Chapter Twenty-Eight.
Waiting.

That night Harry got less than two hours sleep. He tossed and turned with occasional dreams of Neville, Dumbledore's and even his dad's death. He opened his eyes and winced as his scar throbbed with pain. This was the second time he had seen his dad's death in his dreams. He knew who had to have put that vision in his brain. Wiping sweat from his forehead he threw off his bedcovers and put his legs over the side of the bed. Re-living each dream in his head. Harry sat there for a while feeling frustrated thinking everything over. After Neville's memorial everyone had immediately gone to bed not saying a word. Ron and Hermione had stayed together for a while and Harry not wanting to be around anyone left them to it, despite Ginny offering to stay with him. Why does all this have to happen to me? Why do I have to be the stupid chosen one? Who said I wanted this responsibility anyway. Harry punched his pillow hard. All he could hear were Ron's occasional loud snores. He lifted his legs back onto the bed and lay awake for the rest of the night.

"Anything?" Ron asked Hermione, his mouth full of bacon.

"Nothing." Hermione replied putting the prophet down and taking a concerned look at Harry. Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the great hall eating breakfast the next day. Ginny was over at the Ravenclaw table with Luna. As Neville had just died Ginny had taken it as her responsibility to make sure Luna was ok. Harry hadn't felt much like eating, as he felt miserable, his lack of sleep the night before hadn't made him feel any better.

"You haven't slept again." Hermione concluded after studying Harry for a few minutes. "You did take the dreamless sleep potion didn't you?"

"Well after everything that's been happening, last night I sort of forgot." Harry said uneasily picking up a piece of toast and biting into it to please Hermione.

"Harry, you must always remember to take it, we don't have any lessons today. You should go back to bed." Hermione said this as an order more than a suggestion.

"I'm eating." Harry said simply biting another piece of toast. Hermione raised her eyebrows and Ron who didn't want Hermione to nag Harry to go to bed anymore in the fear of a row between them changed the subject.

"So what are we doing today?" Ron said in a falsely cheerful voice loading his plate with more bacon and eggs. "I thought we should go and see Hagrid, haven't been to see him in a while have we?" Harry's last choice of things to do was be around more people at the moment. Just as he started to protest that he just wanted to go back to the common room Hermione spoke.

"Yes let's go and see Hagrid. Seeing him might…cheer us all up." Hermione agreed with her eyes quickly darting towards Harry who was still working his way through his first piece of toast. He put it down with only a few bites gone from it and got up.

"Ok fine. I'll just go and speak to Ginny." Harry informed them walking over to the Ravenclaw table where Ginny was eating next to Luna and on her other side was Michael Corner who she had previously gone out with and had also been in the DA. Harry tapped Ginny on the shoulder and she turned around.

"Harry." She grinned getting up. Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. A few people in the hall wolf whistled and Harry felt himself turning slightly red.

"Me, Ron and Hermione are going to visit Hagrid. You coming?" Harry said now feeling a little better after seeing Ginny.

"Well I did offer to keep Luna company…I'll see you this afternoon though." She said looking slightly apologetic. Harry was feeling slightly disappointed, as Ginny was the only one he really wanted to spend time with at the moment but he nodded his head. The visit to Hagrid's wasn't as cheerful as Ron and Hermione had hoped. As they knocked on the door, the door opened and a howling Hagrid collapsed onto Harry's shoulders nearly knocking him to the ground but luckily Ron and Hermione grabbed him before he fell. Hagrid who had soaked Harry's shoulder in tears pulled himself off him and faced the three of them as they stepped in.

"Hagrid what's wrong?" Harry said feeling slightly fearful of the reply.

"Fangs dyin." Hagrid howled walking over to a chair and sitting down. His hands were over his face and his elbows leaned on the table. Harry, Ron and Hermione all glanced at each other awkwardly. The three of them sat down. Harry who now realised the boarhound was not jumping all over them as usual. He was lying in the corner looking miserable and weak.

"Hagrid are you sure, what's wrong with him?" Hermione said anxiously patting Hagrid's giant arm.

"Old age apparently" Hagrid sobbed. "e 'adn't bin eatin fer a few days, jus' not as lively as usual. Knew somethin' was wrong."

"Is there nothing you can do Hagrid?" Ron asked getting up and boiling the kettle. Harry stared at Ron for a moment. "Tea…mum makes it when someone's upset." Ron told them holding a cup towards them. Harry remembered Ron saying this before.

"Nothin' yeh can do bout old age is there." Hagrid said wiping tears away from his eyes with a tissue Hermione had given him. "You three shouldn' 'ave ter listen ter this. Wha' with recent events." Hagrid said gesturing towards the door.

"No Hagrid were staying." Harry said firmly. This just made Hagrid cry even more, now on Hermione's shoulder. After a few hours of consoling Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione left feeling even possibly worse than they had at breakfast.

"That was…fun." Ron said sarcastically falling hard on the sofa in the common room now lying with his hand dangling over the floor.

"Poor Hagrid." Hermione said worriedly, pushing Ron's legs out of the way and sitting down on the sofa next to him. Ron looked slightly annoyed but instead leant his head on her shoulder and she put an arm around him absent-mindedly. Harry who was sitting on an armchair opposite noticed how comfortable Ron and Hermione had become with each other. They didn't even realise it.

"Things just keep getting better." Harry said miserably.

"Cheer up you two, at least we have another horcrux." Hermione said brightly. Harry who had completely forgotten Hermione still had the horcrux looked up.

"It needs to be destroyed. I know I'll feel much better when it is." Harry said resolutely.

"Me too." Ron said looking determined.

"Well, we can't do it here. Anyone could walk in. Let's just leave it for today ok, we need a break." Hermione said. Harry and Ron agreed.

"Ok Hermione, but let us have the horcrux in our dormitory tonight. It could be dangerous." Ron said sounding slightly troubled.

"Are you saying I can't take care of myself as well as you and Harry can." Hermione said in a mock tone kissing the top of Ron's head. Before Ron could answer, they heard a tapping at the window. Harry saw Aberforth's owl at the window carrying a letter. He leapt up from the chair and opened the window. The owl flew in; Harry untied the letter from its leg and read aloud.

Harry,
How have you been? I'm doing ok. Still in hiding. It will be better when this is all over I guess. How are you doing with your search? I hope Ron and Hermione are doing well. You have two great friends there -

"That's very true." Ron said grinning broadly at Harry. Harry smiled and carried on.

Keep practising what I told you if you haven't already mastered it yet. I read in the prophet about a student… Neville Longbottom getting killed. I'm sorry if he was a good friend of yours I know he was in Gryffindor too. Albus mentioned him a couple of times if I recall it. I'm guessing you were already prepared for this, good people as well as the bad die in these wars Harry, which I'm sure you already know. And you, Ron and Hermione are playing key roles. You should all be proud of yourselves. If you succeed you will all certainly make history. But let's not get too carried away. Send a letter back with Fallon my owl; He will know where to come.
A.D.

Harry looked up and Hermione immediately handed him a quill and some parchment.

"Thanks." Harry muttered, now thinking about what to write. Ron and Hermione leaning over him watching.

"Do you really think we would make history?" Ron asked with an excited look on his face. Harry and Hermione laughed.

"Yes im sure we would Ron. But as Aberforth said, let's not get too carried away." Hermione said sounding slightly amused.

"And I'm not looking for any more fame thanks very much. You two can take it all." Harry mumbled reminding himself that they may not all make it out of this. Especially him, who had been told by Aberforth some time ago that he, could be a horcrux. Harry had forgotten this, not so much forgotten but shoved it to the back of his mind with all the other unpleasant thoughts he had in his head. He quickly made a mental note he had to tell Ron and Hermione at some point and pushed it right to the back of his mind again thinking what to write.

A.D.
Myself, Ron and Hermione are all fine. We have found another you know what. Tell you the details when we meet. It certainly was interesting. It would really help if we knew how to contact you when we need to. We are working on destroying the you know what later this week. If you think you can help us destroy it or anything, send us a letter and let us know. If not, I guess the three of us are doing it alone again. As for the thing we have been practising. Hermione and me have mastered it. Ron on the other hand, what with getting kidnapped by death eaters…hadn't had the time to improve. Hermione and me will do the best to help him.
Harry.

Harry picked up his quill and got a nod of approval from Hermione who had been reading it as he was writing. He tied it to the owl's leg and it flew off out of the window immediately. "Thanks." Harry said handing the quill back to Hermione as she sat back down on the sofa allowing Ron to lean his head once again on her shoulder. The portrait hole opened and Harry opened his mouth in shock as Fred and George walked through it.

"What are you two doing here?" Ron said in panic as they walked into his view. Harry thought Ron obviously expected bad news.

"Order meeting at Grimmauld Place and they want you three to attend." Fred informed them.

"Then why are you going?" Ron asked them.

"We are in the order idiot brother." George replied hitting Ron over the head. "How are our favourite young lovers doing then?"

"You see little brother, me and George have a bet. I think that you and Hermione will be first to tie the knot. And George thinks it will be Harry who wishes to plunge to his death first." Fred informed them sitting on the arm of Harry's chair.

"Plunge to his death?" Hermione snorted. Ron was looking slightly awkward.

"Well if you don't propose to Hermione first I think I will." George announced squeezing himself next to Hermione and putting an arm around her. Hermione looked alarmed as George winked at her.

"Oi!" Ron said angrily lifting his head up from Hermione's shoulder.

"I would take her myself mate, but I'm a spoken for man I'm afraid." Fred said proudly.

"Who're you going out with?" Harry asked him in surprise.

"Angelina Johnson." George answered for Fred his arm still around Hermione. Hermione quickly got up.

"Aren't we supposed to be going to an order meeting?" Hermione reminded them.

"Right you are Hermione my love. We'll lead the way." George said happily, standing up. Harry and Ron also stood and the three of them followed Fred and George out of the common room.