Author: SportsNightLover

Title: Harry Potter and his Trusted Followers

Summary: Post HBP. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others search for the horcruxes. They skip their last year at Hogwarts, so that they can find and destroy all of Voldemort's horcruxes.

Disclaimer: The characters are not, and were never, mine.

To one of my reviewers:

ForeverUsed- I agree with what you said, and maybe I will put more of their thoughts in later chapters. But for now, I am sticking to the action part of the story. If you want more thoughts and feelings, not action, you could look at another one of my stories, Goodbyes, although it has a different plot.

For all my other reviewers, past and present, I thank you for taking the time to review.

And now, back to the story.

"You are defenseless, Potter," Voldemort's high voice sent chills down Harry's back. "Get up."

Harry obeyed the command, leaving the floor he had just knelt on. He was just kneeling in front of Voldemort, due to the Imperius Curse. As he got up from the floor, he remembered why he how he had got there. Voldemort had found out about Harry's feelings for Ginny, and used her to bring Harry to him. Fearing that Voldemort would hurt her, Harry came with his wand held out in front of him, poised for battle.

When he arrived at his destination, he was met by only one Death Eater, who had Ginny in front of him, blocking any spells Harry would send his way. Using Ginny as a hostage, the Death Eater forced Harry to give up his wand. He was then lead into Voldemort's new house, and had to watch as Voldemort killed Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the Weasley's, minus Ginny, the Order, and then finally, very painfully, he killed Ginny. This weakened Harry enough to be susceptible to the Imperius Curse, which brought him to his knees, and bowing to Voldemort.

"Good job, Potter," Voldemort said, mocking enthusiasm. "Now, I will take you off the Imperius Curse."

He flicked his wand lazily, releasing Harry from his spell. Once he had freedom, he looked at the Death Eaters. Harry recognized Snape immediately, and was disgusted. He next noticed Malfoy, father and son. He soon saw Lestrange, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, and almost thirty more. Seeing Lestrange made him realize that even though he put her in jail, she must have broken out again. He turned back to Voldemort.

The last thing he saw where those red slits where eyes normally were. Harry felt his scar burn, meaning that Voldemort was happy.

"Obviously he's happy, he is about to kill the Chosen One, that must feel really-," Harry thoughts were interrupted by the fact that he was hit in the chest by the Avada Kedavra Curse. He could hear laughter, and feel his eyes close as he hit the floor, and then everything went dark.

Harry awoke with a start. He sat straight up in bed. He just had the same nightmare that plagued his dreams for the past month. It was only six o'clock in the morning, and everyone was probably still asleep. He knew he couldn't fall back asleep, so he didn't try. And besides, he didn't want to relive that dream for the fortieth time in a row. He got out of bed, and made his way down to the cave. He knew that he was taking a huge risk in carrying on with so many people. But they had accepted, he kept telling himself, they knew the dangers.

Why had he asked? Why had he put so many of them in danger? Why didn't he just stick to Ron and Hermione, or at most add Fred, George, and Ginny? It tore at him, thinking that he could be responsible for the deaths of thirty young adults, just because he had a crazy obsession with killing Voldemort.

He listed every one of his soldiers. It seemed that he was friends with more than three-quarters of the army. There was only a few that he didn't know as well, but still hoped that they came out alive. If anything happened to any of them, he would forever feel guilty, and he would know that he put them in harm's way, when he probably didn't need them. He would especially miss Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, the ones that were willing to serve him in anyway that he needed.

As he left the building, and strolled along the deserted streets, he felt miserable, even though he just destroyed a horcrux. To make things even worse an owl flew to him. Who would want to write to him? Maybe Lupin, his heart leapt. It wasn't Lupin.

Dear Harry,

I have her. Come get her at the place you just were. You know where that is.

L V

"Who is L V?" Harry thought, and then he yelled, not caring how early it was. "No!"

Voldemort had found out about Ginny, and had taken her.

And then Harry woke up. But wait, he was already awake. It wasn't a dream, and the letter was still in pieces on the floor after Harry ripped it up. His worst nightmares had come true. He knew this might happen, but tried to push it out of his mind, and pretend it wasn't possible. He could almost feel his heart splitting in two. That was lost in all the rage and hatred that build up inside of him. He remembered that Voldemort killed his parents, and that his Death Eaters killed Cedric Diggory, Sirius, and Dumbledore. Now he had Ginny, for the second time, and was probably going to kill her, too.

He knew he had to go alone, because he didn't want to endanger the others. Just in case Voldemort tracked the owl, he told Hermione to be on her guard. He couldn't tell Ron, because he would want to come on the rescue mission. After telling Hermione to be on the lookout, but not telling her where he was going or why, he apparated back to Godric's Hollow cemetery. He needn't look very far, because he saw that the burned down building had miraculously become whole and useable. He noticed that the lights were on, and knew that was where Voldemort had taken Ginny. He was aware of the possibility of a trap, but he couldn't take the chance of leaving Ginny in Voldemort's hands.

He walked around the building to find the door. There were two Death Eater's stationed at the door, both of whom had their wands out, but wouldn't try to attack Harry. He knew they were not allowed to curse him, and took this opportunity to stun them both. He was glad to see that neither of them were the ones he had sent to prison, like in his dreams. He looked through the window for any caution of what was going on inside, but the curtains were drawn. He slowly knocked on the door, and hid in case he was attacked. He wasn't, the door just opened, no one was opening it from inside. He was again in the kitchen, where there was another Death Eater. Harry easily did a body-bind spell, and left him motionless on the floor.

The inside of the building was repaired as well. He recognized the plates, but this time they were full. He recognized the tables, with all four legs, and chairs around it. He noticed the cabinets were in better condition, and the other cups were in their own places.

He continued on into the living room, where he saw something that stung his eyes. Ginny lay down frozen, but her eyes stared out, directly into Harry's. They pleaded for help, but at the same time looked worried. Harry was met by twenty or so more Death Eaters, who all had their wands pointing to various parts of Harry's body. They parted, making way for their master. They each bowed and kissed his feet, and then resumed their position. Voldemort didn't take any notice to his Death Eaters, but had his snake-like features staring Harry in the face.

He was under a long, green cloak, green representing Slytherin, no doubt. He was under a hood, but his pale face still shone in the early morning sun. He stared straight at Harry, making Harry freeze. He felt like his moment was here, he had to do it now. But how could he? There were so many Death Eaters waiting to move in for the kill. They had hunger in their eyes, and they wanted Harry's blood almost as much as Voldemort himself.

He couldn't stop the fear that crept over him, crawling in every single inch of his body. He felt himself shaking, uncontrollably. Voldemort noticed this, and laughed with his shrill, high-pitched, skin-prickling laugh, that made goose bumps go up and down Harry's arms, and the hair rise on his neck. He couldn't use his wand, or else the Death Eaters would kill Ginny along with him. He couldn't let that happen, he was here to save Ginny, even if that meant giving his own life. He had to do it.

Although the thing is, he had no idea how he was going to save Ginny, and hopefully himself, too. He looked around for anything that would help, but nothing popped out at him. He just had to delay for as long as he could.

"How did you find out about her?" Harry asked, trying to keep his voice steady, and his teeth from chattering.

"I have my ways," Voldemort responded, with nothing more.

"How did you find her?"

"Tell me why I should answer that?"

"If you are going to kill us, I would like to know how you did it."

"It doesn't work that way," Voldemort said, still staring Harry in the eyes.

Harry stared right back, although he wanted to look away. He managed to say, "If you knew where she was, why didn't you just get me yourself?"

"It's better this way, more blood."

"I see," Harry said, saying anything that came to his mind, but still really scared. "If you like more blood, then why didn't you destroy the rest of my army?"

"My Death Eaters are on their way right now," he said, smiling slightly, when death was mentioned.

"Too bad," Harry said, knowing that Voldemort would want the information from him.

"Why is that? All your friends will be murdered in their beds, not having the chance to save themselves."

"I'm sorry to say this," Harry replied, which he wasn't, trying to put on a sad face, "but you are sadly mistaken."

"How is that?" Voldemort asked, trying to hide his surprise.

"My friends are waiting for your attack, and will embrace it with a few spells of their own. It may cost a few injuries on my side, but I would say you just lost a few more Death Eaters."

"Your friends are no match for my Death Eaters, of which there are quite a few."

"Then why did we win twice already? You can't credit all of that to me. My army easily took down your so called great Death Eaters. I would probably just get in their way."

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ginny's eyes start to twinkle a little more, seeing that the rest of the group was ready for the attack. She still looked worried, most likely for Harry, and afraid for herself.

"Why did you call me here? Was it just to attack my friends, or is there something I could do for you?" Harry said in the most conversational voice he could muster up.

"Yes, there is something you can do for me.

"And that is?" Harry asked, taken aback by Voldemort answering his question.

"Die."