A/N - Thanks for the reviews. They mean a lot :)

Chapter 7 - Forest and Companions (Prompts)

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Dinner was a silent affair. The only person who ate anything was Bill; and that was just to please his wife. The rest of the family had only one goal in mind: to feed Molly Weasley. But no matter who tried what, she remained stubborn, staying in bed silently with a sad, far off gaze. It almost was like she had given up; and that scared him.

Harry couldn't help but study the faces of all those around him. It was all overwhelming. He wanted to stay close to them; comfort them in any way he can. But he didn't know how. And he couldn't help but feel the need to leave, at least for a bit, to rid the tightening of his chest every time his eyes fell on George.

He had barely made it outside the Burrow when he heard his name being called.

"Where are you going?"

Harry stopped, the feeling of dread enveloping him. It had been an idea. A simple one. Surely he need not tell her. "I'm going for a walk. Needed to get out for a bit," he said confidently, even as he shifted from one foot to the other impatiently.

Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "A walk? Now?"

"Yeah. Why not now?"

She seemed taken aback by his defensive tone. "And where were you going for this walk?"

Harry hated this quality of hers; the one where she could see right through him. Why couldn't she be like everyone else in his life and be blissfully ignorant, believing whatever he decides to tell them?

Hermione squinted at him further, almost like she was reading him. "Harry," she began seriously, "where were you going?"

All Harry could do was stay silent, his jaw twitching in agitation. It was just an idea. That's all.

"What are you two up to?"

They both turned around to see Ron as he stepped outside, confusion marring his already tired features.

Hermione looked at Harry carefully before she said, "I think...Harry's about to leave for the Forbidden Forest."

Harry looked at her incredulously as Ron asked, "Why?"

She hesitated a moment before she said, "To find the Resurrection Stone."

The way she could read him was honestly mental. "How did you-"

"I saw the way you were looking at George. It wasn't hard to figure out."

"Do you think it'll work?" Ron asked quietly, his gaze focused solely on Harry.

Hermione looked at him pleadingly, a slight twitch of her head saying exactly what she thought he should say. Or rather, what he should deny.

He hated being put in positions such as these. "It wasn't..." He stopped, unsure of what to say exactly. What was he to say? Tell the person who just lost his brother, not to take the chance to see him again? He just didn't have the heart to say something so cruel. Instead, he looked at Hermione.

Hermione, seeming to understand his look, turned cautiously towards Ron. "It won't work, Ron. Dark Magic like this never turns out the way we want it to. You remember the story."

"Yeah, I remember it," Ron said with feeling. "I also remember that it was a story. Who's to say the second brother had unrealistic expectations?"

"Expecting someone to come back from the dead is unrealistic."

"Not unless you happen to have a Resurrection Stone." Ron looked at him again. "Do you think you might have an idea of where you might have dropped it?"

"I have no idea where I might have dropped it," Harry said quickly trying to diffuse this situation. It had just been a stupid idea. How did it spiral out of control?

"Never mind that," Ron said seriously, surprising Harry and Hermione. "A simple Accio should do the trick." Looking back to make sure that no one was around, Ron started moving towards the Apparition point, stopping only when he noticed his companions weren't moving with him. "Well? You two coming?"

Harry shared a panicked look with Hermione, one that prompted her into action. "I was just telling Harry that going into the Forbidden Forrest at night won't be the best time to find the stone. Right, Harry?"

"Um... Yeah," Harry said clumsily, hoping to get his best friend to forget about this idea. "I don't think I would be able to figure out where I dropped it."

Ron's gaze seemed to travel suspiciously between Harry and Hermione before he let out a tired sigh. "S'pose you're right. First thing tomorrow we'll go look for it."

All Harry could do was nod, before Ron tiredly trudged back into the Burrow. Once his back was turned, his gaze met Hermione's. They were thinking the same thing. Only bad can come out of this.

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