when you've found something, and they'll help you destroy it."
Harry thought for a few minutes, weighing up the pros and cons of it. Finally he said;
"Fine. But they're not to forget that this is our mission. If they do anything to screw it up, they're gone."
The four older Order members all looked at each other, then sighed, realizing that they had no choice but to comply with Harry's conditions, they agreed.
Hermione and Ron walked down to the lake where Viktor was waiting for them. Ron didn't want to risk saying something that would insult Viktor and result in an argument. His silence didn't make it any easier for Hermione though. She didn't know why he had offered to come along as well if he wasn't going to say anything. Not that she minded him being there. She knew that Ron was trying to get over his problem with Krum, but Hermione knew that her continuous correspondence with Viktor still bothered him. Maybe by coming along and seeing her say goodbye to Viktor would help him get over it a lot quicker.
Ginny had constantly told her that if she were to ask Ron out, he'd say yes in a heartbeat, but Hermione was very old fashioned in that way, if anyway was going to ask, it would have to be him. Besides, she never really believed that anyone could like her like that, especially not Ron. But it didn't stop her hoping, and she thought that maybe if she could convince him there was nothing going on with Viktor, it would help him along.
"Herm-oi-nee!" Viktor cried when he saw the two friends approaching him.
"Hello Viktor. Are you already to go?" She asked politely.
"Yes. Hullo Ron, I vas vondering if I may haff a talk?" Ron looked up surprise. Was Viktor Krum, International Quidditch star, actually talking to him. He looked to Hermione to check that he wasn't imagining things, but she looked equally as shocked.
"Erm, Ok" Ron replied uncertainly.
When they had got far enough from away from Hermione that she wouldn't be able to hear them, Viktor stopped Ron and said, quite harshly;
"I am seeing the vay you are looking at Herm-oi-nee. Why haff you not told her?" Ron choked. Viktor Krum had actually noticed it. But then did that mean that she had as well? They probably had a right old laugh about it. Still, his first instinct was to deny everything.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" he said huffily.
Viktor smiled at Ron's' unease and stubbornness.
"You forget I haff once looked at her that way". Ron's look of jealousy that flashed through his eyes did not go un-noticed.
"But she vas not feeling me in that way. I know vat you will be doing, and you should tell her before it is too late".
"It's not that simple. She's my best friend, and I won't do anything to risk losing that!" Ron told him stubbornly.
"I do not zink that you will, not if you are honest wiz her. She vas always writing about you and what you do over ze summer wiz 'Arry not there. I am always hearing of you, but never of 'Arry."
Ron's heart swelled at that point. Did that mean that she felt the same? He looked back at her and smiled at him wearily. How could someone so perfect want me? He thought to himself.
"You haff saved her life many times. 'Arry Potter is many people's hero, but he is not hers. That title falls to you" Ron briefly wondered if Krum was reading his mind.
"I must now be going. If you tell her or not, take care of her. Never stop being her hero" Viktor said sincerely.
"I'd protect her from everything. I'd die for her". Viktor nodded, "I know".
They walked back to Hermione, who eyed them both suspiciously. Viktor didn't give her chance to ask any questions. He enveloped her in a hug, whispering goodbye and good luck in her ear.
He then extended his hand to Ron, who shook it willingly.
"Good luck Ron" Viktor said, both men knowing the meaning behind it.
"Thanks, you too."
Then with a POP!, Viktor had dissapparated.
Hermione was on him in a second. "What did he say to you?"
"Nothing much" Ron shrugged.
"It looked like you were the one not saying much!" she retorted. She had watched him the whole time, which wasn't unusual for her.
"He told me to take care of you. To not stop being your hero" he finished playfully.
Hermione must have spent too much time around the Weasley's, as she had adopted the trademark Weasley blush.
"You know, he's really not that bad, once you talk to him" Ron said.
Hermione laughed incredulously, then gave Ron a playful shove. Ron laughed and put his hands up defensively.
"Is that anyway to treat your hero?" he teased, earning him another push.
On their way back up to the Burrow, Hermione told Ron that she was tired and she was going to take a quick nap. He walked her up to her room, not yet wanting to leave her. When she walked into the room she shared with Ginny, she turned to face Ron, who was still stood on the other side of the door. He looked nervous. He opened his mouth a couple of times before he finally spoke.
"Erm, Hermione. Is it true what Viktor said? About me being your hero?"
Hermione smiled, then closing the door, more to hide her own blush than anything, replied; "Ever since first year".
Ron stood on the other side of the door, completely dumbfounded, then with a wide smile spreading across his face, he turned on his heel and began walking down the stairs.
As he got to the bottom of the stairs, Harry was just stepping out of the kitchen.
"What's got you so happy?" he asked Ron, amused at the silly grin plastered all over his best friends face. Ron grinned even more widely and replied simply;
"I'm her hero!".