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Beginning of a Journey
Early the Next Morning…
Hermione was up extremely early; well to be honest, she never did fall asleep the night
before.
She tried to get out of the room without Ginny, but had no such luck.
"I'm guessing you haven't slept all night," Ginny said, getting out of bed.
"Yeah," Hermione said.
Ginny examined Hermione's face, but couldn't manage to figure out how she was really
feeling at the moment.
"You're still planning to leave today, aren't you?"
Hermione nodded.
"Do me a favour Hermione. Please tell my mum the truth about what you three will be
doing. She deserves to know. I don't want you three to leave, but I know that there's no
talking you out of it. I know that it needs to be done."
Hermione tried to offer a smile, but it was forced.
"I will tell your mother. That's actually what I was going to do right now. Your mum's
always up early."
"She is. Do you want me to come with you?" Ginny asked.
"Sure. Let's go."
Hermione and Ginny made their way downstairs, and found Molly sitting at the kitchen
table.
"Morning girls," she said sadly.
"Morning," they replied.
"Hermione-"
"Mrs. Weasley, I need to tell you something-"
"About you, Harry, and Ron leaving today?"
"Oh, you know then?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I heard you and the boys last night," Molly said.
"Well, um, what do you think about us leaving?" Hermione asked, somewhat nervously.
"I don't want you three to go," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Mum, I don't want them to go either, but you know they have to," Ginny said gently.
"You three are young. And Hermione, are you really ready for something like this? It was
only last night that-" Mrs. Weasley didn't finish that sentence. "None of you should be
going. Especially you, Hermione. Especially now."
Hermione reached over and took Mrs. Weasley's hand in hers.
"We're leaving today, like we planned all along," Hermione told her.
"We already tried to talk her out of it, mum. It's no use; her mind is made up," Ron said,
walking down the stairs.
Harry followed behind. "Ron's right Mrs. Weasley. Besides, we need Hermione. She's
the one with the brains," Harry said, sending a smile in Hermione's direction.
"How about we eat some breakfast before you make me cry," Mrs. Weasley said.
Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley all sat together and ate breakfast.
Hermione only took a few bites of her food, and everyone seemed to notice.
"Hermione dear, please eat. If you insist on leaving, I insist that you eat something first,"
Molly said.
"You really should eat 'Mione," Ron told her.
Hermione was going to protest, but decided to save her energy. She ate a little bit more
and then got up.
"Ron, we need to talk," she said.
Ron met her outside.
"So, did you and Harry make travel bags for yourselves last night?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'm going to get to the point. We're leaving soon. We're going to be searching for
Horcruxes, which means we're probably going to be in danger. I need you to promise me
that if it comes down to a situation where you have to save me or Harry; you'll save him.
Ultimately, he's got to make it."
"Don't talk like that, Hermione. We're all going to be fine. We'll all look out for each
other. There's not going to be any need to save one person over another," Ron said.
"Promise me, Ron."
"Only if you promise me the same thing," he said.
"I don't want to."
"I'll promise only if you do the same thing," he repeated.
"Fine. I promise," Hermione said.
"Me too," he answered.
The two remained quiet for the next few minutes. Hermione's thoughts drifted to her
parents and she started to cry.
She saw Ron staring at her, and immediately wiped her tears away.
"Hermione, it's okay to-"
"Don't tell me it's okay to cry. I need to be strong. It's the only way I'm going to get
through this."
"You are strong."
"I don't feel like I am, Ron… When is this pain going to go away?"
"I don't know 'Mione. What I do know is that we're all her for you. I'm here for you;
whatever you need, whatever you want," he said, hugging her.
"Thank you," she said, looking up at him.
"No need to thank me. You're always there when I need you," he said.
All of a sudden Hermione pulled Ron down to her, and kissed him. He wasn't expecting
it, but definitely welcomed it. This was Hermione after all.
She pulled away after a minute. "Well, we'd better grab Harry. We should set out soon."
And just like that, the old Hermione was gone again. Ron hated Voldemort, Crabbe, and
Goyle long before now, but he hated them more than ever for what they did to
Hermione's parents; for what they did to her.
Inside the Burrow…
The trio said their goodbyes to all of the Weasleys. After many hugs and some tears, they
finally left the burrow.
"This is it guys," Hermione said.
"As of right now, our defences have to be up. Our wands have to be ready," Ron said.
"Before life as we know it changes, I want to say thanks to both of you," Harry said.
"For what?" they asked.
"For being my best friends; for sticking with me through thick and thin; for coming with
me on this new journey."
"Don't get all mushy on me mate," Ron joked.
"Well, there's nowhere else I would be. We all stick together, remember?" Hermione
said.
"Of course we do. We're the Golden Trio after all," Harry said.