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

Chapter Five

Day of tears

Harry and Ron were waiting for the girls. When they arrived, Harry opened the trunk's fifth compartment. It looked like an arena. They all entered. Harry let Sentinel on the floor and gathered them around then spoke:

"In here, we will train ourselves. I have bought many books for defensive and offensive spells. I found also something about those bracelets. They make you unnoticeable and whoever wears it, won't be detected. Also no one could distinguish, as long as we are in the trunk we can all make magic. – Harry looked at them. – And tomorrow when I go to get the task hand, I'll pass by the ministry to make sure Ginny can legally use magic."

"But Harry… " - Hermione wanted to contradict him.

"There is no time to argue, Hermione. They can't expect us to hold up to the laws, when we need to improve our abilities and beside we are in war. The minister will understand. And we'll need Ginny too."

"So you'll take me with you?" – asked Ginny surprised.

"I haven't said anything about leaving yet or going somewhere. But you won't be able to train with us, if you can't do magic. We are not going to train only in here."

"Thank you, Harry." – replied Ginny.

"Now lets go one on one." – Harry took out his wand. He faced Ginny and Ron faced Hermione.

They begun with dueling spells one it learnt in school. Harry saw how Ginny has progressed. He also noticed that Ron was making progress. He managed to disarm Hermione on several occasions.

After the first sparing, Harry took one of the books, the one with defensive spells. He found an interesting one. It was similar to the shield charm. They all practiced it for a while. Then they moved on offensive spells. The training continued almost four hours, before they were all exhausted. At the time they finished, Harry noticed that Sentinel was acting strange. He saw her stand upright to the wall. He moved toward her. Sentinel heard him and lay down. He took her in his arms.

"I'm sorry. I forgot about you."

"An honest answer that is."

"We'll train later. I've to catch my breath first."

"And your strength." – added Sentinel.

"Yes and my strength as well. I was reviewing some of the books I bought and found appropriate exercises for you and me."

"You can't find everything in a book. All in those books is for normal snakes."

"What do you mean by normal snakes?" – asked Harry stunned.

"Well. It is difficult to explain. But lets just say snakes without family or royal crests. I don't say that the other snakes are not part of a family but not all have crests."

"Is this what makes the difference?"

"Yes and no. You wizards think that we snakes are just animals with no power at all. Only the great wizards have power. But that is not true. By normal snakes, I mean those that serve wizards, which have no power."

"But you agreed to be my snake. How this is tied up to what you said about the normal snakes?"

"I agreed to come with you and help you. If I didn't want to be with you, I wouldn't be. How to make you understand? A wand chooses the wizard not the wizard choosing the wand. Well, it is similar with the only difference that the wand does not have a mind of its own."

"Ok. I understand this. But snakes do have power. The snake of the Dark Lord, for instance, had a poison that made wounds not possible to heal normally. Does this count as not having a power?"

"Yes, it does. I haven't met this particular snake you are talking about. All wizard snakes have different type of poison in difference to snakes living in the muggle world. But that doesn't mean they have power."

"I still don't understand what do you mean by having a power?"

"When I recover fully, I will tell you the difference. Now I need to rest."

"Ok. Do you want to stay here or in my room upstairs?"

"I will remain here. Thank you sentry-child."

"You're welcome Sentinel."

Harry left Sentinel where she was. Hermione noticed that something is troubling Harry but said nothing. Harry made his way up the stairs. The others followed him.

"Harry what is it?" – asked Hermione when they stepped back in the room.

Harry closed the trunk and sat on his bed. The conversation with Sentinel was quite strange and disturbing. He was stunned by the way this snake was expressing itself. He never would have thought it possible that a snake could think on such a level. He looked around. The others were sitting quietly. Hermione was looking worried. Obviously the expression on his face was telling her that something is not quite right.

"Harry, what's wrong?" – Hermione asked again looking straight at him.

"Nothing." – Harry lied.

But Hermione was not satisfied with the answer. She raised an eyebrow. Harry sighted.

"Well. It is Sentinel."

"What about her?"

"I have never seen a snake that thinks in such elevated level. She seems like an adult in a snake shape. Her talk is very mature. You get the impression that you are not talking to a snake. For a moment, I could swear that she sounded like a ruler who looks at his subjects."

"What were you two talking about?"

"I was saying to her that I found some interesting exercises for us to train, when.."

And Harry told them everything word by word. When he finished, he could see the disbelief on Ron's face. Ginny looked surprised, as did Hermione.

"No offense mate." – Ron begun. – "But snakes don't think. I'm sure you misunderstood something."

"I would disagree with you, Ron." – Hermione said.

"What you believe that the snake said all these things? That is preposterous."

"Ron. Their conversation was quite long." – Ginny inputted.

"So? This doesn't prove that the snake said all this nonsense."

"So you think that Harry just made it up?" – Ginny said raising an eyebrow.

"I agree with you, Ginny." – Hermione said. "I agree with Harry as well. It is very unusual for a snake to have this level of thinking. Did she tell you what exactly is the difference?"

"Well she tried. But at last she mentioned that when she recovers, she will tell me the difference." – answered Harry.

"And then she sent you away. Ha ha ha ha." – Ron laughed hysterically as he imitated a king sending his subject away.

"Ron, zip it. I am telling you she is not like any other snake. And she does have a crest. I saw it." – Harry said angrily.

"Wow! A tattooed snake. Wow! So what does it prove that she is right? An elder snake?"

"I don't know. But there is something strange about her nonetheless."

"Is that what bothers you?" – Hermione asked.

"Yes and in the same time I have the impression that I have seen her somewhere before."

"But you haven't."

"Yes. I know. And that is what is so strange."

Later on, the family gathered in the kitchen for supper. Arthur sat near Harry. He was eager to ask about the trunk and the battle robes.

"Harry." – Arthur begun.

"Yes, Mr. Weaseley."

"Call me Arthur. I saw you bought a Moody type trunk and some battle robes. Would you mind if I ask what for?"

"Not at all. I have some many things in my old trunk that I decided to buy on like Moody's. Also I thought it would be a good idea to be more protected. So I bought also the battle robes." – Harry explained.

"Well. It is an obvious answer but I was wondering if there is something you haven't told us yet?"

"Well. I am not returning to Hogwarts this year."

"Is this related with You-know-who?"

"Yes. Last year I was taking lessons with Dumbledore. I learnt a lot about Voldemort. And I have to do what I have to do."

"The chosen one!" – Ron interfered.

"What? The chosen one? Harry?" – demanded Molly.

"Yes. The chosen one." – answered Harry. "I have to go after Voldemort."

"And we are going with him." – added Ginny.

"I haven't said anything of the kind." – protested Harry. "I said I am going."

"No, you are not. We are coming with you. Right Ron, Hermione?" – Ginny said turning to Hermione and Ron.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other and nodded. Molly did not say a word since Ginny interfered but now she could not suppress her words.

"What? No! You two are going to school like everyone else. Hermione should go too."

"But Mum…" – Ron begun but was cut off.

"No! You two are now Head Boy and Girl. Ginny is going with you as well. And that's final." – Molly affirmed.

"Mum, I am an adult now. I will choose what to do. There are more important things than being a Head Boy and going to school. I am going with Harry. " - Ron responded firmly.

"I don't want to lose you!" – Molly cried. "Arthur, say something?"

"He has grown up, Molly. He is big enough to make decisions on his own." – Arthur replied.

"No! I won't accept it." – she almost shouted.

"Molly. He is seventeen, now. And according to our laws, he is an adult. I am aggrieved as you are but it is his decision to join Harry."

"Harry!" – Molly turned to him with pleading eyes.

"As I said Molly, I am going ALONE!"

"Thank you!"

"No, you are not." – Ron and Ginny shouted in unison.

"Guys I told you before. I can't to force you to come with me and I can't stop either. But it will be dangerous and you are everything I have. I don't want to lose you."

"You can't take on V-Voldemort and his Death Eaters alone. You need us!" – Ginny said furiously.

"I will find a way to deal with them. I want you out of danger. I just can't take the thought of losing you guys!" – Harry pleaded.

"Hermione, say something." – Ron turned to Hermione.

"Like what?" – she teased him amused by his efforts.

"Like – we are coming no matter what."

"Harry." – Hermione turned to him. "We know that you don't want to force us. We have made our decision. We will come with you."

"Hermione"

"Harry, you stand a better chance with us, your friends than alone. You know that. Besides the safest place is with you."

"And the most dangerous. Voldemort will come after me and …"

"We know. That's why we are coming too." – added Ginny.

"No! Ginerva Weaseley. You are going to school." – Molly intervened.

"Mum. I'll go with Harry. Right Harry dear?"

"All right. Pause it, all of you. To be honest, I haven't made my mind yet. For the moment I am going ALONE. Eventually I will decide when I am going to leave. Then we'll discuss it again."

"Deal." – said Ron, Hermione and Ginny in unison.

"But you know you are not getting away from us that easily." – Ginny added.

"Ginny." – Molly said gently.

"No, Mum. I won't let you leave me behind while my friends are braving the danger alone. I am going with them and it is final. Even if they leave me behind I will follow them." – Ginny answered firmly.

Molly looked devastated. She was all in tears and knew that she can't stop them. These dark times were separating her from her family. Arthur worked from dusk till dawn. The twins were already gone. Percy has moved in London. Bill was getting married. Charlie was in Romania. And now she was going to lose Ron and Ginny. She felt so alone.

Harry looked at Molly. He could understand how she was feeling right now. But it seemed that the others have made up their minds. Yes, he knew they would follow him in water and fire even if he leaves them behind. But he just couldn't bear the thought of losing them. He just couldn't. He lost so much. First, he lost his parents, then his godfather and last year Dumbledore. How much more did he have to lose before Voldemort is finally destroyed? He smiled at himself at the idea of stalling. He intended to stay until Bill and Fleur marry and then leave to search for the horcruxes. And hopefully one day, he might be able to destroy Voldemort. He also recognized that for the horcruxes, he would probably need someone to be with him. He sighted deeply.

"Ah Molly?" – Harry turned to Mrs. Weaseley.

"Yes, dear."

"I need to go tomorrow back to Diagon Alley to pick up some things that I ordered today."

"Ah ok. Arthur will accompany you, will you Arthur?"

"Yes, no problem."