Ron Weasley awoke to the sound of Harry snoring. He hadn't seen his friend sleep this well in ages. Hermione had told him of her confrontation with Harry the day before, and it seemed to have a profound effect on his friend, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. They had spent the better part of last night sifting through the remaining memories in Harry's pensieve. Ron could tell that Harry had thought it was a bit unusual that he had wanted to see Trelawney's prediction about Pettigrew as well, but after what Hermione had confided in him, he had to see it for himself. Luckily, Harry didn't pursue it, forging on through the rest of the memories instead.

Harry was particularly concerned with the memory that depicted Riddle in Dumbledore's office. Harry was convinced that he was missing something, but he wasn't sure what. Ron's first thought upon seeing it was the same as Harry's; that they were watching Voldemort as he cursed the DADA position, thereby assuring that no one would have decent enough training to oppose him. Harry felt there was something more however, and suggested that Riddle may have hidden one of his Horcruxes inside the walls of Hogwarts itself. The problem was that the memory gave no credence to that theory.

He got up and showered. By the time he arrived in the kitchen, his mother was already starting to prepare breakfast. Fat sausages sizzled on the stove and the smell of freshly baked bread coming from the oven tickled his nostrils until he could no longer keep his temptation at bay.

"Ronald Weasley!" his mother chided while hitting his hand with a stinging hex, "Get away from those sausages and go wake Harry. Tell him breakfast is almost ready." Ron obeyed, sucking his red knuckles where the stinging hex had found its mark. He returned to his bedroom to find Harry already awake, and after informing him that breakfast was almost ready, made a beeline back down to the kitchen. When he arrived, he found Hermione and Ginny helping Mrs. Weasley finish the cooking.

Once everyone was seated and eating, Mrs. Weasley announced that it would be a good day to go to Diagon Alley to pick up everyone's school supplies. There was a moment of silence at the table as Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at one another. "Actually mum, we need to go to Hogwarts today. Professor McGonagall wanted to speak to us.

"What about?" his mother queried.

"Not sure mum... Harry spoke to her actually. What did she say she wanted to talk about Harry?"

Harry gave his friend a dirty look at being put on the spot, but recovered quickly. "Not exactly sure... stuff about NEWTS I suppose..."

"Well, that's okay," Molly answered, "Just leave me your book lists and Ginny and I will pick up everything for you."

Ron couldn't let his mother spend part of the family's meager savings on books that would go unused. "That's okay mum, we can go ourselves later in the week. I don't want you and Ginny to have to carry all of those bulky, heavy books."

"Nonsense Ronald, I'll just put a shrinking charm on them."

Ron was beginning to panic; he didn't want to tell his mother that he wasn't returning to Hogwarts just yet, but he didn't want her to waste the family's money either. His ears began to turn pink as he desperately thought of a way out of this mess. He looked helplessly at Harry and Hermione, who obviously hadn't the faintest idea what to say. Luckily, Ginny was quick on the uptake and came to the rescue. "They'd have to go back to Diagon Alley anyway mum. All NEWT year students have to personally sign for their potions ingredients now. Some of the things they need for class are controlled substances, and with everything that's happening, the ministry wants to keep track of where those substances end up."

Molly sighed in resignation. "Well that's just preposterous. Treating students like common criminals. Very well, you can go on your own later this week. You however," she said as she looked at Ginny, "are coming with me today."

Ron breathed a silent 'thank you' to his sister. The facility with which she could perpetrate a lie was astounding. It was if she had raised it to an art form. As his mother turned around to pull the kettle off the stove, Ginny mouthed 'You owe me'. After everyone was finished eating, he, Harry and Hermione cleared the table and did the dishes as Mrs. Weasley and Ginny made their final preparations to leave.

"Will you be back in time for supper?" Mrs. Weasley called from the living room.

"Not sure mum, we don't know how long this is going to take. Don't make extra just for us. We can always make a sandwich later if we need to." Molly gave her son an odd look. "Are you feeling all right?" she asked, looking concerned. Ron turning down food was like a vampire saying no to blood. "Yeah mum, fine. I just don't want you to waste food is all."

"The leftovers will keep if you're not back in time. Are you ready Ginny? Okay then, we're off. Have a nice day at Hogwarts dears, and say hello to Minerva for me. Ronald, come here and give your mother a kiss." Ron rolled his eyes as he went to kiss his mother goodbye. She enveloped him in a bone breaking hug. "You be careful now." She admonished, hugging him even tighter.

"It's just Hogwarts mum" he protested, and then remembering that Dumbledore had just been murdered within its walls, added "but I promise we'll be extra careful." Molly, seemingly satisfied with his answer, followed Ginny into the fireplace, and vanished after a few spins.

It was almost time for their appointment with McGonagall. Harry went upstairs to get his invisibility cloak. He wouldn't need it for their journey to Hogwarts as they were going to floo there, but he would need it later that day when they visited Godric's Hollow. When Harry had come back downstairs, they stepped into the fireplace one by one. When Ron stopped spinning, he stepped out of the fireplace in professor McGonagall's office. Harry and Hermione were already brushing ashes off of their cloaks. On her desk was a note that read; "Meet me in the headmaster's office. The new password is 'butter biscuits'.

Ron smiled at professor McGonagall's tribute to Albus Dumbledore. He supposed it was her own way of dealing with her loss. The three of them stepped out of the office and into the hallway. Professor McGonagall had assured them by owl that the castle would be completely deserted today, so there was no need for Harry to stay under his cloak. None of them really had any idea as to what to expect from the new headmistress. They had decided that the best course of action was to let Harry do most of the talking.

As they reached the seventh floor, they passed a blank patch of wall opposite a tapestry showing Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls to dance the ballet. Harry paused for a moment staring at the polished stone. "Not now Harry" Ron said, taking his friend gently by the arm, "let's meet with McGonagall first, and then if we have time later, we'll come back."

Harry snapped out of the daze he was in and nodded. "You're right. First things first." When they reached the stone gargoyle guarding the stairway to the headmistress's office, Hermione spoke the password. The gargoyle moved aside as the wall behind it split in two, revealing the moving spiral staircase that led up to Dumbledore's former chambers. Harry knocked on the oak door as they reached the top of the stairs. A few seconds later, professor McGonagall greeted them. "Please come in and sit down.".

Ron's eyes immediately focused on the portrait of Albus Dumbledore fastened to the wall. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be napping. Ron swallowed hard; it was still hard to fathom that Dumbledore was dead. As he looked away, he realized that Harry and Hermione had been looking at the portrait as well. "Has he said anything yet?" Harry asked the headmistress.

"Not yet Mr. Potter, no. It can take weeks, or sometimes even months before a portrait wakes from its initial slumber."

The three of them took seats in stiff backed chairs across the desk from the headmistress who seemed to be studying them with a look that made Ron slightly nervous. The chairs were so uncomfortable that he wondered if McGonagall had conjured them specifically for the occasion. Finally, she broke the silence. "So, assuming I did not misinterpret Mr. Weasley's impersonation of a fountain the other evening, it is my impression that the three of you will not be returning to complete your education. Is that a fair assumption?"

Just as they had agreed upon, Harry answered her. It's not that we don't want to return to Hogwarts, it's just that we can't right now. There are things I need to do that require Ron and Hermione's help. And even if I didn't need their help, they would never let me do these things alone."

"By these... things... Mr. Potter, I assume you are talking about whatever it was that you and the headmaster were up to last term?"

"Yes professor." Harry said simply.

"And these things have to do with bringing about the downfall of Voldemort?"

"Yes professor."

"And I assume you still are adamant about not sharing any of this with the Order?"

"I'm sorry. I made a promise to Dumbledore."

"And these things you must do, they cannot be done using Hogwarts as a base of operations?"

"It's possible that they could I suppose, but since I'm supposed to be dead, I can hardly be seen traipsing around the great hall. Not to mention that even if people knew I was alive, I would have to miss so many classes and so much study time, I'd have to repeat my seventh year anyway."

McGonagall was silent for a moment, studying Harry's face before she continued. "Mr. Potter, may I speak candidly?"

"Of course professor."

"Albus shared the contents of the prophecy with me before he left with you that night last term. I had the distinct feeling from his tone that it might be the last time I ever saw him alive. From what the prophecy states, it is very clear that there only two possible outcomes. One: you will defeat Voldemort, in which case no one will care about what you did in your NEWT year. You will be allowed to have any job you want. Even if you choose to pursue a career as an auror, you will not be turned down." The headmistress took a deep breath before she continued. "Two: Voldemort will defeat you, in which case, your NEWT year won't matter anyway."

"Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger however, need to finish their NEWTS. Without them it will be difficult for them to get decent jobs. While it is true that they could finish them next year along with the current 6th years, I think it is unfair to them that you will have gone off in the world to pursue your dreams, while they are stuck at school for an extra year. With that in mind, I would like to offer a compromise of sorts. Base your operations from Hogwarts. Allow Ron and Hermione to attend classes whenever they are not assisting you. They will be granted leniency as far as attendance and homework assignments are concerned. If they are willing to work hard, they should be able to pass their NEWT exams."

"And what about me?" Harry asked, "Am I to stay beneath my invisibility cloak at all times?"

"I should hope not Mr. Potter. I have asked Dobby to restore the interior of the Shrieking Shack. In it, you will now find a very comfortable three bedroom flat with all the amenities of home. Dobby's sole job at Hogwarts this year will be as caretaker of your residence. He will provide your meals just as if you ate in the dining hall. This will provide you with a residence that no one will go near, and that no one can see into. Any noise you make will be attributed to it being haunted. You may apparate in and out of it as you please, and the underground passage connects to Hogwarts so that you may have access to whatever resources you may find you have a need for. I have placed a charm on the whomping willow that causes it to freeze for the three of you and only the three of you. It will be safer than the Burrow or Grimauld Place and will provide more privacy and secrecy than either of those places as well."

"Of course, if Ron and Hermione are staying with you, other students will wonder where they are sleeping, which is why I have no choice but to offer them these as part of the bargain." She held out her hands to Ron and Hermione, each one containing a shiny badge. One read 'Head Boy', and the other 'Head Girl'. The head boy and girl have their own, separate dormitory with their own personal house elf, whom conveniently enough, will be Dobby. That way, no one need question their living arrangements.

Furthermore, the fireplace in their dormitory has a private connection to the one in the Shrieking Shack should you find the Whomping Willow passage to be an inconvenience."

McGonagall was playing dirty, but Ron had to admire her for it. Harry knew as well as she that once Hermione had that head girl badge in her hands, it would break her heart to let it go. Ron had to admit that even he was reluctant to give up that honor. He'd been dreaming of it since before he even started school. Ron looked sideways at Hermione. She had the badge in her hand and was studying every facet of it, her eyes misting over with regret, knowing she would have to give it back. Harry seemed to be studying Hermione just as intently as she was studying the badge. Finally, he turned back to McGonagall and asked, "does Kreachur know about any of this?"

"Aside from Dobby and myself, no one else at Hogwarts knows of this little arrangement. Not the house elves, not the teachers, not even Hagrid."

Harry was silent as he considered the headmistress's offer. He looked at Hermione who was still staring at her badge with intense longing. After a moment he let out a sigh and said "Okay, you've got a deal."

Hermione jumped out of her chair screaming with joy and smothered Harry, jumping up and down as she hugged and kissed him. "Thank you Harry! Oh thank you!" she cried, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.

"Okay, okay Hermione. You're welcome. Try not to throttle me to death."

Professor McGonagall allowed a smile to cross her lips as she watched Hermione jumping up and down with glee. "I knew you would make the right choice Mr. Potter."

Hermione turned to the headmistress beaming from ear to ear. "Thank you professor! Ron and I won't let you down! We'll work as hard as we have to in order to pass our NEWTS, won't we Ron?"

In actuality, Ron couldn't be less pleased with the idea of trying to tackle his NEWT year when he would be missing classes and homework assignments, never mind hunting down bits of Voldemorts soul. He didn't see how he was going to find time to sleep at all for the next year. Still, he loved Hermione more than anything, and seeing her this happy was worth the scores of all-nighters that were surely on the horizon. "Of course Hermione. We'll work as hard as we have to." He said with a weak smile.

"Good," the headmistress continued, "now that that's settled, I'm afraid I still have to find someone willing to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"What about professor Lupin?" Harry asked, "He was the best DADA professor we ever had."

"I don't know that professor Lupin is up to the task Harry. He is a fine teacher, but as you know he suffered a great loss recently."

"That's exactly why he needs to be here. Please let me talk to him."

McGonagall sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened them she spoke again. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but very few students are returning as it is. I happen to agree with your assessment of his teaching skills; however there are many parents who would immediately take their children back home once they knew he was on staff."

"Because of what he is," Harry said acidly.

"I'm afraid so Mr. Potter. People are terrified now that they know Voldemort is back. Having someone inside Hogwarts with professor Lupin's... condition, would not go over well. I'm sorry, but it is out of my hands."

Harry was not happy with her reply, but he knew there was nothing she could do about it, and he could tell from her expression that she too, wished that Lupin could return. He started to rise from his chair and then sat back down.

"Actually professor, there was something else I was hoping you could help me with."

"Yes Mr. Potter?"

"I'd like to visit my parent's graves and the house I was born in. Do you know where they are?"

McGonagall seemed to stiffen at the question, a slight sadness overtaking her features. "Godric's Hollow is in Wales Mr. Potter. How were you planning on getting there? You can't exactly take the knight bus if you're supposed to be deceased."

"I was going to side along with Hermione or Ron. I've done it before. It shouldn't be a problem."

The headmistress seemed to soften, her face tightened with concern. "Are you sure you want to put yourself through this Harry?"

"I have to go professor. I think professor Dumbledore wanted me to go."

Professor McGonagall let out a small sigh. "Very well, the fireplace in my old office is connected to the one at Godric's Hollow. Albus set up a simple two way connection that is not connected to the rest of the floo system. The only way to floo there is from my office, so it should be safe enough. Be sure to keep your cloak on. You can't afford to be seen."

"I will professor, thanks for everything."

Ron and Hermione echoed Harry's thanks, and the three of them left her office leaving her to her work.

As they walked back to McGonagall's old office, Harry once again stopped in front of the blank wall that hid the room of requirement, but quickly decided to leave it for another time. He would, after all, have access to it whenever he pleased during the school year, and he wanted to get to Godric's Hollow before dark.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Harry stepped out of the fireplace into the cold, dilapidated sitting room. It looked nothing like the warm, cozy room he had seen in the picture given to him by his aunt. If Harry hadn't already known what had happened here, he would have assumed that he had flooed to the wrong house. There was barely any light coming in through the boarded up windows. Harry drew his wand and said "Lumos". It was still daylight outside; no one would notice. He barely registered Ron and Hermione as they stepped from the fireplace. The room was black with soot, and the walls and furniture were warped from water damage. The pictures that were once on the wall now lay on the floor in their shattered frames. Harry quickly cast Reparo on them and then shrunk them down so he could take them with him. As far as he was concerned, he planned on taking anything that wasn't nailed down.

"What are we looking for?" Ron whispered.

"A key primarily, but anything that looks like it even might be interesting, I want to know about it." He went to the bookcase, but the books in it were charred almost beyond recognition. He cast his eyes downward pointing his wand at the floor, scouring every inch of it for any sign of the key, or anything else that might prove interesting or useful.

They spent the better part of two hours going over the ground floor of the house with a fine toothed comb, but found nothing that wasn't damaged beyond recognition. Stopping at the foot of the stairs, Harry's breathing began to become labored. He felt Ron's hand squeeze his shoulder. "We don't have to do this right now mate. We can come back if you're not up for it."

Harry steeled himself and took control of his breathing. He wasn't going to wait for another time. He was going up there now. "Thanks Ron, I'll be fine. Wait here, both of you. I want to go in alone. I'll call you if I need you." As Harry climbed the steps, he could hear his mother's screams echoing in his head. Shaking it from his consciousness as he reached the landing, he put his hand to the doorknob of his bedroom. His breath hissed in and out through his clenched teeth as he gripped the doorknob tightly to keep his hand from shaking. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and threw the door open.

Similar to the downstairs area, the walls were so badly charred it was impossible to tell what color they had once been. His crib stood at the far end of the room, shattered into pieces. His wand casting light in front of him, he slowly moved into the room, his eyes scouring it for any piece of information about what had happened here. As the light from his wand fell on the mutilated crib, a glint of light reflected back towards his eyes. "The key! I knew it! I knew it would be here!"

Harry moved quickly towards the crib, and as he reached it, he stopped cold. There, lying underneath his crib, was not a key at all, but something much larger. He quickly dug it out from under the pile of wood and plaster, picked it up off of the floor and held his wand up to it. It was a shield. The crest on the front was unmistakable. It was the crest of Godric Gryffindor. "Holy shit!" Harry exclaimed, as he dropped it to the ground as if it were broiling hot and quickly backed away. Hermione and Ron came running up the stairs and into the room. "What is it Harry? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Harry panted, "but I think I just found one." Harry watched his friend's mouths drop open as he pointed to the shield on the ground.

"Don't touch it!" Hermione warned.

"Too late," Harry replied, almost out of breath.

"Merlin Harry! Are you all right?"

Harry nodded his head furiously. "I think so," He took a mental inventory of his body, and found that aside from being scared shitless, he was absolutely fine. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Hermione and Ron stared down at the shield with looks of dread, and then back up at Harry. "What do you suppose we should do?" Ron asked, his voice slightly trembling.

"I don't know," Harry replied, "give me a minute to think."

After calming down, Harry decided that if he had touched it once already, he could safely touch it again. As he bent down to pick it up, Hermione shouted "Wait!"

"I've already touched it Hermione, I'm fine. I was just scared for a moment when I realized what it was. It didn't hurt me."

"I know Harry, but just to be safe, we should check it for dark magic first."

"Ron screwed up his face at her. "How are we going to do that?"

"With a spell Ronald."

"Where'd you learn a spell like that?" the redhead demanded.

"The Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven of course," came her reply.

"You bought the book even when you thought we weren't going back to school?"

"I thought that a little independent study couldn't hurt. As it turns out, it's going to be right useful."

Harry stopped her before she could get her wand from under her robes. "No Hermione let me do it. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. Teach me the spell and I'll do it."

After ten minutes of instruction with Hermione, Harry felt confident enough to cast the spell. He walked up to the shield and aimed his wand, muttering the incantation. The shield glowed a bright shade of sky blue, which according to Hermione, meant there was no dark magic involved.

"Are you sure I cast it right Hermione?"

"Positive Harry. The blue light we saw means it's magical, which isn't surprising given that it belonged to Gryffindor, but if there were dark magic, it would have glowed red or black."

Harry couldn't help but be disappointed. He thought he had stumbled onto one of the Horcruxes. He shrunk the shield down and stored it with the pictures he had taken from the sitting room. Hermione, sensing his disenchantment said "Don't worry Harry. We'll find them all and you never know, that shield could have some useful magic in it. I'll have to research it when we get home." They spent the rest of the afternoon searching the upstairs of the house. Finally, after about an hour, Harry heard Ron shouting. "What is it Ron?'

"The key Harry! I found your key!" Ron handed it to him beaming with pride. It was a tiny key that certainly looked like it would fit his mother's diary.

"Excellent job mate. I think we've seen everything we need to here. I want to see my parents now."

OOOOOOOOOOO

They went to the graveyard, Ron and Hermione staying a distance away in order to give Harry some private time with his parents at their graveside. They quietly held hands as they kept an eye on Harry. Ron finally broke the silence. "Shame that people are too ignorant to let our best DADA professor teach us again. Do you think Harry would be able to convince Lupin to teach us Occlumency? It'd be good for him you know. Maybe give him something to do. Take his mind off things. Dad says he's really bad off. He couldn't even give her a proper funeral for Merlin's sake. Couldn't risk anyone finding out that it was her that died and not Harry."

"They'll figure it out eventually though won't they? I mean, once she hasn't shown up to work in a few days?"

"She took two weeks vacation right before she switched places with Harry. Lupin wants to keep them in the dark as long as possible."

"Is he coming to the wedding?"

"Dad invited him of course, but I doubt it. Not that I blame him. Who'd want to be at a wedding after what he's just been through?"

Hermione couldn't even imagine how painful it would be for Remus to attend Bill and Fleur's wedding after he had just lost Tonks. "No, of course he's not coming. Then we need to go to him. We need to talk to him Ron. Even if he's not ready to teach, maybe he could help us with Occlumency, like you said – to take his mind off of things. We need to see if we can help him. I know Harry hasn't said it out loud, but he feels responsible for Tonks' death. The two of them need to speak to each other."

"Well, tomorrow's as good a day as any. May as well get the hell out of the Burrow for the day. Mum and Fleur are going to be barking with starting the final wedding preparations and all."

After a half an hour, they saw Harry get up from his knees and slowly walk towards them. Hermione was worried that he would be devastated, but when he got close enough for them to make out his features, he seemed to be smiling a little.

"You okay mate?" Ron asked tentatively.

"Yeah. Yeah I am okay." He turned to Hermione and with a sad smile added, "I know it's not my fault." Hermione's eyes lit up and she returned his smile, pulling him into her arms hugging him tightly. When the hug went on a little too long for Ron's taste, he cleared his throat. Hermione and Harry both looked at him and laughed. "Ronald Weasley," Hermione started, "you are absolutely delectable when you get jealous." The amorous way that she was eying him made him turn a deep shade of red. The three of them returned to the house and Harry looked around one last time. Finally he said, "Let's go home," and the three of them stepped into the fireplace.

When they arrived at the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was just beginning to serve dinner. "How was your trip dears? What did the headmistress want to talk to you about?" she inquired, as they entered the kitchen. Fred and George glanced at each other, grinning as they waited for their younger brother to tell their mum he wasn't going back to school.

"The trip was fantastic Mrs. Weasley," Hermione answered, glancing at the twins. "Ron's made head boy."

The kitchen was completely silent for a full minute as everyone at the table tried to work out if they had just heard Hermione correctly. Molly Weasley was frozen to the spot. The twins were staring at him open mouthed. "No way!" they chorused.

Ron took the badge out of his pocket and held it up for his family to see, and nodding his head, said, "Way, and Hermione's head girl."

Fortunately, Arthur Weasley had his wand at the ready as his wife had completely forgotten about the rather large pot of beef stew she was holding. She dropped it and ran towards her son shrieking like a mental patient. "Oh Ron! I knew you could do it! Three head boys in the family!" she screamed, throwing her arms around him and kissing him repeatedly. "Just like Bill and Per-" Her excitement died down a little as she mentioned Percy's name. he was still ignoring the family and acting like a complete git. Mrs. Weasley looked into Ron's eyes as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. "I'm so proud of you Ron. And you too Hermione" she said, enveloping the girl in a hug, "I'm so proud of both of you."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley."

Dinner that night was a light hearted affair (except for the twins, who had lost their leverage over Harry, Ron, and Hermione), as the Weasley's celebrated Ron and Hermione's appointments at school. Ron stared at the table wide eyed as Mrs. Weasley piled more and platters of his favorite foods onto it. "Where'd all this food come from mum?"

"It was for the wedding." Molly admitted looking at her son glowingly, "I'll go shopping again tomorrow. It's not every day that you get appointed Head Boy." Bill, Charlie, and Fleur showed up for dessert, and soon the household was filled with the sounds of laughter and singing (Charlie had even made a joke about the black eye Harry had given him). Harry noticed to his relief that Ginny was more open and friendly with him than she'd been since the breakup. They wouldn't have a chance to talk tonight, but her disposition gave Harry hope that their relationship wasn't beyond repair. He was madly in love with her, and he had every intention of letting her know it. Hermione had been right. They could all be dead within a year and he wouldn't ever take any time he spent with his favorite family for granted again. After dinner, the twins cornered Hermione and Ron.

"Pretty neat trick getting head boy..."

"... and head girl..."

"... especially when you're not going back to school." They said in unison.

"Things change," Hermione answered, "as it turns out we are going back. Oh and while it's on my mind, I need that book back. We're going to need to learn Occlumency."

"But you already know it." Fred argued.

"No we don't. I just needed you out of the way for awhile."

George turned to his twin. "Brother of mine, I believe we've been had."

Hermione went up the stairs to meet Harry in Ron's room as Ron went to retrieve the book from the twins. She received quite a shock when she opened the door and found a book flying at her head while Harry swore like a sailor. She ducked just in time as the book hit the door and bounced out into the hallway.

"Harry! What has gotten in to you?"

"The damn –" He lowered his voice, not wanting Mrs. Weasley to hear him swearing. "The damn diary won't open; the key doesn't work."

"Well, maybe it's not the right key. We could go back and –"

"It's the right key Hermione!" Harry interrupted, "It turns in the lock and the cylinder clicks, but the damn thing won't open."

"Maybe you have to use magic and the key. Maybe if you tried to unlock it while using Alohomora – "

"I tried that."

"Maybe the key is charmed to only work for a specific person." she offered, trying to calm him down.

"I'm her only bloody son for Merlin's sake! If it doesn't work for me, who is it going to work for?"

"I don't know Harry, but you need to stop taking it personally. She could have had that diary before you were even conceived. She could have had it at Hogwarts. She could have charmed the lock then."

"This H.P. character maybe? The bloke who wrote her the letters?"

Hermione blanched. She didn't want to reveal who she thought H.P. might actually be. "You don't know that it was a man Harry, H.P. could be anyone."

"Then how the hell are we supposed to find him... or her?"

"I'm working on it Harry but I need time."

"I want to meet my mother Hermione. I want to read her thoughts. I want to know what she was like. You have no idea how frustrating this is."

Hermione pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry Harry; I know how difficult this must be for you. I'm trying my best to figure out who wrote the letters. I really am."

"I know you are," Harry said quietly, "thank you. I'm really glad you're my friend."

Hermione kissed him on the cheek and retrieved the diary from the hallway. "We'll get it open Harry, I promise." She walked back to the room she shared with Ginny, who was already asleep. She got into bed and turned off the light, but sleep wouldn't come. "If I'm right, and Snape is the person who can open that diary, what will it do to Harry? How will he feel about his mother then?"