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Chapter 16- A full house

Hermione watched Harry while he slept. He hadn't moved one inch since he'd collapsed. She knew Ron could only last so long because Harry was beyond exhaustion. Hopefully he didn't let it get to his head, because there was no telling how Harry would pop that ego bubble.

Remus was walking down the hall, making sure everyone had a room, when he noticed Hermione standing in Harry's doorway. "Hermione, is there a reason you're standing in Harry's doorway?" Remus asked, coming to stand next to her.

She jumped in surprise and turned to look at him. "Oh, Remus, it's you." She said, turning and closing Harry's door to let him rest in peace. " I was just checking on him."

"I don't blame you. I'm worried about him." He said, running his hand through his hair.

"What has you worried?" She asked as they made their way down the hall.

"Well, he's different. I'm afraid he's holding in something that's eating away at him. Maybe something he experienced while he was in the amulet?" He said.

Hermione's brows furrowed, "What do you think he's hiding?" She asked.

He stopped and turned to her in thought. "I don't know. Perhaps he'll open up to you." He said.

She shook her head, " I don't know, he hasn't said anything about it at all."

Remus touched her shoulder in a fatherly manner. He didn't say a word, but just squeezed her shoulder then walked off. She watched in confusion. He thought that Harry would open up to her. Why would he think that?

Eventually everyone tucked in for the night. The house was dead silent, as everyone was sleeping. Such silence woke Harry. He rolled out of his bed and landed in a crouch. He was fully awake now as he listened to the house. He only heard snoring and he didn't pick up any different scents. What was it that woke him?

He changed his clothes and made his way to the roof. Everything in the house seemed fine, perhaps something outside was causing his unease. He closed the window and sat on the edge of the roof. The yard seemed fine, but something on the street was screaming for his attention.

He scanned the shadows for the longest time. Until he picked up something across the street. He studied it until he was able to tell it wasn't an animal but a person. The figure's shape seemed familiar, almost like he knew them.

The sun began to rise, illuminating the shadows and bringing light to the corners of the street. He kept his focus on the figure. It turned and began to walk off, the shadows following at its heels. Before he disappeared out of sight, Harry got a flash of long blonde hair.

He heard those inside the house begin to stir. If he wanted breakfast, he'd need to make a bee-line for it now. He rose and climbed back through the window. As he was making his way to the kitchen, a massive headache hit. He doubled over and rubbed his scar in pain. Something was going on with Voldemort, only what?

The pain lessened, and he stood back up. He couldn't imagine what was going on with Voldemort now. His only option: go to the Riddle House…tonight.

Harry sat down for breakfast and smiled as he breathed in the aroma of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Ahh…meat. He piled his plate full, almost wiping out the entire stock of food on the table. "Ah Master Harry, good to see you is awake. Oh my, all food is gone. I make more now." Dobby said, popping into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he popped back.

Harry jumped in surprise, "Dobby!?!" He turned in his seat and gave Dobby a hug.

"Master Harry, sir?" Dobby asked giving him a hug back.

"Dobby, how many times do I have to tell you. I'm not your master." Harry said.

"But, Mas…Harry, I've got a contract with the house and whoever it's owner is. Until I'm released that is." Dobby said.

"Contract?" Harry asked, "Are you getting paid?" He asked. Dobby chuckled and nodded.

"As if Harry's 'Mione would allow otherwise. A galleon a week, mas…Harry, sir." Dobby said.

Harry patted his shoulder as Ron and Hermione walked into the kitchen. "That's good to know." Harry said. Dobby bowed and disappered in a pop. Harry turned back to his plate, looking at the two who just walked in. No surprise that they were fighting.

"DON'T GIVE ME YOUR LAME EXCUSES!!!" Hermione yelled, her wand gripped tight in her hand.

Ron's face was as red as his hair as he yelled back, "I'M SORRY, OKAY? HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?"

"UNTIL I BELIEVE IT, YOU JERK!!" She yelled in response raising her wand and hexing him out of the room.

She was breathing heavily when she sat down at the table. Harry watched her while he ate some bacon. She filled her plate and began to eat as well. "Nicely done." Harry said breaking the intense silence. He never did like the silence, and with her just staring at her plate, eating eggs.

"I hate him." She said looking up at him. He refilled his plate and nodded.

"That's understandable." He said devouring some more bacon.

"I rather not talk about it." She said dropping more into her plate. Which he couldn't blame her, Ron was a jerk. He couldn't argue that even if he tried. Which was bad for Ron, in any case. For the next few minutes they ate, until Harry dug into his fourth plate of food.

"Harry, when was the last time you ate?" Hermione asked as Remus, Draco, and Ginny entered the kitchen. They all sat at the table and filled their plates with food.

"Where's Ron?" Ginny asked surprised he wasn't at the table eating like a pig, which Harry obviously was.

"He wasn't hungry." Hermione said turning back to Harry after greeting everyone a good morning.

"Harry?" She inquired, nibbiling on some bacon.

"Fine, I haven't eaten in weeks." He said standing up and carrying his plate over to the sink. Before anyone could push futher he stormed out of the kitchen.

"Way to go, Granger." Draco said pouring syrup on his pancakes. She responded with a glare that stopped him cold. No one stopped her from cleaning her spot at the table and following Harry out of the kitchen.

She found him in the library, his nose buried in a book full of spells.

"Trying to catch up?" She asked as he tossed the book across the room. He looked up hoping she didn't see him slip in his anger management. She chuckled and sat across form him at the table. She picked up a book and read the cover, 'How to deal with falling in love.' "I don't think you'll find any useful spells in this one." She said.

He snatched the book from her hand and hid it in his bag. "Sorry I snapped at you." He said, pulling out a book on offensive spells. He opened to a random page and noticed he had written out a lot of notes.

"It's okay, I just wanted to talk, not get an apology." She said. Harry looked up and smiled softly.

"What do you want to talk about?" Harry asked. just buying himself some trouble.

"I'm worried about you, so is Remus. We were wondering if you felt comfortable enough to share what happened to you?" She asked, leaning forward.

Harry's gaze became shallow, like he didn't see her anymore. His brows furrowed together and his shoulders tensed. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to be easy to talk about.

Harry's head snapped towards the doorway. "We have company." He said and stood, and waited for her to follow. They reached the bottom of the stairs to greet the rest of the D.A. who had just arrived.

Authors Note: A tease, I know. It'll just keep you reading cause I'm evil like that. Again I hope your all enjoying my story and thank you for the reviews. Also, I'm sorry about the wait. I had orientation for college. Next week I'll be leaving for vacation so for about a week I won't be able to update. I'll be sure to leave you all a good chapter.

Again thanks to my beta for an awesome job.