Thin green smoke swirled out from the hollow halves of the broken Horcrux. It sat there motionless, and the faint green smoke disappeared. Harry, Ron, and Hermione just stared; Harry's wand still pointed at the Horcrux.
Finally, Ron's voice broke the silence:
"Wow…Harry, you did it!"
Harry's wand arm fell to his side as he looked at his friends.
"Yeah…." he said softly.
"Now that's one piece of Voldemort's soul gone!" said Hermione enthusiastically. "Now there's only a few more to go, right?"
"Yes," Harry answered. "It's really this simple…."
"For this Horcrux," said Ron. "But the snake…well, that'd be a mess."
He reached down to pick up the Horcrux, but Hermione grabbed his wrist.
"I don't know if it's safe to touch yet…" Hermione told him. "Hold on, let me try something…."
She pointed her wand at the broken locket, and water issued from the wand tip. The Horcrux hissed again, this time faint white smoke coming from it.
"Now, I think it's safe," Hermione said, and simply picked up the locket.
Nothing happened.
"So…you still right in the head?" Ron asked.
"Yes," said Hermione.
"Well, now that this bit of his soul is gone, we're just gonna have to find the other bits to, right?" Ron said.
"Hold on," said Harry quickly. "We aren't doing anything. This is my problem - I don't want you two getting mixed up in it." This was the second thing that had been bothering him.
"We already told you this at the funeral," said Hermione, sounding firm. "We're sticking to you, because we're already mixed up in it, whether you like it or not. We've made up our minds. We're going to help you."
"You can't really think of doing this yourself," Ron joined in. "You'd die. If we stick together, we can do it, but if we're divided, we could be in more danger."
Harry breathed heavily.
"It's just," he started to say slowly. "If you two die, then I'd be responsible because I dragged you into this mess."
"You're not dragging us," said Hermione briskly. "We're choosing to come."
"But it would still be my fault - "
"Harry, mate, if we didn't care about you, we wouldn't be doing this," said Ron resolutely.
"Even if it was your fault, we don't care," said Hermione.
A pause followed these words.
"Fine," said Harry looking at them sternly. "But this is serious. We can't - "
"We know," said Ron. "Now, c'mon, Dad told me the Apparition test was today at noon - "
He suddenly turned a pale green.
"Bathroom," he said hoarsely, and bolted out the door.
"Poor Ron, throwing up every time he has the chance," said Hermione, shaking her head. "Well, let's go back downstairs. Where do you want the Horcrux?"
"I'll take care of it," said Harry, taking it out of her hands. "Meet you downstairs in a moment."
So Hermione left, books in one arm, cauldron in the other.
Harry looked down at the locket. The prospect of going after the remaining Horcruxes had excited him a while ago, but now it felt more like a job than ever, and now he was in more danger than he was before as he came closer to having to go after Voldemort and kill him. Ron and Hermione were going to help him, but he still felt very vulnerable. A bunch of teenagers trying to destroy one of the strongest Dark lord of time seemed very difficult. It was more than it seemed, sadly enough.
Harry stared down at broken locket for a few more seconds, set it down, and then proceeded out the door.
When he came downstairs to the kitchen, he saw Ron, still looking slightly green, with Hermione, and Mr. Weasley.
"Ah, there you are, Harry," said Mr. Weasley, clapping his hands together. "Now we're ready to go. Meet you outside - there's a car waiting."
"Mr. Weasley, if I can already Apparate, why do I still have to take the test?" Harry asked.
"You need to be licensed and pass the test," Mr. Weasley explained from the doorway. "Well, come out when you're ready!"
"You two should go now," Hermione advised as Mr. Weasley left.
"Wait - " said Ron abruptly, looking frantic. "What if I don't pass this test? Then what?"
"I'm sure you'll be fine, Ron," said Hermione, giving him a kiss. "Good-luck, you two!"
But as they left, Harry glanced back at Hermione, who had wiped her mouth with her fingers, and stared at them, looking disgusted.
So Harry and Ron got in the car with Mr. Weasley, where an Auror was driving.
About a half-hour later, Harry and Ron were standing by Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions with some other teenagers Harry did not know, though he recognized Ernie Macmillan, a Hufflepuff in the same year as Harry.
A little, frail looking man stood before them, explaining the three D's.
"And now," said old Twycross, "I would like you to Apparate over to the front of Eyelop's Owl Emporium. Remember: Destination, determination, deliberation!"
He looked around at them, and then said, "One, two, three!"
Harry felt that this would be very easy, because of his success with other times he had Apparated; he just hoped Ron would pass. Harry faced the uncomfortable feeling of Apparition, and landed in front of the door to Eyelop's Owl Emporium.
Looking around, he saw Ron right next to him, a broad grin on his face.
"Is my eyebrow still here?"
"Yep," said Harry happily, checking Ron's eyebrows. Ron felt his eyebrows just in case.
"Well done!" said Twycross to all those who had successfully Apparated in front of Eyelop's. He bustled over to them and beamed. "Now, if you will, please go over to the Aurors, and they will present you your licenses."
Ron simply beamed the whole time it took him to receive his license.
When they arrived back at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Ron leaned over to Harry before they got out of the car.
"Don't say anything to Hermione about me, okay?"
"Got it," Harry replied.
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny were all in the kitchen when they came inside. Hermione walked out of the kitchen.
"How did you do?" she asked anxiously, looking at Ron expression, because it looked placid.
"I passed," said Harry.
"Oh, good!" she said happily. "And what about you, Ron?"
Ron's expression turned grim. Harry couldn't help smiling.
Oh, Ron, you didn't - ?" said Hermione sadly.
Ron's expression remained the same.
"I'm sorry," said Hermione, hugging him.
Over Hermione's shoulder, Ron winked at Harry.
"Why are you sorry?" Ron asked her, looking smug.
"Well, you didn't - " Hermione started to say, but then she drew away, seeing Ron's expression. "Wait a minute - "
"I passed!" he said.
"You tricked me!" Hermione said scornfully.
"Ah, the power of mock misery," Ron said reminiscently, shaking his head happily.
Hermione turned pink.