Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.

Chapter Two

The Burrow and the mist

They appeared right in front of the Burrow. There was already someone in the kitchen. Ron carefully opened the door and entered. Harry and Hermione followed. Mrs. Weaseley was sitting on chair. She appeared sleeping.

"Mom." – said Ron gently. "We arrived."

"Oh! Welcome Harry!"

" Oh! It is good to be here. Thank you Mrs. Weaseley." – Harry replied.

"Ok. Breakfast will be soon ready. Harry dear, go leave your trunk in Ron's room. And Ron, help him."

They climbed the stairs. Hermione went in Ginny's room. Ron helped Harry with his trunk as they enter his room. The walls were still covered with the quiditch posters. Ron decided to take a quick shower. So Harry headed downstairs. He was just sitting down when the kitchen door opened and to the surprise of Harry and Mrs. Weaseley the twins went in.

"Hey Harry. We heard you going down and decided to join in." – said Fred.

"Wow! You getting up so early. That's something new." – exclaimed Harry

"Well it is a beautiful day." – said George. Molly Weaseley narrowed her eyes at the twins. "And we thought why lose the day in sleeping when we can offer our assistance to Mom. We can degnome the garden."

"You…" - Molly Weaseley could not find the words. She looked so shocked and surprised to the sudden change of her children. "You never volunteered before."

"Well. There is a first time for everything."

"O…ok." – She was still trying to figure out this unbelievable change in them.

"Harry would you care to join us?" – George asked.

"Well okay." – said Harry as they went out. Then minutes later Ron appeared in the kitchen along with Hermione and Ginny.

"Hugh…Mom. Where is Harry?" – Ron asked.

"He is with Fred and George degnoming the garden as they volunteered to do so."

" They what?" – Ron's mouth opened wide in total disbelief.

"They volunteered to degnome the garden. I'm still surprised given that it came from them but …oh… Well breakfast is ready."

Ron looked at Hermione and Ginny who were as well caught unprepared for these astonishing news. They went outside after having breakfast and found them selves in the garden where gnomes were flying. Fred, George and Harry seemed to be in very good mood. Harry was just picking a gnome when he saw the three of them. The gnome managed to strike and that resulted in…

"Wow! Harry that was almost sixteen meters. Good shot mate." – George said as he threw the gnome he just caught." Fred, the sleeping beauties finally woke up."

"Yeah. It seems so." – jokingly added Fred.

"Well as you are here join in." – urged them Harry.

And for the gnomes became hell as they were began flying off the garden. When they finished, the twins went into the house as they said to help – mummy. Ron was gazing somewhere as he was playing with Hermione's hair. Ginny was sitting quite next Hermione watching her brother and throwing some looks at Harry.

Harry was exhausted from the hunt. He closed slowly his eyes. When he opened them he was standing in a misty and gloomy dark forest

"What happened? How did I get here?" – he thought as he looked around. He then saw a gentle fire. He went for it. Around the fire he saw a golden mist and a throne. There was something familiar about the throne as Harry approached to take a better look. Yes he has seen it last night in that weird dream when he was standing on the sky tower.

However the mist swirling around the fire was far more interesting. It was like a wind of liquid gold. He bent over. To his surprise the mist turned from gold to silver glass. On the surface he could see fast turning images but he could not make them out. Then a tingling sensation suggested that he has been watched. He looked around and saw that someone was sitting in the throne watching him. But he could see the man clearly it was like looking through a dim glass. The man stood up and walked towards the floating mist. His gentle touch made the mist to swirl even faster. Then he turned to Harry and a whisper reached Harry's hearing.

'Through a shattered glass light splits. And through a lens united again. Thenthe whisper turned into a loud shout – Wake up Harry, Wake up Harry. '

Harry was startled by the shout. Everything began to fade into darkness. When he opened his eyes he saw Ginny's face over him. He then realized that he was lying on the ground.

" Oh! Harry are you all right?" – her face was still a little pale but beautiful.

"What happened? Where my glasses?" - Ginny handed them to him. "Thank you!"

"One moment you are sitting on the bench and on the other you stood up and then all of sudden you just fell on the ground. We couldn't wake for 3 minutes. We…."

"It is all right Ginny. I am fine."

"Are you sure mate?" – Ron was sitting on his right side. "What happened?"

"I had a really weird dream or vision. Oh …I don't know what to call it."

"You were about to tell us about your last night's dream." – Hermione added.

"Well it seems to me now that this one has to do something with the one last night."

He saw the confusion on their faces. So he told about his dream last night and the one just now.

"It seemed so real though. It was a weird feeling. I felt like I was really there wherever that was. But I wished I knew what is all this about."

"You said that the figure or the man said something prior to your waking."

"Yeah. It was something of the sort 'through a shattered glass light splits. And through a lens united again'. Well I understand what it means it is so simple but why that I don't know."

"Hmmm" – Hermione mumbled in a thinking voice.

"Hermione there is nothing to think about. It is just a stupid phrase. It makes no sense." – Ron said.

"Well I am not sure exactly, Ron. There got to be an explanation for all that. Harry you said that it turned from gold to silver and that there was something moving fast in it, right?"

"Yeah. But Hermione what is that got to do with those words? Apart that…" - Harry suddenly realized that the mist as described reminded him of something.

"What? Harry what?" – demanded Ron.

"The mist reminded me of the pensive when I first saw it. The thoughts were swirling like a liquid wind of silver glass."

"That's right. Then, then the words…Oh. Well probably you are right Ron. There is no sense. I was evaluating the possibility that it might be some spell but as I am not aware of the existence of such. Well I don't know every single spell. But I thought…" – Hermione did not finish.

"Ah…I got it." – Ginny said suddenly. "But it is really a wild guess, guys."

"Come on. Give it a try." – encouraged her Harry.

"Well It is a little confusing when it said, 'Shattered glass' so I thought it could be a mirror or a pair of glass." – Ginny grinned at Harry. "But then you said that the mist was reminding of thoughts."

"Ginny you are just stating the obvious." – observed Hermione.

"Yes and…. Then the light. Every image is passing through your eyes as the light is passing your glasses. Then it is scattered inside your mind before trying to sort them out. And sometimes you can't make the sense of them. Then what you need is time in order to sort them out. So when you focus you manage to do so." – Hermione was looking at Ginny in astonishment.

"Wow. That's some speech sis." – Ron was equally surprised.

"But that statement you heard Harry is really very abstract. I am not really sure whether my interpretation is correct."

"Wow like Ron said. But I think you are right Ginny." – Hermione confirmed. "What I don't understand is who is this man?" – she was looking at Harry.

"Why Hermione. Why do you ask me? How should I know?" - asked back Harry.

"Well it was your dream or vision. Whatever. Did he look like Dumbledore?"

"Well the first time that thought crossed my mind. But I'm sure that he is not. Dumbledore was never sitting on a throne or holding a staff. And I never saw him wear black mantle and…"

"That is not true Harry." – Hermione interrupted. "In the great hall his chair looks like a throne."

"Well. You are right but somehow I'm sure that was not he. This man seems to be fascinated by mist and gloomy places contrary to Dumbledore. Well I'll figure it out another time. Lets talk about something else."

"Ok. Mate." – Firmly said Ron. "We are actually expecting Bill and Fleur to arrive soon. After all they are getting married although some of us are not that happy." – He looked at Ginny.

"Oh! Really. That is great. And what about Charlie?"

"Charlie will come later."

" Ron, Hermione" – a yell came from the house. I need your help. "Would you please come in?"

"Yes Mum we are coming." – replied Ron and took Hermione, Harry watched them as they disappeared inside the house.

Ginny was still sitting quietly. Harry looked at her. He remembered the good time they had last year. She made his life happier but he had to brake up. He didn't want anything to happen to her. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He lost enough people that he loved. But staying in her presence was intoxicating. He wanted to move away from her but he just couldn't.

Ginny was also studying him. She was trying to find out what was troubling him. Last year, oh last year all her dreams came true till the moment Harry decided to brake up. She knew he was up to something and she was going to take part of it. She knew that he would resist to her decision. At this thought she smiled. But as her brother was not capable to contradict her Harry will be no different. She noticed the look Harry was throwing at her and blushed.

In the kitchen, Ron and Hermione were watching them as they were helping Mrs. Weaseley prepare dinner. Ron saw Harry move towards his sister and then back up. He groaned. Hermoine looked at him and said:

"Oh! Ron, relax. Let them be. And focus on what you are doing. You are going to cut yourself."

"Oops. It is just that Ginny really deserves him. She has been crying a lot since well since Harry ditched her. And…"

"When are you going to stop interfering, Ginny is capable of taking decisions herself! She doesn't need you to be looking over her shoulder all the time."

"I'm not looking over her shoulder all the time." – Raised his voice Ron. "But I'm still her brother."

"Yes but she has a life of her own. Ron you should be peeling it not squeezing it."

"Yeah. Whatever." – He looked away from the window. He tried to concentrate on peeling. "And whenever I need your expert advice I'll call you."

Hermione stopped peeling. Her eyes narrowed and her expression could have been identified as a falcon approaching its pray.

"I was just trying to…" – she began.

"Yea I know." – cut her off Ron. "To explain how and what and why my sister is …"

"Oh. There are times when you are such…" – interrupted Hermione also raising her voice.

"Such a what?" – Ron furiously looked at her.

"Never mind." – said Hermione and left the kitchen.

"Such a what?" – yelled after her Ron and went to catch up.

Harry and Ginny, of course heard the beginning of the fight between Ron and Hermione. Harry smiled and nodded.

"Oh. These two. I thought they grew over this."

"Have you?" – asked Ginny smiling.

"I hope so. Look Ginny. I just wanted to tell you that…"

"That you don't want to see me anymore and that you don't care about Me." – finished his sentence Ginny.

"No. That's not it. How can you say that? I care about you. I do. But there is something that I have to do and …"

"You do, ah? But you left me. But then I'll be coming with you."

"No!" – firmly said Harry. "What I have to do is dangerous therefore I am going alone. If you come with me you can get hurt or even d… " - He couldn't say it loudly. "And I can't bear that thought. I just I can't I l…" - He looked at her and smiled to himself. He wanted to tell her how he felt for her. "Oh, Ginny" – Ginny had started to cry. Harry felt helpless for a second but then he hugged her.

"Ginny you have to understand. I can't afford to lose you."

"But you can afford to leave me. Here. Alone. I'm not somebody's object to be left or ditched somewhere." – she cried loudly.

"No! This is not what I meant. Here you will be safe. Safe from harm. With me you will be in danger. That is my last word."

"What about mine? Or I don't have the right to speak. I want to come with you. With you…" - she wanted to shout but then Harry bent down and kissed her softly.

"I would like you to remain here and be safe."

"I heard you the first time. No need to repeat. But nothing you say will change my mind. I'm coming with you. And…" - Harry shut her again with a gentle kiss.

"Ginny. Oh. Ginny. I…"

"What?" - She looked at him. He was blushing and looking her with a strange look in his eyes. She pushed him away and repeated "What?" – Harry took her back in his arms.

"Ginny why do you make things so complicated? I really…" – after a short silence he barely whispered, "I love you."

But the ears of love are sharp.

"You what? Really? Or you say it without really meaning it as you did…."

"I do. I love you Ginny. And this is why I want you to be safe from…" - He couldn't finish as Ginny kissed him. And then he kissed her back. They stayed in each other's arms enjoying the pure moment of love.

"Finally!" – They turned around and saw Ron. He grinned. "Finally!"

"Speaking of which." – Harry said. "What about you Ron? Finally or never?"

"I guess never. She is just too stubborn."

"Reminding you of someone you know?" – Ginny asked.

"She is right. Why don't you go to her and tell her how you feel? If she ditches you at least you'll know for sure. Come on go on Ron." – encouraged him Harry.

"It is easy for you to say. But well I'll try."

Ron got up, turned around and went back in the house. Harry and Ginny just grinned.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Ginny."

"Are you really going to leave me behind? I'm sure you are going to take Hermione and Ron with you to find the horcruxes and …"

"How do you know about them?" – Harry interrupted raising his eyebrows.

"I overheard Hermione and Ron when they were speaking in Ron's room two days ago."

"So you are eavesdropping now?" – teased her Harry.

"You did not answer me. And don't change the subject."

"Yes. I'll be going after the horcruxes as Dumbledore suggested. And hopefully destroy Voldemort. And possibly Ron and Hermione are going to join me. But I have not decided yet whether I'm going to take them with me or not."

"Harry?"

"Yes."

"Answer me!"

"Ginny how many times do I have to tell you? I do not want you to get hurt."

"Then I'll be coming. Right?"

"You are impossible."

"I am your girlfriend and you are not going anywhere without me. Besides you are going to need all the help you can get. The more we are the bigger the chances to succeed."

"And the bigger to get caught. Or even something worse. And…"

"Harry. You can't take all the Death-Eaters that surround Voldemort by yourself."

"Oh! Ok. Ginny will discuss this matter another time. Lets go and find the birds before they kill each other."

"Agreed." – They stood up and went inside to look for Ron and Hermione.

Ron and Hermione were sitting quietly in the living room when Harry and Ginny came in. Harry glanced at Ron to catch his attention but Ginny dragged him to the kitchen. Mrs. Weaseley was not there. She had left a note that she is going shopping.

"What?" – Harry asked.

"Leave them to sort things out."

"But I did not interfere at all." –Harry protested.

"Yes but you were trying." – Firmly said Ginny sitting on a chair. "Now what are we going to do?"

"Well I don't know. What do you want to do?" – Harry smirked.

Ginny looked at him narrowing her eyes and raising a finger. Harry looked absolutely innocent. But at the sight of Ginny getting angrier made Harry to explode in laughter.

Meanwhile in the living room, Ron was still trying to figure out how to approach Hermione. He opened his mouth but then shut it again. He took a deep breath and said:

-Hermione.

"Yes, Ronald." – Coldly answered Hermione.

"I just wanted to apologize…"

"Ronald, you have been apologizing for the last 20 minutes."

"Yeah." – He took another deep breath and continued. "You are right. Look I just wanted to make peace with you and to tell you that I … I …" - He suddenly stopped.

"To tell me what?" – Impatiently Hermione asked. "Tell me what?"

"Well… I really …" - He stopped again in the middle of the sentence due to the laughter coming from the kitchen. "What the hell?" – He stood up and to went to see what's going on but at the door he turned around. He gathered all his courage.

"I wanted to say that I …" - Hermione sighed and stared at Ron. "I love you Hermione. I wanted to tell you so many times but I guess I lacked the courage and the right time to do so. I … have been such a ... Man I always contradict you and we get always in a word fight for nothing. I'm such a…" – Hermione decided to interrupt him. She was touched by this long awaited confession.

"Oh Ron. Don't feel this way. I really did not mean to make feel that guilty for you being such a…" - She quickly stood up with a smile on her face and approached him.

Ron was a little confused and stepped back. But she caught him and kissed him. She kissed me and I'm standing like a fool doing nothing – thought Ron and kissed her back. The door behind them opened and Ginny crossed quickly and went upstairs. Harry passed by the confused Ron and Hermione few seconds later and went after Ginny. He saw her standing on the second floor. He approached her cautiously but she stepped back. Harry made another step forward and Ginny made one backward. Suddenly Ginny stepped forward and he moved backward still staring at her with a little smile. She raised her eyebrow angrily and was about to say something but Harry decided to make his move. He quickly took the remaining distance between them and kissed her passionately. Her anger vanished as she hugged him and submerged herself into his kiss.

Mrs. Weaseley has just returned home when she saw Ron and Hermione kissing. She was stood stunned then disappeared quickly in the kitchen. Dinner was ready. She went in the living room.

"Dinner is ready dears." – She announced. "Ron, where are Ginny and Harry?"

"They went upstairs."

"Ok. Go and get them as well as your brothers."