The three decided to leave that Sunday since only Remus would be in the house. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had gone to Diagon Alley to pick up Ginny's school books and also a new broom to celebrate her being made Captain, and Mr. Weasley, Tonks, Moody, and Shacklebolt were all on duty in various places throughout London and the surrounding areas. McGonagall, of course, was at the school preparing the two new teachers, one of whom would be the new Gryffindor Head of House.

"It'll be strange going back," Hermione said as they made preparations to leave. "A new Head of House, no Dumbledore-"

"Half the students gone," Harry muttered, angrily. "It still gets me how people can be so stupid. Hogwarts is the safest place to be, even with Dumbledore dead." He knew he sounded like a hypocrite - he, after all, wasn't returning.

"They're just being parents," Hermione sighed. "Doing what they think is best."

"Mmm," mumbled Ron. The subject of Hogwarts was apparently still weighing on him.

"Hey," Harry told him, "I won't blame you if you go back. This life I'm going to lead... it's not going to be easy."

Ron pulled a face and muttered something incoherent.

"Besides," Harry added in a lighter tone, "with Ginny as Captain, and Hermione as Head Girl, you're bound to have loads of fun."

"Oh, yeah, should be a barrel of laughs," Ron said, sarcastically. "And Ernie McMillan as Head Boy, as well."

"Ernie's not bad," Hermione said. "Harry, your cloak." She carefully took it out of his trunk and handed it to him. "He was one of the only people to stand up for Harry in fifth year, and one of the first to join the DA."

"True," Ron admitted. "Has Remus got you a map?"

"Hermione's got the directions, yeah. And she's going to try a glamour spell on me to cover up my scar," Harry explained.

"Do you think we should do your eyes as well?" Hermione asked as they made their way out of Harry and Ron's room.

"Love, he's Harry Potter," Ron said, putting his hand in hers. "Everyone knows what he looks like. To be honest, I don't think covering up his scar and changing his eye color is going to do much."

"I'm just trying to do what I can to help," Hermione said. Harry could tell she was trying to hold her temper and be civil. "He's not a Metamorphmagus, you know."

"It's okay, Hermione," Harry told her, trying to keep the peace. "Let's just carry on with my scar for right now. Even if it doesn't really do anything as a disguise, I'd like to see what I'd look like without that thing on my head."

They made their way down the stairs to find Remus waiting for them, a very dour look on his face.

"You're really going, then?" he asked.

Harry could tell this was more of a statement than a question. "Yes," he said, sternly.

"And there's no way I can talk you out of it?"

"No."

"And you won't let me go with you?"

"We've been through this," Harry sighed, annoyed. "You're needed here. We've got the cloak, we're taking the Knight Bus, Hermione's going to do a spell to hide my scar... and we've learned loads in the last couple months in the way of defensive spellwork. We might not be fine, but at least we'll have a chance to get away if we are attacked."

Remus visibly winced. "Please, don't say that."

"Sorry."

Remus turned to Hermione and Ron. "I'm counting on you two to protect him." At their nods of acknowledgment, he turned to Harry. "And I'm counting on you to make it home."

Harry managed a small smile. "Don't worry. I'll be back in a flash, you'll see."

Remus hugged Harry tightly, and then quickly ushered the three of them out the door. "Apparate imeadiately if something goes wrong," he pleaded as Harry swept the cloak over himself so that Hermione and Ron looked to be the only ones outside. "Swear to me, Harry."

"I promise," he whispered.

Ron and Hermione waved good by, and the two of them - and the concealed Harry - made their way down the stairs and into the street. Remus watched until they had reached the corner and made the turn before sighing sadly and shutting the door.

It turned out to be a very windy day for August, and Harry had to struggle to keep the cloak from coming up and showing his trainers. He, Ron, and Hermione made their way down two or three blocks to where they had caught the Knight Bus two years ago. Hermione lit her wand and raised her hand. After a few moments, the three story, purple bus appeared with a pop. It seemed that Stan Shunpike had been replaced by an older, wheezing wizard, who took Ron and Hermione's money and gave them their tickets without a word. Hermione went first, then Harry, and then Ron so not to be conspicuous. The bus was virtually empty, and Harry assumed it was probably due to the fact that no one was traveling anymore; with Dumbledore gone and Voldemort on the rise, everyone was just too afraid. Once they had taken some seats toward the back, and bus had taken off with a lurch, the conductor asked: "Where to, kids?"

Hermione glanced at the map that Remus had written up. The Potters' old house, and Godric's Hollow, were in Folly Gate, a town in Devon just north of Dartmoor National Park. Remus had suggested that they get dropped off about a mile away from Godric's Hollow, so not to arouse suspicion. "Devon, please. Um... Folly Gate."

The conductor raised his eyebrow. "Anywhere specific in Folly Gate?"

Hermione blushed. Ron did a quick glance at the map himself, and answered: "The corner of Burgon and Manheim. We'll just walk it from there."

The conductor shrugged and headed back up to the front of the bus. Harry released the breath he had been holding. "Anyone know anything about Folly Gate?" he asked, quietly.

"Not much," Ron admitted. He and Hermione faced each other as though they were talking amongst themselves and not to an invisible person. "Moor land, mostly. Good place for practicing and playing Quidditch. Probably why your dad moved there."

"Ron, they were on the run from Voldemort," Hermione said. "I doubt Quidditch was the first thing on James and Lily's minds."

"Harry asked what there was!" Ron hissed, and Harry tapped him on the leg to remind him to keep his voice down.

"I think there's an old World War Two field nearby, as well," Hermione added, thinking of Muggle history. "And Dartmoor National Park. Other than that, it's just an average Muggle town."

The bus lurched violently, and Ron was almost thrown out of his seat. "I definitely did not miss riding on this thing," he muttered.

The ride took about half an hour, and they picked up only two other people on the way. Once they had arrived in Folly Gate, on the corner of Burgon and Manheim, the bus stopped so suddenly that Ron, Harry, and Hermione plowed into the seat in front of them, Harry almost losing the invisibility cloak in the process. They carefully got off the bus, which promptly headed off back down the street and disappeared.

"Can we please Apparate back home?" Ron asked, rubbing his neck as Hermione took the map out again. "I swear that stupid thing gave me whip-lash."

"Do you think it's safe for me to take the cloak off yet?" Harry asked. The three of them looked around.

"It's the middle of the day, Harry," Hermione reminded him, and started down Burgon street. Ron and Harry followed. "Someone's bound to see you pop out of nowhere."

"Who?" Ron asked, indicating their surroundings. He had a point. The spot that the bus had dropped them off was a very desolated area indeed.

"Maybe they haven't developed this place, yet," she said. "It is kind of out in the middle of nowhere."

Harry wasn't sure that made much sense. "Remus said that Godric's Hollow was a Muggle village. Why have a big development down the street, but nothing here?"

Hermione shrugged. "Don't ask me why builders do the things they do. If you want to take the cloak off, go ahead, then. But I think you should wait till we get to the house."

They followed Burgon Street until it met Sommerset Road, and then followed that until they reached what Remus said would be the entrance to Godric's Hollow. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped as they came to it.

"Is this it?" Ron asked.

Hermione checked the map. "Remus said the entrance to Godric's Hollow would be Gryffin's Glen Road." She looked up at the road sign. "This is it."

"But... there's nothing here," Ron protested. "This can't be it."

"Look!" Harry said, suddenly. He threw off the invisibility cloak and headed toward some overgrown bushes. "There's a sign." He took out his wand and muttered an incantation. Some of the vines and weeds disappeared to reveal a stone wall sign that read, in fading letters, "Godric's Hollow".

"Why would it be covered up? Why does it look like that?" Hermione asked.

Harry took a look around at the village's entrance, and thought about the abandoned area around it. "I don't think anyone lives here anymore."

"Then why not tear it down?" Hermione asked again. "Why just leave it like this?"

"Dunno... maybe people forgot about it," Harry suggested. "Or maybe no one wanted to come back here. Someone's house blows up on Halloween, and two people and a... thing... are found inside? Can't blame people for being scared."

"Or maybe the Ministry wouldn't let them tear it down, since it's where you defeated Voldemort," Ron added. The three of them stood in front of the entrance, the wind blowing about them, kicking up dirt and leaves. Hermione's hair whipped around her face like it had a mind of it's own. Harry couldn't help feeling a sense of sadness and foreboding coming from the place. It was like Godric's Hollow itself knew it's own history, and what had happened here. Except for the wind and rustling leaves, no other sound came from the - what looked to be - abandoned village. It was one of the loudest, and eeriest, silences that Harry had ever heard. The rational part of his brain told him that this was a mistake, and that he and his two friends were putting themselves in needless danger once again. But the other part was drawn to his old home, as if it was pulling him, beckoning him, to come and see it's remains and learn it's story; Harry's story. The story of where the life he was now forced to lead began. He turned to regard Ron and Hermione, who were still looking at the entrance with trepidation and unease.

"Well, come on. We came here for a reason. I want to see my house," Harry said, and started forward down Gryffin's Glen Road. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, but followed.

"Wait!" Hermione said, taking out her wand. "The glamour charm."

"Right," said Harry, and turned to face her, pushing his hair off his forehead so his scar was visible. "Go ahead."

Hermione pointed her wand at the lightning shaped cut and whispered a few spell words. Harry felt a sort of pinching sensation there, and then nothing.

"Blimey," muttered Ron.

"Did it work?" Harry asked, feeling the area where his scar was found. He felt the tell-tale raised flesh that signified that it was still there. "I can still feel it."

"But we can't see it," Hermione said, grinning. "It's odd how one thing can make someone look so different."

"Yeah. You don't even look like you anymore, mate," Ron added, squinting at Harry's head.

"That's because everyone knows me by that scar," Harry muttered, pulling his coat around him tighter. "Let's go."

The three of them tried to take in everything they saw. Most of the houses were still standing but in varied states of disrepair. Some had their doors and window boarded up, with signs that read "Foreclosed" on them.

"It's like everyone just packed up and left," Hermione said. "It's... odd."

"It's scary," Ron said. "I don't like this place. It's like something out of a bad ghost story."

"Ron," Hermione sighed. "You live in a castle that has ghosts flying around it all the time. And the Burrow has a ghoul in the attack."

"Yeah, but this is different. It's... empty. It's dead and empty for no reason."

"Oh, I think we know the reason," Harry said. "Like I said before, would you want to stay here if your neighbors blew up?"

"The Ministry had to have told the Muggles that lived here something," Hermione pointed out. "Or done a mass Obliviate of the area. Otherwise it would have been all over the local news. Maybe even the country's news, and your aunt and uncle would have learned about what happened before Dumbledore left you there."

"A lot of things about the night my parents died doesn't make sense," Harry sighed. "That's part of the reason why we're here."

"What do you think the house is going to tell you that Dumbledore didn't tell you already?" asked Ron. "It's not like you remember living there at all. You were only a baby."

"I don't know," Harry admitted. "But I feel... I feel like I need to go. I can almost sense something. It's weird. Almost like I can feel the magic... my parent's magic. And Voldemort's." He turned to Hermione. "You can't pretend like you don't feel anything either. You, too, Ron. That's probably what's bothering you."

Hermione gave him a dubius look. "Yes. I can feel power here... I've read that can happen when a very powerful spell or curse has been used, which, for this situation, would make sense. But, Harry, I don't think-"

Harry stopped at the corner and looked at the street sign. Gryffin's Glen Road continued on ahead, and Lion's Den Drive was to the right. "It's this way, isn't it?" he asked, pointing right.

Hermione looked at the map. "Yes," she said, blinking in surprise.

Harry gave her a look. "See? I know I was too young to remember, but it's almost like I do. I feel like I've been here before." He started up again, and Ron and Hermione followed behind.

"Actually, I think Harry's starting to bother me more than anything," Ron muttered. Hermione didn't answer, but it was clear she was starting to feel the same way.

They continued now down Lion's Den Drive, and the houses surrounding them grew older looking and more dilapidated, most overgrown with weeds and other vegetation. "I think we're getting close," Harry said, rubbing his scar. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. "What's the number?"

Hermione looked at the map once again. "Seventy-seven."

Harry looked at her strangely. "Seventy-seven?" he repeated. Odd.

"Yes, why?" Hermione asked.

Because Voldemort has seven horcruxes since it's supposed to be the most magical number, Harry thought, aggravated. He played it off as coincidence, however, and simply shrugged. "Nothing. We're at fifty-four. Let's keep going."

A very large gust of wind almost blew the map straight out of Hermione's hands. She quickly folded it up and put it inside her jacket pocket. "Wait a minute, Harry. This is all very... weird. You're feeling things-"

"So are you," Harry said, hotly.

"I'm sensing magic, yes," Hermione said. "But what you're describing is almost like... memories. You don't even know how long you lived here. You and your parents weren't here very long before Peter betrayed them. If I remember correctly, it was less than a week. And you're walking through here as though you lived here all your life. It's... strange."

"Really? Because I thought it was quite normal," Harry said, sarcastically. "Have you maybe considered that this is all pretty strange for me, too, Hermione? You two wanted to come along. It's not easy for me, coming back here. My parents were murdered on this street. They're burried somewhere not too far. This is the closest that I've ever come to finding out anything about my past that's... real and tangible. The house is something I can see and feel. This place is something I can see and feel. It's important. Dumbledore's gone, Sirius is gone, my parents are gone... anyone that could have given me a clue about my past is gone. So far, Remus has only talked about my dad, and I think I got all the information out of Aunt Petunia that's humanly possible. So this is it."

Hermione bit her lip. "Maybe you should at least put the cloak back on."

Harry glared at her. "No. I'll be wearing that thing my whole life if this keeps up. I shouldn't be afraid to go outside!"

"Yes, you should!" Hermione yelled. "He's after you, Harry-"

"You know, I wish someone would remember that I bloody well know that!"

Hermione and Harry glared at each other, while Ron looked back and forth at the both of them, as if confused about what to do.

"Er... let's just go to the house," he suggested. "We've come this far, right?" He winced as they turned around and glared at him instead. "Just trying to help," he muttered.

Hermione made an impatient noise. "Am I the only one here who's concerned about our lives?"

Harry and Ron stared at her, speechless, until Harry walked over to her, not stopping until he was a hand's length away.

"That was a really horrible thing to say to us. To me," Harry told her. "Of course we care. Of course I care. If you remember, I was the one at Dumbledore's funeral that told you lot to bugger off because it was going to be dangerous! Don't even think for a second that I want anyone else killed because of me."

"I wasn't saying that it was going to be because of you," Hermione argued.

"Not in so many words, no," Harry admitted. "But that was pretty much the gist of it. And I'm not stopping either of you two from leaving."

"I'm not saying I want to go," Ron protested. "We said we were in this together. If we're not, then we are going to die."

Hermione took a deep breath, tears forming in her eyes. "You know I'm always with you, Harry. But-"

"Then trust me," Harry interrupted. "It's not just strange for you, it's strange for all of us. I feel that... darkness of this place... that you do." Noticing the look on her face, Harry continued, "That's it, isn't it? That... feeling. Is it Dark magic?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not sure, but it's making me uneasy. And that's why I'm not exactly sure we should go on."

"Hermione, it's probably just left over from what happened here," Ron said.

"That was sixteen years ago!" Hermione exclaimed. "Surely it still wouldn't be that potent?"

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not that familiar with the Avada Kedavra and it's lasting effects on the atmosphere or whatever," Harry sighed. Hermione almost laughed. "But, whatever is in the air, so to speak, feels bad."

"At least we don't have odd memory feelings, too," Ron added.

Harry nodded. "Yeah... Are we all in agreement to keep moving now?"

Hermione still looked tense, but the Gryffindor in her made her nod and say, "All right. But, just for the record, I did warn you."

Harry chose to ignore that last part, and the three friends continued down the road in silence. With each step closer to number seventy-seven, the sensation that Harry - and Ron and Hermione - were feeling increased. Harry picked up his pace. He was almost there... almost there...

They got to number seventy and Harry stopped so suddenly that Ron almost ran into him. "What's up?" he asked, but then looked in the direction that Harry was staring. They didn't need to go the rest of the way to see the Potters' old house. It was pretty obvious which one it was, seeing how it was the only one with half of it blown off.

"Mother of Merlin," Ron whispered, stunned. "How the hell did you make it out of there?"

Harry said nothing, but he was asking himself the same exact question. The front and the left side - facing the street - of the house was intact. But, it looked like the right side and most of the back and been completely blown away. Harry remembered his aunt's words from six years prior:

And then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you!

Well, Harry thought, ruefully, she sure has hell wasn't kidding.

"How did that happen?" Hermione asked. The three friends tentatively started forward again.

"Must have been from when Voldemort's spell rebounded," Harry said. "The force of it must have caused some kind of... wave of energy or magic or something and it just kind of... exploded."

"But, the bodies," Hermione continued. "The bodies were still, you know, intact, right?"

Harry suppressed a shudder. He didn't like thinking about his parents' bodies, for one. But thinking that whatever had caused the house to explode had also torn them apart as well was too much for him to think about. "Well... I was. And my mum was in my room with me when it happened. So, I'm assuming they were."

"How did you know that?" Ron asked.

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but realized he wasn't quite sure. "Er... Hagrid told me, I think. Or Dumbledore. I really can't remember."

They reached the front of the house. It looked like it had had a front garden, and been made of brick. The numbers "Seventy-seven" were in gold, and one of the numbers was hanging lopsided on the door, which was a dark red. Another gust of wind surged up and around them making the house creak, and Harry swore he heard people talking. He shook his head and looked around sharply. Hermione and Ron did the same, but for a different reason.

"What?" Hermione asked, looking scared. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Harry said, turning back to the house. "Nothing, I just... thought I heard people talking."

Ron and Hermione exchanged wide-eyed glances upon hearing this. "Yeah," Ron said, slowly. "So, we saw the house, right? So... now we can go?"

But Harry seemed not to hear them. Ever so cautiously, he started up the front walk and toward the door.

"Harry," Hermione said, her voice rising in pitch a bit. "What are you doing?"

"Why is it like this?" he asked, softly. "Why did they keep it like this?"

"Oh, Merlin, what if it's haunted?" Ron said, suddenly, making Hermione give a disgusted snort.

"Please, Ronald."

"Well, Harry says he's hearing voices and it's obvious no one's come to this place for years!"

"Not haunted," Harry told them. He was on the front step. "But, there's something... I can feel it." He reached for the door handle-

"Harry, stop!" Hermione yelled, shrilly, making Ron and Harry jump. Harry blinked rapidly and stared at her. "That house has a fourth of it blown off. Just the wind is making it creak. I don't think it's stable. I think you should come back here."

Harry said nothing and stayed rooted to the spot before eventually coming back down to where Ron and Hermione stood by the start of the walk way. Hermione breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Harry. I'm glad you-" She stopped talking as Harry shoved the cloak roughly into her hand.

"Put that on. And don't come in after me," he ordered, and walked toward the house again.

Ron and Hermione both looked extremely shocked. "Wh-what?" Hermione sputtered. "What do you mean, don't come in after you? What are you doing? Harry!"

But Harry was on the front step again. Then the second, and then the third. He reached the door, put his hand on the knob, and then turned back to his friends. "Put on the cloak. This is something I have to do alone."

"Harry, you're scaring us," Ron told him. Harry knew that was not something that his friend had admitted lightly. "What is going on?"

After a brief silence, Harry said, softly, "I don't know." Then he turned the knob, stepped inside, and was gone. Hermione and Ron pulled on the cloak as Harry had asked and stood in the eerie silence in front of Harry's former home.

"This is mad," Ron whispered, frantically. "This is beyond mad."

Hermione shivered and moved closer to him, grabbing his arm and squeezing it tightly. "I hope he's all right."

"This is mad," Ron said, again. "He shouldn't be in there alone. We should stick together." The wind around them suddenly blew much harder, and storm clouds were forming ominously above their heads. "I have a bad feeling about this."

------

A/N: Yes! An update! OMG! So, again, major apologies about the lateness of this update. I have moved recently and my computer is not hooked up to the internet, so I had no way of getting this online. However, I was up until midnight last night writing almost all of the rest of this chapter, so, part three should be up very quickly. Also, if anyone wants to know about how the story is coming along, I now have a blogger specifically for that: www.fanficvoid.